LOCATIONS
LAND
19 Mar 13. EOIR Technologies, Inc., a portfolio company of The White Oak Group, is opening a new office in Ohio near the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), the largest center for Air Force acquisition. From this location, EOIR will be able to more easily market its capabilities to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (LCMC). (Source: Yahoo!/PRNewswire)
21 Mar 13. The EDGE® Innovation Network announced that the new EDGE Space Innovation Center is officially open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 22. Housed within the General Dynamics’ Seabrook, Md., facility, the 13th and newest EDGE Innovation Center is less than two miles from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. General Dynamics C4 Systems sponsors the EDGE Innovation Network. Offering an open, collaborative environment, the new Space Innovation Center will connect NASA and other government agency professionals with more than 350 EDGE Innovation Network members from industry and academia. The facility comprises meeting rooms and demonstration space designed to encourage the free-flow of ideas and solutions for next-generation spacecraft, scientific instruments, in-flight operations and the critical ground systems that keep missions on course. General Dynamics C4 Systems has supported the nation’s space initiatives for more than 40 years. Among other programs, the company continues its work as the prime contractor for NASA’s Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS), which is modernizing the space agency’s ground infrastructure systems for their Space Network, and provides for continuous technology insertion and system upgrades for the next 25 years. With 36 employees, the General Dynamics C4 Systems’ Seabrook, Md., facility comprises nearly 12,000 square feet of space that includes the new EDGE Space Innovation Center.
MARITIME
20 Mar 13. HII begins construction on USS John Warner submarine. Construction has started on the US Navy’s 12th Virginia-class submarine, USS John Warner (SSN 785), with the official keel laying at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) in Newport News, Virginia. USS John Warner is being built under block III construction contract and has been named to honour former US senator from Virginia and navy secretary, John Warner. Virginia-class programme manager captain David Goggins said the event marked a major construction milestone for the submarine. (Source: naval-technology.com)
20 Mar 13. HMS Defender commissioned into fleet on 21 March. The UK Royal Navy’s fifth Type-45 Daring-class anti-air warfare destroyer, HMS Defender (D36), was formally commissioned into the fleet on 21 March at Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, marking its transition into frontline service. The destroyer has completed trials of its upper deck gunnery systems early this month, during which it test-fired the 4.5in Kryten main gun, 30mm cannon, miniguns, and validated their capabilities. Capable of operating a Chinook-sized helicopter from its main deck, HMS Defender completed its second and final set of sea trials in April 2012. (Source: naval-technology.com)
21 Mar 13. Russia developing fifth-generation submarines. The Russian Navy is developing its fifth-generation nuclear-powered and diesel submarines at Rubin Central Design Bureau facility, according to Rubin head Igor Vilnit. Rubin is working alongside the Russian Defence Ministry research centres, the Navy Institute and other partners and contractors to develop a basic design of the fifth-generation submarine for the Russian Navy. Malakhit Design Bureau head Vladimir Dorofeyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that the newest fifth-generation submarines will feature stealth technology. Featuring lowered noise, automated control systems, reactor safety, and long-range weapons, the new fifth-generation submarines wo