16 Jul 03. Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Integrated Systems sector announced the addition of Lockheed Martin to its joint unmanned combat air system
(J-UCAS) team. The two companies will work together to design, develop
and produce an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) system that can
satisfy the operational requirements of both the U.S. Navy and the U.S.
Air Force. Northrop Grumman will produce two full-scale X-47B UCAV
demonstrators for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
under phase IIB of the naval UCAV technology demonstration program.
25 Jul 03. General Dynamics Corp. is to buy Datron Inc.’s unit that makes bomb bodies for an undisclosed sum to expand its munitions business. General Dynamics said the deal would immediately add to earnings. The Datron unit, Intercontinental Manufacturing Co., which makes aircraft bomb bodies and employs 600, expects revenues of about $145m in 2003.
29 Jul 2003. BAE SYSTEMS Avionics Group unveiled its Mil Mi-24 helicopter in BAE SYSTEMS corporate livery. The helicopter will be used by BAE SYSTEMS to complete the integration of its avionics upgrade package onto the aircraft in support of its efforts to secure orders for upgrading Mi-24 aircraft in service in Eastern Europe. The aircraft was unveiled at BAE SYSTEMS Rochester Airport Works in Kent. BAE SYSTEMS has acquired the serviceable aircraft and repainted it in corporate livery as part of the company’s £3m on-going investment in support of winning the business generated by the V4 countries in upgrading their Mi-24 aircraft. BAE SYSTEMS is offering a state-of-the-art solution to the modernisation needs of several East European countries closest to making a decision on upgrading their aircraft.
22 Jul 03. GKN plc has acquired Pilkington Aerospace. Pilkington Aerospace will be integrated with GKN’s existing transparency operations to create the world’s No. 1 supplier of transparencies to the military aircraft market and the world’s No. 2 supplier to the civil aircraft market. GKN is already the world’s leading independent supplier of advanced composite structures to the military and civil aircraft market. Pilkington Aerospace is being acquired for a cash consideration of US$67.5m (£42m). It employs 540 people on its two principal sites in California in the US and the West Midlands in the UK. It also has two smaller operations in Brazil and Thailand. GKN currently employs 280 people at its transparencies facility in Bedfordshire in the UK.
15 Jul 03. Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Defensive Systems Division and Israel Aircraft Industries’ TAMAM Division (TAMAM) have signed a teaming agreement that will combine their expertise in the design and production of electro-optical (EO) payloads for intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance for specified business opportunities.