11 May 04. Plans for a sophisticated suite of digital simulation and software laboratories were unveiled by Lockheed Martin UK Ltd. The advanced facilities will be used to develop and test future concepts and technology for military mission systems and networked sensor systems – and will support contracts the company has with the UK MoD. The labs, known as: ‘The Lockheed Martin UK System Development & Integration Facility’ or S-DIF for short, will be located at Lockheed Martin UK – Integrated Systems site in Havant, Hampshire and represent an investment in pioneering research & development (R&D) work. The investment is currently planned over five years and will sustain a number of highly skilled jobs on the South Coast of England. When fully functional, the labs will first be used in the design, development and testing of a new open architecture mission system for the Royal Navy’s proven Merlin helicopter, for which Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and systems integrator. S-DIF will allow Royal Navy aircrew to perform a ‘real’ mission or a series of missions as if they were in the rear of an aircraft. One of the key objectives of S-DIF is to integrate multiple mission systems in an open architecture system, designed so that true ‘plug and play’ capabilities can be demonstrated.
12 May 04. OHB-System AG, and Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT – News), through its subsidiary Elop Electro-Optics Industries Ltd., are to set up a JV for common development and marketing of EO systems and infrared payloads, suitable for deployment in space and for UAVs (Unmanned Airborne Vehicles). In the new venture, OHB ELectroOPtics, the system and mission experience of OHB is ideally combined with the competence acquired by ELOP in such fields as electro-optics and infrared technology.
12 May 04. Embraer(NYSE:ERJ – News; Sao Paolo:EMBR4.SA – News), is likely to post a slightly lower quarterly profit than last year due to the added costs of producing a new model of airplane, analysts said. Embraer is expected to post a first-quarter net profit of about 184m reais ($59m), according to an average of five analyst forecasts collected by Reuters. The company posted a net profit of 197.4m reais in the first quarter of 2003.
10 May 04. Liberty Aerospace, Inc. has identified a significant opportunity in the domestic and international surveillance market. The integration of the Liberty XL2 aircraft platform with a high resolution telescopic infra red and thermal imaging system will provide a unique low cost alternative to helicopter operations. The Liberty XL2 can be ordered and fitted with a high-resolution telescopic infrared and thermal imaging system for use in search and rescue, surveillance and reconnaissance, border and maritime patrol and environmental monitoring applications. These aerial camera systems are highly regarded for their reliability, stability and superior image quality. There are several camera systems available at the customers’ request with a cost of approximately $200,000.
13 May 04. Sensytech, Inc. (NASDAQ:STST – News), announced revenues and earnings for its second quarter ended March 31, 2004. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased $1,166,000 or 9.1% to $14,019,000 compared to $12,853,000 for the prior year quarter. Revenue for the six months ended March 31, 2004 increased $2,108,000 or 8.6% to $26,684,000, compared to $24,576,000 for the prior year period. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $1,031,000, or $0.15 per diluted share, a decrease of 5.2% compared to $1,087,000 or $0.16 per diluted share for the prior year quarter. For the six months ended March 31, 2004 net income increased to $1,904,000, or $0.28 per diluted share, an increase of 0.7% compared to the prior year period of $1,891,000, or $.32 per diluted share.
Apr 04. QinetiQ’s swimmer detection system, Cerberus360, is to be evaluated this summer by the US Navy under a contract issued by the US D