Firefly Aerospace plans to raise $350 million in funds to ramp up production, advance long-term growth initiatives and further develop a larger launch vehicle, SpaceNews reported Wednesday. Tom Markusic, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said the company would use $125 million of the funds to support “product enhancements” such as tooling and facilities to scale up the production of its launch vehicles.
Read More »Honeywell Opens N95 Mask Production Facility in Rhode Island
Honeywell has started manufacturing N95 masks in a facility in Smithfield, R.I., to help the Department of Health and Human Services support safety, health and emergency response personnel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More »General Dynamics to Expand Defense Manufacturing Hub in Nebraska
General Dynamics' ordnance and tactical systems business will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to expand its manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Neb., and expects to complete the project before the end of this year, The Lincoln Journal Star reported Thursday.
Read More »Ibis Tek, O’Gara Armoring to Supply Army Turret Systems
Ibis Tek and O'Gara Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring have won spots on a potential five-year, $49.5M contract to produce turret systems and hardware kits forU.S. Army armored vehicles.
Read More »Army Posts RFI for M31 Fin Assembly Providers
The U.S. Army has issued a request for information on potential sources of delivery and production services for 120 mm M31 fin assemblies. The military service also aims to validate the respondents’ capacity to deliver the components until the end of February, according to a FedBizOpps notice posted Thursday. In addition, …
Read More »Report: Talks Continue on Potential Boeing, Lockheed Fighter Aircraft Production Facilities in India
The U.S. and Indian governments look to close a deal that will potentially bring the production of fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing to India, the Washington Post reported Monday. Annie Gowen writes Lockheed has proposed to move its Texas-based F-16 assembly line to India, which will make the country the sole producer …
Read More »Raytheon Completes Indianapolis Hub Renovation
Raytheon held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to mark the completion of a multimillion dollar renovation project at the company’s systems modernization and sustainment facility in Indianapolis, 13 WTHR reported Thursday. Bruce Kopp writes the building underwent a facelift and internal updates during the renovation process that commenced in early 2015. Raytheon develops soldier-worn computers …
Read More »Boeing Adds 6 Months to NASA Commercial Crew Test, Development Phase; John Mulholland Comments
Boeing has revised the schedule for its Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract with NASA and delayed the program for another six months as the company works to address production issues on the CST-100 spacecraft, Aviation Week reported Monday. Guy Norris writes the company expects to send the first batch of NASA …
Read More »Lockheed Eyes Potential $15B India-Based F-16 Production Line; George Standridge Comments
Lockheed Martin has proposed to transfer all production of the company’s F-16 fighter jet from its Fort Worth, Texas aeronautics facility to India in an effort to fulfill up to $15 billion in exports, Economic Times reported Thursday. Manu Pubby writes the U.S. government supports the Lockheed proposal to set up the F-16 line in India under …
Read More »Lockheed, Terma Make Deal for More F-35 Component Production Biz Opportunities
Lockheed Martin has entered into an agreement with Terma that provides the latter options to pursue additional component production opportunities with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program beyond existing contracts. Denmark-based Terma said Wednesday it seeks to continue to provide F-35 composite and bonded assembly work through low-rate initial production and full-rate production. The agreement follows news …
Read More »Boeing, Air Force Move KC-46 Tanker Production Decision to August
The U.S. Air Force has rescheduled production decision for the KC-46 tanker program from June to August 2016 due to an issue with the aircraft’s refueling boom loads that came up during flight tests earlier this year. Boeing, the KC-46 manufacturer, said Friday it is scheduled deliver the first batch of aircraft beginning August 2017 instead of …
Read More »Orbital ATK Massachusetts Facility Reaches 500-Mark in Large Composite Rocket Structure Production
An Orbital ATK facility in Iuka, Massachusetts has reached the 500-unit production milestone for a large composite rocket structure the company makes for a Boeing–Lockheed Martin launch services joint venture. OA produced a boat tail structure — the 68th of its product-line that includes heat shields and interstages — for the United Launch Alliance‘s Atlas …
Read More »Lockheed Unveils Updated Production Line for MK 41 Missile Launching System
Lockheed Martin has revealed its upgraded MK 41 Vertical Launching System production line that seeks to build on a U.S. Navy contract awarded in December 2014 requiring the company to continue its delivery of MK 41 systems. The company said Thursday the VLS production line at its Middle River, Maryland, facility has added 80 tools in an effort to …
Read More »Reuters: Boeing Looks to Self-Fund F/A-18 Production Materials
Boeing is considering investing money to extend production of its F/A-18 multirole fighter aircraft at a company facility in St. Louis, Missouri, as it awaits government decision on potential sales to Kuwait and the U.S. Navy, Reuters reported Friday. Andrea Shalal writes Dan Gillian, head of Boeing’s F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft programs, …
Read More »Northrop to Support Navy’s Submarine Missile Launcher Tech Program
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a potential five-year, $198 million contract to help the U.S. Navy design, engineer and assess subsystems for an underwater tactical missile launcher platform. The Defense Department said Tuesday that Northrop will support development of a technology for the Navy to launch ballistic missiles from sea-based strategic deterrent submarines. Northrop …
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