Aerospace World
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Aerospace World By Suzann Chapman, Associate Editor Air Staff Gets New Look The Air Force has changed its Air Staff organization “to more effectively employ its warfighting capabilities,” according to a December statement. The changes mark the first top-level reorganization since 1991. The reorganization took effect last month and made several changes to the deputy chief of staff, assistant DCS, and directorate structure. The DCS for Plans and Operations split into the DCS for Operations and the DCS for Plans and Programs. USAF eliminated the ACS for Intelligence and made intelligence part of the DCS for Operations. The DCS for Plans and Programs absorbed the di- rectorate for Programs and Evaluations. The DCS for Logistics became the DCS for Installations and Logistics and absorbed the directorates of Civil Engineer and Services. The DCS for On December 5 at the Pentagon, US Postal Service and Air Force officials unveiled this 1997 commemorative stamp featuring the USAF Thunderbirds. The stamp honors Communications and Information be- the Air Force’s fiftieth anniversary and goes on sale September 18. came a directorate. And, finally, the Air Force created a new directorate, called Security Forces, with responsibility for in the Washington, D. C., area. The less than existing launch vehicles. They force protection. service expects to establish all three estimate savings of $5 billion to $10 Air Force officials stated that the DRUs in April. billion between 2002 and 2020. The merger of intelligence with operations first test launch of the EELV medium-lift would “lead to creation of an informa- EELV Enters New Phase version is set for Fiscal 2001 and the tion-operations culture.” The DCS for The Air Force announced on De- first government operational payloads Operations now controls functions in cember 20 the selection of Lockheed for the following year. intelligence, surveillance and recon- Martin and McDonnell Douglas for the naissance, weather, command and next phase in its Evolved Expendable Teams Develop New Core control, and operations. Launch Vehicle program. Boosters The service also wanted to centralize The EELV is to be based on a single, Both Lockheed Martin and Mc Donnell programming and planning processes. modular family of launch vehicles de- Douglas have developed common core The new DCS for Plans and Programs signed to replace the current medium- booster designs based on long-running, now hosts all long-range planning ef- and heavy-lift expendable launchers— proven launch vehicles. Each also forts and ties “the revitalized long-range Delta, Atlas, and Titan. selected new first-stage main engines. planning process” into programming Each company will receive $60 million Lockheed Martin bases its EELV con- plans to meet national objectives. for the 17-month pre–engineering and cept on an updated version of its Atlas The new Security Forces directorate manufacturing development (pre-EMD) booster, the Atlas IIAR, powered by the also will oversee a new direct reporting phase. The two companies competed new RD-180 engine, developed by Pratt unit, slated to be located at Lackland against Alliant Techsystems and Boe- & Whitney and its Russian partner, NPO AFB, Tex. Air Force officials said the ing in a 15-month, low-cost concept Energomash. The company plans to new DRU would focus on quick and validation phase. launch the first Atlas IIAR in December effective responses to protect airmen Once the pre-EMD phase is con- 1998. It expects to use the RD-180 around the world. cluded, USAF will select a single as the baseline engine for its EELV The Air Force Doctrine Center will contractor to develop the standardized entrant, as well as the Agena 2000, move from Langley AFB, Va., to Max- EELV family of boosters. The estimated developed by Atlantic Research Corp. well AFB, Ala., where it will become a contract value is $1.6 billion. and Aerojet, for its storable propellant DRU. Another new DRU, the Air Force Service officials expect the EELV upper stage and the Pratt & Whitney Communications Center, will set up program to cost at least 25 percent RL-10E for the Centaur upper stage. AIR FORCE Magazine / February 1997 9 Aerospace World Boeing, McDonnell Douglas to Merge Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in Consolidations within the defense in- Donnell Douglas leaves the Washington- December announced their decision dustry have been considered a necessary based aerospace giant on center stage to merge, the first step in a $13.3 billion response to the Pentagon’s overall scaling as the nation’s only manufacturer of large transaction that will create “the world’s back of its forces. However, some defense commercial jets. largest aerospace company.” analysts wonder now whether the trend The two companies agreed to retain the Only weeks earlier, Boeing success- may have gone too far. Other analysts and Boeing company name, but officials stated fully acquired Rockwell aerospace and some senior Pentagon officials believe the that they “do not intend to let fade the proud defense units—now grouped under the Boeing–McDonnell Doug las combination heritage of the McDonnell Douglas name.” title Boeing North American, Inc.—for will create an entity capable of competing Officials said their target for approval by the approximately $3.2 billion. Acquisition of successfully with Lockheed Martin. two companies’ shareholders and govern- McDonnell Douglas means that the new Two industrial teams, one led by Boeing ment regulators is mid-1997. megacompany will have about 200,000 and another by Lockheed Martin, were Plans call for company headquarters to employees and operate in 27 states. selected in November to compete for the remain in Seattle. Principal manufacturing Boeing estimates its 1997 revenues will Joint Strike Fighter, the only major combat entities will operate in three locations: the top $48 billion. aircraft program in the foreseeable future. Puget Sound area of Washington state; Based on those numbers, Boeing would [See “JSF Competition Narrows,” January Saint Louis, Mo.; and southern California. step ahead of Lockheed Martin in the lineup 1997 “Aerospace World,” p. 9.] Boeing’s current president and chief of defense aerospace giants, which may The following month, the Air Force se- executive officer, Philip M. Condit, soon have even fewer major players. Various lected McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed will be chairman and CEO of the reports predict that 1997 will feature more Martin for the final stage of its Evolved new industrial giant, while McDonnell defense business gamesmanship—most Expendable Launch Vehicle program. Douglas’s president and CEO, Harry likely, major buyouts of Hughes Electronics [See p. 9.] C. Stonecipher, will be president and and Texas Instruments’ military interests. Moreover, Boeing’s merger with Mc- chief operating officer. Boeing and McDonnell Douglas Programs by Market Segment (The companies are sole or primary subcontractors on the following systems.) Boeing McDonnell Douglas Defense Systems Airborne Warning and Control System AH-64 Apache Attack Laser aircraft** Airborne surveillance Aircraft modifications AV-8B Harrier Bombers C4I systems CH-47 Chinook C-17 Globemaster III Defense electronics F-15 Eagle F-22 fighter F/A-18 Hornet Government Contractor Logistics Support Harpoon missile Intercontinental ballistic missile systems Information warfare Information systems Joint Direct Attack Munition Joint Strike Fighter** KC-10 tanker Maritime patrol aircraft Mast-mounted sight for OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopter RAH-66 Comanche Standoff Land-Attack Missile/Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Tactical missiles T-45 trainer Tankers/transports Thermal imaging V-22 Osprey Training systems Space Systems Commercial space systems Delta II and III Expendable Launch Vehicle Global Positioning System satellites Titan IV payload fairing Launch vehicle propulsion Sea launch Space launch processing Space shuttle programs Delta ELV and propulsion* Delta ELV & propulsion* Evolved ELV* EELV*/** Space station prime and module construction* Space station prime and module construction* Commercial Aircraft 737-series MD-11 747-400 MD-80/90 757-200/300 MD-95 767-series MD-500 helicopter 777-200/300 MD-600 helicopter BB-609 light civil tiltrotor MD-Explorer helicopter *Boeing and McDonnell Douglas are teamed on these projects. **One of two companies participating in program competition. 10 AIR FORCE Magazine / February 1997 McDonnell Douglas plans to use a USAF commander in Dhahran, for fail- commander of US Air Forces in Europe, variation of its Delta boosters coupled ing to take appropriate action against told Air Force journalists on November with Boeing’s new Rocketdyne RS-68 possible attacks. 28, “I think that as the political decision for its EELV concept. The Delta IV will The news reports prompted several is being made for the United States to use common hardware and software lawmakers to label the Air Force deci- participate in the follow-on force, that employed on existing Delta II and III sion a whitewash. Some Congressmen we will probably keep the footprint that boosters. It plans to use an Aerojet called for immediate hearings on the we have here at Tuzla about the same engine for its Delta IV small booster issue, while others who were still critical as it is right now.” and a Pratt & Whitney engine for the of USAF’s supposed findings, wanted General Ryan did not see a change second stages of its Delta IV medium to wait for the official release. in USAF support for Operation Joint and heavy boosters. The Air Force had intended to release Endeavor at least through May 1997. He its review in December, but officials also dispelled rumors that deploy ments USAF Wraps Up Khobar Probe stated it was still under legal review. might go beyond the USAF-preferred The Air Force has wrapped up its According to a DoD spokesman on limit of 120 days as the operation review of the June 25 bombing of December 17, the Air Force had not lengthens.