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Daily News
By Gail Helmer

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Friday October 26, 2001

PC News
Operation Flashpoint Gold Upgrade Announced
The details of the Operation Flashpoint Gold Upgrade have been revealed. The Gold upgrade will be available in retail and for download to gamers who already own the original game. The Operation Flashpoint Gold Upgrade contains: Red Hammer, an entirely new 20 mission campaign that has the player fighting as part of the Soviet force. With a new central character Dmitri Lukin, new Russian accented voices and fresh cut scenes. Previously available for download, these add 10 new vehicles, 3 new weapons, 4 new single-player missions and 12 new multiplayer missions to the original game. Plus the GOLD UPGRADE also contains a 64-page Operation Flashpoint Prima Strategy Guide. Release Date: European Release,November 30th, 2001 and the North American version will be released in the first quarter of 2002. Click here for more details.

Military News
U.S. Navy Contract Awarded to DD 21 Alliance
The U.S. Navy has awarded the DD 21 Alliance a $60,155,724 contract modification for the extension of the DD 21 Phase II Period of Performance. The DD 21 Alliance includes Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, a subsidiary of General Dynamics; and Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Miss. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine (32.5%); Pascagoula, Miss. (32.5%); Minneapolis, Minn. (30%); and Woodland, Calif. (5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2001. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.



Bath Iron Works is a leader in surface combatant design and construction, employing approximately 7,000 people. General Dynamics, Falls Church, Va., has leading market positions in shipbuilding and marine systems, land and amphibious combat systems, information systems, and business aviation. The company employs 52,000 people and anticipates 2001 sales of approximately $12 billion.

Pentagon to Announce JSF Winner Today
At 4:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 p.m. CDT; 2:30 p.m. MDT; 1:30 p.m. PDT; and 9:30 p.m. GMT) on Friday, Oct. 26, the U.S. Government will announce the winner of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition, projected to be the largest defense program in U.S. history.

Due to the winner-takes-all nature of the programme, the winning team will secure a deal worth $200 billion, while the runner-up could face the ignominy of losing its share of the fighter construction market. Whichever team wins, the JSF is sure to have a marked effect on the future of both the US and British Aerospace capabilities.

First Production Hawkeye 2000 Delivered
Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the first new production E-2C Hawkeye 2000 airborne early warning and control aircraft to the US Navy. It is the first of 21 planes being built for the Navy under a $1.4 billion multiyear contract. Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems is also building Hawkeye 2000 E-2Cs for France and Taiwan under the same contract.

"This aircraft is arriving not a day too soon," said Rear Admiral Phillip M. Balisle, director, Surface Warfare. "The Hawkeye 2000 will be, for the next several years, the single most important platform in our Navy's warfare transformation."



Hawkeye 2000 is the fifth generation of the E-2C, which the Navy and six foreign nations have flown since 1973. The Hawkeye 2000 has a powerful commercial-off-the-shelf mission computer and new advanced control indicator set workstations (the same workstation systems used on the Navy's Aegis cruisers and destroyers, ballistic missile submarines and other vessels).

It also is equipped with the Navy's Cooperative Engagement System and an integrated satellite communications system. These improvements increase the Navy's ability to monitor and control theatre-of-operations activities from the ocean surface to the skies and across the seashore.

Initial operational capability will occur for the US Navy in 2004.

Among the Hawkeye's international users, Egypt and Japan are upgrading their fleets to the Hawkeye 2000 configuration and other nations are considering upgrade programmes.

Russia Offers New Types of Radio Frequency Weapons
At the recent Malaysia's Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition LIMA 2001, Russia presented two radio frequency weapons, the Ranets-E and the Rosa-E. Analysts view them as a completely new type of electronic warfare weapons, which are being developed by leading world nations now. These arms are expected to bring electronic and information warfare to an entirely new level.

Ranets-E and Rosa-E represent non-flying weapon systems, which have been developed by Russian researchers since the late 1990s. State arms exporter Rosoboronexport, which was then called Rosvooruzheniye, initiated the export-oriented research on the creation of radio frequency arms, based on new physics principles and Russian know-how. The research has been based on the assumption that it is possible to disable not only pointing systems of high precision arms, but also their electric circuits by generating certain levels of electromagnetic radiation.

Research has been carried out on many of the new variety of radio frequency weapons projects. The cooperation between the state arms exporter and military researchers resulted in the preparation of two commercially oriented projects, Ranets-E and Rosa-E, which can be offered to potential clients. The Ranets-E project involves the creation of a mobile radio frequency defense system against high precision weapons. The system consists of an antenna system, a high-capacity power generator, control and measuring equipment, and an energy supply sub-system. Ranets-E can be installed on a stationary or mobile base.

Its output capacity exceeds 500 megawatts; Ranets-E works in the centimeter wave frequency-range and produces impulses of 10-20 nanoseconds. Ranets-E radio frequency cannon is capable of incapacitating an enemy's high precision weapons in a radius of 10 kilometers and ensuring all around defense in a 60-degree-angle sector. The system is expected to disable missiles' pointing and electric systems. The high capacity interference station Rosa-E is designed to bring down enemy's radar systems. It has a range of 500 kilometers. Rosa-E can be installed in an aircraft when produced in a modified casing weighing 600-1,500 kilograms. Rosa-E's input capacity is 50-100 kilowatts, its output capacity is 5-10 kilowatts. Rosa-E also works in the centimeter wave frequencyrange.

Clients may not purchase a finished product or the technical documentation of either model. Potential customers need to clearly define their tactical and technical preferences as well as finance the Russian researchers' and producers' work. After this, their request will be accepted or denied. If accepted, they can receive a model after concluding a special agreement. The model can be tested at a military range.

Aviation News
Bombardier Introduces New Global 5000
Bombardier has unveiled the Bombardier Global 5000, a high-speed intercontinental business jet designed to "...set new standards in the super-large jet niche market."

The Bombardier Global 5000 will fly non-stop from central North America to continental Europe at a speed of Mach 0.85 (561 mph; 903 km/h), with eight passengers plus three crew. It will also fly non-stop at Mach 0.85 (561 mph; 903 km/h) from Europe to central North America. The Bombardier Global 5000 will enter corporate service in late 2004.



Bombardier Aerospace is now seeking commitments from prospective customers, heading towards a formal programme launch within the next few months. The programme is currently in development and first flight is anticipated in the first quarter of 2003. Type certification is expected in the first quarter of 2004.

"We are currently designing the Bombardier Global 5000 to deliver great value in its class. It will offer one of the widest and most spacious cabins in its class, be able to take off from short runways, be fully compliant with Transport Canada, Federal Aviation Administration and Joint Aviation Authorities' stringent regulatory requirements - all at a competitive price," added Pierre Beaudoin, president and chief operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace.

The Rolls-Royce BR710 engine has been selected as the powerplant for the new aircraft.

John Holding, executive vice-president, Engineering and Product Development, Bombardier Aerospace, said: "After carefully reviewing our powerplant options for the Bombardier Global 5000, we selected the Rolls-Royce BR710 to power the newest member of the Bombardier Global Express family. Our confidence is based on the proven success of the Bombardier Global Express aircraft currently in service as well as our long-standing relationship with Rolls-Royce."

The BR710 also powers the Gulfstream V and V-SP ultra long-range business jets, and has been selected to power the BAE SYSTEMS Nimrod MRA4, the UK's new maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

The Global 5000 - Bombardier's 12th new aircraft in 12 years - is positioned between the top-selling wide body Challenger 604 and the ultra long-range Bombardier Global Express(r) aircraft. It will compete in the super-large jet segment which, according to industry forecasts, will require some 750 aircraft by the year 2010.

As it has with previous aircraft development programmes, Bombardier is teaming with international risk-sharing participants to design and produce critical components and aircraft systems.

"By applying new technologies in design and manufacturing and committing to superior standards of quality control, Bombardier Aerospace has a proven ability to design, build and support the highest quality products and services. The Bombardier Global 5000 will reach the market with quality and reliability that is among the highest for a new aircraft," observed John Holding.


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