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Colorado Company Concludes
Weather Monitoring Satellite
Critical Design Review
Colorado based Ball Aerospace has cleared a critical design review for a satellite mis- sion built to deliver environmental action- able intelligence for military operations.
The Weather System Follow-on satellite will work to help the Department of Defense address space-based environmental monitor- ing gaps such as tropical cyclone intensity and ocean surface vector winds, the company said in May.
The satellite will also assist DoD in vali- dating snow depth, soil moisture and sea ice characterization.
The U.S. Space Force chose Ball as the prime contractor to manufacture and deliver WSF and its associated spacecraft, instru- ment, algorithms and system software.
Lockheed to Manage Satellite
Interfaces Under DARPA Con-
tract
Lockheed Martin has secured a $5.8M con- tract to help the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency perform integration activi- ties of the Blackjack satellite network.
The company said it will implement inter- faces that connect the system’s bus, payload and autonomous data processor as well as in- terfaces of Blackjack’s vehicle. The majority of work will take place in Sunnyvale, Calif.
The sought satellite network will work to autonomously support the connectivity needs of military missions.
Sarah Reeves, vice president of missile defense programs at Lockheed Martin, said the company will bring its payload integration experience to the effort.
Boeing Resumes 737 MAX
Production
Boeing has resumed production of the 737 MAX at the company’s Renton, Washington fac- tory. The 737 program began building air- planes at a low rate as it implements more than a dozen initiatives focused on enhancing workplace safety and product quality.
“We’ve been on a continuous journey to
evolve our production system and make it even
stronger,” said Walt Odisho, vice president
and general manager of the 737 program.
“These initiatives are the next step in cre-
ating the optimal build environment for the
During the temporary suspension of produc- tion that began in January, mechanics and en- gineers collaborated to refine and standardize work packages in each position of the fac- tory. New kitting processes will also ensure that employees have everything they need at their fingertips to build the airplane.
The 737 program will gradually ramp up production this year.
AeroVironment Secures $76 Mil-
lion Switchblade Contract
AeroVironment Inc. has received a $76 million contract for one year’s worth of purchases by the U.S. Army of its miniature aerial missile system.
The Simi Valley, CA. unmanned aircraft manufacturer expects to begin deliveries of the Switchblade tactical missile system in September.
The contract is funded through a Joint Urgent Operational Need Statement from the U. S. Army Tactical Aviation and Ground Mu- nitions project office.
The Switchblade is a portable, rapidly deployable, precision strike loitering mis- sile for beyond line-of-sight targets up to 6 miles from its launch location that minimizes collateral damage. It can be tube launched from air, land and sea platforms.
Alameda Pipe Is Acquired by JD
Fields
Gardena, CA-based Alameda Pipe & Steel Co. has a new owner.
Texas-based steel distributor JD Fields & Co. Inc. acquired the steel products manu- facturer in a deal announced May 12. Terms were not disclosed.
JD Fields said the purchase will enable the company to “continue its evolution into a one-stop, vertically integrated supplier and manufacturer of its own steel products.”
JD Fields President and chief operating of- ficer Jay Fields said in a statement, “We are moving quickly to adapt to changing global dynamics so that steel products can be dis- tributed and manufactured by one company.
“Our acquisition of Alameda Pipe is the first major step in a strategic growth plan to move into the steel manufacturing industry as we continue to expand on the West Coast. I am excited about the opportunity to absorb Alameda’s plants and bring on their top-level executives, who have the right connections and deep industry knowledge in the field to rival any competitor.”
82 www.CNC-West.com CNC WEST June/July 2020
737 MAX.”