KC-46: Boeing Before and After the Tanker Win

Boeing's decision to shutter its Wichita facility by the end of 2013 is a big blow for the region's aerospace activity, which is already suffering after other cutbacks. It also marks a sharp turnaround from the message the company had for the region when it was looking for political support to win the U.S. Air Force KC-X tanker program.

Here is some of what the company put out before it won the KC-46A program, and today's message for the region: KC-46: Boeing Before and After the Tanker Win

Madrid. Acto institucional en memoria de Leonardo Torres-Quevedo

Fuente: Instituto de la Ingeniería de España: Madrid. Acto institucional en memoria de Leonardo Torres-Quevedo

Boeing to Close Wichita Facility by the End of 2013

Defense budget reductions, limited opportunities for new work and competitive cost structure driving need to close facility

WICHITA, Kan., Jan. 4, 2012 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that the Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) facility in Wichita will close by the end of 2013. The Wichita facility currently employs more than 2,160 employees.

"The decision to close our Wichita facility was difficult but ultimately was based on a thorough study of the current and future market environment and our ability to remain competitive while meeting our customers' needs with the best and most affordable solutions," said Mark Bass, vice president and general manager for BDS' Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades division. "We recognize how this will affect the lives of the highly skilled men and women who work here, so we will do everything possible to assist our employees, their families and our community through this difficult transition."

Boeing Wichita is the base for the company's Global Transport & Executive Systems business and its B-52 and 767 International Tanker programs. The facility also provides support for flight mission planning and integrated logistics.

Over the past five years, contracts in Wichita have matured, programs have come to a close or are winding down, and the site does not have enough sustainable business on the horizon to create an affordable cost structure to maintain and win new business.

"In this time of defense budget reductions, as well as shifting customer priorities, Boeing has decided to close its operations in Wichita to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and drive competitiveness," said Bass. "We will begin program transitions in the coming months, with the complete closure of the site scheduled for the end of 2013. We do not anticipate job reductions as a result of this decision until early in the third quarter of 2012."

Bass said that Boeing will continue to have a significant impact on the Kansas economy and the health of the state's aerospace industry.

"The company spent more than $3.2 billion with approximately 475 Kansas suppliers in 2011, spanning its commercial and defense businesses, making it the fourth largest state in Boeing's supplier network," said Bass. "Based on Boeing Commercial Airplanes growth projections for the next few years, Boeing anticipates even more growth for suppliers in Kansas. Boeing values its long-term partnership with Kansas, and we will continue to work with all of our stakeholders in Kansas in support of a robust aerospace industry in the state."

Future aircraft maintenance, modification and support work will be placed at the Boeing facility in San Antonio. Engineering work will be placed at the Boeing facility in Oklahoma City. Although work on the KC-46 tanker will now be performed in Puget Sound, Wash., the 24 Kansas suppliers on the program will be providing vital elements of the aircraft as originally planned.

Boeing is providing employee assistance including retirement seminars, job search resources, and financial counseling, as well as help finding jobs inside or out of Boeing.

US Non-Lethal Weapon Work Revealed

Freedom-of-information research project Public Intelligence has published the Pentagon's 2011 Non-Lethal Weapons Reference Book, which includes in its listing details of several prototype, developmental and conceptual versions of Raytheon's Active Denial System "heat ray" (hat-tip to The Register).

The document also lists several other high-tech methods of targeting personnel and material non-lethally, the most inventive of which has to be "laser-based flow modification".

find full text here US Non-Lethal Weapon Work Revealed

Se fabrica la primera pieza brasileña del EC-725

La firma Toyo Matic, ubicada en la ciudad de Bragança Paulista y especializada en la fabricación de partes de alta complejidad y tecnología- con clientes como Embraer y Méctron, además de Eurocopter- ha entregado la primer parte crítica- de titanio- de un EC-725 a ser entregado para las Fuerzas Armadas. Se trata de la empuñadura que sujeta las palas en la cabeza del rotor de la aeronave, para lo cual, durante dos años se contó con el apoyo técnico de Eurocopter.

noticia completa: Se fabrica la primera pieza brasileña del EC-725

Boeing Misses 2011 Aircraft Delivery Targets

Boeing Misses 2011 Aircraft Delivery Targets: Boeing appears to have fallen short of its target to ramp up 787 and 747-8 deliveries in 2011.

Indian Air Force completes MRTT tanker trials

Indian Air Force completes MRTT tanker trials: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed trials of the Airbus Military A330 MRTT and Russia's Ilyushin IL-78 air-to-air refuelling tanker as part of the proposed $2bn multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft tender.