NOVEDADES VARIAS DE BOEING

Boeing-led Airborne Laser Team Actively Tracks Airborne Target, Compensates for Atmospheric Turbulence and Fires Surrogate High-Energy Laser
ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], along with industry teammates and its government customer, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, successfully completed a key Airborne Laser (ABL) flight test Friday, demonstrating the weapon system's ability to actively track an airborne target, compensate for atmospheric turbulence and fire a surrogate for its missile-killing high-energy laser.
During the test, the modified Boeing 747-400F took off from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and used its infrared sensors and its track illuminator laser (TILL) to find and track an instrumented target board located on the U.S. Air Force's NC-135E Big Crow test aircraft. The Big Crow then fired its beacon laser at the ABL aircraft to allow ABL to measure and compensate for laser beam distortion caused by the atmosphere. Finally, ABL fired the surrogate high-energy laser (SHEL) at the Big Crow target board to simulate a missile shootdown. With the exception of ABL's beacon illuminator laser (BILL), this flight test demonstrated the entire engagement sequence from target acquisition to pointing and firing the SHEL.
"This successful test shows that ABL can find and track a target, use its beam control/fire control system to compensate for atmospheric turbulence, and fire a surrogate high-energy laser to simulate a missile intercept," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "We have now demonstrated most of the steps needed for the Airborne Laser to engage a threat missile and deliver precise and lethal effects against it."
As announced earlier, ABL fired the TILL at the Big Crow target board for the first time March 15. This latest test demonstrated ABL's ability to transition from passive tracking of a simulated missile plume to active tracking, by "walking" the TILL beam to the nose of the missile and using the TILL light returning from the edge of missile for precision tracking and determination of where to point the SHEL on the target. In addition, atmospheric turbulence compensation was performed concurrent with active tracking and SHEL firing.
In upcoming flight tests, ABL will again demonstrate the engagement sequence, but this time use the return from its BILL instead of the Big Crow's beacon laser to measure atmospheric distortion. After these flight tests, the program will install the actual Northrop Grumman-built high-energy laser in the aircraft to prepare for the first intercept test against an in-flight ballistic missile in 2009. The high-power chemical laser has completed rigorous ground testing at Edwards Air Force Base and is being prepared for installation.
Boeing is the prime contractor for ABL, which will provide a speed-of-light capability to destroy all classes of ballistic missiles in their boost phase of flight. Boeing provides the modified aircraft and the battle management system and is the overall systems integrator. ABL partners are Northrop Grumman [NYSE: NOC], which supplies the high-energy laser and the beacon illuminator laser, and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], which provides the nose-mounted turret and the beam control/fire control system.

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Boeing Approved for Full-Rate Production and Fielding of CH-47F Chinook Helicopter
ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received U.S. Army authorization for full-rate production and fielding of the new CH-47F Chinook helicopter.
The CH-47F successfully completed U.S. Army operational testing at Fort Campbell, Ky., in April, and now will move forward with First Unit Fielding in July.
"This authorization enables us to support the needs of the warfighter today and well into the future," said Jack Dougherty, director of Boeing H-47 programs.
"The Army put the CH-47F to the test with over 60 hours of rigorous flight test in numerous simulated mission scenarios, including air assault, combat resupply and transport operations," said Ken Eland, Boeing CH-47F program manager. "The successful test and evaluation of the aircraft is a validation of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the H-47 program and proves again that the Chinook is ready to meet the diverse requirements of the warfighter."
Operational testing of the CH-47F was conducted by Bravo Company (Varsity), 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
The CH-47F helicopter features a newly designed, modernized airframe, a Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit and a BAE Digital Advanced Flight Control System. The advanced avionics provide improved situational awareness for flight crews with an advanced digital map display and a data transfer system that allows storing of preflight and mission data. Improved survivability features include Common Missile Warning and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser Systems.
Powered by two 4,868-horsepower Honeywell engines, the new CH-47F can reach speeds greater than 175 mph and transport payloads weighing more than 21,000 lbs. The CH-47F, with the Robertson Aviation Extended Range Fuel System, has a mission radius greater than 400 miles.

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Boeing to Submit Proposal for Global Positioning System III
ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] is preparing a response to a U.S. Air Force Request for Proposals for the development and production of an enhanced constellation of Global Positioning System satellites known as GPS III.
The proposal is due Aug. 27, and the potential $1.8 billion contract award for the first eight Block A GPS III satellites along with an option for four more, is anticipated by the end of 2007 to meet a projected 2013 launch.
"GPS III will further evolve navigation and positioning capabilities," said Howard Chambers, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "Boeing's GPS III solution delivers accelerated warfighter capability on time with a low-risk, high-confidence program. Our solution, which combines signal and power improvements, is the best value for the nation and will provide a more capable GPS service for both civilian and military users."
Boeing is building on its successful experience of producing 43 GPS satellites to date for Block I, II, IIA and the current IIF series. That heritage ensures GPS III will be compatible with existing civil and military user equipment. Boeing's mature, flexible and scalable GPS III design allows for future capability upgrades while minimizing life cycle costs.
GPS III is set to take navigation timing and accuracy to the next level. Its more powerful broadcast signals will incorporate a new civil signal making it interoperable with Europe's upcoming Galileo system, advanced anti-jamming capabilities and the military signal known as the M-code, which provides more secure operations for the warfighter.
Boeing's current production of 12 GPS Block IIF satellites will begin launching in 2008, and the Architecture Evolution Plan for the GPS ground station will be fully operational in September.

Gustavo Lepez / TODALAAVIACION