Thursday, July 29, 2021
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Monday, July 12, 2021
Sunday, July 11, 2021
Friday, July 9, 2021
US Air Force Selects Northrop Grumman to Continue its Role as ICBM Ground Subsystems Support Contractor
Northrop Grumman News Release:
ROY, Utah – July 8, 2021 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a $306 million five-year base contract from the U.S. Air Force to continue its role as the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Ground Subsystems Support Contractor (GSSC). This competitive award has a potential ceiling of $3.86 billion over 18 years.
“Northrop Grumman brings proven performance, a highly skilled team of experts, and a continued commitment to ensuring Minuteman III weapon system operational readiness for the U.S. Air Force,” said Greg Manuel, sector vice president and general manager, strategic deterrent systems division, Northrop Grumman. “Our team is using the latest in digital engineering and innovation to keep today’s system reliable, safe and secure while positioning the Air Force for a smooth transition to the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) system over the next couple decades.”
As prime contractor on GSSC since 2015, Northrop Grumman will continue to provide engineering and field services to sustain Minuteman III, the world’s oldest deployed strategic ballistic missile system, through the end of its service life later next decade.
Work will be managed in Roy, Utah and executed throughout many different locations.
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.
GE Renewable Energy and European Energy strengthen their partnership in Lithuania
General Electric News Release:
- GE Renewable Energy selected by European Energy to supply another 34 Cypress onshore wind turbines units for three additional wind farms in Lithuania
- European Energy will operate a total of 56 GE turbines in Lithuania at six wind farms, representing a total of 308 MW
- Deal includes a 25-year service contract
Paris, July 08, 2021 – GE Renewable Energy announced today that it has been selected by European Energy as the supplier for three additional wind farms in Lithuania, two in Telsiai and one in Rokiskis, in the northern part of the country. The 187 MW project, which will use 34 GE Cypress onshore wind turbine units, strengthens the partnership between the two companies which will now operate a total of 56 Cypress units in the country after an earlier order for 22 turbines at three wind farms announced in November 2020. The six wind farms will have a total capacity of 308 MW, adding 57% of green power capacity to the country’s current wind power production. The deal also includes a 25-year full-service contract.
European Energy will operate the Cypress turbines at 5.5 MW, with a rotor diameter of 158m and blades provided by LM Wind Power, a GE Renewable Energy business. All turbines will be erected on a 151m tower. The installation of the wind turbines on the first three projects announced in November 2020 will take place in H2 2021 while the next three announced today will be installed in 2022. Earlier this year, European Energy started the construction of its first wind farm in Lithuania at Anyksciai with a capacity of 49.5 MW.
Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy, said: “The expansion of renewable energy in Lithuania is something that we are honored to be a part of. Renewable energy provides Lithuania with affordable and green energy that can bolster Lithuania’s energy security, and we are happy to partner with GE on several of our windfarms in Lithuania. Lithuania is aiming to have 100% of its electricity come from renewable sources in 2050, and we will do ours to make that ambition come true.”
Sheri Hickok, GE’s CEO of Onshore Wind International, commented: “We’re delighted and excited to partner again with European Energy on three new projects that will bring additional clean, affordable, renewable energy to Lithuania. With European Energy, we have built a very strong relationship in Lithuania and in multiple countries to accelerate the energy transition and drive energy costs down.”
According to the Lithuanian wind power association, Lvea, Lithuania has set the goal to produce 100 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2050. There are currently 23 wind parks operating in Lithuania with a combined capacity of 480 MW. Together with the individual wind turbines, there is a total of 540 MW of wind power installed today. GE Renewable Energy’s Cypress turbine enjoys a growing position in the country with three major orders booked within the last 3 months, including today’s announcement.
The Cypress onshore wind platform enables significant Annual Energy Production (AEP) improvements, increased efficiency in service ability, improved logistics and siting potential, and ultimately more value for customers. The two-piece blade design enables blades to be manufactured at even longer lengths, improving logistics to drive costs down and offer more siting options in locations that were previously inaccessible.
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Boeing to Support Royal Air Force Poseidon Fleet and Train Crews for Next Five Years
Boeing News Release:
LOSSIEMOUTH, Scotland, July 8, 2021 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the UK Ministry of Defence have signed an agreement for Boeing to support the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) fleet of Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft and train the crews that operate them.
“Our new Poseidon fleet continues to grow from strength to strength and is already defending the UK’s maritime interests at home and abroad,” said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. “This contract with Boeing Defence UK secures our critical submarine-hunting aircraft capabilities whilst also creating a home-grown training enterprise and creating over 150 British jobs.”
Under the aircraft and training support contract, valued at $321.6 million (£233.5 million), Boeing will provide maintenance services, spares and repairs, including tools and ground support equipment, as well as supply chain management, forecasting and inventory management, and airworthiness services for the RAF’s P-8 fleet.
The training element of the contract will offer a suite of training systems and courseware to prepare aircrew and maintainers to safely and effectively operate and maintain the fleet. Boeing will provide the flight instructors to train P-8A pilots, and under the terms of a subcontract, Burgess Hill-based CAE UK will create more jobs in the UK to provide rear crew and engineering instructors, and console operators and controllers who will perform role playing and support functions during training and mission rehearsal exercises.
These agreements will create 150 jobs in the UK, including more than 100 at RAF Lossiemouth in northern Scotland. Boeing employees are already working alongside RAF personnel at the station in Moray, supporting the current fleet of five Poseidons.
“The P-8A Poseidon brings the RAF critical reconnaissance capabilities, and we are proud to be a trusted partner in helping to keep RAF aircrew trained, and the P-8A mission ready,” said Anna Keeling, managing director of Boeing Defence UK. “We are excited to see our continued growing presence in Scotland with the creation of these highly-skilled jobs, in addition to our existing footprint of more than 2,500 employees across the UK, reaffirming our commitment to help strengthen the aerospace and defense sector in Scotland.”
The RAF is on contract for nine Poseidon aircraft with five already delivered and the remaining four scheduled for later this year, when around 200 Boeing employees are expected to be based at RAF Lossiemouth focused on maintenance, training and support.
The second of two Operational Flight Trainers, jointly developed by Boeing and CAE for the Poseidon fleet, arrived at RAF Lossiemouth last month. Both will be installed in the Boeing-built Strategic Facility, which accommodates three Poseidon aircraft, squadrons and mission support facilities.
The P-8A Poseidon supports maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship warfare for the UK, and increases protection of the UK’s nuclear deterrent and Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. More than a dozen UK-based suppliers produce components for the P-8, making up five percent of every P-8 aircraft around the world. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has built and delivered more than 900 auxiliary fuel tanks from its production facility in Cambridge.
About Boeing in the United Kingdom
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defence, space and security systems, and global services. The company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries, and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Boeing has a UK workforce of more than 2,500 direct employees across the country and spends £2 billion a year in the UK supply chain. For more information visit www.boeing.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @BoeingUK.
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Thursday, July 8, 2021
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
GE Healthcare’s Industry-First Contrast-Guided Biopsy Solution, Serena Bright, Installed in Five Major Hospitals in the United States
General Electric Press Release:
Serena Bright™ sets new standards for breast cancer detection and biopsy technology
CHICAGO, IL July 7, 2021: GE Healthcare today announced the installation of Serena Bright™ in five hospitals and radiology centers around the United States. Serena Bright™ is the industry’s first contrast-guided biopsy solution, helping empower clinicians and patients in their fight against breast cancer. The technology, which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance in May 2020, allows patients to have their breast biopsy exams with contrast guidance using the same mammography equipment, in the same room, and with the same staff as the screening or diagnostic mammogram.
Among others, Serena Bright™ has been installed at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia, Pa.), Boca Raton Regional Hospital (Boca Raton, Fla.), HCA Blake Medical Center in (Bradenton, Fla.) and Lake Medical Imaging & Breast Center (The Villages, Fla.). Health systems worldwide are implementing the Serena Bright technology in their efforts against breast cancer, with hundreds of patients already seeing results from installations across the globe.
Serena Bright™ provides reliable and accurate results that lead to a clear path of action, usually without further testing. In the past, clinicians have typically needed to use other imaging guidance, such as MRI, for biopsy procedures for lesions found with contrast-enhanced mammography and not seen on ultrasound. Following an abnormal mammogram, it can take several weeks to get an MRI biopsy.[1] Now as the backlog of cancer screenings caused by COVID-19 persists, delays in diagnosis are leading to some presentations at more advanced stages and poorer clinical outcomes, with one study pointing to a potential increase of 33,890 excessive cancer deaths in the U.S. alone.[2]
Serena Bright™ may help decrease these delays, allowing follow-up biopsy procedures to be done in a matter of days, rather than waiting several weeks for an MRI biopsy. When compared to MRI-biopsy guided therapy, the potential benefits of Contrast-Enhanced biopsy include shortened procedure time and improved overall patient experience.[3],[4]
“Especially in today’s world, as we start to regain a sense of normalcy post-pandemic, accurately identifying and confirming the extent of disease for patients is essential to getting them on the right path to a cure,” Dr. Jason Shames, Associate Director of Research, Division of Breast Imaging, Co-Director, Breast Imaging Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said. “With Serena and Serena Bright, we are now able to provide our patients and treatment teams with more confident locoregional staging results in a more accelerated, cost effective way.”
Critical to this technology’s application is GE Healthcare’s SenoBright™ HD Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM), a diagnostic breast exam with iodine-based contrast that provides high sensitivity for more accurate breast cancer diagnosis.[5] By highlighting areas of unusual blood flow to localize lesions that need to be biopsied, CESM biopsy – Serena Bright™ – provides excellent image quality to help improve clinical confidence.
“Now more than ever, we need to give patients answers as fast as possible while also ensuring their comfort. We are proud to bring Serena Bright to our customers during this time when clarity and results are needed more rapidly,” said Agnes Berzsenyi, President and CEO of Women’s Health and X-Ray at GE Healthcare. “We’re optimistic about the potential for this technology to significantly improve breast cancer outcomes for women.”
For more information, visit www.gehealthcare.com/products/mammography/serena-bright.
GE Renewable Energy's LM Wind Power produces 44,444th blade in India
General Electric Press Release:
Bangalore, India, 7 July 2021 - GE Renewable Energy announced today it has produced its 44,444th wind turbine blade at LM Wind Power’s wind turbine blade manufacturing sites in India. These blades have been manufactured in the two factories located near Bangalore, Karnataka and in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Phani Gujjari, Head of Operations for LM Wind Power in India, said: “We know blades. From design, prototyping and testing, to manufacturing, maintenance and service. As the 44,444th blade rolled out of our India plants in June this year, we are focused on making next generation wind turbine blades for a greener world.”
LM Wind Power’s operations in India began in 1994 in Hoskote near Bangalore with the production of 13.4-meter blades. Today, driven by innovation and built with passion the length of the blades produced in India exceeds 80 meters.
The Dabaspet factory in Bangalore (inaugurated in 2007) is recognized globally as a model factory, with a modern in-house lab, a playground for innovation and collaboration, and an industry leading service center. In 2016, LM Wind Power inaugurated its Vadodara factory, which became one of its largest production sites in the world. Both factories are recognized for their high safety standards and production efficiency. In 2020, the Dabaspet factory was awarded the CII South Region EHS Excellence Award 2020 for Manufacturing Excellence.
Since the start of its operations in India 27 years ago, LM Wind Power has designed and produced innovative, customer-driven blades which have helped install over 11+ GW of wind power and power approximately 6 million homes till date. Currently, about 70% of blades manufactured in its factories in India are exported, supporting the Government of India’s vision to ‘Make for the World’.
LM Wind Power has global service capabilities and with a strong network of operations and maintenance support facilities, combined with efficient onsite repair solutions, the company delivers high-quality solutions to wind farm owners across the world. The Service team in India is also recognized and globally certified under GWO (Global Wind Organization) to provide training to technicians across the industry.
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BELL ANNOUNCES FVL SYSTEMS INTEGRATION LAB FACILITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF ARLINGTON, TX
Textron News Release:
Bell’s investment in advanced capabilities at the new center focus on integration, verification and validation testing on Bell’s solutions to support the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programs
Fort Worth, TX (July 6, 2021) - Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today plans for a Systems Integration Lab (SIL) facility at the Bell Flight Research Center (FRC) in Arlington, TX. This state-of-the-art facility will support testing and verification for both the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programs, each with their own dedicated footprint. Bell anticipates starting construction in the coming weeks.
This new facility is being built to perform risk reduction, integration, verification and validation testing on air vehicle and mission systems and the software needed to meet requirements for Future Vertical Lift (FVL) complete weapon system development programs. This SIL enhances Bell’s proven ability to deliver revolutionary improvements in aviation programs by supporting safe, rapid and efficient flight test programs.
“Along with state and local community leaders, Bell is proud to continue to invest in capabilities and our workforce that will deliver verifiably high-performance, reliable and affordable weapon systems to the U.S. Army,” said Keith Flail, executive vice president, Advanced Vertical Lift Systems at Bell. “Our team has proven we are able to deliver leap-ahead, flight-proven performance and successfully complete rapid design, build and rigorous flight test programs. This SIL is the next step in bringing both FLRAA and FARA solutions to fruition for the U.S. Army.”
The SILs are designed to quickly integrate and test mission and air vehicle system capabilities while also demonstrating sustainment capabilities to meet program requirements, enabling open and direct collaboration between government and industry partners. The facility leverages Bell’s expertise from the recently completed Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR TD) program, which enabled rapid technology maturation and flight testing for the Bell V-280 Valor.
“When you think of the word ‘innovation,’ Bell is one of the first companies that comes to mind. For nearly 70 years, Bell has maintained a standard of excellence that’s second to none,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. “The City of Arlington has been home to Bell Flight Research since 1967 and is incredibly proud of our continued partnership, the opening of this new facility and the company’s newest technology and innovations elevating North Texas and beyond.”
“The City of Arlington and its leaders have been instrumental in laying the groundwork for this next-generation flight-testing center,” said Robert Hastings, Bell's executive vice president of Communications and Government Affairs. “We appreciate the support from former Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, Mayor Ross and the Arlington City Council as we create innovative centers conducive for flight technology advancement to serve our customers and warfighters.”
Learn more about Bell’s Future Vertical Lift program.
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Raytheon Technologies to release second quarter results on July 27, 2021
Raytheon Technologies News Release:
WALTHAM, Mass., July 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), will issue its second quarter 2021 earnings on Tuesday, July 27, prior to the stock market opening. A conference call will take place at 8:30 a.m. ET.
A presentation corresponding with the conference call will be available on the company's website at www.rtx.com for downloading prior to the call. To listen to the earnings call by phone, dial (866) 219-7829 between 8:10 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. ET. Please limit your use of the phone's speaker mode to optimize the audio quality of the call for all participants.
Analysts who wish to ask a question following the prepared remarks should press "1" on their phone during the call. Your name will be placed in queue. To remove yourself from the queue, press "#." If you need assistance, press "*0" to reach the conference operator.
The call will be broadcast live on the Internet at www.rtx.com. A recording will be archived on the site and will be available for replay by phone from 11:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, July 27, to 11:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, August 10. For a replay, dial (855) 859-2056. At the prompt for a conference ID number, enter 5083236.
About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Northrop Grumman Receives Six Cogswell Awards for Outstanding Industrial Security Programs
Northrop Grumman News Release:
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – July 6, 2021 – Six Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) facilities received the prestigious James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). From nearly 13,000 cleared facilities eligible for recognition, the company was recognized for excellence at facilities in Chandler, Arizona; El Segundo, Northridge* and Sunnyvale, California; Melbourne, Florida; and Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
“At Northrop Grumman we work diligently to sustain a compliant industrial security program that supports the continuity and resilience of our company’s business operations,” said Mary Rose McCaffrey, vice president, security, Northrop Grumman. “We are committed to protecting and safeguarding company employees, facilities and assets.”
Selection criteria for the annual award includes establishing and sustaining security programs that exceed industry standards and providing leadership to other cleared facilities while establishing best practices to maintain the highest security standards. Facilities are nominated by a DCSA industrial security representative and are required to have at least two consecutive superior industrial security review ratings to be considered.
Established in 1966, the award honors Air Force Col. James S. Cogswell, the first chief of industrial security within the Department of Defense. Cogswell developed the basic principles of the Industrial Security Program, which includes emphasizing the partnership between industry and government to protect classified information.
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.
*Northridge, California Alliant Techsystems Operations, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman.