Senate Proposes Cuts in Funding for the SM-3B2 ABM Interceptor
September 25, 2011: In its version of the 2012 defense spending bill, unveiled Sept. 15, the Senate Appropriations Committee provides no funding for the Standard Missile SM-3 Block 2B AEGIS interceptor, slated to become the interceptor of choice for the forward land-based missile defense system the Pentagon plans to position in Europe. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requested $123.5 million for the effort next year. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are competing for program. The SM-3 Block 2A is also in trouble, suffering a two year delay in development. The current missile being deployed is the SM-3 Block 1A. The SM-3 Block 1B has recently failed a test flight. (Space News)
USAF Gets its First Combat King II
September 24, 2011: Lockheed Martin delivered the first of 11 HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft to the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command (ACC). Combat King II is the successor of the HC-130P (Combat King I) based on the modern C-130J tanker configuration has the Enhanced Service Life Wing, Enhanced Cargo Handling System, a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation for boom refueling. It is equipped with an electro-optical/infrared sensor for night piloting. A combat systems operator station is also added on the flight deck. The aircraft also has dual Satcom links. (Defense-Update)
