Fast work for network

Northrop Grumman researchers said they've shown that a communications network that lets different digital networks interact can be set up and working in a matter of months.

A recent Aviation Week & Space Technology article detailed the latest of Northrop Grumman's experimental, network-centric-warfare tests. In this test scenario, researchers linked a collection of ground forces, aircraft and ship-based sensors to track down, identify and bomb a team of "terrorists" smuggling missiles into the United States.

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Good time seen for satellite makers

The recent downturn in the worldwide satellite market is over, according to an industry report released last month.

Global government and commercial satellite sales should reach $158 billion by 2010, up 53 percent from the $103 billion in 2004, according to the report "2005 State of the Space Industry."

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IN BRIEF

Lockheed Martin to buy U.K. firm

Lockheed Martin's purchase last month of a British firm that develops weapons systems and military communications equipment gives the U.S. company an additional foothold in British defense contracting.

Lockheed's subsidiary in Britain will buy Insys Ltd., a firm that has done work on a wide range of programs for the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD).

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Airbus to boost parts sourcing in China, inks r&d pact in Russia

Airbus said it wants to construct more airplane parts in China to help spur sales in that nation, which is one of the fastest-growing commercial jetliner markets.

By increasing the sourcing of parts—especially for the A380, its new superjumbo jet—Airbus hopes to better integrate the mainland market into its supply chain, an AFX Asia news service report said.

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U.S. aerospace employment continues ascent

Employment in the U.S. aerospace industry, which began rebounding last year after hitting a 50-year low, has grown by 11,100 jobs this year, the Aerospace Industries Association said last month. The AIA said employment now stands at 618,400 versus 607,300 in December 2004, and the outlook for the rest of this year is upbeat.

Aerospace employment had been falling steadily since the early 1990s as a result of the end of the Cold War and other factors. It hit a 50-year low of 579,700 in February 2004, but then started a sustained rebound that added 27,400 jobs by the end of the year, the AIA said.

"It's encouraging to see last year's employment increases marked the beginning of what is hopefully a long-term trend," John Douglass, president and CEO of AIA, said in a statement. "This once again proves how we are an important economic engine for the United States."