ITT/Boeing Team Wins Jammer Contract
Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a team from ITT Electronic Systems and Boeing’s Phantom Works a contract for continued work in support of the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) program. The $42 million contract covers technology maturation efforts, such as design and analysis of critical elements to ensure that the proposed solution is affordable and of low development risk, while offering significantly improved operational effectiveness. The NGJ program, valued at around $2 billion overall, seeks to replace ageing ALQ-99 jammer pods used by the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic warfare platform, and also forms an important stepping stone toward an electronic attack capability for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Asian Carriers Commit To Blended Winglets
Two major Asian airlines have committed to Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) blended winglets for future deliveries of their next-generation Boeing 737 fleets. China Southern Airlines will take delivery of 55 aircraft between 2011 and 2015, marking APB’s largest winglet order to date in China. Once all 55 aircraft are in service with blended winglets, China Southern expects annual fuel savings of more than 7,700 metric tons, an annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 24,000 metric tons, as well as a two-metric tons improvement in takeoff performance from locations such as Kunming.

Blended winglets will also be installed on all 35 B737-800s on order by Malaysia Airlines, with deliveries starting later this year and continuing into 2013. More than 3,600 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service with over 120 airlines in 80 countries. APB estimates that blended winglets have saved airlines more than 2.1 billion U.S. gallons of jet fuel to date.

UK Government To Pledge Apprenticeship Effort
Vince Cable, the new British government’s business secretary, is due to open, today, “Sustainable Aerospace,” the themed conference of the Farnborough airshow’s opening day. He is expected to call upon young people to pursue a career in aerospace and commit to giving the industry “the skills and research base” it needs.

According to the government, there is unmet employer demand for apprenticeships. Cable is expected to announce investments in high-level apprenticeships. “We will need a new generation to push aerospace forward,” he said on the eve of the show.

Also planning to attend the airshow this week are defense secretary Liam Fox, Mark Prisk, business minister, and David Willets, minister of state for universities and science.

ADS is coordinating a series of themed conferences for the first time at Farnborough. Each of the trade days has been themed around the main business sectors that the industry is involved in today.

Finland Orders EADS Data Fusion System
EADS Defence & Security’s defense electronics business has been awarded a contract by the Finnish air force’s material command for the second phase of a distributed data fusion system. The first phase was awarded in 2004 and concluded last year with field trials. The second phase, worth approximately $56 million, calls for a multi-sensor tracking system and will run until 2016. It will provide Finland, which is considered among the pioneers of introducing network-enhanced capabilities, with a nationwide comprehensive security situation picture, enabling the coordination of sensors and force deployment, and enhancing decision-making at all levels.

AVWest Orders Four Bombardier Global Expresses
Perth, Australia-based charter operator AVWest has ordered four Bombardier Global Express XRS ultra-long-range business jets, the manufacturer announced just before the Farnborough airshow. Two of the aircraft will be equipped with the new Global Vision flight deck. The contract is valued at $213 million at list price. AVWest’s fleet already includes one Global Express XRS.

Rockwell Collins To Supply Comac C919 Integrated Surveillance Package
Rockwell Collins and China Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI) have signed a letter of intent with Shanghai-based Comac to provide an integrated surveillance system for the C919 family of single-aisle regional airliners. The product will combine weather radar, traffic alert and collision avoidance system, mode-S surveillance and terrain awareness and warning system in a single package.

The U.S. avionics group also has been selected to supply navigation and communication equipment for the C919. As part of these agreements, Collins and LETRI have agreed to form a China-based joint venture, which is expected to sign a formal supply contract with Comac by the end of the year.