Aerospace and Defense Review : News

Under the new agreement, Raytheon was awarded a USD 378 million modification to its existing OCX contract to remove the system’s IBM computers and install new Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) hardware The U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center announced that the hardware in the next-generation ground control system for the Global Positioning System Constellation would be replaced by April 2022. The agency reached an agreement with Raytheon for the same. Under the new agreement, Raytheon was awarded a USD 378 million modification to its existing OCX contract to remove the system’s IBM computers and install new Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) hardware. The total cumulative value of the OCX contract awarded to Raytheon in 2010 stands at USD 3.7 billion. “The contract modification will require Raytheon to replace IBM equipment with HPE equipment for all OCX Block 1 deliverable environments by April 30, 2022,' stated the new contract agreement. The Space and Missile Center stated that Raytheon had been directed to remove from the OCX system the IBM computer hardware for security reasons six years after IBM was sold to a Chinese company. In August 2014, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. approved the IBMx86 product line sale to Chinese owned Lenovo. As per the agreement, IBM had to support the hardware until August 2022. HPE was selected as the new hardware vendor in 2017. SMC waited to implement the hardware fix until Raytheon showed improved performance in delivering OCX. Raytheon had stated that the OCX 1 would be delivered in June 2021, but the hardware replacement will now add another ten months to the schedule. “Aligned with our original schedule, we will still deliver a fully qualified Block 1 software baseline capable of operating the GPS constellation to the Air Force in early 2021,” said Raytheon vice president Bill Sullivan. “The insertion of HP hardware requires a 10-month adjustment specifically related to delivering that hardware to operational sites.” Director for acquisition and sourcing management at the Government Accountability Office Cristina Chaplain stated that the IBM computers would have to be replaced but expected to do that after OCX development was completed. As the program ran years behind schedule, SMC had to come up with a different contracting arrangement to get the hardware change made. Check out:  Top Aerospace Tech Solution Companies ...Read more

Roofers get to study to perfect their craft with the best techniques and determine which roofing product can complement their work under every circumstance. They also tend to build a strong customer base with the help of good old-fashioned networking, flyer distribution, as well as word-of-mouth. They try to make their work more efficient and operate their business smoother. Aerial photographers are still on the race to refine their craft by providing pictures of the properties or buildings that are requested by the roofers and acquired as well, to use for estimates and measurements. Keeping in mind the requirement of cost of a pilot, clicking such pictures can be more expensive. On the other hand, aerial photographers highlight the place and quality of the images using only the human eye. Similarly, the fundamentals of composition and lighting help the workers to produce high-quality photos, better than any other manned options. When it comes to aerial photography, one of the most known technologies of recent times is drones. Drones are the unmanned aerial devices that work to capture the imagination of the public, and the organizations take advantage of their abilities. In the roofing industry also the third-party service providers and individual roofing contractors have begun to make use of drones to record aerial imagery, along with relevant data to use in roofing projects. It allows saving hours on estimates and inspections without even climbing up and capturing the images and videos manually. But it is an added responsibility to adhere to the local laws regulating the flying of drones in the areas. Irrespective of the picture source, the power of aerial photography is derived from the combination of software programs that are designed mainly for roofing professionals. The programs help the photos to get clubbed with other satellite imagery and property details as well in order to provide 3D models and suggestions for everything, starting from measurements to the amount of the required materials. Several companies offer the roofers with analysis and customizable 3D models, as well as low-flying airplanes when it comes to aerial photography to install in a software program, giving out roofing measurements. See also:  Top Drone Technology Companies ...Read more

One of the most simple systems onboard a ship is the marine boiler. Though most mariners will agree on this, they also recognize that it is a complex machine requiring the strictest safety precautions and operating procedures. Accidents on board ships involving marine boilers have previously caused significant property damage and even claimed human lives. Mariners are aware of the dangers of high-temperature steam and, as a result, do not take any chances when it comes to boiler operation and maintenance.  The following are some of the most important Do's and Don'ts that a marine engineer must keep in mind when operating a marine boiler safely and efficiently: Do's: Operating Procedure: When starting the boiler from a cold state, follow the correct operating procedure. Ensure to pre-and post-purge after each firing, and keep the air vent open while firing and shutting down the boiler. Blow Down: A regular gauge glass blowdown (at least once per watch) is required. The boiler should be blown down once a day to keep the chloride level as low as possible. Scum blowdown is required if floating impurities (oil, foaming, etc.) are suspected. Soot Blow: Perform a soot blow on the boiler tubes to keep the heat exchanging ability of the boiler tubes active. Smoke: On each watch, inspect the smoke from the boiler trunk coming out of the ship's funnel to determine the combustion quality. Lubricate: All boiler mechanical parts and links must be lubricated and greased regularly. Emergency Shut Down: Ensure that the boiler's emergency shut down, located in the ECR, is operational. This will be tested following the safety procedures outlined in the company's Safety Management System (SMS). Don’ts: Untrained Operator:  Never entrust a boiler operation to an assistant engineer or an untrained operator, especially when starting the boiler from a cold state. Blow Down:  Never do an excessive amount of blowdown because the feedwater system will compensate by adding cold water to the boiler drum, resulting in decreased thermal efficiency and stresses in the boiler. Soot Blow:  Never use a soot blow system when the boiler is under heavy load. Unusual Observation:  Do not ignore any unusual observations in the boiler, whether they are related to sound, smoke, flame quality, or other boiler parameters. Always address boiler-related issues as soon as possible. Overload:  Never run the boiler at full load regularly. At times, the boiler can be overloaded due to load demand, but frequent overloading will result in high stresses and tube failure. Feed Water:  Under no circumstances should seawater be used as feedwater. If the hot well is filled with seawater (due to condenser leakage), shut down the plant and fix the problem. ...Read more