Published: 04.29.2009

Raytheon glide bomb passes flight test

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems said it successfully launched its first GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II in a successful flight test of the gliding bomb.

In a test conducted in February and announced Tuesday, A U.S. Air Force F-15E fighter jet at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., released the bomb in flight. The unpowered weapon deployed its wings, performed a series of preprogrammed maneuvers and flew to a predesignated position, Raytheon said.

Raytheon is in competition with Boeing Co., maker of the previously deployed Small Diameter Bomb I, to develop the second-generation weapon.

Published: 04.24.2009

Raytheon quarterly profits up

By Stephen Manning

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Raytheon Co.’s quarterly profit rose 14 percent on stronger sales of missiles, radars and defense electronics, spurring the nation’s fifth-largest defense contractor to raise its 2009 earnings forecast.

Raytheon’s Tucson-based Missile Systems business unit, Southern Arizona’s largest employer, had first quarter 2009 net sales of $1.37 billion, up 4 percent from last year.

The bigger profit at the parent company is further evidence that business remains relatively brisk for many companies that sell weapons to the Pentagon, even though military spending may eventually sag under budget pressures.

On Thursday, Raytheon reported first-quarter net earnings of $452 million, or $1.12 per share, up from $398 million, or 92 cents per share, a year earlier. On a continuing operations basis, the company earned $1.11 per share, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $1.01 per share.

Published: 04.14.2009

Firm testing safer rocket fuel

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Tucson-based Ogden Engineering & Associates LLC has been awarded a $450,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II transition project to further develop environmentally friendly rocket propellants for missile-defense systems.

The company has been developing “green” propellants for more than three years to reduce the environmental hazards linked to conventional propellants. The project is supported by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems.

The company has worked on the propellants under two prior SBIR grants, one for $100,000 and one for $750,000, company founder and owner Gregory E. Ogden said.

The company said it plans to conduct a “hot-fire” engine test as part of the latest project.

Solar ventures get $4 million for research

2 commentsby Ryan Randazzo – Apr. 18, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Science Foundation Arizona is extending its financial support for science-based business into the solar industry with $4 million in funding split among five new research ventures.

The foundation announced the funding Friday as well as the formation of a new branch – Solar Technology Institute – to further support the industry.

Officials hope the investments will allow Arizona to one day be a major exporter of solar devices, services and technology.

“We can leverage our financial and brainpower capital toward the best solar initiatives and breakthroughs,” said William Harris, president and CEO of the foundation.

The goal of the Science Foundation of Arizona is to strengthen “Arizona’s competitiveness in the global economy” through investments in university-industry partnerships.

Only 3 Ariz. startups secure investment funds in 1Q

by Andrew Johnson – Apr. 18, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

The economic recession stifled the flow of venture capital into Arizona during the first quarter with investors supplying $13.5 million to three firms, according to a report released today.

From a dollar perspective, it was the worst quarter for investments in the state since the fourth quarter of 2004, when no investments occurred, according to the MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.

A year ago, five Arizona companies received $72.4 million in venture capital, according to the report.

Venture capital is startup money provided in exchange for equity in new firms.

The investments are a benchmark used to measure the economic vitality of a region because the money is used to develop products, hire employees, and market and acquire resources.

Published: 04.13.2009

New UA lab researches medicines in water supply

By Evan Pellegrino

Arizona Daily Star

A new laboratory at the University of Arizona is giving researchers a better understanding of an emerging concern to health officials — traces of pharmaceutical drugs and other pollutants found in our water supply.

Investigations from The Associated Press and the U.S. Geological Survey have discovered that many types of trace compounds have infiltrated the water supplies across the country, including in Tucson.

The consequences and effects of these contaminants aren’t known, but UA researchers say the Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants will provide valuable tools that will help address growing concerns associated with the pollutants.

“The lab gives us a ticket into the game,” said Robert Arnold, a professor with the UA’s department of chemical and environmental engineering who uses the lab to measure and detect trace pollutants in wastewater.

Published: 04.08.2009

Raytheon test-fires eight new projectiles

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Raytheon Missile Systems fired eight Excalibur Ib precision-guided artillery projectiles in a recent test that the company called a contract milestone.

The program aims to decrease cost and improve reliability by updating the earlier, combat-proven Excalibur Ia.

The new version is simpler to build, has fewer parts and features a titanium base, Raytheon said. The tests were designed to show stable, controlled flight and safe launch, and were the first tests witnessed by the U.S. Army’s program office, the company said.

Published: 04.07.2009

Raytheon delivers key missile-defense part

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems said it has delivered a key avionics component for a mobile missile-defense system.

Raytheon delivered the Pathfinder ground test missile avionics module and associated equipment for the Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) system to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Subcontractor Orbital Sciences Corp. designed and built the avionics module.

The KEI system uses a fast and highly maneuverable interceptor with a multiple kill vehicle, or non-explosive warhead, designed to destroy ballistic missiles early in flight. A flight test is planned for later this year.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor on the KEI program for the Missile Defense Agency. Raytheon heads the program’s interceptor development work.

A jack of all trades, master of solar

By Nicholas Smith, Inside Tucson Business
Published on Saturday, April 04, 2009

Published: 04.02.2009

UA’s solar car tracks the sun

Efficiency boosted as students prepare for Eco-marathon

By Dan Sullivan

University of Arizona students have been developing solar cars for a decade, but the one they’re racing to finish right now is a little different.

It will have a solar panel that can track the sun — to increase efficiency by as much as 50 percent — and it will look more like a normal car, rather than a spaceship.

The car, dubbed the SolarCat, also has a back-up diesel engine that will use biodiesel.

The Arizona Solar Racing Team, a group of 21 UA students, is developing the car to take to this month’s Shell Eco-marathon Americas.

Organizers of the competition are hoping participating teams will break last year’s record of nearly 3,000 miles per gallon.