Industry News

General Dynamics Awarded $169 Million Contract to Build Antennas for Advanced Radio Telescope

General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics has been awarded a US$169 million contract by Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) to design, manufacture and deliver 25, 12-meter antennas for the North American portion of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) project, an international astronomy facility. ALMA’s primary goal is to provide a radio telescope array that will allow scientists to observe and image galaxies out to the edge of the universe, and stars and planets in their formative stages with unprecedented clarity.

An international collaborative effort to build and operate the world’s most sensitive millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength telescope, ALMA ultimately could consist of an array of up to 64 antennas, and an additional compact array supplied by Japan, all in Chile’s Atacama Desert, 16,500 feet above sea level. The sky above the site has the clarity and stability essential for the required level of imaging fidelity. The antennas will work together as one telescope to provide a spatial resolution 10 times higher than the Hubble Space Telescope.

Millimeter and submillimeter-wave astronomy is the study of the universe in the spectral region between what is traditionally considered radio waves and infrared radiation. In this realm, ALMA will study the structure of the early universe and the evolution of galaxies; gather crucial data on the formation of stars and planets; and provide new insights on our own solar system.

The first antenna is scheduled for delivery in 2007 with final delivery of all the antennas expected by the end of 2011. Pre-assembly work on the contract will be done at General Dynamics C4 Systems’ Kilgore, Texas, and Duisburg, Germany, facilities. 

Previously, in February 2000, Vertex Antenna Systems was awarded a contract by AUI to build one of two antenna prototypes. This business was acquired by General Dynamics in September 2004.

ALMA construction and operations are led on behalf of North America by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), operated by AUI for the National Science Foundation. ALMA is a partnership between North America (the United States and Canada), Europe, and Japan, in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. The NRAO received funding for ALMA in North America from the U.S. National Science Foundation in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada.

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EDS Wins Seven-Year, $73 Million Oregon Medicaid Contract

EDS has been awarded a $73 million contract to design, develop, implement and maintain a new state-of-the-art Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) for the state of Oregon. The seven-year, three-month-contract includes three one-year options.

In the fourth Medicaid win this year for EDS, Oregon turned to EDS to replace the state's current MMIS – a 30-year old legacy system – to keep pace with the changing needs of today's Medicaid program, providers and clients.

Earlier this year, EDS was awarded multi-year Medicaid contracts by Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The Oregon MMIS will be based on EDS' highly successful, federally certified interChange Medicaid system currently operating in several states, including Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania , modified to meet Oregon 's specific functional and technical needs.

EDS is responsible for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of the MMIS. The design is consistent with Medicaid Information Technology Architecture framework of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Oregon Medicaid program provides health care benefits to about 600,000 people annually across the state through 31,000 providers. The state processes more than 26 million Medicaid transactions per year.

Under the contract, EDS will also:

• Provide Medicaid pharmacy benefit management services to support drug claim processing, utilization management and the state's drug rebate program as well as providing pharmacy expertise and help desk and auditing services.
• Implement a new Decision Support Surveillance Utilization Review Subsystem to help the state create additional accountability of program expenditures and payments.
• Work with DHS to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act rules for privacy, security and National Provider Identifier.

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Alcatel and ITI Launch a New GSM Production Facility in India

Representatives of Alcatel announced the launch of the first production facility for Alcatel's GSM radio technology in India. This production line is being implemented at the ITI factory in Mankapur and it has an initial capacity of 2,000 base stations, which will be doubled in the coming months. The plan for this technology transfer also includes ITI's launch of several GSM factories in October.

ITI is a long time partner of Alcatel and with this transfer of technology, will become, with Alcatel's strong support, one of the largest suppliers of GSM technology in India. ITI and Alcatel delivered their first million GSM lines in February 2005. The two companies are now working on the delivery of the next 3 million lines, mainly with the production capacity of the Mankapur factory. The initial million lines covered the expansion of BSNL's network in Western India including Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP and Chattisgarh.

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Cisco Systems Completes Acquisition of NetSift

Representatives of Cisco Systems announced the company has completed the acquisition of Netsift,Inc.

On June 27, 2005, Cisco announced a definitive agreement to acquire NetSift, which will help Cisco accelerate the integration of additional packet processing capabilities into future core Cisco platforms, such as modular switching. NetSift provides Cisco with a unique solution to deep packet processing challenges, valuable intellectual property, and a core team with a long history of algorithmic innovations supporting high-speed packet processing.

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Intel Appoints Xu (Ian) Yang Vice President

Representatives of Intel Corporation announced the appointment of Xu (Ian) Yang to vice president of Intel's Sales and Marketing Group.

The company also said that Beijing-based Yang has been promoted to co-general manager of Intel's Asia-Pacific region effective immediately and will be jointly responsible for all sales, marketing and enabling of Intel's products in the region. He will share this responsibility with John A. Antone.

Yang joined Intel in 1986 as a co-op student, subsequently holding several marketing, sales and management positions in China and the United States. Most recently he was Intel China Ltd. country manager, where he was responsible for the company's sales and marketing operations and further developing Intel's presence across the country.

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Navy Awards Lockheed Martin-Led Team Contract

The U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) office has awarded a team of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Alliant Techsystems [NYSE: ATK] a $9.2 million contract to demonstrate and validate solid rocket motor technologies suitable for developing an affordable Submarine Launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile System (SLIRBM).

Under the 16-month contract, the team will identify the appropriate level of technology insertion that will then be demonstrated through static firings of first and second stage boost motors.  The purpose of the demonstration is to achieve a low risk transition path to the objective weapon system for the U.S. Navy's guided missile submarines.

"We are extremely proud to have been selected to lead this important effort," said Joanne Maguire, vice president and deputy, Lockheed Martin Space Systems.  "We look forward to working in partnership with Navy SSP to deliver mission success while building toward a conventional precision global strike capability for the nation."

To provide the best value solution to the government, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., and partner ATK, have established a compact, fully integrated, product-oriented team with Lockheed Martin leading a Missile System Trade Study Integrated Product Team (IPT) and ATK leading the Ground Demonstration IPT.  Lockheed Martin will serve as the overall prime contractor and systems integrator for the SLIRBM Booster System Demonstration. 

The bid leveraged the team's combined strength and extensive experience developing advanced ballistic missile systems and solid propellant rocket motor propulsion systems. 

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Toshiba American Medical Systems Names Senior Manager

Further supporting the company’s successful cardiology business, representatives of Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. (TAMS) announced the promotion of Robb Young to a newly created position, senior manager, Market Segment Cardiology CT.  The new position was created in response to Toshiba’s steady growth in the U.S. cardiac CT market, which has spurred expansion of the entire CT business unit in an effort to meet growing demand for new cardiac imaging technologies. 

According to Doug Ryan, director, CT business unit, Young will leverage his experience and knowledge of the CT business in an effort to further the company’s objectives for the cardiac segment. 

Prior to his promotion, Young served as product manager for the CT business unit where he supported the development of the company’s cardiac CT growth strategy, including the expansion of educational activities with key luminary sites, such as Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as restructuring the company’s tradeshow and symposium approach to the cardiac segment.  

Before joining Toshiba, Young worked at General Electric Medical Systems in Milwaukee and San Francisco.  Occupying several positions during his seven-year tenure, Young most recently served as Electron Beam CT product manager where he lead the development of the newest cardiovascular diagnostic imaging technology, including the creation of several clinical research sites.  Additionally, Young facilitated several global Medical Advisory Boards, oversaw numerous product launches and collaborated on product marketing efforts.  Young holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.