Industry News
Alcatel-Lucent to Acquire Tropic Networks
Alcatel-Lucent signed an agreement to acquire substantially all the assets, including all intellectual property of Canadian metro WDM networking supplier Tropic Networks, Inc. This transaction builds upon the collaboration the two companies established in July 2004 with the Alcatel-Lucent investment and global supply agreement.
Bandwidth-hungry services for consumers - including gaming, IPTV and video-on-demand - as well as advanced data services like mission-critical business applications are leading operators to increase the flexibility and ease of use of their optical networks. This new service growth also requires automated monitoring processes to maximize network simplicity for the highest efficiency in service delivery.
Through this acquisition, Alcatel-Lucent takes a new, strategic step in focusing on cable MSO and telecom operators' key requirements for simplified network planning, accelerated wavelength/service provisioning and advanced optical monitoring technology that eases overall maintenance activities across their optical infrastructure.
The further integration of key intellectual property developed by Tropic Networks, namely the Wavelength Tracker, enhances the competitiveness of Alcatel-Lucent's optical product portfolio and gives operators the benefit of cost-effectively upgrading their networks according to the latest innovations in optical transmission. In combination with Alcatel-Lucent's ROADM technology, the advanced optical layer management technology developed by Tropic Networks delivers the flexibility and security to maximize network efficiency and operational cost savings.
In addition, this acquisition provides for uninterrupted supply to Alcatel-Lucent and Tropic Networks' customers, allowing them to benefit from integration synergies with the overall Alcatel-Lucent portfolio.
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Lockheed Martin Receives $150 Million Contract for F-2 Component Work
Lockheed Martin received a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) on March 31 valued at $150 million to manufacture components for five additional F-2 production aircraft. MHI is the prime contractor for the F-2, Japan's operational support fighter.
The Japan Government recently authorized the total production of 94 F-2 aircraft, and this new award to Lockheed Martin brings the total aircraft under contract to 86. Lockheed Martin is producing components for 81 F-2 aircraft from those orders initiated under the 10 previous annual contracts. Under this new contract, the company will provide all of the aft fuselages, wing leading-edge flaps and stores management systems; 80 percent of all left-hand wing boxes; and other avionics and avionics support equipment. Lockheed Martin components are shipped to MHI's Komaki-South facility in Nagoya, Japan, where they are assembled with other components by MHI to form the F-2. MHI delivered the first production aircraft to the Ministry of Defense in September 2000, and has delivered 71 aircraft to date.
Lockheed Martin successfully completed all component deliveries in January 2007 for its ninth annual production contract with MHI. Delivery of major components for the tenth contract, signed last year, began in December 2006. This year's contract, the eleventh, is effective immediately with deliveries scheduled to begin in February 2008. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 370 major airframe, avionics and avionics support equipment components in this successful partnership with MHI since production deliveries began.
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Raytheon Awarded $10.7 Million Contract To Produce Missile Launchers For U.S. Navy
Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, has been awarded a $10.7 million contract to produce missile launchers in support of the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft.
The LAU-115 and LAU-116 launchers provide the structural and electrical interfaces that allow the aircraft to carry and launch missiles such as Sparrow, Sidewinder and AMRAAM.
Under the contract, RTSC will produce, assemble and test the launchers at its Indianapolis facility. This award follows similar production awards in 2004 through 2006. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon has a long history of developing engineering solutions, integrating state-of-the-art technologies, and providing manufacturing, logistics and technical support in the repair and upgrade of a significant percentage of the missile launchers and bomb racks used by the U.S. Navy.
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IBM Signs Multi-Million Services Deal With Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment has signed a five-year, $3.8 million contract with IBM to support its global financial system.
IBM Global Business Services will provide application management services for SPE's SAP global financial applications, leveraging IBM's India-based global delivery capabilities. The agreement, which includes application, system development and security support responsibilities, will allow SPE's own IT staff to focus on other high-priority new project and improvement initiatives.
Originally implemented by IBM in collaboration with SPE, the new, single financial system replaced several systems that were installed in the territories in which SPE operates. The system provides more than 2,300 users real-time access to SPE financial information globally. IBM will provide operations and support services, both on site at SPE's Culver City headquarters and remotely from the IBM support centers in India.
