68 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2024
Department of Defense to Expand
Manufacturing of PCBA for Hypersonic
Weapons E
e Department of Defense announced an
award of $11.7 million via the Defense Produc-
tion Act Investment (DPAI) Program to Ensign-
Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD) that will
provide additional printed circuit board assem-
bly (PCBA) production capacity at their Sims-
bury, CT location. EBAD will increase existing
capacity and manufacturing processes to reduce
cost and accelerate PCBA production.
Northrop Grumman Completes First
BOLE Solid Rocket Motor Segment for
NASA's Space Launch System E
Northrop Grumman Corporation completed
the first Booster Obsolescence and Life Exten-
sion (BOLE) motor segment for the next-
generation Space Launch System (SLS) solid
rocket booster. BOLE adds nearly five metric
tons of payload capacity for SLS Block 2 Moon
and Mars missions above the enhancements
already in work for the SLS Block 1B configu-
ration slated to fly on Artemis IV. e new solid
rocket boosters will be used on Block 2 begin-
ning with Artemis IX when all the recovered
and refurbished shuttle-era steel cases have
been expended.
RTX's Collins Aerospace Completes
Demonstration with Parasanti on
Launched Effects Technology E
RTX announced its Collins Aerospace busi-
ness completed a successful digital demon-
stration with Parasanti on Collins' RapidEdge™
Mission System for Collaborative Uncrewed
Launched Effects (LE). Parasanti, a small busi-
ness that provides edge computing solutions,
was selected for the work through the Pow-
ered by Collins Initiative™ to foster technology
innovation with Deep Tech small- to medium-
sized enterprises. Collins' RapidEdge Mis-
sion System enhances mission effectiveness by
addressing the system-of-systems aspects of a
team of LE air vehicles.
U.S. Space Force Awards Boeing
WGS-12 Communications Satellite
Production Contract E
Boeing received a $439.6 million contract to
build the 12th Wideband Global SATCOM
(WGS) communications satellite for U.S.
Space Force's Space Systems Command. e
WGS constellation delivers vital high-capacity,
secure, and resilient communications capabili-
ties to the U.S. military and its allies.
Lockheed Martin Awarded $219M
To Produce Additional PrSM Units
For US Army E
e U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Mar-
tin a $219 million contract to produce more
Early Operational Capability (EOC) Precision
Strike Missiles (PrSM). e award is the fourth
production contract to date for the long-range
surface-to-surface missile, which will allow
for a significant increase in production capac-
ity to meet Army demand. Lockheed Martin
delivered the first missiles in December 2023
following a successful November production
qualification test. Initial deliveries achieved a
major modernization milestone for the U.S.
Army, securing needed long-range precision
fires capability.
