Star Dusters NewsletterRetirees and Former Employees of Lockheed Martin Corporation

Affiliated With Lockheed Martin Leadership AssociationP. O. Box 10310, Burbank, CA 91510-0310(818) 565-2011 or (888) 718-5328, Ext. 2011

e-mail: info@lmstardusters.orgMarch 2017

This Issue:Announcements –– President’s Corner –– In Memoriam –– The Skunk WorksWins the DARPA-Air Force Competition for a Very Stealthy TechnologyDevelopment Contract –– Travel Opportunities –– New Members –– GeorgeWashington Quote –– Star Dusters South Coast Luncheon Pictures –– Day TripTo Palmdale –– WebSite Changes –– Medical and Health News –– In The News ––Coming Events –– Logix

Antelope Valley Star Dusters’ Satellite Luncheon, April 13, 2017 – The AntelopeValley Spring Luncheon will be held at Gino’s Restaurant in Palmdale, CA. See Insert1 for details and reservation form.The AV Satellite has extended an invitation to the Day Trippers to join them for lunch.All participants must complete the reservation section of Insert 1 and mail it along withtheir check made payable to Gary Riley by April 6.2017 Day Trip to Palmdale, April 13, 2017 – Return Insert 2 to Gary Belie to meet theMarch 28th deadline. This day trip is combined with the Antelope Valley Satellite SpringLuncheon. (See Insert 1.)Spring Reunion Golf Tournament, May 8, 2017 – The golf tournament will be at theBrookside #2 Golf Course in Pasadena hosted by Tom Oatway. Deadline forreservation is April 24. (See Page 35 and Insert 4.)Spring Reunion Luncheon, Camarillo, CA, May 16, 2017 – We will gather at the LasPosas Country Club for a lunch hosted by Al Stacey and Johnny Mercer. Complete andreturn Insert 3A by the May 11th deadline. (See President’s Corner and Inserts 3A, 3B,and 3C.)

VIEW THE NEWSLETTER AND ROSTER ON OUR WEBSITE:http://www.lmstardusters.org

Star Dusters Newsletter 2 March 2017PRESIDENT’S CORNERBy Dennis FernandezHello Star Dusters. We continue to receive 2017 Star Dusters membership renewals. Areminder that the renewal period has been extended until the end of the month. I againthank those members who have renewed their 2017 Star Dusters membership for yourcontinued support and contributions to our organization. We continue to receive onlinemembership renewals which I heartily endorse due to, as previously stated, thesignificant reduction in touch labor required to process the paper renewal form andsubsequent work load on staff.We welcome and encourage our membership to forward to us comments about ourorganization. I will share some recent comments with you that we received onmembership renewal forms:The top comment received on the 2017 renewal was a big “Thank You” to all BoardMembers and volunteers who keep the Star Dusters organization going. Many members said “Thank You” to Betty O’Connor and John Shelton, editors of

the Star Dusters monthly newsletter, for their dedicated service. We certainlyagree.

Also, a shout out to Sherm Mullin for his historical insights. Many members commented about their work, friendships and memories

On behalf of the Star Dusters Board of Directors, Officers, Coordinators andContributors I thank you, the membership, for the kind words and positive feedback. Iwill include additional comments in next month’s newsletter.Our annual Spring Reunion Luncheon will be held on May 16 this year at the Las PosasCountry Club in Camarillo, Ca. Las Posas is a lovely venue and our hosts, Al Staceyand John Mercer, do a terrific job orchestrating the event and I strongly encourage ourmembership to attend. Our featured speaker this year is Melani Austin, Vice Presidentof Execution and Integration for Advanced Development Programs (ADP) at LockheedMartin Aeronautics. Ms. Austin is responsible for overall Skunk Works operationsacross multiple Aeronautics sites as well as the Aeronautics fabrication andmanufacturing support for program elements located in Palmdale such as the U-2Maintenance Line and F-35 sub-assembly work. Ms. Austin began her Skunk Workscareer in 1983 as a Low Observables engineer and has over 25 years of ProgramManagement experience including a previous role as U-2 Program Director

~end~IN MEMORIAM February 2017Bowman (Bud) Gravuer (Elizabeth) 12-6-16.Margo Pegg, (Robert) 02-19-17

~end~

Star Dusters Newsletter 3 March 2017THE LOCKHEED SKUNK WORKS WINS THE DARPA-AIR FORCECOMPETITION FOR A VERY STEALTHY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTAIRCRAFTBy Sherm MullinThis is the third 2017 history article on the evolution of low observable technology andstealth aircraft in the Lockheed Skunk Works.In 1974 the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), with Air Forceparticipation, initiated a program to study and possibly demonstrate the concept of avery low observable (stealthy) military aircraft, to drastically reduce the effectiveness ofenemy radar systems and other sensor systems. This initiative was in the middle of theCold War, when extensive Russian integrated air defense systems in Eastern Europeposed an ominous treat to US and NATO aircraft, even to fastest and highest flyingmodels. Current aircraft were inadvertently excellent radar reflectors, based on theirshape, engine inlets, engine exhausts, radar and other antennas, and many othermechanical details. Exterior fuel tanks and externally carried bombs and missiles werealso excellent radar reflectors.In 1974 DARPA initially engaged five companies in their study. Lockheed was notincluded. However, when DARPA, with CIA approval, was made aware of the SkunkWorks significant accomplishments on the A-12 aircraft and D-12 drone programs forthe CIA years earlier, Lockheed was included in the competition. Northrop and theSkunk Works emerged as the winners of the first round of the competition. Bothcompanies were awarded $1.5 million contracts on November 1, 1975 to design andbuild a full scale model of their proposed very low observable aircraft design, obviouslyincluding all of their available stealth technology. When completed, the radar crosssection of both company’s models was measured at a unique test facility. Since theywere erected on a special rugged low observable pole for testing they were known polemodels, a term used ever since in low observable aircraft and missile development.The test results for both companies’ designs were astonishing and were immediatelymade highly classified, which they still are. It was clear to DARPA and the Air Force, aswell as to both companies, that a major technical breakthrough had been achieved,demonstrating that very stealthy aircraft were achievable.The Lockheed effort was led by Ben Rich, who had become general manager of theSkunk Works on January 1, 1974, succeeding the legendary Kelly Johnson. He hadassembled a small very competent team and made sure they had the financial andother resources to get the job done.On April 26,1976 Lockheed Advanced Development Projects, the Skunk Works, wasawarded a highly classified “black” contract to design, build and flight test twotechnology demonstrator aircraft. It was a cost sharing contract, with Lockheedproviding $10 million. This was now a “black” covert program, code named HAVEBLUE. Security policies and procedures were similar to the U-2 and A-12 “black”programs for the CIA 1954-1968. Norm Nelson was program manager and Alan Brownwas chief engineer for HAVE BLUE, with the objective of first flight by December 1,1977, nineteen months after contract award.

Star Dusters Newsletter 4 March 2017The Skunk Works HAVE BLUE design had a strange shape, made up of many flatpanels, referred to as facets. Each metal facet was covered with a sheet of linoleum-like radar-absorbing material (RAM), designed and manufactured by the Skunk Works.All the wing and tail edge assemblies were fabricated with composite materials,enclosing proprietary radar absorbing structural material. The radar cross section of thisdesign could be computed by the new proprietary ECHO I software which had beenrapidly developed during the competition. Engine inlet grids were designed to deflectradar signals, just like a facet. An unusual stealthy engine tail pipe with a strangerectangular nozzle was fabricated. Many other details were designed to prevent radarreflections.Two aircraft were rapidly built. One was to be used for basic flight testing to confirmsafe flying qualities and stability and control, given its oddball shape and unusualaerodynamics, with thin very swept wings (72.5 degrees). It did not include thecomplete low observable treatment. The second aircraft was included all the lowobservable technology features of the design. Assembly of the first aircraft wasdisrupted by a union strike starting September1977. However, Skunk Worksmanufacturing manager Bob Murphy and a group of salaried employees completedbuilding the aircraft on schedule. Veteran Skunk Works test pilot Bill Park made the firstflight on December 1, 1997.The second aircraft, with full very low observable (stealth) treatment, made its first testflight on flew on July 20, 1978, flown by Air Force test pilot Lt Colonel Ken Dyson. 52flights were flown before the aircraft was lost in an accident July 11, 1979. Major Dysonsafely ejected. The radar cross section of HAVE BLUE 2, measured over very widerange of radar frequencies, confirmed the revolutionary breakthrough demonstrated bythe pole model earlier. The test data still remains highly classified.Based on the HAVE BLUE test results the Lockheed Skunk Works, in November 1978,was awarded a highly classified “black” Air Force contract to develop the F-117 stealthfighter. This began another major expansion of the Skunk Works, including hiring a newgeneration of Skunk Works engineers and other personnel. The low observabletechnology engineering group was permanently expanded, as was stealth componentsdevelopment and manufacturing capability.This article is based primarily on the following book, which contains much previouslyclassified information:David C. Aronstein and Albert C. Piccarillo, HAVE BLUE and the F-117: Evolution of

the "Stealth Fighter": American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston,Virginia, 1997.Forty Years Ago: First Flight Of Lockheed C-141B StarLifter Transport AircraftOn March 24, 1977, at Marietta, Georgia, the C-141B Aircraft made its first flight. It wasa much modified more capable derivative of the C-141A aircraft, which had first flownon December 17, 1963, sixty years after the Wright Brother’s first flight in 1903. 270 C-141A aircraft were upgraded to the C-141B configuration in a very efficient, profitabledrive-in modification program at Marietta.

Star Dusters Newsletter 5 March 2017TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAR DUSTERSBy Ann Hyden, Travel CoordinatorStart your vacation planning early for those special trips you’ve been thinking about toexpand your horizons! Some suggestions are listed below from our counterpart to StarDusters in the San Francisco Bay area, LMMAR, and from Talbot Tours, which doesthe planning, arranging, and booking for us. Many more destinations, international anddomestic, are available but too numerous to list here. I invite you to call me with yourideas, questions, etc., at (818) 367–3217. Do book early to avoid disappointment fromfilled-up tours. Air flights and prices can be quoted and arranged from any locale. (Notethat prices herein listed include airfare from the Bay Area).Welcome to Exciting Cuba – May 13-21, 2017 and Oct 17-20, 2017, Mar 10-18,2018 – Be among the first American travelers in five decades to visit CUBA! Enjoy thisopportunity to experience the enduring faith, colorful history, lively culture and lushtropical climate of this captivating country. After an overnight in Miami, a short flightlands you in colonial Camaguay, a city of many plazas, and visit the King Ranch, thenon to Trinidad, founded in 1514 and called the colonial “Crown Jewel”, and nearbyCienfuego, the “Pearl of the South”. Before proceeding to Havana, you will pass bysugar cane and banana plantations to the Bay of Pigs and Museum. Havana holdsunique architecture, many-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, taxis all ‘50srestorations, the home of Ernest Hemingway for thirty years of his life. You will minglewith the locals; see ballet and painters’ studios; hear jazz, choir and orchestralconcerts; learn the samba and rumba and about cigar-making and baseball. Prices arefrom $5350 and include airfare, hotels, 22 meals, tour manager, all admissions, taxesand gratuities. Final payment is due 90 days before departure.Grand Tour of Italy - Sept. 26-Oct. 7, 2017 – (Call for more 2017/2018 dates) Afabulous trip awaits you covering the highlights of magnificent Italy during 12 sunnydays. Fly via Boston to Florence/Montecantini and Venice for guided tours of citycenters, Academia Museum (Michelangelo’s David), San Marco, Doge’s Palace andmuch more. Drive through the Chianti Hills to medieval Siena and San Gimignana,then depart for Assisi (St. Francis’ Cathedral and Basilica) and on to Rome. Tourmonuments and sites of both ancient and modern Rome with a day dedicated to theVatican and Sistine Chapel. Next is Pompeii, Naples and Sorrento with tours of all,including the spectacular Amalfi Drive with views of the coastal resort Positano andanother day to ferry to the enchanted Isle of Capri. Fly home from Naples. Pricesinclude roundtrip airfare, Tour Manager, ten nights first class hotels, all breakfasts anddinners (20 meals), taxes and gratuities for double @ $4475 each, single @ $5230,deposit of $400 each and insurance of $495/536, resp. Final payment due 90 daysbefore departure.Briefly, for your consideration, are the following one- or two-week or less domestictravel suggestions: (Call me at 818-367-3217 for brochure/info.).

Azaleas, Plantation & Cajuns! Mar. 8-14 & 15-21, 2018Baton Rouge, Natchez, New Orleans

Savannah & Charleston Apr. 18-25, 2017

Star Dusters Newsletter 6 March 2017Rockin’ Reno! Orig. Artists Apr. 30-May 3, 2017100th B’Day of JFK on Cape Cod & Library May 21-25, 2017

Hyannis, Provincetown, NantucketUS & Canadian Nat’l Parks- Banff, etc. Aug 14-22, 2017Solar Eclipse at Yellowstone Aug 20-26, 2017Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup! Sept. 27-Oct. 2, 2017Albuquerque Balloon Fest, Santa Fe, Oct 7–Oct 14, 2017

Acoma, Taos, Carlsbad Caverns (This is a spectacular trip)Canyon Country Experience. Oct 10-16, 2017

Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce, ZionAmerican Paddlewheel along Sept. 17-25, 2017 & New Years Eve

the Mississippi & Columbia Rivers Dec 28-Jan. 2, 2018, Mar 25- Apr 2& Apr 1-9, 2018

Brandywine & the Poconos Oct. 7-13, 2017Phildelphia, Amish County

Autumn in New England – Boston, Oct. 1-7, 2017Ludlow. Lincoln, Portland, etc.

International trips in 2017 have been added and include:Costa Rica Oct. 25-Nov 2, 2017 and

Apr 18-26, 2018Kenya Safari – 13 days Nov 6-18, 2017 & May 7-19, 2018Spain and Portugal Call for 2017/2018 datesAlpine Swiss Villages –sites seldom Aug. 21-29, 2017

seen by tourists!Glacier Nat’l Park June 25-July 1, 2017Canadian’s Maritimes, Bay of Fundy July 18-24, 2017

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, WhalesCentral Europe Spectacular: Prague, Sept 7-20, 2017

Black Forest, Rhine, OberammergauCruise Destinations: (Call me for dates/prices/ports etc. @ 818 367-3217)

Hawaii, 8-16 day trips; Call for 2018Alaska, sea or sea/land: 10-20 day trips; June 11-18, 2017Canada/New England; Sept 23-30, 2017Panama Canal; Oct 27- Nov 11, 2017SE Asia 14 Days. Vietnam, Oct 19-Nov 1 & Nov 10-23, 2017

Cambodia, Thailand Mar 5-21, 2018Enchanting Rhine –Amsterdam to Apr. 10-22, 2017

Zurich River CruiseRomantic Danube – Prague to Oct 21-Nov 1, 2017

Budapest River CruiseBarcelona to Morocco, Canary Is. Call for 2018

Tenerife, Madeira R/T~end~

Star Dusters Newsletter 7 March 2017NEW STAR DUSTERS MEMBERS AS OF FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Name Street Address Telephone/EmailBeaumont, Larry 8132 S Marion Ct 303-730-8575Penny Centennial, CO 80122 lpbeau@msn.comBrant, Tina 2019 William Franklin Dr. 301-514-7600

Frederick, Maryland 21702 tinabrant4@gmail.comCamarena, Ruben 2555 Fox Hills Rd 818-602-4642

Paso Robles, CA 93446Campas, Betty 13317 Cassel 562-693-2242

Whittier, CA 90604Ellefson, Dave

Field, Roger E.

Kennedy, Carl 5707 Oso Way 661-810-9410Palmdale, CA 93551 carl_knnedy@yahoo.com

Reed, Jo Ann 44043 Elm Ave 661-917-6981Lancaster, CA 93534 pun_key@hotmail.com

Rivas, RichardJuanitaSlevin, John 4076 Avenida Verano

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-6905 john@slevin.netSmiley, Howard 11255 Eaton Way 303-460-8508Cathy Westminster, CA 80020 Smiley303@msn.comTruitt, Deborah 3312 Texas Trail Ct 817-733-4777

Hurst, TX 76054 datruitt505@sbcglobal.netValenzuela, Luis 416 Farmhouse Lane 856-778-0852Elisa Mount Laurel, NJ 08054-5207 lfranvalenzuela@gmail.comYoungs, David

Zembik, Tom 116 Patrick Way 470-308-1671Therese Marietta, GA 30064 tjzembik@gmail.com

~end~

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those fewbe well tried before you give them your confidence…”“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”

George WashingtonPresident 1789-1797

Feb. 22, 1732-Dec 14, 1799

Star Dusters Newsletter 8 March 20172017 Star Dusters South Coast Luncheon – February 20th, 2017

Photos By Tom Spanos

Gemmell’s Restaurant, Dana Point Harbor,California

Palmdale CA

Lovely day in the neighborhood

Featured speaker Tom Blake Greta Cohn, Tom Blake

Don Meena, Lillian Meena Micki Saucedo, Vic Saucedo

Star Dusters Newsletter 9 March 20172017 Star Dusters South Coast Luncheon – February 20th, 2017

Barbara Christie, Ed Beutler Laura Rosenbaum, Mike Rosenbaum

Ed Glasgow, Lynne Glasgow Bill Beckman, Sandy Beckman

Don Brooks, Joann Olzer, Julius Olzer Gary Grigg, Karen Grigg

Star Dusters Newsletter 10 March 20172017 Star Dusters South Coast Luncheon – February 20th, 2017

Frank Simmeth, Joe Robertson, RonFeezor, Tom Haramis

Debbie Matson, Tom Spanos

2017 STAR DUSTERS SOUTH COAST LUNCHEONThe annual Star Duster South Coast Luncheon was held at Gemmell’s Restaurant inDana Point Harbor, California on February 20th. The event was hosted by Julius Olzer,along with expert help from Ron Feezor who handled the logistics of getting everyonechecked in and welcomed. Gemmell's Restaurant offered a wonderful selection ofluncheon entrées including salad and dessert. The featured speaker was local authorand newspaper columnist Tom Blake who shared stories related to his experiences andsome behind-the-scene stories about several of his books which addressed dating forpeople aged 50 and above. Tom also talked about what it is like to appear on networkshows including NBC’s Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America.

~end~ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE STAR DUSTERS’ 2017 SPRING DAY TRIPStar Dusters will return to Palmdale on April 13th for a Day Trip filled with aviation funand information.The trip begins with a visit to the Palmdale Joe Davies Heritage Airpark. This guidedtour includes the history and acquisition of these airplanes. The Heritage Airparkcontains 21 retired military aircraft; many that Star Dusters designed, made or flew,plus the Space Shuttle Transfer 747.

Star Dusters Newsletter 11 March 2017Next, we will join the Antelope Valley Star Dusters for their Spring Luncheon. (SeePage 1 and Insert 1)The day trip concludes with a visit to the Skunk Works’ facility to see some of the manychanges to this unique national resource as well as some of the current and futuretechnologies and programs in work there. There is a rumor that the tour will againinclude the full scale mockup of the Hybrid Airship flight station and cargo bay that wassuch a hit last year.

You can pick and choose any combination of the three events although the SkunkWorks’ plant tour has a limited number of slots which will be given out on a first comebasis and are limited to Star Dusters and one guest each. Bring your camera for theAirpark, but picture taking on the Lockheed Martin property is prohibited.This should be a fun and informative event for all who have worked for Lockheed Martinand love aviation. We look forward to seeing you there.Please complete Insert 2 and mail it to Gary Belie, 11564 Coralberry Ct., Moorpark, CA93021 to arrive by 28 March 2017 for the airpark and plant tours. You can also registerelectronically on the Star Dusters website under Events and Registration.https://lmstardusters.org/See the separate announcement for details and sign up for the luncheon.Confirmation for the tours and tour details will be provided by March 31st. If you havenot received confirmation by the 3rd of April, please contact Gary Belie.

~end~WEB SITE PAST EVENT PHOTO GALLERY CHANGES –Starting in March the format of the Past Event Photos on the website will be changingfrom slide shows to a gallery format. This will make it faster to find the picture you areinterested in. Additionally, this change will allow you to click on the photo and have alarger version displayed.

~end~

Star Dusters Newsletter 12 March 2017MEDICAL AND HEALTH NEWSGathered by Mel Kovnat

Acknowledgment of the source of material for these excerpts is included, but noattempt was made to establish validity. Please check with your doctor or ignore thearticle if any information seems to conflict with advice given by your doctor.

Prediabetes OverviewBy Mayo Clinic StaffPrediabetes means that your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet highenough to be type 2 diabetes. Without lifestyle changes, people with prediabetes arevery likely to progress to type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes, the long-termdamage of diabetes — especially to your heart, blood vessels and kidneys — mayalready be starting.There's good news, however. Progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes isn'tinevitable. Eating healthy foods, incorporating physical activity in your daily routine andmaintaining a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal.Prediabetes affects adults and children. The same lifestyle changes that can helpprevent progression to diabetes in adults might also help bring children's blood sugarlevels back to normal.Symptoms

Prediabetes generally has no signs or symptoms.One possible sign that you may be at risk of type 2 diabetes is darkened skin on certainparts of the body. Affected areas can include the neck, armpits, elbows, knees andknuckles.

Classic signs and symptoms that suggest you've moved from prediabetes to type 2diabetes include:

Increased thirst Frequent urination Fatigue Blurred vision

See your doctor if you're concerned about diabetes or if you notice any type 2 diabetessigns or symptoms. Ask your doctor about blood glucose screening if you have any riskfactors for prediabetes.CausesThe exact cause of prediabetes is unknown. But family history and genetics appear toplay an important role. Inactivity and excess fat — especially abdominal fat — alsoseem to be important factors. What is clear is that people with prediabetes don'tprocess sugar (glucose) properly anymore. As a result, sugar accumulates in the

Star Dusters Newsletter 13 March 2017bloodstream instead of doing its normal job of fueling the cells that make up musclesand other tissues.Most of the glucose in your body comes from the food you eat. When food is digested,sugar enters your bloodstream. Moving sugar from your bloodstream to your body'scells requires a hormone (insulin). Insulin comes from a gland located behind thestomach (pancreas). Your pancreas secretes insulin into your bloodstream when youeat.As insulin circulates, it allows sugar to enter your cells — and lowers the amount ofsugar in your bloodstream. As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion ofinsulin from your pancreas.When you have prediabetes, this process begins to work improperly. Instead of fuelingyour cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. High blood sugar occurs when yourpancreas doesn't make enough insulin or your cells become resistant to the action ofinsulin, or both.Risk factorsThe same factors that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increase the riskof developing prediabetes. These factors include:

Weight. Being overweight is a primary risk factor for prediabetes. The morefatty tissue you have — especially inside and between the muscle and skinaround your abdomen — the more resistant your cells become to insulin.

Waist size. A large waist size can indicate insulin resistance. The risk of insulinresistance goes up for men with waists larger than 40 inches and for womenwith waists larger than 35 inches.

Dietary patterns. Eating red meat and processed meat, and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages, is associated with a higher risk of prediabetes. A diethigh in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and olive oil is associated with alower risk of prediabetes.

Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of prediabetes. Physicalactivity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makesyour cells more sensitive to insulin.

Age. Although diabetes can develop at any age, the risk of prediabetesincreases after age 45. This may be because people tend to exercise less, losemuscle mass and gain weight as they age.

Family history. Your risk of prediabetes increases if you have a parent orsibling with type 2 diabetes.

Race. Although it's unclear why, people of certain races — including African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Americans and PacificIslanders — are more likely to develop prediabetes.

Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes while pregnant,you and your child are at higher risk of developing prediabetes. If you gave birth

Star Dusters Newsletter 14 March 2017

to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds you're also at increased risk ofprediabetes.

Polycystic ovary syndrome. This common condition — characterized byirregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity — increaseswomen's risk of prediabetes.

Sleep. People with a certain sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea) have anincreased risk of insulin resistance. People who work changing shifts or nightshifts, possibly causing sleep problems, also may have an increased risk ofprediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Other conditions associated with prediabetes include:

High blood pressure Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol High levels of triglycerides — a type of fat in your blood

When these conditions occur with obesity, they are associated with insulin resistance.The combination of three or more of these conditions is often called metabolicsyndrome.ComplicationsThe most serious consequence of prediabetes is progression to type 2 diabetes. That'sbecause type 2 diabetes can lead to:

High blood pressure High cholesterol Heart disease Stroke Kidney disease Blindness Amputations

Research indicates that prediabetes is often associated with unrecognized heartattacks and can damage your kidneys, even if you haven't progressed to type 2diabetes.DiagnosisThe American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that blood glucose screeningfor adults begin at age 45, or sooner if you are overweight and have additional riskfactors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. There are several blood tests forprediabetes:1. Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test –This test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months.Specifically, the test measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells (hemoglobin). The higher your blood sugar levels, themore hemoglobin you'll have with sugar attached.

Star Dusters Newsletter 15 March 2017In general:

An A1C level below 5.7 percent is considered normal An A1C level between 5.7 and 6.4 percent is considered prediabetes An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates type 2

diabetesCertain conditions can make the A1C test inaccurate — such as if you are pregnant orhave an uncommon form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin variant).2. Fasting blood sugar testA blood sample is taken after you fast for at least eight hours or overnight.

In general: A fasting blood sugar level below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) — 5.6

millimoles per liter (mmol/L) — is considered normal. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 7.0 mmol/L) is

considered prediabetes. This result is sometimes called impaired fastingglucose.

A fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher indicates type 2diabetes.

3. Oral glucose tolerance testThis test is usually used to diagnose diabetes only during pregnancy. A blood sample istaken after you fast for at least eight hours or overnight. Then you'll drink a sugarysolution, and your blood sugar level will be measured again after two hours.In general:

A blood sugar level less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is considered normal. A blood sugar level from 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L) is considered

prediabetes. This is sometimes referred to as impaired glucose tolerance. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher indicates type 2

diabetes.If you have prediabetes, further testing may be needed. At least once a year, yourdoctor will likely check your:

Fasting blood sugar Hemoglobin A1C Total cholesterol, HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides

Testing might occur more frequently if you have additional risk factors for diabetes.Children and prediabetes testingType 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children and adolescents, likely due tothe rise in childhood obesity. The ADA recommends prediabetes testing for childrenwho are overweight or obese and who have at least two other risk factors for type 2diabetes.

Star Dusters Newsletter 16 March 2017These other risk factors include:

Family history of type 2 diabetes. Race. Children who are African-American, Hispanic or Native American are at

higher risk. Sex and age. Type 2 diabetes is more common among girls than boys. A

diagnosis of childhood type 2 diabetes often occurs during puberty — as earlyas age 10.

Low birth weight. Being born to a mother who had gestational diabetes.

The ranges of blood sugar level considered normal, prediabetic and diabetic are thesame for children and adults.Children who have prediabetes should be tested annually for type 2 diabetes — ormore often if the child experiences a change in weight or develops signs or symptomsof diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue or blurred vision.TreatmentHealthy lifestyle choices can help you bring your blood sugar level back to normal, or atleast keep it from rising toward the levels seen in type 2 diabetes.To prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes, try to:

Eat healthy foods. Choose foods low in fat and calories and high in fiber.Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help youachieve your goals without compromising taste or nutrition.

Be more active. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity mostdays of the week.

Lose excess weight. If you're overweight, losing just 5 to 10 percent of yourbody weight — only 10 to 20 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds— can reduce therisk of developing type 2 diabetes. To keep your weight in a healthy range,focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits. Motivateyourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart,more energy and improved self-esteem.

Stop smoking. Take medications as needed. If you're at high risk of diabetes, your doctor

might recommend metformin (Glucophage, others). Medications to controlcholesterol and high blood pressure might also be prescribed.

Children and prediabetes treatmentChildren with prediabetes should undertake the lifestyle changes recommended foradults with type 2 diabetes, including:

Losing weight Eating fewer refined carbohydrates and fats, and more fiber Spending at least one hour every day in physical activity

Star Dusters Newsletter 17 March 2017Medication generally isn't recommended for children with prediabetes.Alternative medicineMany alternative therapies have been touted as possible ways to treat or prevent type 2diabetes, including:

Banaba Cassia cinnamon Fenugreek Ginseng Gymnema Mangesium White mulberry

Although some of these substances have shown promise in early trials, there's nodefinitive evidence that any of these alternative therapies are effective.Talk to your doctor if you're considering dietary supplements or other alternativetherapies to treat or prevent prediabetes. Some of these supplements or alternativetherapies might be harmful if combined with certain prescription medications. Yourdoctor can help you weigh the pros and cons of specific alternative therapies.

~end~LOS ANGELES COUNTY AIRSHOW –The LA County Air Show, sponsored byLockheed Martin, will be at held atWilliam J Fox Airfield in Lancaster CA onMarch 25 & 26, 2017.Our Star Dusters photographer is alsopart of the Air Show photography teamand will be roaming the crowds.Let us know if you are going to beattending and we’ll do our best to get apicture of you to include in the nextnewsletter.

Star Dusters Newsletter 18 March 2017IN THE NEWSBy Pete Harrigan

NON-PRODUCT RELATEDLockheed Martin 2017 Guidance Falls Short – The company reported forecast-beating fourth-quarter earnings for 2016, but its initial 2017 profit guidance fell short ofexpectations and caused shares to fall in New York Stock Exchange trading, The WallStreet Journal said. Lockheed Martin expects 2017 net sales to rise between 4.6% and7.1%, compared with a previous forecast of a 7% increase, and said annual sales couldsurpass $50 billion for the first time in 2017. It said the free cash that has powered itsbig stock-buyback program also is set to rise, alongside margins at the Aeronautics unitthat produces the F-35. The company expects earnings per share of between $12.25and $12.55 for 2017, below the $12.87 consensus among analysts surveyed byThomson Reuters.Company Warns of Material Weakness in Sikorsky Financial Statements –Lockheed Martin said it found “material weakness” in internal controls of financialreporting at its Sikorsky helicopter business, Reuters reported. It said Sikorsky’sinternal controls were ineffective and that financial results may be misstated, but notedthat so far it has not identified any material errors in the financial results or balancesdue to the control deficiencies. Lockheed Martin also said there was no change in itspreviously reported financial statements due to the control deficiencies. Its review ofSikorsky’s financial systems will be completed by the end of the current fiscal year.Pentagon Holds Back Funds from Sikorsky Over Business Systems – The U.S.Defense Department is withholding almost $210 million from Lockheed Martin’sSikorsky unit until it demonstrates it has a plan to correct flaws in two internal businesssystems, Bloomberg News reported. A Pentagon rule that took effect in 2011 requiresthat funds be withheld if persistent deficiencies are found in any of six primary businesssystems. Sikorsky currently has the most money withheld of any company tracked bythe Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). It’s another sign of weaknesses ininternal controls at Sikorsky, which Lockheed Martin bought from United Technologiesin 2015. Shares of Lockheed Martin fell after the company warned of a “materialweakness” in accounting at Sikorsky. A spokesman said the two cases of businesssystem weaknesses cited by the Pentagon aren’t related to the accounting issues. Headded that DCMA recently approved Sikorsky’s corrective action plans for systemsused to estimate bid costs and to compare actual costs and performance againstprojections.Sikorsky, Pensions Weigh on Balance Sheet, Moody’s Says – While LockheedMartin is in an enviable position as the world’s largest defense contractor, Moody’sInvestors Service said its balance sheet is carrying an “above average” amount of risk,the Washington Business Journal reported. The company is poised for growth but willbe pressured by its mounting debt, Moody’s said. Its “elevated” level of financialleverage can be attributed to a pension deficit of around $12 billion and also to debt,currently around $14 billion, largely from the $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky in 2015.Moody’s noted that the pension fund is feeling the pressure of low interest rates, weak

Star Dusters Newsletter 19 March 2017asset returns and lower mortality rates, and noted that the shortfall “has remained nearall-time highs for several years.” Because of this, and in spite of the company’svoluntary contributions in past years, “this continues to adversely affect LockheedMartin’s key credit metrics and overall financial risk profile more meaningfully than forthe company's peers.” The company could benefit from expectations of rising interestrates and the prospects for higher defense spending by the Trump administration,Moody’s said.Lockheed Martin Declares Dividend – The board of directors authorized a firstquarter 2017 dividend of $1.82 per share, unchanged from the prior quarter. Thedividend is payable on March 24, 2017 to holders of record as of the close of businesson March 1, 2017.U.S. Defense Shares Shrug Off Trump Criticism, Gains Seen – U.S. defensecompany shares have largely shrugged off President Trump’s criticisms over costs andmay be poised to fly even higher, Reuters reported. Promises by Trump to expand theU.S. military give many investors and analysts confidence the defense industry willgrow strongly in coming years. “There’s a multi-year upturn in play here. If you believewe’re in the first inning of a multi-year up cycle, the valuations can stay extended for alonger period of time,” said Peter Arment, an aerospace and defense analyst at RobertW. Baird & Co. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch analyst Ronald Epstein said the up cyclestarted before the election, but the Republican sweep in Congress could mean evenmore robust growth in defense than previously expected.CFO Says Acquisition Officials and Policy, Not Trump, Key to Sales – LockheedMartin’s chief financial officer said officials who fill key defense acquisition positions andany policy changes would be more important than President Trump’s direct actions onsales in the defense sector, Investor’s Business Daily reported. During a presentationat an investor conference in New York, Bruce Tanner was asked about Trump’s effecton demand given his “aggressive stance on some issues,” such as the F-35. “Thebetter question would be who is going to fill the acquisition slots in the Pentagonrepresenting the administration and whether or not there’s signals sent over a shift inpolicy,” Tanner replied. “I think that would be more critical maybe than the ongoinginfluence of the president directly.”Trump Ribs Hewson During Meeting with Business Leaders – President Trumpribbed Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson over the cost of its F-35 during a WhiteHouse meeting with manufacturing CEOs, The Hill reported. Referring to a newcontract that lowers the fighter’s cost, Trump said: “Marillyn, you’ve gotten a lot ofcredit. “You think [Hillary Clinton] would have asked for $700 million [in savings]? Ohboy, I assume you wanted her to win. But you’re going to do great, and you’re going tomake more planes.” Hewson, one of two dozen CEOs attending the second meeting ofTrump’s American Manufacturing Council, didn’t respond to the president but later toldreporters Trump is ready to take quick action on streamlining rules for businesses. “It’svery important that we reduce regulations, that we eliminate those that are burdensomethat are unnecessary,” she said.

Star Dusters Newsletter 20 March 2017Lockheed Martin Denies Seeking Help of Ex-Trump Aide – The company deniedreports that it turned to Corey Lewandowski, President Trump’s former campaignmanager, and his lobbying firm to steer through the cost dispute around the F-35 fighterplane, Reuters reported. Bloomberg News reported that Lockheed Martin soughtLewandowski’s help after an initial meeting between Trump and CEO Marillyn Hewsondidn’t go well. “Lockheed has not retained Lewandowski, or his lobbying firm,” acompany spokesman said. Politico reported, however, that the company declined toanswer follow-up questions about whether it had any interactions with Lewandowski.Trump fired Lewandowski last June over a dispute with other advisers.Lockheed Martin Exec Turns Down National Security Adviser Offer – Robert S.Harward, chief executive of Lockheed Martin’s unit in the United Arab Emirates, turneddown President Trump’s offer to serve as national security adviser, succeeding MichaelFlynn, Politico reported. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Navy SEAL, Harward ledmilitary forces in Afghanistan and Iraq for six years and was deputy director of the U.S.Central Command before retiring with the rank of vice admiral and joining LockheedMartin. While in uniform, he also did a tour on the National Security Council underPresident George W. Bush, working on counterterrorism. Politico said Harward turneddown the administration job because he did not receive sufficient assurances aboutstaffing and autonomy. In a statement, Harward said it was difficult to subject his familyto additional hardships after 40 years of military deployments. “Since retiring, I have theopportunity to address financial and family issues that would have been challenging inthis position,” he said.Company Exec Reportedly Under Consideration for Pentagon’s #2 Job – Thecompany’s top government relations official, Robert Rangel, is in the running to becomedeputy secretary of defense, sources told Politico. Rangel, currently Lockheed Martin’ssenior vice president for government affairs, previously served as chief of staff toformer Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. Prior to joining thecompany in 2011, Rangel also was staff director for the House Armed ServicesCommittee. The Washington Examiner noted that Byron Callan, an analyst at CapitalAlpha Partners, previously stressed the importance of getting someone into thePentagon’s deputy job with a background in industry to explain to both Trump andDefense Secretary Jim Mattis why defense platforms cost so much.Lockheed Martin #2 in Lobbying Expenses for 2016 – Boeing spent $17 million onlobbying in 2016, the most of any defense contractor, but also had the biggest year-to-year decline as its total was $4.8 million less than 2015, Politico reported. LockheedMartin was second at $13.5 million and Northrop Grumman was third with $12 million,both slightly below their spending in 2015. Boeing’s higher spending in 2015 wasattributed to its push to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Overall, spending onlobbying by the 20 largest contractors totaled $108.2 million, $5.5 million less than ayear before, according to federal lobbying disclosures. But lobby firms believePresident Trump’s pledge to increase the size of the military and talk on Capitol Hill oflifting spending caps could mean a huge boon as companies seek to secure extradefense dollars.

Star Dusters Newsletter 21 March 2017Laid Off Engineer Awarded $51M – An eight-person federal jury in Camden, NJawarded $51.56 million to an engineer who contended he was laid off by LockheedMartin because of his age, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. After a four-day trial, thejury awarded Robert Braden $1.56 million for economic losses and pain and suffering,and $50 million in punitive damages. One of the law firms representing Braden calledthe award “one of the largest ever obtained by an individual plaintiff in an agediscrimination case.” Lockheed Martin declined to comment. Braden said he wasterminated in 2012 during a round of layoffs at the Rotary and Mission Systemsbusiness in Moorestown, NJ. Braden was the oldest of six engineers in his work groupand the only one let go in that round of layoffs. He said he was given no specific reasonfor his termination and that his job performance had been “excellent.” Braden addedthat he had been paid less than younger colleagues, and that company officials hadsaid in his presence that “older workers have nowhere else to go” and could be treatedworse than younger employees who were more likely to quit.Lockheed Martin Sued Over Mysterious Exploding Metal – A new lawsuit claimsthat a mysterious metal that exploded at a recycling plant came from Lockheed MartinMissiles and Fire Control’s manufacturing plant in Orlando, the Orlando Sentinelreported. Vincent Maynard, an employee at Brothers Scrap Metal in West Orlando,suffered severe burns to his arms and hands in the December 2014 explosion. Brothersallegedly received three bins of the metal from Lockheed Martin, along with a MaterialSafety Data Sheet indicating the substance was a “reactive metal matrix composite”.The suit contends that Maynard tried to identify the metal with a scanner, but it failed toread the makeup of the material. The explosion occurred as he was using a grinder toremove a coating and expose the underlying metal, the suit says. The lawsuit allegesthat Lockheed Martin had a duty to warn Brothers if there was a significant explosionrisk from the metal. A spokesman for Lockheed Martin did not immediately provide aresponse to the allegations.AERONAUTICSTrump’s F-35 Call Came with Rival CEO Listening – Boeing’s CEO was listening inas then President-elect Trump called the U.S. Air Force general managing LockheedMartin’s F-35 program, Bloomberg News reported. Trump, who repeatedly criticized the$379 billion F-35 program, made calls to Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan on January 9 and 17.Dennis Muilenburg, whose company makes the F/A-18 that Trump has suggestedmight replace one F-35 model, was in Trump’s New York office for a meeting during thesecond call. Bogdan declined to say whether he thought it was appropriate forMuilenburg to be on the call, The Hill reported. But, Bogdan said, all of the informationhe provided in the call was “clearly” allowed to be released publicly. “I understand therules about talking about Lockheed Martin stuff in front of Mr. Muilenburg,” Bogdansaid. Lockheed Martin declined to comment. Boeing said it had nothing to add toMuilenburg’s comments to the media after his meeting with Trump, in which he didn’treference the call.At Boeing Plant, Trump Suggests More Fighter Purchases Coming – Visiting aBoeing commercial aircraft factory in North Carolina, President Trump said thegovernment is looking at “a big order” for additional F/A-18s, which the Pentagon is

Star Dusters Newsletter 22 March 2017evaluating as a potential alternative to some F-35s, The Wall Street Journal reported.The president also offered backing for Lockheed Martin’s F-35, however, saying: “Itwas out of control and now it’s very much in control.” Trump later told reporters that,unless the F-35’s price continued to come down, he would be prepared to cut future F-35 contracts and order more Super Hornets, Defense News reported. Trump alsoadvocated taking steps to increase the stealth of the Super Hornet. Boeing’s relationswith Trump have warmed following the president’s initial blast on Twitter against thecost of the new 747s it will build to serve as Air Force One, threatening to even cancelthe program. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has met with Trump a number of timesand committed to keep down the cost of replacing the presidential fleet of 747s.SecDef Review Only Looks at F-35C – Of the three variants of Lockheed Martin’s F-35, only the carrier-launched F-35C is at risk of replacement by Boeing’s F/A-18,Breaking Defense reported. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant foraviation, said the F/A-18 isn’t under consideration to replace either the land-based F-35A or the vertical-takeoff-and-landing F-35B. The clarification isn’t a huge surprise.There’s no way to make the F/A-18, designed to land on a carrier deck, able to take offvertically; it’s also too heavy to perform aerial maneuvers expected of the F-35A. TheMarines plan to buy 67 F-35Cs to operate off aircraft carriers alongside Navysquadrons, but even more of the B-model “jump jets” intended to operate off the muchshorter decks of amphibious assault ships. “I’m highly confident we’re on the righttrack,” Davis said, adding that “my sense is we’ll probably end up validating theimperative to have a fifth generation aircraft out there.”Key House Republican Questions Trump Plan to Compete Jets – PresidentTrump’s plan to compete Boeing’s F/A-18 against Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet “doesn’tmake sense” to a key lawmaker who would need to approve the plan, Bloomberg Newsreported. The two aircraft are vastly different fighters with distinctive roles, said Rep.Kay Granger (R-TX), chair of the House defense appropriations subcommittee. “The F-35, there’s no another plane like it. You can’t compare it to the F-18,” said Granger,whose district includes the Fort Worth plant where the F-35 is assembled. As a so-called fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 is stealthier and equipped with more advancedradar, sensors and communications systems than Boeing’s fourth-generation F/A-18,which was designed primarily for aircraft carrier operations. And the bulk of thePentagon’s F-35 purchases – 1,763 out of a total 2,443 – are planned by the Air Force,not the Navy.Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Agree on Contract Lowering F-35 Costs – ThePentagon and Lockheed Martin reached agreement on a contract for the 10 th lot of F-35s, with the per-plane cost on the most common F-35A model dropping below $100million for the first time, Defense News reported. The deal was announced by WhiteHouse Press Secretary Sean Spicer, rather than by the Pentagon. Since his election,President Trump has focused an unusual amount of attention on the F-35. Despiteindications that costs were coming down regardless of Trump's intervention, Spicerdirectly gave credit to Trump for the deal. The contract covers production for 90 aircraftand sets the price of an F-35A model at $94.6 million, a 7.3% reduction from the ninthlot. The F-35B jump-jet model used by the U.S. Marine Corps sits at $122.8 million

Star Dusters Newsletter 23 March 2017(6.7% reduction), and an F-35C carrier version is at $121.8 million (7.9% reduction). Intotal, the Lot 10 contract represents a $728 million reduction when compared to Lot 9.The Pentagon said the F-35A price has declined by more than 60% since the first LRIPcontract.Some Question Trump’s Claim He Cut $600M from F-35 Costs – The Trumpadministration was quick to claim credit for reducing the F-35’s price, the Fort WorthStar-Telegram reported. But defense industry analysts said Trump played a minimalrole, at best. Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, said the cost reductionfor Lot 10 aircraft had been planned for years. “Heaven help us if Trump actuallybelieves that nonsense,” Aboulafia said. “He is taking credit for something that hasbeen in the works for quite some time.” Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute,which has done consulting for Lockheed Martin, agreed that Trump “may have played aminimal role” in the new contract, but said the president “is watching the F-35 closelyand the Pentagon needs to get the cost down.” Lockheed Martin said it appreciatedTrump’s comments “on the positive progress we’ve made on the F-35 program.”F-35 Cost Could Drop an Additional 16%, DoD Official Says – The Pentagon officialin charge of the F-35 program said the jet’s price could fall 16% to around $80 million infuture purchases, Reuters reported. That would be down from the $95 million unit costfor the F-35A recently agreed to by the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin for the Lot 10buy of 90 aircraft. Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan predicted even lower costs while testifyingbefore a House Armed Services subcommittee. In separate testimony, Maj. Gen. JerryHarris, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategic plans, programs andrequirements, cautioned against accelerating F-35A purchases until the most up-to-date software is available. Buying more aircraft over the next few years could lead tohigher retrofit costs in the early 2020s, when the Block 4 follow-on modernizationprogram starts, Harris said.Lockheed Martin Maintains F-35 Pricing Plan – The company said that its F-35program would become more profitable despite pressure by President Trump to cutcosts, The Wall Street Journal reported. During a call with analysts, CEO MarillynHewson said profits would rise due to an existing cost-cutting plan and by producingmore of the planes to generate economies of scale. Hewson said she discussed theplans with President Trump, along with ideas for making the F-35 fleet less expensiveto operate. Investors had been concerned that Trump’s intervention would hurt profitson the F-35 program and remained cautious in case the company is forced into makingadditional cost cuts. “It’s not about slashing our profit,” Hewson said. The Pentagon’sgoal is to cut the cost of the main version of the plane to $85 million in inflation-adjusteddollars by 2019, a target Hewson reiterated. “For Lockheed to not concede anythingnew in the discussions on the program may not be ‘The Deal’ that President Trump ishoping to advertise,” Robert Stallard, an analyst at Vertical Research, said in a note toclients.Robots Eyed to Reduce F-35 Production Costs – Lockheed Martin is boosting theuse of robotics at its Fort Worth plant in an effort to drive down the F-35’s cost, theStar-Telegram reported. “We want an $80 million jet,” Janet Nash, vice president of F-35 production, said in an interview on CNBC. “We have to take labor out of the aircraft

Star Dusters Newsletter 24 March 2017build process and we have to make that process more efficient without any reduction inquality.” To do that, Nash said Lockheed Martin is turning to robotics, including systemsthat apply paint to help make the airplane stealthy. While President Trump wants tolower the cost of the F-35, he also has pledged to increase manufacturing jobs in theUnited States. It’s not yet clear whether those two goals are compatible from thepresident’s perspective. The company employs about 14,000 workers in Fort Worth,including 8,800 assigned to the F-35 program. Up to 1,800 new workers are expectedto be hired through 2020 as production of the fighter increases.Deadline Passes for Lot 9 Contract Appeal – The deadline passed for LockheedMartin to ask the Armed Services Board of Contracts Appeals to set aside the unilateralterms imposed on the ninth lot of low-rate initial production F-35s, but alternative legalavenues still remain to overturn the deal, FlightGlobal reported. Those include filing aclaim under the Contract Disputes Act, filing a request for equitable adjustment, orrequesting alternate dispute resolution under the Joint Strike Fighter memorandum ofagreement. During a call with analysts, CEO Marillyn Hewson suggested the companywas in no rush to appeal. “On LRIP 9, we’re not under any pressure to do anything,”she said. “We’re going to continue to look at our options on LRIP 9.”USAF Eyes Removal of F-35 Pilot Weight Limits – The U.S. Air Force could beready to remove weight restrictions on F-35 pilots as early as April, following fixes tothe aircraft’s ejection seat and helmet, Defense News reported. But even if the newlymodified Martin-Baker ejection seat meets requirements, the service may still pressahead with certifying a second seat against potential risks in the future, said Brig. Gen.Scott Pleus, who heads the Air Force’s F-35 integration office. In 2015, the Air Forcediscovered that F-35 pilots who weigh less than 136 pounds were at high risk of severeor potentially fatal neck injuries upon being ejected from the aircraft. The service thenrestricted all pilots below that weight from flying the F-35 while Martin-Baker andRockwell Collins, which manufactures the helmet, adjusted their products. “Weanticipate that by April, we should have a response from our airworthiness authority,”Pleus said. “If that were to be the case, there would be a series of retrofits that wouldbe required for the seats. That would probably take a few months, and at that point, wewould have a capability of opening the pipeline to lightweight student pilots.”USMC Wants F-35Bs Faster – The U.S. Marine Corps’ top aviator is hungry for moreF-35Bs and would like to see the service’s buy rate increase to 37 jets per year,Defense News reported. That would almost double the planned rate of F-35Bprocurement over the next few years, which is projected to sit at 20 aircraft per yearfrom fiscal years 2018 to 2021. “We have the infrastructure in place,” said Lt. Gen. JonDavis, deputy commandant for aviation. “Bottom line is we’ve had a very anemic ramp,so we’ve been holding onto the older airplanes longer. If asked by the American peopleto get the airplanes faster, I guarantee we’d put them into play very, very quickly.”Red Flag May Influence Decision on F-35 Deployments – This year’s Red Flagexercise may help U.S. Air Force leaders decide whether to send F-35As overseas thisyear in the new fighter’s first-ever operational deployment, Defense News reported.Although the final results of the three-week exercise at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevadaare not in, officials said the F-35’s performance improved in the last week of the

Star Dusters Newsletter 25 March 2017exercise. Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, who heads the Air Force’s F-35 integration office,called Red Flag a “milestone event” that will help operational F-35A squadrons at HillAir Force Base, UT, determine whether they are ready for a “theater security package”– a deployment of six to eight aircraft and a small maintenance group to supporttraining and exercises with partner nations. During the first two weeks at Red Flag, theF-35 achieved a kill ratio of 15-to-1. The F-35 also fared well in air-to-ground missions.Out of the 27 inert weapons dropped, 25 hit their intended targets; officials said themisses were likely due to a failure of the weapon itself, not a problem with the aircraft'sweapons delivery systems. From a maintenance perspective, the F-35A achieved amission capable rate of about 90% during Red Flag, officials said.Italy’s Defense Industry Chief Attacks F-35 “Broken Promises” – The head ofItaly’s association of defense firms has launched a blistering attack on the U.S. andLockheed Martin, accusing them of breaking promises made to Italy about workshareon the F-35 program, Defense News reported. Guido Crosetto, the head of Italianaerospace and defense industry association AIAD, said the U.S. “had not honoredpromises” made since Italy joined the program, hurting Italian firms as well asthreatening the livelihood of Italy’s fledgling F-35 maintenance center. In June 2002,Italy became a Level 2 partner by committing to invest $1 billion in the program’ssystem development and demonstration stage. In return for that commitment and apledge to buy 90 aircraft, Italy was told its workshare would likely reach around 65% ofits investment. “Today we are at less than 20%,” said Crosetto.Israeli F-35 Buy-Back Surpasses $1B – Israel’s Defense Ministry said that completedindustrial cooperation, or buy-back, contracts with Lockheed Martin surpassed the $1billion benchmark since Israel signed its first contract in 2010 for an initial 19 F-35s,Defense News reported. Avi Dadon, the ministry’s deputy director of purchasing, notedthat Israeli firms entered into $258 million worth of new contracts during 2016 alone, a33% surge from the previous year. “The scope of industrial cooperation between[Lockheed Martin] and Israeli industries, just in the past year, illustrates the big, rawpotential of this deal to the Israeli economy,” Dadon said. He said the ministry aimed towork in the coming year “to further deepen” industrial cooperation associated withIsrael’s F-35 program. Israel is negotiating its third contract for another 17 F-35Afighters, bringing the Israel Air Force’s inventory to 50.Japan Secures Extra Price Cuts on F-35s – Tokyo has secured cost cuts of around$100 million for its next batch of F-35s, Reuters reported, citing sources and Japanesebudget papers. The deal represents a rare case of Tokyo negotiating down the price ofmilitary hardware from its U.S. ally. Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon did not directlyrespond to questions about the Japanese deal, though spokesmen for both noted thatall customers will benefit from cost reductions as production ramps up. But four sourcestold Reuters that Japan had further trimmed the price for its latest order, largely inareas such as spare parts, logistics and technical assistance. As a result of meetingslast year between Japanese defense procurement officials and the Pentagon, Japan’snext buy of six F-35s will cost about 12% less than originally planned, the sources said.Japan buys the fighters from the U.S. government, rather than directly from LockheedMartin. Until now Japan has rarely questioned the price of equipment purchased from

Star Dusters Newsletter 26 March 2017the U.S., making it a lucrative market for the likes of Lockheed Martin, Boeing, NorthropGrumman and Raytheon.As F-35 Joins Fleet, Norway Will Scrap F-16s – As the Norwegian air force preparesfor its first three F-35s to enter service, the Ministry of Defense plans to scrap its F-16srather than resell them or keep them in reserve, Defense News reported. Officials planto shut down the 56-plane F-16 fleet at the end of 2021, replacing it with a slightlysmaller but more capable fleet of 52 F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing variants.Norway will continue to operate F-16s through the end of 2021, but flight hours will dropas the newer jets arrive. Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, noted thatthe market for used F-16s hasn’t been very strong.U.S. May Take Fresh Look at India F-16 Plan – Lockheed Martin wants to pushahead with plans to move F-16 production to India, but understands the Trumpadministration may want to take a “fresh look” at the proposal, Reuters reported. Withno more F-16 orders from the Pentagon, the company proposed to switch F-16production to India if the country agrees to order scores of the fighters for its air force.Trump has criticized U.S. companies that move manufacturing overseas and then selltheir products back to the U.S. Although F-16s built in India wouldn’t be sold to theU.S., a Lockheed Martin spokesman said: "We understand that the TrumpAdministration will want to take a fresh look at some of these programs, and we standprepared to support that effort to ensure that any deal of this importance is properlyaligned with U.S. policy priorities.” The White House did not respond to requests forcomment. Sweden’s Saab, which is offering the Gripen E in the competition, alsopledged to establish production in India, calling its offering a “new generation plane andnot one that is reaching the end of its life….” The Indian government is expected todecide this year on which company will build up to 250 new fighters over the next 10years.Lockheed Martin Looks to Deliver New F-16s to Bahrain – The Company resumedtalks with Bahrain for the sale of F-16 fighter jets and is discussing upgrades for theUnited Arab Emirates’ F-16 fleet, the Gulf News reported. The sale of F-16s to Bahrainwas delayed by Congress under the Obama administration, but talks resumed afterPresident Trump took office, said Rich Groesch, Lockheed Martin’s regional vicepresident. The first operator of F-16s in the region, Bahrain has been trying to acquire anew batch of F-16s for some time. “We are talking to them (Bahrain) about it, and theU.S. government is talking to them about buying an additional production aircraft whichwill be designated Block 70,” Groesch said. Regarding the UAE, Groesch said thecompany is discussing upgrades that would enable the UAE Air Force to operate its F-16s to 2030 or 2040.Delayed F-22 Upgrade Slips Again – The already delayed Increment 3.2B upgradefor the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor fleet will be put back still further due to “persistentdeficiencies” with the software, Jane’s Defence Weekly reported. In its annual report,the Pentagon’s weapons testing office found that delays experienced in fiscal year2015 due to additional unplanned testing will be compounded by further delays incurredin FY2016 due to “limited development progress”. Given that, “it is unlikely thatIncrement 3.2B developmental testing will [be] complete as planned at the end of April

Star Dusters Newsletter 27 March 20172017, or that IOT&E [Initial Operational Test and Evaluation] will begin as planned inAugust 2017,” the report noted. The planned upgrades involve the F-22’s weaponscapabilities, stores management system and data link, among others.1st F-22 Inlet Coating Repairs Completed – Lockheed Martin completed its firstmaintenance and repair of the special exterior coatings on an F-22 Raptor’s inlets. Thecoating contributes to the F-22’s very low observable radar cross-section, or stealth,properties. The work was performed at the company’s Inlet Coating Repair Speedlinefacility in Marietta, GA, built under a contract from the U.S. Air Force. The first F-22 toundergo repairs arrived at the facility in November 2016; a second aircraft arrived inearly December and a third in January. Lockheed Martin said a total of 12 F-22s willundergo the inlet repairs under its initial contract, adding that a follow-on award isanticipated.Lockheed Martin Rolls Out 1st LM-100J – The first LM-100J commercial freighterrolled off the assembly line in Marietta, GA, and is being prepared for its first flight,FlightGlobal reported. Based on the C-130J military transport, the LM-100J is targetedto the niche cargo market, replacing older-model L-100s delivered beginning in theearly 1960s. The LM-100J introduces a two-person flight crew and more powerfulengines. It’s designed to support missions including oversized cargo transport toremote landing areas, aerial firefighting and search and rescue. Lockheed Martin hassigned orders for multiple LM-100Js and has received commitments from ASL AviationGroup and Bravo Industries. The company plans to complete U.S. Federal AviationAdministration certification in 2018 and begin deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2018.USAF Tests 1st C-130 With Block 8.1 Upgrades – U.S. Air Force pilots recentlycompleted an inaugural training flight with the first C-130J Super Hercules equippedwith Block 8.1 upgrades, United Press International reported. With the upgrades, pilotshave access to enhanced GPS capabilities, improved communication systems andupdated friend-or-foe identification technology. The Air Force said the enhancementswill help make pilots more effective in performing their missions and improve the C-130’s interoperability with other aircraft. Service officials said they will continue to testthe upgraded airlifter over the next two years, and will collaborate with Lockheed Martinto resolve any potential problems.T-X Field Shifts as Northrop, Raytheon Drop Out – Northrop Grumman andRaytheon pulled out of the U.S. Air Force’s $16 billion T-X trainer program, DefenseNews reported. Italian firm Leonardo decided to compete on its own after U.S. partnerand prime Raytheon left the team, reportedly over a pricing dispute, FlightGlobalreported. One analyst suggested the competition had become a “low-cost shootout”between Lockheed Martin, which is offering the T-50 off-the-shelf aircraft, and Boeing,with an offering purpose-built to be as low cost as possible. Northrop Grumman CEOWes Bush said the company was not interested in proposing “lowest-cost, technicallyacceptable” solution.2nd T-50A Completes 1st Flight – Lockheed Martin’s second T-50A performed itsinaugural flight at the company’s facility in Greenville, SC, United Press Internationalreported. The event supports Lockheed Martin’s bid for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X

Star Dusters Newsletter 28 March 2017competition, in which the service is looking for a fast, two-seat plane to replace theaging Northrop Grumman T-38. The T-50A is designed to bridge the gap betweenfourth- and fifth-generation fighter jet technology. If the Air Force moves forward withLockheed Martin’s offer, pilots will be trained on the T-50A to fly the F-22 and the F-35.The T-50 on which the T-50A is based has accumulated over 200,000 flight hours andtrained more than 1,800 pilots.Lockheed Martin Withdraws from FA-50 CRADA – The company pulled its FA-50out of an airworthiness assessment with the U.S. Air Force, FlightGlobal reported. LastAugust, the Air Force and Lockheed Martin were preparing to move the FA-50 into acooperative research and development agreement (CRADA), which would allow theservice to assess the aircraft’s airworthiness without a program of record. “LockheedMartin decided to withdraw from the Cooperative Research and DevelopmentAgreement for FA-50 because we could not close on the final terms and conditions,” acompany spokesman said. The FA-50 is the advanced, light combat version of the T-50Golden Eagle, the basis of Lockheed Martin’s bid in the ongoing Air Force trainerreplacement competition. A service official emphasized that the CRADA would have noeffect on the trainer replacement or any other acquisition program.ROTARY AND MISSION SYSTEMSLockheed Martin to Lead Chilean Frigate Upgrade – Lockheed Martin received a$600 million contract to modernize three British-built Type 23 frigates that Chile boughtfrom the United Kingdom in 2005, Jane’s Defence Weekly reported. Lockheed Martin’sunit in Canada will equip the Chilean frigates with its CMS 330 combat managementsystem, developed jointly with subcontractor Saab Defence and Aerospace for therecently completed modernization of 12 Halifax-class frigates for the Royal CanadianNavy. Developed from Saab’s 9LV Mk 4 CMS, Lockheed Martin’s CMS 330 retains theflexible, open architecture of the original system as well as some of its corecomponents, such as an all-weather tracking/fire control system, to provide advancedcommand, control, computing, communications and intelligence capabilities.USN Awards $166M Contract for Automated Test Equipment – Lockheed Martinreceived a $166 million contract from the U.S. Navy for 36 electronic ConsolidatedAutomated Support Systems (eCASS), marking the beginning of full-rate production,United Press International reported. eCASS is the Navy’s newest automatic testequipment family, providing intermediate-, depot- and factory-level support, both ashoreand afloat, for all electronic systems aboard aircraft, surface ships and submarines. Inaddition to production of the 36 systems, the contract includes sustaining logistics andengineering support at various locations. The Navy plans to procure a total of 338eCASS stations, with additional orders from U.S. allies.U.S. Approves Potential $525M Aerostat Sale to Saudi Arabia – The U.S. StateDepartment approved the possible sale of Persistent Threat Detection Systemaerostats to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Press International reported. Theproposed Foreign Military Sales deal is valued at $525 million. The Defense SecurityCooperation Agency said in its notification to Congress that procurement of theaerostats “will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and

Star Dusters Newsletter 29 March 2017provide greater security for its critical infrastructure.” The 74K Persistent ThreatDetection System Aerostat is a helium-filled, lighter-than-air system developed byLockheed Martin to provide ground troops with long-range intelligence, surveillance,reconnaissance and communications assistance. The tethered balloon carries a varietyof sensors and payloads. Under the proposed deal, Saudi Arabia would acquire up to10 systems.Germany Wants Surveillance Airships for U.N. Mission in Mali – The Germanmilitary plans to beef up security for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali by deployinga number of tethered aerostats like those used by the U.S. military in Afghanistan,Reuters reported. U.S. officials said they had provided information to Germany about arange of options, including the possibility of buying used Persistent Threat DetectionSystem (PTDS) aerostats built by Lockheed Martin. A source said the U.S. Army had40 PTDS aerostats on hand that could be sold at a discount to other countries. Noimmediate information was available about the likely cost. Germany also couldpurchase new aerostats built by Lockheed Martin or other suppliers, or opt to lease theequipment, an additional source said. Lockheed Martin had no immediate comment onthe matter.Poland Reopens Military Helo Competition – Poland launched a new competition for16 military helicopters, inviting Airbus, Leonardo-Finmeccanica and Lockheed Martin’sSikorsky unit to submit bids, Defense News reported. Poland eventually is expected toacquire between 50 and 70 helicopters. The previous Polish government had pickedAirbus for exclusive negotiations to supply 50 H225 Caracal helicopters, only to see thepresent administration break off those talks last October before a contract was signed.Airbus is again expected to offer the Caracal, which would be built at a factory in centralPoland. Sikorsky pitched the S-70 Black Hawk through its Polish unit PZL Mielec, whileLeonardo offered its AW149 through its Polish subsidiary PZL Swidnik.Sikorsky Targets India’s Start-Up Airlines – Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit is intalks with start-up airlines in India to sell its small, twin-turboprop M28 planes as PrimeMinister Narendra Modi seeks to boost air travel in remote parts of the country, TheNational reported. The company, better known for its helicopters, has offered to buildthe passenger planes in India if it gets enough scale, said A.J.S. Walia, Sikorsky’sregional executive for India and South Asia. The PZL M28 Skytruck is currently built inPoland and is in commercial operations only in Guam. Sikorsky is pitching the 19-seataircraft for short-haul routes amid attempts by the Indian government to encourageairlines to link towns lacking infrastructure, and in some cases even proper runways.Walia said the M28 can handle grassy and unpaved surfaces with its short take-off andlanding capabilities. Only about 75 out of India’s 450 airports or airstrips have regularcommercial operations.Aegis System Guides Missile to Destroy Target in Space – The newest iteration ofLockheed Martin’s Aegis combat system intercepted a medium-range ballistic missilewith an anti-missile rocket fired from a U.S. Navy destroyer, DefenseWorld.netreported. In the test, a target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility inHawaii. The USS John Paul Jones detected and tracked the target missile using itsnew Aegis Baseline 9.2 ballistic missile defense tracking and engagement capabilities,

Star Dusters Newsletter 30 March 2017and fired a new Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA to intercept and destroy the target.Ship-based missile interceptors are part of U.S. defense plans in the event of an attackon the U.S. or its allies by North Korea, which has continued to develop its ballistic-missile program despite United Nations sanctions, Stars & Stripes reported. TheRaytheon SM-3 Block IIA missile is jointly developed by the U.S. and Japan.Company Delivers 100th Counter-Fire Radar – Lockheed Martin delivered the 100th

Q-53 radar, which allows troops to quickly pinpoint the source of enemy rockets,mortars and artillery fire, the Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard reported. The company isunder contract for 104 of the radars and is negotiating with the U.S. Army for another70. The radars are carried on trucks and can be up and running within five minutes,scanning the skies in all directions to alert soldiers to the exact location from which theenemy is firing. That information can then be used to fire on those locations. The Q-53replaces two older radars, the Q-36 and Q-37, which could only scan a 90-degreesection of the sky at a time. The Army requested a new radar that could scan 360degrees after troops in Iraq and Afghanistan reported that enemy forces were changinglocations to take advantage of the older radar’s limitations.SPACE SYSTEMSUSAF Hits Lockheed Martin for GPS III Satellite Flaws – Botched testing by asubcontractor on a key component for the newest Global Positioning System (GPS)satellites has caused the U.S. Air Force to question Lockheed Martin’s supervision ofthe project, Bloomberg News reported. The mistake by subcontractor Harris Corp.forced another delay in the delivery of the first of 32 planned GPS III satellites, makingit 34 months late, according to Maj. Gen. Roger Teague, chief of Air Force spaceprograms. Lockheed Martin has a contract to build the first 10 of the GPS III satellites,designed to improve the accuracy of the GPS constellation. The latest setback mayaffect a pending Air Force decision on whether to open the final 22 satellites tocompetition from Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The parts in question are ceramiccapacitors that take higher-voltage power from the satellite’s power system and reduceit to a voltage required for a particular subsystem. Last year, the Air Force discoveredthat testing that should have been completed in 2010 was never conducted. Althoughtests were carried out late last year, Teague said the wrong item was used in some ofthe tests, creating a further delay.Lockheed Martin to Help Boost Australia’s GPS Capabilities – GeoscienceAustralia, a government agency in Canberra, has entered a collaborative program withLockheed Martin and two other companies to boost the country’s global positioningsystem (GPS) capabilities, Jane’s Defence Weekly reported. The program is intendedto support industrial sectors including aerospace, maritime, transport, agriculture,construction and natural resources. The effort – aimed at developing a second-generation satellite-based augmentation system to improve the precision of GPSsignals – includes Inmarsat of the United Kingdom and GMV of Spain. The program isfunded at $9 million over the next two years.

Star Dusters Newsletter 31 March 2017Advocates of Big NASA Rocket Seek to Fend Off Foes – Facing unpredictableWhite House decision-making and delays in appointing a new NASA leadership team,Boeing, Lockheed Martin and their supporters are taking extra precautions to safeguarddeep-space exploration programs, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Boeing-ledSpace Launch System (SLS), a 212-foot, heavy-lift rocket, is intended to be the mostpowerful booster ever built. Lockheed Martin’s Orion spacecraft is designed to sit ontop and ultimately protect humans from the ravages of radiation and other hazards onjourneys deep in the solar system. President Obama years ago tried to kill the projects,but Congress spared them and officials at NASA are singing their praises. With bothprograms confronting technical challenges and the first manned mission currently notslated to blast off until 2021, industry and congressional proponents are seeking waysto insulate funding from likely attacks by commercial-space champions inside andoutside the White House. SLS program managers recently broached the idea ofaccelerating their initial manned mission by a year, potentially circling the Moon in2020, which would fit better into projected White House timelines. Separately, a newlyreconstituted White House space-policy council is expected to assess the fate of SLSas part of a comprehensive policy spanning U.S. military, civilian and commercialboosters.Lockheed Martin Gets $540M for Trident Missile Production, Support – The U.S.Navy awarded the company a $540 million contract modification for Trident II ballisticfleet missile production and deployed system support, United Press Internationalreported. The modification supports production for the U.S. Navy and the British RoyalNavy. The Trident II is currently equipped on the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class submarines aswell as the Royal Navy’s Vanguard-class submarines.Trident Missile Tests Light Northern CA Skies – A bright light with a glowing tailspotted in the San Francisco Bay Area night sky on Valentine’s Day was a U.S. Navymissile test, the Associated Press reported. Navy spokesman John Daniels said that asubmarine off the coast of California launched a Trident II D-5 missile at 3:30 AM localtime, with a second missile fired at 6:20 AM. The tests were part of a three-day trainingoperation that saw the launch of four missiles, Military Times reported. Daniels said theroutine tests were “not in response to any ongoing world activities” and that tests areconducted periodically for training and maintenance of the missile system. The TridentII, produced by Lockheed Martin, is a three-stage missile with a 4,000-mile range.Daniels said residents likely saw stage one, which lasts about a minute, and possiblypart of stage two.Palo Alto Test Chamber Simulates Harshness of Space – A new test chamber atLockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto can re-create the cold,harsh environment of deep space, complete with a barrage of speeding atomicparticles, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The cylindrical chamber – 10 feet longand five feet in diameter – tests space-bound equipment to ensure the gear can survivethe rigors of a multiyear interplanetary mission. It’s among the specialized equipment atthe company’s new Space Environmental Test Facility. Sean Casey, co-founder andmanaging director of space business entrepreneur organization Silicon Valley SpaceCenter, said Lockheed Martin may have more advanced testing facilities than NASA.

Star Dusters Newsletter 32 March 2017“NASA has not been investing in appreciable research and testing facilities fordecades,” said Casey, a former NASA senior scientist. “NASA research facilities arepoorly funded and oversubscribed.” Lockheed Martin will make its new test facilitiesavailable to academic researchers working on space projects.MISSILES AND FIRE CONTROLDoD Adds $345M to THAAD Development – The Missile Defense Agency added$345.5 million to Lockheed Martin’s contract for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) development and support, the Defense Department said. The contractmodification brings the program’s total value to $1.3 billion. “This modification providesfor … additional incremental development, support to flight and ground test programs,and responsive support to warfighter requirements to sustain the Ballistic MissileDefense System,” the Pentagon said.USMC Places $150M Order for Targeting Systems – The U.S. Marine Corpsawarded Lockheed Martin a $150 million contract for continued production of TargetSight Systems (TSS) for AH-1Z Viper helicopters, United Press International reported.The contract also includes options for additional systems which, if exercised, wouldboost its total value to $285 million. TSS is a multi-sensor electro-optical fire controlsystem installed on the nose of the rotorcraft to identify and laser-designate targets atmaximum weapon range. The system features an 8.55-inch aperture forward-lookinginfrared sensor, a multimode and multitarget tracker, and other image processingfeatures.Patriot Radar Replacement Strategy Expected Soon – The U.S. Army is nearingcompletion of an acquisition strategy to achieve a 360-degree threat detectioncapability for its future Integrated Air and Missile Defense system, Defense Newsreported. The service has long wrestled with when and how it will replace Raytheon’sPatriot system, first fielded in 1982. At one point, the Army planned to procureLockheed Martin’s Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), but then droppedout of the international program. Both companies responded to a July 2016 request forinformation that indicated the Army remained uncertain about the radar replacement.Col. Rob Rasch, deputy program executive officer for Army Missiles and Space, saidthe service hopes to have a formal acquisition strategy in place by this summer. Headded that the Army is working aggressively to be ready to kick off the program in thenext fiscal year.New Terms Offered to Turkey for MEADS – The industry group that builds theMedium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) is offering Turkey a customizedpartnership to construct the country’s first long-range air and missile defense system,Defense News reported. MEADS officials said the precise nature of their proposalwould not be an off-the-shelf acquisition or a co-production. “We are offering an open-architecture system that aims to take in already existing Turkish systems or help theTurkish industry develop systems to be integrated into the architecture,” said MirkoNiederkofler, director for international business development at MEADS. In 2013,Turkey selected a Chinese contractor to build a new air defense system, rejecting bidsfrom a European team and a Raytheon-Lockheed Martin team, which offered the

Star Dusters Newsletter 33 March 2017Patriot system. Turkey later scrapped the deal under pressure from its NATO allies.Turkish officials confirmed talks with the MEADS team are progressing in a “positivedirection,” but there was no indication of when a contract might be signed.MEADS Team Submits Proposal for Polish Missile Defense – The Polishgovernment received a proposal from the Medium Extended Air Defense System(MEADS) team for production of 16 systems, with work shared with Polish industry,Defense News reported. The proposal officially puts MEADS International leaderLockheed Martin and Raytheon back into a head-to-head competition for Poland’smissile defense requirements. The MEADS proposal includes Lockheed Martin-madePatriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhanced (PAC-3 MSE) missiles thatwould be assembled in Poland and could be sold to other countries, a Lockheed Martinofficial said, with Polish industry performing up to 40% of the program’s work. Part ofthe plan is to use capabilities already developed by Polish industry, such as a majorsurveillance-radar program, that could be incorporated into MEADS. MEADS alsoproposed to build a semiconductor foundry and systems integration laboratory inPoland.Lockheed Martin Provides Missile Training Rounds to Poland – The company willproduce Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTR) for the Polish militaryunder a $1.9 million contract, United Press International reported. The contract wasawarded by Poland's Megmar Logistics & Consulting on behalf of the Polish Ministry ofDefense. “ELGTR will provide aircrews with the most affordable and capable, live-firetraining while preserving their tactical laser-guided bomb inventory,” said Joe Serra,Lockheed Martin’s precision guided systems director. The contract includes technicaldata, logistics support and training.1st JASSMs Delivered to Poland – Poland received its first batch of AGM-158A JointAir-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs), Jane’s Defence Weekly reported. DeputyDefence Minister Bartosz Kownacki announced that deliveries commenced under a$250 million order placed in December 2014. It included 40 JASSMs and upgrades tothe Polish Air Force’s F-16C/D Block 52+ fighter aircraft to accept the missiles.Upgrade of the first F-16 began at the end of 2016, and initial operational capability withthe JASSM is expected in March. Missile deliveries are to occur throughout 2017, withaircraft upgrades completed by the end of 2019.Modernized TACMS Missile Tests Conducted – Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Armysuccessfully conducted two more rounds of modernized Tactical Missile System(TACMS) tests, United Press International reported. The trials, at White Sands MissileRange in New Mexico, were the third and fourth demonstrations of the weapon. In thelatest tests, the modernized TACMS engaged targets at ranges of 44 and 124 miles.Lockheed Martin officials said the demonstrations confirmed the technologicalcapabilities for the upgraded TACMS, which feature an improved guidance and controlsystem, new software and an upgraded fuze. TACMS, with a maximum range of 186miles, is the only long-range tactical surface-to-surface missile used by the U.S. armedforces.

Star Dusters Newsletter 34 March 2017USN Launches Over-the-Horizon Missile Competition – The U.S. Navy released arequest for proposals for a new Over-The-Horizon Weapon System (OTH-WS), Jane’sDefence Weekly reported. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon are expected to bidon the OTH-WS requirement, which will give the Navy’s littoral combat ship variantsand its future frigate vessels a responsive stand-off surface-to-surface capability tocounter potential surface threats. Proposals are due in May.Company Highlights Autonomous Vehicle Tech – Lockheed Martin is pushingdevelopment of self-driving vehicles and other autonomous machinery for the militaryand industry, the Washington Business Journal reported. The Autonomous Systemsoffice in Littleton, CO is developing technologies for self-driving ground transportation,autonomous drones, machine learning and machine vision. It grew out of the 2007acquisition of PercepTek, then a 10-employee operation. Now, the 50-person unit isworking with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, amajor railroad company and several universities, said General Manager Jamie Adams.The company’s efforts differ from self-driving car technologies as it’s focused onunmapped areas where there may be no road and no global positioning satellitesignals. A test version of a robotic transport vehicle, a small autonomous cart that cancarry gear or a people, deployed with members of the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in2013. During two years of field demonstration there, the vehicle withstood a livegrenade attack and was able to find its own way back to base, Adams said. The unitalso works on systems allowing multiple unmanned aircraft to work together to fly to atarget and destroy it, deciding for themselves the best route and how to respond tounexpected signal jamming, secondary targets and other things encountered on theway. And in a civilian customer’s rail yard, an autonomous vehicle from LockheedMartin drives people and equipment on roads next to the tracks.ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVESLockheed Martin Invites Tech Pitches During Helo Ride – Everyone, it seems,wants to emulate the “Shark Tank” TV show, and Lockheed Martin is doing it with anew twist, Washington Technology reported. Instead of pitches on a stage or in a boardroom, the company will listen to new ideas in a helicopter flying 1,000 feet over Austin,TX, during the annual South by Southwest festival. Selected entrepreneurs will get achance to pitch to Lockheed Martin Ventures, the company’s chief technology scout,Brent Segal, and venture capitalists. It’s a great publicity ploy for Lockheed Martin. Itgets to show off one of its helicopters. It’s a fun twist on the “Shark Tank” model. Andthe company gets to make a splash at a festival that has grown from one built aroundthe indie music and film scene into a mainstream technology and entertainmentshowcase.UK Unit Backs Cyber Training for Students – Lockheed Martin’s United Kingdomunit said it would back a British government initiative to train students in cyber securityto combat a growing skills gap in the area, Reuters reported. Through the UKgovernment’s CyberFirst initiative, Lockheed Martin will sponsor a number of studentsover a three-year period and provide them with work placements during their studies.“There’s an emerging cyber skills gap and it’s vital that this gap is addressed,” saidPeter Ruddock, chief executive of Lockheed Martin UK. Launched in May 2016,

Star Dusters Newsletter 35 March 2017CyberFirst is a work-study program in online security targeted at students who areabout to start university or are in their first year. It is run by the UK’s National CyberSecurity Centre.Lockheed Martin Celebrates National Engineers Week – Company employeesmarked National Engineers Week (February 19-25) with a variety of activities atmultiple sites. In Marietta, GA, employees helped local Girl Scouts become among thefirst to earn a new badge in mechanical engineering, the Marietta Daily Journalreported. Introduced last October, the badge was created by Kathy Jacobson, a retiredLockheed Martin engineer. The badge was created to increase the number of womenpursuing technical careers, Jacobson said.New Director Promises Few Changes at Sandia – The incoming director of SandiaNational Laboratories told employees there would be no significant changes when newmanagement takes over, the Albuquerque Business Journal reported. “We anticipatevery few changes in employment, salaries, benefit or pensions,” said Stephen Younger,who’ll lead the Lab when a Honeywell-led consortium assumes responsibility for theLab’s management on May 1. The new group prevailed over incumbent LockheedMartin and other bidders for the management contract, worth an estimated $2.6 billiona year.

~end~STAR DUSTER ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE SPRING REUNION GOLFTOURNAMENT

Attention Golfers! The Spring Reunion Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, May8, 2017 at the Brookside #2 Golf Course in Pasadena, CA, adjacent to the iconic RoseBowl. Make your plans to come and join the fun and enjoy a round of golf, followed bya refreshing beverage or lunch with your Star Dusters friends and guests. Renew oldfriendships and make new ones.Prizes will be awarded in two Flights for Men (A &B), and a Ladies Flight for lowest netscores with handicap. Also, men and women will individually compete for a Closest tothe Pin on a par 3, and a prize will be awarded for the longest putt holed on the par 3.A flyer (Insert 4)is enclosed in the Star Duster Newsletter. Fill it out and return it assoon as possible to reserve your spot in this year’s fun-packed tournament.

~end~

May your troubles be less, may your blessings bemore, and may nothing but happiness comethrough your door.

Star Dusters Newsletter 36 March 2017

COMING EVENT04-13-17 AV Satellite Spring Reunion Luncheon (See Page 1 and Insert

1)04-13-17 AV Spring Day Trip (See Pages 1 and 15 and Insert 2)05-08-17 Spring Reunion Golf Tournament (See Pages 1and 35 and

Insert 4)05-16-17 Spring Reunion Luncheon at Las Posas Country Club (See

Page 1 and Inserts 3A, 3B and 3C)MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

Cars, Trucks, RVs, Motorhomes – We get you moving for less

If you’re buying a new or pre-owned vehicle, or simply want to save moneyon the wheels you already own, talk to the lending professionals at LogixFederal Credit Union. Logix offers a variety of financing options, fast andfriendly service, at rates as low as 1.49% APR (48-month term).

To learn more, visit www.lfcu.com or give us a call at (800) 328-5328.

Logix Federal Credit Union is pleased to support the Star Dusters newsletterpublication._____________________________________________________________________Editor: Betty O’Connor Associate Editor: John Sheltonbjoc54@verizon.net or (818) 361-0419 editor@lmstardusters.org

Star Dusters NewsletterP. O. Box 10310Burbank, CA 91510-0310

Change Service Requested

PSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMMP DIRECT

Star Dusters Newsletter Insert 1 March 2017ANTELOPE VALLEY STAR DUSTERS SPRING LUNCHEON

April 13, 2017

The AV Star Dusters invites all Lockheed Martin retirees and their guests to our April 13, 2017luncheon with the Mayor.

We’ll kickoff the luncheon with a social event, the buffet lunch will start around 11:45, followedby City of Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford as guest speaker.

Bio: James C. Ledford Jr. was elected to his thirteenth term as mayor of the City ofPalmdale on November 8, 2016. Ledford also served four years as a city of Palmdaleplanning commissioner and two years as a council member prior to his first election as mayorin 1992.A graduate of Palmdale High School, Ledford attended Antelope Valley College and receivedmanagement training at Lockheed Development Corporation. Ledford, a resident of the Cityof Palmdale since 1968, served as a supervisor at Lockheed for six years. He also designed,built, owned and operated a small business in Palmdale for 10 years.

Location: Gino’s Italian Restaurant, 819 West Palmdale Blvd. in Palmdale. It is in the stripmall on the North East corner of Palmdale Blvd. and 10th St. West.

Date: Thursday, April 13th, 2017

Time: 11:00 am – Social Hour - Cocktails are available

Price: $28.00 Per Person includes gratuity

Payment: Make checks payable to Gary Riley

Mail to: Gary Riley43627 Sugar St.Lancaster, CA 93536

Retiree; ________________________Guest: ________________________Enclosed is $_______________Would appreciate receiving reservations by April 6. Looking forward to seeing you.

Star Dusters Newsletter Insert 2 March 2017

Registration for the Star Dusters’ 2017 Spring Day Trip13 April 2017

Registration Due 28 March 2017mail to Gary Belie, 11564 Coralberry Ct., Moorpark, CA 93021

or register online @ https://lmstardusters.org/

Member’s Name _____________________ Citizenship ________

Guest’s Name _____________________ Citizenship ________

Email Address ________________________________

Phone Number ________________________________

Cell Phone Number _____________________________

Part 1. Palmdale Airpark, 2001 E. Avenue P, Palmdale.MemberGuest

Part 2. Luncheon See separate announcement and registration form.

Part 3. Skunk Works’ Tour (Limited slots)

Member

Guest

Star Dusters Newsletter Insert 3 A March 2017ANNUAL SPRING REUNION LUNCHEON

CAMARILLO, CA – MAY 16, 2017

Complete the form below and mail it with your check to:Lockheed Martin Star Dusters

P.O. Box 10310Burbank, CA 91510-0310

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

STAR DUSTERS ANNUALSPRING REUNION LUNCHEON

MAY 16, 2017Please reserve _____ luncheon tickets at $28.00 each for the Star DustersAnnual Spring Reunion on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at the Las PosasCountry Club, Camarillo CA. My check is enclosed.

Please indicate your choice(s) of:

Chinese Chicken Salad ______ Sliced Tri-Tip ______ Grilled Salmon Fillet _____ LPCC Vegetarian Lasagna _____

Please print __________________________ on my member’s name tagAnd print __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________On the name tag(s) of my spouse and/or guest(s)

DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

Star Dusters Newsletter Insert 3 B March 2017

STAR DUSTERS ANNUALSPRING REUNION LUNCHEON

CAMARILLO, CA – MAY 16, 2017

Place: Las Posas Country Club, 955 Fairway Drive, Camarillo, CA

Date: Tuesday May 16, 2017

Price: $28 per person, including tax and gratuity

Social Hour: 11:00 A.M. with luncheon served at 12:00 P.M.

Speaker: Melani Austin, Vice President of Execution and Integration forAdvanced Development Programs at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Menu: The menu consists of four choices as follows:

Chinese Chicken Salad (poached chicken breast), Rice Noodles,Water Chestnuts, Broccoli, Carrots, Mandarin Orange Segments,Almonds and an Oriental Vinaigrette

Grilled Salmon Filet with tomato basil vin blanc sauce served with ricepilaf and a melody of vegetables

Sliced Tri-Tip with creamy horseradish and au jus sauce, served withmashed potatoes and vegetable melody

LPCC Vegetarian Lasagna, an array of low-fat cheese & garden freshvegetables with a light cream sauce

A dessert of carrot cake will also be served

Reservations: Complete and return insert ADirections: See insert C

Star Dusters Newsletter Insert 3 C March 2017

DIRECTIONS TO SPRING REUNION, LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB955 FAIRWAY DR., CAMARILLO, CA

From the San Fernando Valley: Take the Las Posas off ramp off Hwy 101 Turn right on Las Posas Road to Crestview (Las Posas turns right;

Crestview is straight ahead) Take Crestview to Valley Vista Turn right on Valley Vista to Fairway (Valley Vista bends right;

Fairway turns slightly left) Go down hill on Fairway to Las Posas Country Club, which will be on

the left.From Ventura

Take the Las Posas off ramp off Hwy 101 Turn left on Las Posas Road to Crestview (Las Posas turns right;

Crestview is straight ahead) Take Crestview to Valley Vista Turn right on Valley Vista to Fairway (Valley Vista bends right;

Fairway turns slightly left) Go down hill on Fairway to Las Posas Country Club, which will be on

the left.From the Simi Valley

Take Hwy 118 through Somis, about 3 or 4 more miles to CenterSchool Road

Turn left on Center School Road to Fairway Drive (Center SchoolRoad ends at Fairway)

Turn Left on Fairway to the Las Posas Country Club, which will be onthe right.

From Castaic Take Hwy 126 through Fillmore and Santa Paula to Wells Drive. Go south on Wells Drive through Saticoy (Wells Dr. becomes L.A.

Ave. – Route 118.) Continue on L.A. Ave. (Rte 118) to Center School Road (L. A. Ave

turns left at a traffic light just past the entrance to Saticoy CC). Turn right on Center School Road to Fairway Drive. Turn left on Fairway Drive to the Las Posas Country Club, which will

be on the right.

Star Dusters Newsletter Insert 4 March 2017

Attention Golfers!SPRING REUNION GOLF TOURNAMENT

Monday, May 8, 2017, 9:00 A.M.Brookside #2 Golf Course

1133 North Rosemont Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103(626) 577-4497

Come and enjoy a round of golf with your Star Dusters friends on theBrookside #2 Golf Club 18-hole layout, adjacent to the Rose Bowl.

Prizes will be awarded for low net scores for Men (Two Flights) and Ladies.Prizes will be given for Closest to the Pin for both Men and Ladies on a par 3.An additional award will be presented for the Longest Putt holed on the par 3.

$47.00 Per Person includes green fee, golf carts, and prizes.Star Dusters guests are welcome. Tee times will start at 9:00am.

We have room for only 40 golfers. Make Your Reservation Now!Start times will be based upon receipt of reservation.

Names in Foursome Phone No. Email Index orAvg. Score

1.2.3.4.

Put me/us in a foursome (check here)Put me/us in a foursome with

Amount enclosed at $47.00 per player:

Deadline Date is April 24, 2017Address any questions to Tom Oatway (661)-263-9778

Email: tpoatway@earthlink.netMake check payable to Star Dusters.

Return Completed Form to: Tom Oatway27670 Deerfield LaneValencia, CA 91354