Boeing IDS to be reshuffled and renamed BDS

The defense side of Boeing, known as Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) will be undergoing organizational and operational changes in order to reposition itself to capture new revenue streams.  The new unit will be renamed Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS).  The changes were announced by Dennis Muilenberg, president and CEO of the new BDS unit, at a Boeing Leadership meeting in Indian Wells, CA.  This is a response to the fact that defense budgets will either level off or more likely shrink in the coming years because of the new administration's shifting priorities.  As such, Boeing will have to transform itself from being just a conventional defense unit providing military aircraft and weaponry.  Some of the new markets Boeing hopes to capture with this realignment include: cyber security, unmanned systems, energy, intelligence, C4ISR, and logistics.

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Boeing's 2009 orders & deliveries final numbers

Here are the numbers for Boeing's Commercial Airplane Division:

          Gross Orders          Net Orders          Deliveries          Backlog
737           197                       178                     372               2,076
747             5                           2                        8                  108
767             7                           2                       13                  59
777            30                         19                       88                 281
787            24                        -59                       --                  851

Once again, the 737 was the big money-maker for Boeing, in terms of both deliveries and orders, with the twin-aisle 777 coming in 2nd.  I was surprised to see some 767 numbers in here.  This is probably for those airlines who obtained a 767 as a stopgap solution until they can get their hands on the 787.  Just a quick note: the net orders column takes into account order cancellations, with the 787 taking the biggest hit (though I believe this is attributable to the weakened global economy and cash-strapped airlines rather than any negative impression of the aircraft itself).  The final analysis?  2009 was definitely a challenging year for Boeing's commercial division.  Hopefully 2010 will be much better, especially with little signs here and there indicating that the global economy is improving (albeit slowly) and the expected delivery of both the 787 and 747-8 in the 4th quarter.  We'll see what the future holds, but right now I expect 2010 to be a rebound year for Boeing.  The stock price seems to agree with me on this conclusion.  Here are some more noteworthy points below for 2009:

* 481 aircraft delivered (met company goal of 480-485 deliveries)
* Aircraft backlog of 3,375
* 263 gross and 142 net commercial orders
* 3,000th delivery of Next-Generation 737
* First 777 Freighter delivered to launch customer Air France
* 1,400th delivery of 747
* 40th anniversary of 747 family
* First flight of 787 Dreamliner on Dec. 15th
* First delivery of 787 in 4th quarter 2010
* First delivery of 747-8 Freighter in 4th quarter 2010
* First delivery of 747-8 Intercontinental in 4th quarter 2011

Boeing Orders and Deliveries Website

India submits request for C-17's

Good gravy.  It seems as if the international community just can't get enough of the C-17 Globemaster III.  Following on the heels of the U.A.E.'s purchase of the venerable cargo airlifter, India's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has submitted a request to the U.S. government for the acquisition of 10 C-17's.  The C-17's will eventually replace the Indian Air Force's airlift fleet of Russian AN-32 and IL-76 aircraft.  Last year at Aero India 2009, the C-17 performed demonstration flights for members of the MOD and the Indian Air Force.  It appears that they were quite impressed by the capabilities of the C-17 during those flights, enough so that they've decided to acquire them.

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U.A.E. C-17 purchase a done deal!

The U.A.E.'s bid to modernize its strategic airlift capabilities became official today when it was announced that they had signed a contract with Boeing for the purchase of 6 C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft (earlier I had posted that only 4 would be purchased).  4 of the C-17's will be delivered in 2011, and the remaining two in 2012.  The contract also includes provisions for support and maintenance of the U.A.E.'s new C-17 fleet.  The U.A.E. joins a family of international customers who currently operate the C-17, which includes Qatar, the UK, Canada, Australia, and NATO.

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UAE to purchase four C-17's???

The D.O.D. last week notified Congress about a planned purchase of 4 C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft by the United Arab Emirates.  The contract will be worth around $500 million.  The U.A.E. plans to use these C-17's for its own domestic needs as well as to provide support for NATO operations in Afghanistan.  This is great news for the C-17 production line if these international purchases can help to pad their order book.

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U.S. Air Force places order for C-40C

The U.S. Air Force has agreed to purchase a C-40C aircraft from Boeing.  The contract is valued at $89.6 million.  Based on the Next Generation 737 platform, the C-40C is primarily used to transport Congressional delegations, but is also used for transport of domestic and foreign government dignitaries.  Congress just better not use this new plane for "business" trips to Las Vegas or Tahiti.

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DIRECTV 12 satellite alive and healthy

On Dec. 28th at 4:22 pm, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a Boeing 702 commercial satellite (DIRECTV 12), made a successful launch on-board a Proton Breeze M rocket.  Nine hours later, the satellite began transmitting its first signals to ground-based stations.  After on-orbit testing is completed, control of the satellite will be handed over to DIRECTV, which is scheduled for sometime around early 2010.  DIRECTV 12 will be used to expand DIRECTV's HDTV programming to customers in the U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii.  Can't go wrong with more HD programming, especially when you combine HD with NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass.  Ultimate sweetness!  DIRECTV 12 is the 10th satellite that Boeing has built for the popular satellite dish provider, and the 22nd Boeing 702 satellite to fly in space.

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Air Austral orders two 737-800's

Air Austral, based on the French Island of St. Denis, Reunion, has placed an order for two Next Generation 737-800 aircraft.  The two aircraft will replace a pair of 737 Classic aircraft in Air Austral's fleet.  The order is worth about $152 million at list prices.

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