Latest news with #PWSA
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
The next big venture: What is the Golden Dome that reports say Elon Musk is building for Donald Trump? Here's how much it will cost and what the Tesla CEO is saying
What is Donald Trump's Golden Dome and why is it making headlines? Is Elon Musk's SpaceX really joining Trump's Golden Dome project? Live Events 'SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this.' What would the Golden Dome actually do and how much would it cost? Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Why is the global defense market booming right now? Russia's invasion of Ukraine Tensions in Asia, especially around China and North Korea Middle East instability Europe's defense spending rose 11.7%, reaching $457 billion. Asia-Pacific nations like Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia all increased their defense budgets significantly. The United States allocated $832.3 billion for defense in its 2025 budget. China's defense spending reached $246 billion, up 7.2%. Japan approved $55.1 billion, up 9.4%. India's defense budget grew to $78.57 billion, marking a 9.5% rise. Could this be Elon Musk's next big business venture? What's next for Trump's Golden Dome project? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Just months after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump announced one of the most ambitious defense programs in U.S. history—the 'Golden Dome.' And now, the buzz is around whether tech billionaire Elon Musk is joining this $2.5 trillion venture, raising the stakes in what's already a booming defense Trump envisions a massive space-based missile shield, recent reports hint at SpaceX , Musk's rocket company, playing a major role. But is he actually in, or is it all speculation? Let's break it down in simple terms—what the Golden Dome is, how much it could cost, who's involved, and whether Musk is making a move into the trillion-dollar defense January 27, 2025, just days after returning to office, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the development of a massive space-based missile defense program—officially named the. The idea? To build a protective shield that can detect and destroy incoming threats like ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and advanced cruise missiles before they reach U.S. to the order, Trump wants this system to cover threats from "peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries"—understood to mean. The Golden Dome would include hundreds, potentially thousands, of satellites in low Earth orbit, advanced radar systems, orbital interceptors, and maybe even futuristic tech likeThe big question buzzing around headlines: Is SpaceX getting involved in Trump's Golden Dome?According to Reuters, Musk's company SpaceX is reportedly teaming up with Palantir (data software firm) and Anduril (a defense startup focused on drones and AI-based security systems) to design key components for the defense trio reportedly plans to deploy 400 to 1,000 satellites to track missile activity around the world. While some satellites will simply track and monitor, others could potentially carry weapons to intercept hostile missiles. But Musk says something a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk denied these claims, saying:So, while SpaceX might be technically capable of building part of the infrastructure—like the satellite tracking layer—Musk hasn't confirmed any formal involvement as of built, thewould work by tracking enemy missiles during their, the few moments after a missile is launched. This is the most vulnerable time to stop do this, the system would need aconstantly orbiting the Earth, along with advanced ground stations and control systems. It would also depend on programs like:Trump's defense team believes this could cost, depending on how advanced and expansive the system becomes. The project is still in its, and no contracts have been publicly awarded reports suggest the model could work like a—where the government pays for access to private satellite data instead of owning the entire system isn't happening in a vacuum. Global military spending hit a record high of $2.46 trillion in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This surge is being driven by several factors:In 2024 alone:Trump has also asked NATO allies to spend at least 5% of their GDP on defense, which is pushing Europe toward even more spending, including a massive €800 billion ReArm Europe Plan led by European Commission President Ursula von der though Musk has denied direct involvement, the defense market is clearly attractive. His companies already dominate in electric vehicles (Tesla) and space transportation (SpaceX). Moving into military and defense tech seems like a logical next step—especially as the U.S. and its allies pour trillions into new security ties to Trump are also no secret. Musk has reportedly donated more than $250 million to Trump's campaign and is now serving as a special adviser in the Department of Government if SpaceX doesn't build weapons, it may still play a major role in missile tracking, satellite launches, and infrastructure for U.S. military systems. And with private defense contracts now more lucrative than ever, that could turn into a multi-billion-dollar stream for Musk's now, the Golden Dome is still in its early planning stage. The Pentagon has been asked to deliver architectural plans within 60 days of the January 27 order, and insiders say companies like SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril are seen as top contenders for building parts of there's a lot still undecided—how it'll be structured, which companies will be selected, and how it'll be funded. The Biden administration had previously scaled back some space-defense ambitions, but under Trump, the focus has shifted back toward space dominance.
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Punjab on alert, WASA asked to complete monsoon prep by May 31
Listen to article The Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority (PWSA) has asked all five Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASAs) in the province to complete their monsoon preparations by May 31. During a performance review meeting held on Saturday, PWSA Director General Tayyab Farid stressed the urgent need to clean sewer lines, repair heavy machinery, and set up monsoon camps before the pre-monsoon season begins on June 15, according to a report by APP. 'Revenue recovery is critical to maintaining water and sewerage services,' Farid said, emphasizing that WASAs must also improve their financial performance to keep essential services running smoothly. The meeting was attended by managing directors and officers from all five WASAs. Farid said that in addition to technical preparations, low-lying areas must be identified, and training drills should be conducted with emergency services to prepare for possible flooding. Meanwhile, WASA Rawalpindi Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf gave a briefing on his agency's progress. He said cleaning of sewer lines was already underway and would be completed before the deadline. He added that WASA Rawalpindi has functional heavy machinery including sucker and jetting machines and dewatering pumps ready to respond to emergencies. The agency has also asked the Punjab Government for funds to clean Leh Nullah and 15 other main drains in the city. Low-lying areas in Rawalpindi have already been identified with the help of the district administration, and trained staff with machinery will be deployed at those points during heavy rains. Saleem also shared that mock exercises will be held in collaboration with Rescue 1122 and other agencies at Leh Nullah and Rawal Dam. WASA Rawalpindi will also set up five monsoon camps across the city that will operate 24/7, and a control room at the head office will monitor the situation and handle complaints. On the revenue side, WASA Rawalpindi recovered Rs1.7 billion last year, exceeding its target of Rs1.57 billion. The target for this year is Rs2.3 billion, and Saleem said he expects to beat that figure as well.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senator questions canceling planned military satellites in favor of SpaceX
March 29 (UPI) -- A North Dakota senator has raised questions about the U.S. Space Force potentially canceling planned military satellite development contracts in favor of SpaceX-produced satellites called Starshield. "Do you think cutting opportunities like this could hurt the innovators in the industrial base?" U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R - N.D.) asked during a confirmation hearing for Troy Meink in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee this week. Meink, who is nominated to head the Department of the Air Force, said he was not aware of any plan to shift procurement of the satellites, which is done through the Space Development Agency. Cramer said he was informed the agency may move away from tendering contracts for several transport layer satellites in favor of the Starshield low-Earth-orbit satellites produced by Spacex. SpaceX is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who leads President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. The Starshields are military versions of the company's existing commercial satellites. SpaceX has not bid on previous contracts for the project because its satellites were not believed to meet the technical requirements. The proposed military communication satellites are meant to be part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The PWSA "will provide multi-band global communications access and persistent encrypted connectivity for warfighter missions," the SDA says on its website. Some contracts have already been awarded to Denver-based York Space Systems and aerospace giant Northrop Grumman. The Air Force denied any decisions have been made. The military is evaluating "all acquisition programs in the context of FY26 president's budget deliberations and the administration's priorities," it said in a statement to Defense One. A spokesperson told the publication the Air Force and Space Force "are committed to the efficient use of taxpayer dollars and maximizing the delivery of capability to the joint warfighter. We look forward to sharing the status of our acquisition programs with our stakeholders in Congress and elsewhere when the fiscal year 2026 budget is delivered in the coming months."
Associated Press
28-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Pittsburgh Water Approves Neighborhood Lead Pipe Replacement Contract Requiring SWORDFISH
First In The Nation Construction Specification Requires Electrical Resistance Testing for Lead Pipe Identification, Prior to Replacement '"We congratulate Wilson Excavating for winning this competitive bid and applaud the visionary leadership of Will Pickering & Dan Duffy for pioneering lead pipe identification and remediation.' — Mike App, Executive Vice President, Electro Scan Inc. PITTSBURGH, PA, UNITED STATES, January 28, 2025 / / -- Electro Scan Inc. announced today that the Board of Pittsburgh Water ( PGH2O) approved a $12.1 million contract that requires SWORDFISH lead pipe inspection, prior to pipe replacement. The contract was awarded to Wilson Excavating (Reynoldsville, PA) for PGH2o's 2024 Neighborhood Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Contract requiring SWORDFISH testing. Electro Scan's exclusive service partner, Element 82, a division of Crown (NASDAQ: CRKN), is set to perform SWORDFISH testing on all water service lines for the 1,600 homes. The construction contract is one of a series of 'find and fix' capital projects undertaken by PGH2O to systematically identify and mitigate lead water service pipes for the citizens of Pittsburgh, PA. PGH2O remains on track to eliminate all lead service lines by 2027. 'We congratulate Wilson Excavating for winning this competitive bid and applaud the visionary leadership of Will Pickering (CEO, PGH2O) and Dan Duffy (Principal at East Woods Consultants, LLC) for pioneering lead pipe identification and remediation,' states Mike App, Executive Vice President, Electro Scan Inc. Wilson Excavating, a Lindy Company, was one of six (6) companies that responded to the Invitation to Bid for PGH2O's 2024 Neighborhood LSLR – Contract B, PWSA PROJECT NO. 2024-200-105-1. PGH20's customer-first approach has drawn the attention of water utilities, regulators, and industry professionals from across the country. Since 2021, PGH2O has consulted with 32 organizations to share best practices and lessons learned with those just starting their lead line replacement journey. Construction specifications as part of the 1,050-page bid document released in November 2024, included the mandatory use of electrical resistance testing for the verification of each full service water line (both public and private) to verify pipe material composition. Electrical resistance testing is a machine-intelligent solution that automatically identifies water pipe materials by measuring the electrical resistivity for one or more pipe materials. In December 2024, electrical resistance testing was recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as the only commercially available innovative solution that accurately finds lead water pipes. Offered by Electro Scan Inc. (Sacramento, CA) its patented and patent-pending SWORDFISH and SWORDFISH Flow Express incorporate electrical resistance technology to identify copper, galvanized, plastic, and lead pipe materials in real time, with detail reports available within minutes. Oftentimes, water systems have multiple buried pipe materials that make up water service lines, able to be identified by the company's SWORDFISH solution; missed by visual inspection of meter boxes & hose spigots, and not found by digging, hydro-excavating, potholing, or predictive modeling. In August 2024, a nationally-recognized water fixtures & leak detection equipment supplier withdrew its acoustic-based 'lead detection product' from the market. This first in the nation construction bid represents a model approach for other large and small water systems that must assess and replace all lead water service lines before 2037. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) approved the use of electrical resistance testing in May 2024, after field benchmark testing and conducting a detail review of SWORDFISH training materials. To date, PGH2O has received $176 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), (H.R. 3684); a U.S. federal statute enacted by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, 2021. Working with the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), PGH2O recently received an additional $26 million for follow-on lead service line identification and removal work. Funding from PENNVEST aids communities to increase the health and safety of Pennsylvania Commonwealth citizens, protect the environment, promote economic development, and improve water quality. In December 2024, PGH2O celebrated the replacement of its 12,000th public side lead water pipe, where Will Pickering, CEO, Pittsburgh Water, spoke at the event. ABOUT PGH2O's LEAD REPLACEMENT PROGRAM Pittsburgh Water serves about two-thirds of the City of Pittsburgh or about 250,000 people. It treats water from the Allegheny River and distributes it through 1,000 miles of water main to 81,000 homes. Pittsburgh Water continues to replace public lead service lines as stipulated in the Consent Order and Agreement (COA) issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) on November 17, 2017. Pittsburgh Water has a dedicated program to focus on replacing both public and private lead service lines in the water distribution system, which would reduce the risk of these lines leaching lead into the drinking water. Considerable progress has been made and as of October 25, 2024, Pittsburgh Water has replaced 11,796 public lead lines and 8,529 private lead service lines. Pittsburgh Water continues working towards the goal to replace all residential lead service lines by 2027 [Source: 2024 Consulting Engineer's Annual Report]. ABOUT ELECTRO SCAN INC. Founded in 2011, Electro Scan is an international supplier of machine-intelligent pipeline assessment and quality assurance products & services for the water, sewer, and oil & gas markets. The company develops and markets proprietary equipment and SaaS-based cloud applications that automatically locates, measures, and reports pipeline leaks and water service line pipe materials, including lead pipes. The company's products and services detect buried lead water services, typically not found by legacy inspection methods. Electro Scan Interview on Fox 40, Studi40 Live, YouTube Video (Duration: 5 minutes) Electro Scan Inc. +1 916-779-0660 X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Legal Disclaimer:
