Boeing

The Boeing tooling Strategic Manufacturing Center in St. Louis will support the company's Delta IV/Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program with non-recurring tooling design and manufacturing.

During the 18-month program, Delta IV tooling will be designed and built for use at facilities in Pueblo, Colo., and Decatur, Ala., locations where this advanced launch vehicle family will be constructed.

About 150 tool design and fabrication personnel will be assigned in St. Louis. Some follow-on field support also will be required. Work has begun and will continue until the first quarter of 2000.

In March, Boeing designated St. Louis a Strategic Manufacturing Center for manufacturing processes such as tooling and machining for information, space and defense systems. This tooling work reflects the implementation of this strategy.

The Delta IV family of launch vehicles is the Boeing entry into the U.S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. The program's goal is to reduce the cost of space launches at least 25 percent.

First launch is scheduled for 2001 at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla.

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