| San Diego Business Journal

Sempra Completes Asset Sale to Con Edison

Sempra Energy announced on Dec. 13 that it wrapped up its sale of U.S. solar assets to Consolidated Edison for $1.6 billion in cash.

Kratos to Ride Aboard 7-Year Space Vector Contract

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. said on Dec. 12 that it is a subcontractor to Space Vector Corp. on a rocket project that may last up to seven years. The financial implications to Kratos (Nasdaq: KTOS) were not immediately clear.

UTC Unit Moving Work to Mexicali; 300 Layoffs Expected

2020 will be the end of an era as manufacturing at Chula Vista’s major aerospace plant — now overseen by the Collins Aerospace unit of United Technologies Corp. — winds down.

Sandler Partners to Resell Viasat Service

Viasat Inc. has entered an agreement with Sandler Partners that will let Sandler resell the Carlsbad company’s satellite internet service to business customers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Utilis Is a Resource for Finding Water Leaks

SERVICE: Satellite Imagery Helps Detect General Location

The drinking water flows from a source in the mountains to the customer’s tap, but somewhere in the sprawling network of pipes, part of it disappears.

Mission Federal Names CIO

Mission Federal Credit Union has named Jojo Seva as its chief information officer, making the announcement on Dec. 10. Seva is a recognized leader in core banking system technology, artificial intelligence, enterprise digital transformation and information security.

BAE Systems Wins $79M Ship Repair Contract

The U.S. Navy awarded BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair in Barrio Logan a $78.8 million fixed-price contract to maintain, modernize and repair the USS Shoup.

RF Industries Chalks Up 87 Percent Growth

RF Industries, which makes specialized electronic connectors, said it increased annual sales 87 percent in the recently ended fiscal year. Fiscal 2018 sales were approximately $58 million, compared to $31 million in fiscal 2017.

Mattis: Military Needs Sustained Funds, High-Tech Tools

Defense Secretary James Mattis called for continued, robust defense spending during a Dec. 1 appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, and appealed for help from California’s advanced technology sector. I

GA-ASI to Sustain French Reaper Aircraft

The U.S. Air Force, acting on behalf of the French Air Force, awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. a one-year, $26.7 million contract for logistics support for France’s MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft.

Army Certifies Viasat Communication Electronics

Viasat Inc. reported Dec. 4 that the U.S. Army has certified one of the company’s modems — the Mobile Broadband Router 4020 — for use on the military’s Wideband Global SATCOM network.

Qualcomm and Nokia Test 5G Waters, See 2019 Rollout

Qualcomm Inc. and Nokia announced they passed another milestone on the road to commercializing fifth-generation wireless service — or 5G — by early 2019. Service is contemplated in the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan, China and Australia.

GA Takes Another Step Toward Moon Landing

NASA announced on Nov. 29 that nine teams will be able to bid for work under its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. General Atomics is part of the team led by Draper.

Northrop Grumman Program Survives Self-Inflicted Perils

DEFENSE: BACN Potentially Worth $4.7B For Battlefield Management

An essential communications conduit on the battlefield in Afghanistan. A multibillion-dollar business opportunity. And a channel for fraud. A defense electronics project run out of Northrop Grumman Corp.’s San Diego offices has proven to be all three, and like a character in a novel, it presents a multifaceted and complicated profile.

Belgium Eyes Aircraft From General Atomics ASI

Another European country is getting in line to buy aircraft from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. The Poway business said Nov. 19 that the Belgian government wants to begin negotiations on a purchase.

Foreign Sales Are on Defense Contractors’ Radar

Made in America? That seems to be an old-fashioned idea. The assertion that the United States imports more than it exports seems to hold true when consumers look at their clothes hampers or their electronic gadgets.

Cubic Prices Follow-on Offering at $60 Per Share

Cubic Corp. priced a follow-on offering of 3.3 million shares of common stock at $60 per share, announcing the move late Nov. 28. Cubic plans to use proceeds to pay for its acquisition of Trafficware.

MaxLinear Names 2 Board Members

MaxLinear Inc., a fabless semiconductor company based in Carlsbad, increased the size of its board and named two new directors, Daniel Artusi and Carolyn Beaver.

Japan Global Hawk Program Gets a Boost

The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $490 million contract to build three Global Hawk autonomous spy aircraft for Japan under a foreign military sale.

Electric Car, Hybrids Gaining in Popularity in the County

AUTOS: New Car Report Shows Toyota And Honda Top Sellers

Electric vehicles are making inroads in San Diego County.

Cubic to Sell More Shares

Cubic Corp. announced on Nov. 26 that it plans to make a follow-on offering of 3.3 million shares of common stock, partially to pay for its October acquisition of Trafficware.

ScaleMatrix, HPE Open High-Performance Computing Center

ScaleMatrix, a San Diego-based data center company and provider of colocation services, launched a partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) on Nov. 13.

More Big Opportunities Ahead For Cubic’s Transportation Unit

Cubic Corp. scored big wins in fiscal 2018, pulling down contracts for mass-transit fare collection systems in New York, Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area and Brisbane, Australia.

Translation Cos. Define Themselves With Work

SERVICE: Contractors Play Big Role in $30B Market

Sayed Ali’s face is something to behold. Ten seconds ago, a reporter asked him for the most obscure language his business deals in. Taking a few steps through his Scripps Ranch office, he stops at a low cubicle wall and consults the woman on the other side.

Nonprofit LISC Looks to Give Little Saigon Chance to Develop

FINANCE: Banks Back Efforts; Infrastructure and Housing Part of the Plans

Many years into the future, when out-of-town visitors decide they want to grab a great bowl of pho, they may head en masse to San Diego’s Little Saigon district — just as today’s tourists go to Little Italy for pasta.

Navy Property Is Prime Space In Search of New Purpose

With its sawtooth roofline and its big, multipaned windows, the old Consolidated aircraft factory looks like something from a black-and-white movie. The U.S. Navy, which owns it, thinks the 48.7 acres beneath it could go to a better use. The same goes for 21.8 acres nearby holding a warehouse and parking lot.

LRAD Makes $3.2M Sale

Rancho Bernardo-based LRAD Corp. said it received a $3.2 million order from the National Guard for an undisclosed number of 100X MAG-HS kits, one of its high-decibel sound systems able to send intelligible communications over very long distances.

Co.’s Printing Technology Gives It New Capabilities, New Focus

Forecast 3D liked its new, industrial-sized printing machines so much, it got more.

GA-ASI to Build Aircraft for Australia

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. announced it has reached a deal to provide its MQ-9 unmanned aircraft to Australia. GA-ASI builds its Predator family of aircraft in Poway.

Cubic’s Annual Sales Climb to $1.2B

Cubic Corp. closed out its 2018 fiscal year reporting annual net income of $12.3 million on record net sales of $1.2 billion. It said it expects sales to grow in fiscal 2019.

San Diego Defense Sector Benefits From New F-35 Order

San Diego County stands to get approximately $450 million worth of work from the Pentagon’s latest order for F-35 Lightning II aircraft, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter. The main beneficiary is Northrop Grumman.

Power-Sonic Charges Ahead After Acquisition

PRODUCTION: Battery Maker Increases Revenue, Monitors Tariff Situation

Like any good salesman, J.D. Johnson reacted when he heard on the early morning news that Lime was having trouble with its scooter batteries.

Calpine Receives $67M Navy Energy Deal

San Diego-based Calpine Energy Solutions LLC received a three-year, $67.3 million contract to deliver retail electricity and ancillary services to U.S. Navy bases in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland and California.

NIH Grant Puts Wind in Kaer Biotherapeutics’ Sails

Kaer Biotherapeutics of Escondido received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to help develop a device for people who can't breathe.

Bridgepoint Education Has Net Income of $4M in Quarter

Bridgepoint Education Inc., the San Diego company specializing in postsecondary education, reported net income of $4.3 million on revenue of $114.9 million during the third quarter.

Military Economic Impact in County Estimated to Be $50 Billion

DEFENSE: Study Forecasts Additional 3.7% Growth In Fiscal 2019

Sailors and Marines. Ships, aircraft and military machinery. That is San Diego, yesterday and today.

Quarter Brings Stock Sale, Net Loss for Maxwell

With a third-quarter net loss of $9.7 million on revenue of $33.7 million, ultracapacitor-maker Maxwell Technologies Inc. hopes a changing business model means better times ahead.

Business Intelligence Is a Must in Defense Sector

DEFENSE: Knowing Inside Machinations Helps in Planning

Every year, San Diego defense and aerospace companies spend six-figure sums on lobbyists, who represent their clients before government leaders in Washington, D.C.

Sempra Interests Stretch From Trade to Climate

ENERGY: With Most All Moves Regulated, Co. Weighs In on Issues

Lighting San Diego’s homes. Moving electricity around California and Texas. Sending natural gas through pipelines. Building infrastructure to export liquefied natural gas to foreign ports. Those are only part of what Sempra Energy does to stay in business.

Sempra Earns $274M in Quarter, Signs Customers to Baja LNG Plant

Sempra Energy reported earnings of $274 million, or 99 cents per share, on total revenues of $2.94 billion in the third quarter of 2018. It also announced new customers for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export business.

Kratos Earns $1.7M on Revenue of $159M

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., which builds electronics and drones, reported net income of $1.7 million, or 2 cents per share, on total revenues of $159.4 million in the third quarter.

Viasat Gives to UC San Diego, Delves Into Design Thinking

Viasat Inc. has given UC San Diego’s Design Lab $250,000 to support the lab’s Center for Design-Driven Transformation. The center, in turn, will help Viasat transform its business processes.

Cohu Starting to Achieve Synergies After Acquisition

Cohu Inc. reported net income of $4.8 million or 16 cents per share on net sales of $86.2 million during the third quarter. The Poway based corporation also offered an update on its acquisition of Massachusetts-based Xcerra.

Guild Mortgage Volume Grows 9 Percent in First 9 Months

Growth in seven states helped push San Diego-based Guild Mortgage Co. ahead of its peers during the first three quarters of 2018. Total volume grew 9.3 percent to $12.75 billion.

On the Battlefield, AI Can Improvise, Adapt and Assist

Viasat Inc. plans to deliver artificial intelligence and machine learning to soldiers on the battlefield. The question I had was why.

Partners Plan Electric Vehicle ‘Hub’ Downtown

Arcimoto Inc., which produces three-wheeled electric vehicles capable of carrying two people, said it plans to open a rental location, showroom and charging station at 630 10th Avenue in downtown San Diego.

Viasat 2Q Revenue Grows 32 Percent

Viasat Inc. saw its second quarter revenue grow to $517.5 million from $393.1 million in the same quarter one year ago, an increase of 31.6 percent. Shares rose 11 percent.

Solar Turbines Changes Manufacturing, R&D

PRODUCTION: 3-D Printers Used in Work, Experimentation

The old image of manufacturing — of wrenches and grubby factory floors — needs a reboot.

RF Industries Sells Comnet

RF Industries Ltd., the Miramar area manufacturer that specializes in electronic interconnect products, said Oct. 31 that it sold its Comnet Telecom Supply subsidiary for $4.2 million in cash.

Kratos Gets Contract for Military C5ISR

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. said on Oct. 30 that it received a sole-source contract for C5ISR equipment worth approximately $40 million. The military abbreviation stands for command, control, communications, computing, combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.