Defense Daily articles from April 2006

Defense Daily archives from April 2006

Defense Watch.
April 10, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Spring Break. Congress is off the next two weeks for its spring recess, no defense committee hearings are scheduled. Finally Approved. The Senate approved on a voice...

Navy Awards $3 Billion For USMC Heavy-Lift Replacement Helicopter.
April 10, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Navy awarded Sikorsky [UTX] a $3 billion contract on April 5 to design and build the Marine Corps CH-53K helicopter, the heavy-lift platform that will replace the service's workhorse CH-53E Super Stallion starting in...

Thailand Looking To Spend $246 Million For Six MH-60S, Parts.(Lockheed Martin Corp.)(Brief article)
April 10, 2006... Thailand has requested a possible sale of six Lockheed Martin [LMT] - Sikorsky [UTX] MH-60S helicopters, as well as associated equipment and services, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The total value, if all options...

Coast Guard Issues RFI For Patrol Boat Designs.
April 10, 2006... As expected, the Coast Guard last week issued a Request for Information (RFI) for market research for "proven" patrol boat designs to help it generate options for replacing its current fleet of 49 rapidly aging Island Class cutters amid...

Southcom Says Grounding of Customs P-3 Aircraft 'Degrades' Military Counter Narcotics Operations.
April 10, 2006... By George Cahlink About half the Customs and Border Protection Agency's (CBPA) P-3 aircraft fleet remains grounded due to cracks in the wings, hurting counter narcotics operations in the military's Southern Command, homeland security and...

Pentagon Says 25 Programs Have Critical Cost Growth Including V-22, AMRAAM.(Brief article)
April 10, 2006... The Pentagon has identified 25 programs as having critical cost growth including the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM), C-17A, H-1 upgrades, the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) and the V-22 Osprey. Cost growth is deemed...

Army Aviation Moves Out On UAS Integration.(unmanned aerial systems)
April 11, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Army aviation is moving forward to integrate the service's unmanned aerial systems (UAS), according to the branch chief. "April 19, we will stand up the UAS training battalion," at Ft. Huachuca,...

OSD, Air Force rethink U-2 retirement strategy, may slip '07 phase out.(Office of the Secretary of Defense)
April 11, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Air Force are reconsidering the plan reflected in the service's FY '07 budget request to begin retiring the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft starting next year,...

Army, USJFCOM, on path to refine irregular warfare effectiveness.(U.S. Joint Forces Command)(U.S. Army)
April 11, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt This month, the Army and U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) co-sponsored war-game Unified Quest 06 (UQ06) will endeavor to refine the concepts and capabilities needed to improve the ability to defeat irregular warfare...

Army, Honeywell, Ready For TIGER.(Total InteGrated Engine Revitalization)
April 11, 2006... Ceremonies March 30 at the renovated Total InteGrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) facility at Anniston Army Depot, Ala., marked the signing of the program enterprise between Honeywell [HON] and the Army. The effort to improve and extend...

GD Test Bed Demonstrator Successfully Completes Extended Running Trials.(General Dynamics Ltd. tests 8x8 wheeled test-bed )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] United Kingdom Limited subsidiary announced its Advanced Hybrid Electric Drive (AHED) 8x8 wheeled test-bed demonstrator has successfully completed the second of three planned extended running trials in an 18-ton...

Synthetic Training Enables U.S., coalition forces to play in virtual missions.
April 11, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint Exercise held last month along the Atlantic seaboard brought together U.S., British and German forces, using both simulated and real assets and systems to conduct virtual at-sea...

Army Temporarily Moves LUH Funds To Support IED Work.(Light Utility Helicopter, improvised explosive devices)
April 12, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Army has moved $70 million from the FY '06 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program to support work to counter improvised explosive devices (IED), but once the program selects a contractor and work...

Air Force Chief Sees U.S. Airpower Supporting Iraq For a 'Long Time'.(Michael Moseley)
April 12, 2006... By Michael Sirak The U.S. Air Force will continue to be a presence in Iraq even after the withdrawal of major portions of U.S. and coalition land forces from there, the service's top military official said yesterday. "I believe that...

The Navy Is 'Shifting Its Weight' To Meet Global Challenges, Admiral Says.(Mike Mullen)
April 12, 2006... By Geoff Fein Under the command of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen, the Navy is adapting and modifying its capabilities and looking to develop a global network for maritime security, according to the Deputy Chief of...

BAE SYSTEMS Offers To Accelerate APKWSII Program.(Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II program)
April 12, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt NASHVILLE, Tenn.--BAE SYSTEMS is poised to accelerate the Army's Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II program if it is selected in the competition, officials said. "We are proposing an accelerated program," Frank...

SYS Tech Acquires IT Security Engineering Firm.(Sys Technology Inc., Reality Based Information Technology Services Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 12, 2006... SYS Technologies [SYS] last week said it has acquired Reality Based Information Technology Services, Ltd., (RBIS), a provider of highly secure network solutions, for $9.5 million in cash and stock. RBIS will give SYS Tech new capabilities...

Charge Leads To Operating Loss At Stewart & Stevenson.
April 12, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Stewart & Stevenson [SVC] late Monday said its military truck segment reported a fourth quarter loss due to a $3.3 million charge to write off previously anticipated cost recoveries under its Army truck contract but...

Navy Awards Northrop Grumman $15 Million To Work On USS Oklahoma City.
April 12, 2006... Northrop Grumman [NOC] has been awarded a $15 million Navy contract for maintenance work on the nuclear-powered submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), according to the company. Northrop Grumman's Newport News sector is the prime...

Boeing's LMRS Successfully Docks With Sub During Sea-Trials.(Long-term Mine Reconnaissance System)(Brief article)
April 12, 2006... Boeing [BA] completed a second round of at-sea tests of its Long-term Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS), a 20-foot unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), launched torpedo-style from both Los Angeles- and Virginia-class submarines to survey...

Lockheed Martin Gets $50 Million Navy Contract For DDG-51 VLS.
April 12, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] received a $50.6 million contract modification from the Navy for Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) for three DDG-51-class destroyers, according to the company. The contract provides funding for the procurement of...

Lockheed Martin Begins F-16 Deliveries For Poland's Peace Sky.(Brief article)
April 12, 2006... The U.S. Air Force contractually accepted the first new Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-16 aircraft bound for the Polish Air Force's Peace Sky program on March 30. "The first delivery is an important milestone in that it demonstrates that the...

DHS Releases RFP For SBInet.(Department of Homeland Security, request for proposals, secure border initiative)(Brief article)
April 12, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The Department of Homeland Security yesterday began soliciting industry proposals for the technology portion of its potentially multi-billion dollar effort to secure the nation's northern and southern land borders,...

Israel Navy Forging Ahead With LCS Plans Despite Budget Uncertainty.
April 12, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--With one Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) feasibility study announced this week for the Israeli navy and a second in the works, the service is making every preparation for a potential $600 million, two ship...

Moseley: Foregoing New C-5A Engines Could Save $5 billion.(Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy)
April 13, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force would save about $5 billion if it decides against installing new engines on a portion of its Lockheed Martin [LMT] C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft fleet, the Air Force's senior uniformed officer said earlier...

Rep. Bartlett Wants 'Nuclear Navy' To Decrease U.S. Dependence On Foreign Oil.(use of nuclear energy in shipbuilding)
April 13, 2006... By George Cahlink A senior House Armed Services Committee member is pushing the Navy to consider sailing nuclear-powered surface ships rather than diesel fuel vessels because of soaring oil prices. "The higher the price of oil goes...

Air Force Chief Supports Flying F-117s, U-2s Longer, If Necessary.(Michael Moseley)
April 13, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force will continue to fly the Lockheed Martin [LMT] U-2 Dragon Lady surveillance aircraft and F-117A Nighthawk stealth attack platform until their replacements, the Northrop Grumman [NOC] RQ-4 Global Hawk and...

L-3 Acquires German Propulsion Systems Developer.(L-3 Communications Corp., Magnet-Motor GmbH)(Brief article)
April 13, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker L-3 Communications [LLL] yesterday said it has acquired German-based Magnet-Motor GmbH, a small firm that develops and manufacture electric and energy systems for propulsion for military and commercial applications....

Bental Introduces Power Solutions For Next Generation UAVs.
April 13, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--An electronics minimization breakthrough has led Israel's Bental Industries to roll out a family of unified Starter-Generators (SG) for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that both start an engine and power...

Life Cycle Management Is 'Moving In The Right Direction,' Bolton Says.(Life Cycle Management Commands)
April 13, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Life Cycle Management Commands (LCMC) were set up in August 2004, and are evolving and doing well, the Army's top acquisition official says. "I think it's moving in the right direction," Claude...

Aircraft Carrier Supplier Base Needs Steady Shipbuilding Plan, Official Says.
April 13, 2006... By Geoff Fein The aircraft carrier industrial base needs a steady shipbuilding plan, which includes commitments on numbers of ships to be built and how often, according to the co-chair of the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition...

Boeing's Hullin To Replace DeLeon As Washington, D.C., Office Chief.(Tod Hullin, Rudy deLeon)
April 13, 2006... Boeing [BA] yesterday said that Rudy deLeon, the current head of its office in Washington, D.C., plans to retire at the end of June, and will be replaced by Tod Hullin, Boeing's senior vice president for public policy and communications. ...

Navy Concerned About Bell's Ability To Perform and Deliver H-1 Upgrades.
April 14, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy is questioning Bell Helicopter Textron's [TXT] ability to "adequately perform the [Navy'] H-1 upgrades program" and calls into question the company's "capability and capacity to successfully perform existing and...

Boeing, Lockheed Martin Submit Bids For Indian Navy Patrol Aircraft.
April 14, 2006... By Michael Sirak U.S. aerospace giants Boeing [BA] and Lockheed Martin [LMT] have submitted bids offering their respective P-8A and P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft to the Indian Navy, meeting yesterday's deadline to enter the...

Air Force Focuses On New Low-Collateral-Damage Warhead For Small Bomb.
April 14, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force hopes in July to begin an accelerated demonstration of its newest small bomb mated to a novel warhead designed to allow for pinpoint strikes with dramatically reduced potential for collateral damage,...

Army Will Continue To Shift Program Funds.
April 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Army will continue to shift program funds around as priorities change in the global war on terrorism, according to the service's the top acquisition official. "I don't see that changing a whole...

SECNAV Got Several Million Dollars From Northrop Grumman Before Taking Job.( Donald Winter retires)
April 14, 2006... By George Cahlink Navy Secretary Donald Winter received several million dollars from Northrop Grumman [NOC] when he retired from a senior post with the nation's top shipbuilder last year to take the helm of the Navy, financial records...

O'Gara Group Acquires Two Security Services Firms.
April 14, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The O'Gara Group recently said it has made two new acquisitions of firms involved in the training of military, law enforcement and corporate agencies, the Safety and Security Institute (SSI) and TRACOR, Inc. SSI,...

German Armed Forces Receive First 'Satcom On The Move' Robotic Vehicle.(ND SatCom and BASE TEN develop the robot)
April 14, 2006... ND SatCom and partner BASE TEN presented the world's first unmanned "Satcom on the Move" controlled robotic vehicle system, RoboScout, to the German armed forces, the companies said yesterday. The demonstration presentation of the...

MDA Dedicates Missile Defense Site To Ronald Reagan.(Missile Defense Agency)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... The Missile Defense Agency on April 10 formally dedicated the missile defense facilities at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., as the "Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site," honoring the 40th president for his commitment to advance missile defense....

General Dynamics Receives $464 Million Stryker Order.(from Army)(Brief article)
April 14, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] has received a $463.9 million Army order for 306 Stryker wheeled combat vehicles. The order is an extension to the November 2000 contract to provide more than 2,100 armored vehicles. To date, about 1,500 Strykers, a...

Defense watch.
April 17, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Rainy Day. The last Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bomber aircraft rolled off of the production line in 1962. However, the Air Force still pays to store manufacturing...

Krieg clears way for Air Force to start KC-135 tanker recapitalization.
April 17, 2006... By Michael Sirak Pentagon acquisition czar Kenneth Krieg last week gave his approval for the Air Force to initiate the program to recapitalize its aging aerial refueling fleet after several years of delays caused by the fallout over a...

LWPM Could Position Lockheed For Future Vehicle Competitions, Official Says.(Lightweight Prime Mover)
April 17, 2006... By Geoff Fein After being awarded a $2.1 million Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract recently from the Marine Corps for four of its Lightweight Prime Mover (LWPM) vehicles, Lockheed Martin believes it is well positioned to...

OSD Reveals JTRS Strategy: From 'Big Bang' To Increments.(Joint Tactical Radio System, Office of the Secretary Defense)
April 18, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) for the transformational and network-centric Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) is moving from a "big bang" acquisition strategy toward an incremental acquisition and development...

DHS Seeks Additional Technologies For Counter-MANPADS.(Man Portable Air Defense Systems)(AE Systems North America, Northrop Grumman Corp., contract)(Brief article)
April 18, 2006... The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under its Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) program to assess potential alternative approaches to the current program, which is...

Riverine Squadron Prepares For '07 Deployment, Additional Capabilities Eyed.
April 18, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy's first riverine squadron is undergoing training for deployment next year to Northwestern Iraq, and already the Navy is looking at future technologies for the squadron, ranging from sensors to unmanned aerial...

Boeing, Raytheon Awarded $290 Million For SDB II Risk Reduction Phase.(Raytheon Aircraft Co.)(Brief article)
April 18, 2006... Boeing [BA] has been awarded a $290 million contract that will be split with Raytheon [RTN] for the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) Increment II, 42-month Risk Reduction Phase, according to the Air Force. The objective of the SDB II program is...

Tensions rising over Navy's rejecting contractor proposal to cut submarine costs.
April 19, 2006... By George Cahlink The Navy and a congressional champion of submarine builders are at odds over whether the service can build its most advanced submarines for $2 billion apiece sooner than expected. Submarine builder, General...

Navy working plans to trim costs from Virginia-class submarines.
April 19, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy is taking steps to lower the per hull cost of Virginia-class submarines to $2 billion per copy that include simplifying the ship's design to offering industry partners incentives to reach the Navy's per unit price...

AH-64 Apache moves toward Extended Block II, Block III.
April 19, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt While Boeing's [BA] AH-64D Apache Longbow racks up the flight hours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the program is also moving toward an Extended Block II contract that will precede the Block III work, program officials said....

DigitalGlobe slips launch of next-generation WorldView imagery satellite.
April 19, 2006... By Michael Sirak The launch of DigitalGlobe's next-generation WorldView I commercial imagery satellite has slipped by an estimated six months to mid 2007, but is not expected to create a gap in coverage, according to company and U.S....

Boeing, Raytheon demonstrate networking capability of F/A-18E/F using AESA.(Active Electronically Scanned Array)(F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet)(Brief article)
April 19, 2006... Boeing [BA] demonstrated the capability of using Raytheon's [RTN] Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) to provide targeting information from an F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet to other aircraft, according to a Boeing statement. An AESA...

SAIC Acquires Geo-Spatial Technologies, Inc.(Science Applications International Corp.)(Brief article)
April 19, 2006... Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) yesterday said it has acquired Geo-Spatial Technologies, Inc. (GSTI), a provider of geospatial technology for advanced three-dimensional imaging, reconnaissance, remote sensing and mapping...

Army Selects 11 Firms Under ITES-2S Program.(Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., Computer Sciences Corp., EDS Corp., General Dynamics Corp.)(Brief article)
April 19, 2006... The Army on Friday awarded small contracts to 11 companies who will now compete for task orders under the potential $20 billion Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-2 Services (ITES-2S) program, which will allow various Army offices...

ATK To Provide MK44 30MM Cannon To Czech Republic.(Brief article)
April 19, 2006... ATK [ATK] has received a contract valued at about $20 million for Mk44 30mm cannon weapon systems that will be mounted on the Czech Republic's PANDUR II Wheeled Armored Vehicles. The Mk44 will be mounted on the Remote Control Weapon...

GD Posts Strong First Quarter Results.(General Dynamics Corp.)
April 20, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker General Dynamics [GD] yesterday reported strong first quarter financial results with each of its business segments posting sales and earnings gains. Net income increased 11 percent to $374 million, 92 cents...

Australian Air Force Looking To Buy Strike Weapons, Planes and UAVS.
April 20, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is in contract negations to buy Boeing's [BA] Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Lockheed Martin's [LMT] Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASM) for eventual use on that...

UTC Reports Higher Sales, Earnings.
April 20, 2006... Driven by gains at all of its segments but one, United Technologies Corp. [UTC] yesterday reported strong first quarter sales and earnings, enough so to boost its profit projections for the full year. Net income increased 18 percent to...

HASC Expands Investigation Of Former Rep. 'Duke' Cunningham.(House Armed Services Committee, Randy Cunningham )
April 20, 2006... By George Cahlink House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) has expanded his committee's investigation into funding requests sought by former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.). Cunningham, a...

Raytheon Sensor Network Completes Southern Border Demo.(Raytheon Aircraft Co.'s integrated sensor Project Athena)(Brief article)
April 20, 2006... Raytheon's [RTN] Project Athena, an integrated sensor, data and communications network that has been used in a pilot project to provide maritime domain awareness and port security in Narragansett Bay, R.I., has successfully completed an...

Lockheed Martin Continues Moving Forward On JTRS AMF.(Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station-Joint Tactical Radio System)
April 20, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Lockheed Martin [LMT] continues to push forward on its Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF-JTRS), as the acquisition strategy is revamped. "We're very bullish," Dom Costa, Lockheed...

Navy Awards General Dynamics $42.7 Million For DD(X) Design Work.(General Dynamics Corp.)
April 20, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] Bath Iron Works has been awarded a $42.75 million cost-plus-award-fee modification to previously awarded contract for the continuation of DD(X) transition design efforts and initial detail design and long lead material...

Armor Holdings Deal For Stewart & Stevenson Progresses.(Armor Holdings Inc. acquires Stewart and Stevenson Services Inc.)(Brief article)
April 20, 2006... Armor Holdings [AH] yesterday said its pending acquisition of Stewart & Stevenson [SVC] has cleared a hurdle, receiving early termination of the waiting period under the Hard-Scott Rodino Antitrust Act. The acquisition must still be...

Air Force Explores Unmanned Version of F-117 Stealth Fighter Aircraft.
April 21, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is exploring the option of converting some of the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-117A Nighthawk stealth strike aircraft that it otherwise plans to retire in the next several years to unmanned attack platforms,...

Most senators on Defense Committees favored For re-election, Burns, talent in tight races.(Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee)
April 21, 2006... By George Cahlink Most senators serving on committees that determine defense spending and set military policy are favored to win re-election this fall, but a handful will face tough races to keep their Senate seats. A third of the...

DoD Says Aluminum, Steel Prices Expected To Level, Even Decline, In 2006.(Department of Defense)
April 21, 2006... Increased prices over the past two years for specialty metals, which are used in major Defense Department aircraft systems, are expected to abate and possibly decline this year although a tightening of commercial markets could hinder U.S....

Cessna, Finance Unit Lead Textron To Strong Earnings Gains.(Textron Defense Systems sales up)
April 21, 2006... Textron [TXT] yesterday reported strong first quarter earnings due to strength at its aircraft making and finance units but profits fell at its helicopter operations due to a charge on the Marine Corps H-1 program and lower international...

BAE SYSTEMS To Upgrade F-16 Radar For Taiwan.(Brief article)
April 21, 2006... BAE SYSTEMS said yesterday Taiwan has bought a $9.3 million hardware and software upgrade for its U.S.-built F-16 fighter aircraft. The upgrade, which runs through 2008, will boost pilots' ability to detect a range of incoming radar...

Boeing wins $180 million B-1B radar modernization contract.
April 21, 2006... The Air Force has awarded Boeing [BA] a $180 million contract to upgrade the fire control radar on its fleet of 67 B-1B Lancer long-range bomber aircraft, the company announced yesterday. Boeing said it will deliver modification kits to...

Lockheed Martin chosen as EO sensor provider for Singaporean F-15s.(electro-optical sensor)(Brief article)
April 21, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] has been chosen to provide the electro-optical (EO) sensor suite for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's F-15SG multirole fighter aircraft, the company announced yesterday. Boeing [BA], which is building 12 F-15s...

Lockheed Martin Actively Hiring In Hawaii For Missile Defense Work.(Lockheed Martin Corp.)
April 21, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] has created 30 new jobs to support testing of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system at Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii. Lockheed Martin has...

Defense Watch.(Boeing Co. deserves praise for its job)(Air Force Col. Kelly Hazel says Space Force Enhancement Division has got praise from Congress)(Michael Moseley to be clarified)
April 24, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense For the Record. The Air Force has asked Defense Daily to clarify a statement made by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley last week during a breakfast meeting...

Strong Defense Demand Propels Armor Holdings In First Quarter.
April 24, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Armor Holdings [AH] last week reported strong financial results to start the year led by its defense segment, which continues to increase production of Up-Armored Humvees for the U.S. military. The strong results...

Boeing AMF JTRS Continues Development Under Contract Extension.
April 24, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Boeing [BA] has received a $19 million extension to continue development of its Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS). "We're moving forward, definitely making progress," Leo...

New Missions Presents Challenges For Keeping Aging Aircraft Flying.
April 24, 2006... By Geoff Fein The services are trying to find new compounds, materials and processes to keep legacy aircraft flying as the older aircraft are being asked to fly more robust missions in extreme environments than they were originally...

Navy To 'Kick-Off' Sea Base Connector AoA, First T-AKE Ship Heads Out To Sea.(Analysis of Alternatives)
April 25, 2006... By Geoff Fein In the coming weeks, the Navy will release its Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) examining surface connectors for its sea base concept including what systems are available and what direction the service is headed with...

Raytheon Hopes To Tap Into Airport Security Screening Market.(Raytheon Aircraft Co.)
April 25, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Looking to expand its presence in the homeland security market, Raytheon [RTN] yesterday said it is teaming with McNeil Security to offer private screening services to U.S. airports that "opt out" of using federal...

NASSCO'S First T-AKE, USNS Lewis And Clark, To Begin Sea Trials Today.(National Steel and Shipbuilding Company)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... By Geoff Fein The USNS Lewis and Clark, the first of nine T-AKE, dry cargo and ammunition ships, will take to the sea today, as personnel from General Dynamics' [GD] National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) will begin testing the...

House Intelligence Bill Seeks Better Long-Term Planning For Technology Programs.
April 25, 2006... By George Cahlink House lawmakers will take up legislation this week that would give the National Intelligence Director's office a greater role in overseeing various technology programs pursued by spy agencies. The House is expected...

Firm Developing Chem/Bio Sensors Gets In-Q-Tel Investment.(Sionex Corp., In-Q-Tel Inc.)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... Sionex Corp., a small Massachusetts-based firm developing chemical and biological sensors and systems, has received a strategic investment from In-Q- Tel to support commercial marketing and technical development efforts. "Sionex has...

Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter Team Completes Structural Testing Early.(Lockheed Martin Corp.)
April 25, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] completed structural-coupling testing on the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) five days ahead of schedule, and has moved on to the next scheduled series of ground tests, all in advance of the first flight test this...

DRS, Thales Awarded $142 Million For Ship Self-Defense System.(DRS Technologies Inc., Thales Naval Nederland)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... DRS Technologies [DRS] has been awarded a $142 million contract for its SIRIUS Long-Range Infrared Search and Track Systems (LR-IRST) for both the Canadian Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy to enhance ships' self-defense capabilities by...

Saflink Announces RT Brand Name, New Partners.(Registered Traveler program)
April 25, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Saflink Corp. [SFLK] a biometric authentication software provider, and its industry partners competing for work at U.S. airports under the Transportation Security Administration's Registered Traveler (RT) program,...