Defense Daily articles from August 2006

Defense Daily archives from August 2006

Warner: U.S. Might Sell Lower-Tech Raptor Overseas.(John Warner(Chairman))(Senate Armed Services Committee)
August 1, 2006... By Dave Ahearn The cutting-edge F-22A Raptor supersonic stealth fighter plane made by Lockheed Martin [LMT] likely can be sold to foreign militaries, but in a lower- tech version than used by the U.S. Air Force, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.),...

Centigon ECV Increases Vehicle Armor Without Decreasing Performance.(enhanced capacity vehicle)
August 1, 2006... By Geoff Fein Centigon, a world leader in commercial vehicle armoring, has developed a new enhanced capacity vehicle (ECV) that enables enhanced armoring without degrading the vehicle's performance, according to a company official. ...

DoD's Critical Technologies Lists Marginally Useful, GAO Finds.
August 1, 2006... Lists of the critical technologies that keep the military on the cutting edge are out of limited value, and DoD should act to ensure current and future capabilities are not vulnerable or degraded, a new government report said. The...

Oshkosh Completes Buy of Specialty Vehicles Maker.(AK Specialty Vehicles)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Oshkosh Truck Corp. [OSK] yesterday said it has completed its $140 million cash acquisition of AK Specialty Vehicles, a designer and manufacturer of specialized vehicles for medical, broadcast, and command and homeland security applications....

NNSA Sweetens Fees For Livermore Bidders.(National Nuclear Security Administration, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
August 1, 2006... By George Lobsenz The National Nuclear Security Administration, hoping to pep up competition for one of its most important contracts, has proposed sharply increased fees for contractors bidding to become the operator of Lawrence...

Warner Favors Both General Dynamics And Lockheed Martin Building LCSs.(Sen. John Warner)(Littoral Combat Ship)
August 1, 2006... By Dave Ahearn The Navy should continue buying two very different versions of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) from two different companies, rather than moving to buy LCSs from just one supplier, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the...

MDA's SBX Under Goes Repairs In Hawaii.(Missile Defense Agency)(Sea-Based X-band radar)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Missile Defense Agency's mobile radar system, the Sea-Based X-band (SBX) radar, is in Pearl Harbor under going repairs, the agency said. "It was a minor electrical problem with the general power supply system for the vessel," a...

Sikorsky Delivers Army's First New Production UH-60M Black Hawk.(Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.)
August 1, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Sikorsky [UTX] yesterday delivered to the Army the first new production UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. "The UH-60M will provide reduced pilot workload, increased lift, better protection and enhanced survivability,"...

Boeing To Provide Four C-17s To Australia Air Force.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Boeing [BA] yesterday was awarded a $780 million firm-fixed price contract for four C-17 aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force. This is an undefinitized contract action for a foreign military sales delivery order contract. The...

Northrop Grumman Awarded $58 Million For Aegis Ships.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Navy yesterday awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation [NOC] a $58.4 million contract to continue life cycle engineering and technical services in support of the Navy's fleet of USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) class Aegis guided missile cruisers,...

Senate Panel Weighs Moves Against Errant Contractors.
August 2, 2006... By Dave Ahearn Some senators are considering moves against unethical defense contractors, such as outlawing such firms from deducting penalties for their misdeeds from the corporate taxes they pay. However, many senators on the Senate...

Army National Guard Reset Bill $21 Billion, General Says.(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Army National Guard faces a $21 billion reset bill, higher than the active Army's $17.1 billion reset needs, to repair and replace battle-weary or destroyed equipment, the bureau's top general says. "I am...

Oshkosh Posts Higher Income, Sales On Strong Truck Markets.
August 2, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Oshkosh Truck Corp. [OSK] yesterday reported strong third quarter financial results led by blow out earnings in its Commercial segment combined with improved results at its Defense and Fire and Emergency businesses....

UAV Work Leads Defense Gains At United Industrial.
August 2, 2006... United Industrial Corp. [UIC] yesterday reported strong second quarter earnings and sales led by increased business related to its Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System. Net income increased 22 percent to $10.3 million, 72 cents...

A400M On Track For First Flight In Early '08, Says Program Manager.(Richard Thompson)
August 2, 2006... By Michael Sirak Despite turbulence on the commercial side of European aircraft maker Airbus, development of the company's A400M military airlifter is proceeding well and isn't being impacted, according to a senior company official. ...

SI International Posts Increased Earnings, Sales.(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... SI International [SINT] yesterday said second quarter net income increased 10 percent on a 24 percent jump in sales as work under its federal contracts continues to grow. Net income was $4.4 million, 34 cents earnings per share (EPS),...

ONR S&T Efforts Include JDAM Mine Breaching Weapon.(Office of Naval Research)(Joint Direct Attack Munition)
August 2, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has a number of technologies that are finding their way into the Navy, such as a new mine countermeasure system. In developing the weapon, ONR and the Air Force have made use of...

Boeing Laser Communications Unit Advances For TSAT.(Transformational Satellite Communications System)
August 2, 2006... Boeing [BA] successfully tested a key laser component of the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT), the company said yesterday. This netting system involves links from one satellite to another using a laser beam, in a...

General Dynamics Awarded $129 Million Armor Contract For Bradley.
August 2, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] said on Monday that it had been awarded a $129 million contract from the Army for the production of enhanced-capability reactive armor tile sets for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle System. The contract has the...

Army Pares JCA Proposals To Two.(Joint Cargo Aircraft)
August 3, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Army late last week dropped two bids as "non-responsive" for the potential multi-billion Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program: the C-130J short version proposed by Lockheed Martin [LMT] and the CN-235, one of two...

Lockheed Martin Examines HAA Multi-Mission Potential.(High Altitude Airship)
August 3, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Lockheed Martin's [LMT] High Altitude Airship (HAA) program is examining the wider market for persistent surveillance, while proceeding toward a demonstration for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), company officials said....

SAIC To Acquire Aerospace Engineering, IT Services Firm.(Science Applications International Corp.)(BD Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
August 3, 2006... SAIC on Tuesday said it has agreed to acquire bd Systems, Inc., a small California-based company that provides aerospace engineering and information technology (IT) services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. bd Systems has 330...

STRATCOM Ready To Explore Greater Missile Transparency With China.(U.S. strategic command)
August 3, 2006... By Michael Sirak U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) is prepared to discuss with China how to exchange information on upcoming ballistic missile launches and perhaps share early warning data similar to measures already in place or planned...

SRA International Turns In Strong Fourth Quarter.
August 3, 2006... SRA International [SRX] yesterday reported strong fourth quarter and fiscal year 2006 results, posting sales and earnings gains above 20 percent for both periods. Net income in the recent quarter increased 23 percent to $19.5 million,...

Navy Secretary Winter Strongly Backs LCS Buy.(Donald Winter)(Littoral Combat Ship)
August 3, 2006... By Dave Ahearn Navy Secretary Donald Winter yesterday strongly backed the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) acquisition program, saying this is a needed platform that will be appreciated for its value once it begins service. On other points,...

Mistral Group Introduces New Gunshot Residue Detection Kit.
August 3, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Mistral Group, an Israeli explosives detection and containment systems firm, is about to market a field kit capable of rapidly detecting gunshot powder residue on a suspect's hands. "Previously,...

Army Asks Lockheed Martin To Accelerate Guided Missile Production.
August 3, 2006... The Army has asked Lockheed Martin [LMT] to accelerate production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS Unitary) rockets, according to a company press release issued on Monday. Lockheed Martin originally received a $108 million...

General Sees V-22 Ospreys In Combat Soon, Backs Air Force Tanker Buy.(John Castellaw)
August 4, 2006... By Dave Ahearn MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C.--Capping two decades of development, the first V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft are about to deploy to a combat zone: Iraq. The half-helicopter, half-airplane will serve in Iraq...

Time Will Tell, Or Quell Defense Doubts Looming From Lebanon Crisis.
August 4, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The fear of the current situation in southern Lebanon spinning into a full blown regional war is not the only reason people remain glued to the crisis, as numerous defense establishments around the world...

Boeing Faces Mid-August Deadline For Keeping C-17 Line Running.
August 4, 2006... By Geoff Fein ST. LOUIS--Boeing [BA] expects to sign a contract with Canada in the coming days for four C-17 cargo aircraft, however, the company is facing an Aug. 18 deadline on whether it will continue to build the giant transports or...

Senate Addresses Military Equipment Shortfalls.(Defense Appropriations Bill approved)
August 4, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Senate late Wednesday overwhelmingly approved making $6.7 billion available in the FY '07 Defense Appropriations Bill to repair and replace battle-battered equipment. "We must find resources necessary to repair...

ATK Opens Fiscal Year With Solid Financial Results.
August 4, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Alliant Techsystems [ATK] yesterday reported solid gains in net income and sales in its first quarter with sales led by its ammunition and launch businesses and profits boosted by its launch and missile related work....

GKN To Acquire Stellex Aerostructures.(GKN plc acquired Stellex Aerostructures )(Brief article)
August 4, 2006... Britain's GKN plc has agreed to acquire Stellex Aerostructures from The Carlyle Group in a deal to boost its capabilities in manufacturing structural components for the aerospace industry. Terms of the cash deal, which is expected to...

ThyssenKrupp, EADS Complete Purchase of Atlas Elektronik.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co)
August 4, 2006... Germany's ThyssenKrupp and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) yesterday closed their joint acquisition of Atlas Elektronik from Britain's BAE SYSTEMS, ensuring that Europe maintains two key suppliers of underwater warfare...

Defense Watch.
August 7, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Take Off. Boeing rolled out its EA-18G last week at a ceremony at its facilities in St. Louis. The aircraft will assume the Navy's electronic attack missions later this...

F-22 To Be 'Frequent' Guest On Guam, Says Top USAF General In Pacific.(United States Air Force)
August 7, 2006... By Michael Sirak MARIETTA, Ga.--The Air Force expects to begin dispatching its newest fighter aircraft, Lockheed Martin [LMT]'s stealthy F-22 Raptor, to the strategic island of Guam within the next two years for recurrent training drills...

National Guard Aims For Cutting Edge Capabililties, General Says.
August 7, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The National Guard's future capabilities should include cyber-oriented and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) units, according to its commanding general. "I think in the cyber area it makes perfect sense if the Air...

SAIC Acquires Firm That Supplies Military Doctrine Experts.(Science Applications International Corp)(Cornerstone Industry, Inc merges with SAIC)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) on Friday said it has acquired Cornerstone Industry, Inc., a veteran-owned small business with subject matter experts in joint military doctrine, as well as capabilities in eLearning and...

Boeing Demonstrates First Flight of Futuristic 'Dominator' UAV.(unmanned aerial vehicle)
August 7, 2006... By Geoff Fein ST. LOUIS--Boeing [BA] recently flew an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator to test out a company funded program called Dominator that could possibly fly for more than 12 hours conducting surveillance missions and...

NGA Director Sees Opportunity To Leverage Commercial Imagery Sector.(National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency signed contract with Digital Globe and GeoEye)
August 8, 2006... By Geoff Fein The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is committed to the commercial imagery sector and sees the opportunity to leverage that industry as it grows into the future, said the agency's new director. "We are...

Senate To Resume Defense Funding Work Next Month.
August 8, 2006... The Senate, when it returns Sept. 5, will resume consideration of the defense appropriations bill for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. The bill funds the Pentagon weapons platform procurement programs, plus military personnel costs and...

General Dynamics To Upgrade 60 Abrams To SEP Model.(System Enhancement Package)(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt General Dynamics [GD] yesterday announced the Army awarded its Land Systems unit a $134.6 million contract to upgrade 60 M1A2 Abrams tanks to the System Enhancement Package (M1A2 SEP). The contract includes a $145...

IAI's New Crisis Management System Possibly Headed For South American Cities.(Routine & Emergency Management Operational System from Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.)
August 8, 2006... By BC Kessner TEl AVIV, Israel--Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) says two South American customers are seriously considering selecting its new Routine & Emergency Management Operational System (REMOS) and the company is taking initial...

CollaborX Acquired By Teledyne Brown Engineering.
August 8, 2006... Teledyne Technologies [TDY] announced yesterday its subsidiary, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., has entered into a $17.5 million agreement to acquire CollaborX, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., subject to closing conditions. CollaborX...

Lockheed Martin To Build More RFI Units For Apache Longbow.(Radar Frequency Interferometer)(won the contract of Army)(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday announced the Army awarded a $16 million contract for 37 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI) systems for the Boeing [BA] AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter. Seven systems will supplement the...

U.K. Cohort plc Acquires System House MASS.(MASS Consultants Ltd)
August 8, 2006... The U.K.-based independent systems house MASS announced recently it has been acquired by Cohort plc, a publicly quoted defense technical services company. Cohort wants to create a federated group of independent, U.K. companies ...

General Dynamics Finalizes Contract To Build Nine Carrier Tankers.
August 8, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] NASSCO, today finalized a $1 billion contract with U.S. Shipping Partners L.P. [USS] to build nine product carrier tankers, the company reported. The contract includes options for five additional ships. Construction...

Deadline Arrives For NATO Missile Defense Bids; One Team Makes Change.(North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
August 9, 2006... By Michael Sirak As the multinational teams vying to support NATO's theater ballistic missile defenses place the finishing touches on their proposals to meet today's filing deadline, one of the teams has adjusted its composition, Defense...

Carlyle, Finmeccanica To Sell Avio To European Equity Firm.(CINVen)(Carlyle Group L.P.)
August 9, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The Carlyle Group and Finmeccanica have agreed to sell Italian propulsion manufacturer Avio to the European-based private equity firm Cinven for $3.3 billion. Carlyle and Italy's Finmeccanica purchased Avio from...

Army Gives $125 Million Radar Contract To Lockheed/Northrop Venture.
August 9, 2006... The Army May 31 gave a $125 million contract for 37 Longbow fire control radars to Longbow Limited (LBL), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Northrop Grumman [NOC], Lockheed Martin said yesterday. Most of the radars, 30 of...

J.F. Lehman Acquires Atlantic Marine Holding.(J.F. Lehman & Co.)(Brief article)
August 9, 2006... The private equity firm J.F. Lehman & Co. has acquired the ship repair and maintenance company Atlantic Marine Holding Co., which serves the commercial and naval markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Atlantic Marine has...

Travis AFB Takes Delivery of First Boeing C-17.(Travis Air Force Base)
August 9, 2006... The first of 13 Boeing [BA] C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft arrived yesterday at Travis AFB, Calif., less than two weeks before the company decides whether to shutter the C-17 production line after completing its current orders. ...

Ceradyne To Prototype Armored Cab For Mack Trucks.(Brief article)
August 9, 2006... Technical ceramics designer and manufacturer Ceradyne, Inc. [CRDN] yesterday said it has received a purchase order from Mack Trucks, Inc., to build a prototype ceramic armored truck cab that meets the requirements of the Army's new Long Term...

NASA, Air Force Forge Pact On Joint Research Work.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
August 9, 2006... NASA and the Air Force recently executed an agreement to work jointly in aeronautics search areas, NASA said. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne signed the memorandum of understanding--which...

Navy Awards General Dynamics $115 Million For DDG-1000 Work.
August 9, 2006... General Dynamics' [GD] Bath Iron Works Inc. (BIW) yesterday was awarded a $115.8 million cost-plus-award-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee Navy contract for DDG- 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer detailed design and procurement of vendor furnished...

NNSA, DoE Officials Clash Over Disposal of Sandia Classified Drives.(Department of Energy. Sandia National Laboratories)(Department of Energy)
August 9, 2006... By George Lobsenz Amid confusion among key Energy Department officials on an issue with "important national security ramifications," DoE auditors have concluded that Sandia National Laboratory is not in compliance with department rules...

Marine Corps Making Investments To Keep CH-53E Flying.
August 10, 2006... By Geoff Fein The demand on heavy-lift operations has led the Marine Corps to look for ways to sustain its fleet of Sikorsky [UTX] CH-53Es, from pulling retired assets out of the desert in Arizona, to making both the financial and...

SAC Decision On LCS Will Create Production Gap, Pentagon Memo States.
August 10, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Senate Appropriations Committee's (SAC) decision to cut funding for two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), one in FY '06 and one in FY '07, would result in a two-year production gap at one shipyard, increase the overall...

Boeing To Wrap Up Radar Integration On 737 Wedgetail By Year's End.
August 10, 2006... By Michael Sirak Having just been identified as the sole remaining bidder to build South Korea's next-generation airborne early warning aircraft, Boeing is working to resolve by year's end the integration issues that have delayed its...

Navy Awards Raytheon $100 Million Contract For Torpedoes.
August 10, 2006... Raytheon [RTN] and the Navy yesterday finalized a $95.4 million contract modification for lightweight and heavyweight torpedo hardware, engineering and support services, the company reported. This contract modification adds fiscal year...

L-3 Subsidiary Gets $300 Million Army Contract For Mine Detection Equipment.
August 10, 2006... CyTerra, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications [LLL], was awarded yesterday a $300 million multiyear AN/PSS-14 Mine Detecting Set full-rate production contract from the Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command Acquisition...

Northrop Grumman Gets $135 Million SDD Contract For Fire Scout.
August 10, 2006... The Navy on Tuesday awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] a $135.8 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV) program, the company reported. The...

DRS Technologies Lands $186 Million Contract For DDG-1000 Power Systems.
August 10, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] Tuesday awarded DRS Technologies [DRS] a $186 million contract to design and produce shipsets of the Integrated Fight Though Power (IFTP) systems for DDG-1000, according to DRS. IFTP will support the Navy's future...

Choices Limited For Detecting Liquid Explosives.(Small Parcel Explosives Detection System)(airport security)
August 11, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The disclosure yesterday that British officials foiled a potential terrorist plot to explode bombs aboard several or more aircraft using liquid explosives and other materials showed that security systems, particularly...

Lockheed Martin Says Global Market Remains Strong For C-130J.
August 11, 2006... By Michael Sirak MARIETTA, Ga.--Although Lockheed Martin [LMT] needs to win additional orders for the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft by the end of this year to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted flow of the aircraft's production...

Navy Seeking Sources For Reconfigurable Riverine Craft.
August 11, 2006... The Navy is looking for industry sources for a reconfigurable riverine craft that can carry a compliment of 13 troops or equivalent cargo and serve as platforms for various missions to conduct maritime security operations in the global war...

Raytheon Says Its System Can Detect Nukes In Cargo Through Light Shielding.(Raytheon [RTN] Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) cargo screening system)
August 11, 2006... By Dave Ahearn The Raytheon [RTN] Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) cargo screening system will be able to detect even lightly shielded nuclear materials or weapons hidden inside cargo containers or trucks moving toward U.S....

Air Force Incorporates Maritime Mode In Textron's Sensor Fuzed Weapon.(Textron Systems)
August 11, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is modifying its premier land-attack cluster munition to give it the capability to strike maritime targets, Textron Systems [TXT] which produces the weapon, said yesterday. Based on the Air Force's...

Army Takes Delivery of AH-64D Apache Longbow 501.(from Boeing Co.)
August 11, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt MESA, Ariz--Boeing's [BA] newest AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter, piloted by Maj. Gen. Virgil Packett, commander of the Aviation Warfighting Center and Ft. Rucker, Ala., swept over the flight line Wednesday touching...

AAI To Develop Advanced FCS Class I UAS Airframe.(AAI Corp,unmanned aircraft system,Future Combat System)
August 11, 2006... AAI Corp. [UIC] will develop an advanced airframe for the Future Combat System (FCS) Class I unmanned aircraft system (UAS), a lightweight, back- packable, vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft system. Under a new contract,...

Mistral's New Explosive Containment Chamber Gas-Tight For Chem-Bio Threats.(Golan 4GT BlastSafe)
August 11, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel's Mistral Group is beginning to market the Golan 4GT BlastSafe, a new Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) chamber the company says offers fully confined, gas-tight explosive containment to protect...

Two Teams Move To Next Phase of JCA Evaluation.(joint cargo aircraft )
August 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt This fall two aircraft move into an early user evaluation in the competition for the Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA). Late last week, Team JCA, a partnership of Raytheon [RTN]: >TI Defense Watch >TX The...

Two Teams Move To Next Phase of JCA Evaluation.(joint cargo aircraft)(Raytheon Aircraft Co partners with EADS CASA)(L-3 Communications joint ventures Finmeccanica)
August 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt This fall two aircraft move into an early user evaluation in the competition for the Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA). Late last week, Team JCA, a partnership of Raytheon [RTN] and EADS CASA North America,...

DARPA, Air Force Conduct Third Test of QuickReach Rocket.(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
August 14, 2006... By Michael Sirak A novel, aircraft-deployed space rocket under development for the Department of Defense performed successfully in a simulated test in late July, moving the system closer to its maiden end-to-end flight mission, the Air...

DHS Completes First Round In Site Selection For Agro-Defense Facility.(Department of Homeland Security)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week said it has selected 18 potential sites located in 11 states to advance to the next phase in the competitive process to select the final site for the proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense...

Armor Holdings Gets Potential $259 Million Army Backpack Contract.
August 14, 2006... The Army has awarded Armor Holdings [AH] a five-year, potential $258.9 million indefinite delivery, and indefinite quantity contract to supply Modular Light-weight Load Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) for soldiers. The initial contract value...

Lockheed Martin Protests Army's Decision To Drop C-130J From JCA.
August 15, 2006... By Michael Sirak Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) over the Army's decision last month to drop the company's C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter from consideration to be...

Coast Guard Expects New Deployable Group Operating By Next Summer.
August 15, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker A new Coast Guard command that would bring together the service's various specialized incident response and security teams into adaptive force packages is expected to be up and running with an initial capability by...

Lockheed Martin Looks For Clarity On Congressional JASSM Concerns.(joint air-to-surface standoff missile)
August 15, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Lockheed Martin [LMT] is working with the Air Force to determine what issues Congress has with the Extended Range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM-ER), a company official said yesterday on the heels of a...

L-3 Communications To Acquire Nova Engineering.
August 15, 2006... L-3 Communications [LLL] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire Nova Engineering (Nova) for $45 million in cash, plus an additional purchase price not to exceed $10 million, contingent upon Nova's future financial performance. Nova is...

FCS Program Leaves PowerPoint Behind, Moves Toward PDR.(future combat systems)(preliminary design review)
August 16, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Boeing [BA] and SAIC, Lead Systems Integrator for the Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, yesterday announced the program successfully passed its major 2006 milestone, the Initial Preliminary Design Review...

Engineers With Clearances Hold Hot Ticket In Huntsville.
August 16, 2006... By Dave Ahearn HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--This center of government and military space and missile programs is looking for a few (thousand) good men and women: engineers with security clearances. The unemployment rate for engineers in the...

Company Touts New Detection System.
August 16, 2006... By Dave Ahearn HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--A seven-year-old defense contracting firm has developed a system that pinpoints the source of incoming enemy fire. Radiance Technologies has an infrared system, WeaponWatch, that can be mounted on a...

European BMD Acquisition Looms, But Tough Questions Precede It.(ballistic missile defense)
August 16, 2006... By Dave Ahearn HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--A defense company is hoping its ballistic missile defense work may grow as Europe installs a missile shield against enemy weapons launched from the Middle East. But a key political issue that must be...