Defense Daily articles from December 2007

Defense Daily archives from December 2007

Defense Watch.
December 3, 2007... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Movement Possible. A House leadership aide confirmed the House is likely to appoint conferees this week for the defense authorization bill. Conferees from the House and...

Encouraging Signs Set Performance Bar High For Lame Duck Acquisition Chief.
December 3, 2007... By Jen DiMascio In about 14 months when a new president takes office, John Young, the newly confirmed under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics will in all likelihood be looking for another job. In the...

DARPA Exploring Development of 50-Caliber Smart Bullet.(United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to host an industry day on an exploratory development program aimed at developing a highly accurate 50-caliber bullet at long distances against moving targets. DARPA says the...

iRobot's New Multimission Warrior.
December 3, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt iRobot [IRBT] is developing a new multimission modular robot called Warrior that can pull more of its weight in the soldier's world and is expected to be ready in 2008. Helen Greiner, iRobot co-founder and chairman of...

Raytheon Launches Initiative To Capture International ISR Business Opportunities.
December 3, 2007... By Michael Sirak Raytheon [RTN] has launched an initiative called Global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (GO ISR) to leverage the company's expertise and provide tailored information-gathering systems and integrated...

Army Considers Stryker As Replacement For Armored Personnel Carrier.
December 4, 2007... By Jen DiMascio The Army is considering Stryker vehicles as an option for replacing the M113 armored personnel carrier--the highest density vehicle in the fleet. The Army "absolutely" wants to replace the M113 family of vehicles,...

CBO: Army Aviation Modernization, FCS Investment, Likely To Pressure Future Budget Planners.
December 4, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finds that Army aviation modernization would cost an average of $3.3 billion a year from 2007-2030 at the same time the service expects its heaviest investment in the Future Combat...

Wyle To Acquire RS Information Systems.
December 4, 2007... Wyle said yesterday it has agreed to acquire RS Information Systems (RSIS), significantly expanding the company's capabilities and customer base in the federal information technology (IT) sector and also giving it a larger presence in the...

iRobot Teams With Advanced Scientific Concepts.(Brief article)
December 4, 2007... iRobot [IRBT] yesterday said it has teamed with Santa Barbara, Calif.- based Advanced Scientific Concepts. The deal grants iRobot the exclusive rights to develop and market ASC's 3-D Flash Laser Radar or "LADAR" technology for unmanned...

Bell Helicopter, Army, Sign Cooperative Agreement To Develop CBM Technologies.
December 4, 2007... Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] and the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) have signed an agreement to develop and mature state-of-the- art condition based maintenance (CBM) technologies. Bell's winning proposal for this...

Raytheon's SSDS Set For USS Nimitz Installation In '08.(ship self-defense system)
December 4, 2007... By Geoff Fein Early next year, the Navy will install and begin testing Raytheon's [RTN] ship self-defense system (SSDS) onboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier, leading up to certification of the company's ship self-defense...

Boeing Confident HH-47 Will Prevail Again In New CSAR-X Competition.
December 5, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Boeing [BA] HH-47 helicopter will prevail once again in the Air Force's revised CSAR-X competition because it is the best platform for the combat-search-and-rescue mission, the company official in charge of the HH-47...

Senate Likely To Consider Iraq War Funding Again.(United States. Congress. Senate )
December 5, 2007... By Jen DiMascio As Congress returned this week to continue debating funding for the war, the Senate majority leader said a vote on war funding was likely during the next three weeks. Democrats in that chamber appeared yesterday to be...

MDA Close Up Seeker Imaging Test Deemed Successful.
December 5, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Trey Obering yesterday announced that a seeker characterization test Dec. 3 for the Net- Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE) was successfully conducted at...

Air Force, Boeing, Demonstrate Technology For Automated Refueling of Unmanned Aircraft.
December 5, 2007... The Air Force and a Boeing [BA]-led industry team have demonstrated in- flight the ability of unmanned aircraft to rendezvous autonomously with tanker aircraft so that they could be refueled in flight, the Chicago-based company said...

Axsys Technologies Realigns To Enhance Security Focus.
December 5, 2007... Axsys Technologies [AXYS] on Monday said it has sold its non-core Distributed Products business and has realigned its organizational structure to focus on its security, defense and space markets. Under the new organization Axsys will have...

TSA, Continental, Pilot Paperless Boarding Pass.
December 5, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Continental Airlines [CAL] kicked off a new pilot project this week at George Bush International Airport that allows passengers to receive their boarding passes...

Nelson Ford Tapped As Acting Army Under Secretary.
December 5, 2007... Nelson Ford, assistant secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller (ASA(FM&C)), has been named Acting Under Secretary of the Army. Ford has served as the assistant secretary of the Army for Financial Management and...

General Dynamics UK Ltd. Collaborates With UWE To Develop Facial Recognition System.
December 5, 2007... General Dynamics [GD] United Kingdom Limited subsidiary yesterday announced it is collaborating with the University of the West of England (UWE), the Imperial College London, the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, Identity Solutions...

Cross Match, L-1, Receive Initial U.S.-VISIT Upgrade Orders.(United States. Department of Homeland Security gives contract to Cross Match Technologies and L-1 Identity Solutions Inc.)(fingerprint identification equipment used for foreign travelers)
December 5, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Cross Match Technologies and L-1 Identity Solutions [ID] have received initial orders for both companies' 10-print fingerprint systems as part of an upgrade of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S.-VISIT...

Galil Motion Control Aids 360-Degree Surveillance, Soldier Protection.
December 5, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt More than 100 Galil Motion Control components are part of PVP Advanced Electro-Optical Systems Inc., (PVPAEO), which supply the General Dynamics [GD] Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS) with a Commanders Pan Viewer System...

KMW To Supply Fennek To Germany, Dingo 2 To Czech Republic.
December 5, 2007... The German Ministry of Defence has tapped Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG (KMW) under an approximately $46.4 million deal to supply 10 new Fennek reconnaissance vehicles to the armed forces' Joint Fire Support Teams (JFST). The 10...

MDA To Acquire Alliance Spacesystems To Expand U.S. Presence.(MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates)
December 6, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Canada's MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) yesterday said it has agreed to acquire Alliance Spacesystems, a California-based space company with composite structures expertise and a leading position on robotic...

State Department To Delay Sale of Weapons To Saudi Arabia.
December 6, 2007... The State Department last week told Congress it has postponed a request for the sale of GPS-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia until mid-January. The State Department announced the $20 million arms sales package in July as part of a diplomatic...

UAE Buying PAC-3 Missiles, E-2C Upgrades.
December 6, 2007... The United Arab Emirates is looking to spend upward of $9 billion to buy 288 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles as well as associated equipment and services, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported. In...

Kuwait Seeking PAC-3 Missiles, Upgrades.
December 6, 2007... Kuwait has requested a possible $1.36 billion sale of 80 PAC-3 missiles, PAC-2 missile upgrades to GEM (Guidance Enhanced Missile)-T, and Patriot ground support equipment upgrades as well as associated equipment and services, the Defense...

Army Snipers Receive New Weapon.
December 6, 2007... Soldiers deploying have just received the new Knight's Armaments Co. M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS), a weapon that is expected to dramatically improve sniper operations, the Army says. The new M110, approved for full materiel...

Navy, Industry, Tackle Unmanned Systems Operation From LCS.
December 6, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Navy and Northrop Grumman [NOC] are working to develop, test and eventually integrate technologies onto both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that will enable mission module crews to operate multiple unmanned...

HASC Members Discuss Defense Authorization Bill Without Senate Input.
December 6, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) met yesterday without their Senate counterparts to discuss a conference report on a bill to authorize Pentagon spending in this fiscal year. The inclusion of hate...

ICGS Delivers C4ISR Simulator To Coast Guard.
December 6, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker The Coast Guard this week took delivery of a new C4ISR simulator as part of its Deepwater modernization program that will allow the entire watch team for its National Security Cutters to train together before heading...

General Dynamics C4 Receives $75 Million Order On CHS-3 For Win-T.
December 6, 2007... General Dynamics [GD] C4 Systems unit has received a $75 million order on the Common Hardware/Software 3 (CHS-3) contract from the Army for military hardware and software, including computers and network equipment for the Warfighter...

Conferees Agree To Defense Authorization Bill.
December 7, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Lawmakers yesterday signed off on a conference report for a bill to authorize defense spending in fiscal year 2008 that includes language mandating the Navy's next-generation cruisers will be powered by nuclear energy. ...

AIA's Outlook For Aerospace Sales Remains Robust.
December 7, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker United States aerospace sales will continue to increase this year and next, and the expansion will continue to rest largely on the civil aircraft market, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) says in its annual...

Schwartz: Expanded Global Infrastructure Needed For North-To-South Transport.
December 7, 2007... By Michael Sirak and Jen DiMascio The U.S. military's global transport network needs to grow from it's current east-west orientation to a more robust en-route infrastructure that can move personnel and material more readily north to...

Marine Corps Makes Recommendation To Limit MRAP Buys To JROC.(Mine Resistant Ambush Protected)
December 7, 2007... By Geoff Fein The drop in attacks on Marines in Iraq has in part led the service to re- examine the number of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles it will buy as the Corps moves toward a mix of larger trucks and smaller...

Boeing, Northrop Grumman Vie For Multibillion Dollar KC-10 Logistics Contract.
December 7, 2007... Boeing [BA] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] yesterday announced their interest in winning the Air Force's multibillion contest to provide contractor logistics support (CLS) to the service's KC-10 tanker aircraft as well as two Royal Netherlands...

Army Poised To Order More War Replacement Apache Helicopters.
December 7, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The Army is ready to order as many as 30 war replacement AH-64D Apache Longbow aircraft. Army Aviation and Missile Command has issued a solicitation limited to Boeing [BA], doing business as McDonnell Douglas...

Appropriators Planning To Add Up to 14 C-17s To Spring Supplemental.
December 7, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Appropriators have an agreement to add the purchase of C-17s to a war funding bill that lawmakers will consider next year. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said...

Defense Watch.(Company overview)
December 10, 2007... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Anything But Iraq. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said last week said that before the end of the congressional session Democrats were likely to include defense...

Weld Issue Restricts Virginia-Class Submarines.
December 10, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Navy, General Dynamics [GD] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] are inspecting welds on all Virginia-class submarines after discovering a weakness in the process associated with non-nuclear piping welds, the Navy said Friday....

Roles and Missions Study To Address Control Over Cargo Aircraft Program.
December 10, 2007... By Jen DiMascio The House is likely to vote this week on a bill that authorizes the Defense Department to spend $507 billion during this fiscal year. The wide-ranging bill that sets new policies in terms of acquisition and wartime...

Conference Authorizers Give Nod To Multiyear CH-47 Chinook Procurement.(Conference notes)
December 10, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The Boeing [BA] CH-47 Chinook helicopter program would benefit from congressional authority for multiyear procurement authority and D-to F-model conversion recommended in the Conference Report on the National Defense...

Global Linguist Solutions Prevails Over L-3 In Multi-Billion Army Linguistics Contract.
December 10, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The Army Dec. 7 reaffirmed its initial decision, later overturned by a protest and recompeted, to award a contract valued at more than $4.6 billion for management of translation and interpretation services in support of...

Boeing Gets New $64 Million SBInet Task Order.
December 10, 2007... The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Friday that it is awarding Boeing [BA] a $64 million task order to design, develp and test an upgraded situational awareness software system that will be used by Border Patrol command centers...

Virginia-class Weld Issue Not Serious.
December 11, 2007... By Geoff Fein Three days after acknowledging a weld problem with its Virginia-class submarines, the Navy yesterday said the issue was not as serious as first thought and all three boats should be ready to go this week. "We have come...

Boeing Rejects Again Idea of Split Buy In Air Force KC-X Tanker Contest.
December 11, 2007... By Michael Sirak Boeing [BA] remains resolutely against splitting the Air Force's multi- billion-dollar KC-X tanker program with rival Northrop Grumman [NOC], the senior official leading the company's KC-767 proposal said yesterday. ...

McCain Boycotts Conference Report, Opposing Plus-up For C-17 Aircraft.(Conference notes)
December 11, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, vowed not to sign the conference report of the committee's most important annual bill because of an earmark. The $2.28 billion...

Navy Closing In On $2 Billion Price Tag For Virginia-Class Subs.
December 11, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Navy is continuing to find ways to shave dollars from the cost of building Virginia-class submarines, and is within $40 million of reaching its goal of $2 billion per hull, according to a Navy official. ...

Boeing Installs High-Energy Laser On C-130 Aircraft For Technology Demo.
December 11, 2007... Boeing [BA] earlier this month installed a high-energy chemical laser designed to disable ground objects either with lethal and non-lethal power on a modified C-130H transport aircraft in preparation for a series of demonstration flights...

Army Interested In Ground Penetrating Radar For Buried Target Detection.
December 11, 2007... The Army is conducting market research to find out what companies have the technology, qualifications and capabilities to demonstrate a ground vehicle mounted high performance ground penetrating radar (GPR) to detect buried munitions under...

Defense Authorizers Call For Development of Space Protection Strategy.
December 11, 2007... By Michael Sirak House and Senate defense overseers have called on the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the director of national intelligence (DNI), to craft a strategy to protect the capabilities necessary to ensure U.S. freedom...

Paper Urges Killing Raptor, Osprey, DDG 1000, And Buying Just One Sub Per Year.
December 11, 2007... By Dave Ahearn A new paper urges killing the Air Force F-22 Raptor supersonic- superstealth fighter aircraft program, the Air Force-Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, the Navy DDG 1000 destroyer, and also urges abandoning...

Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Delayed To Jan. 2 Or Later.(United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
December 11, 2007... By Dave Ahearn Putting astronaut crew safety first, NASA has mandated a weeks-long troubleshooting delay for a scheduled space shuttle flight. A maddening intermittent malfunction in an external fuel tank sensor system finally forced...

Editor's note.(new website for job hunters)(Brief article)
December 11, 2007... Attention job seekers, recruiters and employers--Defense Daily's New Job Center is now available online. Post a job, search resumes, view hundreds of defense and military job listings and more. Visit http://www.defensedaily.com and click on...

Delay In Supplemental Poses Dire Consequences For Marine Corps, General Says.
December 12, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Marine Corps could be facing dire consequences if Congress and the president are unable to reach an agreement on the supplemental defense bill, according to a Marine Corps official. The Marine Corps is spending...

U.K. Ministry of Defence, Industry Joint To Support Front Line Forces.
December 12, 2007... The United Kingdom's front line forces will benefit from an approximately $87.5 million five-year contract to BAE SYSTEMS building on a unique collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and U.K. industry, the Minister for Defence...

Bertholf Wraps Up Machinery Trials.
December 12, 2007... The first National Security Cutter (NSC), CGC Bertholf (WMSL 750), returned to Northrop Grumman [NOC] Ship Systems' Pascagoula facility Sunday after completing machinery trials, the company said yesterday. The machinery trials, which...

Army, Opus East LLC., Close Deal For Aberdeen Proving Ground Development.
December 12, 2007... Construction begins next week on Government and Technology Enterprise (G.A.T.E.), a 200-acre development at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md., officials from the Army and Opus East LLC said. "We are thrilled to have signed the...

DHS, Arizona Agree On Secure Drivers Licenses.
December 12, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker The State of Arizona last week formally agreed to work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on creating an Enhanced Drivers Licence (EDL) for its citizens that is compliant the Western Hemisphere Travel...

SAIC Posts Strong Third Quarter.(Science Applications International Corporation)(Financial report)
December 12, 2007... SAIC [SAI] on Monday reported strong earnings and sales in its fiscal year 2008 third quarter as the company benefited from growth in defense, intelligence and homeland security programs. Net income increased 7 percent to $105 million, 25...

Gates: Helicopters, Trainers Among Top Needs In Afghanistan.
December 12, 2007... By Jen DiMascio The Defense Department is seeking a number of helicopters and trainers for police and military forces in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told lawmakers yesterday. The need is for 20 helicopters--14 for...

Senate Republicans Call For $70 Billion In War Funds.
December 12, 2007... Republican lawmakers yesterday pressed for $70 billion in Iraq war funding without restrictions. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that if Democrats move forward with a plan to add to an omnibus spending bill $30 billion...

United Kingdom To Spend $122 Million For Tomahawk Weapon System, Support.(Brief article)
December 12, 2007... The United Kingdom is looking to spend upwards of $122 million for the sale of and follow-on support for Tomahawk Weapon System (TWS) as well as associated equipment and services, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported. ...

Cross Match Takes Stake In Document Authentication Firm.(Cross Match Technologies)(AssureTec Systems)(Brief article)
December 12, 2007... Cross Match Technologies yesterday said it has acquired a minority stake in document authentication software developer AssureTec Systems to position itself to be able to offer more complete identity management solutions. Financial terms...

Northrop Grumman, Boeing, And Raytheon Will Respond To Missile Defense Follow-on RFI.
December 13, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Northrop Grumman [NOC], Raytheon [RTN] and incumbent Boeing [BA] say they will respond to the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Request for Information (RFI) for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Segment Follow-on...

Air Force F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Reaches Full-Operation-Capability Milestone.
December 13, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Air Force yesterday declared that its F-22A stealth multirole fighter aircraft has fulfilled all of its performance and operational requirements as a weapon system, and its pilots and maintainers are ready for...

Virginia State Rep. To Replace Davis In Congress; Race For Saxton's Seat Taking Shape.
December 13, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Rob Whittman, a Virginia state representative and field director for the state health department, this week won a special election to replace Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.). Davis, the ranking member of the House Armed...

TSA Plans Operational Test Facility For Passenger And Baggage Screening Equipment.
December 13, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has acquired space in the Washington, D.C., area to house an operational testing facility for checked baggage and checkpoint security systems, giving it the ability to...

Despite Directed-Energy Weapons' Allure, Many Issues Remain Before Fielding.
December 13, 2007... By Michael Sirak Directed-energy weapons like lasers and high-powered microwaves (HPMs) still hold great promise in the eyes of Pentagon weapons designers for dramatically impacting the battlespace and how an adversary operates, but many...

Accenture Completes Purchase of MAXIM.
December 13, 2007... Accenture [ACN] yesterday said it has completed its acquisition of defense consulting firm MAXIM Systems, Inc., giving it new capabilities in designing, developing, installing and supporting C4ISR systems for military and intelligence...

Leading Service Associations To Merge.(Professional Services Council)(Contract Services Association of America)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker The Professional Services Council (PSC) and the Contract Services Association of America (CSA), the two leading trade groups that lobby in support of companies that provide a range of base support, consulting,...

House Passes Defense Authorization Bill.
December 13, 2007... By Jen DiMascio The House yesterday approved, 370 to 49, a bill to authorize Pentagon spending in the next fiscal year. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the legislation "authorizes...

NASA Gives Boeing $799.5 Million Contract For Ares I Rocket Avionics.
December 13, 2007... Boeing [BA] beat out Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. [BLL] to win a $799.5 million avionics instrument unit for the Ares I upper stage rocket that someday will lift the Orion crew exploration vehicle into space, NASA leaders announced in...

National Interest Security Company's Acquisitions Enhance Intelligence Capabilities.
December 13, 2007... The National Interest Security Company, LLC (NISC), controlled by DC Capital Partners LLC, announced the separate acquisitions of Athenyx and Information Manufacturing Corp. (IMC), moves expected to improve the company's capabilities. ...

Lawmakers Question Service Chiefs Over Size of Fleets, Hull Commonality.(United States. Coast Guard)(United States. Marine Corps)
December 14, 2007... By Geoff Fein Lawmakers yesterday raised concerns with the top Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officials about fleet size and capabilities, and offered to find the funding to help the Navy build a nuclear powered cruiser. House...

Raytheon Launches Persistent Surveillance Eagle-300 Sensor.
December 14, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Raytheon [RTN] yesterday announced the launch of the Eagle-300, a wide area long-range sensor providing a persistent 360-degree view of a specific area, officials said. "Persistent surveillance is an ever more...

CBP Issues Requirements For Container Security Devices.
December 14, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Customs and Border Protection this week issued a Request for Information (RFI) for existing Conveyance Security Devices (CSDs) mounted inside cargo containers to meet requirements that appear less robust than...

Marine Corps Tests Look To Extend Life of CH-53 Engines.
December 14, 2007... By Geoff Fein By the end of the year, the Marine Corps will begin the first of two tests on the CH-53 engine that the service hopes will add another 800 hours of operation time before an engine overhaul is required, according to a Marine...

BAE SYSTEMS Awarded Close To $900 Million In Bradley Reset Work.
December 14, 2007... BAE SYSTEMS Dec. 11 was awarded two Army contracts that total nearly $900 million to reset Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The first reset contract, issued Nov. 29, is a $709.3 million firm-fixed- price and cost-reimbursable contract The work...

New iRobot PackBot Unveils New Mapping Kit Payload.
December 14, 2007... iRobot [IRBT] has announced a new Mapping Kit payload for its combat- proven PackBot that will help warfighters manage search, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to officials. "PackBot with Mapping Kit utilizes new technology that...

JTRS JPEO Touts Progress In Program's Business Model.
December 14, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Three years ago, a program with ambitions of connecting all of the military services with software defined radios was in trouble--in trouble with Congress and in trouble with the Defense Department. But the Joint...

Kehler: Exploiting Non-Traditional Modes of Data Could Improve Space Awareness.
December 14, 2007... By Michael Sirak Leveraging data from sensors not traditionally associated with space surveillance, such as those on aircraft like the F-22 stealth fighter, could improve the Air Force's understanding of orbital activities, the vital...

Chilean Air Force Selects Bell 412 Helicopter.
December 14, 2007... Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] said it recently hosted a high ranking delegation from the Chilean Air Force (FACH) for a contract signing ceremony in which Gen. Julio Escobar committed the FACH to purchase 12 Bell 412 4 axis helicopters. ...

Defense Watch.(Company overview)
December 17, 2007... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense In Limbo. Congress has yet to agree on what to do about the federal budget--and within that how to handle war funding. Senators said last week they are waiting to see what...