Defense Daily articles from July 2004

Defense Daily archives from July 2004

Wynne, Not Teets, To Review Future ICBM Acquisitions.
July 1, 2004... By Amy Butler Acting Pentagon acquisition czar Michael Wynne is expected next month to review Air Force Space Command's (AFSPC) plans for an analysis of alternatives for the future ICBM, kicking off the study later than planned, according...

Theater-Level Logistics Control Needed, Army Official Says.
July 1, 2004... By Ann Roosevelt Some organization has to be in charge of logistics at the theater level, what form that takes is still under debate, the Army's top logistician said. "I believe that there's no question in anyone's mind that in order...

Senate Demands STOVL Lift Fan Study.
July 1, 2004... As concerns grow about the weight of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the Senate is directing the Pentagon to look at options for increasing the thrust capabilities for the lift fan on the short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) version of...

BAE's U.S. Division Acquiring Boeing's Commercial Electronics Unit.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The North American branch of Britain's BAE SYSTEMS has agreed to acquire Boeing's [BA] Commercial Electronics unit to expand its current portfolio of commercial flight and engine control systems, both companies said yesterday. Terms of the...

Boeing 'Pretty Close' To ScanEagle Contract, Company Touts Versatility.
July 1, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes Following recent tests of its SceanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Joint Forces Command's (JFCOM) Forward Look III exercise, Boeing [BA] is "pretty close" to a contract award--possibly from the Marine Corps. ...

Northrop Grumman Garners Potential $175 Million DHS IT Award.
July 1, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] a potential $175 million contract for a new human resources system, the second contract won by the company to help integrate the 22 agencies that joined to create the...

Senate Directs Navy To Evaluate Emitter Location Technologies.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes Concerned that the Pentagon is not taking advantage of current emitter technologies, the Senate in its version of the FY'05 Defense Appropriations Bill directs the Navy to evaluate the cost benefits of adapting current...

Senate Directs Air Force To Study CRAF Options For Outsized Heavy Lift.(Civilian Reserve Air Fleet )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Senate in its version of the FY '05 Defense Appropriations Bill directs the Air Force to prepare a report studying the possibility of generating an outsized heavy lift capability within the Civilian Reserve Air Fleet...

Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin Awarded NexGenMWS Contracts By Air Force.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Air Force awarded contracts to Northrop Grumman [NOC] and Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Monday for the systems development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the Next Generation Missile Warning System (NexGenMWS) for...

Army To Evaluate Small Arms Detection For Aviation Assets.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Army is planning to evaluate technologies to detect enemy small arms from its aviation platforms, according to a June 28 sources sought notice in Federal Business Opportunities. "Information is being requested on sensor technologies...

HASC Set To Hold Offsets Hearing.
July 1, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) is planning to hold a hearing next week on defense offsets, an issue that could potentially be a contentious part of conference negotiations on the FY '05 Defense Authorization...

GAO questions Coast Guard's Ability To Review Port Security.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker A nationwide set of plans for enhancing port and vessel security goes into effect today but the sheer number of such plans, over 12,000, makes it difficult to ensure that they will be reviewed on time, the GAO said in a...

Defense Briefs.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Boeing [BA] yesterday was awarded a $12.6 million firm fixed price and cost plus fixed fee contract modification from the Air Force to install Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures (LAIRCM) Group A hardware on all four of Britain's C-17...

Acting Comptroller Lanzillotta To Leave Mid-Month For Northrop Grumman.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... By Amy Butler Acting Pentagon Comptroller Lawrence Lanzillotta is leaving his post at the Pentagon later this month to take a position with defense giant Northrop Grumman [NOC], according to defense and industry sources. Lanzillotta...

Ceradyne To Acquire German Ceramics Firm To Diversify From Defense.(Wacker-Chemie GmbH. Wacker Ceramics Div.)
July 2, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker Ceradyne [CRDN], a maker a ceramic products, including body armor that protects U.S. military troops, yesterday said it has agreed to acquire a German industrial ceramics company in a bid to expand its customer base...

El-Op To Flight Test Helo Obstacle Avoidance LADAR.(Electro Optical Industries Inc.)
July 2, 2004... By B.C. Kessner REHOVOT, Israel--The Electro-Optics Industries (El-Op) subsidiary of Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] could be flying a new helicopter obstacle avoidance laser radar, or LADAR system within the next month, according to company...

Group Amends Lawsuit Against CACI And Titan.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... The Center for Constitutional Rights, which last month filed a lawsuit against two U.S. defense contractors and several of their employees for conspiring to violate the human rights of Iraqi prisoners at a U.S. operated facility near Baghdad,...

Pentagon Appeals House Zeroing of Pioneer Upgrades.
July 2, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Pentagon is appealing moves by congressional authorizers and appropriators to remove funding for support and upgrades to the Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the Marine Corps in favor of the Shadow 200,...

L-3 Might Still Be Interested In DRS Despite Rejection.(DRS Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker L-3 Communications [LLL] yesterday confirmed it had made an unsolicited offer for defense contractor DRS Technologies [DRS], which was rejected, but said it could still be interested in a future deal if DRS was...

Lockheed Martin Picks Up $2 Billion Lot 4 F/A-22 Production Contract From Air Force.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... Lockheed Martin [LMT] was awarded a $2 billion contract yesterday from the Air Force yesterday for the Lot 4 production run of 22 F/A-22 multi-role fighters--more than three months after the two parties reached initial agreement on the Lot 4...

No Resolution On Tanker Documents.
July 2, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger Nearly a year after first requesting documents related to the Air Force's planned multi-billion dollar deal to acquire Boeing [BA] KC-767 refueling tankers, John McCain (R-Ariz.) is still unhappy with the Pentagon's...

Defense Brief.(Brief Article)
July 2, 2004... A team led by Rolls-Royce has been selected to develop and deliver an integrated high-capacity ship-to-ship cargo transfer system concept for the Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) in a project possibly worth as much as $20 million over...

Defense Watch.(Trends And Development In Aerospace And Defense)
July 6, 2004... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense The Right Price. Despite being offered a handsome premium for its stock, DRS Technologies last week spurned a $42 per share acquisition offer from L-3 Communications,...

Pentagon Plans To Shuffle More Than $3 Billion In FY '04, Funding Sources Vary.
July 6, 2004... By Amy Butler The Pentagon last month notified Congress it plans to transfer about $3.1 billion in an effort to realign accounts--including offering new programs and cutting others--to pay for pressing war needs without requesting still...

IDF Says Technology Gap Exists For Explosive Detectors But Intel Better.(Israel Defense Forces)
July 6, 2004... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--A senior military source last week said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) needs more and better explosive detection equipment because terrorists are continuing to adapt methods and materials to beat...

MTC Technologies Acquires Engineering Services Firm.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2004... MTC Technologies [MTCT] last Thursday said it has acquired Command Technologies, Inc. (CTI), an engineering and specialty technical services firm, expanding its role in serving the U.S. intelligence community and defense markets. MTC...

Potential $200 Million Israel-France UAV Deal Still Percolating.(unmanned aerial vehicle)
July 6, 2004... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--A potential $200 million collaborative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) effort that would be the first Israeli-French arms deal in decades is not dead and talks continue despite some angry sentiment following...

Conference To Focus On Missile Defense, Space, Shipbuilding Issues.
July 6, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger Congressional staff members met last week to begin resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY '05 Defense Appropriations Bills and are likely focusing on missile defense, space, and...

GAO Recommends Standardization Efforts For Communications.(General Accounting Office)
July 6, 2004... A new report from the General Accounting Office calls for the Pentagon to move towards standardizing the communications and information-gathering systems used by forces conducting strikes against enemy targets. "GAO recommends that DoD...

General Dynamics Wins $3 Million LMGA Phase I Contract.(Lightweight Machine Gun and Ammunation)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2004... General Dynamics [GD] was recently awarded a $3 million contract from the Army for phase one design of the Lightweight Machine Gun and Ammunition (LMGA). The contract comes from the service's Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP),...

Fate of Space Control Program Uncertain As Air Force's Advocacy Wavers.
July 7, 2004... By Amy Butler The administration's message on a key space control program appears to have splintered and Air Force headquarters is mum on the fate of the Counter Surveillance Reconnaissance System (CSRS)--a new space control...

July Preparations Position MEADS For Design & Development Phase.(Medium Extended Air Defense System)
July 7, 2004... By Ann Roosevelt This month, MEADS International (MI) will present and updated proposal for the design and development (D&D) phase for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), to U.S., Italian and German participants in the effort,...

Israeli Firms To Bid On Australian TUAV Tender Call.(tactical unmanned aerial vehicle)
July 7, 2004... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Officials here confirmed that Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) will participate in bids on Australia's potential $107 million tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV)...

Industrial Base Report Recommends Vigilance In Command and Control Capabilities.
July 7, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger The second in a series of five reports on the U.S. defense industrial base concludes that the United States, while leading in many areas related to command and control technologies, needs to ensure competitiveness in...

Navy And Denmark Reach AIM-9X FMS Agreement, Finland May Be Next.(air-to-air missile)(Foreign Military Sales)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Navy said last week it entered a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with Denmark for the latter to purchase the AIM-9X advanced air-to-air missile produced by Raytheon [RTN]. According to a Naval Air Systems...

British Equity Firm Selling Dunlop Standard Aerospace To Meggitt, Carlyle Group.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2004... The British private equity firm Doughty Hanson on Monday said it has agreed to the Dunlop Standard Aerospace Group to a consortium of Meggitt PLC and the private equity firm The Carlyle Group. Sale terms of the deal, which is expected to...

Japan Receives First Longbow Radar Hardware.
July 7, 2004... Longbow International, a joint venture by Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] announced yesterday the delivery of the first two of 23 Longbow Fire Control Radar units to Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (MELCO) in support of the Japanese...

O'Gara Group Forms Partnership With Investment Firm.
July 7, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker The O'Gara Group, a relatively new company aiming to build a business in the security and defense arena, yesterday said it has created a strategic partnership with the investment firm The Walnut Group. The O'Gara...

GSA Won't Suspend Defense Contractor, CACI Says.(General Services Administration, CACI International Inc.)
July 8, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker National security services contractor CACI International [CAI], under investigation by a government agency for potential abuses of the company's contract to provide interrogation services for the U.S. Army in Iraq,...

Boeing Lays Out JTRS Cluster I Schedule.(Joint Tactical Radio System)
July 8, 2004... By Ann Roosevelt The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Cluster 1 program is on schedule, a Boeing [BA] official yesterday while laying out future plans. "We're on track to meet our next major milestone," Ralph Moslener, Boeing...

SBSS Delay Prompts Cuts In FY '05 Budget.(Space Based Space Surveillance)
July 8, 2004... By Amy Butler The Air Force's Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite program has fallen behind schedule, prompting Congress to nip at the effort's FY '05 funding. Lawmakers in both houses proposed cuts to the Air Force...

Surface Warfare Chief Notes Importance Of Cruiser and Destroyer Modernizations.
July 8, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes As the Navy prepares in the future to field new surface combatants like the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the DD(X), it still sees modernization of its existing cruiser and destroyer assets as a major priority, according...

EADS Still Looking At U.S. Acquisition.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.)
July 8, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger After several years of looking, the European Aeronautic Defence And Space Co. (EADS) may be getting closer finally to acquiring a U.S.-based company, according to a senior company official. While EADS has never...

Air Force Tests DLARS Technology.(Data Link Automated Reporting System)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... Lockheed Martin [LMT] said yesterday it had developed a prototype Data Link Automated Reporting System (DLARS) with the Air Force and that the service recently tested the DLARS technology during the Spiral 3 Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment...

GE Delivers First CT7-8E Engines For US101 Helicopters.(General Electric Co.)
July 8, 2004... General Electric [GE] said this week that it has delivered the first set of three CT7-8E engines to AgustaWestland for the US101 helicopter program. The CT7-8E has been selected as the powerplant for the US101 helicopter being proposed for...

Elbit Teams With Honeywell On HUDs For Commercial Transports.(head-up-displays)
July 8, 2004... Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] this week said its U.S. EFW subsidiary has teamed with Honeywell to supply head-up display (HUD) systems to the commercial air transport market. "We are very pleased to partner with Honeywell Air Transport...

Raytheon Awarded $70.2 Million For Navy Torpedo Hardware.(Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... Raytheon [RTN] last week was awarded a $70.2 million contract by the Navy for hardware and support services for lightweight and heavyweight torpedo hardware. "Raytheon has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Navy and its allies...

Defense Brief.(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this week a possible contract worth up to $108 million to upgrade three of Egypt's CH-47C Chinook helicopters to the newer "D" configuration and provide eight Honeywell [HON]...

Experts Express Concerns Over Defense Offsets, But Offer Few Solutions.
July 9, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger Testifying yesterday in front of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), industry experts expressed pointed concerns about the practice of offsets agreements in defense sales, but offered few solutions. Defense...

Surface Warfare Chief Identifies Primary Anti-Access Threats.
July 9, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The proliferation of diesel submarines, short-range ballistic missiles and low-cost mines represent the most important anti-access threats facing surface naval forces today, according to a top Navy official. "I would...

High-Speed Catamaran Performing The Lift Mission Well, Marine General Says.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes While the Marines would certainly appreciate the presence of an extra big-deck amphibious warfare ship in the Pacific, the service's use of a highspeed catamaran is fulfilling lift obligations, according to a top Marine...

Boeing Picks Up ScanEagle Contract From Marine Corps.(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... Boeing [BA] said yesterday it was awarded a contract by the Marine Corps to provide a pair of ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for use by I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in Iraq. "ScanEagle's ISR capabilities will give the...

IDF Commander: Biometrics ID Needed For Checkpoints.(Israeli Defense Forces)
July 9, 2004... By B.C. Kessner KALKILYA, Israel--Numerous defensive technologies embedded along a stretch of Israel's security fence are working well, but new identification systems using biometrics would greatly improve security and overall situations...

Tadiran Communications Buys Elron's Shares In Elbit For $197 Million.
July 9, 2004... Israel's Tadiran Communications said yesterday it reached an agreement with Elron Electronic Industries [ELRN] for the $197 million purchase of all Elron's holdings in Elbit Systems [ESLT], a 19.6 percent stake in the $1 billion defense firm....

DHS Stands Up National Operations Center.(The Department of Homeland Security)(Homeland Security Operations Center)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) yesterday stood up a new Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) that will provide around the clock situational awareness and coordinated response to real and potential threats to the homeland. ...

DoD Appeals House, Senate Cuts To FY '05 Budget.
July 9, 2004... By Amy Butler The Pentagon sent its first volley of appeals to congressional appropriators, pleading with lawmakers to restore funding to a slew of key Pentagon programs--including military space efforts, the Navy's VXX presidential...

DHS Reviewing Overlap In Its Air And Marine Interdiction Assets.(Customs and Border Protection (CBP))(Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)(Performance Gap Analysis)(Department of Homeland Security)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun a review of the air and marine activities of its component agencies, namely the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), potentially...

CNO Admits Cost Growth On Virginia-Class Subs.(Chief of Naval Operations)(Brief Article)
July 9, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Navy's Virginia-class (SSN-774) nuclear attack submarine program is experiencing cost growth, according to Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark. Clark admitted the cost growth during confirmation...

Defense Watch.
July 12, 2004... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Tanker plans. The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) does not have an active campaign to sell its Airbus-based refueling tankers to the Pentagon, according...

Virginia-Class Cost Growth Centers On First Pair of Subs, Navy Says.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The cost growth the Navy is experiencing on the Virginia-class (SSN-774) nuclear attack submarine program centers on the first pair of submarines, according to the Navy, resulting in both ships slipping past their...

Pentagon Notifies Congress of Potential FMS of Missile Boats To Egypt.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... The Pentagon last week notified Congress of a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of three fast missile crafts and accompanying equipment and services to Egypt for $565 million. According to sources, this potential sale replaces a...

Lockheed Martin Official Slams Northrop Grumman Claims On BMC2 Bid.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes A top Lockheed Martin [LMT] official disputed claims by Northrop Grumman [NOC] that the latter had any structural advantages that made it a better candidate to serve as the prime contractor for the battle management...

Titan's Growth Remains Solid But Large Losses Expected In Second Quarter.
July 12, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker When Titan [TTN] officially reports its second quarter results next month, the company expects record revenues, topping $500 million for the first time, but the company warned investors on Thursday that net losses may...

Esterline Acquiring Aerospace Electrical Components Maker Leach Holdings.
July 12, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker Aerospace and defense systems and components manufacturer Esterline Technologies [ESL] on Friday said it has agreed to acquire Leach Holdings Corp., a developer and manufacturer of various electrical components that...

GD Closes Spectrum Astro Purchase.(General Dynamics )(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... General Dynamics [GD] on Friday said it has completed its acquisition of privately owned Spectrum Astro, expanding the company's role in space systems work and giving it the capability to produce small, highly innovative satellites. Terms...

BAE SYSTEMS Buying Small Signal Processing, Software Company.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... The U.S. arm of Britain's BAE SYSTEMS last week said it has agreed to acquire a small, privately held firm with expertise in digital signal processing and software development for $8.3 million in cash. Practical Imagineering (PI), based in...

Small Cut Could Further Frustrate Production Gap For Satellite System, DoD Says.
July 12, 2004... By Amy Butler Pentagon officials are appealing a House-proposed cut of $20 million to the Air Force-run Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite system, which is expected to provide the military with better space communications...

Marine General Sees New Horizons With Japan With Regards To Basing.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Marine Corps' top general in the Pacific believes that relations with Japan will improve in the future to the point where American forces can engage in joint basing with their Japanese defense counterparts. ...

Teledyne To Acquire Celeritek's Defense Assets For $33 Million.(Calvin Biesecker)
July 12, 2004... By Calvin Biesecker Teledyne Technologies Inc. [TDY] said late Thursday it has agreed to acquire the defense business of Celeritek, Inc. [CLTK], for $33 million in cash, broadening its portfolio of microwave products and capabilities. ...

DoD Appeals Senate Appropriations Bill Deletion of FY '05 Cruiser Modernization Funds.
July 12, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Pentagon has appealed the Senate's decision to strike $166 million from its version of the FY '05 Defense Appropriations Bill and its rescinding of $89.9 million in prior year funds for the cruiser modernization plan,...

Despite MMA Loss, Lockheed Martin Sees Bright Future For Its Maritime Patrol Market.(Multimission Maritime Aircraft)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)
July 13, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes Even though Lockheed Martin's [LMT] Orion 21 bid for the Navy's Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program lost out to Boeing's [BA] 737-800 offering, the company is still very optimistic about the market opportunities...

Tanker Compromise On Table; Nomination Logjam Near End.(Refueling tankers)
July 13, 2004... By Sharon Weinberger and Amy Butler A nearly year-old hold on Pentagon confirmations could be near an end as the Pentagon prepares to turn over documents related to the Air Force's plans to acquire refueling tankers from Boeing [BA]. ...

ATK To Acquire Space Components Maker PSI Group.(Alliant Techsystems)(PSI Group)
July 13, 2004... Alliant Techsystems [ATK] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire PSI Group, which makes various components used in the satellite and launch vehicle industries, expanding its presence in the space arena in terms of capabilities and market...

Space Acquisition Policy To Be Revised As Some Say Cost Estimates Are Improving.
July 13, 2004... By Amy Butler Space acquisition policy experts are revising the Pentagon's burgeoning guidelines for purchasing costly space systems--an area in which Defense Department officials have in the past faced a credibility problem--and revisions...

Antonov Likely To Power NATO's Strategic Air Lift Interim Solution.(Antonov AN-124-100 aircraft)(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
July 13, 2004... By Ann Roosevelt Fifteen NATO nations, excluding the United States and United Kingdom, have signed a Strategic Air Lift Interim Solution (SALIS) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) giving them the right to use Antonov AN-124-100 aircraft on...

U.K. Armed Forces Get Spending Boost.(Brief Article)
July 13, 2004... Defense will receive a $6.5 billion boost over the 2005-08 period while losing more than 15,000 jobs, under plans unveiled yesterday by the U.K. treasury chief Gordon Brown. The 2004 Spending Review continues the government's commitment to...

House Approves Restored MEP Funding.(Manufacturing Extension Partnership)(Brief Article)
July 13, 2004... The House last week approved the Appropriations Committee's recommendation to restore full funding to the Commerce Department's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, basically an assistance program to small manufacturers that the...

MDA, Boeing Dedicate Alaskan GMD Site.(Ground-based Midcourse Defense)(Missile Defense Agency)(Boeing Co.)
July 13, 2004... By Ann Roosevelt Boeing's [BA] Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program team and the Missile Defense Agency July 3 dedicated the ballistic missile defense site at Fort Greely, Alaska. The construction cost of the initial defense...

Remote Stabilized Weapons Next Move For TF Hip Pocket, N76 Chief Says.(Task Force)(surface warfare)(Mark Edwards)(Brief Article)
July 13, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes Having already completed a round of awarding weapons contracts, the Navy's next move for force protection efforts as part of its Task Force (TF) Hip Pocket initiative will be stabilized mounts for guns used in...

Boeing Touts Jammer, Networking Upgrades For B-52.
July 14, 2004... By Amy Butler Boeing [BA] yesterday touted its B-52 bomber's resilience amid a bevy of new technologies offered to the Pentagon, and officials highlighted two new start upgrade programs intended to improve the age-old bomber's ability to...

No Showstoppers in Technology Or Deployment For GMD, Boeing Says.
July 14, 2004... By Ann Roosevelt There are "no showstoppers" in sight as the clock ticks toward a potential deployment date of Sept. 30 for an initial capability for the U.S. ground-based midcourse (GMD) missile defense system, according to a Boeing [BA]...

Navy Eyes More Sea Swaps On Coastal Patrol Craft, Mine Countermeasures Ships, DDGs.
July 14, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes The Navy's recent success in implementing its Sea Swap crew rotation initiative on destroyers has led the service to both eye and execute swaps on coastal patrol craft, mine countermeasures ships (MCM) and more...

CG Program Implementing Open Architecture Solutions, Navy Official Says.
July 14, 2004... By Lorenzo Cortes Ahead of the formal start of Ticonderoga-class (CG-47) cruiser modernization program, the Navy has already implemented elements of its planned open architecture structure for the ships, according to a Navy official. ...

ManTech Announces Team To Pursue $10 Billion Air Force IT Program.(Brief Article)
July 14, 2004... ManTech International [MANT] yesterday said it is leading a team that is bidding on a potential $10 billion information technology (IT) program being run by the Air Force called Network Centric Solutions (NETCENTS), which will result in...