Defense Daily articles from March 2006

Defense Daily archives from March 2006

Australia Selects JASSM As Next-Generation Cruise Missile For F/A-18s.(Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile)
March 1, 2006... By Michael Sirak Australia has chosen Lockheed Martin [LMT]'s AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) as its next-generation long-range cruise missile, beating out bids by Boeing [BA] and EADS-Saab, the country's defense...

Lockheed Martin GMD Rocket Completes Qualification Tests.(Ground-based Midcourse Defense)
March 1, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday said its ORBUS 1A second- and third-stage solid rocket motor has completed qualification testing for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Boost Vehicle-Plus (BV+) program. Alliant...

SI International Closes Acquisition of Zen Technology.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... SI International [SINT] yesterday said it has completed its purchase of Zen Technology for $60 million in cash in a deal that expands its customer base within DoD and the federal civilian sector. "We believe that the combined company will...

Runge Appointed Acting DHS S&T Chief.(Department of Homeland Security)(Science and Technology)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker President Bush yesterday named Dr. Jeffrey Runge as acting Under Secretary for Science and Technology, succeeding Charles McQueary. Runge is currently the chief medical officer at the Department of Homeland Security...

Lockheed Martin Awards Harris $28 Million For Navy ADS.
March 1, 2006... Harris [HRS] Monday said that it has been awarded a three-year, $27.8 million contract by Lockheed Martin [LMT] Maritime Systems and Sensors to develop and integrate a water-deployable communications system for the Navy's Advanced Deployable...

Army Realigns Combat Vehicles Acquisition Office.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Army tomorrow is chartering a new office: the Project Management Office for the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (PMO-HBCT), formerly the Program Manager Combat Systems office. "The Army has re-designated PM Combat...

ATK Receives $194 Million ICBM Propulsion Option.(Alliant Techsystems)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Alliant Techsystems [ATK] Monday said it received its fifth option worth $194 million from Northrop Grumman [NOC] to refurbish components and replace propellant on Minuteman III Stage 1, 2 and 3 rocket motors, extending the program through...

Warner Blocking Vote On Pentagon Nominee Over C-130J Contract Concerns.
March 1, 2006... By George Cahlink Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman John Warner (R-Va.) will delay a vote on Air Force personnel chief Michael Dominguez's bid to become undersecretary of defense for personnel until concerns over the...

Air Force Reorganizes Combat Search-And-Rescue Units.
March 1, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is shifting the administrative control of its active-duty combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) platforms this month from Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to Air Combat Command (ACC), the service...

Boeing Completes P-8A Weapon Wind Tunnel Testing, CDR Set For '07.
March 1, 2006... Boeing [BA] recently completed P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) weapons separation wind tunnel tests, wrapping up the effort just 20 months after entering System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the program, the company...

Congress Eyes Adding Money To War Spending Bill For Army Tank Upgrades.
March 1, 2006... By George Cahlink Lawmakers are vowing to push for more money to upgrade and maintain Army tanks and other armored vehicles as part of the Pentagon's proposed fiscal 2006 $72.4 billion emergency spending bill for fighting the wars in...

Customs Grounds P-3 Surveillance Aircraft Fleet, Drug Ops Could Be Impacted.
March 2, 2006... By George Cahlink The Customs and Border Protection Agency has grounded its entire fleet of P-3 aircraft because of cracks in their wings, potentially hamstringing drug interdiction operations along the United States' southern border,...

DHS Expects To Screen 98 Percent of Sea Cargo For Radiation By FY '07 End.(Department of Homeland Security)
March 2, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is on a path to deploy enough Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) at the nation's seaports by December 2007 to screen 98 percent of incoming containerized sea cargo for...

DHS Awards Helo Contract To EADS.
March 2, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) has received a potential $75 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security after being selected for the award over a year ago. The initial...

Tanks Continue As Dominant Battlefield And Market Force, Annual Analysis Says.
March 2, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The main battle tank "will remain an integral part" of modern force structures throughout the coming decade, despite armed forces transformation, the Forecast International Weapons Group said in its annual analysis, "The...

F/A-18E/F Providing Advances Over Legacy Aircraft For Eisenhower Air Crews.
March 2, 2006... By Geoff Fein ABOARD THE USS EISENHOWER OFF JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Boeing's [BA] F/A- 18E/F brings improved reliability, advanced technologies and is less expensive to operate than legacy fighters, according to air crews and officers here....

GD To Split Stock, Increase Dividend.
March 2, 2006... After the close of the markets yesterday General Dynamics [GD] said its board has agreed to increase the company's regular quarterly dividend 15 percent and conduct a two-for-one stock split on March 24. The dividend hike, which will be...

FCS LSI Boeing, SAIC, To Support Marine Family of Fighting Vehicles.(Future Combat Systems)
March 2, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Boeing [BA] and SAIC, the lead systems integrator for the Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS), are soon expected to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Expeditionary Family of Fighting Vehicles (MEFFV) program...

Air Force Leadership Hints At More C-17s, C-130Js For AFSOC.
March 2, 2006... By Michael Sirak After recently defending the Department of Defense (DoD)'s decision to halt production of Boeing [BA]'s C-17 Globemaster III inter-theater transport aircraft at 180, the Air Force's senior leadership yesterday hinted...

Warner To Back $3.7 Billion Boost In Defense Spending.
March 3, 2006... By George Cahlink The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) yesterday said he is backing a proposal to boost the Defense Department's fiscal 2007 budget request by $3.7 billion. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) told Defense...

Mobility Platforms, Predators Top USAF's $5.6 Billion Unfunded Priorities.(United States Air Force)
March 3, 2006... By Michael Sirak With additional funding in hand, the Air Force would like to purchase seven extra C-17s in FY '07, along with four C-130Js, eight MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft and scores of Up-Armored Humvees and carbines for its...

Army Wrapping Up Demo For Interim Soldier Protection Solutions.
March 3, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt With live-fire demonstrations completed and urban combat demonstrations coming up, the Army on March 6 wraps up demonstrations by contractor-provided vehicles for the Comprehensive Force Protection Initiative (CFPI) that...

Precision Weapons Bring Reliability, All-Weather Capability To Eisenhower.
March 3, 2006... By Geoff Fein ABOARD THE USS EISENHOWER OFF JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--Precision guided munitions, such as Boeing's [BA] Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), are proving easier to manage and enable aircrews to drop less of the ordnance than...

Viisage Narrows Fourth Quarter Loss, Sales Edge Up.
March 3, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Viisage [VISG] yesterday reported a loss in fourth quarter net income that was less than a year ago but still larger than the consensus of analysts' expectations. The net loss was $3 million, 14 cents earnings per...

GD Selling Quarry Business.(General Dynamics)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] yesterday said it has agreed to sell one of its two remaining non-core businesses, Material Service Corp., which operates 13 quarries, to Britain's Hanson PLC for $300 million. The aggregates business, which GD has...

TRANSCOM Chief Says 20 Additional C-17s Would Be Ideal, But Not More.(Transportation Command)
March 3, 2006... By Michael Sirak The head of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) yesterday joined the Air Force leadership in voicing support for the acquisition of additional Boeing [BA] C-17 Globemaster III inter-theater transport aircraft beyond...

Defense Watch.
March 6, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense D.C.-Delhi Axis. The Department of Defense (DoD) says it is continuing to expand its fledgling defense relationship with the Indian military and transform it into a...

Air Force Announces Holloman, Hickam As Third And Fourth F-22 Bases.
March 6, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force announced last week that Holloman AFB (AFB), N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, are its preferred third and fourth beddown locations for the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-22 Raptor multirole stealth fighter aircraft....

Army Needs To Keep Flexibility On FCS , GAO Says.(future combat systems, Government Accountability Office)
March 6, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Army must remain flexible in developing its Future Combat Systems (FCS) managed by Boeing [BA] and SAIC, a Government Accountability Office official said. Begun in 2003, FCS is developing 18 systems and a network...

Northrop Grumman Awarded $42 Million For DD(X) Design Efforts.
March 6, 2006... The Navy last week exercised a $42.8 million contract modification to Northrop Grumman [NOC] to continue transition of DD(X) design efforts, initial detail design and long-lead material procurement for DD(X) ship construction, according to a...

Deepwater Team Awards Contract For Long Range Interceptor.(Integrated Coast Guard Systems)(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) in January awarded a small contract to Willard Marine, Inc., to design the Long Range Interceptor (LRI), a 35-foot rigid hull inflatable boat that will be carried on the Coast...

Army Spells Out Unfunded Requirements.(Brief article)
March 6, 2006... By George Cahlink The Army has outlined $7.4 billion in unfunded needs for fiscal year 2007, including billions of dollars for replacing and upgrading Army Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting vehicles. "The Army would use any...

Lockheed Martin Wins EELV Contract To Support Future Buy 3 Launches.
March 6, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a two-year contract worth "more than $50 million" last week for infrastructure-related activities in support of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Under...

Air Force Mulls Changes To C-130 Fleet, May Not Upgrade E-Models.
March 7, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is rethinking its plan to upgrade its oldest Lockheed Martin [LMT] C-130 Hercules medium-sized transport aircraft and may opt instead to retire many of them and apply the savings to newer C-130Js or a...

Raytheon Tapped For Active Protection Systems For FCS MGV.(future combat systems manned ground vehicles, Raytheon Aircraft Co.)
March 7, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Raytheon [RTN] will develop Active Protection System (APS) technologies under a potential $70 million contract to apply to the current force and Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV). Boeing [BA] and...

Oshkosh To Market Australian Armored Vehicle In North America.(Oshkosh Truck Corp.)(Brief article)
March 7, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Oshkosh Truck Corp. [OSK] yesterday said it has signed a licensing agreement with ADI Limited to market, manufacture and support the Australian firm's Bushmaster armored vehicle for potential customers in North America...

Navy To Stand Down All Non-Deployed Aircraft For Safety Inspections.
March 7, 2006... The Navy will ground all of its non-deployed aircraft for half-a-day, over the course of the next week, to direct a service-wide inspection and review of its operating environment, operational tempo and maintenance material condition,...

Key Lawmaker Expresses Concern About Soaring Cost of Military Space Programs.
March 7, 2006... By George Cahlink A key House Armed Services Committee (HASC) member is warning contractors to make sure satellite and other space-based technologies are mature before fielding them or risk losing congressional support. "We've got to...

MDA BMDS Systems Engineering, Sustainment Plans Needed, DoD IG says.(Missile Defense Agency, ballistic missile defense system)
March 7, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) effort to develop and field an integrated ballistic missile defense system is at risk because the agency has not completed a system-engineering plan nor fully planned sustainment for the...

Deepwater Team Awards Contract For Long Range Interceptor.(Integrated Coast Guard Systems, Willard Marine Inc.)(Brief article)
March 7, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) in January awarded a small contract to Willard Marine, Inc., to design the Long Range Interceptor (LRI), a 35-foot rigid hull inflatable boat that will be carried on the Coast...

Air Force Takes Delivery of First Combat Configured V-22 Osprey.
March 7, 2006... The Boeing [BA]-Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] team last week delivered the first combat configured CV-22 Osprey to the Air Force, according to a statement from the V-22 Osprey Joint Program Office. The "Block B/10" Osprey represents the...

Bulgaria Signs For Five C-27J Transports.(defense contracts)(Brief article)
March 7, 2006... Italy's Finmeccanica recently said the Bulgarian ministry of defense signed an agreement to buy five C-27J tactical military transport aircraft produced by the company's Alenia Aeronautica subsidiary and Lockheed Martin [LMT]. "The...

Follow-on Cost For Littoral Combat Ship Increases 33 Percent, Report Says.
March 8, 2006... By Geoff Fein Costs for the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) have increased by as much as 29 percent for the first ship and as much as 33 percent for follow-on ships that will be procured in FY '09 to FY '11, according to a...

U.K., France, Sign MoU To Cooperate On Aircraft Carriers.(Memorandum of Agreement)
March 8, 2006... Defense ministers from France and the United Kingdom March 6 signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to cooperate on aircraft carriers. Under the terms of the agreement, the United Kingdom and France will cooperate on the...

Overhaul Takes USS Eisenhower Bridge Into The 21st Century.(United States. Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman Corp., contract)
March 8, 2006... By Geoff Fein ABOARD THE USS EISENHOWER OFF JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--One noticeable change to the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) since coming out of Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) in 2004 is the new electronic system on the bridge. "The...

Cubic, GE Integrate Explosives Detection, Ticket Machine Technology.(General Electric Co.)
March 8, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Looking to carve out some homeland security business in the public transit market, Cubic Corp. [CUB] and General Electric [GE] yesterday said they have integrated explosives detection technology into a ticket vending...

Dynamit Nobel Defence To Produce New U.K. ASM Infantry Weapon.(Anti-Structures Munition)(Brief article)
March 8, 2006... Dynamit Nobel Defence will deliver the Anti-Structures Munition under a $69.4 million contract announced Feb. 6 by the U.K. Minister for Defence Procurement. The ASM is a new shoulder-launched weapon allowing British infantry to defeat...

PACOM Wants More Ties With China, Recommends Cautious Approach.(Pacific Command)(Brief article)
March 8, 2006... By George Cahlink Adm. William Fallon, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, believes the United States must work more closely with China, but urged caution in building that relationship. "Of course we are going to have to be cautious...

U.K. Airport Group Awards OSI Systems Contract For High-Throughput EDS.
March 8, 2006... OSI Systems, Inc. [OSIS] said yesterday that it has received a $7 million contract from Britain's Manchester Airport Group to secure delivery in about two years of a new Computed Tomography (CT)-based Explosives Detection System (EDS) that...

Northrop Grumman Accelerates Share Repurchase.(Brief article)
March 8, 2006... Northrop Grumman [NOC] yesterday said it accelerated plans for the repurchase of its common stock, buying $750 million of its shares from Credit Suisse. With the accelerated repurchase the company has completed over 80 percent of its...

U.S. Advances Near-Term Quick-Strike Conventionally Armed Missile Concept.
March 8, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Department of Defense (DoD) is moving forward with plans to outfit a number of its Trident II D-5 long-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles with conventional warheads to give the U.S. a non-nuclear option to...

House Lawmakers Seek Hundreds of Millions For Tanks and Ground Vehicles in War Spending Bill.
March 8, 2006... By George Cahlink House lawmakers are crafting a $67.5 billion emergency spending bill to cover soaring wars costs that provides hundreds of millions for buying new tanks and other ground vehicles to avoid breaks in contractor and depot...

House Appropriators Back Procurement Hike For Tanks, Humvees In War Bill.
March 9, 2006... By George Cahlink House lawmakers finalized a $67.6 billion emergency spending bill for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan yesterday that includes $17.6 billion in procurement spending on tanks, aircraft, ammunition and other...

Air Force Poised To Issue Call For Bidders Within Next Month For GPS III.(Global Positioning System)
March 9, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force expects in about the next month to release a request for proposals (RFP) to industry to build the next-generation Global Positioning System Block III (GPS III) satellite system, according to the service...

Airbus Leads EADS To Record Results In 2005.
March 9, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) yesterday reported record financial results for 2005 led by increased commercial aircraft deliveries, easily offsetting flat sales in its defense and space...

Commander Sees Large Bill For Replacing Depleted War Reserves In Europe.(James Jones)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... By George Cahlink The commander of NATO forces yesterday warned the Pentagon faces a massive bill for replacing war reserve equipment throughout Europe that has been sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The stocks will be rebuilt,...

MDA, Japanese Defense Agency, Navy, Conduct Successful Aegis BMD Test.(Missile Defense Agency, Ballistic Missile Defense)
March 9, 2006... The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced late yesterday that the agency in cooperation with the Japanese Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy successfully completed a cooperative flight test mission at the Pacific Missile Range facility...

Raytheon Leads Top Five C4I Companies 2006-15, Analyst Says.(Raytheon Aircraft Co., command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Raytheon [RTN], General Dynamics [GD], Lockheed Martin [LMT], BAE SYSTEMS and Thales Raytheon Systems are projected to rank as the top five C4I companies from 2006-2015 even as the market declines, a new report said. "It is no surprise...

General Dynamics Continues Stryker Logistics Support.(General Dynamics Land Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems (GDLS) has been awarded a $27 million Army contract modification to provide contractor logistics support on deployed Stryker combat vehicles. The modification has a total potential...

Rolls Royce Wins $73 Million Air Force Contract.
March 9, 2006... Rolls-Royce said yesterday it signed a $73 million contract to support the propulsion system on U.S. Air Force transport planes, the fourth recent engine services agreement. "This new agreement provides a foundation for a long-term...

Italian Air Force Receives First AgustaWestland HH3F With New Avionics Suite.(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Finmeccanica's AgustaWestland yesterday delivered the first HH-3F helicopter to the Italian air force with a new integrated avionics suite. The upgrade is part of a multiyear program to improve the operational capabilities of the air...

Defense The Main Focus In Government IT Deals Last Year, Research Firm Says.(Input Inc.)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... About two-thirds of the merger and acquisition (M&A) activity last year in the government information technology (IT) market was in the defense and security areas, focused mainly on military communications, sensors, and signal processing...

Senators Urge Adding Money To War Spending Bill For Tanks, Ground Vehicles.
March 10, 2006... By George Cahlink Senate appropriations are being urged to add hundreds of millions of dollars to the $67.6 billion emergency spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan to buy and upgrade Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. In a...

Plan For Single JSF Engine Could Impact Cost, Foreign Relations, Lawmakers Say.(joint strike fighter)
March 10, 2006... By Geoff Fein Eliminating competition for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) engine program could result in higher costs for relying on a single engine, severely impact JSF operations should engine problems result in a stand-down, and...

Space Test Bed Is Just That--A Test Bed, MDA Director Says.(Missile Defense Agency)
March 10, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director yesterday assured members of the House Armed Services Committee's Strategic Forces panel the agency's plans to start building a space-based test bed in FY 2007 are for a test bed...

First Marine Corps Special Forces Units Will Deploy In April, Says Brown.(Bryan Brown)
March 10, 2006... By Michael Sirak The first teams of specially trained Marines formed under the new Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) will deploy next month to begin instructing foreign militaries, the commander of elite U.S. special...

UTC Picks P&W Chief Chenevert As Successor To David.(United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney, Louis Chenevert)
March 10, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker United Technologies Corp. [UTX] this week named Louis Chenevert, 48, to be president and chief operating officer, setting up an orderly succession for when George David, 63, the company's chairman and CEO, retires in...

Esterline Acquiring Countermeasures Businesses From Cobham.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
March 10, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Esterline Technologies [ESL] yesterday said it has acquired a U.S.-based military countermeasures business and agreed to acquire a United Kindgom-based countermeasures business, both from Britain's Cobham plc. ...

Rogers Wants Coast Guard Plan For Protecting NCR.(finance )
March 10, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) yesterday said that until he sees the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) plan for transferring air defense operations around...

Rotorcraft Mishaps Declining, But Challenges Remain, Say Officials.(defense reports)
March 10, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Department of Defense has made significant strides in reducing the rate of helicopter losses in combat zones due to pilot error and mechanical failure in the last few years, but the issue remains a concern, senior...

RTS 6400 Radar Tracker Commissioned Aboard South African Corvettes.(Reutech Radar Systems )
March 10, 2006... The South African Reutech Radar Systems (RRS) joint venture between Reunert Limited, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) and Kgorong Investment Holdings last month said its RTS 6400 Optronics Radar Tracker was fully commissioned...

Raytheon To Support Patriot Missile Field Surveillance Program.(defense contracts)(Brief article)
March 10, 2006... Raytheon [RTN] said on Wednesday it was awarded a $13.4 million Army contract to provide material and technical services in support of the Patriot missile field surveillance program. The contract, issued by Army Aviation and Missile...

Tadiran Communications Unveils New Military Cellular Mobile Network.(cellular communications)
March 10, 2006... Israel's Tadiran Communications recently introduced its latest end-to-end military and homeland security cellular mobile network solution for encrypted communications called MobileNet. The compact, portable MobileNet system, is a...

Defense Watch.(2007 budget resolution at the House and Senate)(House Armed Services sets for hearing on aviation acquisition)(House Armed Services conducts review of Pentagon spending)
March 13, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Class in Session. Both the House and Senate are in session this week. The Senate will likely pass a 2007 budget resolution that would set spending levels for the coming...

United Industrial Turns In Strong Fourth Quarter.
March 13, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker United Industrial Corp. [UIC] on Friday reported strong fourth quarter results, led by increased production and logistical support for its Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System, and also more work in some of...

New Congressional U.K. Caucus Will Promote Defense Ties With Key Ally.
March 13, 2006... By George Cahlink Lawmakers recently formed a Congressional United Kingdom Caucus that will promote a variety of defense, foreign policy, and trade issues, including the development of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), that impact the...

Boeing Explores Potential Airborne Laser Cooperation With Japan.
March 13, 2006... By Michael Sirak Boeing [BA] is exploring a potential role for Japanese industry in the development of the Airborne Laser (ABL) system, according to the company's senior program official. "The Japanese are very interested in ABL,"...

EFV Will Provide Improved Maneuver, Fire Power For Marines.(Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle)
March 13, 2006... By Geoff Fein CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-- General Dynamics' [GD] Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) will change the way Marines take the fight from ship to shore, providing increased fire power, improved sea mobility, added ballistic...

M Ship Co. Succeeds In Taking Stiletto From Concept To Trials In A Year.
March 14, 2006... By Geoff Fein Stiletto, the Office of Force Transformation's (OFT) effort to design and build a high-speed vessel made of composite materials for Special Operations Forces (SOF), is undergoing acceptance trials this month, after...

Building A Network Is Not Like Buying A Tank, Yakovac Says.(defense planning)
March 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Army is working out how to adapt its acquisition processes to build a network to bring secure, global, adaptable and mobile communications to the service, the Army's top military acquisition official said. "The...

Raytheon Pushes Forward On SM-3 For BMD.(ballistic missile defense)
March 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Raytheon [RTN] continues pushing Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) development forward for ballistic missile defense (BMD) work, after a SM-3 successfully demonstrated proper separation of an advanced nosecone off Hawaii March...

Army Continues Business Transformation Push.
March 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Army Secretary Francis Harvey recently directed major commands to implement specific measures as he continues his push to transform how the service does business aiming to free resources so the Army can fulfill its...

Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin $383 Million For F-22 Production.(Brief article)
March 14, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday was awarded a $383.5 million firm fixed price and cost plus fixed fee Air Force contract modification for Lot 6 F-22 production long lead activities, (target price curve/product support other and diminishing...

President Bush Defends Pentagon Record On Fighting IEDs, Says Work Remains.(Improvised Explosive Device)
March 14, 2006... By George Cahlink President Bush on Monday said the Defense Department has more than 100 different projects underway to help counter improvised explosive devices used against U.S. troops in Iraq, but conceded more work remains in...