Defense Daily articles from November 2006

Defense Daily archives from November 2006

Army Official Predicts Joint Cargo Aircraft Program Will Proceed On Schedule.
November 1, 2006... By Jen DiMascio The Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) competition is proceeding on track with a contract award anticipated in February or March of 2007, the director of the service's Aviation Task Force said this week. Last month, Congress...

Oshkosh Posts Higher Profits And Sales; Defense Sags.
November 1, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Oshkosh Truck Corp. [OSK] yesterday reported strong fourth quarter earnings and sales led by its commercial truck business although results in the military truck segment dipped on fewer parts and service revenues. ...

Navy Study Examining Alternatives To Fossil Fuels For Ships.
November 1, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy will deliver to Congress in early 2007 a report on alternative propulsion methods for surface combatants and amphibious warfare ships that will examine, among other things, the feasibility of nuclear power for...

Air Force Space Acquisition Reforms Starting To Show Results, Says General.(Michael Hamel)
November 1, 2006... By Michael Sirak The 'back-to-basics' reforms adopted by the Air Force within the past year to overhaul how it develops satellite systems are starting to show positive results, the service's program executive officer (PEO) for space said...

USJFCOM Experiment Offers Opportunities To Compress Command Decision Cycle.(U.S. Joint Forces Command)
November 1, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) experiment Urban Resolve 2015 came to an end last week with the potential to compress a commander's decision cycle by the real-world application of some tools used in the experiment, a...

Army SF Quietly Increasing Strength, Capabilities, General Says.(Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The demand for the unique skills of Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) continues to grow, and while they employ their unique skills in missions abroad, at home their ranks are growing and their skills are being...

Army Delays Design Reviews For Future Combat System UAV.(unmanned aerial vehicle)
November 2, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Milestones for one of the Army Future Combat Systems (FCS) unmanned aerial vehicles have been delayed, but that won't throw off planned joint testing of the platform, according to an Army spokesman. The Class IV UAV...

It's Vital For V-22 and JSF Programs To Stay On Course For Marine Corps, Official Says.(Joint Strike Fighter)
November 2, 2006... By Geoff Fein It is important for the Marine Corps to stick to a transition plan of two V-22 Osprey squadrons per year to keep pace with training as well as remaining on track to begin taking delivery of the Short Take-off and Vertical...

Ceradyne Posts Record Third Quarter Earnings, Sales.
November 2, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Driven by high volume in its body armor business, especially for ceramic plates that protect the sides of soldiers, as well as performance improvements, Ceradyne [CRDN] yesterday reported record net income and...

Commercial Gains Drive Fourth Quarter Gains At Rockwell Collins.
November 2, 2006... Rockwell Collins [COL] yesterday reported strong fourth quarter sales and earnings growth led by its commercial aircraft electronics business. Net income increased 25 percent to $138 million, 79 cents earnings per share (EPS), versus...

SI International Reports Increases Earnings, Sales.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker SI International [SINT] on Tuesday posted higher third quarter net income and sales driven by growth in its federal markets and an acquisition earlier this year. Net income increased 17 percent to $5.4 million, 41...

GAO Finds Security Clearances Backlogged, Questions Unanswered.(General Accounting Office)
November 2, 2006... Massive delays in providing background checks for security clearances for industry employees and others create national security risks and mean lost time and increased costs, a Government Accountability Office study found. Industry...

Team JCA Completes Army Early User Survey.(Joint Cargo Aircraft)
November 2, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Team JCA C-295 aircraft competing for the Army/Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) just completed its Early User Survey in Ft. Rucker, Ala., according to a company official. "We had no trouble meeting their...

Army-Lockheed Martin Team Wins Secretary of Defense Award For HIMARS PBL.(Defense Performance Based Logistics Award, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Lockheed Martin Corp)(Company overview)
November 2, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Department of Defense awarded the Army and Lockheed Martin's [LMT] High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) team the Secretary of Defense Performance Based Logistics (PBL) Award, recognizing exceptional...

Navy Looking To Include Open Architecture Into All Surface Ship Contracts.
November 3, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy is looking at all of its upcoming contracts for surface ships to see where the service can incorporate open architecture systems into contract language with the goals of opening up competition and lowering the cost...

ATK Reports Mixed Second Quarter Results.
November 3, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Alliant Techsystems [ATK] yesterday reported strong second quarter sales but net income fell slightly largely due to the lack of a tax credit for certain research and development (R&D) expenses. Net income dipped...

Acquisitions Boost CACI's Sales But Income Falls.(CCAI International)
November 3, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker CACI International [CAI] on Wednesday reported record first quarter sales led by revenues from previous acquisitions, which more than offset a nearly 4 percent decline in organic revenues. The company also said...

General Dynamics To Market RAFAEL Ordnance Neutralization System.
November 3, 2006... General Dynamics' [GD] Ordnance and Tactical Systems unit has signed a licensing agreement with Israel's RAFAEL Armament Development Authority in Israel to provide Thor, a dual-mode, standoff ordnance neutralization system, to U.S. defense...

Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin $1.2 Billion For More Raptors.
November 3, 2006... The Air Force Tuesday awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a $1.2 billion contract change for the F-22A Raptor supersonic stealth fighter program. That funding will support the F-22 Lot 7 long-lead procurement. Work would be completed by...

International Conference Promotes Cooperative Synergies.(U.S. Joint Forces Command, NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) 2006 Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) Conference)
November 3, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The importance of cooperation, partnering and finding synergy by leveraging ongoing efforts was a key theme at the U.S. Joint Forces Command, NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) 2006 Concept Development and...

Air Force Forms Cyberspace Unit.(tackling cyber attacks on the U.S)
November 3, 2006... By Dave Ahearn The Air Force is forming an offensive and defensive cyberspace unit to deal with growing threats and opportunities in the cyberspace area, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said yesterday. That unit is being created in...

First Shot Fired From BAE SYSTEMS' FCS NLOS Cannon Firing Platform.
November 3, 2006... BAE SYSTEMS on Tuesday announced the successful first round firing from the Future Combat Systems (FCS) Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon Firing Platform. The Firing Platform is a lightweight 38-caliber, fully automated 155-mm howitzer...

Air Force Gives Boeing $300 Million For Wideband Gapfiller Program.
November 3, 2006... The Air Force awarded Boeing [BA] a $299.9 million contract change to further the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) program, the Pentagon said yesterday. This funding exercises an option for production of WGS Space Vehicle 4, work that...

Defense Watch.
November 6, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments in Aerospace and Defense Testing, Testing. Patriot conducts another missile test. "On Monday Oct 23, at about 7: 45 a.m., a PAC-3 Missile Flight Test (MFT) was conducted at White Sands Missile...

Raytheon Proposes C2 Combat System To NAVSEA For Littoral Combat Ship.(Naval Sea Systems Command)
November 6, 2006... By Geoff Fein Raytheon [RTN] Friday submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Navy for the command and control (C2) combat systems for small combatants specifically geared toward the capabilities of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). ...

Krieg Considers Recompeting Joint Common Missile Contract.
November 6, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Pentagon acquisition executive Kenneth Krieg is asking whether the contract for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) should be recompeted, according to sources in industry and Congress. Lockheed Martin [LMT] is developing...

Some GOP Members on Defense Committees Face Tough Election Battles.(Grand Old Party (US Republican political party))
November 6, 2006... By Jen DiMascio After 19 years on Capitol Hill, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) the chairman of the House Armed Services (HASC) airland subcommittee, is one of a number of Republican members of the committee fighting for his political future....

As Navy Defines Open Architecture, Managing The Process Is Important, SECNAV Says.(Donald Winter)
November 6, 2006... By Geoff Fein While it is easy when talking about open architecture to get immersed in the technical details that relate to what definition people want to use, the Navy will also have to examine how best to manage the disconnect that...

Singapore Selects Lockheed Martin For 20-Year Pilot Training.(Singapore Defence Science and Technology Agency)
November 6, 2006... Lockheed Martin [LMT] last week was awarded a 20-year contract by the Singapore Defence Science and Technology Agency to support the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Basic Wings Course (BWC). "BWC is unique in the world of military...

Machinists Strike At Raytheon's Missile Systems Facilities.(International Association of Machinists)
November 7, 2006... About 1,900 Raytheon [RTN] workers went on strike yesterday at the company's missile producing facilities in Tucson, Ariz., but the company said it is using salaried employees trained for such contingencies to fill the production lines and...

Navy Must Be Diligent In Tracking Requirements Creep To Afford Future Fleet.
November 7, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy will need to ruthlessly track requirements creep to contain shipbuilding costs if the service hopes to reach its goal of a 313-ship fleet at an annual cost of $13.5 billion, according to a top service official. ...

Blackwater, Heckler & Koch, Find Synergy In Joint Training.(Blackwater USA, Heckler und Koch GmbH)
November 7, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt MOYOCK, N.C.-- The private security services firm Blackwater USA and small arms weapons systems maker Heckler & Koch (HK) have come together to offer weapons training and more under a new joint training program. ...

Blackwater Prepares To Produce "High-Tech Taxi," Entering APC Market.(armored personnel carrier, Grizzly)
November 7, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt MOYOCK, N.C.--Blackwater USA, a fast-growing turnkey security solutions company, is moving into the armored personnel carrier market with the Grizzly. "The idea is to provide a survivable envelope for operations in...

Army's Requirement For Aerial Common Sensor Remains, Official Says.
November 7, 2006... By Jen DiMascio The Army is still considering a number of options to bring back the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) program because the requirement for a manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to provide intelligence to...

Air Force Declares Several BCS Sites Fully Operational.(Battle Control System)
November 7, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The Air Force has declared fully operational several new command and control sites in the United States and Canada that are operated by the U.S. and Canadian militaries to track aircraft traffic entering North...

IAI Acquires Stake In Virtualization Firm.(Israel Aircraft Industries, Tiltan)
November 7, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) last week completed the purchase of 30 percent of the share capital of the military simulation and visualization firm Tiltan, a Matrix subsidiary in Israel, for $6...

IDF Did Not Recognize War, Slow To Transition, Report Says.(Israel Defense Forces)
November 7, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--A recent report on Israel's recent 34-day war against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon concluded that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not conduct the campaign as a military operation with clearly...

Northrop Grumman Awarded $1.4 Billion For LPD-24, LPD-25 Work.(Brief article)
November 7, 2006... The Navy yesterday awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] Ship Systems, a $1.45 billion modification under a previously awarded contract to exercise two fixed- price incentive options for construction of the eighth LPD-17-class amphibious transport...

Navy Identifies 14 Action Items To Accelerate Open Architecture Process.
November 8, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Navy's chief acquisition official Monday signed out on 14 open architecture (OA) action items seeking to speed up the transition of incorporating open architecture by implementing new business models, identifying...

UIC's Profits Fall; Acquiring Helicopter Engine Repair Firm.(United Industrial Corp. to acquire McTurbine)
November 8, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker United Industrial Corp. [UIC] yesterday reported a big drop in third quarter profits stemming from cost overruns on several defense contracts, higher pension and stock-based compensations expenses, and legals costs...

Committee: Israel Navy's Understanding of Lebanon Operational Reality Deficient.
November 8, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) yesterday released key findings of a special committee that investigated the Hezbollah-fired C-802 missile attack on the Israel navy ship Hanit in July 2006, and the...

Defense Donations Help Fuel Big-Money Campaigns.
November 8, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Leaders of the congressional defense committees dragged in big donations from major defense companies, which may or may not make the difference in a few closely contested races. Money was an issue in the Missouri...

C-27J Begins Early User Test In JCA Competition.(Army/Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft competition)
November 8, 2006... The C-27J team of L-3 Communications' [LLL] Integrated Systems Group, Finmeccanica's Alenia North America, Boeing [BA] and Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) announced yesterday the C-27J has begun the Early User Survey (EUS)--the next...

Israel To Support Active Endeavor As NATO Interaction Builds.(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
November 8, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--There are several indications that Israel's relationship with NATO is approaching another level, including the recent agreement plotting the way for Israel's participation in the pact's Operation Active...

Weldon Loses Re-Election Bid Amid Democratic Takeover of Congress.(Curt Weldon)
November 9, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Armed Services tactical air and land force subcommittee, often chastised members of the Defense Department for setting policy tied to four-year presidential terms, and...

Air Force Aims To Boost C-5 Availability Rates With Improved Inspection Process.
November 9, 2006... By Michael Sirak SCOTT AFB, Ill.--The Air Force is revamping how it inspects the airworthiness of its C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft to increase the platform's overall availability rates, a senior service logistics official said earlier...

Profits Drop At EADS On Airbus Woes.
November 9, 2006... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) yesterday reported a large drop in nine-month earnings, despite strong top line growth at each of its divisions, due to delays in the Airbus A380 aircraft program and a less favorable...

Raytheon Delivers DDG-1000 Source Code To Navy.
November 9, 2006... By Geoff Fein Raytheon [RTN] this week delivered key DDG-1000 software components to the Navy that can be reused on other service programs, an important step toward advancing the Navy's open architecture efforts, the company said. ...

Next Stryker BCT To Deploy Likely To Have All 10 Vehicle Variants.(Stryker Brigade Combat Team)
November 9, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt When the next Stryker Brigade Combat Team heads to Iraq, it will likely be the first to have all 10 variants of the Stryker vehicle, according to an Army official. "When 4/2 potentially deploys to Iraq next summer,...

Analyst: Rumsfeld's Departure May Signal End To Defense Transformation.
November 9, 2006... By Jen DiMascio The departure of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld may signal the end of transformation, according to defense industry analyst. President Bush yesterday announced that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who initially...

Defense Department Wants More Time To Mull Joint Airborne Electronic Attack.
November 9, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Department of Defense is taking more time to mull the options for its future mix of airborne electronic attack (AEA) platforms in the wake of budget shortfalls and lack of unanimity on how to proceed, senior Air...

Defense Watch.(Robert Gates)(U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement )(Douglas Feith)
November 13, 2006... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Open the Gates. The Senate plans to soon take up the nomination of former CIA Director Robert Gates as a replacement for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose...

Boeing Wins Air Force's Multi-Billion-Dollar CSAR-X Helicopter Contest.(combat search and rescue)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Michael Sirak Boeing [BA] has won the multi-billion-dollar contest to build the Air Force's new combat search and rescue helicopter, senior service officials announced on Nov. 9. The victorious team, which yesterday was awarded a...

Levin To Take Control of Senate Armed Services Committee.(Carl Levin)
November 13, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) is poised to take control of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), dashing the expectations of Sen. John McCain (R- Ariz.), who was anticipated to make big changes after becoming chairman....

Northrop Grumman To Acquire Essex Corp.
November 13, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Northrop Grumman [NOC] on Wednesday said it has agreed to acquire Maryland-based Essex Corp. [KEYW], a fast growing provider of signal processing services and products for U.S. intelligence community customers, for...

SAIC Announces Two Acquisitions.(Science Applications International Corp, Applied Marine Technology Inc, AETC Inc)
November 13, 2006... SAIC [SAI] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire Applied Marine Technology, Inc. (AMTI), an expert service provider in special operations and special mission units and for military, law enforcement, the intelligence community and private...

Army Orders 34 More EADS North America Light Utility Helicopters.
November 13, 2006... EADS North America yesterday received a $170 million order from the Army for 34 more UH-145 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). The LUH requirement is for as many as 322 of the helicopters, with a potential total program life-cycle value of...

Change Calls Continue For IDF Budget And Training Priorities.(Israel Defense Forces)
November 13, 2006... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--In the words of one observer, what attendees at a conference on the Second Lebanon War and its aftermath heard at one juncture was a very powerful public indictment of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), one...

New Direction For Iraq Tops Levin's Agenda As Incoming SASC Chairman.(Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin)
November 14, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) yesterday outlined his priorities as the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) in a press conference, placing a heavy emphasis on finding a new strategy for the Iraq war...

Coast Guard, Northrop Grumman Negotiating Final Cost of First Two National Security Cutters.
November 14, 2006... By Geoff Fein PASCAGOULA, Miss.--Even as the first National Security Cutter (NSC) the CGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) was christened Saturday at Ingalls Shipyard here, Northrop Grumman [NOC] Ship Systems continues negotiations with the Coast...

Northrop Grumman's Ingalls Shipyard Still 18 Months From Fully Recovering From Katrina.
November 14, 2006... By Geoff Fein PASCAGOULA, Miss.--While Northrop Grumman [NOC] Ship Systems' Gulfport, Miss., and Avondale, La., shipyards are operating at 100 percent capability, its Pascagoula, Miss., yard won't reach 100 percent for another 18 months,...

Army Building Full Spectrum Effects Stryker Vehicles.
November 14, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt The Army expects delivery of the first of its unique Stryker Full Spectrum Effects Platform (F-SEP) vehicles next month, according to a service official. "We're going to provide three of those systems to 4th Brigade...

Boeing's Ability To Provide HH-47 Soonest Was Key In CSAR-X Win, Says Air Force.
November 14, 2006... By Michael Sirak Boeing's [BA] ability to provide HH-47 helicopters months ahead of its competitors so that the Air Force could field its first new combat-search-and- rescue unit sooner was a key factor in the Chicago-based company last...

Bertholf First Large Coast Guard Cutter Launched In 35 Years.(CGC Bertholf)
November 14, 2006... By Geoff Fein The CGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) was christened Saturday at Northrop Grumman's [NOC] Ingalls Shipyard, making the National Security Cutter (NSC) the first large cutter christened in 35 years. Ship sponsor Meryl Chertoff,...

GD Appoints Michael Mulligan President of Armaments And Technical Products Unit.(General Dynamics Corp.)(Brief article)
November 14, 2006... General Dynamics [GD] yesterday announced that Michael Mulligan, 43, has been appointed as president of the company's General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products subsidiary. Mulligan will report to Charles Hall, executive vice...

Air Force Eyes Acquisition Changes, May Defer Milestone B Decisions Until After PDR.(Preliminary design reviews )
November 15, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is exploring a series of initiatives to improve the efficiency with which it fields new weapon systems, and the manner in which it interacts with defense contractors, a senior Air Force acquisition officer...

Northrop Grumman Implementing Cost Savings At Shipyards.(Northrop Grumman Corp Ship Systems Sector)
November 15, 2006... By Geoff Fein PASCAGOULA, Miss.-- Northrop Grumman [NOC] Ship Systems (NGSS) is taking several steps to lower the cost of building not only the follow-on National Security Cutters (NSC), but potentially all Coast Guard and Navy vessels...

Dutch Pick Litening For F-16s.(Netherlands. Air Force)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... The Dutch air force will equip its Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-16s with Litening airborne targeting and navigation pods manufactured by Northrop Grumman [NOC] and Israel's RAFAEL. The $40 million contract strengthens Litening's position as...

High Tech Business Associations Lobby For R&D Tax Credit Extension.(Research and Development)
November 15, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Business lobbying organizations are pressing Congress to renew and strengthen what is known as the research and development tax credit before the lame duck session ends. Specifically, the defense industry wants the...

Saudi Arabia To Spend $1.5 Billion On F-15S Engines.
November 15, 2006... Saudi Arabia is requesting the sale of either 155 General Electric [GE]: >TI GAO Chief: Are Raptor, JSF Affordable Along With FCS, Missile Defense? >TX By Dave Ahearn As gargantuan federal budget deficits persist, one must ask whether...

Saudi Arabia To Spend $1.5 Billion On F-15S Engines.
November 15, 2006... Saudi Arabia is requesting the sale of either 155 General Electric [GE] or 20 Pratt & Whitney [UTX] engines for the country's fleet of F-15S aircraft at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency...

Pakistan To Spend $160 Million For Harris HF, VHF Radios.(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Pakistan has requested a possible sale of Harris [HRS] High Frequency/Very High Frequency radio systems for an estimated cost of $160 million, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The sale includes 1,558 20-Watt...

Freshman Senators McCaskill and Webb To Join Senate Armed Services Committee.(Claire McCaskill and Jim Webb)
November 15, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Claire McCaskill and Jim Webb, two newly elected Democratic members of the Senate, will join the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) in 2007, according to incoming Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.). National...

DHS Expands Air Cargo Security Pilot To Detect Stowaways.(Department of Homeland Security)
November 15, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its current air cargo screening pilot program, which has been ongoing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) since this past summer, to a new venue,...

Members Who Back Shipbuilding Industry Graduate To Leadership Roles.
November 16, 2006... By Jen DiMascio The fallout from last week's elections continues, with legislators representing states and districts key to the shipbuilding industry graduating to leadership roles, not the least of which includes yesterday's decision to...

Stealth Aircraft 'Not Invisible' And Likely Will Require Jamming Help On Raids, Officials Say.
November 16, 2006... By Michael Sirak As impressive as the new generation of stealthy aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II will be in penetrating contested airspace and minimizing the chances of their detection by radar and other sensors,...

Deepwater Program Seeking Designs For Coast Guard's Fast Response Cutter B-Class.(Deepwater Integrated Coast Guard Systems )
November 16, 2006... By Geoff Fein The Deepwater Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) yesterday issued a Broad Industry Announcement for contract design of a Fast Response Cutter B- Class (FRC-B) for the Coast Guard. The FRC-B acquisition addresses the...

Alabama Lawmakers Appeal To Pentagon To Release JCM Funding.
November 16, 2006... By Jen DiMascio Alabama legislators recently pressed Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England not to recompete a development contract for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) and to restore funding for the program from fiscal years 2006 and...

Army Aviation Transformation On Or Ahead of Schedule, Officials Say.
November 16, 2006... By Ann Roosevelt Army aviation transformation is paying off in saving lives, new aircraft, aviation upgrades and safety equipment a three-year benchmark, officials say. "We're ahead of schedule in many ways," Army Vice Chief of Staff...

Boeing Receives $296 Million Contract For Lot 11 JDAM Production.
November 16, 2006... The Air Force earlier this week awarded Boeing [BA] a contract worth $296 million for lot 11 production of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Under the terms of the deal, the company will deliver a total of 12,889 JDAM tailkits and...

L-1 Acquiring Canadian Identity Solutions Firm.(ComnetiX Inc)
November 16, 2006... By Calvin Biesecker Expanding into the Canadian market, L-1 Identity Solutions [ID] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire ComnetiX, a small Ontario, Canada-based provider of fingerprinting products and services and other identity...

Coast Guard Begins Biometric Pilot Program.(United States. Coast Guard)(Brief article)
November 16, 2006... The Coast Guard has begun a pilot program involving the collection of biometric data from illegal immigrants who have been interdicted at sea and comparing the information against the U.S. VISIT database, which includes information about...

Air Force Leadership Hosts Summit Today To Explore Cyberspace Issues.
November 16, 2006... By Michael Sirak The Air Force leadership is hosting a summit today in Washington, D.C., to examine how best to integrate its cyberspace activities across the service organizationally and operationally. Secretary of the Air Force...

Global Hawk Price Estimates Rise in Latest Pentagon Cost Report.(Brief article)
November 16, 2006... The cost of the Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft program has grown by 21.4 percent, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced yesterday. According to the newest estimates, the cost of fielding 54 Global Hawks...