Defense Daily articles from November 2007

Defense Daily archives from November 2007

Raytheon: Air Force Used Lased Maverick In Combat For First Time In June.
November 1, 2007... The Air Force employed an AGM-65E laser-guided Maverick surface-attack missile in combat operations for the first time in June, Raytheon [RTN], the missile's maker, said yesterday. Although the Laser Maverick has been in service for...

Aerospace Industry Sales May Top $200 Billion This Year, Douglass Says.
November 1, 2007... Aerospace industry sales may top $200 billion this year, according to John Douglass, the outgoing Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO. That would be a roughly 9 percent advance from last year. Douglass announced last...

Rapidly Changing Environment Needs Streamlined Contracting, Raytheon Exec Says.
November 1, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The United States should keep an eye on acquisition developments around the world, but streamlining the process at home would help in a rapidly changing environment, according to a Raytheon [RTN] executive. "I don't...

Wackenhut Revamping Nuke Plant Security Operations.
November 1, 2007... By George Lobsenz Wackenhut Corp., saying the company has failed to keep up with major new security demands in the nuclear industry, last week announced "a new strategic direction" under which it will seek to work more closely with...

Israel Requests $1.3 billion In FMS Munitions And Missiles.
November 1, 2007... Israel wants to spend as much as $1.3 billion on missiles, munitions and associated equipment and services, according to a congressional notification Oct. 30 by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). Israel has requested a...

Navy to Begin Testing Sub Launched UAV This Month.
November 1, 2007... By Geoff Fein When the USS Montpelier (SSN-765) deploys later this month it will include a new Internet system to improve communications as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) the crew will test to see if this type of capability can...

Defense Bill Includes Billions For Force Protection Equipment.
November 1, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Lawmakers have come to an agreement on a package to fund the Defense Department in fiscal year 2008 that includes billions for force protection equipment including $11 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP)...

Public Face of Pentagon And State Department Undergo Changes.
November 1, 2007... Bryan Whitman today takes control of the Pentagon's public affairs office, replacing Dorrance Smith as the assistant secretary of public affairs. In a memo circulated Oct. 30, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said Whitman, the...

Egypt Requests Tow IIA Anti-Armor Guided Missiles.
November 1, 2007... Egypt would like to spend as much as $99 million on TOW IIA anti-armor guided missiles, equipment and services, according to an Oct. 29 congressional notification by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). Egypt has requested the...

Port Officials Warn That TWIC Demand Exceeds Expectations.
November 1, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Officials from seaports in the United States told Congress this week that demand for mandatory new federal worker identification credentials significantly outstrips the U.S. government's expectations, potentially...

Navy Kills LCS-4, Cost Cap For Follow-On Ships Could Rise.
November 2, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Navy yesterday terminated General Dynamics' [GD] second Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-4), after failing to agree to contract modifications sought by the service because of cost growth on the company's first ship. The...

Lawmakers Pull Defense Bill, War Funding From Spending Package.
November 2, 2007... By Jen DiMascio House floor debate about combining in conference three spending bills including one to fund the Defense Department caused Democratic lawmakers to rethink their strategy yesterday and to pull the defense spending bill out...

ATK Reports Strong Second Quarter.(Financial report)
November 2, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Alliant Techsystems [ATK] yesterday posted strong second financial results as sales and earnings across its operating segments made double-digit gains and the company increased its outlook for the rest of its fiscal...

Air Force Moves To Modernize Infrastructure At Weapons Test Ranges.
November 2, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is pursuing a series of initiatives to modernize the aging infrastructure at its test ranges so that it can accurately evaluate new types of sophisticated weapons and share test equipment among ranges,...

Tactics In War On Terror Cause Rethink of Air Force Weapons Designs.
November 2, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is realizing from recent combat that there is a need to re- examine how it designs some of its air-to-ground weapons, according to senior service munitions developers. There has been ample discussion...

Security Upgrades Completed For 25 Russian Nuclear Warhead Sites.
November 2, 2007... U.S.-funded security upgrades at a Russian Strategic Rocket Forces base in Siberia were completed Oct. 31, the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said. Completion of that work means all security work at...

Defense Watch.
November 5, 2007... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Return To Flight. The Air Force last week flew a JASSM cruise missile for the first time since a spate of anomalies occurred in four consecutive test flights in early...

Raytheon Selected To Supply Modern Radars For Air Force's F-15E Fighter Fleet.
November 5, 2007... By Michael Sirak Raytheon [RTN] beat out Northrop Grumman [NOC] last week in the competition to provide advanced modern radars for the Air Force's fleet of 224 F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighter aircraft before the end of next decade....

House Lawmakers Push For Nuclear-Powered Ship Requirement.
November 5, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Without a commitment this year to mandate that future Navy cruisers should be powered by nuclear propulsion systems, Congress might miss its opportunity to make the change, the leaders of a House panel on Navy issues...

Navy Secretary Proposes Improving Acquisition Process.(Donald Winter )
November 5, 2007... By Geoff Fein Navy Secretary Donald Winter is looking to reinvigorate the service's acquisition process and at the same time restore some discipline in the way the Navy determines what assets it needs for the future. "What I am...

Industry Shouldn't View Acquisition Reform As A Negative, SECNAV Says.(Navy Secretary Donald Winters view on new law of acquisition of defense industry)
November 6, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Navy's efforts to develop a formal acquisition process that will help serve the interests and objectives of the service should not be viewed as a negative by contractors or an attempt to pit the Navy against them, a top...

Army Apache Helicopters To Expand Lethality Through UAV Video.
November 6, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Early next year the Army is expected to bring unmanned aerial systems (UAS) controls into the AH-64D Apache Block II to increase situational awareness and shorten the sensor-to-shooter timeline, according to service...

Democrats Square Off On Defense Budgeting.
November 6, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Democratic candidates for president share at least three messages on the defense budget: They would cut wasteful spending. They would reduce funding for missile defense, and they would oppose funding on offensive...

AH-64 Apache Block III Prototype Flies Next Year.
November 6, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The Army and Boeing [BA] are preparing for the first flight of an AH-64D Apache Block III prototype helicopter next year, officials said. "Our first prototype flight test is in July of next year; it will be an...

Canadian Frigate Deploys With USS Truman Strike Group On Operation Altair.
November 6, 2007... By Geoff Fein For the next six months, the HMCS Charlottetown, will deploy with the USS Truman (CVN-75) carrier strike group (CSG) as part of Operation Altair, the Canadian navy's contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). ...

iRobot Granted Injunction In Trade Secrets Lawsuit.
November 6, 2007... iRobot Corp. (IRBT) yesterday announced the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has granted, in part, iRobot's request for preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against former employee Jameel Ahed and his company, Robotic FX,...

Conferees OK Defense Bill That Includes $11.6 billion For MRAP Vehicles.
November 7, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Lawmakers yesterday approved a $459.6 billion conference report to fund the Defense Department in fiscal year 2008 that includes $11.6 billion in emergency funding for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. ...

Cross Match Drops Price of Planned IPO.
November 7, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Cross Match Technologies yesterday said it has lowered the expected price range of its forthcoming initial public offering (IPO), suggesting that net proceeds from the sale of stock could be about $23 million less...

Democrats Building Bridge Fund With Iraq War Language.
November 7, 2007... By Jen DiMascio House and Senate leaders are crafting standalone legislation that would provide about $50 billion in funding for the war in Iraq between November and January, when lawmakers intend to begin debate on the president's full...

Marine Corps' G/ATOR On Track For '08 Preliminary Design Review.
November 7, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Marine Corps' Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), a three dimensional, Humvee-mounted radar designed to detect rockets, artillery and mortars, completed its system functional review (SFR) and is now preparing for...

Army, Lockheed Martin, Plan For Thousands More Hellfire Missiles.
November 7, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt A Lockheed Martin [LMT] official says the success of the Hellfire missile will generate production of thousands more of the missiles once the president's budget and supplemental come to fruition. "We'll be going...

Appropriations Report Would Put Air Force On Track To Buy More F-22s.
November 8, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Lawmakers are supporting the Air Force's position that it needs 20 more F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft, urging the service to extend its current multiyear contract with Lockheed Martin [LMT]. Language in the...

L-3 Introduces Says Earnings Will Exceed Sales Growth Next Year.(L-3 Communications Corp.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 8, 2007... L-3 Communications [LLL] this week introduced its financial guidance for 2008, saying its net earnings will grow faster than the company's organic sales. Earnings per share (EPS) in 2008 are expected to be between $6.41 and $6.55,...

MDA Declares Successful Dual Intercept In Navy Aegis BMD Test.
November 8, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Missile Defense Agency (MDA) late Tuesday announced the successful completion of a simultaneous interception of two ballistic missile targets for its sea-based anti-missile Aegis BMD system. Conducted jointly with the...

Arrow Missile Defense Components Receive Conference Attention.(Conference news)
November 8, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt As early as today, the House could take up the Defense Department Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2008 that includes $37 million for producing components for the anti-ballistic missile Arrow in the United States and...

Composite-Built Stiletto Showing Results As Test Bed For Navy.
November 8, 2007... By Geoff Fein Stiletto, a high-speed, 80-foot long vessel built using composite materials has wrapped up three months of testing of its unique hull design, and will begin a new series of experiments next week looking at command and...

Time Line For Consideration of Bridge Fund In Flux.(United States. Congress. House)(Brief article)
November 8, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Plans for the House to vote today on a bridge fund to provide money for the war in Iraq looked iffy yesterday afternoon. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said he...

TSA Explains Its Covert Testing Program.
November 8, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker In the wake of recent reports about federal airport security screeners failing to uncover most fake bombs taken through checkpoints by covert Red Teams, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says the main...

Darryl Davis Named President Advanced Systems For Boeing IDS.
November 8, 2007... Boeing [BA] yesterday named Darryl Davis as president, Advanced Systems, for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). Davis replaces George Muellner, who recently announced his intent to retire effective Dec. 31. "Darryl's extensive...

Lockheed Martin Awarded $304 Million For Four Norwegian C-130Js.
November 8, 2007... Lockheed Martin [LMT] received an Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) from the U.S. government valued at $304 million for the purchase of four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters, plus initial spares and training, for Norway, the company...

Defense Bill To Recommend Strategic Pause On European Missile Defense Site.
November 9, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Removing former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from the Pentagon has enabled Democrats to shift opinion about building a third ballistic missile defense site in Europe, a leading Democratic lawmaker said yesterday. ...

Shadow UAV Enabling Marines To Grow Unmanned Squadrons.
November 9, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Marine Corps' decision to switch to United Industrial Corp. [UIC] AAI unit's Shadow unmanned aerial system (UAS) will enable the service to field a third unmanned aircraft squadron (VMU) while also moving to a more...

Successful Tests For Lockheed Martin GMLRS In Jamming Environment.
November 9, 2007... Lockheed Martin [LMT] says it recently successfully conducted two anti- jamming Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rocket Phase II Product Qualification Test flights at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. These GPS2 jamming...

German Parliament Green Lights Puma Procurement.
November 9, 2007... The German Bundestag's budget committee recently cleared the way today for the procurement of 405 new Puma infantry fighting vehicles for the Bundeswehr. That could mean a combined total of about $4.4 billion in gross sales for...

U.K. National Defence Association Launches, Calls For Defense Spending Increase.
November 9, 2007... The U.K. National Defence Association (UKNDA) launched Nov. 8, kicking off with a call to increase spending on the armed forces as soon as possible. UKNDA said it believes current spending levels are seriously undermining the United...

Thackrah Rumored To Become Interim ASN RDA.
November 9, 2007... By Geoff Fein John Thackrah, currently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget, is expected to become the interim head of Navy acquisition. Navy Sec. Donald Winter is expected to name Thackrah within the...

Northstar Aerospace To Complete Development of Innovative Transmission For Apache Block III.
November 9, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Northstar Aerospace Inc.'s subsidiary, Northstar Aerospace (Canada) Inc. yesterday announced it received a four year, potential $26 million contract from Boeing [BA] to complete the development and flight certification...

Airborne Laser, European Missile Defense Gain Adequate Funding.
November 9, 2007... The Airborne Laser (ABL) and the European ballistic missile defense (BMD) programs that once faced devastating funding cuts have rallied, with a House- Senate conference committee providing those programs most of the money that President Bush...

Defense Watch.
November 13, 2007... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Vote of Confidence. During a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) noted the unique...

MRAP Contractors Press For More Timely Information.
November 13, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Makers of the multi-billion effort to manufacture vehicles that improve protection against improvised explosive devices last week called on the government to provide more timely information about the military's needs and...

Saxton Announces Intent To Retire At End of Term.
November 13, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) announced last week that he will not seek another term next year, which will leave the Republican side of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) with three key vacancies. Ranking member Rep....

ACR Conducts UAV Command And Control Tests From Unique Navy Ship.
November 13, 2007... By Geoff Fein Advanced Ceramics Research (ACR) has been testing two of its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from the Navy's experimental test bed ship Stiletto to determine command and control capabilities and the ability to locate...

Correction.(Correction notice)
November 13, 2007... A story in the Nov. 9 edition of Defense Daily incorrectly stated that John Thackrah served as the interim Navy acquisition chief between John Young and Delores Etter. He did not serve in that role. [Copyright 2006 Access Intelligence,...

Democrats Plan To Move $50 Billion Iraq War Bill This Week.
November 14, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Leading Democrats said they intend to move a $50 billion bridge fund for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving for a Thanksgiving recess. The question is whether it will be a viable bill with language...

Air Force Promotes Airlift Options For Middle Eastern Partners.
November 14, 2007... By Michael Sirak DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--The Air Force is looking to build partnerships in the Middle East in the realm of airlift since there is a need both for tactical and strategic capacity in the region, the service's top...

Interoperability And Humanitarian Relief Pushing Foreign Interest In U.S. Ships.(dialogue with Nevin Carr)(Interview)
November 14, 2007... By Geoff Fein Foreign countries are showing increasing interest in buying from the U.S. Navy smaller boats as well as amphibious ships that could be used for humanitarian relief efforts, according to the director of the Navy's...

Raytheon Acquires Robotics Technologies From Sarcos.
November 14, 2007... Raytheon [RTN] said on Monday it has acquired the robotics technologies and capabilities from Sarcos Inc., which does research and development in advanced robotics systems for industry and entertainment, medical devices, and mechanical and...

Reaper Unmanned Aircraft Becoming An Increasing Presence In Afghanistan.
November 14, 2007... By Michael Sirak Southwest Asia--Both the United Kingdom and United States now are operating General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)-built Reaper remotely piloted aircraft over the skies of Afghanistan, and, as of last week, U.S....

North: F-15 Grounding Indicative of Challenges of Flying Aging Inventory.
November 14, 2007... By Michael Sirak FORWARD OPERATING BASE, Southwest Asia--The current grounding of the Air Force's fleet of F-15 fighter jets shows the challenges and dangers of operating an aging inventory, the top Air Force general in the Middle...

Air Force Returning F-15Es To Flight Duty Upon Passing One-Time Inspection.
November 14, 2007... By Michael Sirak RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany--The Air Force is starting to return F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets to flight duty upon each aircraft passing a one-time inspection, service officials said here yesterday. The grounding of...

Taiwan To Spend $939 Million On Patriot Upgrades.
November 14, 2007... Taiwan is looking to buy Patriot Configuration 2 ground systems upgrade as well as associated equipment and services, potentially worth $939 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported yesterday. Taiwan is seeking to...

Raytheon Wins $1.3 Billion U.K. e-Borders Contract.
November 15, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Raytheon [RTN] yesterday was selected by the United Kingdom's Home Office to receive a $1.3 billion contract to develop and install a border security system that will allow British authorities to check the background...

Air Force Eyes Boosted Bunker Buster To Defeat Hardened Targets.(dialogue with John Corley)(United States. Air Force. Materiel Command. Air Armament Center)(Interview)
November 15, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Air Force is interested in launching a program early next decade to develop a 2,000-pound boosted penetrator munition as an enhanced means of defeating hardened and deeply buried targets, according to a senior...

Lockheed Martin Jumps Into Hot Solar Market.
November 15, 2007... By George Lobsenz Lockheed Martin [LMT], the giant defense contractor, announced this week it is jumping into the red-hot solar energy market through a joint venture with Starwood Energy Group Global LLC that will pursue utility-scale...

General Dynamics Acquires Mediaware International Pty Ltd.
November 15, 2007... General Dynamics [GD] yesterday said it has acquired Mediaware International Pty Ltd.,a leading developer of real-time full-motion compressed digital video processing software and systems for defense, intelligence and commercial customers....

GAO Questions Path Ahead For Navy's LCS Mine Countermeasure Effort.
November 15, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Navy's efforts to field mine countermeasure (MCM) systems developed for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) are facing challenges, including whether testing the MCM systems on other platforms will provide enough information...

Army Future Combat Systems To Participate In Air Force JEFX 2008.
November 15, 2007... The Army's major modernization program, the Future Combat Systems (FCS) will again participate in the Air Force Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) 2008 as it did last year, according to a program official. JEFX is a series of...

House Pushes Back Vote On Bridge Fund, Seeking Additional Support.
November 15, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Democrats planned to vote on a bridge fund for the war in Iraq that includes $1.6 billion to fight improvised explosive devices yesterday afternoon but at press time had pushed the vote to later in the evening and were...

IDF Awards Lockheed Martin $2.3 Million For LCS Combat Systems Study.
November 15, 2007... Lockheed Martin [LMT] was awarded a $2.3 million foreign military sales contract to continue concept and preliminary design work on the proposed Israeli Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-I), the company said. Lockheed Martin will work...

Movement of Defense Bridge Fund, Authorization Bill Slow.
November 16, 2007... By Jen DiMascio At the beginning of the week, lawmakers planned to bring a war-funding bill to a vote and reconciling remaining differences in a bill to authorize funding for the Defense Department. By yesterday, hopes for results...

Senate Panel Approves Young As Next Pentagon Acquisition Chief.(John Young appointed the new weopons chief)(Brief article)
November 16, 2007... The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) yesterday gave the green light to John Young to become the next chief weapons buyer for the Pentagon, approving a nomination that was brought to the panel in early October. Sen. Carl Levin...

Navy's MDA Effort To Provide Greater ID of Ocean-Going Threats.(maritime domain awareness for management and safety of coasts)
November 16, 2007... By Geoff Fein Later next year, the Navy will launch the first spiral of its planned maritime domain awareness (MDA) effort that will initially link together the service, federal agencies and allies to provide a more robust picture of the...

Air Force Retains Interest In B-52 Jammer As POM 2010 Build Ensues.
November 16, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Air Force remains interested in establishing a program of record in its FY '10 program objective memorandum (POM) for a standoff jamming capability on the B-52H bomber aircraft, according to service officials. ...

U.S.-China Commission: List Country Origin On All Weapons Platform Parts.
November 16, 2007... By Dave Ahearn A government commission asked Congress to require the Department of Defense to identify the country of origin of every weapons system component. The recommendation, in an annual 300-plus-pages report of the U.S.-China...

DHS Postpones Certification of Next Generation Radiation Portal Monitors.
November 16, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has postponed a decision on certifying the cost benefits of new radiation detection portal monitors based on the concerns of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency...

Elbit's M&A Activities Bear Fruit, Contribute To Record Financial Results.(Financial report)
November 16, 2007... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Elbit Systems [ESLT] on Wednesday reported its consolidated results for the third quarter ending Sept. 30 with the company's president and CEO saying recent acquisitions helped generate record revenues,...

Army's UH-60M Black Hawk Poised For Fielding.
November 16, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt One of the Army's newest UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters is on the way to Ft. Campbell, Ky., where the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is the...

Accenture To Acquire Defense Consulting Firm MAXIM.
November 16, 2007... Accenture [ACN] said yesterday that it has agreed to acquire MAXIM Systems, an engineering an technical services firm supporting the Defense Department. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close within 30 days, were not disclosed....

Defense Watch.(Company overview)
November 19, 2007... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Bridge Goes Nowhere. The House-approved $50 billion bill to fund four months of Iraq war operations tanked last week in a 53-45 Senate vote; 60 yeses were required for...

Moseley: Questions Remain Over F-15C Crash As F-15Es Returning To Flight.
November 19, 2007... By Michael Sirak The Air Force still doesn't know what caused an F-15C Eagle fighter jet to break in half Nov. 2 shortly after takeoff on a mission inside the United States, but has already returned many of its F-15E Strike Eagle...

SASC Chairman Vows To Pass Defense Authorization Bill.
November 19, 2007... By Jen DiMascio Despite a recent stalemate in conference negotiations on a bill to authorize defense spending for fiscal year 2008, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said last week the bill would move forward next month....

ManTech To Acquire IT Solutions Provider McDonald Bradley.
November 19, 2007... ManTech International [MANT] on Friday said it has agreed to acquire McDonald Bradley, Inc. (MBI), an information technology (IT) solutions provider to the federal government, for $76.5 million in cash, giving it access to new customers and...

Air Force: Fostering New Design Cadre, Steady Funds Are Critical To Game- Changing Munitions.(dialogue with Judy Stokley)(United States. Air Force. Materiel Command. Air Armament Center)(Interview)
November 19, 2007... By Michael Sirak Fielding game-changing weapons, such as hypersonic missiles and systems based on laser and microwave beams, demands a new cadre of scientists and engineers as well as steady funding, according to a senior Air Force...

TSA Agrees With GAO's Suggestions For Improving Airport Security.
November 19, 2007... Transportation Security Administrator Kip Hawley last week told a House panel that his agency concurs with new suggestions put forth by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to tighten airport security following GAO testimony that its...