Defense Daily International articles from June 2007

Defense Daily International archives from June 2007

India Requests More Than $1 Billion For C-130J Aircraft.
June 1, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt The Defense Security Cooperation Agency recently notified Congress of a proposed Foreign Military Sale with a potential value of more than $1 billion to India of C-130J aircraft, equipment and services. India has...

Australia's Defense Rapid Program Expands To Improve War Fighting Capability.(Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... More companies and academic institutions have been chosen to join the Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation (RPDE) program, a government official says. Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson May 31 announced...

SASC Mark of Authorization Bill Gives Control of JCA Purchasing To Air Force.
June 1, 2007... By Jen DiMascio The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) recently passed a defense authorization bill that would give the Air Force the lead for purchasing planes under the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program, according to congressional...

North Korea Fires Missiles; China Sees Military Benefits In Space: Reports.
June 1, 2007... North Korea fired several missiles from both its east and west coasts, according to NHK Online Daily News in Japan. The report said Japanese officials termed the weapons short-range missiles, adding that it is unclear how many were fired....

Senate Panel Okays $60 Million For Missile Partnership Programs With Israel.
June 1, 2007... The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee produced a Pentagon defense authorization bill that provides $60 million increased funding to aid partnership programs with Israel. First, the panel added $25 million for co-production of the Arrow...

QinetiQ's Sales, Profits Up On Gains In U.S. Business.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... Britain's QinetiQ recently posted higher sales and earnings for its recent fiscal year, driven by acquisitions in its North American business unit as well as organic growth at that same unit. Overall sales grew 9 percent to $2.3 billion...

U.K. Taps Vehicles From General Dynamics, Artec, and Nexter For FRES Trials.(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected vehicles from General Dynamics [GD] United Kingdom's Piranha, the Boxer from Artec, a German-Dutch consortium including Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rhheinmetall Landsysteme, and the VBCI, from...

ATK Bests BAE For Precision Guidance Kit SDD Contract.
June 8, 2007... ATK [ATK] has bested BAE SYSTEMS for an initial 18-month, $18 million system design and development (SDD) contract from the Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) to develop the company's revolutionary precision...

Foster-Miller Receives Contract Increase For TALON Robots.
June 8, 2007... Foster-Miller, a unit of the U.K.'s QinetiQ, announced an approximately $86 million increase to its indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract from the Robotic Systems Joint Program Office, administered by the Naval Air Warfare...

U.K. Company Unveils New Protected Patrol Vehicle.
June 8, 2007... S. MacNeillie & Son, a U.K. armor and security vehicle bodybuilder, has rolled out its own design to meet current and future military Protected Patrol Vehicle requirements, such as that for the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD). The...

Plasan Sasa Receives Marine Corps Armor Contract From International.
June 8, 2007... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel's Plasan Sasa recently said it would supply to International Military and Government (IMG) advanced Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle protection for 1,200 Marine Corps armored...

RAFAEL Unveils New UAV Data Link.
June 8, 2007... Israel's RAFAEL Armament Development Authority recently disclosed an improved variant of its SkyLite B mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) featuring an extended range, longer endurance and an upgraded secure data link. "We are pleased to...

Lockheed Martin To Integrate Hellfire II On Eurocopter Tiger.
June 8, 2007... Lockheed Martin [LMT] recently announced it won a direct commercial sale contract from the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co.'s (EADS) Eurocopter to support integration of the Hellfire II precision-strike missile and all- digital M299...

Finland To Spend $56 Million On AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles.
June 8, 2007... Finland is seeking to buy up to 100 All-Up-Round AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles as well as associated equipment and services, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The total value, if all options are exercised, could be...

Philippines Eyeing Sale of Harris High Frequency/Very High Frequency Radios.
June 8, 2007... The Philippines is looking to spend upward of $96 million for Harris [HRS] High Frequency/Very High Frequency (VHF) radios, as well as associated equipment and services, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The...

Lockheed Martin's Savi Unit In RFID Cargo Pilot Between China, U.S. Ports.
June 8, 2007... Savi Networks, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin's [LMT] Savi Technology unit and Hutchison Port Holdings, and the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) plan to launch a pilot project based on radio frequency identification (RFID)...

U.S. Firms Vie For Lead Role On U.K. FRES Program.
June 8, 2007... By Ann Roosevelt Three major U.S. defense firms-- General Dynamics [GD], Boeing [BA] and Lockheed Martin [LMT]-- have announced plans to bid for the System of Systems Integrator (SOSI) role for the United Kingdom's planned Future Rapid...

QinetiQ Completes Purchase of Two Robotics Firms.
June 8, 2007... QinetiQ's North America division has completed the acquisition of Automatika and Applied Perception, two robotics companies that add new robotics platforms and autonomous navigation systems to QinetiQ. The two Pittsburgh-based companies...

Lockheed Martin Signs U.K. Contracts For GMLRS Upgrades.
June 8, 2007... Lockheed Martin [LMT] recently signed three contracts with the U.K. Ministry of Defense that are the first of an incremental program valued at approximately $498 million to provide Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, upgrade...

Australia's Defense Rapid Program Expands To Improve War Fighting Capability.(Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation program)(Brief article)
June 8, 2007... More companies and academic institutions have been chosen to join Australia's Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation (RPDE) program, according to a government official. Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson May 31...

MILEX 07 Crisis Management Exercise Kicks Off.
June 8, 2007... The European Union (EU) kicks off its second military exercise (MILEX 07) focused on key military aspects of crisis management, running from June 7-15. For the first time, the EU Operations Center in Brussels will be activated. The center...

Ministers Endorse NATO-Russia Council Interoperability Paper.
June 15, 2007... The NATO-Russia Council (NRC) met June 14 in Brussels at the level of defense ministers, to discuss military cooperation and defense issues among member states. In a statement, the NRC said it endorsed two papers, a report on progress...

Boeing Begins Flight Testing Project Wedgetail Mission System.
June 15, 2007... Boeing [BA] has intiated flight-testing the mission system aboard the first 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia's Project Wedgetail. During an initial four-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle on...

Tadiran Communications Subsidiary Receives $18.5 Million Army RPDA Contract.
June 15, 2007... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Talla-Tech, the Tallahassee, Fla.-based subsidiary of Israel's Tadiran Communications, recently said it has received U.S. Army purchase orders worth about $18.5 million for the latest generation Rugged...

Japan Looking to Spend $475 Million On Standard Missiles, Aegis Upgrades.
June 15, 2007... Japan is looking for a possible sale, worth upward of $475 million, for nine SM-3 Block IA Standard missiles with MK 21 Mod 2 canisters, ballistic missile defense (BMD) upgrades to one Aegis Weapon System, as well as associated equipment and...

MILEX 07 Crisis Management Exercise Kicks Off.(European Union conducts MILEX 07 military exercise )
June 15, 2007... The European Union (EU) began its second military exercise (MILEX 07) focused on key military aspects of crisis management, which runs June 7-15. For the first time, the EU Operations Center in Brussels will be activated. The center is...

Royal Air Force A330-200 Tanker Program Approved For Private Finance Initiative.
June 15, 2007... The U.K. government recently announced it has approved a private finance initiative (PFI) as the means to acquire and operate 14 new Airbus A330-200 aerial refueling aircraft that will replace the Royal Air Force's (RAF) aging fleet of VC10...

Elbit Set To Unveil 'Big Brother' of Hermes 450 UAV.
June 15, 2007... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The Hermes 900, referred to by one Elbit Systems [ESLT] executive as the "Big Brother" to the company's popular Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), will make its world debut at the Paris Air Show,...

Senate Defense Panel Backs International Nuclear Fuel Bank.
June 15, 2007... By George Lobsenz In another major vote of confidence in the high-profile nonproliferation project, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has voted to authorize $50 million to back the international nuclear fuel bank proposed by the...

China Shopping List For Cutting-Edge Weapons Grows Longer.
June 15, 2007... By Dave Ahearn China is amassing a formidable force replete with growing numbers of cutting-edge, advanced-technology weapons, but U.S. defense leaders are unsure just what military uses China may have in mind for that hardware because...

DNDO Port Initiative Looking To Prevent Transport of Maritime WMD.
June 22, 2007... By Geoff Fein The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has a number of initiatives underway looking at detecting and preventing the import of a radiological weapon through U.S. ports, including efforts to equip Coast Guard ships with...

F-35 Program May Get First International Orders In Third Production Lot In 2009.
June 22, 2007... By Michael Sirak LE BOURGET, France--The first international orders for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft may occur as part of the jet's third production tranche in several years, the head of the multinational acquisition...

NATO To Create New Agency For C-17 Strategic Transport Aircraft.
June 22, 2007... NATO allies June 20 agreed to create a new agency to acquire and manage C-17 strategic transport aircraft, built by Boeing [BA], on behalf of a group of 15 NATO nations and two Partnership for Peace countries. "The Strategic Airlift...

International Pair To Develop Laser-based DIRCM Anti-MANPAD Solution.
June 22, 2007... The El-Op electro-optics subsidiary of Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] and Italy's Elettronica said recently they would generate jointly a laser-based Direct Infra-Red Counter-Measures (DIRCM) system designed to protect helicopters and...

U.K. Launches Review of Arms Export Control Legislation.(Brief article)
June 22, 2007... The U.K. recently began a review of its three-year old arms export control legislation, considering a wide range of proposals, the Minister for Science and Innovation said. "This Review seeks to identify options for further change, many...

Transatlantic Teaming Yields Best Tanker Option For U.S. Air Force, Say Two CEOs.
June 22, 2007... By Michael Sirak LE BOURGET, France--The transatlantic coupling of global aerospace giants Northrop Grumman [NOC] and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) has yielded the most capable aerial refueling aircraft available...

TSA Preparing To Acquire Advanced X-Ray Machines For Aviation Checkpoints.(Transportation Security Administration)
June 22, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker Backing off from previous plans to use scaled down versions of Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) machines currently used to screen checked bags at the nation's airports and use the technology to screen passenger's...

Australia's Defense Rapid Program Expands To Improve War Fighting Capability.(Brief article)
June 22, 2007... More companies and academic institutions have been chosen to join Australia's Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation (RPDE) program, according to a government official. Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson May 31...

Regional Partnerships Need Dialogue, Information Sharing To Succeed, Commander Says.
June 22, 2007... By Geoff Fein NEWPORT, R.I.--Regional partners and regional navies provide capabilities and capacities that the U.S. Navy may not have, but those teaming efforts might not be taken advantage of without ongoing dialogues and sharing of...

McCaskill Visit To Iraq May Prompt Contracting Amendments.
June 22, 2007... By Jen DiMascio After a trip to Iraq to study the military's contracting efforts, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said she is likely to propose amendments to the Senate's version of the FY '08 Defense Authorization Bill to streamline...

EADS Unveils CBRNE Products For U.S. Homeland Security Market.
June 22, 2007... By Calvin Biesecker The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) recently unveiled three new products for detecting chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats that the company, and potential...

Australia Signs Contracts To Sustain Over-The Horizon Radar.(RLM Pty Ltd)(Brief article)
June 29, 2007... Australia's Ministry of Defence announced June 28 it has signed two sustainment contracts with a combined value of $332 million to maintain its unique Over-the-Horizon Radar capability for the next five years. The contract with RLM Pty...

Finland To Acquire Hawk Jets For Training.
June 29, 2007... Finland's Ministry of Defence announced this week it signed a letter of intent to buy 18 Hawk jets for training. The procurement includes spares, maintenance gear and other equipment. The jets are currently owned by the Swiss air force....

General Dynamics to Build Aegis Director Controller Systems For Spain, Australia.
June 29, 2007... General Dynamics [GD] Armament and Technical Products has received an $8 million modification to a previously awarded contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. to produce, assemble and test eight Aegis guided missile...

Senate Panel's Bill May Allow NATO Purchase of C-17s to Move Ahead.
June 29, 2007... By Jen DiMascio An armed services conference decision on the defense authorization bill is key to NATO's efforts to build a strategic airlift capacity, defense department officials said last week. On June 20, NATO allies agreed to...

QinetiQ To Acquire 3H Technology For U.S. Business.(Brief article)
June 29, 2007... QinetiQ North America (QNA) yesterday said it has agreed to acquire 3H Technology LLC, a small information technology (IT) services firm that will expand its business with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Terms of the deal,...

QinetiQ, NexxtDrive Sign MoU On Hybrid Drive Tech.
June 29, 2007... QinetiQ and NexxtDrive, two U.K.-based firms, yesterday announced the companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on hybrid drive technologies. Hybrid drive products and underlying technologies are important to...

Now Unveiled, ELTA's New Generation Radar Ready For Demonstrations.
June 29, 2007... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The government of Israel approved the disclosure of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) ELTA Systems' family of new generation persistent ground surveillance radars at the Paris Air Show last week, and now...

Boeing Receives US-India Business Council Global Vision Award.
June 29, 2007... Boeing [BA] announced June 27 the US-India Business Council (USIBC), the premier U.S.-India business advocacy organization, has presented the company with the USIBC Global Vision Award. The award recognizes Boeing's commitment to India,...