Defense Daily International articles from March 2005

Defense Daily International archives from March 2005

Contractors Invited To Bid U.K. FRES Integrated Survivability Tech Demo.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... The U.K. Future Rapid Effect System program invited six contractors--BAE SYSTEMS FRES TEAM, INSYS, Qinetiq, Boeing [BA], MBDA and Thales--to present bids on the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) Integrated Survivability Technology Demonstrator...

Lockheed Martin Closes Buy of STASYS.(STASYS Ltd)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Lockheed Martin [LMT] said it completed its purchase of the British-based technology and consulting firm STASYS Ltd., a $40 million firm specializing in network communications and defense interoperability. Terms of the deal were not...

Brits Sign Off On Tanker Deal.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... The British government yesterday tapped a consortium led by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) to provide aerial refueling tankers to the Royal Air Force. The long expected decision allows the British ministry of defense...

New Interoperability Team At Eglin To Study Joint Fires.
March 4, 2005... By Geoff Fein A new interoperability unit at Eglin, AFB, Fla., is bringing together experts from across the services to investigate, assess and improves operational effectiveness of joint fires. "We have experts that have worked huge...

Elbit Shareholders Approve Tadiran Purchase.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] shareholders this week approved the agreements related to the purchase of Tadiran Communications shares from Koor Industries in its extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in Haifa, Israel. All of the...

IDF Alpinists Showcase Unique Capabilities.
March 4, 2005... By B.C. Kessner MT. HERMON, Israel--A relatively obscure elite Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alpine unit offered a rare glimpse of its personnel, equipment and techniques to the media during a recent snow-covered mountaintop exercise here...

Curtiss-Wright Acquires Indal Technologies.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Curtiss-Wright Corp. [CW] last week said it has acquired the Indal Technologies subsidiary of Britain's Novar for $63 million in cash, giving it a new business area on Navy ships and an entree into the foreign naval market. Indal, based in...

F-15K Completes First Flight.
March 11, 2005... The F-15K Strike Eagle, Boeing's [BA] newest fighter aircraft that has been selected for a $3.6 billion Republic of Korea air force (ROKAF) program, made its first flight in St. Louis, the company said last week. "The F-15K flew...

BAE SYSTEMS In $4.2 Billion Deal To Acquire United Defense Industries.
March 11, 2005... By Calvin Biesecker Britain's BAE SYSTEMS last week said that its U.S. division has agreed to acquire United Defense Industries [UDI] for nearly $4 billion in cash in a deal that would give it a major presence in the land systems business...

U.S. Has Similar Lessons, Challenges Fighting Terror: IDF Officer.
March 11, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--While the United States is making positive strides against terror, it still needs to achieve several things that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have learned recently during the country's prolonged...

IDF Unveils SPIDER Perimeter Security System.(Israel Defense Forces)(Stabilized Panoramic Intruder Detection and Recognition)
March 11, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently declassified a next-generation perimeter security system called SPIDER that was fielded to stop terrorist infiltrations and is now being purchased by the U.S....

Rockwell Collins To Acquire German Unit From Northrop Grumman.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Rockwell Collins [COL] on Monday said it has agreed to acquire Teldix, a German-based business unit of Northrop Grumman [NOC] that specializes in designing and producing military aviation electronics products and services. The deal is for...

AIA Revises U.S. Aerospace Foreign Trade Surplus Last Year.(Aerospace Industries Association)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... The U.S. aerospace industry expanded its foreign trade surplus last year by $4 billion, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) said this week, although the number is $600 million lower than the lobbying group estimated in December. The...

New Pacific Commander Sees 'Disconcerting' China Buildup.
March 11, 2005... By Nathan Hodge The new head of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said eaerlier this week he sees China embarking on an "unprecedented" buildup of its military capabilities. PACOM Commander Adm. William Fallon told the Senate Armed Services...

New Department Transforming IAF For LIC Success.(Israel Air Force)(low-intensity conflict)
March 11, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--A new air campaign planning department is overseeing the transformation of the Israel Air Force (IAF) to deliver new forms of airpower more relevant to low-intensity conflict (LIC) and effects-based...

ITL Optronics Subsidiary Teams With Hamilton Sundstrand.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Israel's ITL Optronics last week said that its newly formed subsidiary, Laser Detect Systems (LDS), recently signed a teaming agreement with the Hamilton Sundstrand subsidiary of United Technologies [UTX] to develop explosive detection systems,...

RAFAEL, ELTA Unveil TROPHY Armored Vehicle Protection System.
March 11, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel's RAFAEL, Israel Aircraft Industries ELTA Systems and the country's defense ministry Tuesday introduced the TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) for Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV). "The...

EADS Posts Higher Sales, Earnings In 2004.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Led by a strong performance at its passenger aircraft division coupled with strength in defense and a turnaround in the space sector, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. this week reported higher sales and earnings last year. Sales...

IAI's Modular IMINT System Spans Host of National Needs.(Israel Aircraft Industries)(Image Intelligence)
March 18, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--RICent, the Real Time Image Intelligence (IMINT) Center built Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) ELTA Systems, was on display here for participants and potential customers at the Israel Defense Forces...

EU Delegation To Washington Will Discuss China Arms Embargo.
March 18, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger A European Union delegation is in Washington this week to discuss the thorny issue of lifting a long-standing arms embargo against China, according to France's minister of defense. Michele Allot-Marie told...

Rheinmetall Receives U.K. Ammunition Work Under Partnership Contract.
March 18, 2005... Germany's Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (RWM) said March 10 it was awarded an ammunition contract by the U.K.'s Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) worth at least $42.7 million. The order is part of a partnership contract recently...

In Shift, Humanitarian Aid Workers Consider High-End Security.
March 18, 2005... By Nathan Hodge Humanitarian aid groups often work in some of the world's most dangerous places, and have long relied on their neutrality to protect them. But the extreme dangers faced by aid workers in places like Iraq are prompting...

Australian Project Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft Visits Air Show.(airborne early warning and control)
March 18, 2005... The first Boeing [BA] airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft under Australia's $1 billion Project Wedgetail has arrived to tour the country and debut at the Australian International Air Show recently, officials said. This is...

WMD Threat Outpacing Response, Nunn Says.(weapons of mass destruction)
March 18, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt The United States and Russia must do more to counter nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, a former Senator said. "We are not moving fast enough, we are not moving with a sense of urgency, and we are not keeping...

Australian Air Force Picks Northrop Grumman's Nemesis For Tanker.(Brief Article)
March 18, 2005... The Royal Australian Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman's [NOC] directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system for its next generation fleet of A330 Multi Role Tanker Transports, according to a company statement. Northrop...

General Dynamics Receives $11 Million Contract Mod For Canadian LAV III.(Brief Article)
March 18, 2005... The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a $10.9 million CAD modification to a previously awarded LAV III vehicle contract to General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems-Canada, the company recently announced. Under the contract...

Officials Question Prospects of Expanded NORAD.(North American Aerospace and Defense Command)
March 18, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger While downplaying potential rifts in the Canadian-U.S. defense relationship, officials say they are unsure if plans to expand military cooperation between the two countries will take the form of a new binational...

R&D, Backlog Fuel Elbit's Record Sales.(Elbit Systems Ltd)
March 18, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The emerging realization of Elbit Systems' [ESLT] strategic plan and focused, hefty research and development (R&D) investments have helped create a backlog in excess of $2 billion and led to the ninth...

NATO MCM Ships Make Red Sea Swing.(mine counter-measures)(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
March 25, 2005... By B.C. Kessner EILAT, Israel--A small flotilla of NATO mine counter-measures (MCM) vessels led by Italian frigate ITS Bersagliere took time during a port call here to explain the group's mission and show reporters some of its ships and...

U.S., U.K. To Collaborate On Unmanned Combat Aircraft.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger The United Kingdom has joined in the Pentagon's effort to develop an armed combat drone, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced last week. "The U.S. Joint Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS)...

U.S. Companies Short-Listed To Provide Australian Military Vehicles.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2005... General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems-Australia and Stewart & Stevenson [SVC] are among the nine companies short-listed to supply medium and heavy military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force, the defence minister said yesterday. ...

New RAFAEL System Puts Enemy Shooters In Spotlite.
March 25, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel's RAFAEL recently unveiled a new electro-optic (EO) small arms fire detection system, called Spotlite, that it said locates and discriminates targets faster than acoustic systems and is better...

South Korea To Resume $1.9 Billion EW Aircraft Procurement.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2005... South Korea said it planned to resume the stalled $1.9 billion early warning aircraft procurement. In an open competition, the ministry said it would receive bids for the project in late March and select the winner in December. The...

BAE SYSTEMS Head Promises Caution On China Sales.
March 25, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger The chief executive of BAE SYSTEMS says that even if the European Union proceeds with plans to lift its long-standing embargo on weapons sales to China, the British aerospace and defense firm would not sell it...

MMA Program Expects To Sign On International Partners.(Multimission Maritime Aircraft)
March 25, 2005... By Nathan Hodge At least three countries are interested in joining with the United States on the Navy's Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program, and partnership agreements could be concluded by as early as late summer, according to...

Oto Melara Prepares For First U.S. Production Work.
March 25, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt Gun System production is slated to start this summer at the new Oto Melara, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica Group Company, Philadelphia plant as the company moves into the U.S. defense market, a top company official said....