Defense Daily International articles from May 2005

Defense Daily International archives from May 2005

G150 Completes Maiden Flight.
May 6, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) newest business-jet aircraft, the wide-cabin, high-speed General Dynamics [GD] Gulfstream G150, has completed its first flight here. IAI designed and built the wide...

Desert Falcon Lands In UAE.(United Arab Emirates)
May 6, 2005... The United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated arrival of its first 10 Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-16E/F aircraft this week, when they were received by the Crown Prince, His Highness Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy supreme commander...

Elisra Group Providing SAR Systems To Brazil.(Airborne Search and Rescue System)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2005... Israel's Elisra Group recently at the LAAD 2005 Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro said that Tadiran Spectralink has concluded a contract to supply its state-of-the-art combat ASARS-G Airborne Search and Rescue System to the Brazilian air force....

Arotech Continuing Development of Zinc Air Cells For Israeli Micro UAVs.(unmanned aerial vehicles)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2005... Arotech [ARTX] recently said that its Electric Fuel subsidiary has received a follow-on contract from an Israeli security agency for its new generation zinc-air batteries and will continue to develop prototype cells to achieve extended flight...

Raytheon Australia Joins Lockheed Martin On RAN's Air Warfare Destroyer.(Royal Australian Navy)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2005... Raytheon [RTN] Australia will join Lockheed Martin [LMT] on the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program as the in-country Combat System-System Engineer (CSSE), Australia's Defence Minister Robert Hill said recently....

Air Force Plans To Station Global Hawk Squadron On Guam.
May 6, 2005... By Nathan Hodge By decade's end, the Air Force plans to station Northrop Grumman [NOC] RQ-4A Global Hawk surveillance drones on Guam, according to the commander of Pacific Air Forces. Gen. Paul Hester, the air component commander for...

Pentagon Notifies Congress of Potential 'Bunker Buster' Sale To Israel.
May 6, 2005... The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of 100 GBU-28s, as well as associated equipment and services that could bring the total up to $30 million. The...

TIPS Tapped By NATO With $30 Million To Proceed With AGS.(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)(Alliance Ground Surveillance)(Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution)
May 6, 2005... The Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution (TIPS) team yesterday said that during the Conference of National Armament Directors meeting it received a NATO contract worth almost $30 million to move forward with the Alliance Ground...

Spanish Defense Minister: 'No Offensive Weapons' In Venezuela Sale.
May 6, 2005... By Nathan Hodge On the eve of a visit with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Spain's defense minister said "no offensive weapons" would be included in his country's proposed sale of patrol boats and military transport aircraft to...

Foreign Participation Helps Drive Down Cost For Lockheed Martin's LCS.(Littoral Combat Ship)
May 6, 2005... By Geoff Fein Lockheed Martin [LMT] has reached out to international companies for off- the-shelf systems that lowered the cost and risk and improved capability for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a company official said. The Navy...

Lockheed Martin Gets $1.1 Billion Turkish F-16 Upgrade Contract.(Turkish Air Force)
May 6, 2005... The United States and Turkey agreed this week to an upgrade program for Turkey's fleet of F-16 Block 40 and Block 60 aircraft at an estimated value of $1.1 billion. Lockheed Martin [LMT] will be the prime contractor for the upgrade...

EADS Accelerates Process For Choosing U.S. Site.(EADS North America Inc. selects finalists for aerial refueling tankers contracts)
May 13, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger EADS North America said last week it has selected four finalists for the company's U.S.-based site for future work on aerial refueling tankers, and at the same time, is accelerating the schedule for picking the...

Indian Fighter RFP Expected Soon, Industry Official Says.(Request for Proposals)(F/A-18E/F Super Hornet)
May 13, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger India is expected over the next few months to issue its formal request for proposals to modernize its fighter fleet, according to a U.S. industry official. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency "has...

Pentagon Notifies Congress of Two Missile Sales To Pakistan.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2005... The Pentagon recently notified Congress of two potential missile sales to Pakistan, deals that could be worth almost $230 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which manages the Pentagon's foreign military sales...

Alion Acquires Stake In U.K. Emergency Services Firm.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2005... Alion Science and Technology last week said it has purchased a 12 percent stake in Britain's VectorCommand Ltd., a developer of stimulation and training systems and software for command operations for emergency service providers, giving it...

Raytheon Awarded $162 Million For ESSM Production.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2005... The Navy and five allied nations have awarded Raytheon [RTN] a $162.7 million contract for production of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM), according to a company statement. The contract calls for production of 251 missiles, 38...

Brazil Awards Lockheed Martin A-4 Aircraft Maintenance Contract.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2005... Lockheed Martin [LMT] won a $6.5 million contract from the Brazilian government to provide comprehensive logistics support services for six navy A-4 aircraft and 10 J52-P408 engines, the company said. It will provide maintenance services...

Despite New Rules, Military Contractors Overseas Still In 'Gray Area'.
May 13, 2005... By Nathan Hodge Recent revisions to Defense Department regulations covering private contractors who support the U.S. military overseas have raised fresh questions over the legal status of contractor personnel. Among other things,...

Raytheon, EADS Form Strategic Partnership For Army Future Cargo Aircraft.
May 13, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt ORLANDO, Fla.-- Raytheon [RTN] and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) CASA North America announced a strategic partnership this week to pursue the Army's potential $1 billion Future Cargo Aircraft...

Israeli Aerospace Firms Growing In Sales, Reach.
May 13, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--The core companies of the new Aeronautics and Space Industries Israel (ASII) are expected to grow 10 percent this year while ASII expands to accept a second tier of national participants and begins...

UDI's Shareholders Approve Merger With BAE Systems.(United Defense Industries)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2005... United Defense Industries [UDI] said recently its stockholders approved BAE SYSTEMS North America's pending $4 billion purchase of the company, clearing one more step toward completing the acquisition. Shareholders of Britain's BAE...

Deal With BAE Creates New $3.8 Billion Sector For Finmeccanica.
May 20, 2005... By B.C. Kessner Italy's Finmeccanica Wednesday said it had signed an agreement with Britain's BAE SYSTEMS involving the acquisition and merger of assets, the creation of a new company and the formation of a new Finmeccanica defense...

Nordic Defense Minister Agree On Battlegroup For European Union.(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... Norway, Sweden and Finland have agreed to collaborate in setting up a battlegroup to be put at the disposal of the European Union, defense ministers said. Estonia is also included in the agreement by the three countries at a meeting of...

Australian Army Tiger Helicopters Carry Hellfire II Missiles.(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... Lockheed Martin [LMT]'s Hellfire II missiles and M299 smart launchers are equipping Australia's new Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters built by the Eurocopter Group of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS). Lockheed Martin...

Canada Committed To Keeping NORAD Vital, Says Canadian Official.(North American Aerospace Defense Command)
May 20, 2005... By Geoff Fein Canada intends to remain part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and will foster a closer relationship with Northern Command (NORTHCOM) that could include cross-border exercises, according to a...

Weldon Decries Lack of Cooperation With Russia On Missile Defense.
May 20, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger A longtime congressional advocate for improving U.S.-Russia relations blasted the administration for not pursuing greater bilateral cooperation with the former superpower, particularly in the area of missile defense....

Smiths Detection Acquiring Bio-Technology Firm.(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... Britain's Smiths Group said it's acquiring a small firm that has developed optical sensors used in detecting harmful biological agents, in a deal that would add new technology to Smiths Detection, the security division of British company....

Atkins Setting Up FRES Rainbow Teams.(Future Rapid Effect System)
May 20, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt By May 23, Atkins, the systems house orchestrating the initial assessment phase of the U.K.'s Future Rapid Effect System (FRES), wants suppliers' nominees for specific Rainbow Teams. Atkins is now setting up Rainbow...

Revenues Up, Record Backlog For Elbit Systems.
May 20, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] said this week its first quarter revenues grew eight percent and that its order backlog reached a record $2.37 billion during a quarter that saw major acquisition activity...

BAE Gets $10 Million Contract Upgrade For Navy Low Band Transmitter.(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... The Navy has awarded BAE SYSTEMS a $10 million follow-on contract modification for eight additional Low Band Transmitters (LBT) for the EA-6B Prowler aircraft. The modification brings the total value of the contract to $31 million, according...

Raytheon Awarded $45 Million Contract For RAM Production.(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... The Navy has awarded Raytheon [RTN] a $45.2 million contract for FY '05 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) production for delivery beginning September 2007 and ending in February 2008, according to the company. Raytheon will deliver 70...

BAE SYSTEMS Delivers First F-35 Aft Fuselage To Lockheed Martin.(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... BAE SYSTEMS delivered the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aft fuselage yesterday, representing a major milestone in the program, and progressing manufacturing and assembly of the first F-35 toward first flight in 2006, according to the...

DHS Begins US-VISIT Exit Pilot At Washington Airport.(Department of Homeland Security)(Brief Article)
May 20, 2005... Moving further ahead with efforts to track the departure of foreign nationals from the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) yesterday began a pilot program at Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport in Washington that uses...

Australia Special Forces To Benefit From Multi-Million Investment.
May 20, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt Under Project Redfin, Australia's Special Forces will reap the benefit of between $265.9 million to $341.8 million planned for investment in cutting edge capability and technology, the defense minister said this week....

Hawker de Havilland Signs $53 Million JSF Contract With Northrop Grumman.(Joint Strike Fighter)(Brief Article)
May 27, 2005... Australia's Hawker de Havilland (HdH) has signed a $53.2 million long- term agreement with Northrop Grumman [NOC] for future work on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the defence and industry ministers said. Defence Minister Robert Hill...

Rheinmetall Acquisitions Aim At Global Markets.(Brief Article)
May 27, 2005... German defense contractor Rheinmetall Group said this week it continues to pursue a growth strategy, round out its portfolio and grow internationally by acquiring a share of AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH, an infrared sensor manufacturer, and...

Tadiran Communications Maintains Profits and Sales, Acquires Encryption Firm.(Snapshield, Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd.)
May 27, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel's Tadiran Communications published quarterly results indicating steady growth and simultaneously said it had successfully acquired a local telecom encryption development firm, Snapshield. ...

Pentagon Report Says Billions Needed To Replenish Stocks.
May 27, 2005... By Sharon Weinberger A report by the Pentagon's Program Analysis and Evaluation Office says that the Army will need another $4 billion in funds to replenish its stocks of equipment stationed in the Middle East, money that is not include...

Boeing Using Mobile Simulator To Market Super Hornet.
May 27, 2005... By Nathan Hodge In an effort to market its advanced multirole fighter, Boeing [BA] is taking a mobile version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet simulator on the road. The two-seat simulator is packed inside an 18-wheeler, which Boeing...

Thales U.K. To Conduct Assessment Phase of ARRC C2IS.(Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Command and Control Information System project)(Brief Article)
May 27, 2005... Thales U.K. said recently it was selected by the Ministry of Defence to conduct the assessment phase of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Command and Control Information System project (ARRC C2IS), the company said last week. The ARRC C2IS...

Defense Briefs.(aircraft purchasing)
May 27, 2005... Buy A Little Bit of America. It wasn't quite the sweeping Buy America restrictions once championed by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), the head of HASC, but it has the same reasoning behind it. As part of its recent deliberations on the...

Deal With BAE Creates New $3.8 Billion Sector For Finmeccanica.(BAE Systems)
May 27, 2005... By B.C. Kessner Italy's Finmeccanica last week said it had signed an agreement with Britain's BAE SYSTEMS involving the acquisition and merger of assets, the creation of a new company and the formation of a new Finmeccanica defense...