Defense Daily International articles from September 2005

Defense Daily International archives from September 2005

Singapore Selects Boeing's F-15T In Fighter Competition.
September 9, 2005... By Geoff Fein Singapore has selected Boeing [BA] to supply the country with up to 20 new fighter aircraft, the details of which are currently being worked out, according to the Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF). Boeing's F-15T,...

Army Chief Notes 'Problematic' Potential of Armed Contractors On The Battlefield.
September 9, 2005... By Nathan Hodge The Army's top general said the service has been able to lure highly trained special operations personnel away from lucrative work with private security firms, but suggested the sizeable presence of armed contractors on...

Australian SAS Hosts First Regional Counter Terrorism Expert Exchange.
September 9, 2005... The first Regional Counter Terrorism Expert Exchange was held in Australia last month, hosted by the Special Air Service, to promote cooperation and information sharing. Defence Minister Robert Hill said, "The exchange is an important...

U.S.-Canadian Group Makes 'Direct Contribution' To Maritime Domain Awareness.
September 9, 2005... By Nathan Hodge A U.S.-Canadian military coordination group has played an active role in the ongoing U.S. government effort to craft a national strategy for maritime security. In a recent briefing at the Canadian embassy in...

BAE SYSTEMS' Shipyard Investment To Improve Competitive Position.
September 9, 2005... Britain's BAE SYSTEMS' Naval Ships recently announced plans to invest more than $33 million over the next 18 months in its Glasgow shipyards to create and support jobs while making the yards more competitive, officials said. A government...

Global Weapons Sales Growth Fueled By Deals With China, Other Nations.
September 9, 2005... By George Cahlink Global weapon sales increased for the first time in four years in 2004, fueled primarily by billions of dollars being spent by developing nations such as China and India, according to a new analysis by the Congressional...

Northrop Grumman, EADS, Indra, Team To Pursue NATO TBMD Work.
September 9, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt Northrop Grumman [NOC], the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS), and Spain's Indra recently announced the formation of an international team to pursue a systems engineering and integration (SE&I) contract...

U.S. Satellite Industry Dominates Despite Overcapacity, Study Says.
September 9, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt The market for commercial communications satellites is expected to be worth $25.4 billion over the next 10 years, according to Forecast International's recently completed study. "Commercial Communications Satellites:...

QinetiQ Acquires Belgian Space Systems Integrator.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Britain's QinetiQ recently said it has acquired a 90 percent stake in Belgium's Verhaert Design and Development NV, creating what the companies say is a leading European mid-tier space company that can bridge the gap between the biggest...

Lockheed Martin, Thales Win U.K. FRES Work.
September 9, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt The U.K. units of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and France's Thales have won contracts from systems house Atkins for the Future Rapid Effect System Electronic Architecture (EA) Technology Demonstrator Program (TDP). ...

Boeing Announces 'Alliance Shield' Team To Compete For NATO TBMD Work.
September 9, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt Boeing [BA] has formed an international team called "Alliance Shield" to compete on a future NATO Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) contract. The team consists of the U.K.'s BAE...

IAI Elta Backlog Reaches $2.4 Billion.
September 9, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) recently said its Elta Systems subsidiary reached a record backlog $2.4 billion while the company posted yearly first half financial results that showed increased sales...

Aerospace Foreign Trade Surplus Growing.
September 9, 2005... The U.S. foreign trade surplus in the aerospace industry continues to be strong and is on a pace to exceed last year's surplus, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) said recently. Through the first half of 2005 the surplus stands at...

Raytheon, MBDA To Be Invited To Bid On Estonian Air Defense System.
September 9, 2005... The government of Estonia recently decided to begin an air defense system procurement and invite Raytheon [RTN] and European missile consortium MBDA to bid on the project. The goal is to provide Estonia with modern and flexible air...

Australia Wants Contractor Help To Plan Logistics For Military Operations.
September 9, 2005... Australia's Ministry of Defense has issued an Invitation to Register for a commercial logistics-planning partner to improve reaction time and efficiency. The contractor would provide commercial expertise and advice on capabilities for a...

Northrop Grumman Teams With EADS On Air Force Tanker Program.
September 9, 2005... By Calvin Biesecker As expected Northrop Grumman [NOC] and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) this week announced that they have teamed to compete for the Air Force's next-generation aircraft tanker program, setting up...

Global Defense Cooperation More Vital Than Ever, Krieg Says.(United States. Department of Defense)(Ken Krieg)
September 9, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt More and better defense cooperation is required to meet the number one challenge: providing forces the capability they need in this era of transformation and globalization, the Defense Department's top acquisition...

EADS C2R Systems Complete First Sea Acceptance For Finnish Navy.
September 9, 2005... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS)'s command, control and reconnaissance systems successfully completed an operational demonstration aboard the first of four Squadron 2000 fast patrol boats for the Finnish navy in August,...

Turkey To Spend $175 Million On Munitions And Components For Its F-16s.(major defense equipment)
September 16, 2005... Turkey is looking to spend upward of $175 million on munitions and aircraft components for its F-16 fighter aircraft, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The DSCA has notified Congress that Turkey is looking to...

EADS To Supply Advanced Radio Control Station For Tunisia Security Forces.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) has concluded a $2.4 million contract to build a control station in Tunisia for the security forces, the company said. The initial phase covers the delivery of a complete @CORE control...

EADS C2R Systems Complete First Sea Acceptance For Finnish Navy.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS)'s command, control and reconnaissance systems successfully completed an operational demonstration aboard the first of four Squadron 2000 fast patrol boats for the Finnish navy in August,...

Tactical Air Services Buys RNZAF Skyhawk and Aermacchi Fleets.(New Zealand Air Force)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Tactical Air Services, Inc., a private U.S. company, has spent about $110 million to buy the New Zealand Air Force fleets of Skyhawk fighters and Aermacchi jet trainer aircraft. New Zealand Defence Minister Mark Burton said, "the money...

NATO PRTs Reach Full Operational Capability In Western Afghanistan.(North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Provincial Reconstruction Teams )
September 16, 2005... All four NATO-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) this month reached full operational capability in western Afghanistan, completing the expansion of the alliance's presence. PRTs are small groups of civil-military personnel working...

Navy High Speed Vessel Makes Second Disaster Relief Effort.(Swift)
September 16, 2005... By Ann Roosevelt The Navy's High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift is working on its second disaster relief mission this year off the hurricane-ravaged Gulf coast. The Incat Australia-built 98-meter wave-piercing catamaran HSV 2 Swift is...

Lawmakers Criticize Northrop Grumman-EADS Alliance for Tanker Competition.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.)
September 16, 2005... By George Cahlink House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) sharply criticized Northrop Grumman's [NOC] plans to team with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) to compete against Boeing [BA] for a...

Airbus, Electronics, Military Programs Drive BAE's First Half Sales, Earnings.
September 16, 2005... BAE SYSTEMS reported strong first half-year financial results driven mainly by growth in sales and profits at its commercial aerospace, electronics and military programs businesses. The British-based company, which bills itself as the...

IAI To Supply First Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAS To IAF.(Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., Israel Air Force )
September 16, 2005... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) said it was recently awarded a contract worth more than $50 million to supply the Heron medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to the Israel...

International UAS Organization Protests To NASA Over Potential Cut.(unmanned aircraft systems)(Unmanned Vehicle Systems International)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
September 16, 2005... By B.C. Kessner The president of UVS International, the world's largest association representing the global unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) community, yesterday delivered a sharp letter of protest to NASA Administrator Michael Griffin...

ATK, Nitrochemie, Form Strategic Alliance To Produce Advanced Propellants.
September 16, 2005... Alliant Techsystems [ATK] and Rheinmetall Group's subsidiary, Nitrochemie, have formed a strategic alliance to market Nitrochemie's advanced gun propellants in North America. Together, the companies will pursue opportunities in tactical and...

Air Force Planning To Send Global Hawks To The Pacific.
September 23, 2005... By Nathan Hodge The Air Force has plans to send Northrop Grumman [NOC] RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles to the Pacific, and is inviting countries in the region to consider basing the high-flying surveillance planes on their...

ATK Bushmaster Selected For U.K. Navy Frigates.
September 23, 2005... Alliant Techsystems [ATK] will provide 26 30/40MM Bushmaster cannons to the U.K. Royal Navy for its Type 23 Frigate. This is the first time ATK will provide the Bushmaster for use on a Royal Navy vessel, and extends the cannon's use...

Earnings Flat, Sales Rise In Thales' First Half.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... France's Thales last week reported relatively flat earnings due to higher taxes and a modest sales gain in the first half of 2005. Net income declined less than 1 percent to $207.7 million although operating income was up nearly 2 percent...

European Firms Team To Bid For Atlas Elektronik.
September 23, 2005... Germany's ThyssenKrupp Technologies and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) have teamed to bid on Atlas Electronik, a subsidiary of Britain's BAE Systems that develops and builds integrated sonar systems for submarines. ...

Rheinmetall To Supply Special Armored Vehicles For German Troops.
September 23, 2005... Germany's Rheinmetall AG subsidiary, Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, announced recently it will supply the Bundeswehr with 181 new armored vehicles under a just signed $185.8 million contract. "This contract underscores Rheinmetall's role...

EADS C2R Systems Complete First Sea Acceptance For Finnish Navy.
September 23, 2005... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS)'s command, control and reconnaissance systems successfully completed an operational demonstration aboard the first of four Squadron 2000 fast patrol boats for the Finnish navy in August,...

Army Debuting Long-Range Precision Rocket In Iraq.
September 23, 2005... By Nathan Hodge The Army is debuting a new long-range precision weapon in Iraq, the Lockheed Martin [LMT] Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rocket. An Army source told sister publication Defense Daily the GMLRS Unitary...

IAI Signs AMOS 3 Satellite Deal For Launch In 2007.
September 23, 2005... Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) recently said it has signed a contract worth $170 million for the sale to Spacecom Satellite Communications of the AMOS 3 communications satellite that will be manufactured at IAI's Systems Missiles and Space...

Few Threats In Latin America, But China's Influence Growing, Experts Say.
September 23, 2005... By George Cahlink The United States does not face any significant military threats from Latin American nations, but China is strengthening ties to the region, defense experts told House lawmakers yesterday. "Except when Fidel Castro...

Israel Awards Tadiran Communications Network-based Systems Contract.(Israel Defense Forces)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Israel's Tadiran Communications recently said that it had won a Ministry of Defense tender to supply advanced network-based communications systems for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). "This project's scope is significant, and will serve...

CEA Technologies To Deliver Australian Anti-Ship Missile Capability.(Anti- Ship Missile Defence System)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Australia's CEA Technologies has been selected to deliver a cutting-edge high technology solution to protect the navy's ANZAC-class frigates from the increasing threat of anti-ship cruise missiles. The government approved the second...

Canada Plans New Multi-Mission Vehicle.(Oerlikon Contraves Canada)
September 30, 2005... Canada is negotiating with Oerlikon Contraves Canada on a new Multi- Mission Effects Vehicle (MMEV) project potentially valued at up to $639.3 million, the Minister of National Defence said last week. The prime contract would be for the...

MBDA Leads Consortium To Research Networked Future Strike Weapons.
September 30, 2005... An MBDA-led consortium has received an approximately $7 million contract from the U.K. Ministry of Defence Research Acquisition Organization to develop new integrated technology concepts for future strike weapons operating in a networked...

EU To Push Defense Competition Through Code of Conduct.(defence equipment market)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... European Union governments agreed the fastest way to make progress toward more competition in the European defence equipment market is a voluntary non- binding code of conduct. The steering board of the European Defence Agency (EDA),...

Irish Air Corps Takes Delivery of First EC-135.(Eurocopter's EC-135 P2 helicopters)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) subsidiary Eurocopter announced the Irish AirCorps has taken delivery of the first of two light utility EC-135 P2 helicopters. The second aircraft is due in October. As part of the Air...

Carlyle Group To Acquire U.K. Composites Firm.
September 30, 2005... The private equity firm The Carlyle Group this week said it has agreed to acquire Britain's NP Aerospace, a manufacturer of molded composites for the aerospace, defense, medical imaging and automotive industries. Carlyle will acquire NP...

Saudi Arabia To Spend $800 Million On C-130 Upgrades.(54 C-130E/H aircrafts)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Saudi Arabia is planning to spend upwards of $800 million for upgrade kits and services for 54 C-130E/H aircraft, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The Avionics Modernization Program upgrade includes such things...

DoD Official Urges Broader Investment In Taiwan Defense.(United States. Department of Defense's Edward Ross)
September 30, 2005... By Nathan Hodge The Defense Department is leaning on Taiwan to upgrade its air and missile defenses, as well as remedy "imbalances" in its defense posture. Edward Ross, a top official with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency,...

Chile To Buy Block II HARPOON Missiles.(Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 20 RGM-84L HARPOON Block II missiles)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress yesterday of a possible foreign military sale to Chile of 20 RGM-84L HARPOON Block II missiles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options...

Brazil To Spend $60 Million On Advanced Technology Torpedoes.(United States. Defense Security Assistance Agency, Raytheon Aircraft Co. and MK 48 Mod 6 advanced technology torpedoes)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Brazil intends to buy 30 MK 48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology Torpedoes 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 as high...