Friday, May 29, 2009

DTN News: Raytheon Team To Demonstrate Ground Soldier Ensemble Tactical Awareness

DTN News: Raytheon Team To Demonstrate Ground Soldier Ensemble Tactical Awareness
*Source: Raytheon Company
(NSI News Source Info) MCKINNEY, Texas - May 29, 2009: The U.S. Army recently selected Raytheon Company's Ground Soldier Ensemble (GSE) team solution to demonstrate networked tactical situational awareness and communications capabilities for the dismounted warfighter. The U.S. Army's TACOM Contracting Center awarded Raytheon $11.8 million to provide a GSE technology demonstration. The contract calls for early prototype testing in 2009 and refined systems delivery and testing in 2010. "Raytheon's GSE will provide decisive tactical awareness to the infantry brigade combat team soldier through real-time display of networked battlefield information. In essence, GSE can make a fully networked theater of operations possible by finally linking the most important element, the dismounted soldier," said Glynn Raymer, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems Combat Systems. "Raytheon brings forward to GSE a stalwart reputation for reliable systems performance in the heat of combat. We are incorporating low-risk, mature technologies to rapidly demonstrate an affordable solution that benefits the warfighter with greatly improved tactical situational awareness." Raytheon GSE industry team members are Black Diamond Advanced Technology, providing hardened, wearable computing hardware, and CHI Systems, Inc., responsible for precise, GPS-denied navigation and other software components. "There is no environment more challenging than a combat situation, and our troops simply must have equipment that works," said Justin Dyster, vice president, Engineering, Black Diamond Advanced Technology. "Raytheon leveraged our combat-proven, ultra-rugged SwitchBack computer in a comprehensive solution that will meet the ambitious project schedule set by the Army and ultimately deliver our warfighters a reliable tool." "We are proud that the capabilities delivered by our Dismounted Close Combat, Command and Control System will contribute to giving our warfighters a battle-winning edge," said Wayne Zachary, president and CEO, CHI Systems Inc. "Our system offers unparalleled situational awareness and close combat capabilities to unit commanders, team leaders and individual warfighters." Raymer noted, "Our GSE team solution reflects Raytheon's commitment to Army force modernization by 'digitizing' the dismounted soldier for today's networked battlefield." Black Diamond Advanced Technology designs, engineers and manufactures fully rugged computers and accessories, including the SwitchBack™ ultra-rugged mobile PC. Engineered to withstand the harshest elements and environments, the SwitchBack features a modular, reconfigurable architecture that can be field-modified to meet the precise objectives of each mission. Black Diamond Advanced Technology is a product line of RMT Inc. and is based in Tempe, Ariz. For more information, visit http://www.bdatech.com/. Headquartered in Fort Washington, Pa., CHI Systems Inc. is a U.S. small business with more than two decades of innovation in technology and solutions for government clients, principally the Department of Defense. CHI Systems is the supplier of DC4S, a range of dismounted close combat systems that gives commanders and warfighters one of the most advanced, wearable situational awareness capabilities available today. Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

DTN News: Russian Govt. Approves Kyrgyz Airbase Lease Extension To 49 Years

DTN News: Russian Govt. Approves Kyrgyz Airbase Lease Extension To 49 Years
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - May 29, 2009: The Russian government has approved the 49-year term of its lease of an airbase in Kyrgyzstan, with an automatic prolongation every 25 years. The modified agreement, which was agreed on between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Kyrgyz authorities, will replace the existing deal, which specifies a 15-year lease with an automatic extension every 5 years. The document will soon be forwarded to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for signing. Russia established in October 2003 its airbase in Kant, about 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital. The Russian base currently deploys about 400 troops, as well as 20 combat and transport planes, helicopters, and L-39 trainers. Russian troops are stationed at Kant under an agreement in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - a regional security bloc in Central Asia, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The Kant base is intended to provide air cover for possible operations by CSTO joint forces in Central Asia. Russia annually pays some $4.5 million to Kyrgyzstan for the lease of military facilities and also provides Bishkek with military and technical equipment as part of the lease agreements. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a decree in February to close down the U.S. Ganci airbase at Manas airport located 30 kilometers (17 miles) east of the capital, Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan officially notified Washington of the termination of the agreement on a U.S. military presence at the base, and gave it 180 days to withdraw some 1,200 personnel, aircraft and other equipment. In April, Bakiyev signed a law ending the deployment of foreign military contingents from Australia, Denmark, Italy, Spain, South Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Turkey and France, at Manas.

DTN News: Presidents Barack Obama And Mahmoud Abbas To White House Summit Are Mixed Israeli-Palestinian Reaction

DTN News: Presidents Barack Obama And Mahmoud Abbas To White House Summit Are Mixed Israeli-Palestinian Reaction
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINTON/JERUSALEM - May 29, 2009: Palestinians are reacting positively to their leader's summit meeting with the president of the United States in Washington. But Israelis are skeptical. US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, May 28, 2009. Obama on Thursday said he was "confident" of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, after his first talks with Abbas at the White House. Abbas said the need for progress in the stalled process was urgent. "Time is of the essence," he said in a joint appearance with Obama in the Oval Office following talks.
Palestinian officials say they are encouraged by President Barack Obama's meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas Thursday at the White House. Mr. Obama called for the creation of a Palestinian state and condemned Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says the new U.S. administration is taking the right steps to advance the peace process. "We want any Israeli government to accept the two-state solution, agreements signed, and stop settlement activities," he said.
The settlement issue is raising tension between Israel's new right-wing government and Washington. Israel says it will not build new settlements, but it reserves the right to build in existing communities to accommodate "natural growth."
The United States opposes any construction in the settlements, and settlers are outraged. Chanie Luz lives in the West Bank settlement of Bethel near the Palestinian-ruled city of Ramallah.
"We see it as a racist statement to say that the Jews can't have children, or that Jews can't build their houses, or the Jews can't add a room onto their house because they want to have a larger house," said Luz.
Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. Israel pulled out of the Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip in 2005, and today it is controlled by Hamas, a violent Islamic militant group that refuses to recognize the Jewish state. Hamas has fired thousands of rockets across the Gaza border at Israeli communities; and Netanyahu fears a Palestinian state in the West Bank would lead to a similar situation in Israel's backyard.

DTN News: Russia To Upgrade Military Transport Fleet, Buy New Planes

DTN News: Russia To Upgrade Military Transport Fleet, Buy New Planes
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - May 29, 2009: The acquisition of new aircraft for Russia's military transport aviation will begin in 2012, while modernized Il-76, An-22 and An-124 aircraft will remain in service for another 20-30 years, a senior Air Force official said on Friday. According to various sources, there are up to 300 transport aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force, including An-12 Cub, An-72 Coaler, An-22 Cock, An-124 Condor and Il-76 Candid planes. Most of the aircraft entered service in the 1960s and 1970s and are considered outdated by modern safety and noise pollution standards. "The current state arms procurement program envisions the acquisition of new aircraft for military transport aviation starting in 2012," Lt. Gen. Viktor Kachalkin, commander of the 61st Air Army told a news conference in Moscow. In the light transport category, Russia has opted for the Il-112V plane although the aircraft is still at the design stage. In the medium-lift category, Russia relies on a joint Russian-Indian project set to be implemented in three to four years. Russia and India signed last year an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA). There is also a need for the Russian-Ukrainian An-70 medium-range transport plane, Kachalkin said. However, he said the procurement of new aircraft would not be enough to satisfy the demand for the high mobility of Russia's Armed Forces in line with a new military doctrine. Therefore, the current military transport fleet must be thoroughly upgraded and the service life of existing planes should be extended for another 20-30 years, the general said. "We are planning a deep modernization of the fleet of Il-76 and An-124 in service. Their airframes are still in great shape, and what we really need is to upgrade the avionics and possibly engines," Kachalkin said. The Russian Air Force has begun in 2002 to upgrade its Il-76MD transport aircraft, but this has been a slow process. According to the modernization program, 12 Il-76 aircraft are due to be modernized to Il-76MD-90 variant before 2010. The An-124 and its modernized version, the An-124-100, will remain in service as a strategic heavy airlift transport aircraft. Russia currently deploys an air regiment equipped with these planes.

DTN News: Afghanistan Terrain Requires Versatile M-ATV Solution – Oshkosh Defense Answers The Call

DTN News: Afghanistan Terrain Requires Versatile M-ATV Solution – Oshkosh Defense Answers The Call
*Source: Oshkosh Corporation
(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. — May 29, 2009: The combination of harsh, mountainous off-road environments and dispersed combat situations in Afghanistan resulted in the U.S. Armed Forces’ urgent-need requirement for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV), a new class of vehicle. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, developed its M-ATV with Plasan North America to meet these specific challenges and allow soldiers and Marines to take the fight to the enemy in even the most difficult terrain. The Oshkosh M-ATV incorporates rugged, durable components and systems for maximum Warfighter mobility and survivability. Derived from the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) platform, the M-ATV incorporates TAK-4® independent suspension system with battle-tested technology. It has the wheel travel, payload capacity, side slope stability, vehicle durability, extreme mobility and necessary Warfighter protection for today’s and tomorrow's fight. In today’s most challenging battle zones, the M-ATV is the combat-tested, mobile, survivable, durable solution – to get Warfighters to the fight and back again. The only solution is the Oshkosh M-ATV. “Our customer asked the industry to find a way to take the current MRAP levels of protection and put them into a system that has far more off-road capability,” said Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense. “Oshkosh is a world leader in highly mobile off-road systems. We have teamed with Plasan who is a world leader in protection systems to meet that urgent request.” To succeed in Afghanistan’s battlefields, any vehicle must be survivable and all-terrain capable. The Oshkosh M-ATV provides: The survivability of MRAPs, including protection from explosively formed penetrators (EFP) and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). Oshkosh joined forces with Plasan to deliver a battle-tested armor system for its M-ATV. Plasan contributed the armor used on more than 5,000 MRAPs and thousands of Armored Cab Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR) fielded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oshkosh’s M-ATV armor is based on an advanced armor solution that has been government tested and received an “excellent/low-risk” evaluation. In addition, Plasan has independently performed material-coupon and mine-blast tests to support the M-ATV survivability system. A lighter, more maneuverable and off-road capable alternative to current MRAPs used in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. The Oshkosh M-ATV features the company’s TAK-4® independent suspension system as a base platform to provide a vehicle with a 70 percent off-road mission profile. The Oshkosh M-ATV’s 16-inch wheel travel and enhanced load-carrying capabilities provide a distinct advantage by allowing Oshkosh’s vehicle to excel in off-road environments. While the TAK-4 suspension serves more than 10,000 Oshkosh MTVRs, the company recently received a contract to equip another manufacturer’s fielded MRAPs with the advanced TAK-4 suspension system. Because of the military’s urgent need, between 2,080 – 10,000 M-ATVs will have to be delivered in a timely manner to help support combat operations. Oshkosh has the facilities, experience and capacity to deliver M-ATV vehicles on time and in the quantities needed. Oshkosh was the first manufacturer to deliver its production-representative vehicles to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds for both phases of government testing. The company also has independently conducted more than 6,500 miles of testing to provide the best vehicle possible. Oshkosh Defense delivers its M-ATV with the survivability, mobility, mission-proven and production-ready solutions required for Afghanistan. Oshkosh’s mature M-ATV design is based on the combat-proven Oshkosh MTVR chassis, which has been successfully operating for years in the most difficult off-road missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. About Oshkosh Defense Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com. About Oshkosh Corporation Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, BAI®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, Geesink™, Norba™, Kiggen™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.

DTN News: U.S. Air Force-Navy-Raytheon AIM-120D AMRAAM Completes Seventh Test Flight

DTN News: U.S. Air Force-Navy-Raytheon AIM-120D AMRAAM Completes Seventh Test Flight
*Source: Raytheon Company
(NSI News Source Info) EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., - May 29, 2009: Raytheon Company's newest variant of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile continued to demonstrate its advanced warfighting capabilities when it completed its seventh test flight. During the March 19 test, the AIM-120D AMRAAM was fired from a U.S. Air Force F-15D fighter aircraft. Initial analysis shows the missile achieved all primary test objectives. The highly reliable Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) provides interoperability in the global defense environment. "The hard work of the U.S. government-Raytheon team to deliver a world-class missile continues to pay off," said Col. Michael Andersen, commander of the U.S. Air Force's 328th Armament Systems Group. "The AIM-120D program is on track and will deliver to the U.S. warfighter the most capable beyond-visual range air-to-air missile ever fielded." The AIM-120D builds on the combat-proven AMRAAM family of missiles by integrating new technologies with legacy hardware and software. "Raytheon's ability to work with the customer to deliver reliable products to the warfighter is the cornerstone of our success," said Jim Knox, Raytheon Missile Systems' AMRAAM program director. "AIM-120D will help ensure future aerial victories for the U.S. warfighter and provide combatant commanders the reliability needed to deliver and maintain air dominance." The U.S. Navy and Air Force have tested AIM-120D on both the F/A-18 E/F and F-15C/D fighter aircraft. During the sixth flight test, accomplished two weeks prior to the most recent test, the AIM-120D achieved a direct hit on the target. Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide. Note to Editors: The AMRAAM family of missiles has been in production for more than 20 years. It is operational with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and 33 international customers. More than 16,000 AMRAAMs have been produced. The missile is responsible for nine successful combat intercepts. Raytheon's AMRAAM program provides more than 1000 jobs in Andover, Mass., Farmington, N.M., McKinney, Texas., and Tucson, Ariz. Scores of Raytheon suppliers associated with the AMRAAM program provide middle class employment to hundreds of people across the U.S. Major suppliers include: Alliant Tech Systems, Keyser, West Va.; Atlantic Inertial Systems, Cheshire, Conn.; B-K Manufacturing, Arab, Ala.; Ball Aerospace, Boulder, Colo.; Cobham Defense Electronic Systems - M/A-COM, San Jose, Calif.; Cristek Interconnects, Anaheim, Calif.; Eagle Picher, Joplin, Mo.; Endevco, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.; Fairview Machine, Topsfield, Mass.; Flexible Circuits, Inc., Warrington, Pa.; General Dynamics, Anniston, Ala.; Hi-Rel, Claremont, Calif.; Kaman Aerospace, Middletown, Conn.; L3 Communications- Electron Devices, San Carlos, Calif.; L3-IEC, Anaheim, Calif.; Litton, Salt Lake City, Utah; Midcon, Joplin, Mo.; OECO, Milwaukie, Ore.; Precision Metal Products, El Cajon, Calif.; REMEC, San Diego; Teledyne Storm, Woodbridge, Ill.; TTM Printed Circuit Group, Stafford Springs, Conn.; Trak Microwave, Tampa, Fla.; UPCO, Fairfield, Calif.

DTN News: Boeing Team Rebuilds B-1 'Backbone' For US Air Force

DTN News: Boeing Team Rebuilds B-1 'Backbone' For US Air Force
*Source: Boeing IDS Communications
(NSI News Source Info) LONG BEACH, Calif., - May 29, 2009: A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber returned to flight last week after a team led by The Boeing Company replaced its catastrophically damaged upper-center boron longeron – the aircraft's "backbone." The B-1, Swift Justice, was damaged during a routine training mission in December 2007. An engine-bleed air duct rupture triggered a temperature warning light, forcing the crew to land the aircraft at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber returned to flight last week after a team led by The Boeing Company replaced its catastrophically damaged upper-center boron longeron -– the aircraft's "backbone." Here, the longeron is reinstalled at the Boeing Recovery and Modification Services Center in Long Beach, Calif. Replacing the upper-center boron longeron, which is essential for stability in flight, is not a simple task because the part is unique to each aircraft, with no spares available. “The boron backbone of the B-1 is an aggressive composite design, even by today’s standards,” said Mahesh Reddy, B-1 program director for Boeing Global Services & Support. “In order to perform the repair, we worked with the Air Force and industry partners to remanufacture the entire part.” Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and Boeing Commercial Airplanes employees from sites across the company worked together with the Air Force and material vendors to re-create the damaged part. Specialty Materials Inc. in Lowell, Mass., the original boron/epoxy supplier, provided 14,000 feet of 4-inch-wide unidirectional tape to fabricate the longeron. Cytec Engineered Materials Inc., in Tempe, Ariz., supplied the adhesive film and adhesive primer. Due to the part's complexity and 47.5-foot length, the Boeing Composite Fabrication & Assembly Center in Seattle was selected to perform the layup and cure the part in its 90-foot-deep autoclave. “The return to flight of this B-1 is a perfect example of how Boeing solves issues by applying skills and capabilities from across the company, our suppliers and our customer,” said Reddy. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Completes Initial MP-RTIP Radar Performance Verification Flights

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Completes Initial MP-RTIP Radar Performance Verification Flights
*Source: Jim Stratford, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
(NSI News Source Info) EL SEGUNDO, Calif., - May 29, 2009: Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed initial testing of the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor. All dedicated mode flights have been completed in the Radar System Level Performance Verification (RSLPV) program, verifying system performance of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) modes.
Northrop Grumman's Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program sensor has completed the first of two radar system level performance verification flight phases. The sensor will be integrated onto the U.S. Air Force Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawk and begin test flights later this year. This new sensor is slated for the RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Assembly of the first Block 40 aircraft, AF-18, is complete and awaiting the Air Force to begin flight testing. "This is a major milestone for the MP-RTIP program," said Duke Dufresne, vice president and general manager of the company's Strike and Surveillance Systems Division. "We are ready to deliver the first Global Hawk airframe for flight test and quickly follow-up with sensor integration for operational test and evaluation. Delivering this capability to our men and women in uniform will be a game changer in the ability to detect and track adversaries on the battlefield. "Additionally, the MP-RTIP sensor is a major element in the Alliance Ground Surveillance program for NATO, which includes eight Block 40 Global Hawks," he said. The RSLPV flight test program is being conducted by the U.S. Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center. The radar is being flown on Northrop Grumman's Proteus aircraft as a surrogate for the first Block 40 Global Hawk. By verifying sensor performance on Proteus, the sensor testing progressed without impact to production, significantly lowering the risk with regard to the Block 40 Global Hawk's operational capability. Concurrent mode testing for RSLPV is scheduled to be completed this summer, verifying full sensor capability prior to installation and testing on Global Hawk. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the MP-RTIP and Global Hawk programs and continues to move these technologies forward under the stewardship of the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Electronic Systems Center, located at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Northrop Grumman's Norwalk, Conn., facility is the principal MP-RTIP radar developer along with principal subcontractor, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo. The Global Hawk system has logged almost 31,000 total program flight hours, of which nearly 24,000 hours were flown in support of current overseas contingency operations. The Global Hawk's range, endurance and large payload capabilities make it an ideal system to support a variety of customers. The Global Hawk is the world's first fully autonomous HALE UAS, collecting persistent ground surveillance data over a wide area for both military intelligence analysis and warfighters' battle management and targeting. Global Hawk will fly up to 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours providing surveillance day or night, regardless of weather conditions. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

DTN News: BAE's Lightweight Howitzer Wins $118 Million In Further Orders

DTN News: BAE's Lightweight Howitzer Wins $118 Million In Further Orders
(NSI News Source Info) Hattiesburg, MS – May 29, 2009: The U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Canadian Forces have ordered additional BAE Systems M777 155mm lightweight howitzers, taking the company's order book for the type to 800 guns, BAE announced May 28. The three orders' total value is about $118 million, and the program is now worth in excess of $1.6 billion to the company. The United States is buying 38 more weapons, while Canada is ordering another 25 to add to the 12 already in service. U.S. and Canadian forces both operate the type in Afghanistan, where its ability to be transported by tactical helicopter makes it particularly useful in the difficult terrain faced by coalition forces. M777s are manufactured in BAE's Global Combat Systems plant at Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom, and final integration and testing takes place at the company's Hattiesburg, Miss., facility. The weapon can fire the M982 Excalibur smart munition, jointly developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE, to a range of up to 40 kilometers with a high degree of accuracy. The circular error probability requirement is for less than 10 meters, and "the system has consistently demonstrated an ability to meet and exceed that requirement," said James Shields, program manager for the weapon at Picatinny Arsenal, speaking on the occasion of the delivery of the 500th M777 to U.S. forces in April. Even firing conventional ammunition, however, the M777's accuracy has met and exceeded expectations. Feedback from U.S. forces employing the weapon during operations in Afghanistan has revealed "shifts of only 50-60 meters after the first round - and that's just awesome," according to Col. James Matthies, TRADOC capabilities manager at Fort Sill, Okla. Ease of use and the efficacy of the digitization package were areas cited, Matthies said. The M777 is the first such weapon to make extensive use of titanium and aluminum alloys, resulting in an air-transportable weapon that, at 4,200 kilograms, weighs about half that of conventional 155mm systems. The total of 63 howitzers in the new orders comes shortly after the company forecast up to 150 additional orders by the end of 2009. Among potential purchasers are Australia, which is asking for 35 systems but could eventually procure up to 57, Denmark, India, Oman and Thailand. An order from Australia is anticipated before the end of the year, according to the company. In addition to the new order, BAE Global Combat Systems has received a contract for $3 million to reset 33 howitzers returning from deployment in Afghanistan with U.S. forces. This work will be carried out at the Hattiesburg facility.

DTN News: NATO TODAY May 29, 2009 - Georgian Soldiers In Joint NATO Military Exercises

DTN News: NATO TODAY May 29, 2009 - Georgian Soldiers In Joint NATO Military Exercises
(NSI News Source Info) TBILISI, Georgia - May 29, 2009: Georgian soldiers participate in a NATO military exercises at the Vaziani military base outside Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, May 28, 2009.
Russia has sharply criticized the war games, saying they raise the threat of renewed conflict in the country 10 months after the Russia-Georgia war.

DTN News: Sri Lanka - Wanni War Heroes Given Military Honours And Their Service Appreciated

DTN News: Sri Lanka - Wanni War Heroes Given Military Honours And Their Service Appreciated
(NSI News Source Info) May 29, 2009: Ground commanders and hundreds of troops in the Army who sweated day and night for victory over terrorism, mostly during the last leg of the Wanni battles were hailed and their national contribution appreciated during a mammoth saluting parade that got underway at Army Headquarters Thursday (28) morning. Sri Lankan army commandos march during a special felicitation parade for all military regiments who took part in the recent battle against Tamil Tigers, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, May 28, 2009. The military ceremony saw Commander of the Army General Sarath Fonseka, appreciative of their roles, presented silver parchment scrolls to twelve War Heroes who were at the forefront of the battles against separatist terrorists. Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, Major General M. C. Mendaka P Samarasinghe, Major General N. A. Jagath C. Dias, Major General Nandana Udawatta, Major General G. D. H. Kamal Gunarathna, Brigadier Prasanna P. De Silva, Brigadier Sathyapriya D. T. Liyanage, Brigadier L. H. Shavindra C. Silva, Brigadier C. P. Gallage, Brigadier P. M. Rohana Bandara, Colonel Nihantha D. Wanniarachchi, and Colonel G. V. Ravipriya were the recipients of those conferment, awarded by General Sarath Fonseka on the occasion. Under the shade of fluttering regimental flags in the esplanade, more than one thousand and two hundred soldiers, belonging to infantry and other regiments serving Wanni in a colourful military parade, commanded by Major General Kamal Gunarathne saluted their chief, General Sarath Fonseka, as rhythmic melodies of "Peradiga muthu etayayi me" and "Hela jathika abhimane" resonated adding patriotic sentiments to the occasion. General Sarath Fonseka, in a moving address to his troops commended them for their gallantry and valour. Here is the full text of the Commander's speech; "In order to mark the victory over terrorism that spanned over thirty years, posing a threat to unitary nature and sovereignty of our motherland, and also to pay tribute to all War Heroes who relentlessly fought to eliminate the scourge of LTTE terrorism from the Sri Lankan soil, this mammoth Saluting Parade was organized. Special Force soldiers of the Sri Lankan army march during a special felicitation parade for all military regiments who took part in the recent battle against Tamil Tigers, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, May 28, 2009. Let me on this occasion of commemoration also recall cherished memories on our fallen War Heroes, those went missing, turned disable and those sustained injuries during this battle. That memory gives a deep sense of sorrow, but accomplishment of their mission offers solace to us. This battle victory was largely dependent on leadership of the officers and soldiers who fought in the battle ground.
His Excellency, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Secretary Defence as well as those here and abroad offered leadership and guidance to this fight deserve our tribute and commendation. Fighting units, Task Forces, Service and Logistic units extended their maximum support to us and such cooperation is gratefully acknowledged. Those who provided protection to the ground while fighting was on elsewhere also receive our praise. New recruits and soldiers who joined the Army en masse contributed largely to this victory. Had they failed to do so, we would not have been able to see an end to this battle. Parents and their family members who directed those heroic soldiers to join the Army also deserve our praise. The Army's strength rose to 200,000 from 116,000 as some 80,000 novices joined the Army in the past few months. Their entry helped us enormously to hold on to the territory thus captured and minimize soldier casualties. Our ancestors facing similar threats in the past overcame such challenges at the risk of their lives. We havewww.defence.lk"> inherited a motherland through their sacrifices, gallantry and valour. The entire country, other than a handful of politicians and segments of people who betrayed the country, supported us whole-heartedly, like one people celebrating this victory. Rescue of thousands of besieged Tamil people, affected by terrorism was to be launched through a humanitarian operation after Mavilaru episode, enabling them to live as they wished. It was one of our objectives.
We brought the entire nation under one flag after eliminating terrorism once for all. It is a matter of pride for Sri Lanka. We fulfilled the mission and the entire Nation is indebted to the Army for that. We have added another 'Dutu Gemunu' reign to history once again. Sri Lanka Army's sacrifice for successful completion of this fateful "Eelam war - 4" cannot be challenged or equated to a parallel by anyone.
190 officers and 5200 soldiers sacrificed their lives and 27,000 soldiers sustained injuries or turned disable during this battle. Of the total national dedication towards this battle, the Army has contributed more than 96 percent to it. The Army got rid of 22,000 terrorists and captured 9000 of them alive, destroying all their assets and resources.
By granting relief of death to those LTTE cadres, the Army amply depicted its discipline and dignity. More than 70 percent of the enemy's maritime and aerial resources were demolished by troops of the Army. Therefore, service and commitment, rendered by Army officers and other ranks in this battle cannot be equated to that of any other individual. As Commander of the Army, I am proud to state so, on behalf of the entire Army. By introducing changes to the Army, all necessary training were imparted to the troops, all required facilities and essential devices were provided and more importantly, competent military leaders were posted to right seats and appointment of junior leaders among soldiers was made as required.
Though the war was to be completed in three years, our collective efforts made it possible to eliminate the enemy within two years and ten months. We are determined to bring peace to the country and we have created an environment, conducive to peace and security. We must still consolidate that basis to avoid any such threats in the future too. In conclusion, let me thank President, Secretary Defence, the government and everybody for helping us achieve our target that led to the fall of 'Prabhakaran' and all the terrorists. Let me also thank my wife, children, all well-wishers and staff at Army Headquarters for their unstinted support given to me during the period of the battle. Let us resolve to rally round as one people in order to develop this country and lead it to be a prosperous one. Let peace prevail in Sri Lanka," the Commander concluded.

DTN News: Terrorism - The New Communism

DTN News: Terrorism - The New Communism *Source: By Dan Payne - The Boston Globe (NSI News Source Info) May 29, 2009: DICK CHENEY, who didn't say eight words publicly in eight years as vice president, suddenly won't shut up. Every day it seems he's doing interviews and giving speeches on national security, 9/11, and torture. Torture defined. Torture is having to listen to Cheney sneer his way through a speech on why he and his president were right about everything and President Obama is wrong. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the American Enterprise Institute on US national security in Washington, DC, May 21, 2009. Cheney said Thursday that bringing the "worst terrorists" from Guantanamo Bay onto US soil would be "cause for great danger" as he stood by tough interrogation tactics. "I think the president will find upon reflection that to bring the worst of the worst terrorists inside the United States would be cause for great danger and regret in the years to come," Cheney said in a speech on national security.* Selling fear. Cheney mentioned 9/11 only 27 times in his recent speech, flatly declaring that Obama was making America "less safe." But a poll taken after the speech showed 51 percent of Americans disagreed with his wild charge (38 percent agreed). President Obama has a 64-to-31 percent approve-disapprove rating on national security, and the same two-to-one margin on fighting terrorism. The numbers are good, but if it's one thing Republicans are good at it's making Democrats look weak on national defense. Consciously or not, Cheney is attempting to make terrorism the communism of the 21st century. In 1946, the GOP won control of Congress by painting Democrats as "soft on Communism." And they've been attacking Democrats ever since. Democrats supposedly let the communists take over China, lost Cuba to Fidel Castro, lost Vietnam, and refused to win the arms race against the Soviet Union - which, we've since learned, couldn't even make a toaster. Seven years ago, Howard Witt of the Chicago Tribune declared, "Terrorism has become the new communism." Whether it's the Red Menace or Islamic Jihadists, they represent fear of "the other." Fighting them leads us into alliances with governments we'd rather not be involved with, like Pakistan. It produces bloated military budgets that take money from American domestic needs. It causes us to forget the lessons of history, such as the French failures in Vietnam or the 15,000 Soviet soldiers who died fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Putting the Constitution on hold. To Cheney, the acid test for an administration is how much of the Constitution and world opinion it is willing to jettison to demonstrate its national security muscle against Islamic terrorists. Obama, Cheney said, wants to make us "more like France." Do as I say, not as I do. Cheney, 68 (doesn't he seem about 80?), never served a day in the military. In fact, he got five deferments during the Vietnam War. Apparently he didn't feel America needed him to fight the terrorists of his day. Not in my state. In a way, what's worrying congressional Democrats over where to house suspected terrorists at Guantanamo isn't just NIMBY. It's also that Democrats don't want to look "soft" on terror by letting those who would destroy America live in a prison in their home state. Where to put the Gitmo detainees. Accused terrorists accustomed to blazing hot weather in the Middle East might find winters tough in, say . . . Alaska! Fortunately, there's a spunky Republican governor up there who could keep an eye on terrorists while lookin' out for an invasion from Russia, which she can see from her porch. No proof. Cheney declared, without backup, that the Bush administration "prevented attacks and saved lives through the Terrorist Surveillance Program [TSP], which let us intercept calls and track contacts between Al Qaeda and persons inside the United States." The TSP sounds like the illegal wiretaps by former FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, who eavesdropped on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., among others, on Hoover's personal belief that they were communists. Maybe he didn't get the memo. Cheney conveniently forgets that 9/11 happened on his watch. The Bush administration even got a memo one month before the attacks entitled "Bin Laden likely to strike in US." Proving a negative. Cheney is challenging Democrats to prove a negative - that since we haven't been attacked since 2001, the Bush policies must be responsible. I'd give him that if he's willing to take responsibility for the evil doers on Wall Street. Courting Gitmo. The Supreme Court has ruled that Guantanamo detainees have the right to a federal trial to challenge the charges against them. What do you want to bet this will be part of the hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the high court? Dan Payne is a Boston-area media consultant who has worked for Democratic candidates around the country.

DTN News: Countering Jihadi Strategies in the Subcontinent

DTN News: Countering Jihadi Strategies in the Subcontinent *Source: Dr. Walid Phares (NSI News Source Info) May 29, 2009: Since the deadly attacks in Mumbai, the expectation of repeat attacks and copycatting is eerily high. The jihadists who seized a few buildings in India's financial center and wreaked havoc at several locations in the city have brought to the attention of national security analysts a concept for the future: urban jihad. Projections of al Qaeda and other jihadi tactics should be based on a patient and thorough observation of their literature and actions over the past decades. By now, the public realizes that such scenarios are not only possible but highly likely in the future. In all countries where jihadi cells and forces have left bloody traces over the past eight years, at least counter-terrorism agencies have been put on notice: it can happen there as well. Pakistani army soldiers escort a suspected Taliban militant in Mingora, capital of the Swat valley, on May 28. But the Mumbai Ghazwa (raid) reveals a more sinister shadow hovering over the entire subcontinent, if not all of Central Asia. Although a press release was issued by the so-called "Indian Mujahideen," many traces were left—almost on purpose—to show Pakistani involvement, or to be more precise, a link to forces operational within Pakistan, one of them being Lashkar-e-Toiba. Other suppositions left investigators in the region with the suspicion that elements within the intelligence service in Pakistan were involved, even if the cabinet wasn't aware of it. This strong probability gave rise to much wider speculation, since this attack took place in the midst of dramatic regional and international developments. In the United States, the Obama Administration is gearing up to redeploy from Iraq and send additional divisions to Afghanistan where the Taliban forces have been escalating their terror campaign. In a counter move, the jihadi web inside Pakistan has been waging both terror and political offensives. In Waziristan and the Swat Valley, just prior to the latest attempts to strike deals with local warlords, Pakistani units were compelled to retreat. A few weeks later, Islamabad authorized the provincial administrators to sign the so-called Malakand agreement with the "Movement for the Implementation of Mohammad's Sharia Law," headed by Sufi Mohammad, in which local Taliban would enact religious laws instead of the national secular code. Across Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, it has become clear that the jihadists are acting as an overarching regional force. While Kabul, Islamabad and New Delhi are consumed with domestic challenges, ethnic and territorial crises, the nebulous network that began with al Qaeda and stretched to local jihadi groups across the land is acting as one, albeit with many faces, tongues and scenarios. The jihadists have become continental, while the region's governments are forced into tensions among each other and within their own societies. Consequently, exploring the regional strategies of the jihadists is now a must. Pre-9/11 Strategies In the post-Cold War era, a web of jihadi organizations came together throughout the Indian subcontinent from Kandahar to the Bay of Bengal. This included Islamist movements that took root in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The cobweb is extremely diverse and not entirely coordinated. In many cases, competitions and splinters characterize its intra-Islamist politics. But from political parties to student unions, to jihadi guerrillas, the main cement of the network has been a solidly grounded ideology, inspired by local Deobandism and West Asian-generated Wahabism and Salafism. The "jihadi causes" make a variety of demands—political, sharia, ethnic, territorial. However, all these platforms end in the necessity of establishing local "emirates," which in turn become building blocks towards the creation of the Caliphate-to-come. Inside Pakistan, the Islamists fight secularism, impose religious laws and desire an all-out Islamist—not just Islamic—nation. From Pakistan, a number of groups have been waging a war on India for the secession of Kashmir in order to establish a Taliban-like state. The Pakistan-based Kashmiri jihadists have connected with their India-based counterparts, who in turn have built bridges with jihadist operations across India, including the Islamic Student Union and later the Indian Mujahideen. Their influence stretches east to Dhaka and south all the way to Malaysia and Indonesia. Unfortunately, neither Western nor non-Western scholarship in the field recognized the regional dimension of the jihadi threat on the subcontinent before the 2001 strikes in America and the subsequent attacks in Europe and beyond. jihadism in South Asia has conventionally been linked to local claims and foreign policies, while in reality the movement has developed a regional war room. Even before the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, jihadists had been seeking transnational achievements. The post-Soviet grand design of al Qaeda was to incite national entities to act in concert with one another, even if their propaganda machines put out different narratives. Based in Kabul since the Taliban takeover in 1996, the initial plan was to grow stronger inside Afghanistan, make it a "perfect emirate" model to follow, and from there expand in all directions. Evidently, the first target was Pakistan, starting with the northwestern regions. Terror analysts argue that one of the long-range goals of the 9/11 attacks was to provoke massive jihadi uprisings in Muslim countries, especially in Pakistan, with help from insiders and the armed forces. The pre-9/11 plan was to infiltrate Islamabad from Kabul, then penetrate Kashmir and back a massive campaign inside India. The enormity of developments was supposed to enflame Bangladesh as well. In short, the plan was to "Talibanize" the region from Kabul to the Gulf, slicing into as many enclaves in northern India as possible. Plan A collapsed, however, as U.S. and NATO forces crumbled the Taliban regime and dispersed al Qaeda. Post-Tora Bora As Osama bin Laden and Mullah Mohammad Omar crossed into Waziristan at the end of 2001, their strategy for the region shifted to Plan B. But the basic goal— to establish a series of emirates—did not change. What changed were the launching pads and the priorities. The epicenter shifted to valleys inside northwestern Pakistan, and the strategic hierarchy imposed a new agenda. First, the tribal areas had to become a no-go zone for Pakistan's armed forces and a new Afghanistan-in-exile was to be established—al Qaeda's remnants in the center, surrounded by a belt of Taliban, themselves surrounded by an outer belt of fundamentalist tribes and movements. General Pervez Musharraf understood that sending the bulk of his forces there meant an all-out civil war; hence he kept a status quo—to the frustration of Western governments. But the jihadi forces took the offensive inside Pakistan via bombings and assassinations, including failed attempts against the former president and the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Not only border areas were falling to the insurgency, but segments of many cities as well. The Red Mosque bloodshed was only an example of the generalized push to seize more power. The initial goal was to "immunize" Waziristan and the surrounding valleys against incoming attacks while launching blitzkriegs from these areas in two directions—bringing the Taliban back inside Afghanistan and striking inside India. To the west of Waziristan, the equation was reversed. Instead of a Taliban regime in Kabul spilling over Islamabad, the post-Tora Bora situation witnessed the emergence of a quasi-Taliban regime inside Pakistan spilling over to Afghanistan, paving the way for the renascence of operations in the latter's provinces. Eastbound from Waziristan, the network used the Pakistan-based Jihadists as strategic decoys. Indeed, the best way to confuse the Pakistani military is to draw New Delhi into a renewed conflict with its western neighbor. Shrewdly, via Lashar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Kashmiri and Indian jihadists launched many terror attacks in Indian territories, including strikes against the Parliament, trains and other targets. The inflaming of the India-Pakistan theater was and remains a key strategic design in the hands of the regional jihadists. This is why the recent strikes in Mumbai were ordered. Post-Mumbai Inside the jihadi war room, preparations are underway to meet two forthcoming challenges. One is the decision by the Obama Administration to send two additional divisions to Afghanistan. General David Petraeus, commander of CENTCOM, and his fellow military strategists have recommended a surge-type campaign to remove al Qaeda and its allies from inside most of the country and, with the help of other NATO forces, push back the Taliban all the way to the borders. Their second concern is possible military pressure on Waziristan from Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad. Plan C from the Taliban and al Qaeda will likely be to try to derail both offensives before they happen. In war games scenarios, if you were the jihadist, you would make all possible efforts to delay and weaken the forthcoming NATO-led surge. How they will go about accomplishing this is a good question, but they have more than one tool at their disposal: striking at NATO allies, disrupting NATO supply lines originating in Pakistan, assassinations, and even possible strikes on American soil. One other tactic may also be under consideration: luring Washington into negotiations with the Taliban. Already, jihadi propaganda machines from different corners of the planet, including via connections inside the Western media, are pushing the idea that discussions with the "good Taliban" are a viable and pragmatic option. Recently, a particular drive toward considering radical Islamism a "fact of life" has materialized in a publicized Newsweek article. Painting the Jihadists as credible partners in a peacemaking equation is, in fact, part of a devious maneuver to gain time and delay U.S.-led efforts to defeat them in Afghanistan. Similar moves were undertaken in Pakistan. In order to delay Islamabad's new secular government’s preparedness to confront the Taliban once and for all, good cop-bad cop tactics have been employed: suicide bombings target officials and civilians alike, while local Islamists shower the authorities with ceasefire offers. The recent Malakand agreement, signed between Sufi Islamic and Pakistani authorities, allows the implantation of sharia in the province and guarantees a truce for a while. With time, the Taliban will use the agreement to its advantage to indoctrinate youth, recruit fighters and suicide bombers, repress civil society movements and eradicate government presence. Look at the 2006 Waziristan Accord as an example. Another trap to avoid is calling those who are reconcilable the "good" Taliban or the "little" Taliban. We should resist assigning these labels to armed opposition groups or other groups that may associate with the Taliban on a peripheral level. Just as it would have been a strategic mistake to label the members of the Sahwa in Iraq "little" al Qaeda or "good" al Qaeda, it would be a blunder to consider as Taliban those who cooperate with the Taliban out of fear or a basic need to feed their family. As stalling tactics are employed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, reverse moves will be executed in India. Unfortunately, the regional war room will more than likely order terror activities on Indian soil to diminish the will of the Pakistani government to go to Waziristan. If violence erupts on its eastern border with India, Pakistan cannot send troops to battle the Taliban on its western frontiers. Inflaming tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad causes the latter to redeploy forces from the F.A.T.A. and Northwest Frontier Province to the border with India, thereby relieving some of the military pressure the Taliban faces in northwest Pakistan. What can and should be done about this Plan C remains the most important question. Counter-strategies Any counter-strategy design must begin with the following affirmations: • The threat is strategic and regional, not just local and legitimate. • The counter strategies must put the confrontation of the regional threat above all local considerations and issues. • The United States and its allies, operating out of Afghanistan, are determined to engage that threat with all the tools at their disposal and with the largest alliance it can muster. • Pakistan and India should realize that they are both targeted by the jihadists regardless of their quarrels over ethno-territorial issues. With these principles accepted, a global set of counter-strategies can be set to deal with al Qaeda, Taliban and their jihadi networks in the subcontinent. Engagement Strategies The U.S. and NATO should not be dragged to the path of so-called partnership with jihadists to defeat other jihadists. In this game, the more ideological and sophisticated factions always win. Instead, the international coalition must engage the democratic forces and sustain them in order to win the intellectual and political battle. Afghanistan The U.S.-led NATO coalition should proceed with reinforcement of expeditionary force to levels capable of insuring full control of the country. At the same time, a gigantic effort must be made in three directions: training and equipping the Afghan Army and Police, supporting a vast network of civil society NGOs countrywide, and reaching out to countries that haven't yet participated in the post-9/11 counterterrorism campaign in Afghanistan, such as Russia, India, China, Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria. These countries should be invited to join the consortium in sectors of their choice. The more international the campaign, the more isolated the ihadists will become. Pakistan The present government must undertake a full reassessment of its past strategies and reform its forces so that it can ready itself to implement a national mobilization, part of which will be on the military level. The most significant part, however, must be on the popular and political levels. The campaign to counter the terror forces can be successful only if large segments of the population are engaged in the struggle against fundamentalism. India New Delhi, too, will have to reshape its plan to counter jihadi strategies in the region and on its soil. While the military and security engagement against local terror groups will continue, the war of ideas will have to tap Indian resources. As a major economic and technological power, India has the capability of opening a new front against radical ideologies, using linguistic, cultural and intellectual skills—all crucial to the battle. The establishment of a vast network of television and radio broadcasts, NGOs, and intelligence capability based on Indian soil can weaken Islamist radicalism. All of these national strategies must be integrated. If the United States, NATO and other international partners can bring together the three democratically-elected governments of the subcontinent—Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (and perhaps Bangladesh)—to work under a unified and coordinated global strategy, jihadi forces will be isolated and gradually rolled back. Dr Walid Phares is the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a visiting scholar at the European Foundation for Democracy and the author of "The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad." Dr Phares teaches global strategies at National Defense University.

DTN News: British Forces Are Receiving Jackals And Coyotes For Operations In Afghanistan

DTN News: British Forces Are Receiving Jackals And Coyotes For Operations In Afghanistan
(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - May 29, 2009: Defence Secretary John Hutton has announced a package worth £700 million earlier, which will pay for some 700 new armoured vehicles to further improve the safety and protection of troops on operations in Afghanistan.
180 new vehicles have been ordered for the Army for combat duty in Afghanistan. 110 Jackal 2s and 70 Coyote Tactical Support Vehicles have been ordered.
110 Jackals, the extremely agile all-terrain vehicles which include high-levels of off-road mobility and firepower.
Coyote TSV (Light), Light armoured support vehicles - supporting Jackals across the harsh terrain of Afghanistan.
Coyote is a 6x6 version of the Jackal. Deliveries are expected to begin in a couple of months and the vehicles will be ready for service by the Autumn.

DTN News: BAE Systems Submits Proposal For Medium Tactical Vehicle Competition

DTN News: BAE Systems Submits Proposal For Medium Tactical Vehicle Competition
(NSI News Source Info) HOUSTON, Texas – May 29, 2009: BAE Systems submitted its proposal to the U.S. Government to produce the next generation of medium tactical vehicles for the U.S. Army. The contract is expected to be awarded in July for an estimated 12,400 vehicles and 10,900 trailers to be delivered to the U.S. Army from 2010 through 2014. The cab-over FMTV replaces obsolete and maintenance-intensive 2.5 ton and 5 ton M35 and M939 series of trucks previously in the fleet and performs local and line haul, unit mobility, unit resupply, and other missions in combat, combat support and combat service support units. It is rapidly deployable worldwide and operates on primary and secondary roads, trails, and cross-country terrain, in all climatic conditions. Commonality of parts across truck chassis variants significantly reduces the logistics burden and operating and support costs. New vehicle applications are being developed to meet new requirements. “We believe our proposal is the best value for our Armed Services and the American taxpayer,” said Chris Chambers, vice president and general manager of Global Tactical Systems Programs at Sealy, Texas. “Our proposal incorporates our 17 years of knowledge and experience gained in the manufacture of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) in Texas and fulfills all the requirements in the request for proposal.” BAE Systems won the U.S. Government contract to produce the replacement for the U.S. Army’s aging fleet of M-939 and M-35 cargo trucks in 1991. Since then, more that 53,000 FMTVs and trailers have been produced in 21 variants in the high-quality facility in Sealy, Texas. The FMTV is the medium tactical vehicle platform of choice for the U.S. Army and performs a variety of roles from cargo and troop carrier, to shop and cargo van carrier, to artillery and air defense missile weapons carrier. The vehicle has proven itself able to meet the ever-evolving needs of Soldiers and Marines. BAE Systems developed the Low Signature Armored Cab in 2003 to provide crews in Iraq with increased protection from enemy fire. More recently, BAE Systems designed and assembled the Caiman MRAP, providing in record time advanced protection for our deployed forces. The more adaptable Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) cab, currently in production, was developed over a three year period in cooperation with the Army. LTAS allows crews to vary their protection level by adding or removing appliqué armor to the cab. BAE Systems manufactures the FMTV at Sealy, Texas, where it employs more than 2,700 people in facility that has more than 900,000 square feet of manufacturing, storage and office space on approximately 200 acres. The Sealy facility has established itself as a world-class designer, volume manufacturer and through-life supporter of high-quality, best value, military tactical vehicles. About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defense, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008.

DTN News: Royal Navy Task Force Exercises In The Ganges - Bangladesh

DTN News: Royal Navy Task Force Exercises In The Ganges - Bangladesh
(NSI News Source Info) May 29, 2009: The Royal Navy's TAURUS 09 deployment recently arrived in Bangladesh where sailors and marines took part in a joint naval exercise in some of the most complicated waterways and coastlines in the world. Royal Marines of 40 Commando and Bangladeshi forces patrol the waterways of the Ganges Delta using offshore raiding craft from 539 Assault Squadron to provide protection for land troops [Picture: LA(Phot) Shaun Barlow] Exercise Shomudro Torongo, part of the TAURUS 09 deployment, was aimed at integrating the Bangladeshi and British forces in order to share expertise to combat terrorism and enhance UK environmental training and preparedness for natural disasters in the region. It is the first such interaction between the two nations' naval forces in more than a decade. The five day exercise saw amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark insert Royal Marines ashore into the Ganges Delta supporting them from sea in a combined training package with their Bangladeshi counterparts. Fast boats and landing craft from 4 and 539 Assault Squadrons Royal Marines pushed the troops ashore and stalked through the riverine environment, supporting a multi-agency search for a 'Contact of Interest'. The environment enabled the marines from Charlie Company, 40 Commando, to practise anti-ambush drills, patrolling and the insertion and extraction of observation posts, culminating in a successful interception and boarding. The exercise was designed to test and train a multitude of cross-governmental agencies, including Bangladeshi security forces, intelligence agencies, police, coastguard and both nations' military forces. Bangladeshi Navy ships, helicopters, Air Force assets and Army Commandos all took part. Support tanker RFA Wave Ruler sat off the coast with a Merlin maritime patrol helicopter from 820 Naval Air Squadron embarked to offer essential CASEVAC (casualty evacuation) support in this complex environment as well as assist in the gathering of intelligence. Royal Navy and Bangladeshi Navy personnel embedded in each others ships for the exercise, providing a truly integrated battle staff. Speaking as the exercise came to an end, Task Group Commander, Commodore Peter Hudson, Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, said: "This has been an ambitious and demanding exercise with some complex hurdles in a challenging coastal and riverine environment. "There has been much to learn on both sides; the Bangladeshi forces have witnessed and learnt from some of the Royal Navy's best practices and in turn the Royal Navy has learnt a huge amount from our hosts, who are far more used to working in such complex waterways. This sort of activity is vital for us - after all, you don't find many waterways such as these in Devon. "All the training objectives were achieved, including the establishment and function of a joint, combined inter-agency command centre, where information and intelligence was shared and analysed between a range of law enforcement agencies. This key objective will assist both countries in their joint efforts to combat terrorism and be prepared for natural disasters in the region." His thoughts were echoed by the Bangladeshi Director, Naval Captain Akhtar Habib, who said: "Shomudro Torongo is the first major joint exercise conducted between the Royal Navy and the Bangladeshi Navy including sister services, paramilitary forces and maritime agencies. "Events like these boarding operations, coastal maritime security operations, joint and combined inter-agency command exercises add significant stride to Bangladeshi Navy capability in maritime security. It has been a resounding success at all levels of exercise." Royal Navy personnel also demonstrated a good example of civil-military co-operation as a team of twenty personnel from HMS Bulwark ventured ashore to assist with building work on a community house in the south of Kutubdia island at Ali Akbardeil village. It gave them a great opportunity to experience at first hand the hardships and living environment of the coastal communities in the area as well as providing a helping hand. The Task Group is now preparing for the next stage of TAURUS 09 which includes an exercise under the Five Powers Defence Agreement in Malaysia and culminates with a major multi-national exercise in Brunei where the participating maritime assets will inject the landing forces (40 Commando Royal Marines) ashore for a training package in the primary jungles of Brunei.

DTN News: Saab Delivers Medical Care System To The Swedish Armed Forces

DTN News: Saab Delivers Medical Care System To The Swedish Armed Forces
(NSI News Source Info) STOCKHOLM, Sweden - May 29, 2009: Saab has received an order from FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) for a modular medical care system. The contract is valued to approximately SEK 120 million, with options continuing up to and including 2013. The system will be used in international operations and for training. FMV has earlier this year ordered parts of the modular medical care system from Saab to supply Nordic Battlegroup 2011. The new contract gives the Swedish Armed Forces additional medical capabilities such as patient reception, trauma unit, surgery, intensive care, dental care, radiology, laboratory, sterilisation and oxygen production. These capabilities mean that the Swedish Armed Forces now have a system with all the medical modules and all the equipment that is required. The contract also includes training and systems for testing and calibrating the equipment. - We are very pleased that we now will supply the Swedish Armed Forces with a complete medical care system that has the same high levels of quality as those found in civilian health care facilities. The contract is a confirmation that Saab’s turn key solution for Medical Care is both flexible and cost effective. This will certainly lead to more business opportunities for this system internationally as well, says Bo Petersson, Head of Ground Support Services, Saab Aerotech. The basic order is worth approximately SEK 120 million and will be delivered to the customer in 2010 for use in international operations and for training of personnel. The contract also contains options giving FMV possibilities to make continual orders up to and including 2013. Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs. The information is that which Saab AB is required to declare by the Securities Business Act and/or the Financial instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication on May 28 at 07.30.