Tuesday, June 09, 2009

DTN News: USAF Airlifts 300 Stryker Vehicles To Afghanistan / Airmen Airlift Strykers To Afghanistan

DTN News: USAF Airlifts 300 Stryker Vehicles To Afghanistan / Airmen Airlift Strykers To Afghanistan
*Source: U.S Air Force
(NSI News Source Info) SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - June 9, 2009: Members of Air Mobility Command's hub for global airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation here are "all in" with its commitment to support joint worldwide operations, kicking off efforts this week to airlift more than 300 Stryker vehicles to military forces in Afghanistan. Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles, transportable in a C-130 aircraft, being built for the US Army by General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (formerly General Motors Defense) and General Dynamics Land Systems Division of USA. Stryker is based on the GDLS Canada LAV III 8×8 light armoured vehicle, in service since early 2001. The LAV III is itself a version of the Piranha III built by Mowag of Switzerland, now part of GDLS - Europe. The term Stryker applies to a family of armored troop-transport vehicles used by the Army for ground operations. One vehicle can carry up to 11 troops and weighs approximately 19 tons, depending on the variation, according to an Army fact sheet. Moving the Strykers, which are assigned to the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Lewis, Wash., is being accomplished by a combination of sealift and airlift assets. The vehicles and equipment are being taken by ship for the majority of the trip around the world, and then Air Force assets take over to fly the last portion of the journey into land-locked Afghanistan. Air Mobility Command officials plan to move the 300-plus vehicles and support equipment, totaling nearly 9,500 tons, into Afghanistan over the next two months on C-17 Globemaster IIIs flown by military crews, and AN-124s, operated by commercial partners. All efforts for the move are being closely coordinated by officials from the U.S. Transportation Command, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base. The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center staff, also at Scott AFB, is responsible for planning and executing the airlift missions. "When requirements are identified to move large vehicles by air, the 618th TACC schedules those missions, tasks aircraft and aircrews to fly the missions, and obtains permission from other governments to overfly their countries while executing the missions," said Maj. Gen. Mark S. Solo, 618th TACC commander. "And once those missions are airborne, our 24-hour operations floor acts as 'virtual crewmember,' fulfilling any mission needs for that aircrew to make things go as smoothly as possible." The 618th TACC staff has been the lead for centralized control of AMC airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation operations worldwide since its activation April 1, 1992. That coordination in recent years has included hundreds of thousands of point-to-point flights, called sorties, in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In fact, for OIF and OEF alone, AMC aircrews have flown more than 363,000 sorties, which includes transportation of more than 5 million passengers and 2.6 million tons of supplies since the operations began. "We work very hard to meet the needs of our U.S. forces all around the world," said Maj. Charlie Velino, the 618th TACC division chief who planned the Stryker airlift missions. "As combatant commands [such as U.S. Central Command, responsible for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan] identify new airlift requirements, we're continually working to plan new missions to meet their needs, in this case the need for Strykers, as fast and as efficiently as possible."

DTN News: ST Engineering's Electronics Arm Awarded Contract for Advanced Combat Man System

DTN News: ST Engineering's Electronics Arm Awarded Contract for Advanced Combat Man System *Source: ST Engineering (NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - June 9, 2009: ST Engineering yesterday June 8, announced that its electronics arm, ST Electronics, has been awarded a contract to provide the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The project which is worth over S$100m will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by 2012.The Singapore Armed Forces' Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) is part of the SAF's move to integrate into 3G to progressively provide tactical units with network capabilities. Key Components *Personal Radio - The radio enables soldiers to share information, in the form of data and voice, with other soldiers. It has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) that helps the soldier's command headquarters to track his location and that of friendly forces. *Communication Keypad - This portable keypad, designed for easy data input, also has hotkey buttons such "On-Contact" and "Call-For-Medic" to enable quick updates of the team's status to the command headquarters, and request assistance from nearby forces at the push of a button. *Portable Computer - The brain of the ACMS, the portable computer processes data collected by sensors, GPS, other ACMSs and user input to provide real-time information updates on the battlefield. *Head-mounted display (HMD) - The HMD can switch its displays from a digital map to satellite images of the terrain to videos captured by the various sensors. Through the HMD, soldiers can see locations of targets and friendly forces which are plotted on the digital map. *Weapon Interactor - The section commander will also have an additional camera attached to his SAR 21, so that he can capture and send back images to the command headquarters through the quick buttons on the handguard. The sensor also allows him to survey and fire around corners without exposing himself. In addition to the ACMS, soldiers are equipped with remote sensors such as a surveillance ball, a remote-control surveillance car and a key-hole sensor.* The award of this contract is not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year. The ACMS is a 3rd Generation Networked Warrior system fully equipped with advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) and network capabilities. The ACMS is a joint development effort that started in 1998 among the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and ST Electronics with the support of Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) in the area of weapon sub-system. It features innovations from ST Electronics and ST Kinetics. For this contract, ST Kinetics is a subcontractor to ST Electronics. The development of the ACMS focuses on two key areas - to ensure seamless integration of individual soldier's capabilities and to integrate the soldier as part of a network-centric force. As part of the design of the ACMS, key elements such as the weight of the systems, Man-Machine Interface and the networked and interoperable capability of the ACMS with other systems are defined as some of the requirements for its development. This system aims at improving the situational awareness, mobility, command and control, lethality and survivability of the soldier, resulting in a quantum leap in his fighting capabilities. The introduction of the ACMS is a part of SAF's 3rd Generation Transformation to progressively provide tactical units with network capabilities, which are vital for ensuring mission success. The ACMS allows section commanders and team leaders to become a part of a larger network that is able to tap into the wider resources of the battalion and call for more responsive and precise fire support. These sections function not only as fighting units but also as ground sensors, tracking the positions of various forces and feeding images and information back to the command headquarters for enhanced command and control of the battlefield. "With our strong electronics systems expertise, ST Electronics is committed to delivering solutions that aim to enhance the fighting effectiveness and capabilities of our soldiers," said SEAH Moon Ming, Deputy CEO, ST Engineering & President, ST Electronics. ST Electronics (Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited), the electronics arm of ST Engineering, delivers innovative system solutions to government, commercial, defence, and industrial customers worldwide. ST Engineering (Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd) is an integrated engineering group providing solutions and services in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. Headquartered in Singapore, the Group reported revenue of $5.34b in FY2008 and ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. ST Engineering has more than 19,000 employees worldwide, and over 100 subsidiaries and associated companies in 24 countries and 42 cities.

DTN News: South Korea TODAY June 9, 2009 - South Korean Army Tanks During Military Exercise Near Demilitarized Zone

DTN News: South Korea TODAY June 9, 2009 - South Korean Army Tanks During Military Exercise Near Demilitarized Zone
*Source: DTN News
(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - June 9, 2009: South Korean Army soldiers ride in self-propelled artillery vehicles during a military drill at a shooting range near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 45 km (28 miles) north of Seoul, June 9, 2009.
Relatives of two U.S. journalists sentenced to 12 years hard labour in North Korea called on the reclusive state to show compassion, while U.S. President Barack Obama's spokesman said the two were innocent and should be freed.

DTN News: China To Start Large-Scale Antiterrorism Drills June 9

DTN News: China To Start Large-Scale Antiterrorism Drills June 9
*Source: RIANOVOSTI
(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING - June 9, 2009: China will hold a weeklong large-scale exercise beginning on Wednesday to test the country's capability to combat terrorism and deal with emergency situations, Xinhua news agency reported. "The exercise will involve several areas, adopt various forms, and use various levels and sorts of antiterrorism forces," the agency cited a Chinese official as saying. The exercise, dubbed Great Wall 6, will consist of a series of specialized drills and will be carried out in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Shanxi and Hebei provinces near Beijing. "The exercise will involve several areas, adopt various forms, and use various levels and sorts of antiterrorism forces," the agency cited a Chinese official as saying. Last year, China held similar antiterrorism drills called Great Wall 5 in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. The exercises involved emergency services, police, military police, the People's Liberation Army and the health, environmental protection, meteorology and transportation services.

DTN News: China Defends Screening Software

DTN News: China Defends Screening Software *Source: DTN News (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING - June 9, 2009: China has defended the use of new screening software that has to be installed on all computers. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the software would filter out pornographic or violent material. Critics have complained that it could also be used to stop Chinese internet users searching for politically sensitive information. But Mr Qin, speaking at a regular press briefing, said China promoted the healthy development of the internet. All computers sold in China - even those that are imported - will have to be pre-installed with the "Green Dam Youth Escort" software. 'Poisoned minds' The news came in a directive from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the new regulations will come into force on 1 July. The directive says the newest version of the software has to be pre-installed on Chinese-made computers before they leave the factory. Imported computers must contain the software before they are sold. The aim is to build a healthy and harmonious online environment that does not poison young people's minds, according to the directive. Mr Qin defended the move on Tuesday: "The purpose of this is to effectively manage harmful material for the public and prevent it from being spread," he said. "The Chinese government pushes forward the healthy development of the internet. But it lawfully manages the internet," he added. The Chinese government regularly restricts access to certain internet sites and information it deems sensitive. The BBC's Chinese language website and video sharing website Youtube are currently inaccessible in Beijing. Critics fear this new software could be used by the government to enhance its internet censorship system, known as the Great Firewall of China. But a spokesman for one of the companies that developed the software, Jinhui Computer System Engineering, rejected this accusation. "It's a sheer commercial activity, having nothing to do with the government," Zhang Chenmin, the company's general manager, told the state-approved Global Times newspaper.

DTN News: South Korea's Incheon Voted World's Best Airport

DTN News: South Korea's Incheon Voted World's Best Airport
*Source: DTN News
(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - June 9, 2009: Incheon airport in Seoul, South Korea has been voted the best in the world. Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, and one of the largest and busiest in Asia. Since 2006, it has been consecutively rated as the best airport in the world and received the full 5-star ranking by Skytrax, the prestigious recognition shared only by Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport. Located 70 km (43 mi) from Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea, Incheon International Airport is the main hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and Polar Air Cargo. The airport opened for business in early 2001, replacing the older Gimpo International Airport, which now serves only domestic destinations plus shuttle flights to Tokyo (Haneda), Shanghai (Hongqiao) and Osaka (Kansai). The airport serves as a hub for international civilian air transportation and cargo traffic in East Asia. Incheon International Airport is also currently Asia's eighth busiest airport in terms of passengers, the world's fifth busiest airport in terms of cargo and freight, and the world's eleventh busiest airport in terms of international passengers in 2006. Hong Kong international airport came second, with Singapore's Changi Airport third, in a survey by the British-based Skytrax consultancy group. The agency interviewed 8.6 million passengers at 190 airports about their experiences, from check-in, departures, transfers, through to arrivals. Six Asia-Pacific airports made the top 10, along with Zurich, Munich, Amsterdam and Auckland. Skytrax said that the voting was very close between the top three airports, and at one point it thought there would be a dead-heat. Hong Kong won the award last year. Skytrax CEO, Edward Plaisted, said that Incheon had been "in the global top five ranking for the World Airport Awards during the past five to six years, and it is a great achievement for them to secure this premier mark of customer satisfaction." Incheon airport, about 60km (37 miles) from Seoul, opened in 2001 to replace Kimpo airport as the international gateway to South Korea. It is one of only three airports in South Korea making a profit. In 2006, it was the 11th busiest in the world for international passenger traffic. In the regions, Cape Town was named the best airport in Africa, Zurich in Europe, with Tel Aviv winning the award for the Middle East. Dallas/Fort Worth came top in North America, Lima in South America and Panama in Central America. Skytrax found that Dubai had the best duty free shopping; Hong Kong the best dining; Helsinki the best baggage delivery, and Kansai in Japan the "cleanest airport washrooms". Heathrow airport in London did not figure in the awards. However, it does merit "three stars" in the Skytrax consultancy rankings, along with airports such as Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Johannesburg.

DTN News: Global Military Expenditure Set New Record In 2008, Says SIPRI

DTN News: Global Military Expenditure Set New Record In 2008, Says SIPRI
*Source: SIPRI
(NSI News Source Info) STOCKHOLM - June 9, 2009: Worldwide military expenditure in 2008 totalled an estimated US$1,464 billion, according to new figures released today by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This represents an increase of 4 per cent in real terms compared to 2007, and an increase of 45 per cent since 1999. SIPRI today launched the 2009 edition of its Yearbook on Armaments, Disarmament and International Security.
The Yearbook shows that the USA accounted for the majority (58%) of the global increase between 1999 and 2008, with its military spending growing by $219 billion in constant 2005 prices over the period. Even so, it was far from the only country to pursue such a course. China and Russia, with absolute increases of $42 billion and $24 billion respectively, both nearly tripled their military expenditure over the decade. Other regional powers—particularly India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Brazil, South Korea, Algeria and the UK—also made substantial contributions to the total increase.
‘The idea of the “war on terror” has encouraged many countries to see their problems through a highly militarized lens, using this to justify high military spending,’ comments Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman, Head of the Military Expenditure Project at SIPRI. ‘Meanwhile, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost $903 billion in additional military spending by the USA alone.’ --Peacekeeping:
Besides the military expenditure figures, the release of the SIPRI Yearbook is anticipated by the international community for insight into recent developments in a number of security-related fields.
According to the Yearbook’s survey of peacekeeping operations, another record was set last year with the total of international peace operation personnel reaching 187 586, a jump of 11 per cent since 2007 (the previous record year). Despite this, some of the ambitious missions being deployed in trouble spots like Darfur and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain far short of their envisioned strengths. This means hard choices and continuing challenges in manning and sustaining these important missions.
--Arms production:
USA and West Europe dominate: The SIPRI Yearbook also includes SIPRI’s list of the top 100 arms producing companies (excluding Chinese companies). The US company Boeing remained the top arms producer in 2007—the most recent year for which reliable data are available—with arms sales worth $30.5 billion. All the top 20 companies in the ‘SIPRI Top 100’ for 2007 are US or European.
The aggregate arms sales of the SIPRI Top 100 reached $347 billion in 2007, an increase of 11 per cent in nominal terms and 5 per cent in real terms over the SIPRI Top 100 for 2006.
--Nuclear weapons:
SIPRI estimates that in total there were around 8 400 operational nuclear warheads in the world, of which almost 2000 were kept on high alert and capable of being launched in minutes. Counting spare warheads, those in storage and those due for dismantlement, there were some 23 300 nuclear weapons in the arsenals of eight states: the USA, Russia, China, the UK, France, India, Pakistan and Israel according to the Yearbook.
--Analysis:
Besides statistical information, SIPRI Yearbook 2009 also includes analysis of pressing issues and key events in the fields of international security, peace and conflicts, armaments and disarmament. Highlights in SIPRI Yearbook 2009 include a chapter by Francis Deng and Roberta Cohen, architects of the UN policy on internally displaced populations, which points to the linked problems of population displacement and ‘one-sided’ violence committed by armed forces against civilians.
Other chapters examine the prospects for the war in Afghanistan and developments in the control of conventional, chemical, biological and nuclear arms. And for the first time, the SIPRI Yearbook includes the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Peace Index, which ranks 144 countries according to their relative peacefulness.
Established in 1966, SIPRI is an independent research institute focusing on international security, arms control, and disarmament. SIPRI has built its reputation on authoritative, balanced research, including its flagship publication, the SIPRI Yearbook. SIPRI was recently named as one of the world’s leading think tanks in the ‘Think Tank Index’ issued by the journal Foreign Policy.
Click here to reach the SIPRI Yearbook 2009’s home page.

DTN News: India Fast-Track Acquisition For Defense ~ US Offers Its Coast Guard Choppers To India

DTN News: India Fast-Track Acquisition For Defense ~ US Offers Its Coast Guard Choppers To India (NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - June 9, 2009: The US has offered to lease out 12 of its Coast Guard's twin-engine helicopters to India which is looking to strengthen its coastal security following the Mumbai terror attacks.Dornier 228 NG ~ Purchased from Germany principally to be used as a light transport aircraft in the IAF, they are used in a variety of roles such as maritime patrol, search & rescue and reconnaissance in the Navy and in the Coast Guard. Both services operates 24 examples each of the type. The Do-228s complement the Tu-142 and the Il-38, in the maritime surveillance role, and are used to patrol coastal areas as well. In March 2005, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the induction of eleven Do-228-101 aircraft for the Indian Navy. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that the purchase of these aircraft along with spares, engines, ground support equipment and operational role equipment would cost Rs 726 crore including a foreign exchange component of Rs 431.65 crore. He also mentioned that these aircraft will be used for maritime surveillance. No.310 Cobras Squadron was re-commissioned, with six Do-228 aircraft, in the IW (Information Warfare) role. The squadron is based at INS Hansa at Dabolim, Goa and is used in the ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) role. A press release from the MoD, dated 17 August 2005, stated that the Indian Navy acquired ten Do-228 aircraft from November 1998 to December 1999, for a cost of Rs 388.30 crore. HAL has received a $72 million order for seven license-built Do-228-101 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) from the Coast Guard. They are likely to be supplemented by an additional 12 aircraft, in the follow-on five-year plan period after 2007. Deliveries were expected to commence in 2001 and was expected to take two years to complete. To date, there have been no confirmed reports from the Indian Coast Guard or HAL indicating that deliveries have taken place.*
"As the acquisition process will take time, we (India) want to have 12 twin-engine helicopters on lease for the Coast Guard. The US has offered to lease out its Coast Guard helicopters to us," a senior Defence Ministry official said here today.
However, India has also got some offers from within the country. But it has to be seen if these civilian helicopters would meet the Coast Guard's military needs, the official said.
Under the fast-track acquisition process, the Coast Guard was asked by the government to purchase 12 Dornier transport aircraft for medium-range surveillance activities and the proposal has been approved already.
"The purchase of 12 dorniers for the Coast Guard has been approved and government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will supply five Dorniers by this year end," the official said, when asked about the fast-track acquisition process in the wake of the 26/11 attacks.
The 12 twin-engine helicopters to be leased were meant to augment the Dornier fleet for surveillance and reconnaissance activities.

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY June 9, 2009 - Pakistan Military In Swat Valley During Offensive Against Taliban

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY June 9, 2009 - Pakistan Military In Swat Valley During Offensive Against Taliban
*Source: DTN News
(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - June 9, 2009: Pakistani army soldiers and tanks stop over during curfew break in the Dir district, where troops launched an offensive against militants June 8, 2009. Pakistani villagers enraged with the Taliban after the bombing of a mosque battled the militants on Monday, underscoring a shift in public opinion away. from the hardline Islamists.
The military has been fighting the Taliban in the Swat valley, northwest of the capital, for more than a month after the militants took advantage of a peace pact to conquer new areas.

DTN News: Gaza TODAY June 9, 2009 - Mounted Palestinian Hamas Policemen On Duty

DTN News: Gaza TODAY June 9, 2009 - Mounted Palestinian Hamas Policemen On Duty
*Source: DTN News
(NSI News Source Info) GAZA CITY - June 9, 2009: Mounted Palestinian Hamas policemen secure an area as Ismail Haniya, head of the Hamas government in Gaza, (not seen) visits a school in Gaza City on June 8, 2009. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering easing a stifling blockade imposed on Hamas-ruled Gaza for nearly two years, officials said in the face of growing US pressure.
Israel slapped the punishing siege on the Gaza Strip, allowing in only essential humanitarian aid, after Hamas violently seized power in June 2007.

DTN News: Boeing Completes 787 Intermediate Gauntlet Testing

DTN News: Boeing Completes 787 Intermediate Gauntlet Testing
*Source: Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) EVERETT, Wash. - June 9, 2009: Boeing has completed the intermediate gauntlet phase of testing on the first 787 Dreamliner. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It will carry between 210 and 330 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration. Boeing stated that it will be more fuel-efficient than earlier Boeing airliners and will be the first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction. Boeing's development of the 787 is also innovative in the collaborative management approach with suppliers. During the testing, pilots and engineers simulated multiple scenarios using all airplane systems as if the aircraft were in flight, including power, avionics and flight controls. Test scenarios ranged from standard flights to single and multiple systems failures during flights. Intermediate gauntlet testing included about one week's worth of operations on the airplane and hundreds of discrete test conditions. "The team has done an incredible job supporting an exhaustive test regimen," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "I couldn't be more proud. "We will continue to take a hard look at the results, make adjustments and finish up our testing so we can get to first flight." Beginning June 9, at noon PDT (7 p.m. GMT), video highlights including the road to gauntlet, gauntlet testing highlights and a tribute to the men and women conducting the gauntlet testing can be found at http://www.boeing.com/ and http://www.newairplane.com/.

DTN News: Raytheon Receives $217 Million For Volume Search Radar For Zumwalt And CVN 78

DTN News: Raytheon Receives $217 Million For Volume Search Radar For Zumwalt And CVN 78 *Source: Raytheon Company
(NSI News Source Info) TEWKSBURY, Mass. - June 9, 2009: Raytheon Company was awarded a $217 million U.S. Navy contract for two Volume Search Radar (VSR) arrays for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program and the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). With these constraints in mind the Navy developed what was initially known as the "CVN-21" program, which ultimately evolved into CVN-78, Gerald R. Ford. Improvements were made through developing technologies and more efficient design. Major design changes include a larger flight deck, improvements in weapons and material handling, a new propulsion plant design that requires fewer personnel to operate and maintain, and a new smaller island that has been pushed aft. Technological advances in the field of electromagnetics have led to the development of an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System, (EMALS), and an Advanced Arresting Gear, (AAG). An integrated warfare system has been developed to support flexibility in adapting the infrastructure of the ship to future mission roles. The new Dual Band Radar (DBR) combines S-band and X-band radar in a single system. With new design and technology the Ford will have a 25% increase in sortie generation, threefold increase in electrical generating capacity, increased operational availability, and a number of quality life improvements. "This contract demonstrates the Navy's continuing confidence in the maturity of this radar technology and the capability of the industry team to deliver the Zumwalt-class radar suite and combat system," said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) Michael Sosin, Zumwalt program manager and vice president of Integrated Warfare Systems. The Navy's Dual Band Radar combines the benefits of S-band and X-band radar capabilities to provide superior performance in a wide range of environments, while its innovative open architecture software design allows automatic operation with minimal human intervention. The S-band VSR radar arrays, built by Lockheed Martin, are integrated with Raytheon's SPY-3 X-band Multi-Function Radar to form the advanced DBR, which is currently undergoing testing at the Navy's Engineering Test Center, Wallops Island, Va. Under the contract, Raytheon will procure long-lead materials for the VSR and will manufacture, test and deliver the radar system for the CVN 78 to support carrier air operations. The contract includes an option to produce a second VSR unit for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program. Work will be performed at Raytheon's Surveillance and Sensor Center, Sudbury, Mass., and Lockheed Martin, Moorestown, N.J. Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities Integration, providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security. 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

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Makes Delivery Of Flight-Ready Integrated CNI System for F-35 Lightning II

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Makes Delivery Of Flight-Ready Integrated CNI System for F-35 Lightning II
*Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NSI News Source Info) SAN DIEGO - June 9, 2009: Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the initial flight-ready integrated communications, navigation and identification (CNI) system for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program. The system has successfully completed safety of flight tests and obtained approval for flying this summer onboard the first mission systems equipped F-35 aircraft. When fully developed, Northrop Grumman's integrated CNI system will provide the capability equivalent of more than 40 avionics subsystem functions to F-35 pilots. By using its industry-leading software-defined radio technology, Northrop Grumman's design enables simultaneous support for dozens of critical functions while greatly reducing size and weight on the advanced fighter. These functions include Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), automatic acquisition of fly-to points and various voice and data communications such as the Multifunction Advanced Data Link that was approved by the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Requirements Oversight Council for use on all low-observable platforms. "This will be the first of many integrated CNI avionics systems that will fly on F-35 aircraft," said Roger Fujii, vice president of Network Communication Systems for Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "We have been pleased with our system's performance on the CATBird (Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter Cooperative Avionics Test Bed), and those flight tests give us high confidence in the next-generation communications capabilities we continue to bring to the warfighter." The integrated CNI system that was delivered to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has nearly 500,000 lines of software and incorporates the Joint Tactical Radio System software architecture. Delivered capabilities include Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency receive and transmit, IFF transponder, radar altimeter, tactical air navigation (TACAN) and system hardware and software diagnostics. The F-35 is a supersonic, multirole, 5th generation stealth fighter. Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide, will replace at least 13 types of aircraft for nine nations initially, making the Lightning II the most cost-effective fighter program in history. 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: General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Completes Main Propulsion System Testing In Preparation For LCS 2 Sea Trials

DTN News: General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Completes Main Propulsion System Testing In Preparation For LCS 2 Sea Trials
*Source: General Dynamics (NSI News Source Info) BATH, Maine – June 9, 2009: The General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, led by Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, recently completed testing of the main propulsion system for Independence (LCS 2) in preparation for the ship’s upcoming builder’s at-sea trials. The ship, which is in its final stages of system test and activation, is being constructed at Austal USA facilities in Mobile, Alabama.
USS Independence (LCS-2), the class prototype for the Independence-class littoral combat ship, will be the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the concept of independence. It is the design competitor produced by the General Dynamics consortium, in competition with the Lockheed Martin-designed USS Freedom, the prototype for the Freedom-class littoral combat ship. It is intended as a small assault transport with a variety of capabilities depending on the mission module installed. The ship is a trimaran design capable of over 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph), and will probably be delivered to the US Navy in September 2009.
All components of the combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) main propulsion system which drive the ship’s four independent steerable water jets have been tested. The two diesel engines, two gas turbine engines, and four water jets are operational and all four propulsion shafts have been successfully rotated. The four ship’s service diesel generators were successfully brought on-line in earlier testing.
The ship will soon undergo a series of dockside tests before going to sea for builder’s trials this summer.
Jeff Geiger, president of Bath Iron Works, said, “With the main propulsion system now ready, we’re well on the way toward getting this ship to sea. It’s a major accomplishment for the GD LCS team and Navy personnel who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point. We will continue to perform system activation, testing and integration efforts over the next several weeks but with this milestone under our belts, everyone is looking forward to taking in the lines and putting Independence through its paces in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Independence is one of two ship designs that will be evaluated by the U.S. Navy as part of its plan to build a total of 55 Littoral Combat Ships. When delivered later this year, it will be the U.S. Navy’s first trimaran warship. Independence (LCS 2) will be homeported in San Diego.
The Littoral Combat Ship is a major part of the Navy’s plan to address asymmetric threats of the 21st century. Intended to operate in coastal areas, the ships will be fast, highly maneuverable and geared to supporting mine detection/elimination, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, particularly against small surface craft. The 419-foot ship provides superior seakeeping, propulsion efficiency and aviation capability. Key features include a large, below-deck open mission bay with a high payload capacity, enabling the ship to carry equipment and personnel for a variety of missions. The General Dynamics LCS’s large flight deck will support near-simultaneous operation of two SH-60 helicopters or multiple unmanned vehicles. The ultra-stable trimaran hull also allows for flight operations in high sea conditions.
The ship’s open architecture computing infrastructure (OPEN CI) is the computing backbone that handles the combat, damage control, engineering control, mission package and other computing functions onboard the General Dynamics LCS. Developed by the General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems team, the OPEN CI design made it possible to rapidly achieve successful operation of the propulsion system from the General Dynamics LCS Integrated Command Center.
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the prime contractor for the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team. Partners include Austal USA (Mobile, Ala.); BAE Systems (Rockville, MD); General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (Fairfax, Va.); L3 Communications Marine Systems (Leesburg, Va.); Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (Baltimore, Md.); and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, Md.).
Bath Iron Works, a leader in surface combatant design and construction, employs approximately 5,700 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 30 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world, to the U.S. Navy. Four additional ships are currently under construction for delivery by 2011. The shipyard is also building the lead ship of the Navy’s Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class of guided missile destroyers.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,900 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

DTN News: General Dynamics Awarded $20 Million Contract By The U.S. Army For Fort Belvoir IT Services

DTN News: General Dynamics Awarded $20 Million Contract By The U.S. Army For Fort Belvoir IT Services *Source: General Dynamics
(NSI News Source Info) FAIRFAX, Va. – June 9, 2009: General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a five-year, $20 million contract to support the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office-Enterprise Information Systems (PEO-EIS), Installation Management Systems–Army Project Office located at Fort Belvoir, Va. General Dynamics will provide a full complement of program management and information technology (IT) services for a suite of installation-management automated systems. These services include programmatic and technical engineering management support to the Project Office for planning and executing the design, development, deployment, training and lifecycle sustainment of hardware and software applications that support Army and U.S. Marine Corps warfighters.
Additionally, General Dynamics will provide expert technical support for database design and enhancement, configuration management, and verification and validation of updated software packages in support of the Army Installation’s and Combatant Commanders’ global strategic initiatives.
“Seamless operation of hardware and software applications is critical to the success of the warfighter,” said Zannie Smith, senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology’s Army Solutions Division. “We will partner with PEO-EIS to ensure that the IT management systems they rely on function smoothly and without interruption.”
As a trusted systems integrator for more than 50 years, General Dynamics Information Technology provides information technology (IT), systems engineering and professional services to customers in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, federal civilian government and commercial sectors. With approximately 16,000 professionals worldwide, the company manages large-scale, mission-critical IT programs delivering IT services and enterprise solutions. More information about General Dynamics Information Technology is available at http://www.gdit.com/.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,900 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

DTN News: Pakistani Tribesmen Rise Up Against Taliban

DTN News: Pakistani Tribesmen Rise Up Against Taliban By Catherine Maddux
(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD - 9 June, 2009: Top Pakistani and U.S. officials have repeatedly declared there is a major change in the public mood against Taliban militants in Pakistan. In what could be the latest evidence of that sentiment, hundreds of armed Pakistani tribesman are attacking Taliban positions in a remote area in the northwest following a suicide attack last week on a packed mosque that killed dozens of people, including children. In this June 7, 2009 photo, Qari Zainuddin, second from right, the leader of a Taliban faction, accompanied by his bodyguards, pauses outside his office after an interview with The Associated Press, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Zainuddin urged tribal leaders to resist Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud and said his fighters, he claimed to have 3,000, would stay neutral if the army launches an operation in South Waziristan, Mehsud's stronghold. In Pakistan's remote district of Upper Dir near the border with Afghanistan, the shock of the attack on the mosque during Friday prayers turned to anger a day later.
That is when at least 400 armed tribesmen formed a civilian army, commonly called a "lashkar," and started attacking Taliban militants in several villages. Reports say anywhere from seven to 13 Taliban militants were killed and several of their hideouts destroyed.
The civilian uprising in Upper Dir appears to be the latest evidence of growing anti-Taliban sentiment among the public, according to Fazal-ur-Rehman, Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad.
Rehman says this is a new development among the Pakistani public, one that is linked to the month-long military offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley.
"Now with government support and the military operation (in Swat), they have seen that this is the time to get themselves organized in order to create a resistance against these Taliban," Rehman said.
"What you can see now are the initial signs of this trend."Rehman says local lashkars like the one that formed in Upper Dir have been encouraged by Pakistani officials, who have come to realize that security forces simply cannot extend their reach throughout Pakistan to stop militant attacks.
"Empowering local people to create their own defense mechanism and their own defense system - this kind of local management of security affairs will be very helpful," said Rehman.
But, he warns, this type of local uprising will not last without strong backing from government officials. Aftab Sherpao, a former interior minister and chief minister in the North West Frontier Province, says the public does not trust officials to provide security. Still, he says there are ways the government can capitalize on the growing dislike of the Taliban.
He says the government needs to make sure the Swat Valley operation, and the resulting displacement of more than two million people, is handled in a humane fashion. "Once the operations are finished and the government has established its writ, they have to take the IDP's (internally displaced people) in a very organized manner back to their homes. The reconstruction and rehabilitation has to start and the police force has to be established," said Sherpao. "They can recruit the police from the IDPs living in the camps. This is the process that is being very keenly watched by the public across the country. If this goes well, that will generate a lot of good will."
The army's ability to clear Taliban militants from key areas of the Swat Valley and elsewhere in the region has been praised from Islamabad to Washington. And although the army says the battle will not be over until top Taliban leaders are captured or killed in the Swat region, Pakistani officials say they are confident the Taliban are on the defensive.
A Pakistani police officer examines a damaged vehicle after a bomb explosion on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, June 8, 2009. In the latest violence, a remote-controlled bomb exploded Monday near a police patrol in Peshawar, killing one officer, police said.
But the Taliban have shown they are still capable of striking the country's main cities. On Saturday evening as the lashkar in Upper Dir began to fight local Taliban, a suicide bomber penetrated a police compound in the capital, Islamabad, killing two policemen.