Wednesday, June 30, 2010

DTN News: Russian Helicopters And AgustaWestland Start Building Joint Civil AW139 Final Assembly Line Plant

DTN News: Russian Helicopters And AgustaWestland Start Building Joint Civil AW139 Final Assembly Line Plant
Source: DTN News / Russian Helicopters
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - July 1, 2010: Russian Helicopters (subsidiary of JSC UIC Oboronprom, part of Russian Technologies State Corporation) and AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica company) are pleased to announce that the set up of a joint civil AW139 medium twin helicopter final assembly plant started with a ground-breaking ceremony, solemnly laying a time capsule in the base of the foundation at the industrial area in Tomilino, near Moscow, during an official ceremony held today and attended by representatives and dignitaries from the partners. The final assembly line is being built on a total area of 40 thousand m2. The projected capacity is in excess of 20 helicopters per year, with production expected to progressively increase, from 5 units in 2011 to steady state regime in 2015. The plant, aimed at satisfying the requirements of the civil markets in Russia and CIS countries primarily and - through the AgustaWestland network - for the rest of the world,will be run by HeliVert, a Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland “equal” joint venture. The total headcount at maximum capacity will be over 100 people. The ground-breaking milestone is the latest achievement in the framework of the staged strategic cooperation between UIC Oboronprom and AgustaWestland started in summer 2007 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding “for cooperation development in the field of helicopter production”. A Heads of Agreement was later signed in Farnborough in July 2008 for the purpose of establishing a joint venture to set up and run a civil AW139 final assembly line in Russia. This was followed by the Joint Venture Agreement signed on November 6th 2008June 2010 paving the path to start building the plant in Tomilino. in occasion of the Italy-Russia intergovernmental summit held at the Kremlin in Moscow and attended by the Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. A shareholder agreement was subsequently signed in According to Sergey Chemezov, Director General of Russian Technologies “the organisation of a joint Russian-Italian helicopter assembly is a new step in developing our business relations with our strategic partner, Italian company Finmeccanica. This is an important event not only for the helicopter industry, but for Russian mechanical engineering as a whole. It is noteworthy that this is happening in difficult financial and economic conditions and proves that the crisis can and must be fought with joint efforts and using all opportunities.” Oboronprom Director General Andrey Reus thinks that “the start of the plant’s construction signifies a new stage of the growing mutually beneficial cooperation between Russian and Italian helicopter manufacturers. Thanks to it we will gain access to new technical production solutions and high helicopter servicing quality standards. We will seek to broaden our cooperation, including by gradually localizing Italian helicopter manufacture in Russia.” “Russian Helicopters is increasing its presence on foreign markets, delivering Russian rotorcraft to foreign customers and opening service centres,” Russian Helicopters COO Andrei Shibitov said. “In this respect we are greatly interested in the foreign experience of organizing, managing, planning, certificating production processes, and know-how in managing the entire lifecycle of a product. We are set to gain maximum benefit from joint work with the Italian partners. Russian helicopters will strengthen Russia’s commercial positions on the international helicopter market.” “We have been building a remarkable industrial base in Russia in recent years by establishing major collaborations with prime local companies in various fields of the civil sector.” Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Finmeccanica, said. “This latest landmark provides clear evidence of our commitment to playing an increasing role in the region by the mean of a mutually beneficial industrial cooperation, particularly in the civil rotorcraft sector.” Giuseppe Orsi, Chief Executive Officer of AgustaWestland added “It gives us great pleasure to be here with our Russian partners both concretely and symbolically laying the foundations of what we are confident will be a bright future of industrial cooperation based on the world best selling AW139. This model has been identified and selected by the Russian industry as the benchmark helicopter in its category to meet a variety of demanding requirements in the Russian and CIS civil markets.” AW139 (I-AWRH) arrived in Tomilino near Moscow for a ground-breaking ceremony. AW139– a medium twin helicopter of 6400kg take-off weight, is capable to carry up to 15 passengers. It is used as a corporate-transport and VIP helicopter as well as for offshore, in emergency situations, for rescue and fire-fighting operations. Finmeccanica plays a leading role in the global aerospace and defence industry, and participates in some of the sector’s biggest international programmes through its group companies and well-established alliances with European and US partners. A leader in the design and manufacture of helicopters, defence and security electronics, civil and military aircraft, aerostructures, satellites, space infrastructure, defence systems, transport and energy sectors Finmeccanica is Italy’s leading high-tech company. AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is a major force in commercial and military helicopter markets around the world and offers an unrivalled range of helicopters, training and support solutions to satisfy customer's mission requirements. AgustaWestland's main facilities are located in Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Russian Technologies State Corporation, created in November 2007, is designed to assist Russian organisations-developers and manufacturers of high technology industrial products in their development, production and exports, by providing support in domestic and foreign markets and attracting investments to different industries, to raise the level of Russian products, lower their cost and production time. UIC Oboronprom, RusSpetsStal, VSMPO-AVISMA, AVTOVAZ and other structures are a part of Russian Technologies. UIC OBORONPROM, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. Its main tasks include helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters managing company), engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company), air defense systems and complex electronic systems (Defense Systems holding company), and other machine-building activities. The companies of the group reported revenues of over 130 billion roubles in 2009. Russian Helicopters, JSC is an affiliated company of UIC Oboronprom. It is the managing body of the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Vpered Moscow Machine-Building Plant, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM , Helicopter Service Company (VSK) and Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant.

DTN News: Bulgarian - US Military Strategic Partnership And F-16 Fighter Jets

DTN News: Bulgarian - US Military Strategic Partnership And F-16 Fighter Jets
Source: DTN News - compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including The Sofia Echo
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 1, 2010: Bulgarian Defence Minister Anyo Angelov has held talks with defence secretary Robert Gates, where the two officials discussed the heightened Bulgarian-US strategic military partnership, the Defence Ministry website reported on June 29 2010.
The talks concentrated on the Novo Selo military base in Bulgaria, ongoing Nato operations and Bulgaria's contribution in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the potential sale of US fighter jets to Bulgaria and the missile defence shield.
"Our strategic partnership with the US must develop further and encompass all possible fields, because this is a vital buttress in our mutual defence policy for the future," Angelov said during the meeting, according to the official Government statement.
Angelov also informed his American counterpart of the ongoing structural reforms within the Bulgarian armed forces, expressing his thanks for "sustained and methodical American assistance". Angelov thanked Gates for American logistical support provided to the Bulgarian military contingents in Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan and for air force co-operation between the two countries.
Among the topics stressed during the meeting, according to the official statement, was the possibility of Bulgaria buying multi-purpose F-16 fighter jets from the US.
In May 2010, Angelov announced that the Defence Ministry was interested in securing a number of such fighter jets for the Bulgarian Air Force.
Designed as a lightweight fighter, the F-16 concept metamorphosed into a multi-purpose all-weather combat and superiority fighter/bomber interceptor. The Falcon's versatility is behind its international success and the large numbers sold, as it is currently in active service in the air forces of 25 nations.
To date, the F-16 programme represents the largest western jet fighter roster, with more than 4400 aircraft built since production was initially approved in 1976.
The US air force is no longer a participant in the programme; it will gradually replace the plane by the F-35 VTOAL, but the old model will continue to be in active service in the USAF until 2025. Meanwhile, advanced versions are still being built for export customers.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY June 30, 2010 - NATO Forces Repel Taliban Attack On Airbase

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY June 30, 2010 - NATO Forces Repel Taliban Attack On Airbase Source: DTN News - compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including VOA (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 30, 2010: Militants set off a car bomb and used rocket-propelled grenades to storm the entrance of an airbase outside Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border Wednesday. The Taliban say six suicide bombers killed dozens of Afghan and foreign forces in the brazen daylight attack. But NATO spokesman Brigadier General Josef Blotz refutes that claim."In this incident several insurgents were killed and I can tell you that the security perimeter was not breached and the insurgents were being stopped by Afghan and ISAF forces very effectively," Blotz said. The attack appeared planned and coordinated, much like a Taliban assault last May on the Bagram air base, NATO's biggest in Afghanistan. June has been the bloodiest month of the near nine-year-old war for foreign troops, with over 100 killed. The rising toll comes amid a troop surge for an operation that seeks to take on the Taliban in their heartland. On Tuesday in Washington, U.S. General David Petraeus warned there are still difficult days ahead. "My sense is that the tough fighting will continue, " he said. "Indeed, it may get more intense in the next few months. As we take away the enemy's safe havens and reduce the enemy's freedom of action, the Insurgents will fight back. "Petraeus has been nominated to head the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan after his predecessor, General Stanley McChrystal, resigned. McChrystal and his aides had made disparaging remarks about Obama administration officials in a magazine interview. At Tuesday's Senate confirmation hearing, Petraeus said he believes the Afghan government and its international allies can still succeed in the fight against the Taliban. But many observers say any progress will be slow. Jeremy Binnie, a terrorism and insurgency expert at IHS Jane's defense group, says instead of making sustainable gains and winning over the public, coalition troops have been preoccupied with chasing insurgents. "What we're typically seeing that the coalition and Afghan allies are capable of securing sort of district centers, the center of these towns, and displacing the Taliban out of them," he says. "But the insurgents merely move a few miles down the road and they sort of set up a new safe haven and then they do their absolute utmost to undermine any perception of security." Rampant corruption in the Afghan government is also raising doubts about the overall war strategy that is now aimed at winning the support of civilians and potential militant defectors. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Kabul Wednesday to discuss the country's anti-corruption efforts. He also will discuss ways to improve Afghanistan's judicial system in his meetings with Afghan and U.S. officials. *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Highlights Unmanned Systems Capabilities at UV Europe 2010

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Highlights Unmanned Systems Capabilities at UV Europe 2010
Source: DTN News / Northrop Grumman Dt. June 29, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 30, 2010: Northrop Grumman Corporation is participating in the UV Europe conference and exhibition where it will highlight its comprehensive capabilities and experience in unmanned systems. Northrop Grumman is an industry leader in the ISR domain and has been in the unmanned systems business for more than 60 years, providing 100,000 unmanned systems to military customers in the U.S. and around the world. In unmanned ground systems, the company has served the military, explosive ordnance disposal and hazardous materials units and other first responders for more than 25-years as a leading provider of mobile robotic systems for applications in hazardous and potentially life-threatening environments. UV Europe takes place 29-30 June 2010 at the Husa President Park Hotel, Brussels, Belgium and will address military and civil unmanned systems operating in all three environments – air, land and sea. Northrop Grumman representatives will be among the speakers at the conference. Gene Fraser, sector vice president, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems will give a presentation on unmanned aircraft systems in the maritime irregular warfare environment including piracy, maritime patrol and non-combat operations. Trevor Hughes, head of Engineering, Unmanned Ground Vehicles for Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector in Europe will speak on unmanned ground vehicles in the explosive ordnance disposal role. “As unmanned aircraft systems technologies mature, modern armed forces are realizing that the integration of autonomous systems into operational networks can result in considerable savings while significantly improving mission capability,” said Fraser. “Unmanned aircraft offer vital persistent intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities for peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions but also have an increasingly important role in maritime patrol and non-combat operations.” Northrop Grumman announced this month that it has been awarded a $517 million (£350.6 million) agreement to develop up to three Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) hybrid airship weapons systems for the U.S. Army. These new systems will be capable of providing persistent surveillance for more than three weeks at a time. Northrop Grumman is providing the Euro Hawk® based on the Block 20 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAS. Euro Hawk® will serve as the German Air Force’s HALE SIGINT system and is the first international configuration of the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The company is also prime contractor for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (NATO AGS) system, currently in development at the company’s Melbourne, Fla. facility, in which the Block 40 RQ-4 version of the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft UAV is a key component. Northrop Grumman has been a leading supplier of unmanned ground vehicles for more than 25-years. From its UK facility in Coventry the company designs, engineers and manufactures a range of unmanned ground vehicles and equipment specifically configured for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), security and surveillance sensing, HazMat and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear applications. Northrop Grumman manufactures the Wheelbarrow vehicle, one of the most capable and reliable unmanned vehicles for EOD operations available. The company is also the prime contractor for CUTLASS the next generation of robotic vehicle for bomb disposal operations being developed for the UK MoD.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: The Royal Air Force Of Oman Takes Delivery Of Its First NH90 Helicopter

DTN News: The Royal Air Force Of Oman Takes Delivery Of Its First NH90 Helicopter
Source: DTN News / NH Industries Dt. June 29, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 30, 2010: NHIndustries is pleased to announce the delivery on time of the first batch of two NH90.multipurpose helicopters ordered by the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO).
The Certificate of Transfer of both helicopters occurred on June 23 on the Royal Air Force of Oman base of MUSANA after a very demanding 2 months evaluation period in severe operational conditions.
This initial delivery which marks the first delivery of an NH90 in the middle east will be followed ahead of schedule, in July, by the acceptance process of the second batch of NH90.
These helicopters are supported by an integrated NHI/ RAFO maintenance team who will operate for the 1st time in the NH90 world a specific maintenance tool: GLIMS (Ground Logistic Information Management System). The RAFO have up to now ordered 20 NH90 TTH in order to replace its fleet of ageing AB205A/206/212/214.The NH90 TTH chosen by Oman is to date one of the most advanced and versatile version of the NH90.
This NH90 fleet will cover a wide spectrum of missions from the VIP transport, to troop transport and Search and Rescue missions round the clock in the most demanding conditions.
This new generation helicopter combines a full composite airframe, an outstanding fly by wire control system, with two powerful engines and an integrated mission system in order to offer its customers the best level of performance of its class.
In addition, NHIndustries and its partner companies ensure the training of the crews and the support of the Omani fleet in order to guarantee the highest level of availability. The introduction of such an advanced transport helicopter in the middle east attracts the attention of several countries in the region. The NH90 is the most successful European helicopter programme ever. A total of 529 firm orders have been placed by 19 armed forces in 14 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Spain and Belgium in Europe, as well as Australia, Oman and New Zealand overseas and 49 NH90 helicopters are already in service today.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

DTN News: Iran's Intelligence Ministry Urges Moving Away From Russia

DTN News: Iran's Intelligence Ministry Urges Moving Away From Russia
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 30, 2010: Iran's Intelligence Ministry has called for a "decrease" in ties with Russia, according to Hossein Ebrahimi, a parliament deputy and a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.
Ebrahimi told the semiofficial ILNA news agency that the demand was discussed during a meeting between committee members and officials of the Intelligence Ministry.
He said lawmakers favor reducing ties with Russia as well as China because of their support for the June 9 UN resolution that imposed new sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its sensitive nuclear activities. Ebrahimi added, however, that because representatives from all decision-making bodies were not present at the meeting, a common decision on the issue was not reached.
"China and Russia gave priority to their own interests over their relations with us. Therefore, ties with these countries will definitely change, but we need a comprehensive study on how to proceed," Ebrahimi was quoted as saying.
Tehran is also angry at Russia's decision to freeze a deal to send the S-300 air-defense missile system to the Islamic Republic. The head of the Iran-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Mehdi Sanae'i, was quoted as saying on June 24 that "Moscow's failure to deliver the air-defense missile system to Tehran would not only hinder cooperation between the two states, but also damage the country's status in finding new partners in the region."
Defense Minister Saeed Vahidi has also called on Russia to adhere to a 2007 agreement between the two countries on the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Tehran. Earlier this week, U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs William Burns said that the Russians have given their assurances that they would not deliver the system in accordance with UN sanctions.
Tensions between Russia and Iran came to public attention last month after Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad criticized Russia for supporting a new round of UN sanctions and said that interpreting Russia's behavior "has become more and more difficult for us."
"Our people don't know if [the Russians] are our friends, on our side, or after something different," Ahmadinejad said.Despite the tensions, Russia has said that the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which it is building in southwestern Iran, will begin operating in August.
The launch of the plant has been delayed several times in recent years.Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asfghar Soltanieh, said on June 15 that Iran has reached the conclusion that Russia’s delay in launching Bushehr is "also politically motivated," pointing to Russia’s vote in favor of new sanctions against Iran."
Of course, there may exist some technical complications, but it is hard to believe that these technical issues have continued to postpone the completion of the plant over the past 15 years," Soltanieh said, adding that the Bushehr plant was originally scheduled to be completed in no more than five years.
More delays in the launch of the Bushehr plant are likely to increase tensions between the two countries.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com Disclaimer statement Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein, DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions expressed herein are those of the author of the page and do not necessarily represent the corporate views of DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News.

DTN News: Indian Navy Commissioned Two Warships Into Navy Fleet

DTN News: Indian Navy Commissioned Two Warships Into Navy Fleet
Source: DTN News - compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
(NSI News Source Info) VISAKHAPATNAM, India - June 30, 2010: Giving a boost to Navy's defence capabilities, two state-of-the-art high-speed warships, INS Cankarso and INS Kondul, were commissioned here today in the naval fleet.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan commissioned the ships in the presence of Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Anup Singh and other senior Naval officials.
The indigenously-built ships use water jet propulsion technology and can achieve speeds in excess of 35 knots. They will be based in Goa and tasked with the role of detecting, locating and destroying small, fast-moving enemy surface craft engaged in covert operations, a Navy spokesman said.
INS Cankarso and INS Kondul are fitted with 30-mm CRN-91 gun built by Ordnance Factory, Medak, and Igla missiles and set of machine guns ranging from light to heavy. "These features are an improvement over the previous fast attack craft (FAC) ships," the spokesman said.
These two ships are the first lot of the ten similar ships that the Navy proposed to induct in its fleet. They belong to the Car Nicobar class V and VI in the FAC series.
"In addition to their primary role, the ships will be tasked with the role of policing, anti-smuggling and fisheries protection in India's coastal waters. In the long run, these ships could help in ensuring stability in India's maritime zones of responsibility," the spokesman said.
These vessels are an improved version of the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) earlier constructed by GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers) with a more efficient hull-form design and has been proven after extensive model testing to achieve speed in excess of 35 knots.
These ships will stay close to the coastline and be used mainly for patrolling and rescue operations. Rear Admiral T S Ganeshan (Retd) - the Chairman & Managing Director of GRSE - stated, "The ships have submarine warfare capability and are not vulnerable themselves."
This would indicate a sonar fit and anti-submarine warfare weaponry, such as torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets.
The first vessel - Car Nicobar - has been named after the northernmost of the Nicobar Islands. The second vessel - Chetlat - has been named after the northernmost of the Lakshwadeep Islands and was launched by Mrs Beena Suthan, the wife of Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan - the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. These are the first warships to be built at the built at the Rajabagan Dockyards purchased by GRSE in July 2006.
In a unique event, on 16 Feb 09, the Indian Navy will commission two ships, INS Carnicobar & INS Chetlat on the same day. These would be the first two in a series of ten Water Jet fast attack ships being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata. The ships are being commissioned at Chennai by the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala and are the first ever water jet propelled ships of the Indian Navy. The commissioning marks another step in the direction of indigenisation of the Navy’s ship building efforts. These fast attack crafts are named after pristine islands located in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep respectively and will be based at Chennai thereby strengthening coastal security of the region. These fast attack crafts are most suited for interception of fast moving surface crafts apart from performing anti smuggling, fisheries protection, as well as search and rescue operations where time is of paramount importance.
These are the two ships of a new generation of ten Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts, designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata. They are an improvement upon the earlier version of the Fast Attack Crafts, with a more efficient hull form developed indigenously. The Fast Attack Crafts can achieve speeds in excess of 35 knots.

DTN News: BAE Systems Participates In RAAF F/A-18 Hornet Centre Barrel Replacement Program

DTN News: BAE Systems Participates In RAAF F/A-18 Hornet Centre Barrel Replacement Program
Source: DTN News / BAE Systems
(NSI News Source Info) NEWCASTLE, Australia - June 30, 2010: BAE Systems participated as the primary subcontractor to L-3 MAS (Canada) in the successful completion of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornet Centre Barrel Replacement (CBR) Program. The tenth and final F/A-18 Hornet to be modified as part of this program was handed to the Commonwealth this month during an official ceremony held at the BAE Systems facility in Williamtown, NSW. The CBR Program, an integral part of the Structural Refurbishment Program Phase 2 (SRP2) for the F/A-18 Hornet fighter, involved the complete replacement of the aircraft’s centre fuselage (Centre Barrel section) near the wing root. L-3 MAS, the world leader in F/A-18 Centre Barrel Replacement, selected BAE Systems Australia as the teaming partner in Australia to conduct the in-country scope of work. The CBR Program, which commenced in 2006, is a complex engineering and maintenance undertaking which has substantially extended the service life of the ten upgraded aircraft. BAE Systems Australia provided the structural “Tear Down” and “Rebuild” elements of the CBR Program from its facility in Williamtown, NSW. “Tear Down” involved the dismantling of the aircraft and preparation for airlift via Antonov AN-124 aircraft to the L-3 MAS facility in Mirabel, Canada. “Rebuild” comprised re-assembly of the aircraft, flight testing and delivery to the RAAF, all carried out to the most stringent military standards. At Williamtown, approximately 180 BAE Systems Australia personnel and nine L-3 MAS personnel provide a range of technical and engineering support to the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet maintenance and modification program as well as the CBR program activities. Todd Bardell, BAE Systems F/A-18 Project Manager, said today, “The completion of this program represents a major milestone towards assuring the critical RAAF Hornet air combat capability is sustained now and into the future”. “We are proud to be part of one of the most complex structural refurbishment programs in the history of the RAAF,” he said. Graeme Jones, L-3 MAS Operations Manager in Williamtown said, “This program has demonstrated the excellent collaboration between two complementary teams to perform a strategically important project for the Defence Materiel Organisation. We are delighted with the outcome of this successful program.” BAE Systems Australia’s Fast Jet Support (FJS) line of business at Williamtown comprises over 350 personnel. These highly skilled personnel currently provide readiness and sustainment support including repairs, modifications and upgrades, to the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet and Hawk Lead-In Fighter (LIF) fleets. About BAE Systems BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers 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. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).
For further information contact: Simon Latimer,
BAE Systems
Tel: +61 (0) 8 8480 8759,
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BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384795
john.neilson@baesystems.com Issued by: BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
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DTN News: F-16s Can Be Used Against Any Adversary: PAF Chief

DTN News: F-16s Can Be Used Against Any Adversary: PAF Chief
(NSI News Source Info) SHAHBAZ AIR BASE (Jacobabad), Pakistan - June 30, 2010: The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, has said there is no restriction on the use of newly-acquired F-16 combat aircraft against any adversary.
“Our mission is to maintain peace in the region with honour, but if the primary effort fails we will use all our assets, including these aircraft, to defend our country against any internal or external threats,” he said. The air chief was talking to reporters at the newly upgraded Shahbaz Air Base on Sunday after a ceremony held to mark the formal induction of the first three of 18 advanced F-16 fighter jets into the PAF fleet. The aircraft have been purchased from the United States for $1.4 billion. The ceremony was attended by Chief of Staff of US Air Force Gen Norton A. Schwartz, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson, US Air Forces’ Central Command chief Gen Mike Hostage and US Defence Representative to Pakistan Vice Admiral Michael A. LeFever. Answering a question, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar said the acquisition of the hi-tech falcons would neither spark an arms race nor disturb the balance of power in the region. It would be the other way round, he said, adding that the induction would restore the balance of power as the neighbours already had hi-tech aircraft in their inventory.
Earlier addressing the ceremony, he said the PAF had decided to induct the state-of-the-art aircraft with night precision attack capability in 2006 but the contract became controversial in both the countries from the very beginning, with critics (in the United States) questioning the decision and saying that F-16s would have no role in the fight against terrorism and cynics (at home) also challenged the wisdom of a contract with the US, because of past experience.
He said that Pakistan and the US were allies in the war against terror and trust between the two countries was an essential element required to achieve success in the war. He noted that delivery of the aircraft was the beginning of a process to develop the trust.
“The issue of trust between the two countries would take some time to be established fully, but the ceremony was an important step in that direction,” he said.
He said the new F-16s would provide the PAF all-weather day and night precision attack capability, adding a new dimension to the PAF potential. He said that operationalising capabilities of the new aircraft and mastering their technology was a challenge for the PAF, but expressed the confidence that it would be done in weeks and months.
He said that Shahbaz Airbase had been developed into a modern base capable of handling the most modern fighter aircraft in the world in less than one year. Completion of this task in a record time, he said, reflected the spirit of PAF.
US Air Chief General Norton Schawrtz said the event was symbolic and a tangible demonstration of the US commitment to stand by Pakistan in the long run as an important ally.
“Pakistan’s new F-16s will give PAF pilots and Pakistan’s military an unprecedented advantage against extremist groups who threaten Pakistan and the region by enabling precision targeting in all-weather conditions, during both day and night, while reducing potential for collateral damage,” Gen Schawrtz said.
“The aircraft will also enable increased tactical inter-operability between the PAF, the US Air Force and Isaf coalition air forces – greatly bolstering our ability to jointly communicate, coordinate and work together to achieve common goals while boosting the PAF’s status as a world-class air force.”
US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson said the ceremony was a manifestation of deep and broad strategic partnership between the two countries.
She referred to the useful discussion in a number of areas during the strategic dialogue and said the US was committed to a long-term partnership with an old ally.
She said both the countries were working together to make the region and the world peaceful and secure.
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DTN News: Turkey Bars Israeli Military Planes Amid Deepening Rift

DTN News: Turkey Bars Israeli Military Planes Amid Deepening Rift
Source: DTN News / AFP
(NSI News Source Info) ISTANBUL, Turkey- June 30, 2010: Turkey has twice denied Israeli military planes access to its airspace in retaliation for the deadly raid on Gaza-bound aid ships, a diplomat said Tuesday, in a sign of the deepening rift between the one-time allies.
"There have been two flights in request and we refused both," a diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said while denying the refusals constituted a blanket ban. "This does not mean that we will refuse them in the future but we are taking them one by one," he stressed, adding that civilian flights remained unaffected as they were an "international obligation." The May 31 raid on the aid flotilla, which left eights Turks and a dual US-Turkish citizen dead, shattered Turkey's already strained ties with the Jewish state, with Ankara recalling its ambassador and cancelling three planned joint military exercises. The two countries had been close allies since a 1996 military cooperation deal before their ties nosedived amid sharp Turkish criticism of Israel's devastating war on Gaza begun in December 2008. Turkish officials gave no details of the flights which were refused, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that an Israeli military plane heading to Poland was barred from flying over Turkey immediately after the raid. Turkish media quoted the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot as saying that the military plane had been taking an army delegation of 100 officers to the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. Turkey's English-language Hurriyet Daily News reported on Monday that a second flight had been barred, but gave no details. Israel's Transport Minister Yisrael Katz said in a statement Monday the country had not been informed of any procedural changes for entering Turkish airspace. The refusal of the overflight permissions "is a result of the indignation the Israeli assault caused in Turkey," foreign ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin told a press conference in Ankara. "We have already announced that we would take some measures if our demands were not met." Turkey has said it wants Israel to apologize for the deaths and injuries, compensate the victims' families, agree to an international inquiry, release three Turkish vessels seized in the operation and lift the blockade on Gaza. Ankara has also urged Washington, a close ally of Israel, to intervene in the crisis, with Erdogan discussing the issue with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Canada ahead of a July trip by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington. A Turkish diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity that Ankara believed the United States could persuade Israel to meet the Turkish demands for an apology, compensation and return of the ships. But it is unlikely that there will be any progress on the demand for an international inquiry, he said. Israel has set up its own commission to investigate the raid, but Turkey has dismissed it as insufficient, insisting on a UN-led international probe. The activists abroad the aid ships say Israeli soldiers opened fire as soon as they landed. Israel denies the charge and argues that troops used force only after coming under attack from the activists. Forensic reports made available to AFP Tuesday by lawyers' representing the victims' families showed that all but two of the nine victims were shot more than once, and five died from bullet wounds to the head. The nine volunteers were shot a total of 31 times, according to the documents. "The findings make it clear the Israeli forces shot to kill the activists and not to overpower them," one of the lawyers, Yasin Divrak, told AFP. The youngest victim, a 19-year-old who held both Turkish and US citizenship, was shot five times, including twice in the head, his autopsy report said. Another victim was shot six times, including once in the abdomen, while a third was hit by five bullets, among them a fatal one in the chest, according to the documents.
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DTN News: Israel FM Says No Chance Of Palestinian State By 2012

DTN News: Israel FM Says No Chance Of Palestinian State By 2012
Source: DTN News / AFP By Steve Weizman
(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - June 30, 2010: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told his Russian counterpart on Tuesday that he saw no chance of meeting international aspirations for Palestinian statehood within 18 months.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian president said he had made proposals regarding final borders and security arrangements and received no Israeli response, adding that he was committed to reaching a peace deal "as soon as possible." Speaking ahead of a July 6 meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama, Lieberman told reporters he did "not see any chance of a Palestinian state arising by 2012."
"The reality is that we are still far from reaching understandings and agreements on the founding of an independent Palestinian state," he said at a press conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Middle East Quartet (Russia, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union) called during a March meeting in Moscow for a peace agreement within 24 months, leading to a two-state solution Lavrov later insisted the Quartet still had that timetable in mind, speaking after talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank. "In Moscow the Quartet affirmed that it would exert every effort to resolve the Palestinian issue within two years, and we still hold that position," he said. Israel and the Palestinians entered into indirect US-mediated talks in May after Washington struggled for months to relaunch the peace process, which was suspended during the devastating 2008-2009 Gaza war. Abbas said he had passed on Palestinian demands regarding borders and security to Israel through US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who has been engaged in months of shuttle diplomacy and returned to the region on Tuesday. "The Palestinian side is ready to go into direct negotiations as soon as there is any progress on the issues of security and borders," Abbas said. "We have given our ideas and opinions regarding both questions to the American side," he said, adding that Israel had yet to respond. "We believe in the peace process and in the necessity of achieving peace as soon as possible ... We will exert every effort to arrive at this solution, because time is not on anyone's side." At both press conferences Lavrov said he hoped the indirect talks would soon be ungraded to direct negotiations and called on Israel to completely lift its four-year blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Alone among the Quartet members, Russia openly holds political contacts with the Islamist Hamas, which is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union.
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DTN News: Israel Aerospace Industries To Present A Variety of Systems For Homeland Security Missions At Security Israel, Opening Today

DTN News: Israel Aerospace Industries To Present A Variety of Systems For Homeland Security Missions At Security Israel, Opening Today
Source: DTN News / Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
(NSI News Source Info) TEL-AVIV, Israel - June 29, 2010: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is exhibiting a wide variety of products and solutions to address the challenges of homeland security (HLS) at "Security Israel", the 24th international homeland security exhibition, taking place this year at the Tel Aviv Convention Center (June 29th – July 1st). The show will display IAI's proven technological capabilities with systems such as situation rooms and command and control stations, sensors, a real time image intelligence center, observation systems, and more.
This year's exhibition will focus on the topics of Safe City, Homeland Security (HLS),and safety and defense technologies. These topics will include challenges such as preventing violence and urban crime, the fight against terror, city policing, critical assets protection, crisis and large-scale disaster management, periphery defense systems, and more.IAI's extensive experience in projects of national and international scale makes it a key player in the HLS and Safe City markets worldwide. Command and control systems and situation rooms such as the Unified Information Center (UIC), and the Routine and Emergency Management Operational System (REMOS) are in successful operational use in Israel and abroad. These systems allow for the transfer of data in real time, thus ensuring rapid solutions for the effective management of complex events in a dense, dynamic environment.
IAI develops, manufactures, and markets systems that provide total solutions to complete HLS missions. Some of these systems will be exhibited at the show, including:
EL/S 8994, Real Time Intelligence Center, which collects and organizes multi-layered image intelligence, using sensors such electro-optic, infra red and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). After the data has been collected, the system places it on a geographical map, allowing for the targets to be located using advanced technologies and computerized tools. The intelligence reports produced by the system are sent to decision-makers in the field or at headquarters.
Multi-Sensor Intelligence and Surveillance System (MSISS) is used to create a ground battlefield picture using intelligence gathered from a variety of sensors: motion detection radars, day/night ground electro-optic observation systems, aerostats, unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and phased array and acoustic sensors. MSISS processes all the data fed into the system and sends intelligence reports to commanders. The reports play a key role in helping to make informed, effective decisions about conducting missions in the relevant arena.
Combo pole (EL/I 3385) static ground observation system is used primarily to protect facilities. The system combines remote control sensors such short and medium range motion detection radar, electro-optic observation systems for night vision, video cameras,and communication systems. Data gathered by those sensors is sent to the command and control station. The system helps locate threats in the field, informs law enforcement officials, and ensures neutralization of the threat. In the photos:
REMOS
HLS Scenario illustration as seen on a REMOS screen For further information, please contact:
Doron Suslik
Deputy Corporate VP for Communications
Tel: 03-935-8509
Fax: 03-935-8512

DTN News: China Denies Military Exercise Aimed At U.S.

DTN News: China Denies Military Exercise Aimed At U.S. Source: DTN News - compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Reuters & Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - June 29, 2010: China denied on Tuesday media reports that an artillery drill in the East China Sea was in response to a planned military exercise between South Korea and the United States.
The 6-day, live ammunition exercise starting on Wednesday in the East China Sea off China's coast was seen by some analysts as a "response to a (planned) joint exercise between the United States and Republic of Korea navies in the Yellow Sea," said the China Daily, the country's official English-language newspaper. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said there was no such link and a Chinese military officer said the timing was coincidental. "This is a regular military exercise," the spokesman Qin told a regular news conference. "This is not related to the situation on the Korean Peninsula." Li Daguang, a professor at China's National Defence University and a People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer, said the exercise was "not aimed at the U.S.-South Korea joint exercise." "The PLA artillery exercise in the East China Sea and the joint U.S.-South Korea exercise in the Yellow Sea are a complete coincidence," Li told the Wen Wei Po, a Hong Kong newspaper under mainland control. "The outside world shouldn't read anything into this." The Yellow Sea lies to the north of the East China Sea and the areas of the two exercises would not overlap. China's Foreign Ministry said last week it was concerned about reports a U.S. aircraft carrier may join the anti-submarine exercise with South Korea following a standoff with North Korea over the sinking of a warship from the South. "Though the Chinese government did not say anything about the drill, anybody with common sense on military strategy will bet that they are related," one expert on China-U.S. relations, Shi Yinhong of Renmin University in Beijing, told the China Daily. The joint exercise that had been expected this month will most likely take place in July, although a date has yet to be set, the Pentagon said on Monday. Washington has not said officially whether an aircraft carrier would participate, as some news reports citing Pentagon sources have suggested. Beijing has been angered by U.S. navy ships engaging in surveillance in waters close to China's southern coast. Earlier this year, Beijing curtailed contacts with the Pentagon over continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the self-ruled island that China claims as its own territory. U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said this month China's decision to break off military-to-military contacts could undercut regional stability. Gates said the PLA was the main obstruction in the way of improved relations and suggested its position was at odds with that of the country's political leadership. **NOTICE; To connect to this article Media source, click on the aforementioned respective links accordingly

DTN News: Lockheed To Offer F-35 Fighters To Indian Navy

DTN News: Lockheed To Offer F-35 Fighters To Indian Navy
(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - June 29, 2010: US defence major Lockheed Martin Monday said it will offer its latest fifth generation F-35 fighters to meet Indian Navy's requirements for carrier-based combat aircraft. "We have received the Request for Information (RFI) from the Navy seeking information about the F-35 aircraft, which are capable of taking off from aircraft carriers. We are going to offer our aircraft to them," Lockheed Martin vice president Orville Prins said here. He said presentations had been given to the Indian Navy about both the 'B' and 'C' versions of the aircraft in the recent past. The B version of the F-35 is a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft and the C version is an aircraft carrier-based version. The Navy, which will acquire the under-construction Indigenous Aircraft Carrier around 2015, is likely to build another larger-size carrier and is looking to procure fighter aircraft for it. American Boeing, Swedish Saab, European EADS and the French Dassault Aviation are also likely to offer their aircraft to the Navy. Commenting on other projects of the company in India, Prins said the C-130 J Hercules aircraft are likely to be delivered to the IAF by February next year, two months ahead of the original schedule. He said IAF is also planning to order six more aircraft as the construction of ground infrastructure is also going on schedule at the Hindan air base near here. Prins said the IAF has also shown interest in the air to air refuelling tanker-version of the C-130J, which can be offered to it by the company. The Lockheed official said that talks are on with agencies such as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for supplying another C-130J variant known as the 'weather-bird' WC-130J, which can be used to study cyclones and other weather phenomenon. He said the aircraft might be brought to India for the next edition of Aero India show in February 2011.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine stealth multirole fighter that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air defense missions. The F-35 has three different models; one is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the second is a short take off and vertical-landing variant, and the third is a carrier-based variant.
The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is being principally funded by the United States, with the United Kingdom and other partner governments providing additional funding. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as major partners. Demonstrator aircraft flew in 2000, with the first flight on 15 December 2006. The United States intends to buy a total of 2,443 aircraft for an estimated US$323 billion, making it the most expensive defense program ever. The USAF's budget data in 2010 projects the F-35 to have a US$89 million flyaway cost based its planned production of 1,753 F-35As. Lockheed Martin expects to reduce government cost estimates by 20%.
The F-35C carrier variant's maiden flight took place on 7 June 2010, also at NAS Fort Worth JRB. The 57 minute flight was executed by Lockheed test pilot Jeff "Slim" Knowles, who was the chief test pilot for the F-117 program.
A total of 11 U.S. Air Force F-35s are to arrive in Fiscal Year 2011.
According to DTN News sources, Lockheed Martin formally expressed its interest to sell F-35s to India. It is also known that the Indian Navy has shown interest in buying the F-35B. Lockheed Martin has offered ‘B’and ‘C’ versions of the F-35 fighters aircraft to meet Indian Navy’s requirements for carrier-based combat aircraft.

Monday, June 28, 2010

DTN News: Phantom Fading Fast

DTN News: Phantom Fading Fast
Source: Strategy Page
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 29, 2010: After 41 years, South Korea is retiring the last of its 222 F-4D Phantom fighter-bombers. They (and F-5 fighters) have been replaced, over the last 15 years, by 40 F-15K fighter-bombers and 180 F-16s. The F-4 was a 28 ton, two seat, fighter bomber designed in the 1950s, and about 5,200 were built, mostly in the 1960s and 70s. About ten percent of them are still in service. Replacing the F-4 as a fighter-bomber is the F-15K, which is a customized version of the 36 ton U.S. F-15E (a two seat fighter bomber version of the single seat, 31 ton F-15C fighter). Already in service for twenty years, the F-15E can carry up to 11 tons of bombs and missiles (compared to 8 tons on the F-4), along with a targeting pod and an internal 20mm cannon. It's an all weather aircraft that can fly one-way up to 3,900 kilometers. It uses in-flight refueling to hit targets anywhere on the planet. Smart bombs made the F-15 particularly efficient. The backseater handles the electronics and bombing. The F-15E remains a potent air-superiority fighter, making it an exceptional combat aircraft. This success prompted Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Singapore to buy it, paying about $100 million per aircraft. In the U.S. Air Force, the F-15E is one of the most popular aircraft for combat pilots to fly, even more so than the new F-22.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com Disclaimer statement Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein, DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions expressed herein are those of the author of the page and do not necessarily represent the corporate views of DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News. Various Topics On Strategy Page

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated June 28, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated June 28, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued June 28, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - June 29, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued June 28, 2010 are undermentioned; CONTRACTS DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY ~On June 11, 2010, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) issued a bridge extension for the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) multiple-award Omnibus contracts as a modification to the three existing contracts. Each of the three JITC Omnibus multiple-award, Time and Material (T&M) contracts that are awarded to: ~1) Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc. (NGIT) under contract number NBCHC020001; ~2) Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) under contract number NBCHC020002; and ~3) Interop Joint Venture II (IJV) under contract NBCHC020003 will be extended. The current contracts expire 31 August 2010. The six month bridge extension will add an additional six month period to each JITC Omnibus contract from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011 with three 2-month option periods. The three 2-month optional periods will cover March 1, 2011 to August 31, 2011 if exercised. The total combined ceiling values for the extension period and option period will be increased by 70 million, changing the total contract ceilings from 1.05 billion to 1.12 billion. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), posted to FedBizOps website on April 19, 2010. Performance will be at done at various DISA/Joint Interoperability Testing Command locations. The original solicitation was issued as a full and open competitive action and 8 proposals were received. All three contractors are large businesses. A follow-on solicitation is pending. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, (DITCO) ,Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (satellite branch-JITC, Fort Huachuca), is the contracting activity. ~Government Contracting Resources, Inc.*, Pinehurst, N.C., was awarded a $21,229,204, firm-fixed-price contract utilizing partial fiscal 2010 and 2011 operations & maintenance funding, base year, for base operating support services on June 18, 2010. The period of performance for the base period is Aug. 1, 2010 through July 21, 2011 with four 12-month options. Performance will be at Fort George G. Meade, Md. The solicitation was issued as a veteran-owned small business set-aside. The solicitation was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site and three responsive offers were received. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, NCR, is the contracting activity (HC1047-10-C-4021). NAVY ~Raytheon Technical Services Co., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $250,475,758 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the development, implementation and sustainment of 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 V-22 Block Fleet release avionics systems software products, including V-22 aircraft avionics acquisition support. In addition, this contract provides for the development, test and production of V-22 situational awareness/Blue Force tracking software and prototype hardware products. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed in September 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-10-D-0012). ~Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded an $88,202,604 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0061) for the Lot 10 production of 121 AIM-9X Block I all-up-round tactical missiles for the Air Force (65) and the government of Korea (55); 12 Block I captive air training missiles (CATM) for the government of Korea; 15 Block I special air training missiles (NATM) for the Air Force; seven Block II captive training missiles for the Air Force; 21 Block II NATMs for the Air Force; five Block I CATM guidance units (GU) for the Air Force; 15 Block II CATM GUs for the Air Force; seven Block II active optical target detectors for the Air Force; six Block I propulsion steering sections for the Air Force; 52 containers for the Air Force (30) and the government of Korea (22); and associated tooling and test equipment for the Navy, Air Force and the government of Korea. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (57.17 percent); Andover, Mass. (6.97 percent); various locations inside the contiguous U.S. (6.67 percent); Valencia, Calif. (4.76 percent); Goleta, Calif. (4.22 percent); Rocket Center, W.Va. (4.06 percent); Vancouver, Wash. (3.30 percent); Midland, Canada (2.94 percent); Austin, Texas (1.91 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1.37 percent); Cheshire, Conn. (1.36 percent); El Cajon, Calif. (0.88 percent); Chatsworth, Calif. (0.88 percent); San Jose, Calif. (0.75 percent); Anniston, Ala. (0.74 percent); Simsbury, Conn. (0.70 percent); San Diego, Calif. (0.63 percent); Newbury Park, Calif. (0.52 percent); and various locations outside the contiguous U.S. (0.17 percent). Work is expected to be completed in August 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($60,216,469; 68.27 percent); Navy ($2,833,799; 3.21 percent); and the government of Korea ($25,152,336; 28.52 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-C-0061). ~Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $40,403,434 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0061) for the Lot 10 production of 54 AIM-9X Block I all-up-round tactical missiles for the U.S. Navy (45) and for the government of Korea (nine); seven Block I captive air training missiles (CATM) for the government of Korea; four Block II captive training missiles for the Navy; 15 Block II special air training missiles for the Navy; 21 Block I CATM guidance units (GU) for the Navy (three) and the governments of Singapore (eight), Australia, (eight), and Korea (two); seven Block II CATM GUs for the Navy; four Block II active optical target detectors for the Navy; and four Block I propulsion steering sections for the Navy. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (57.17 percent); Andover, Mass. (6.97 percent); various locations inside the contiguous U.S. (6.67 percent); Valencia, Calif. (4.76 percent); Goleta, Calif. (4.22 percent); Rocket Center, W.Va. (4.06 percent); Vancouver, Wash. (3.30 percent); Midland, Canada (2.94 percent); Austin, Texas (1.91 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1.37 percent); Cheshire, Conn. (1.36 percent); El Cajon, Calif. (0.88 percent); Chatsworth, Calif. (0.88 percent); San Jose, Calif. (0.75 percent); Anniston, Ala. (0.74 percent); Simsbury, Conn. (0.70 percent); San Diego, Calif. (0.63 percent); Newbury Park, Calif. (0.52 percent); and various locations outside the contiguous U.S. (0.17 percent). Work is expected to be completed in August 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($32,944,420; 81.54 percent); and the governments of Korea ($5,699,174; 14.10 percent), Australia ($879,920; 2.18 percent), and Singapore ($879,920; 2.18 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. ~BAE Systems Electronics, Intelligence & Support, Electronic Solutions, Nashua, N.H., is being awarded a $30,954,068 firm-fixed-price contract for the low-rate initial production Lot 6 for the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALE-55 subsystems for the F/A-18E/F aircraft, including associated technical support for the Navy, Marine Corps, and the government of Australia. In addition, this contract provides for recurring and non-recurring engineering efforts in order to fabricate, assemble, test and deliver the component hardware of the AN/ALE-55 subsystem. The AN/ALE-55 subsystem consists of an electronic frequency converter (EFC) and a fiber optic towed device (FOTD) round. This contract provides for 72 EFCs for the Navy (55) and the government of Australia (17); and 334 FOTD rounds for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Nashua, N.H. (80.6 percent); Mountain View, Calif. (12 percent); and Chelmsford, United Kingdom (7.4 percent). Work is expected to be completed in September 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy and Marine Corps ($28,524,921; 92.2 percent), and the government of Australia ($2,429,147; 7.8 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0069). ~Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $29,665,942 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide systems engineering services to support the integration of the TRIDENT II (D5) missile and reentry subsystems into the common missile compartment for the Ohio SSBN replacement program. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif. (53.38 percent); Cape Canaveral, Fla. (40.02 percent); Magna, Utah (3.54 percent); Groton, Conn. (1.55 percent); Olathe, Kan. (0.67 percent); Melbourne, Fla. (0.50 percent); Bangor, Wash. (0.27 percent); Dallas, Texas (0.03 percent); and Port Washington, N.Y. (0.01 percent). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was sole-source. Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-10-C-0043) ~Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Ariz., is being awarded a $26,385,013 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for the full-rate production of seven GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target vehicles, associated hardware, and kits. Work will be performed in Chandler, Ariz. (67 percent); Camden, Ark. (26 percent); Vergennes, Vt. (4 percent); and Hollister, Calif. (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed in January 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $93,816 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-2. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0063). ~Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $26,500,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-10-G-0018) for the procurement of 50 forward looking infrared radar for the CH-53E helicopters (42) and CH-53K helicopters (eight). Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be completed in June 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $530,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. ~Capco, Inc., Grand Junction, Colo. (N00164-10-D-WR31); ~PRN Associates, Indianapolis, Ind. (N00164-10-D-WR29); and ~Roselm Industries, Inc., South El Monte, Calif. (N00164-10-D-WR30), are each being awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for breech plates that are part of a countermeasure dispensing system. These breech plates are a component for the aircraft countermeasure dispensing system which ejects decoys to protect aircraft from exterior threats including surface-to-air missiles. Work will be performed in Grand Junction, Colo.; Indianapolis, Ind.; South El Monte, Calif.; and is expected to be completed by June 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is part of a multiple-award contract with four offers being received. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity. ~Raytheon Network Centric Systems, Marlborough, Mass., is being awarded a $7,171,329 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-09-G-0002) for engineering and technical services in support of the air traffic, navigation, integration and coordination system. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Mass. (70 percent), and Largo, Fla. (30 percent); and is expected to be completed in June 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $7,171,329 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-09-G-0002). ~Canadian Commercial Corp., General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, is being awarded a $5,694,383.80 firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0008 under contract number M67854-07-D-5028 for the procurement of modernization safety kits to be installed on the RG-31 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle fleet. The modernization safety kits include a fire-resistant self-sealing fuel tank; an upgraded 570 amp alternator; a back-up alarm system; an improved interior lighting system; and an increased crew ventilation kit. Approximately 33 percent of the product manufacturing will be produced in Buffalo, N.Y., with the remainder being completed at General Dynamics facilities in Canada and South Africa. All deliveries are expected no later than June 28, 2011. Fiscal 2008 OPA contract funds are being will be utilized and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5028). ~BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems, Inc., Greenlawn, N.Y., is being awarded a $5,528,860 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-08-C-0061) to exercise an option for the procurement of identification friend-or-foe common digital transponder hardware for the Navy and Army. This option consists of 23 RT-1836(C) AN/APX-118 transponders for the Army; 27 RT-192 AN/APX-123 transponders for the Navy (five) and Army (22); 450 Mode 5 modification kits for the Army; one MT-7221 APX mount for the Navy; and 150 power supplies for the Army. Work will be performed in Greenlawn, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in March 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $33,110 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Army ($5,362,725; 97 percent) and Navy ($166,135; 3 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. ARMY ~Balfour Beatty Construction, Fairfax, Va., was awarded on June 24 a $43,613,850 firm-fixed-price-construction contract. This contract is for Base Items 0001-0022 and Option Item 1003. This procurement is a design-build project for a dining facility at Fort Jackson, S.C. This project will design and build a new “quad” dining facility complex and renovate four starships including all site work. Work is to be performed in Fort Jackson, S.C., with an estimated completion date of June 3, 1012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District Contracting Office, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-10-C-0058). ~Raytheon Co, Integrated Defense Co., Andover, Mass., was awarded on June 24 a $31,502,788 cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort contract. This contract is for fiscal 2010 Patriot engineering services contract for 907,043 man-hours of effort. Work is to be performed in Andover, Mass. (9.34 percent); Burlington, Mass. (15.20 percent); El Paso, Texas (15.26 percent); Huntsville, Ala. (3.87 percent); and Tewksbury, Mass. (56.33 percent), with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2014. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Aviation & Missile Command Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-09-C-0057). ~NCI Information Systems, Inc., Reston, Va., was awarded a $27,651,725 time-and-material contract. The contractor will provide a wide range of diverse services in the area of management, logistical and technical engineering support to Program Executive Office Soldier, Project Manager (PM) Soldier protection and individual equipment, PM Soldier sensors and lasers, PM Soldier Warrior, and PM Soldier Weapons, with performance through Oct. 31, 2010. Work is to be performed in Middle River, Md. (20 percent); Fort Belvoir, Va. (20 percent); Haymarket, Va. (30 percent); Hopewell, Va. (15 percent); Fort Benning, Ga. (4 percent); Afghanistan (1 percent); Iraq (1 percent); and Kuwait (9 percent), with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2010. One single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91BRF-07-D-0014). ~John C. Grimberg, Rockville, Md., was awarded on June 24 a $13,478,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for the design and construction of a multi-story emergency services center that will provide a fire station, police/law enforcement, and administrative support space. Work is to be performed in Fort Detrick, Md., with an estimated completion date of Sept 17, 2012. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with 13 bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-10-C-0087). ~SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., was awarded on June 24 a $9,036,694 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is for Phases II/II of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s panoptic analysis of chemical traces program. SRI International will develop an advanced analytical system for processing and identification of chemicals in the atmosphere which will provide high-throughout, cost-effective, high fidelity identification of chemical constituents. This technology will facilitate rapid, accurate chemical mapping and reconnaissance. Work is to be performed in Menlo Park, Calif. (80.9 percent); Plymouth, Minn. (8.6 percent); Poway, Calif., (4.7 percent), Toronto, Canada (4.9 percent); and Seattle, Wash., (0.9 percent), with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2012. Bids were solicited through a broad agency announcement with four bids received. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-10-C-0113). ~P&S Construction, Inc., Lowell, Mass., was awarded on June 24 an $8,967,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a new 150-member Army Reserve center, vehicle maintenance shop, and unheated storage building located in Luzerne County, Ashley, Pa. Work is to be performed in Hanover Township, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2011. Fifty bids were solicited with six bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-10-C-0062). ~Omega Training Group, Inc., Columbus, Ga., was awarded on June 24 a $5,668,512 time-and-material contract. The contractor will provide support services for non-governmental-in-nature tasks that exceed organic capabilities of Task Force Marshall at Fort Jackson, S.C. Work is to be performed in Fort Jackson, S.C., with an estimated completion date of June 21, 2012. Seven bids were solicited with six bids received. Mission & Installation Contracting MICC Center, Fort Bragg, N.C., is the contracting activity (W91247-10-C-9001). *Small business