Navistar Defense Wins $752 Million Contract for Lighter, More Mobile MRAP Variant

Navistar Defense Wins $752 Million Contract for Lighter, More Mobile MRAP Variant (NSI News Source Info) WARRENVILLE, Ill., - September 6, 2008: The U.S. Marine Corps today awarded Navistar Defense, LLC., a contract worth more than $752 million to produce a lighter, smaller and more mobile variant of its International(R) MaxxPro(TM) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) family of vehicles. The MaxxPro Dash maintains the survivability system used on all MaxxPro MRAP variants while also allowing for greater mobility in a smaller, lighter weight vehicle optimized for Afghanistan operations. A smaller turning radius and higher torque to weight ratio are among the improvements to mobility. MaxxPro Dash is also capable of accommodating additional uparmoring. Supportability and maintainability are maximized with a high-degree of commonality of parts among all MaxxPro variants. "The Dash embodies everything we do: survivability, mobility and adaptability," said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. "The MaxxPro MRAP vehicle platform can rapidly adapt to changing battlefield requirements." Production of the MaxxPro(TM) Dash will begin in October at the company's West Point, Miss., plant with delivery of 822 units to be completed by February 2009. The vehicle will also be equipped with the MaxxForce(TM) D engine. The MaxxPro Dash is the sixth variant in 12 months from Navistar's MaxxPro MRAP vehicle platform. Since the initial contract in May 2007, Navistar has won more than $3 billion in contracts to produce a total of 5,222 MRAP vehicles. Navistar's MRAP platform includes the MaxxPro, MaxxPro Plus, MaxxPro ambulance, MaxxPro MEAP, MaxxPro Air Force and MaxxPro Dash. The MaxxPro Dash will join Navistar's Medium Tactical Vehicles already in Afghanistan. More than 2,900 vehicles are in service with the Afghanistan National Police, Afghan National Army and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, and in May 2008 Navistar was awarded a $1.3 billion follow-on contract for more than 7,000 additional units. Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International(R) brand commercial and military vehicles, MaxxForce(TM) brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, and Workhorse(R) brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine parts and service. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.

Sweden: Government Decision on Archer

Sweden: Government Decision on Archer (NSI News Source Info) September 6, 2008: The Archer artillery system will soon be in service. The government has made a decision on continued development and procurement of this modified Howitzer 77B. “With the new gun we will have one of the world’s best systems with precision bombardment,” says Thomas Lindell, Acting Commander at the Artillery Regiment A9. The decision is seen as an expression of Sweden’s will to strengthen its artillery capability, and a sign of Sweden’s commitment to intensified cooperation with Norway on national security.

The Swedish government has approved final development and procurement of the Archer truck-mounted self-propelled artillery gun.

The government considers that joint development and procurement of Archer together with Norway creates conditions for an improved ability to collaborate in international operations. There are also opportunities to share the costs of teaching and training soldiers and costs for logistics, maintenance and modification of the systems. “All experience at international level underlines the need for modern artillery units,” says Thomas Lindell. PROTECTOR The cooperation with Norway also includes procurement of the remote-controlled weapon station Protector. The mandate of Parliament is required before Swedish procurement of this system. The government is expected to seek this mandate in its budget proposal for 2009. Archer Facts: -- Dumper truck with ballistic protection -- Calibre: 15.5 cm (155 mm) -- Muzzle velocity: 945 m/s -- Range: 50 km with precision-guided shells -- Based on the Howitzer 77 B, but with a barrel 2 metres longer -- Top road speed: 70 km/h -- Crew: 3-4: vehicle commander, driver and 1-2 operators -- Ammunition: 21 projectiles carried on board the vehicle

Nexter to Provide French Vehicle Logistical Support

Nexter to Provide French Vehicle Logistical Support (NSI News Source Info) September 6, 2008: The Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) said Sept. 4 it signed a contract worth 320 million euros ($457 million) with Nexter Systems for logistical support for France's future fleet of VBCI armored vehicles. The contract, signed Aug. 29, includes various innovative features, the DGA said. Nexter commits to deliver a 95 percent readiness rate on the vehicles on foreign deployments, send spares directly to Army maintenance workshops, and assure maintenance of vehicles in training camps. The payment system depends on the use of the vehicles. The contract runs from mid-2009 to 2015 and aims to ensure a "high level of operational satisfaction in the context of a constrained budget," the DGA said. The VBCI is built by Nexter and Renault Trucks Defense.

Czech Army Orders 30 Armored Vehicles

Czech Army Orders 30 Armored Vehicles (NSI News Source Info) PRAGUE - September 6, 2008: The Czech army said Sept. 5 that it will buy 30 armored vehicles for 998 million koruna ($58.1 million) to protect its forces in Afghanistan from the rising risk of attack. Orders have been placed for 15 Iveco MLV light armored vehicles and 15 Dingo-2 heavy armored vehicles, manufactured by German-based Krauss Maffi Wegmann, it said in a statement. "The safety situation in Afghanistan is worsening with an increasing number of attacks on coalition forces, including Czech army servicemen," it said. The Czech army has about 500 troops serving in Afghanistan. The vehicles should be delivered by the end of November.

Iraq Seeks to Buy 36 F-16s from US

Iraq Seeks to Buy 36 F-16s from US (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - September 6, 2008: Iraq's government wants to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported Sept. 5, citing U.S. military officials. Such a purchase would help reduce Baghdad's reliance on U.S. air power and possibly clear the way for the withdrawal of more U.S. troops, the paper said. U.S. officials have previously maintained that the U.S. would have to keep fighter aircraft and helicopters in Iraq even after American combat troops leave. But even if the deal was approved, countries in the region would likely be concerned with Baghdad's fledgling government having control of such sophisticated arms, the paper added. Iraq has said it plans to buy about $10 billion of U.S. military hardware, including tanks and armored vehicles and transport aircraft. The report of more possible arms deals come as Iraqi and U.S. officials negotiate a sensitive security agreement governing the long-term withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.

PAF flyer unveils exploits in Arab-Israel war

PAF flyer unveils exploits in Arab-Israel war (NSI News Source Info) Saturday - September 06, 2008 By (Azeem Samar....Link) Karachi: Sattar Alvi is the gallant flyer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) who in the Ramazan War of 1973 scored a kill against our ideological enemy No.1, Israel. It was April 26, 1974, when part of Shahbaz Squadron (call sign Shahbaz but in actual No. 67 Squadron) of the Syrian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant Alvi downed a Mirage-IIICJ fighter jet of Israel over the famous Golan Heights that are still under occupation of the Zionist state. He was the Shahbaz-8 in the squadron of MIG-21 fighters all flown by the Pakistani pilots. His victim Captain Lutz of the Israeli air force, had bailed out from the Mirage, later captured by the Syrian forces and admitted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. It took around 20 minutes for Sattar Alvi and his squadron to take off from the Syrian air base of Dumayr, fly over Jordan to reach the Golan Heights, strike the enemy aircraft and safely land back at the Syrian base. The limited fuel capacity of MiG fighters allowed just a 30-minute flying mission and that was the major concern of the eight Pakistani pilots.The two intruding Israeli Mirages, backed by two Israeli Phantoms F4-Es, were on a reconnaissance mission from the Ramat David Air Base. Another concern for them was intense ground activity of the Israeli forces to jam the radio communication among the Syrian fighter planes. “We the eight flyers of Shahbaz squadron switched our radio communication from Urdu to Pushto and Punjabi and more than once we were confronted with abuse in Punjabi language from the Israeli side and it should be because of some Israeli-Indian cooperation during the war,” said Alvi.Alvi said that he had taken a one-year leave from the PAF and volunteered to serve the Syrian air force after the outbreak of the 1973 Ramadan War. “But on my paper my year-long absence from the PAF had to be shown as deputation for an air force of the brotherly country,” he said. Sattar Alvi retired as Air-Commodore from the Pakistan Air Force in 1998 and his last appointment was commander of the Pakistani forces in Saudi Arabia. Alvi was not the first Pakistani pilot to score against the Israeli forces. Earlier Flt-Lt Saiful Azam, from the then East Pakistan, downed at least three Israeli fighters during the 1967 Arab-Israel war.Alvi believed that if it was in the vital interest of the nation there was no harm in establishing friendly relations with Israel. “If Muslims could co-exist peacefully with Jews in Madina under an accord during the time of Last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) then why could it not happen now”, said Alvi who held several important instructional and command appointments in the PAF.He was also director at Air Headquarters for the project of commissioning of the F-7 Chinese fighters into the PAF. He had also remained officer commanding of the Combat Commander’s School in Sargodha that is considered as the Top Gun of the PAF.After his successful mission over Golan Heights, the Syrian government awarded him two of their coveted military awards i.e. Wissam Faris and Wissam Shujaat. Later the Pakistani government decorated him with Sitara-e-Shujaat. “Other than the military medals I was also awarded with land and other prizes by the Syrian government that during my stay there. I donated all of it to their National Defence Fund,” he said.Alvi said that Pakistan still has a small but competent air force with very creditable leadership and officials. “I strongly believe that the PAF has the capacity and edge to play a role for building the air force of the brotherly Middle Eastern countries,” he said.He said that Syria has still a long way to go for modernising and upgrading its forces to combat against much stronger enemy in the form of Israel with widened numerical and technological superiority. “In the region I think it is only the Egyptian air force equipped with American warplanes that could counter Israel but there is no chance in near future that Egypt would wage a war against the Zionist state,” he said.