Thursday, June 04, 2009

DTN News: US President Barack Obama's Televised Speech Being Watched By Hamas Militants

DTN News: US President Barack Obama's Televised Speech Being Watched By Hamas Militants
(NSI News Source Info) GAZA/CAIRO - June 4 2009: Palestinian Hamas militants wear masks to conceal their identities from the camera as they watch the televised speech of US President Barack Obama as they pose with their weapons in front of journalists at at training base in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and said together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East.

DTN News: Hong Kong TODAY June 4, 2009 - People In Hong Kong Mark 20th Anniversary Of Pro-Democracy Movement In Beijing's Tiananmen Square

DTN News: Hong Kong TODAY June 4, 2009 - People In Hong Kong Mark 20th Anniversary Of Pro-Democracy Movement In Beijing's Tiananmen Square
(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - June 4, 2009: Tens of thousands of people take part in a candlelight vigil at Hong Kong's Victoria Park June 4, 2009 to mark the 20th anniversary of the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. Cradling candles, laying wreaths and clad in black or white, Hong Kong residents transformed a downtown park into a speckled sea of flickering lights, in remembrance of the hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators and students crushed by tanks and troops near the square two decades ago.

DTN News: President Barack Obama With White House's Staff Infront Of Sphinx In Egypt

DTN News: President Barack Obama With White House's Staff Infront Of Sphinx In Egypt
(NSI News Source Info) CAIRO, Egypt - June 4, 2009: US President Barack Obama walks with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and senior advisor David Axelrod infront of the Sphinx during a tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza,on June 4, 2009 in Egypt.

DTN News: Singaporean AEROPAK Fuel Cell Boosts Capabilities Of Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft

DTN News: Singaporean AEROPAK Fuel Cell Boosts Capabilities Of Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft (NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - June 4, 2009: AEROPAK, a next-generation fuel cell power system recently developed by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies will increase the flight endurance of small and stealthy electric unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by as much as 300 percent. The fuel cell technological advancements will bring significant enhancements to UAS, making them more effective in persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, a main focus area for leading defense and security organizations around the world.Based in Singapore, Horizon’s advanced research laboratories have developed unique capabilities in creating lightweight, compact fuel cell energy systems able to extend the flight durations or flight distances of electric aircraft. Starting with small systems, the team began demonstrating its aerospace-grade fuel cell capabilities on small model-scale aircraft. What started as an experiment turned into the development of the world’s highest capacity electric power packs for small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Horizon’s unique capability has started evaluation tests with several high-profile market participants and research organizations, and is now preparing for large-scale commercialization of its high performance fuel cell power systems. The AEROPAK is a next-generation fuel cell power system that increases the flight endurance of smaller and stealthier electric Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) by as much as 300%, making them more effective in persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, a main focus area for leading defense and security organizations around the world.Designed for high-impact and able to operate at up to 22,000 feet (6700m), the complete system integrates Horizon’s record-setting fuel cell technology with refillable dry-fuel cartridges. Providing 900Wh of usable electrical energy at just 2kg (4.4lbs), the AEROPAK enables up to four times the flight endurance of advanced lithium batteries currently in use, opening new mission possibilities not previously possible for smaller UAS. The miniaturized power system can be used as a drop-in replacement for battery packs currently in service, eliminating costly airframe modifications. According to G2 solutions, a Seattle-based market research firm specializing in Aerospace/Defense, "The use of pervasive UAS is increasing because the persistent ISR capabilities they bring are unmatched." Electric-powered UAS bring important capabilities - reduced acoustic signature, smaller size - and offer real advantages - lower acquisition cost, fuel savings - to ISR operations. Where battery performance limits the effective use of these promising systems, the AEROPAK next-generation fuel cell power systems will improve versatility and open new mission possibilities for smaller electric UAS. In addition to increasing flight endurance, the new fuel cell system also makes it possible for small tactical UAS to integrate more power-hungry electronic devices such as electro-optical sensors, infrared cameras and laser designators. The new fuel cell systems can also be used to power remote ground systems and recharging stations, or even serve as an auxiliary electric power supply for larger systems. Horizon's AEROPAK is the first of a series of commercially available fuel cell systems that can be customized to fit a variety of platforms and scaled up to provide as much as several kilowatts of power, making it suitable for all sizes and configurations of electric powered UAS. Over the next 10 years, industry analysts expect the acquisition market for UAS to exceed $44 billion in the U.S. alone. According to Ron Stearns of G2 solutions, "Fuel cells have the potential to improve the Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) configuration for tactical UAS propulsion, leading to increased UAS endurance or expanded sensor and/or communications-relay capabilities." Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies has been demonstrating its unique capabilities with a series of pioneering flights, which included "Hyfish," a 1kW fuel cell powered jet-wing UAS integrated by the German Air & Space Agency (DLR) and the "Pterosoar," which set a new FAI world record for distance in 2007 with the support of NASA. The new AEROPAK will be displayed at the 2009 Paris Air Show (booth B075) alongside several UAS airframes powered by Horizon's fuel cell power systems. Headquartered in Singapore, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies develops and manufactures high performance lightweight and compact fuel cell systems used in aerospace, as well as a global marketer and developer of several award-winning consumer and industrial fuel cell products now commercial in a number of early markets.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Conducts Successful Flight Of AFRL's Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Conducts Successful Flight Of AFRL's Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft
(NSI News Source Info) WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - June 4, 2009: Members of the Air Force Research Laboratory and Lockheed Martin's famed 'Skunk Works' launched a new era of aircraft manufacturing technology and performance with the successful initial demonstration flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft June 2 at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif.
The Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft is a proof of concept technology demonstrator for composite manufacturing processes in a full-scale, certified aircraft. (USAF photo)
The ACCA is a modified Dornier 328J aircraft with the fuselage aft of the crew station and the vertical tail removed and replaced with completely new structural designs made of advanced composite materials fabricated using out-of-autoclave curing.
The ACCA fuselage is wider and stronger to accommodate military standard 463L pallets and features a cargo door and cargo ramp. The vertical tail features integrally stiffened skin. Despite its larger size, the materials and processes used for the fuselage reduced the number of parts by an order of magnitude relative to the original metallic design (approximately 300 versus 3,000) and drastically reduced the number of mechanical fasteners (about 4,000 vs. 30,000), program officials said.
The flight marks the final and most significant milestone of Phase II of the Air Force Research Laboratory ACCA program, said Barth Shenk, an ACCA program manager from AFRL's Air Vehicles Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
"This has the potential to change aircraft manufacturing as we presently know it, for the better," Mr. Shenk said. "Today's successful flight is the culmination of years of teamwork between government and industry labs involving hundreds of dedicated researchers across the country to fundamentally change the way we make airframes."
Lockheed Martin officials said the ACCA took-off to the east from Air Force Plant 42 at 6:55 a.m. Pacific Time. The aircraft then banked west and climbed to an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet where the two-pilot crew took the vehicle through a series of airspeed and stability and control tests. Officials said the tests are important to understand how the composite cargo aircraft performs at varying speeds, attitudes, and altitudes. This data will be used as a baseline for future tests.
"Today is one of those perfect days where I get to be the first to fly a new aircraft and everything goes exactly as planned. The aircraft was a real pleasure to fly and we experienced absolutely no issues," said Rob Rowe, the Lockheed Martin lead ACCA test pilot.
Duration for the first flight was about 87 minutes.
Mr. Shenk said the ACCA isn't designed to be a prototype for a small airlifter or any other aircraft. It is a proof of concept technology demonstrator for composite manufacturing processes in a full-scale, certified aircraft. In an effort to demonstrate and test the technologies while keeping costs down and on schedule, the small team of Air Force and Lockheed Martin engineers elected to modify the high-wing Dornier jet, mating its existing engines, wing, landing gear and avionics systems to the new composite structure. The modified fuselage has enlarged rear cargo doors and can accommodate two standard size military pallets.
The new composite structure is manufactured without complex tooling and the bonding process yields a 90 percent reduction of structural components and fasteners, said Frank Mauro, the vice president of Advanced System Development for Lockheed Martin.
"Historically aircraft cost has been generally determined by the size and weight of the vehicle. With ACCA we are proving that while size does matter, it isn't the be-all, end-all determination of aircraft cost," Mr. Mauro said.
Lacking traditional fasteners like rivets, the composite structure is inherently aerodynamic. Mr. Shenk said he believes composite structures will address many of the corrosion and aging issues associated with all-metal aircraft, reducing airframe lifetime maintenance. Lighter weight of composite materials can also contribute to increased cargo capacity, aircraft performance and lower operating costs. The real game changer; however, is the maturation of manufacturing processes which collectively dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of building large airframes.
The ACCA's first flight was made possible by a 10-year Air Force Research Laboratory-led research and development investment called the Composite Affordability Initiative. Government labs worked collaboratively with industry to develop advanced materials and manufacturing technologies, Mr. Shenk said.
The ACCA's large composite sections are essentially formed, cured and bonded together in room-sized ovens, instead of using expensive autoclaves, which use a combination of heat and high pressure. Out-of-autoclave curing of large, unitized and co-bonded structures minimizes part count.
The "ripple effect" of this approach contributes to costs reduction across every aspect of airframe production, Mr. Shenk explained. Tooling, raw materials, fabrication man-hours, quality control and floor space utilization efficiencies are realized. Together, they combine to greatly reduce cost, design and manufacturing complexity.
"ACCA is the capstone test of integrating these composite affordability initiative principles all the way from conceptual design through certification and flight," Mr. Shenk said.
"NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and AVCRAFT have been linchpin partners in our program's success" Mr. Shenk added. "NASA's expertise in experimental flight test programs helped us streamline our test preparations and AVCRAFT (the Myrtle Beach, S.C. based domestic maintainer of Dornier 328J), provided critical support on the aircraft subsystems so Lockheed could focus on the structural design, fabrication and integration issues."
The ACCA test aircraft is laden with more than 600 sensors and accelerometers to measure stresses on its structure. Upcoming tests will focus on establishing the flight envelope of the ACCA to baseline its flight performance and validate predicted structural performance. "Accurately predicting structural behavior in the flight environment is a key step in establishing the eligibility of the technologies for transition into future programs, to fully realize the cost savings demonstrated by the ACCA," Mr. Shenk said.

DTN News: Estonia, Finland Order 14 Medium-Range Radars / Estonia Concluded A Contract For The Procurement Of Two Medium Range Radar Systems

DTN News: Estonia, Finland Order 14 Medium-Range Radars / Estonia Concluded A Contract For The Procurement Of Two Medium Range Radar Systems
(NSI News Source Info) June 4, 2009: Today, Estonia concluded a procurement contract, together with the Finnish Ministry of Defence and the French company Thales-Raytheon Systems, for the procurement of two 3D medium range radar systems, which will cover Estonia and its surrounding airspace with a single radar image.
ThalesRaytheonSystems has been selected to deliver Medium Range Air Surveillance Systems including 14 Ground Master 403 radar systems, 12 for Finland and two for Estonia, and a Long Range Air Identification and Surveillance Radar System Mid Life Upgrade for five Teresa 22XX radars for Finland, which were previously supplied by Thales. The order value for the Ground Master radars and the Teresa upgrade is expected to be approximately €200 million ($265 million). ThalesRaytheonSystems has also been selected to provide 12 Sentinel radars as part of the air defense system selected by the Finnish Ministry of Defense to fulfill Finland's future Medium Range Air Defense Missile System (MRADMS) requirements.
Estonia and Finland will together procure a total of 14 radar systems of the Ground Master 403 series. The two radar systems intended for Estonia are meant to supplement Estonia’s current sole 3D medium range radar in Kellavere, in West-Viru County, and to also provide a sufficient air surveillance image for Western and South-eastern Estonia.
The formidable air surveillance image created thanks to the procurement will increase early warning time in case of possible crisis situations, and is also the prerequisite for the operation of air policing fighter craft and air defence missile systems, the procurement of which is planned for the future. Also, as a member of NATO, Estonia is required to provide elementary radar coverage on its territory and to some extent also outside of the Alliance’s external border. Minister of defence Jaak Aaviksoo expressed hope that the joint procurement with Finland creates good premise for future joint procurements. “Several priorities of the Estonian National defence development plan for 2009-2018 – air surveillance and defence, communications and command systems, rapid response capability – overlap with the long-term planning directions of Finnish national defence,” noted Aaviksoo.
According to Finland’s Minister of Defence, Jyri Häkämies, the joint radar procurement with Estonia benefits both parties. “Combining our procurements is very economical financially. And the cooperation, in terms of procurements and equipment, also strengthens the relations between Estonia’s and Finland’s national defence structures,” said Minister of Defence Häkämies.
For Estonia, the procurement totals MEEK 350, to be paid based on a flexible schedule for payments during the period 2009-2014. Since Finland and Estonia have procured a total of 14 radar systems, the producer can, thanks to production efficiency, offer the systems at very reasonable prices – technically Estonia gets two radar systems for the price of one thanks to the joint procurement with Finland.
The Thales-Raytheon Systems Ground Master 403 radar systems are capable of detecting aircraft at a range of up to 470 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km. These are mobile systems, meaning that when necessary the radar can be relocated from its permanent position and set up elsewhere within an hour.
In addition to two primary radar systems, the procurement includes secondary radar systems, generators for the radar systems, containers, vehicles, training and radomes (domes to cover the radar systems when they are in their stationary positions).
According to the procurement contract, Thales-Raytheon Systems has the obligation to make offset purchases with a procurement contract of similar scope from Estonian enterprises. Preferable for the offset purchases would be areas such as research and development, strategic goods and high-tech goods.
This way, the radar procurement also provides support for the development of innovative and high-tech industries in Estonia. The spectrum of the offset purchases reaches from the export of products and services, research and development, investments and technology transfers to corresponding marketing support.
The Estonian and Finnish Ministries of Defence concluded a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2007, for carrying out the joint radar procurement. According to the memorandum, the Finnish Air Force, with the participation of the Estonian Ministry of Defence and experts of the Defence Forces, prepared an invitation for tender to determine the most suitable radar system. One of the priorities of the National defence development plan for 2009-2018, which was approved by the government in January 2009, is the further development of the reconnaissance, surveillance and early warning systems of the Estonian Defence Forces. The procurement for the air surveillance radar systems is the first of the larger procurements planned in the recently approved development plan.

DTN News: Raytheon Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor Activated For Year-Long Mission

DTN News: Raytheon Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor Activated For Year-Long Mission (NSI News Source Info) EL SEGUNDO, Calif., - June 4, 2009: Raytheon Company has received confirmation from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory that its hyperspectral imaging sensor known as ARTEMIS has been activated aboard the TacSat-3 spacecraft and is fully functional. The milestone continues Raytheon's 40-year history of on-orbit success. In this 2007 photo provided Friday, May 1, 2009 by Raytheon, a Raytheon engineer adjusts the ARTEMIS hyperspectral imaging sensor at Raytheon's space manufacturing center in El Segundo, Calif. A satellite scheduled for launch from Virginia's Eastern Shore could be used to reveal hidden enemy arms and swiftly deliver their battlefield locations to U.S. troops, scientists say.
Activation also marks the beginning of the year-long TacSat-3 mission to test the payload's ability to deliver tactical surveillance information from space to military field commanders within 10 minutes of data acquisition. ARTEMIS was developed in 15 months as an experiment in rapid deployment funded by a $15 million contract from the laboratory. Data collection is scheduled to begin within days as part of the program's goal of demonstrating the ability to design, build and field space solutions in tactically relevant time frames. "We are excited to begin the data collection portion of this important mission," said Bill Hart, vice president for the Space Systems group of Raytheon. "Having shown that technologically advanced space payloads can be built in relatively short periods of time, we are confident that ARTEMIS will further demonstrate the ability to bring space surveillance and reconnaissance advantages directly to troops on the ground." Consisting of a trio of components (telescope, spectrometer and on-board digital signal processor), the payload will image the ground at high spatial resolution in a broad range of the visible and infrared spectrum. It can be directed to search for camouflage, disturbed earth and other signs of enemy activity. With its easily manufactured and readily repeatable design, ARTEMIS serves as the model for the electro-optical class of Responder™ modular payloads recently introduced by Raytheon. Responder combines a common payload framework with a suite of interchangeable mission-specific sensors and standardized interconnects to allow for rapid design, manufacturing and spacecraft integration of space payloads. 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: Boeing Submits CANES C4I Proposal To US Navy

DTN News: Boeing Submits CANES C4I Proposal To US Navy
(NSI News Source Info) SAN DIEGO, Calif., - June 4, 2009: Boeing on June 2 submitted its proposal to develop the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program for the U.S. Navy. CANES will reduce the information technology infrastructure on naval vessels while implementing a common computing environment across shipboard networks. The Navy’s Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (PEO C4I), is expected to award the system design and development contract by the end of this year. In order to support this customer, Boeing has opened a CANES program office in the Liberty Station area of San Diego. “Our proposal offers a CANES solution to the Navy that can be deployed quickly, reduces life-cycle costs, and is reconfigurable to support changing missions,” said Nan Bouchard, vice president and general manager of Boeing C3 Networks. “Boeing understands the Navy’s requirements and is fully committed to its vision for CANES.” The Boeing proposal enables the Navy to deploy an innovative, low-cost, cross-domain solution that allows data to be seamlessly accessed or transferred between different security levels. Boeing’s IT-related experience includes managing one of the world’s largest global networks that securely connects employees, customers, partners and suppliers worldwide, and developing open architecture and battlespace networking solutions for the U.S. military. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

DTN News: Pakistan Asks World To Write Off All Loans Since 2005

DTN News: Pakistan Asks World To Write Off All Loans Since 2005
(NSI News Source Info) NEW YORK - June 4, 2009: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Husain Haroon Tuesday called on the international community to help Pakistan overcome the desperate humanitarian crisis emerging in the wake of military action against militant groups.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Husain Haroon meets with PM Gilani — APP photo.
He suggested that the best way to do so would be for all loans given to Pakistan by international donors following the 2005 earthquake to be forgiven. Speaking at a meeting on the emerging crisis at Asia Society here he said this was not America’s war on terror; it was world’s war against the scourge. The world, therefore, has a responsibility to come to the aid of Pakistan, which had in the past few years been hit by a series of disasters — the 2005 earthquake, the 2007 floods and lately by an astronomical rise in energy and food prices. Also making an appeal to send money to Pakistan was George Rupp, Chief Executive Officer of International Rescue Committee who felt that $ 110 million dollars sent Pakistan by the United States were not enough. ‘Substantially much more money was needed to fight this war,’ which he felt would be long and protracted. Asked about the morale of the army in fighting the militants Ambassador Haroon said that ‘[The] Pakistan Army was clearing the valley of the Taliban as it advanced to other areas. The Taliban will not go in a hurry,’ he said, adding, ‘They keep coming back.’ Replying to a question, the ambassador said that adequate mechanisms and monitoring systems were in place to ensure that money being pumped into Pakistan did not go into wrong hand and was used fog the welfare of the affected and for the development of the region. Questioned about the release of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, Haroon said that he was set free by Pakistan’s independent judiciary, which emerged at the climax of the lawyers movement. The move did not violate any UN Security Council resolution or decisions. Nicolas Platt, former US Ambassador to Pakistan, was moderator at the panel discussion.

DTN News: South Korea TODAY June 4, 2009 - South Korean Army Tanks During Military Exercise Near DMZ Demilitarized Zone

DTN News: South Korea TODAY June 4, 2009 - South Korean Army Tanks During Military Exercise Near DMZ Demilitarized Zone
(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - June 4, 2009: South Korean Army tanks fire during a military drill, against North Korea's possible attack, at a firing range in Pocheon about 15 km (9 miles) south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas June 4, 2009.
North Korea put two U.S. journalists on trial on Thursday on charges of illegally entering the state with "hostile intent", in a case that could worsen tension with Washington after Pyongyang's nuclear test last week.

DTN News: US President Barack Obama With President Hosni Mubarak In Cairo, Egypt

DTN News: US President Barack Obama With President Hosni Mubarak In Cairo, Egypt
(NSI News Source Info) CAIRO, Egypt - June 4, 2009: US President Barack Obama smiles during a bilateral meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak at the presidential palace in Cairo on June 4, 2009.
Obama arrived in Egypt to make a momentous multimedia address to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims, seeking to heal a wide breach between America and Islam.

DTN News: President Barack Obama Calls For 'New Beginning' With Muslim World

DTN News: President Barack Obama Calls For 'New Beginning' With Muslim World (NSI News Source Info) CAIRO, Egypt - June 4, 2009: President Barack Obama is delivering a speech he had promised during the presidential campaign, aimed at reaching out to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tour the Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo, June 4, 2009. Obama took a tour of the medieval mosque in the heart of old Cairo on a trip aimed at repairing rifts with the Muslim world.
President Obama called for a "new beginning" between the West and the Muslim world Thursday in Cairo, saying there is more to unite than divide two civilizations that have been in fierce conflict for decades. Obama was delivering a speech he had promised during the presidential campaign, aimed at reaching out to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. The president said despite years of mistrust between the East and West, "this cycle of suspicion and discord must end." He spoke at Cairo University after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. He first traveled Wednesday to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, where met with King Abdullah. From Egypt, Obama will head to Germany and France.

DTN News: CSTO To Hold Large-Scale Joint Military Drills In Aug.-Sept.

DTN News: CSTO To Hold Large-Scale Joint Military Drills In Aug.-Sept.
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - June 4, 2009: The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will conduct joint military exercises in August-September in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, the Belarusian defense minister said on Wednesday. The defense ministers of the post-Soviet security bloc comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan held a regular meeting in Moscow on June 3. "The joint drills will be held in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus to practice the deployment of CSTO's joint rapid-reaction force," Leonid Maltsev told reporters after the meeting. He said the exercises in Belarus will also involve the Russia-Belarus joint military grouping created within the framework of the CSTO. According to media reports, Russia is planning to build a strong military contingent in Central Asia within the CSTO comparable to NATO forces in Europe. The new force will comprise large military units from five countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia in as part of CSTO cooperation.

DTN News: Indian Warship On Goodwill Visit To Israel

DTN News: Indian Warship On Goodwill Visit To Israel (NSI News Source Info) HAIFA, Israel - June 4, 2009: India’s front-line warship INS Brahmaputra has arrived on a four-day goodwill visit to this northern coastal city to reaffirm old ties with Israel. “The visit shows the importance India attaches to its relationship with Israel. Not only that, it is also fitted with the ‘state-of-the-art’ Israeli Barak missile system as the first line of defence,” vessel commander Captain Philipose G. Pynumootil told a gathering on the ship. INS Brahmaputra (F31) is the lead ship of her class of guided missile frigates of the Indian Navy. She is one of the recently inducted, indigenously built guided missile frigates fitted with a modern missile systems. She and her two sister ships, INS Betwa and INS Beas, were built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkatta. The design and construction of the ship is entirely Indian, and is a modification of the Godavari class of frigates. It is fitted with an array of modern sensor suites and matching weapon systems that allows her to take on any threat. “The enthusiasm clearly shows that the Indian ship is in friendly waters. It is not only in Israel but a part of it is also Israeli,” India’s ambassador Navtej Sarna said, referring to the Barak system. Navy officials on board told PTI that Indian warships have regularly paid visits to ports in West Asia and East Africa reaffirming their peaceful presence and solidarity with countries in the region. Among the visitors was a former commander of the old INS Brahmaputra, Jack Japheth, now an Israeli citizen settled in Tel Aviv after retirement. INS Brahmaputra, one of the Indian Navy’s finest guided missile frigate, arrived here from Eritrea. It has a versatile suite of long range sensors, incorporating radars, sonars and electronic warfare equipment that enable her to simultaneously address threats in all three dimensions — surface, sub-surface and air. When needed, she can bring to bear awesome offensive or defensive fire power, with her wide-ranging top of the line ordnance.

DTN News: Cuba TODAY June 4, 2009 - Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo On Official Visit To Cuba

DTN News: Cuba TODAY June 4, 2009 - Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo On Official Visit To Cuba
(NSI News Source Info) HAVANA, Cuba - June 4, 2009: Members of a Cuban military band carry Cuban and Paraguay's flag during a wreath-laying ceremony attended by Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo at Havana's Revolution Square June 3, 2009. Lugo is in Cuba on an official visit.

DTN News: Boeing May Get $2.2 billion For More C-17s Transport Aircraft

DTN News: Boeing May Get $2.2 billion For More C-17s Transport Aircraft (NSI New Source Info) LONG BEACH - June 4, 2009: It appears that the Boeing Co. C-17 program that employs about 5,000 people in Long Beach may get the funding it needs to extend its production line. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military airlift aircraft is capable of carrying payloads up to 169,000lb, and has an international range and the ability to land on small airfields. A fully integrated electronic cockpit and advanced cargo systems allow a crew of three; the pilot, co-pilot and loadmaster, to operate all systems on any type of mission. Since it entered service in January 1995, 178 aircraft have been delivered to the US Air Force with one more on order to be delivered by early 2009. A further ten aircraft were ordered in December 2006, for delivery by October 2009. The UK Royal Air Force has leased four aircraft, delivered by August 2001, under a seven-year agreement, which also has an end-of-lease purchase option. News outlets and Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond's office reported Tuesday that the final fiscal year 2009 troops funding - or supplemental defense appropriations - bill would tentatively include $2.2 billion to purchase eight C-17s. Although the troops funding bill is currently being hammered out in the House-Senate conference - which Bond is a member of - the Missouri senator's official Web site announced Tuesday that Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye said that "conferees reached a tentative agreement" that would include funding for the C-17. Boeing Co. spokesman Jerry Drelling said the company would not comment until the final spending package is completed. News services, however, are reporting that the full funding package is expected to be completed in the coming days. In recent years, California's only remaining major aircraft production facility program has been in jeopardy as Boeing relies heavily on a solid base of domestic orders and funding for the program has been an unknown. Although President Obama mentioned the importance of programs such as the C-17, Defense Secretary Robert Gates later suggested shedding the military cargo plane from the proposed budget. And while the House of Representatives approved its version of the bill that included money for the aircraft, the Senate version did not include funding for any of them. However, Inouye has publicly expressed his support for C-17. Dana Rohrabacher, a supporter of C-17, did not know about the tentative deal but said he was confident that the program would be funded. "Nobody in their right mind wants to eliminate the productions of the C-17 at a time when we are so reliant on C-17s to supply the mission in Afghanistan, for example," he said. "I can't imagine that we're going to lose it."