DTN News: Tata Open All-India Badminton Tournament....Yonex Is Named The Official Equipment Supplier‏

DTN News: Tata Open All-India Badminton Tournament....Yonex Is Named The Official Equipment Supplier‏

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) MUMBAI. India - July 2, 2009: The highest-ranked Indian men’s shuttler, Chetan Anand, heads a competitive singles field in the second Tata Open all-India badminton tournament. Chetan, listed No. 14 in the International Badminton Federation’s rankings (June 25), heads the 32-player men’s draw which has attracted 150 entries. The two-day qualifying rounds commence on Wednesday at the Cricket Club of India’s indoor courts to determine eight qualifiers, slated to join 24 direct entries among whom are the talented Aravind Bhat (World No. 27) and the tenacious J.B.S. Vidyadhar. The qualifying rounds are restricted to men’s singles and doubles. P. Kashyap, Anand Pawar and Guru Sai Dutt are the other in-form players in the fray besides, Anup Sridhar, who can rattle any opponent on his day. World No., 27 Aditi Mutatkar takes the top spot in the women’s singles and will brace herself for strong challenge from the likes of Sayali Gokhale, Neha Pandit and Gayatri Vartak. Trupti Murgunde, not named among the seeded players, is another who could trouble Aditi. Aparna Balan and Shruti Kurien head the women’s doubles draw, while Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas have been named the No. 1 pair in men’s doubles. V. Diju will team up with Ashwini Ponappa, instead of regular partner Jwala Gutta, in mixed doubles.

Yonex-Sunrise sponsore of BWF World Championships Super SeriesThe Rs. 5 lakh prize money tournament is organised by the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy and Yonex is named the official equipment supplier.

No Saina, Jwala Saina Nehwal and Jwala are not taking part. “The Tata Open Badminton is the season’s first tournament, so presents an opportunity for players to gain competitive experience. Performance in this event is one of the factors considered when selecting the India squads,” Prakash Padukone said at the launch on Tuesday.

DTN News: Ehud Barak ~ US, Israel Close On Settlements

DTN News: Ehud Barak ~ US, Israel Close On Settlements *Sources: DTN News / The Jerusalem Post (NSI News Source Info) NEW YORK - July 2, 2009: Before heading back to Israel from New York following his meeting with US Mideast envoy George Mitchell, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday morning that Israel was close to an understanding with the US on settlements, which he stressed were part of a regional comprehensive peace effort. George Mitchell the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, pose for photos before their meeting in New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2009. "We focused mainly on the need for a comprehensive regional agreement," he told Israel Radio. "That includes other Arab states which have something to give to Israel, not just to take" He stressed that the comprehensive effort would also include strengthening Palestinian institutions, and that the the settlement issue, while being "very important," had to be "taken into proportion." Regarding natural settlement growth, Barak stressed that no one in the US actually believed that "we can stop pregnancies or not build kindergartens where required." The defense minister said that although the US had called for a cessation of all settlement activity, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was not that far from the American position, noting that the prime minister had already stated that "no new settlements will be built, there will be no more settlement projects or expropriation of new land." He emphasized that settlement construction approved recently, for example in Modi'in Illit, was for haredi families who cannot afford homes inside the Green Line. Barak also spoke of the remarks attributed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this week in which he reportedly called on Netanyahu to oust Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and replace him with Kadima head Tzipi Livni. "The makeup of the Israel political arena is an issue for us to discuss internally," he said. "There is no way someone outside can try to explain to us what to do." He said there was "absolutely no reason" to think Lieberman was causing Israel damage in the international area, adding that on all state visits he had expressed himself "responsively and with good judgment." However, Barak said he had taken something positive from the report: Sarkozy's call on Kadima to join a unity government. A statement issued moments before the defense minister's interview with Israel Radio said that Barak and Mitchell "discussed the full range of issues related to Middle East peace and security and the contributions Israelis, Palestinians, their neighbors and the international community should make to this effort." The statement went on to say that their discussions covered a wide range of measures needed to create a climate conducive to peace. "These included measures on security and incitement by the Palestinians; steps by Arab states toward normalization with Israel; and, from Israel, actions on access and movement in the West Bank and on settlement activity," it said. "The discussions were constructive and will continue soon."

DTN News: France's EADS Wins Contract To Provide Border Security System For Saudi Arabia

DTN News: France's EADS Wins Contract To Provide Border Security System For Saudi Arabia

*Sources: DTN News / AP By Greg Keller 8:56 AM PDT, July 1, 2009

(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - July 2, 2009: European aerospace and defense contractor EADS NV has won a major contract with Saudi Arabia to supply a border security system covering 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles) of the kingdom's land and sea frontiers, the company said Wednesday.

The European aerospace and defense contractor said the system will be put in place over the next five years. It didn't disclose the size of the contract, but the French weekly news magazine Le Point said it was worth about euro2 billion ($2.8 billion). A spokeswoman couldn't immediately be reached. EADS Defense & Security will carry out the contract with Saudi Arabian partner Al Rashid group for construction works.The company, a division of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. NV, beat out French, British and U.S. rivals for the contract, with Thales SA, BAe Systems plc and Raytheon Co. also having reportedly been in the running.

EADS already had been awarded a contract for security along Saudi Arabia's border with Iraq. The planned security system "will ensure border coverage is visible and managed at the sector level, whilst simultaneously providing situational awareness at the regional and national level," EADS said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's defence spending has been growing at one of the fastest rates in the world in recent years thanks to the oil price boom earlier this decade.The kingdom spend $38.3 billion on defence last year, and this is forecast to rise to $43.5 billion this year, according to Jane's Defence Budgets.

The United States, Britain and France have been Saudi Arabia's largest military suppliers, and in 2006 Saudi Arabia was France's largest defence customer with total sales of euro890 million, accoring to Jane's Industry Quarterly.

Saudi Arabia is slightly more than one-fifth the size of the U.S. The smuggling of weapons and narcotics across the Saudi border with Iraq and the Saudi border with Yemen has been a big problem.

Saudi officials believe most of the weapons used in militant operations in Saudi Arabia — including some suicide attacks — were smuggled from Yemen, an impoverished country at the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula that has long been awash in small arms.

Securing the 1,300-km border with Yemen is a top Saudi priority, especially after militants announced in January the creation of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, a merger between the terror network's Yemeni and Saudi branches. Several senior members of the group are Saudis who slipped over the border after going through a militant rehabilitation program in Riyadh.

In April, Saudis discovered a cave tucked in the remote Saudi mountains near the Yemeni border that was clearly a way station for Islamic militants.

The Saudi border with Iraq is inhospitable for militants: Its flat, desert terrain is equipped with image-recognition technology that can detect movement across the frontier.

DTN News: Russia Still Opposes US Plan For Missile Shield In Eastern Europe

DTN News: Russia Still Opposes US Plan For Missile Shield In Eastern Europe *Sources: DTN News / VOA By Andre de Nesnera (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 2, 2009: Russia strongly opposes the U.S. plan to station a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. That issue will be discussed during the upcoming summit meeting in Moscow between U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev.Four Patriot interceptor missiles like the one shown here can be fired from this mobile launcher between loadings. The Bush administration was wholeheartedly behind a proposed missile defense system made up of 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar facility in the Czech Republic. U.S. officials said the system was needed to defend Europe and the United States against potential threats from countries such as Iran. However, Daryll Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association - a private research firm - says Iran does not pose an immediate danger. "Iran does not have the capability of hitting Europe with a long-range missile," he said. "It does have some medium-range missile capabilities that could hit the eastern flanks of continental Europe." "But we also have to keep in mind that Iran does not have a payload, particularly a nuclear payload that would make those missiles a real strategic threat. What's more, is that Iran also understands that if it were to strike another country, it opens itself up to retaliation. And if it is going to be hitting any NATO country, that opens it up to retaliation from all of the NATO partners, including the United States," he added. Kimball and other experts say the new Obama administration is not as committed to the missile defense shield as was President Bush. "The Obama administration has been quite clear that it will pursue effective ballistic missile defenses," he said. "They have also said, however, that they are not going to move forward and deploy systems and spend billions of dollars on systems that have not been proven effective through flight testing." "And the particular system that the Bush administration was rushing to try to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic had not even been tested. It involves a two-stage interceptor that is scheduled to be flight tested three times in the next two and a half years - but that has not yet happened," he continued. The missile defense shield will be discussed at the upcoming Moscow summit between presidents Obama and Medvedev. The Russians have been strongly critical of the system, saying it is targeted against Moscow - a view rejected by U.S. officials. David Kramer was a former senior U.S. State Department official in the Bush administration. He is now with the German Marshall Fund in the United States. "When I was working in the Bush administration, I can tell you definitively that that was not the design or plan or intent of putting 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar facility in the Czech Republic. That was designed to confront the possibility of a nuclear weapons threat emanating from Iran. It had nothing to do with Russia," he said. Robert Legvold from Columbia University says the Russians see the missile shield as the first step in a grandiose plan. "The Russians are not all that concerned about the immediate practical, military, strategic threat of these systems in central Europe, but see it as the camel's nose under the tent and believe that it's connected with other plans for deploying national missile defense in Alaska, potentially other missile sites in Europe that have been mentioned - toward the Balkans - conceivably a national missile or theater missile component, ballistic missile component in the Far East - in Taiwan or other areas. So I think the Russians believe that this may be potentially a building block," he said. David Kramer says there have been attempts to get Russia to participate in the missile defense shield. "There is interest in cooperating with Russia in Armavir, in southern Russia as well as in Gabala, in Azerbaijan, with the radar facilities in both places," he said. "But Russia is insisting that cooperation there would obviate the need to establish sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Bush administration's policy was no, those could complement what we have in mind for Poland and the Czech Republic. The Obama administration's position on this is a little less clear." Experts say it will be interesting to see if during the July Moscow summit presidents Obama and Medvedev will be able to narrow the differences and not allow the missile defense shield to be a major obstacle to better relations between Washington and Moscow.

DTN News: Bell 429 Achieves Certification

DTN News: Bell 429 Achieves Certification

*Sources: DTN News / Bell Helicopter

(NSI News Source Info) FORT WORTH, TX - July 2, 2009: Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, today announced the certification by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) of its newest light twin engine helicopter, the 429. Bell has also completed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification requirements. First deliveries are scheduled to begin this month. Bell had flown most of the critical MAPL technology components using a 427 test bed aircraft by February 2006. The first completed 429 flew February 27, 2007. Certification was originally planned for late 2007, but program schedule delays, primarily caused by parts and material shortages common to all aviation manufacturers in this time period, caused the manufacturer to stretch the development timetable. The helicopter received type certification from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) on July 1, 2009. As of June 2009, the Bell 429 had received over 301 orders. The launch customer for the Bell 429 is Air Methods Corporation, the largest medevac provider in the United States. "This is an outstanding helicopter and one that is really resonating with our customers," said Dick Millman, president and CEO of Bell. "I am extremely proud of the Bell team for the work they have done to create the 429 and I believe this is just the start of many great things we will see coming out of Bell Helicopter in the years to come." "The 429 is the kind of product that will energize the marketplace," said Bob Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of Business Development and Commercial Programs. "Its design makes it adaptable for different market segments. Powered by two Pratt-Whitney Canada PW207D1 engines, the 429 has a phenomenally smooth ride and a power-to-weight ratio 20% greater than any helicopter in its class." As part of the 429's development, Bell established multiple customer advisory boards that were consulted throughout the design and manufacturing phase to gather input on what they want in a light twin engine helicopter. The result is a helicopter that meets or exceeds every critical design element identified by the customer boards. "We are delivering an aircraft that is absolutely on target for our customers," said Neil Marshall, Bell's 429 program director. "We felt it was critical to deliver on our promise and I'm proud to say we didn't compromise." With 30 percent greater cabin volume than any other competitor in its class, Bell is confident that the 429 will be well received by the market. In fact, since Bell first announced the 429, over 300 letters of intent have been received making the 429 the most anticipated new helicopter launched in recent history. Over the next several months Bell will be working with its customers to convert these letters of intent into firm binding orders. "My organization will be ready from day one with the kind of support, spares and services that the vertical lift industry has come to expect from Bell Helicopter," said Danny Maldonado, senior vice president of Customer Support and Chief Services Officer for Bell. Bell is known throughout the industry as the premier provider of customer support and service and has developed pilot and maintenance training courses for the 429 to ensure its smooth introduction into the operating community. About Bell Helicopter Bell Helicopter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries. About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron in known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at http://www.textron.com/.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Awarded Concept Development Contract For U.S. Air Force Space Fence

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Awarded Concept Development Contract For U.S. Air Force Space Fence

*Sources: DTN News / Lockheed Martin

(NSI News Source Info) MOORESTOWN, NJ, - July 2, 2009: On June 30, The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $30 million contract to begin concept development for Space Fence, a system of land-based S-Band radars and supporting operations centers that will detect and report on objects and debris orbiting the Earth.

Lockheed Martin was one of three industry teams to receive contracts. The Air Force Materiel Command's Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts leads the procurement for Space Fence, which is intended to significantly enhance space situational awareness as legacy systems in the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) are retired. Under the contract, a Lockheed Martin-led industry team will perform prototyping, design, trade studies and analysis of potential system configurations, concluding with a system design review and final prototyping demonstration. The contract also includes site and facility surveys, and planning and development of net-centric approaches to integrate with the existing architecture of the SSN.

The remaining effort – through preliminary design review, system development, deployment and follow-on support – will be the subject of future competitive procurements. The new system’s Initial Operational Capability is scheduled for 2015. The Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes General Dynamics, AT&T and AMEC, has decades of collective experience in space-related programs including sensors, mission-processing, cataloging, orbital mechanics, net-centric communications and facilities. A leader in S-Band radar development and production, with more than 100 operational systems deployed worldwide, Lockheed Martin supports a range of critical space command and control programs and contributes to national-level space-related intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. General Dynamics is an industry-leading developer and provider of mission processing systems and complex antennas and radar structures for space surveillance. AT&T is a leading systems engineering developer of orbital mechanics and astrodynamics for operational space surveillance and space control. AMEC is highly experienced in domestic and international design along with engineering services and construction for the U.S. government. “The ability to detect and to track smaller objects in space will significantly improve mission support for U.S. Air Force space operations in an increasingly complex domain,” said Ms. Linda Haines, Space Fence Program Manager for the Air Force Materiel Command. “Space Fence will provide a fully-integrated, net-centric radar ‘system of systems’ that will allow information to be shared on the Global Information Grid with space operators across the community,” noted Carl Bannar, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s radar business headquartered in Syracuse, NY. “Lockheed Martin will build on our long and established partnership with the Air Force to support operational commanders in meeting the ever-increasing challenges of space situational awareness with a capable, responsive and affordable enterprise solution.” Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Delivers First Target Sight System Production Unit To The U.S. Marine Corps

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Delivers First Target Sight System Production Unit To The U.S. Marine Corps *Sources: DTN News / Lockheed Martin (NSI News Source Info) ORLANDO, FL, - July 2, 2009: Lockheed Martin marked the delivery of the first Target Sight System (TSS) production unit at a ceremony held at its Orlando, FL, facility June 30. The TSS is the multi-sensor fire control system for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra helicopter. The TSS integrates state-of-the-art sensors, providing Cobra pilots with enhanced capabilities to acquire, track and designate targets. The system provides superior imagery through a highly-stabilized sensor suite that includes a laser designator, color TV and a third-generation, mid-wave, forward-looking infrared sensor with advanced image processing. "Lockheed Martin has worked hard to deliver a superior targeting system capability for the AH-1Z Cobra,” said Col. Harry Hewson, U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager Air 276. "TSS allows Warfighters to see farther with greater precision, enabling mission accomplishment and safe return to base. We are looking forward to deploying this capability in the field." The Naval Surface Warfare Center awarded the initial TSS production contract in March 2008. Production will take place at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Ocala and Orlando, FL. Delivery of the 16 systems contracted will be completed in 2010. "We are committed to providing the U.S. Marine Corps with a sensor solution that provides outstanding value through high performance, reliability and combat survivability," said Mike Inderhees, director of Turreted Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "With TSS, Cobra pilots can now identify a threat from significantly increased standoff ranges, allowing them to accurately engage the enemy at maximum weapon ranges."Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

DTN News: Oshkosh Corporation Awarded $1.05 Billion Delivery Order To Supply M-ATV To Soldiers, Marines

DTN News: Oshkosh Corporation Awarded $1.05 Billion Delivery Order To Supply M-ATV To Soldiers, Marines

*Sources: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation

(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - July 2, 2009: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced June 30, it has selected Oshkosh Corporation to supply MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) for its fighting forces.

The Oshkosh M-ATV offers superior mobility and survivability for the U.S. Armed Forces.

Oshkosh has received an initial delivery order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) for 2,244 M-ATVs valued at $1.05 billion, following months of government testing on multiple production-ready vehicles. “We are proud that Oshkosh was chosen to provide its M-ATV offer to the the U.S. Armed Forces. Our M-ATV design combines the crew protection warfighters have come to expect in MRAP vehicles with the extreme mobility and durability needed to negotiate Afghanistan’s mountainous off-road terrain,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “Due to the urgent need of our Armed Forces for a survivable and highly mobile vehicle, our Corporation’s number one priority is meeting the Department’s accelerated delivery schedule of the Oshkosh M-ATV. Oshkosh Corporation will put whatever resources are necessary to meet or exceed the government’s delivery schedule. While we believe we can meet or exceed the government’s current delivery requirements, we intend to enter into discussions with other manufacturers to determine if they can assist in the production of the Oshkosh M-ATV.” Bohn went on to say, “As we begin supplying our advanced, high-performance vehicles, our full-service aftermarket support network will be available with replacement parts, technical support, and repair or refurbishment services. If demands for technology or component upgrades should arise, our team is ready to deliver.” Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense said, “Much has already been done to ensure we can meet the government’s delivery schedule. In recognition of the urgent need, we began daily production of Oshkosh M-ATVs on our flexible manufacturing line a few weeks ago. We and our suppliers have already made significant investments in materials and are well positioned to accelerate our manufacturing capabilities.” The Oshkosh Defense investments, planning and engineering activities, and production of M-ATVs in advance of this award will allow for accelerated delivery of the Oshkosh M-ATV, with initial vehicles available to TACOM LCMC in July. In order to achieve the off-road mobility that soldiers and Marines need in Afghanistan, Oshkosh integrated its TAK-4® independent suspension system onto the vehicle. As further testament to the government’s confidence in this suspension system, the company recently received a supply order to equip more than 1,500 legacy MRAPs with the TAK-4 system and continues to work with the Army to evaluate using the system on additional legacy MRAP models. The TAK-4 suspension system is used on more than 10,000 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR) supplied to the Marines and Seabees, as well as on the Marines’ Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) and the Army’s next-generation Palletized Load System (PLS). Oshkosh Defense teamed with Plasan North America for the M-ATV armor system to provide an advanced armor solution. Plasan also developed the armor system used on more than 5,000 legacy MRAPs and thousands of Oshkosh Armored Cab MTVRs already in theater. Oshkosh performed more than 7,500 miles of independent off-road testing to identify possible enhancements to the vehicle so it would meet or surpass the performance requirements in the rugged terrain in Afghanistan. About Oshkosh Corporation Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, BAI®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, Geesink™, Norba™, Kiggen™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com. ®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

DTN News: BAE Systems ~ New Unmanned Baby Submarine To Protect Coastal Waters

DTN News: BAE Systems ~ New Unmanned Baby Submarine To Protect Coastal Waters *Sources: DTN News / BAE Systems (NSI News Source Info) FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom - July 2, 2009: FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom – In a move to help combat the growing threat of explosive mines hidden in shallow coastal waters such as ports and harbours and to increase the protection available to world shipping, BAE Systems has launched its first unmanned autonomous submarine to detect and deal with this newfound threat. The 50kg vessel, called Talisman L, uses high-definition forward and sideways looking sonars, as well as a host of multi-view cameras. It has a high degree of manoeuvrability and can turn within its own length and is able to operate at depths of 100 metres for anything up to 12 hours. With a top speed of more than five knots, it can hover and move around in any direction. Paul Laity, Naval Programmes Director at BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies, said: “While open water threats remain significant, there is an increasing need for a threat detection capability in confined coastal areas. With our new Talisman L we are providing a way of protecting our service men and women in these port and harbour environments. “Talisman L can be deployed from almost any vessel, including rigid inflatable boats, and can be controlled either from a stand-alone console or integrated into a command ship’s Combat Management System, saving space and increasing operational effectiveness.” The submarine can operate autonomously, using pre-set mission parameters, but operators can assume manual control at any time giving it significant tactical flexibility and command oversight. Talisman L is one of a range of Talisman Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles that share open platform architectures, mission system components and command and training infrastructures. One of the key features of the Talisman L is its ability to become a payload for the much larger ‘mother ship’ Talisman M unmanned submarine. This unique combination of systems allows a fully integrated approach to Mine Counter Measures to be undertaken, from detection through to neutralisation. About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008.

DTN News: Raytheon $167 Million AIM-9X Block I & II Contract Gives Warfighters Edge

DTN News: Raytheon $167 Million AIM-9X Block I & II Contract Gives Warfighters Edge

*Sources: DTN News / Raytheon Company

(NSI News Source Info) TUCSON, Ariz., - July 2, 2009: The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company a $166.9 million contract for Lot 9 production and delivery of the AIM-9X infrared-guided air-to-air missile. The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. It is named after the sidewinder snake, which detects its prey via body heat and also because of the peculiar snake-like path of flight the early versions had when launched. The Sidewinder was the first truly effective air-to-air missile, widely imitated and copied; yet its variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades. When a Sidewinder missile is being launched, NATO pilots use the brevity code Fox two in radio communication, as with all "heat-seeking" missiles. About 110,000 Sidewinders have been built, of which perhaps one percent have been used in combat, resulting in some 250-300 kills world-wide to date. The missile was designed to be simple to upgrade.* The firm-fixed-price contract will provide the U.S. military and its allies with AIM-9X Block I missiles and introduce into the inventory the new AIM-9X Block II captive air training missile (CATM). The contract will provide more than 250 jobs for Raytheon employees and create work for more than 10 major suppliers in eight states. "Lot 9 continues to add to the inventory of the very successful Block I while setting the stage for AIM-9X Block II," said Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's air-to-air missile program manager. "The delivery of these CATM rounds is a critical first step in delivering a revolutionary new capability to the warfighter." Raytheon has delivered more than 3,600 AIM-9X Block I missiles to eight countries and is on contract to deliver missiles to two additional countries. In 2008 the U.S. Navy test fired the first AIM-9X Block II as part of developmental testing. "By leveraging our experience building the AIM-9X Block I, we plan to begin production of AIM-9X Block II in late 2010," said Dave Adams, Raytheon's AIM-9X program director. "Test after test has demonstrated the reliability of the AIM-9X Block I, and we intend to continue delivering this level of performance to the warfighter with AIM-9X Block II." Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

DTN News: Boeing Team to Develop Revolutionary Spacecraft Power System For DARPA

DTN News: Boeing Team to Develop Revolutionary Spacecraft Power System For DARPA *Sources: DTN News / Boeing Company (NSI News Source Info) HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., - July 2, 2009: An industry team led by The Boeing Company has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for work on Phase 2 of the Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program. The $15.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is currently funded to $13.8 million. The Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed program is an effort to develop a new ultra-lightweight High Power Generation System that, when combined with electric propulsion, will form the basis for future self-deployed, high-mobility spacecraft to perform ultra-high power communications, space radar, satellite transfer and servicing missions. DARPA's FAST program aims to develop a new, ultra-lightweight High Power Generation System (HPGS) that can generate up to 175 kilowatts -- more power than is currently available to the International Space Station. When combined with electric propulsion, FAST will form the foundation for future self-deployed, high-mobility spacecraft to perform ultra-high-power communications, space radar, satellite transfer and servicing missions. Boeing Phantom Works of Huntington Beach is leading the effort with support from Boeing Network and Space Systems, El Segundo, Calif. The Phase 2 work will include designing, fabricating and integrating test articles, performing a series of component-level evaluations and running two full-scale system tests. "Our team is pleased to partner with DARPA in developing this powerful new technology," said Tom Kessler, FAST program manager, Boeing Advanced Network and Space Systems. "FAST offers significant cost and performance benefits to our commercial, civil and national security customers, including new high-power applications to provide a cost-effective means for spacecraft to travel to the outer solar system." During Phase 1 of the program, the Boeing-led team, which includes DR Technologies, Northrop Grumman Astro Aerospace, Texas A&M University, Emcore, Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab Inc., and other key suppliers, developed a preliminary design for an HPGS capable of providing more than 130 watts per kilogram on a system that is less than half the weight and one sixth the size of an existing on-orbit solar power system. The team also defined the test program being conducted in Phase 2, which will verify the performance and operation of the HPGS's solar concentration, power conversion, heat rejection, structure and deployment, and sun pointing and tracking subsystems. The Boeing team's unique solar concentrator design offers higher performance and greater radiation tolerance than current on-orbit solar power generation systems. Boeing will also be using different approaches to solar cell technology to include capabilities from Emcore and Spectrolab. The size efficiency of the HPGS enables a new class of compact spacecraft that can self-deploy from low-Earth orbit to reach their final orbit using electric propulsion. This permits the use of smaller, less expensive launch vehicles that can support high-value science missions to the outer solar system without the need for expensive radioisotope power systems. 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: Navistar Defense Disappointed with M-ATV Selection, Company To Stay Strong Without M-ATV Program

DTN News: Navistar Defense Disappointed with M-ATV Selection, Company To Stay Strong Without M-ATV Program

*Sources: DTN News / Navistar Defense

(NSI News Source Info) WARRENVILLE, Ill. - July 2, 2009: Navistar Defense, LLC today announced that it will continue to grow its business even though it was not selected to produce vehicles for the U.S. Army’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) program.

“Navistar offers a unique value proposition of great manufacturing, engineering and sustainment capability,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “While we recognize we can’t win every new program, if it has a diesel engine and wheels, we will pursue it.”

Beginning in 2007, Navistar gained recognition for its ability to rapidly deliver 6,444 MRAP vehicles in six major variants. Though its MRAP program was a big success, Navistar still has substantial military business, which includes foreign sales to Canada, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. The company also continues to expand its parts and service offerings.

Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, the Monaco®, Holiday Rambler®, Safari®, Beaver®, McKenzieTM and R-Vision® brand RVs, and Workhorse® 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 and service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.GuidanceThe outcome of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle program does not affect Navistar’s previously stated 2009 guidance. Media contact: Elissa Koc, 630-753-2669Investor contact: Heather Kos, 630-753-2406Web site: www.Navistar.com/newsroom

DTN News: India ~ NSG Commandos New Regional Hubs In Mumbai, Chennai & Hyderabad

DTN News: India ~ NSG Commandos New Regional Hubs In Mumbai, Chennai & Hyderabad *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MUMBAI, India - July 1, 2009: India on June 30, 2009 Tuesday opened its first regional unit for specialist anti-terror troops, after widespread criticism of the slow response to last year's deadly Mumbai attacks. The new hub for some 250 NSG commandos in Mumbai is the first of four to open across India. Indian National Security Guard (NSG) commandos stand during the inuaguration of the NSG Mumbai Hub by Home Minister P.Chidambaram (top pictured) in Mumbai, India, 30 June 2009. The NSG, known as the "Black Cats" is modelled on Britain's elite Special Air Service (SAS) and the GSG-9, the specialist operations unit of the German police force. After 2008 attacks in Mumbai, four NSG regional hubs are set up in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad to quickly and effectively respond to terror attacks in these cities and the nearby regions. The Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram handing over the scroll to the Regional Hub Commandant after the inaugural function of the National Security Guard Regional Hub, at Chennai on July 01, 2009. The Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri M.K. Stalin and the DG, NSG are also seen.

Others are planned for Kolkata, in eastern India, plus the southern cities of Chennai and Hyderabad. The NSG -- dubbed the "Black Cats" -- is modelled on Britain's elite Special Air Service (SAS) and the GSG-9, the specialist operations unit of the German police force. The Indian government recommended setting up regional NSG units after the November 26-29 Mumbai attacks, which saw 10 Islamist extremist gunmen kill 166 people and injure more than 300 others in a 60-hour killing spree.

DTN News: Belarus Prepare For Independence Day Military Parade

DTN News: Belarus Prepare For Independence Day Military Parade *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MINSK, Belarus - July 1, 2009: Belarus' Mi-24 helicopter gun-ships fly over the Belarusian capital of Minsk as they prepare for a military air show ahead of the Independence Day military parade, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Parade will take place on July, 3. A Belarus army helicopter carries a state flag over a World War II monument in preparation for a military air show ahead of the Independence Day military parade, Minsk, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. The parade will take place on July, 3.

DTN News: FARC Kill Six Soldiers In East Colombia

DTN News: FARC Kill Six Soldiers In East Colombia

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) BOGOTA, Colombia - July 1, 2009: Six soldiers were killed in combat with FARC guerrillas in the eastern Colombian department of Arauca, official sources said Wednesday. Two soldiers were injured. Colombian military and police personnel, who were former hostages, pose for photographs after arriving at Lindosa in Sanjose del Guaviare province for the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Jaque military operation June 30, 2009. Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. citizens were also rescued by the military during the operation. According to newspaper El Espectador, the members of the army's 5th mobile brigade were ambushed by guerrillas near the town of Tame, some seventy kilometers from the Venezuelan border. Arauca governor Luis Eduardo Ataya Arias expressed his regret over the death of the soldiers. "I want to show my solidarity to the families of these soldiers who died defending the tranquility and peace in the Arauca department," he told the newspaper. The FARC has attacked several army units over the past few months after the rebel group's 45th anniversary.

DTN News: Abu Sayyaf Turns Over 3 Teachers To MILF ~ Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno

DTN News: Abu Sayyaf Turns Over 3 Teachers To MILF ~ Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - July 1, 2009: Abu Sayyaf bandits turned over three teachers it had kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay province last March 13 to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said. A motorist shows his driver's license to a soldier at a military checkpoint in Cotabato city in southern Philippines July 1, 2009. Fighting has escalated in the oil and gas-rich marshlands in Mindanao in the last two months, forcing nearly 350,000 people to flee from their homes and farms and pushing back peace talks with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stalled since August 2008. Jocelyn Inion, Jocelyn Enrique,z and Noemi Mandih, were handed over by their captors to the group of MILF Commander Aloy Alsrie in Naga town, also in Zamboanga Sibugay, Puno said. Puno did not say when the MILF got hold of the captives. “As I understand, the three teachers are in the MILF camp,” he said. But Eid Kabalu, MILF civil-military affairs chief, said Puno’s claim was baseless. “There’s no truth to it. The captives are not in the MILF camp in Tungawan,” he said in a phone interview. Puno said the kidnappers decided to leave the teachers with the rebels to escape government soldiers who were after them. “The kidnappers went to their (MILF) camp after they were pursued by the security forces, an intimidating pursuit operation,” he said.But Puno said the MILF had nothing to do with the kidnapping of the teachers. Brigadier General Muhammad Nur Askalani, chair of the government Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (Ahjag), a body formed to monitor the ceasefire between government and the MILF, said he has yet to verify Puno’s information. “I have no personal knowledge about the details,” Askalani said

DTN News: Navistar Defense Debuts Its Husky Tactical Support Vehicle At U.K. Vehicle Show

DTN News: Navistar Defense Debuts Its Husky Tactical Support Vehicle At U.K. Vehicle Show

*Sources: DTN News / Navistar Defense

(NSI News Source Info) WARRENVILLE, Ill. - July 1, 2009: Navistar Defense, LLC today debuted its International® Husky Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) at the U.K. Ministry of Defence vehicle show known as DVD.

In April, the Ministry of Defence awarded the company a contract to provide 262 Husky vehicles. Organized by the Ministry’s Defence Equipment and Support division, DVD offers attendees the chance to see vehicles in action on the show’s off-road course.

Specially designed to meet U.K. urgent operational requirements in Afghanistan, the lighter and more mobile Husky is built to navigate the rough Afghan terrain, while offering added protection from ballistics fire, mines and roadside bombs.

The Husky, which is the medium variant for the TSV program, will be procured in three vehicle types: patrol, ambulance and command vehicle.

Integrated with U.K. specific systems by Dytecna, the vehicle accommodates a four-person crew and is equipped with a MaxxForce® D 6.0 L V8 engine, Allison five-speed automatic transmission, and also incorporates Plasan Sasa’s armouring solution.

Last month, Navistar also delivered its first two Husky prototypes, ahead of schedule, to undergo final requirements testing before full production begins this summer.

“The Navistar team is going after an aggressive delivery commitment to provide our U.K. forces with the equipment they need as soon as possible,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “Not only will we deliver quickly to support those in theater, but Navistar is prepared to rapidly incorporate design changes into our vehicles as in-theater threats evolve.”

Navistar Defense is an affiliate of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV), a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, the Monaco®, Holiday Rambler®, Safari®, Beaver®, McKenzieTM and R-Vision® brand RVs, and Workhorse® 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 and service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at http://www.navistar.com/newsroom

DTN News: Adm. James Stavridis To Take Over At US European Command

DTN News: Adm. James Stavridis To Take Over At US European Command *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) STUTTGART, Germany - July 1, 2009: The new commander of all U.S. forces in Europe on Tuesday said quelling the Afghan insurgency would take more than bullets, calling for efforts to rebuild roads, schools and farms to win local support against the Taliban. The new commander of the United States European Command (US EUCOM), Admiral James G. Stavridis, left, applauds to his outgoing predecessor General John Craddock during the change of command ceremony at the Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, June 30, 2009. Stavridis is taking over as head of the U.S. European Command in a changeover that also makes him NATO's top military commander. "This is not a situation in which security will be delivered solely at the barrel of a gun," Navy Adm. James Stavridis, head of the U.S. European Command and NATO's top military leader told reporters. He replaced Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock at a change of command ceremony at the U.S. military's Patch Barracks near Stuttgart attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Previously commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Stavridis is the first Navy officer to hold the job, overseeing all American forces on the continent and NATO's military command. Stavridis' new assignment puts him in close quarters—and contact—with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the four-star Army general picked to provide the fresh thinking that Gates has said is needed to win the war in Afghanistan. "We need to pursue polices in Afghanistan that put the defense and security of the Afghan people at the center of our efforts," Stavridis said. "All of our efforts—our allied efforts, our U.S. efforts—because that is the key to dealing with an insurgency." McChrystal, who replaced Gen. David McKiernan, has said he intends to run a classic counterinsurgency campaign by creating a gulf between local Afghans and the hardcore Taliban fighters in a bid to win local support and gain better intelligence. Stavridis said he planned to meet within a few weeks with McChrystal and other members of the overhauled U.S. leadership team there, including Karl Eikenberry, who retired from the Army as a three-star general last month to become U.S. ambassador to Kabul. Stavridis was confirmed earlier this month by the U.S. Senate to be the new NATO military commander in Europe, a position he will formally assume on Thursday in Brussels. Stavridis will play a role in trying to persuade European governments to provide more resources in Afghanistan. Traditionally, an American officer commands the alliance's military forces from the headquarters in Mons, Belgium, while a European civilian heads its political head office in Brussels. "I'm very interested in finding additional and alternative ways that the allies can contribute," he said, but didn't give details, preferring instead to wait until he can meet with members of the 28-nation alliance and its leadership. Stavridis has gained a reputation as an outspoken backer of "smart power"—the combination of military power and the ability to persuade through diplomacy, aid, ideas and trade. NATO currently has about 58,000 soldiers in Afghanistan. Of those, 26,000 are Americans, and 12,000 more U.S. troops are serving under a separate command. President Barack Obama is deploying 21,000 additional U.S. forces to confront the Taliban more forcefully, particularly in the south where the Taliban's roots are strong. Under the administration's new strategy, NATO will help train the Afghan security forces, which could grow to as many as 400,000, more than double the current total.

DTN News: Honduras's President Manuel Zelaya To Visit Washington July 1

DTN News: Honduras's President Manuel Zelaya To Visit Washington July 1

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) MANAGUA, Nicaragua - July 1, 2009: Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said he will visit Washington on July 1 before returning to his country after the coup that ousted him from power. Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya talks to his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez during the Central American integration meeting in Managua June 29, 2009. Honduras came under pressure on Monday to reinstate ousted President Zelaya as many Latin American leaders agreed to withdraw envoys, Washington called his overthrow illegal and street protests turned violent. "I will return to Washington and then go to Tegucigalpa, where the people and the military await the arrival of the president elected by the people," Zelaya said June 29 at an emergency meeting of Latin American and Caribbean leaders gathered in the Nicaraguan capital. Zelaya, snatched from the presidential palace by Honduran troops early June 28 and sent into exile in the first Central American coup in years, said he would address the United Nations in New York to protest his ouster before heading to Washington on July 1 and then home. "I go to Tegucigalpa on Thursday," Zelaya said in a speech before leaders of the Rio Group of 23 regional nations, which strongly condemned the coup in fellow group member Honduras. "I'm the elected president, I will fulfill my four-year term," he vowed. Zelaya, 57, did not reveal what his schedule would entail in the U.S. capital, or whether he would meet any officials in President Barack Obama's administration. Soldiers stand guard as one reads a local newspaper outside a hotel near the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa June 30, 2009. Honduras' interim government battled on Tuesday against a tide of international support for ousted President Manuel Zelaya who vowed to return home after troops toppled and exiled him in a coup. In Managua, Zelaya welcomed the unanimous support he has received from around the world, notably from the U.S. Obama himself has spoken out strongly against his Honduran counterpart's ouster, saying: "We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the president of Honduras." The White House was unable to provide any initial comment on Zelaya's intent to visit Washington. In Managua, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has pitted himself as an Obama adversary and earlier said U.S. fingerprints were all over the Honduran coup, urged Zelaya to meet with Obama, saying the U.S. president's attention to the matter could "deliver a major blow" to those who ousted Zelaya.

DTN News: Afghan Air Corps Returns Mi-35 Helicopters To Flight

DTN News: Afghan Air Corps Returns Mi-35 Helicopters To Flight

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - July 1, 2009: After an absence of nearly a decade, the Afghan Mi-35 is again flying the skies of Afghanistan, thanks to pilots from the Afghan National Army Air Corps and the Czech Republic, military officials here said. In 2008, the Afghan National Air Corps took delivery of six refurbished Mi-35 helicopters, purchased from the Czech Republic with US money. The Afghan pilots were trained by India and were due to begin live firing exercises in May 2008 in order to escort Mi-17 transport helicopters on operations in restive parts of the country. Since 1978, around 2,000 Mi-24s have been manufactured, 600 for export. In October 2007, Media reported that the Saudi Arabian government had signed a contract for up to 150 Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters worth $2.2 billion On May 27, Afghan Mi-35 attack helicopters fired 12.7 mm rounds and 57 mm rockets near Bagram Air Base. Each partnered Afghan and Czech Republic crew fired 200 rounds of ball ammunition and 16 rockets while practicing gunnery on the East River Range Complex. The practice session was the culmination of more than a year’s work to rebuild the Mi-35 program, which gives the Afghan National Army dedicated, armed aircraft for the first time in eight years.The seven-hour training was supported by personnel and equipment from the ANAAC, the Czech Republic Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan mentors and personnel from Task Force Thunder at Bagram Air Base. After the completion of the live-fire training, the lead pilot from the Czech team, Major Juracka, commented, “The Afghan shooting was perfect.” The Czech team began ground training and limited flight training for Afghan Mi-35 crewmembers last summer. In January, Afghan Mi-35 training increased greatly with the arrival of six refurbished helicopters. Since then, the Czech team has completed assessments on nine pilots and added a more aggressive training program. To date, the Afghan pilots have received training on pre-mission planning, contact maneuvers, emergency procedures, navigation, and presidential escort operations. After the completion of their gunnery tables, the Afghan pilots will receive training on pre-planned and close air support combat missions. Future Mi-35 initiatives will put even more emphasis on independent Afghan training operations. The Afghan air corps is building its own arming points and is working on an initiative to complete all its Mi-35 live-fire training at Afghan facilities, while the Kabul Military Training Center is developing standardized Mi-35 live-fire training procedures. The air corps also is researching live-fire training locations throughout Afghanistan to better integrate the Mi-35 with the army. All of the efforts are aimed at decreasing the time for an Mi-35 training flight from seven to three hours, effectively doubling the amount of live-fire sorties that can be accomplished in a day. The Mi-35’s combat radius permits it to conduct combat operations anywhere in the country. The aircraft’s unique design allows it to be used in attack, air assault or medical evacuation roles. It can be configured with a 12.7 mm Gatling type machine gun, 57 mm rocket pods, and the AT-6 Spiral Anti-tank guided missile. The helicopters typically fly with 1,470 rounds of ball ammunition, 128 rockets and two anti-tank missiles. “The new capability is good for the Afghan National Army and for the country of Afghanistan,” Afghan Maj. Gen. Dawran, the air corps commander, said.

DTN News: BAE Acquires South African Iguana LAV

DTN News: BAE Acquires South African Iguana LAV *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 1, 2009: BAE Systems has acquired the South African designed and developed “Iguana” light armoured vehicle and will rebrand it as RG34. The IGUANA FV4, the new 4x4 armoured vehicle developed by Sabiex, was extensively tested in Venezuela and the UAE. The vehicle will be marketed to military, peace-keeping and security authorities globally. Iguana was developed by IADSA, under contract from Sabiex in Belgium. BAE Systems acquired the intellectual property from Sabiex under an agreement for an undisclosed amount, signed earlier this week. The acquisition of the armoured vehicle is consistent with the company’s strategy to developing its South African market capabilities.BAE Systems will continue to develop the RG34 to further enhance its operational versatility and appeal. “Growing our business organically and through acquisitions is a vital strategy for us. Acquiring a mature, light armoured vehicle such as the RG34 to compliment our product range, is an important step that will provide additional growth opportunities for the South African business,” said Johan Steyn, MD BAE Systems’ Land Systems South Africa business. “We acquired the vehicle and are rebranding it as the RG34 because it enables us to expand our range of successful and world-acclaimed South African designed and built RG vehicles,” explained Steyn. BAE Systems will display the RG34 at the DefenceWeb Peacekeeping Conference, to be held 24-25 June 2009 at Gallagher Estates, South Africa. One of the RG34’s unique features is its specially designed, multi-link hydro-pneumatic suspension, which is mounted on a very rigid structure. This provides the vehicle with excellent road performance, a small turning circle and comfortable clearance over humps. Like most of the other members of the RG family of vehicles, the RG34 is mine-resistant, having undergone extensive mine-blast tests and verifications. The vehicle is suitable for multi purpose light operations such as reconnaissance, patrol, command and control and specialist support (eg. ambulance), light armour combat (weapon platforms and Armoured Personnel Carriers) and security. BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa’s recent export success with its RG products has established the Benoni-based company as one of the world’s leading supplier of mine-resistant and armour proof vehicles. Its products are in service with numerous military, peace-keeping, police and public security authorities across the globe.