DTN News: Airbus And Boeing Deliveries Reach 94 In June ~ Ryanair Receives 40 New Aircraft In Six Months

DTN News: Airbus And Boeing Deliveries Reach 94 In June ~ Ryanair Receives 40 New Aircraft In Six Months *Source: DTN News (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 10, 2009: While new orders for Airbus and Boeing aircraft may be going through something of a sticky patch at present both airlines have enough of a backlog of orders to keep them busy for the next few years. In June the two major manufacturers delivered 94 aircraft, which is more than they have managed at any time during the last 18 months Airbus: 43 deliveries in May, 49 in June During the last two months Airbus has delivered some 92 aircraft. In May, China Southern, easyJet and Singapore Airlines each received three new aircraft while in June China Southern picked up the keys to five new aircraft, Aeroflot and US Airways four and easyJet a further three. Two A380s were delivered to Singapore Airlines, one each in May and June.

Airbus delivered 92 aircraft in May and June, including the first A320 assembled in China. The aircraft will be operated by Sichuan Airlines. Copyright: Airbus Among the less well-known airlines receiving a new Airbus during May/June were Air Caraibes, Bangkok Airways, Chongqing Airlines, Iberworld, SATA, Sichuan Airlines, newcomer Wataniya Airways and Zest Air of the Philippines. Boeing: 41 deliveries in May, 45 in June

During the last two months Boeing has delivered some 86 aircraft. In May, Ryanair took delivery of seven new aircraft with no other carrier receiving more than two new Boeings. In June, Ryanair took deliver of six aircraft (bringing their total in the first half of 2009 to 40), while Southwest (four), Air France (three) and American Airlines (three) were also kept busy with new deliveries.

Boeing delivered 86 aircraft in May and June, including a 737-900 in Continental’s historic ‘Blue Skyway’ livery. Originating in the 1940s, the livery has been reintroduced on a single aircraft to celebrate Continental’s 75th anniversary.

Among the less well-known airlines receiving new Boeings were flyDubai, Hainan Airlines, Sky Airlines (of Turkey) and Xiamen Airlines. Exactly 500 aircraft delivered in first half of 2009 Airbus is just beating Boeing so far in 2009 regarding deliveries. The European manufacturer has delivered 254 aircraft compared with 246 from the US manufacturer. Single-aisle aircraft account for 80% of deliveries with the remainder being wide-body aircraft.

DTN News: G8 Summit In Italy Ends With Food Aid Pledge To Poor Nations

DTN News: G8 Summit In Italy Ends With Food Aid Pledge To Poor Nations

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) L'Aquila, Italy - July 10, 2009: Leaders of the G8 developed nations wound up talks in Italy Friday with a pledge of $20 billion to boost food supplies in poor nations. Commitments to food security and to stem global warming were among the highlights of the meeting. U.S. President Barack Obama said this was a summit of consensus - on dealing with the global economic crisis, climate change, on nuclear non-proliferation, on Iran - and a pledge to help achieve food security for the poorest countries.

U.S. President Barack Obama, right, shares a word with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a round table meeting at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy on Friday, July 10, 2009. World leaders will meet with leaders of African nations ahead of an expected announcement of a new food security proposal that could represent a fundamental shift in the way the West tackles world hunger.

"We have committed $20 billion in food security, agricultural development programs to help fight world hunger. This is in addition to emergency humanitarian aid that we provide," he said.The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization welcomed the announcement, as an "encouraging policy shift to help the poor and hungry.

Many international aid organizations are cautiously positive. Development activist Kumi Naido of the Global Campaign Against Hunger, remains skeptical until more details of the plan become clear.

"We would see this as a belated small step in the right direction. How much of it is in the right direction will depend on the details because one of the favorite pastimes of the G8 is recycling old commitments and one of the things our researchers are looking at now is whether this is in fact a restating of old commitments," said Naido.

Aid organizations have been calling on the G8 to live up to past pledges of food and development assistance. The L'Aquila summit also focused on climate change. G8 leaders and partners from major emerging economies, including India, China and Brazil, agreed that global temperatures should not rise by more than an average of two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

G8 members also pledged to work toward an 80 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. While developing nations have committed themselves to negotiating cuts, they have not yet agreed on specifics.

President Obama called it a historic consensus, but acknowledged it was only a first step with major work still ahead.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the 2050 targets are too far in the future and that more needs to be done sooner. Many aid and environmental groups also say progress is too little and too slow.

Meredith Alexander of the international group, ActionAid, says developed nations can and should do more."It's nice that they referenced the 2-degree figure in their statement, but it's really not enough. G8 leaders and other rich countries need to be putting more money on the table and they need to be accepting much deeper cuts," said Alexander. G8 and G5 leaders in L'Aquila, Italy, 9 July 2009 ~ Left to right: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Manmohan Singh, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, Stephen Harper, Silvio Berlusconi, Taro Aso, Dmitry Medvedev, Fredrik Reinfeldt, Felipe Calderon. G8website/Ansa photo by: Massimo Percossi

This G8 summit took place, not in a major world capital or plush resort, but rather in central Italy, in an area devastated by a powerful earthquake just three months ago, in which nearly 300 people were killed. Many of the world leaders visited some of the worst hit areas.

And, there was much talk about the continued relevance of the G8 - a group originally established in 1975 to include then the world's six most developed economies. Some of the leaders here in L'Aquila, including President Obama agreed that other nations must be brought in and reforms made. Many say it has become evident that while the G8 still represents some of the world's most powerful countries, they alone cannot solve global problems - not without the help of others.

DTN News: "Space Internet" To Link Worlds By 2011?

DTN News: "Space Internet" To Link Worlds By 2011?

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media ~ Brian Handwerk for National Geographic News (Click here for link) (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 10, 2009: For all its might, the World Wide Web is still limited to, well, our world. But that's quickly changing with the advent of an "interplanetary internet" that planners say will revolutionize space communication. An "interplanetary internet" (seen above in an artist's conception) being tested this week will revolutionize space communications, NASA said in July 2009.The Disruption Tolerant Network will not only allow astronauts to tweet from space, it will aid vital communications among spacecraft and pave the path for future space initiatives.Illustration courtesy NASA/JPL The Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) system, which entered another phase of testing this week, will allow astronauts to Google from the moon or tweet their observations from space. But DTN provides far more than a connection to check your email. It's also essential for simplifying space command and control functions—such as power production or life-support systems—crucial for future space initiatives. "You need an automated communications technology … to sustain planetary exploration on the scale that NASA and others want to perform over the next decade," said Kevin Gifford, a senior research associate at BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. "DTN enables the transition from a simple point-to-point network, like a walkie-talkie, to a true multimode network like the Internet." After a decade of development DTN has advanced quickly over the past year, and NASA missions are planning to adopt the network by 2011. In November 2008 NASA test-drove the network by sending space images to and from the EPOXI spacecraft, some 20 million miles (32 million kilometers) from Earth. DTN protocols were also installed on the International Space Station in May, and summer testing began the first week of July. Houston, We're Fixing a Problem Though tweeting astronauts have gotten a lot of press, "the reality is that they [don't really] tweet or have browsing capability on the International Space Station," explained Gifford, who is part of a large, cooperative DTN effort that has also included NASA and Internet veterans. "Right now they actually voice down a simple blurb, and the tweet is operated manually from Houston," he said. In fact most current space communication involves humans manually scheduling each and every link, sometimes weeks or even months in advance for distant spacecraft, and dictating exactly which data are sent and when.

Adrian Hooke, a veteran of the Apollo 11 mission launch team, manages the new space DTN project. "Typically spacecraft go off and do their thing, gather up data, and then on some schedule they connect to the ground and [we] pull down the results of what it has been doing and send up instructions for the next time period," Hooke said. Such manual operations are inefficient and expensive. But simply extending Earth's Internet into space won't work. The Web uses Transmission-Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), a type of communication language in which hosts and computers must be constantly connected. This rarely happens in space, where intermittent connections are the norm because of the vast distances involved and the tendency of orbiting moons, rotating planets, and drifting satellites to temporarily disrupt wireless lines of communication. Communications Leap Typical space delays, even those caused by solar storms, are handled in stride by DTN, Hooke said. Each node in the network—whether it's the International Space Station or a small orbiting robot—stores all the data it receives until a clear opportunity arises to pass its "bundle" along to the others in the network. DTN nodes do not discard data when a destination path can't be identified. Hooke likens this "store and forward" process to a basketball team systematically passing the ball downcourt to players closer to the hoop. The result, he explained, will be a communications leap akin to that between the post office and the telephone. "A letter is a pretty self-contained story, it says do this or order that, and you mail it off and wait for a response." But the new DTN system will open a more consistent line of back-and-forth communication. (Read about how humans are exploring the cosmos.) Edge of the Solar System DTN is already used for earthbound projects. Scientists, for instance, are using the system to tag and track wildlife with a data-delivery capacity far more reliable than past satellite-based networks. DTN can also bring broadband Web to remote areas with few communication structures, connecting remote humans such as the Arctic's Sami people via satellite with far shorter time lags. The U.S. military has also embraced the technology to help keep lines of communication open in remote areas—or when other infrastructure is destroyed. So far, DTN doesn't seem to have a catch, experts say. "There are no physical limits on where the protocols would stop working," Hooke said. "We could use it to [send messages to] the edges of the solar system—the question is, how long will you wait for a response?"

DTN News: Canada Spends $4.3 Billion To Upgrade Combat Vehicles

DTN News: Canada Spends $4.3 Billion To Upgrade Combat Vehicles *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) OTTAWA, Canada - July 10, 2009: The Canadian government said July 8 it was committing some $5 billion ($4.3 billion U.S.) to modernize its fleet of armored vehicles and other combat carriers, many of which are used in Afghanistan. About $1-billion will go to improving LAV-3s currently deployed in Afghanistan, Defence Minister says. Ottawa anticipates investing $4 billion ($3.44 billion U.S.) in procuring between 650 and 800 new vehicles as part of its next generation land combat fleet, Defense Minister Peter MacKay announced. That fleet is to include new lines of Close Combat Vehicles, Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicles and Force Mobility Enhancement Vehicles, he said. It also expects to inject about one billion Canadian dollars ($86 million U.S.) to reinforce the armor and improve mobility of its 630 light-armored vehicles (LAVs), used primarily in Afghanistan, and extend the vehicle line's lifespan up to the year 2035, according to the defense ministry. "The recent experiences of the Canadian forces and other nations in Afghanistan and other operational theaters continue to demonstrate the ongoing requirement for a highly protected, yet highly mobile Light-Armored Vehicle," the ministry said in a statement. "The use of mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and anti-armor weapons has become more prevalent, posing a greater risk to personnel." The contracts are to go into effect in 2011, with Canada's military taking delivery of the vehicles beginning in 2012 and ending by 2015.

DTN News: France Has No Intention Selling Tiger Attack Helicopters To Pakistan

DTN News: France Has No Intention Selling Tiger Attack Helicopters To Pakistan

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - July 10, 2009: France is preparing a comprehensive defense package to help Pakistan in its counterterrorism operations in the North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, according to a spokesman at the French defense section at Paris' embassy here. Local media had reported a possible Franco-Pakistani defense deal in early July. The spokesman said that the deal would include weapons and training. "Nothing has been agreed, but a lot of things have been discussed. The main issue is to help Pakistan in the area of counterterrorism," he said. He gave no further details but denied reports that a deal had been reached to sell the Franco-German Tiger helicopter to Islamabad. The spokesman said the deal might be concluded when French President Nicholas Sarkozy visits sometime after Sept. 21. France is already working to remedy a shortage of helicopters that has hindered the Pakistan Army during its counterterrorism operations in the North West Frontier Province. The French have returned Pakistan's Puma transport and utility helicopters to full operational status. They are also providing the armed variant of the AS550 Fennec light helicopter, which will join the unarmed Ecureuil variant that in service with Pakistan Army Aviation. But France may not be keen to sell the Tiger gunship, said defense analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium. Khan said the Pakistan Army needs extra gunships "immediately," but he noted that the most obvious source, Washington, is unable to meet the need. Pakistan had hoped to acquire the AH-64 Apache, but no funds are available for the purchase. Additional AH-1F Cobras are also unlikely to materialize soon because, he said, "it takes close to 24 to 36 months to refurbish a stored AH-1 S/F and make it fully combat-operational." However, a spokesman for the defense section in the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said Pakistan had previously declined an offer of further refurbished Cobras. "Through Foreign Military Financing (FMF), the U.S. provided 12 refurbished AH-1Fs to Pakistan in 2007. Pakistan used U.S. grants to pay for the refurbishments. Also through FMF, the U.S. offered to refurbish an additional eight Pakistan Army AH-1F Cobras; however, Pakistan decided not to pursue this course of action," he said. Khan said the only other U.S. option also comes with a considerable time delay. "The U.S. has indicated that they are willing and able to release close to 14 AH-1W Super Cobras immediately, but first Pakistan Army pilots and technicians would need to be trained. Therefore, the Pakistan Army would be looking at another 10 to 12 months before it wears Pakistani colors," he said. Khan said Pakistan's needs would best be met by the South African AH-2 Rooivalk. "It is hard-hitting, rugged, needs little support, the Pakistan Army is familiar with the Puma platform [upon which it is based] and has expertise with it, and it suits Pakistan's industrial base to a large degree." But he said the Rooivalk program is now all but at a premature end, and Islamabad lacks the finances to revive and purchase it from the South Africans.

DTN News: Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar Meets Prime Minister Gordon Brown And Greets President Barack Obama At The G8 Summit In L'Aquila, Italy

DTN News: Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar Meets Prime Minister Gordon Brown And Greets President Barack Obama At The G8 Summit In L'Aquila, Italy

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) L'Aquila, Italy - July 10, 2009: The talks, behind closed doors, are believed to be the first time Mr Brown has met Muammar Gaddafi, who was an international pariah for many years after the Lockerbie bombing, for which Libya was blamed. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown holds a bilateral meeting with Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi on the morning of the third day of the G8 summit on July 10, 2009 in L'Aquila, Italy. The talks are being held close to the site of a devastating earthquake in April of this year. The leaders are expected to discuss climate change, global security and the global recession. A Downing Street spokesman told Sky News the meeting lasted 40 minutes and was "good and businesslike". The pair began by discussing the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and went on to talk about the economy, Africa's representation on the world stage and the Lockerbie bombing. "Gordon Brown expressed admiration for the brave decision Col Gaddafi had taken on Libya's nuclear programmes," the spokesman said. He added it was "important that we find ways for other countries to follow Libya's example". The African country eliminated all of its nuclear materials, equipment and programmes in 2003-2004 with US and British supervision. Sky's Alex Rossi, in L'Aquila, said: "Although nothing is likely to come out of this particular meeting, it is a very significant step. U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi before a dinner at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, July 9, 2009. Leaders of the Group of Eight major industrial nations and the main developing economies are meeting in the central Italian city of L'Aquila until Friday to discuss issues ranging from global economic stimulus to climate change and oil prices. "The overall message now is that Libya has not only been brought in from the cold, but it also shows how far Libya has travelled from international pariah to what the Government is now calling a strategic partner." In 2004, Mr Brown's predecessor Tony Blair flew to Libya for talks in Mr Gaddafi's tent, after the Libyan leader had given up his country's weapons of mass destruction and accepted responsibility for Lockerbie. Britain severed relations with Libya for two decades after shots fired from the Libyan embassy in London killed WPC Yvonne Fletcher, who was policing a demonstration. On Thursday, Col Gaddafi also shook hands with US President Barack Obama at the summit, breaking a long history of hostility between the two countries. Mr Obama was the first US president the Libyan leader has met after relations broke down between Libya and America over the African nation's support for terrorist groups. America designated Libya a "state sponsor of terrorism" in 1979 and President Ronald Reagan ordered Libyan assets in the US to be frozen in January 1986. Relations sank further when Libya was blamed by the US for the deadly bombing of a Berlin disco frequented by American military personnel. Libyan Leader Moamer Kadhafi arrives for a meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) and participating African countries at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, in central Italy, on July 10, 2009. Kadhafi held talks early today with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who told him that richer nations should not renege on their commitments just because times were getting tougher, according to a Downing Street spokesman. G8 leaders, including an Africa-bound Barack Obama, vowed today to stand by the world's poor despite the downturn, unveiling a 15 billion dollar boost for food production. In retaliation, US aircraft bombed Tripoli, Benghazi and Mr Gaddafi's home in April 1986, killing his adopted infant daughter. Two years later, Libya was blamed for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland that killed 270 people.

DTN News: Force Protection, Inc. Amends Award Announcement For $77 Million Of Contracts For Cougar Independent Suspension Upgrade Kits

DTN News: Force Protection, Inc. Amends Award Announcement For $77 Million Of Contracts For Cougar Independent Suspension Upgrade Kits *Source: DTN News / Force Protection, Inc.

(NSI News Source Info) LADSON, S.C.- July 10, 2009: Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT), a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of life saving survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, today amends its announcement from July 6, 2009 that it has received contracts for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 installation of specifically redesigned TAK-4 independent suspension kits for 1,317 Cougar MRAPs.

The aggregate amount of the award is $77 million, as further discussed below, not the previously reported $70 million. The Phase 1 award under modification to Contract M67854-07-D-5031 from the United States Marine Corps Systems Command was made on June 16, 2009 for $21.4 million and the Phase 2 was awarded on Thursday, July 2, 2009 for an additional $59 million, of which $56 million relates to independent suspension kits. The work is expected to be completed prior to February, 2010 and will be performed by both Force Protection’s staff of field service representatives (FSR) and by FSRs from Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) under a subcontract from Force Protection. The modification for the purchase of the hardware associated with this installation work was awarded on April 8, 2009 in the amount of $158.1 million, bringing the total cost for this independent suspension upgrade program, thus far, to approximately $235.5 million. The awards under these contract modifications are subject to definitization.

Michael Moody, Chief Executive Officer of Force Protection, commented, “We are pleased to have received these awards to install this much needed, high-performance mobility upgrade package for approximately a third of our deployed fleet of Cougar MRAPs. This award demonstrates our ability to capture a range of opportunities to provide service, support, spares and training. We are excited to leverage our recent investment in our Kuwait-based logistics and service depot, which we believe has significantly increased our ability to serve our customer and the war-fighter with faster response and more comprehensive service.”

About Force Protection, Inc.

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading American designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, predominantly blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, the Cougar, the Buffalo and the Cheetah, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). The Company also is the developer and manufacturer of ForceArmor™, an armor package providing superior protection against explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), now available for a wide range of tactical-wheeled vehicles. The Company is one of the original developers and primary providers of vehicles for the U.S. military’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP, vehicle program. For more information on Force Protection and its vehicles, visit http://www.forceprotection.net/.

Force Protection, Inc. Safe Harbor Language

This press release contains forward looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations. These statements are based on beliefs and assumptions of Force Protection’s management, and on information currently available to management. These forward looking statements include, among other things: the growth and demand for Force Protection’s vehicles, service, support and training, including the Tactical Support Vehicle, the ForceArmor™ kits and other vehicles; the rate at which the Company will be able to produce and deliver these products and provide services and support; the Company’s ability to develop new technologies and products, and the effectiveness of these technologies and products; the Company’s execution of its business strategy and strategic transformation, the Company’s increased ability to serve its customers abroad; and the Company’s expected financial and operating results, including its revenues and cash flow, for future periods. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Examples of these factors include, but are not limited to, the ability to fulfill the above orders on a timely basis, the ability of the subcontractor to perform, the ability to effectively manage the risks in the Company’s business; the ability to develop new technologies and products and the acceptance of these technologies and products; the ability to obtain new orders for its vehicles and products; the Company’s ability to identify and remedy its internal control weaknesses and deficiencies, and other risk factors and cautionary statements listed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009.

DTN News: U.S. Army And Oshkosh Defense Start Preproduction Efforts For The New Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET A1)

DTN News: U.S. Army And Oshkosh Defense Start Preproduction Efforts For The New Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET A1)

*Source: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation

(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - July 10, 2009: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), received a $9.4 million contract modification from the U.S. Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to begin durability and performance testing of the new Oshkosh® Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) A1 model.

This superior heavy equipment transporter produced by Oshkosh is the primary hauler for the M1A1 main battle tank, armored fighting vehicles, recovery vehicles, self-propelled howitzers and construction equipment. The six-person cab assures that your crews arrive for the mission well rested and ready for action. This highly mobile tractor delivers equipment and crew when and where needed. A critical element in any battle. Get crews and equipment into battle at peak readiness with the HET M1070 A1 from Oshkosh.

Testing of the HET A1, which includes several performance, maintenance and survivability enhancements, will take place at Yuma Proving Ground. The Oshkosh HET A1 is designed to rapidly transport battle tanks, fighting and recovery vehicles, armored vehicles and construction equipment, as well as their crews, so they arrive in mission-ready condition. The latest Oshkosh HET A1 configuration includes increased horsepower, higher capacity front suspension, an armor-ready cab, electrical upgrades and improved diagnostics. Once testing is completed, full-rate production of the Oshkosh HET A1 is scheduled for early 2010. Oshkosh manufactures the HET A1 as well as the new Palletized Load System (PLS A1) and Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT A4) as part of the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV). About Oshkosh DefenseOshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com. About Oshkosh CorporationOshkosh 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™, 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: Raytheon Completes Critical Milestone For Mobile X-band Radar System

DTN News: Raytheon Completes Critical Milestone For Mobile X-band Radar System

*Source: DTN News / Raytheon Company (NSI News Source Info) TEWKSBURY, Mass., - July 10, 2009: Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) recently completed integration and acceptance testing of an integral element of the mobile and adaptable AN/TPY-2 X-band radar system at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The Prime Power Unit (PPU) is an air- and highway-transportable, trailer-mounted 1.3MW (megawatt) Generator Set, a key component of the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system. "Completing this key milestone in the THAAD radar program moves us one step closer to providing an effective and reliable terminal missile defense capability to protect our country, our warfighters and our allies from ballistic missile threats," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National and Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The PPU will undergo extensive user evaluations, leading toward its maturity into the THAAD weapons system for fire unit deployment." The AN/TPY-2, a transportable X-band radar system, was developed for the THAAD system. It provides a highly reliable common capability enabling both a forward-based and a terminal mode in support of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Raytheon is the prime contractor for the AN/TPY-2, one of the company's affordable "family of X-band radars," providing the warfighter with modular, adaptable and integrated solutions to missile threats. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the THAAD system. Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities Integration, providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security. Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

DTN News: British Forces To Receive By Tender New Armoured Vehicles From UK Companies

DTN News: British Forces To Receive By Tender New Armoured Vehicles From UK Companies *Source: DTN News / British MoD

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - July 10, 2009: The Ministry of Defence has named the two British companies that are to go forward into the next stage of a project to provide the British Army with a new fleet of armoured reconnaissance vehicles. The medium-weight amphibious Piranha 5 was the first vehicle to be selected in the FRES family of vehicles [Picture: General Dynamics (UK) Ltd] BAE Systems Global Combat Systems and General Dynamics (UK) are to receive a draft Invitation to Tender for the vehicles in the next few days. The programme, termed by the MOD the Future Rapid Effect System Specialist Vehicle (FRES SV), is intended to provide reconnaissance and reconnaissance support variants to replace the existing Scimitar and Spartan vehicles now on operations in Afghanistan. The final Invitation to Tender is expected to be issued later this month following this initial assessment phase. Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said: "This follows the announcement of the strategy for the procurement of armoured vehicles which I made on 23 June. These vehicles will play a major role in current operations and in equipping the Army to stand ready to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the future. "[This] announcement shows that the Government puts the provision of the best vehicles that money can buy at the heart of its priorities." "These vehicles will play a major role in current operations and in equipping the Army to stand ready to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the future." Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support The issue of the draft Invitation to Tender for the FRES SV programme follows on from the announcement of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Sector Strategy last week. The FRES programme, of which FRES SV forms a part, aims to deliver a medium-weight armoured vehicle fleet with higher levels of deployability and protection than in-service vehicles, and with the potential to accommodate changes in technology. It will replace a number of vehicles that have reached or are reaching the end of their service lives, including the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) [CVR(T)] Scimitar, and introduce some new capabilities.The Equipment Examination decided that FRES SV should, with the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme, be prioritised ahead of the FRES Utility Vehicle. FRES SV is a medium-weight capability comprising three families of vehicles: Reconnaissance, Medium Armour and Manoeuvre Support.

DTN News: Indian Army Inducts DRDOs NBC Weapons Detection Vehicle

DTN News: Indian Army Inducts DRDOs NBC Weapons Detection Vehicle *Source: DTN News / India Defence

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - July 10, 2009: The Army has for the first time inducted a DRDO-built, low-cost vehicle to detect attacks on the country using nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons.

The indigenous vehicle, developed by DRDO’s five labs, will now be used in reconnaissance missions to detect nuclear radiations, and chemical or biological agents in the environment inside the country’s territory, DRDO officials said here on Sunday.

Based on a BMP-IIK Infantry Fighting Vehicle chassis, the vehicle would cost the Indian defence establishment a fourth of that of the imported varieties, saving the country’s precious foreign exchange, the officials said without giving details.

The BMP-IIK, which has a cross-country capability and adequate shield for the crew members, was fitted with nuclear, chemical, biological, meteorological and positional sensors for monitoring any contamination.

The vehicle would be used for demarcating the contaminated zones with a flag-marking system and samples of soil and water collected using an in-built scooping device.

It could also display and store NBC contamination data in its control console and transmit it to the Army’s Command Headquarters on request through Communication Link Controller and Star-V radio set.

DTN News: Boeing Debuts 1st Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet

DTN News: Boeing Debuts 1st Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet

*Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS - July 10, 2009: Boeing on July 8 unveiled the first of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during a ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' production facilities in St. Louis. The aircraft will be delivered later this month, three months ahead of schedule. Boeing on July 8, 2009 unveiled the first of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during a ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' production facilities in St. Louis. The aircraft will be delivered later this month, three months ahead of schedule. (Photo Credit: Boeing photo by Richard Rau). "The Super Hornet is on its way to delivering advanced combat capabilities to the Royal Australian Air Force," said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs. "Cooperation and great teamwork on the part of Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation, the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Hornet Industry Team have enabled the first RAAF Super Hornet to be delivered within budget and ahead of schedule." The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011. "The RAAF Super Hornet will bring a new generation of air power to Australia," said Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Head Air Combat Transition Office, RAAF. "Its advanced, networked weapons system will deliver enhanced air combat capability across the spectrum of air-to-air, strategic land attack and maritime strike, which is so important for Australia. It is a true multirole aircraft and there's a lot of excitement on the ground in the Air Combat Group about its arrival." The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the F/A-18F multirole fighters, making that country the first international Super Hornet customer. "The rollout of the first RAAF Block II Super Hornet is an important and exciting milestone for all of the Australian and U.S. team members, who have accomplished a great deal of significant work to make this event possible," said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 and EA-18 program manager, PMA-265. "Our long and successful relationship has been mutually beneficial during the RAAF classic Hornet program, and taking this next logical step with the acquisition of the Super Hornet is a win-win for both nations. The Super Hornet's inherent tactical capabilities and ability to force multiply speak for themselves." The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule. 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: British Forces Equipped With Improvements Bowman Communications System

DTN News: British Forces Equipped With Improvements Bowman Communications System

*Source: DTN News / British MoD (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - July 10, 2009: Two contracts, together worth £231m, have been awarded by the Ministry of Defence to General Dynamics UK to upgrade the UK Armed Forces' Bowman military communications system. Soldier equipped with a Bowman personal role radio [Picture: Mike Weston, Crown Copyright/MOD 2005] The contracts will provide improved performance and sustainability through proactive obsolescence management; increased quantities of equipment to meet user needs; optimisation of Bowman system performance through improvements to planning and system management applications; improved interoperability with other UK and allied systems; and improved synergies with Bowman CIP support solution. The first contract, known as Capability Release 1.5, is worth £119m and will update and refresh the system's capabilities over its lifetime to reflect advances in technology. The second contract, valued at £112m, will provide longer term technical support for the Bowman programme and will include repair, field services and the provision of spares. Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said: "Bowman has been used successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan, where secure, faster communications and data exchange is saving lives on the front line. It is a key element of a comprehensive suite of communications systems to provide a robust network that allows commanders to exercise command and control effectively. "These contracts are testament to our work with industry which allows us to rapidly adapt to technological advances and the evolving operational demands of our front line troops." The work will help sustain several hundred jobs at the General Dynamics' Oakdale site in South Wales. Bowman's secure radio communications, declared in service on time in 2004, have been used on operations since 2005, together with a basic data capability. "These contracts are testament to our work with industry which allows us to rapidly adapt to technological advances and the evolving operational demands of our front line troops." Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support The Bowman system has been developed and integrated by General Dynamics UK into over 13,000 British Army vehicles, together with headquarters, ships, and helicopters. The MOD recently purchased an additional 2,139 radios, with an option for a further 437, in order to meet the demands of current operations and their associated training needs. Dr Sandy Wilson, President and Managing Director of General Dynamics UK, said: "Bowman has allowed General Dynamics UK to grow a valuable engineering capability in communications and vehicle integration. That capability is a good example of the industrial benefit to the UK that comes from the close partnership between MOD and General Dynamics UK, working together on the future of Bowman and vehicle electronic architectures."

DTN News: Boeing Modified Chinook Mk3 Successfully Completes 1st Test Flight

DTN News: Boeing Modified Chinook Mk3 Successfully Completes 1st Test Flight *Source: DTN News / Boeing

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - July 10, 2009: Boeing Defence UK Ltd., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], on July 7 announced that a UK Chinook Mk3 helicopter successfully completed its first test flight on June 6 at the Ministry of Defence's Boscombe Down facility during the flight testing and evaluation phase of the Mk3 reversion program. A UK Chinook Mk3 helicopter makes its first test flight on June 6 at the Ministry of Defence's Boscombe Down facility during the flight testing and evaluation phase of the Mk3 reversion program. A Boeing team that includes key suppliers QinetiQ and GE Aviation Systems Ltd., working in close collaboration with the Royal Air Force (RAF), is reverting eight Mk3s for compatibility with the RAF fleet of 40 Mk2s. The eight converted helicopters are scheduled for delivery from late 2009 through 2010 and will join the rest of the RAF Chinook fleet at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. "Significantly increasing the heavy-lift capability of the RAF, the additional eight Chinook Mk3 helicopters will help support demanding operational needs in Afghanistan," said Rear Adm. Tony Johnstone-Burt, Commander of the Joint Helicopter Command. "This program, which is a team effort empowered by the RAF and key suppliers QinetiQ and GE Aviation Systems, is a wonderful example of working together to achieve an expanded mission-ready fleet," said Jim O'Neill, vice president of Integrated Logistics for Boeing Global Services and Support. "Getting these aircraft into service will help save lives and support essential missions." A Chinook helicopter can carry up to 55 troops or 10 tons of freight and be used in a variety of operational roles, including troop transportation and casualty evacuation. They are highly capable and versatile helicopters that cope well with many diverse environments, including the harsh conditions in Afghanistan. A wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, Boeing Defence UK Ltd. currently has employees at 20 locations throughout the United Kingdom supporting Ministry of Defence and U.S. military programs. 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.