DTN News: Germany Suspends Purchase Of EADS Military Helicopters Over Wiring Faults

DTN News: Germany Suspends Purchase Of EADS Military Helicopters Over Wiring Faults

*Germany has suspended the purchase of €3bn (£2.6bn) worth of EADs military helicopters – which are already five years late – because of wiring faults. Source: DTN News / Telegraph By Amy Wilson (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - May 28, 2010: The country ordered 80 Tiger attack helicopters from Eurocopter, a division of EADS, in 1998. Some 67 of those were due to be delivered last year, but so far only 11 have arrived, according to a report by the German ministry of defence. Those which have been delivered have extensive wiring problems and are kitted out to an earlier specification than that ordered by the German government. France ordered 80 Tigers at the same time, in a different model, and has already deployed its version of the helicopter in Afghanistan. The helicopter has "serious defects particularly with its wiring," the defence ministry said, and as a result the first aircraft will not be deployed with Germany's armed forces until November 2011. Eurocopter is the biggest manufacturer of helicopters in the world. "Corrective measures related to wiring problems have been developed, agreed by the customer and are being implemented," a spokesman for Eurocopter said. The company said it will hand over two helicopters which have been through this process to be tested by the German army in the next two months. Further helicopter deliveries are expected by the end of the year. EADS, which is also the parent company of Airbus, has suffered long delays and cost over-runs on its A400M military transport plane because of problems with its engines. The NH-90 helicopter was also delayed.

DTN News: UN Rift Widens Over Brazil-Turkey Deal With Iran

DTN News: UN Rift Widens Over Brazil-Turkey Deal With Iran

Source: DTN News / By Aldo Gamboa (AFP)

(NSI News Source Info) BRASILIA, Brazil - May 28, 2010: A bitter rift between the world's top powers led by the United States and emerging nations Brazil and Turkey widened Thursday as differences over how to tackle Iran's suspect nuclear program erupted into sharp exchanges. Turkey accused critics of a deal brokered with Iran last week for a nuclear fuel swap of being "envious" of the "diplomatic success" it represented -- in an implicit swipe at the United States. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged "very serious disagreements" with Brazil over its insistence that the deal it helped to draw up be considered before a US push for new UN sanctions against Iran is decided. The row threatens to split the UN Security Council, on which the United States sits as a permanent, veto-wielding member alongside temporary members Brazil and Turkey. It also highlighted the growing assertiveness of Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy, and NATO member Turkey in carving out their own diplomatic tracks independently of the United States. The United States accuses Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons under the cover of its atomic energy program, something Tehran denies. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in a joint media conference in Brasilia with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, slammed detractors of the May 17 deal they worked out with Tehran. "The countries criticizing this accord are envious. Because Brazil and Turkey brokered and pulled off a diplomatic success that other countries had been negotiating without result for many years," he said. He stated that Brazil and Turkey had "assumed the responsibility" that went with their seats on the UN Security Council. Lula urged that the UN nuclear watchdog, which this week received details from Tehran of the Brazil-Turkey proposal, to show "sensitivity in understanding the political moment" represented by the deal and to analyze it accordingly. "Turkey and Brazil are working for peace. Up to now, Iran has met the obligations of its accord with Turkey and Brazil," he stressed. Their words showed a stubborn refusal to allow the United States to dismiss their deal in its rush to secure a fourth round of sanctions against Iran in the UN Security Council. US officials say they already have the backing of the four other permanent members -- allies France and Britain, as well as Iran's investment partners China and Russia -- and were confident they would win the nine votes needed on the 15-seat Security Council to impose the sanctions. Non-permanent members Brazil and Turkey are opposed, along with Lebanon, which has ties to Iran through its Hezbollah militia. Brazil was being especially fierce in fighting to save the Tehran fuel swap deal, both in official declarations and in what appeared to be a leak of a letter from US President Barack Obama to Lula ahead of negotiations over the accord. The daily Folha de Sao Paulo reported Thursday that Obama had sent a letter to Lula three weeks ago suggesting negotiation points with Tehran and stating that he "would keep a door open to a compromise with Iran." The letter reportedly also said Obama warned he would simultaneously push forward with the UN resolution for sanctions against Tehran. The Brazilian government has not officially confirmed the authenticity of the letter, but Lula has insisted that the Tehran deal largely addressed the demands made by the United States months ago. Under the terms of the deal, Iran would deposit around half its stock of low-enriched uranium in Turkey in exchange, within a year later, for reactor fuel enriched to a level needed for research and medical use -- but well below the level required for military ends. The United States and its European allies say the deal is insufficient, partly because the amount of uranium to be handed over is too little, but mainly because Iran insists on enriching part of its remaining stock to 20 percent anyway. UN chief Ban Ki-moon, speaking at the opening Thursday of a UN "Alliance of Civilizations" conference in Rio aimed at better cross-cultural understanding, addressed the rift. "This crisis, it seems to me that there is a serious lack of optimism and trust towards Iran in its core," he said. He said Iran's plans to enrich its uranium "has caused serious concern" and stated: "It would be helpful if Iran agreed to stop trying to enrich uranium at 20 percent." Without mentioning the US-led push for sanctions, Ban praised Lula and Erdogan's efforts "to resolve this issue with peaceful negotiation." He acknowledged, though, that "there are different opinions about the approaches and possibilities concerning this issue."

DTN News: African Airlines Investments Acquires Five Bae 146s from BAE Systems For Pan-African Operations

DTN News: African Airlines Investments Acquires Five Bae 146s from BAE Systems For Pan-African Operations

Source: DTN News / BAE Systems 26 May 2010 Ref. 104

(NSI News Source Info) Hatfield, Hertfordshire - May 28, 2010: African Airlines Investments of South Africa has acquired five BAe 146 regional jetliners from BAE Systems for use on its growing aircraft leasing operations across sub-Saharan Africa. Two of the aircraft are BAe 146-200s with the remaining aircraft being the bigger Series 300. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by mid-July. These five aircraft are additional to two other BAe 146-200s that are currently operated by the company for customers in Gabon and other African countries. The company also presently operates smaller turboprop aircraft on behalf of additional customers in Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. African Airlines Investments (AAI) is an asset-based aviation group providing aviation support solutions to the African aviation industry. Its operational base is Johannesburg Lanseria Airport, whilst its finance and administration centre is located in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Aircraft are wet-leased to airline operators in a number of countries and all aircraft are maintained to South African Civil Aviation Authority standards for safety and airworthiness. Mr Pieter Louw, Director of African Airlines Investments said: "Africa has huge potential for air traffic development and we believe we have a unique business model to help the industry expand. In addition to our home market, we are spreading our wings across sub-Saharan Africa and its islands and the market for both charter operations and turnkey operations is expanding. We believe that the BAe 146 is the ideal aircraft for our jet operations." Mr Nigel Benson, Director Sales and Marketing - Sub Saharan Africa for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Asset Management said: "African Airlines Investments is the fourth customer for the BAe 146/Avro RJ in South Africa. Across Africa as a whole the aircraft is proving increasingly popular and we will have by the middle of 2010 a total of 19 aircraft in operations with seven customers across six countries."

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion). For further information contact: David Dorman, BAE Systems

Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336 Fax: +44 (0) 1582 488447

david@dorwaypr.co.uk Issued by: BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947

24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739

www.baesystems.com

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract For Kuwait Air Force KC-130J Tankers

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract For Kuwait Air Force KC-130J Tankers

Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin

(NSI News Source Info) MARIETTA, Ga., - May 28, 2010: Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $245 million contract from the U.S. Government for the Foreign Military Sale of three KC 130J tanker aircraft to Kuwait. The program will be managed by the U.S. Navy. The Kuwait Air Force’s new KC-130Js will provide aerial refueling for its F 18 fleet and augment its current airlift fleet of three Lockheed Martin L-100s. Kuwait’s KC-130Js also will perform air mobility, disaster relief and humanitarian missions throughout the world. “We are proud to add yet another country to the growing worldwide C-130J community,” said Jim Grant, Lockheed Martin vice president for C-130 business development. “The combination of tanking and airlift missions yet again shows the tremendous versatility of this proven aircraft. KC-130Js have been used in high-tempo operations for the last five years and will provide Kuwait with an effective, efficient and reliable multi-mission capability.” Kuwait’s first KC-130J delivery is scheduled for late 2013, with deliveries completed in early 2014. Using only wing and external tanks, the KC-130J has a 57,500 pound fuel offload capability. The KC 130J is configured to accept a fuselage tank, adding another 24,392 pounds of available fuel. The standard probe-and-drogue configuration of the KC 130J is suited for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. In addition to aerial and ground refueling, the KC-130J has the same airlift capability as non-tanker variants — including airdrop and paradrop. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 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 2009 sales of $45.2 billion. Media Contact: Peter Simmons

Office: 770-494-6208

Mobile: 678-662-4747

Email: peter.e.simmons@lmco.com

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Ships First FMTV Trucks, Trailers To U.S. Army Ahead Of Schedule; Vehicle Design Supports Armor Strategy To Protect Warfight

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Ships First FMTV Trucks, Trailers To U.S. Army Ahead Of Schedule; Vehicle Design Supports Armor Strategy To Protect Warfighters

Source: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation

(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - May 28, 2010: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has shipped its first Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers to the U.S. Army. The vehicles left the company’s Oshkosh, Wis. campus yesterday – ahead of schedule. “These Oshkosh vehicles represent a major milestone for the FMTV program, and exemplify our history of meeting commitments to the U.S. Army,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager, Army Programs, Oshkosh Defense. “We’ve leveraged our proven manufacturing expertise and a substantial pre-award program investment to ensure that all of our customer’s requirements and original schedules are met. We look forward to delivering these mission-critical vehicles to our country’s Warfighters.” Two FMTV variants and trailers for both vehicles are being delivered. The Oshkosh FMTVs feature the Long-Term Armor Strategy (LTAS)-compliant cab solution. “We are pleased to do all we can to advance the safety and protection of our Warfighters,” added Ivy. According to the U.S. Army’s original FMTV program timeline, Oshkosh Defense will begin delivering production units in October 2010. Production deliveries under existing orders run through December 2011. To date, Oshkosh has received orders to deliver 5,209 FMTV trucks and trailers. The five-year FMTV contract is for the production of an estimated 23,000 vehicles and trailers, as well as support services and training. The FMTV is a series of 17 models and 23 variants ranging from 2.5-ton to 10-ton payloads. Vehicles feature a parts commonality of more than 80 percent, resulting in streamlined maintenance, training, sustainment and overall cost efficiency for the U.S. Army. About Oshkosh Defense

Oshkosh 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 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®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, 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: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated May 27, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated May 27, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued May 27, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - May 28, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued May 27, 2010 are undermentioned; CONTRACTS DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY ~Sterlingwear of Boston, Inc.*, Boston, Mass. is being awarded a maximum $36,700,000 firm-fixed-price, total set-aside, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for men’s and women’s overcoats. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. The original proposal was Web solicited with five responses. The date of performance completion is Nov. 27, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-10-D-1077). ~Aviall Services, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a maximum $17,325,000 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for helicopter engine parts. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There was one proposal originally solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is May 30, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Philadelphia (DSCR-AHB), Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (SPRRA1-10-D-0015). AIR FORCE ~Alion Science and Technology Corp., Chicago, Ill., was awarded a $24,761,763 contract which will provide for research development for Air Force Research Laboratory for critical live, virtual and constructive environments. At this time, $99,206 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (N61339-03-D-0300, Delivery Order 0246). ~Alion Science and Technology Corp., Chicago, Ill., was awarded a $24,251,273 contract which will provide research and engineering integration of Department of Defense manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. At this time, $4,405,506 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (N61339-03-D-0300, Delivery Order 0248). ~Wyle Laboratories, Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $23,809,521 contract which will conduct engineering, analysis and testing tasks to facilitate a reliability improvement, parts obsolescence problems, and identify corrective actions that can be taken to eliminate or control problems. At this time, $125,984 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005). ~Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $12,321,308 contract which will provide Joint Program Analysis and Integration Office survivability/vulnerability scientific and technical analysis. At this time, $3,214,286 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380). ~Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded an $11,904,222 contract which will provide survivability/vulnerability analysis and assessment. At this time, $347,222 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0410). ~Raytheon Co., Intelligence and Information Systems, Reston, Va., was awarded an $11,350,052 contract which will provide Transportable Ground Receive Suite terminals. At this time, no funds have been obligated. 653 ELSG/KCK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8628-06-C-2066 P00072). ~L-3 Services, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $6,050,543 contract which will provide intelligence analysis; operations and planning; targeting; collection management; support analysis and production support; and information systems sustainment support in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 700 CONS/LGCD, Kapaun Air Station, Germany, is the contracting activity (FA5613-09-D-5000-0016). NAVY ~TolTest, Inc., Maumee, Ohio, is being awarded $8,644,201 for firm-fixed-price task order #0005 under a multiple-award construction contract (N69450-08-D-1283) for design and construction to replace a JP-5 fuel storage tank at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay. The proposed work includes replacement of the fuel storage tank, backup diesel generator, tank stilling wells, and paved dike access road. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by November 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. ~L-3 Communications Corp., Arlington, Texas, is being awarded a $10,686,851 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-04-D-0110) for additional logistics support services for the Navy’s C-40A aircraft fleet. Services to be provided include site activation; site support at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas, NAS Jacksonville, Fla., and NAS North Island, Calif.; inventory management and support, to include tracking and control of government- and contractor-owned inventory; depot-level support, scheduled and unscheduled; drop-in maintenance; component repair and overhaul of government- and contractor-owned inventory; replacement of government- and contractor-owned inventory; contractor field teams; and engine condition monitoring. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (22 percent); NAS Jacksonville, Fla. (22 percent); NAS North Island, Calif. (22 percent); Oklahoma City, Okla. (20 percent); Arlington, Texas (8 percent); and Tulsa, Okla. (6 percent). Work is expected to be completed in November 2010. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. ~Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $7,079,047 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-07-D-0004) to exercise an option for the VH-60N executive helicopter special progressive aircraft rework induction. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $7,079,047 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. ~The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $6,376,999 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-05-G-0026) for the procurement of 144 kits in support of engineering change proposal #6282, “Fatigue Test Article 50/Fatigue Test Article 77 Post-Cost Reduction Initiative Inner Wing Retrofit Out of Warranty Kits,” for the F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in January 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

DTN News: North Korea Vows To Rip Up Military Safeguards With South

DTN News: North Korea Vows To Rip Up Military Safeguards With South

Source: DTN News / Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - May 27, 2010: North Korea said on Thursday it was ripping up military agreements signed with the South in a step seen as a prelude to shutting down a joint factory park, just as Seoul staged anti-submarine drills in tense border waters. Signs also emerged that China, the North's main benefactor and ally, is reviewing ties with the isolated state, a week after international investigators accused Pyongyang of torpedoing a South Korean warship in March. The sinking killed 46 sailors and sharply raised tensions in economically significant East Asia. In the latest chapter of blistering rhetoric, North Korea accused the South of driving 10 years of developing ties into the ground and said it would scrap pacts between the two sides' militaries guaranteeing the safety of cross-border exchanges. The move could push the North a step closer to severing a border link which provides access to a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. "We will completely repeal the military guarantee measures that our army is to enforce related to North-South cooperation exchange," the North's army chief of staff said in a notice carried by Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency. It could also mean the beginning of the end for the Kaesong industrial project, where more than 100 South Korean firms use cheap local labor and rent to make consumer goods and has been one of a few legitimate sources of income for the North, worth tens of millions of dollars a year. Mounting antagonism between the two Koreas has unnerved investors, worried the bitter rivalry could spill over into conflict. The KCNA statement also said the North was cancelling agreements aimed at preventing confrontations in the waters off the peninsula's west coast and cutting off naval hotlines. The North this week threatened to shut the last road link with the South if Seoul resumes loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across their heavily armed border. It has warned of war if the South goes ahead with sanctions announced this week. INTRUSIONS The South Korean naval exercise is aimed at better detecting intrusions by North Korean submarines after the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan. The drills, which also come after the South's military upgraded its alert level, are likely to further anger Pyongyang, which has already cut most ties with Seoul after it sanctioned the hermit state over the Cheonan's sinking. Most analysts say that neither side is ready to go to war but warn there could be more skirmishes, especially along their disputed sea border off the west coast. Traders said the issue continues to hang over the market, although it is no longer driving prices down as it did early in the week. The won ended a five-day losing streak as investors turned to the country's financial markets on the view that recent declines may have been excessive. Washington is looking for ways to avoid the issue collapsing into conflict, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressing Beijing to coax its North Korean ally into changing course. CHINA'S ROLE Clinton, visiting Seoul on Wednesday, called on China to join efforts to pressure the North to change its ways. China almost single-handedly props up the North Korean government and its destitute economy. U.S. officials traveling with Clinton said China has shown indications that it was rethinking its ties with Pyongyang. South Korea will ask the U.N. Security Council as early as next week to take up the issue, its Yonhap news agency said. South Korean officials anticipate some form of progress in China's response when Premier Wen Jiabao visits Seoul on Friday for a summit with President Lee Myung-bak. The two will travel to the South Korean resort island of Jeju on Saturday for a regional summit that also involves Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, where the issue is likely to overshadow discussions on boosting trade. North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly is scheduled to meet on June 7, two months after the rubberstamp parliament passed constitutional amendments that strengthened leader Kim Jong-il's powers. Experts say a major announcement is likely. (Editing by Jonathan Thatcher and Paul Tait)

DTN News: China Supplies All Your Needs

DTN News: China Supplies All Your Needs

Source: Strategy Page

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 27, 2010: Indonesia has received its first shipment of Chinese made QW-3 shoulder fired, surface to air missiles. These are 23 kg (51 pound), heat sensing weapons that can hit aircraft at up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) and up to eight kilometers (five miles) away.

Top speed is 2,700 kilometers an hour (750 meters a second) and targets as low as four meters (13 feet) from the ground can be hit. The missile, in its container, is 2.1 meters (6.5 feet) long. The QW-3 is in the same class as the U.S. Stinger. The QW series began development in the 1990s, as China sought to develop missiles to replace it HN series of Russian SAM-7 clones. China still manufactures and exports HN-5s, as a low cost solution to your anti-aircraft needs. But the QW-3 is the top of the line and has been in service for over five years. China is aggressively marketing its weapons to Indonesia, offering low prices and no strings (the U.S. has cut off Indonesia over human rights issues.)

China has a full range of anti-aircraft systems, including one similar the U.S. Patriot and Russians S-300 (the Chinese are believed to have heavily borrowed technology from both of these). Chinese air defense weapons are priced to move, and there is an implicit guarantee that if any nation on the planet develops new air defense technology, China can steal it and adopt it as its own.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com Disclaimer statement Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein, DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions expressed herein are those of the author of the page and do not necessarily represent the corporate views of DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News. Various Topics On Strategy Page

ARTILLERY: Too Expensive, Too Short And Too Late To Succeed

INFANTRY: Wake Up Call

AIR DEFENSE: China Supplies All Your Needs

ELECTRONIC WEAPONS: Saudis Buy A Better Vision

MYANMAR: China Will Make It All Better

COUNTER-TERRORISM: For A Few Dollars More

YEMEN: Fear Of Fighting Anyone

INTELLIGENCE: Trolling The Chat Rooms For Treasure

PEACE TIME: Israel Prepares For The Worst From Iran

FORCES: China Flies Towards World Domination

PEACEKEEPING: Death From Below

MORALE: The Few, The Fallen, The Never Forgotten

INDIA-PAKISTAN: The Vicious Violence Of The Victims

LEADERSHIP: Sweden Seeks Volunteers

BALKANS: Peacekeepers Depart, Gangsters Stay

INFORMATION WARFARE: Army Forces Cyber Command

ARMOR: Panzer Ost

WARPLANES: Her Majesty's Righteous Reapers

AFGHANISTAN: Putting On A Show

INTELLIGENCE: Killing Snowflakes

DTN News: Technology News May 27, 2010 ~ Facebook Reveals 'Simplified' Privacy Changes

DTN News: Technology News May 27, 2010 ~ Facebook Reveals 'Simplified' Privacy Changes

Source: DTN News / BBC

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 27, 2010: Social network Facebook has said it will offer a one-stop shop for privacy settings in response to user concerns. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg admitted the settings had "gotten complex" for users. It follows a storm of protest from users over a series of changes on the site that left its members unsure about how public their information had become. "We needed to simplify controls," he told a press conference. "We want people to be able to share information in the way that they want," he told BBC News. "Our goal is not to make your information more private or more open." The new system will offer users one privacy page with a list of all their applications and a choice of three settings for each. The redesigned privacy page allows users to see all their information in one grid and apply privacy settings to each. Facebook will suggest defaults. As with the changes made in December, users will be able to choose to share their applications with just friends, friends of friends or everyone. "We've focused on three things: a single control for your content, more powerful controls for your basic information and an easy control to turn off all applications," said Mark Zuckerberg, speaking at Facebook's Palo Alto headquarters. People who want more "granular control" will still be able to access existing settings. Facebook has also reduced the amount of information that is visible to everyone. People will now be able to control who sees their interest pages and friends lists. Users will also be able to turn off applications to ensure no information is shared without consent. One of the things users found complicated was the need to apply new settings to every new feature introduced on the site. From today, whatever setting users choose for "Sharing on Facebook" will now automatically be applied to any new products. Initial reactions to the changes questioned whether Facebook had gone far enough.

Big battle "The vast majority of people don't use privacy settings so the reforms are not likely to have as great an impact," said Simon Davies, director of Privacy International. The site has had to make changes to its privacy policy before "If the default is for less information then we've really made a step forward," he said. With European privacy commissioners calling for companies to set defaults for the minimum sharing of information, the big battle could be "yet to come", he warned. "That's where the rubber hits the road at a legal level." Andrew Walls, a research director at analyst firm Gartner wondered how the changes would affect Facebook's business model. "Some questions not really answered were issues around the sharing of personal data with advertisers for doing targeted ads based on profile content. That's a tricky one - how do you make money if you can't sell targeted ads? How do you compete with Google?" "They want sufficient privacy to attract users into service and take advantage of it but some sharing of data is also required in order for Facebook to make money," he said. But Mr Zuckerberg told BBC News that it was a "misconception" that the site relied on people sharing information to make money from adverts. "No information is sold to advertisers. For the business part of Facebook, it makes no difference what your privacy settings are." Mr Zuckerberg said that developers had "worked weekends, camped out in the conference centre" in order to overhaul its privacy settings. "The number one thing we've heard to that the settings have gotten complex and hard for people to use," he said. "It is something we take very seriously," he added. He spent time explaining how Facebook has evolved from a very basic system when it was launched in 2004 to the 400m user site it is today. "When we started Facebook, we built it around a few simple ideas. People want to share and stay connected with their friends and the people around them. When you have control over what you share, you want to share more. When you share more, the world becomes more open and connected," he said. But since then the site has rolled out hundreds of new features and, alongside them, a raft a privacy settings. Changes made to the site earlier this year and in December 2009 infuriated users and led to formal complaints from privacy groups. The European Commission described the changes as "unacceptable".

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com