Tuesday, March 22, 2011

DTN News - ROYAL NEWS: Queen Elizabeth Greets General David Petraeus Commander Of NATO Forces

DTN News - ROYAL NEWS: Queen Elizabeth Greets General David Petraeus Commander Of NATO Forces
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 22, 2011:
British Prime Minister David Cameron meets General David Petraeus, Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US Forces Afghanistan at 10 Downing Street in central London. The United States and key allies France and Britain struggled Tuesday to hammer out a new command structure for Libyan military operations amid divisions over the role NATO should play.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth greets U.S. General David Petraeus, Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, at Buckingham Palace, in central London March 22, 2011.

The United States and key allies France and Britain struggled Tuesday to hammer out a new command structure for Libyan military operations amid divisions over the role NATO should play.

US President Barack Obama, in El Salvador wrapping up a tour of Latin America, admitted it would take a while to forge agreement on the major issue hanging over coalition strikes against Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi.

"I would expect that over the next several days we will have clarity and a meeting of the minds of all those who are participating in the process," Obama said, as NATO ambassadors huddling in Brussels were unable to reach agreement.

France, which has resisted calls to give NATO control of the mission, called for the creation of a special political committee of foreign ministers from coalition countries to oversee the operations, with Arab participation.

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DTN News - LIBYA ~ OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN: French Rafale Jet Fighter Flying With NATO To Enforce No-Fly Zone Over Libya

DTN News - LIBYA ~ OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN: French Rafale Jet Fighter Flying With NATO To Enforce No-Fly Zone Over Libya
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 22, 2011:

US, European and Arab leaders began the largest international military intervention in the Arab world since the invasion of Iraq today in an effort to stop Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s war on the Libyan opposition.

A French Rafale jet fighter of the French armys prepares to land on March 21, 2011 at the aerial military base 126 - Capitaine Preziosi in Solenzara, Corsica, the French Mediterranean island. NATO is ready to back up the international coalition intervening in Libya within 'a few days,' French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said today.

Leaders meeting in Paris this afternoon said direct strikes against Libyan government forces, as approved by the United Nations Security Council yesterday, would begin within hours. And President Nicolas Sarkozy said French warplanes had already begun enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya, conducting reconnaissance missions and preparing to intercept any Libyan military aircraft. And the French military announced that a Rafale jet fighter had destroyed a government tank near the de facto rebel capital, Benghazi, in eastern Libya.

Despite an ultimatum from Western powers demanding that Gaddafi keep a cease-fire, reports of bombardment and fighting came from the main rebel-held city in eastern Libya, Benghazi. Witnesses there reported heavy artillery strikes and that government tanks and ground troops were moving throughout the city. A steady stream of vehicles, some bearing rebel flags, was seen pouring out to the east.

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DTN News - LIBYA ~ OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN: U.S. Forces In Military Exercise Over Skies In Italy

DTN News - LIBYA ~ OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN: U.S. Forces In Military Exercise Over Skies In Italy
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 22, 2011:

U.S. troops parachute out of a C-17 plane flying over Maniago, near the NATO airbase of Aviano, Italy, during an exercise, Tuesday, March 22, 2011. An American fighter jet crashed over North African country, both crew ejecting safely.

The U.S. Africa Command said both crew members were safe after what was believed to be a mechanical failure of the Air Force F-15. The aircraft, based out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, was flying out of Italy's Aviano Air Base in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (Photo - AP}

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DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 22, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 22, 2011
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 22, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 22, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $453,102,659 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, requirements-type contract for engine parts. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Va., is the contracting activity (SPM400-03-D-9404.

NAVY

General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $246,520,390 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0088) to exercise an option for 68 Lot 15 F414-GE-400 engines and device kits for the F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass. (44.8 percent); Madisonville, Ky. (18.1 percent); Evandale, Ohio (14.1 percent); Hooksett, N.H. (10.4 percent); Rutland, Vt. (3.9 percent); Dayton, Ohio (2.2 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (1.5 percent); Muskegon, Mich. (1.4 percent); Terre Haute, Ind. (1.4 percent); Bromont, Canada (1.2 percent); and Asheville, N.C. (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in April 2013. 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.

Canadian Commercial Corp., General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, Ontario, Canada, is being awarded a $25,241,778 firm-fixed-priced modification under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5028) for procurement of 691 modernization kits of the following engineering change proposals: storage bin installation hardware kits; roof armor kits; upgraded dashboard kits; automatic fire extinguishing system kits; and improved side steps installation kits. Work will be performed in Benoni, South Africa (45 percent); New Brunswick, Canada (45 percent); Fresno, Calif. (9 percent); and Ontario, Canada (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed no later than December 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded $9,700,927 for firm-fixed-price delivery order #0113 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028) to purchase 18 logistics vehicle system replacement: wrecker vehicles, Roxtec-Pass through panels, power distribution boxes, pioneer kit brackets, 400 amp alternators, wrecker front suspension upgrades, armor kits, slave valves, BoaGrip slings, and applicable shipping. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis. Work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Concurrent Technologies Corp., Johnstown, Pa., is being awarded a $9,437,751 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract to provide engineering and technical support services for various international ALR-95/ALR-97 operational libraries and in-country reprogramming systems. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $49,000,000. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pa., and Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. If all options are exercised, work could continue until March 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-11-D-3838).

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a modification to decrease contract N00024-07-C-6119, CLIN 0004, by $72,306,105 from $229,900,477 to a new total value of $157,594,372. The modification is to reduce the quantity of Standard Missile-3 Block IA missiles manufactured from 24 to 18. The remaining work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. The performance period is from March 2011 through April 2012. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.

ARMY

Harris Corp., Rochester, N.Y., was awarded on March 18 an $85,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the foreign military sales of radio base stations, vehicle mounts and man packs. Work will be performed in Rochester, N.Y., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 10, 2015. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-11-D-H607).

BAE Systems, York, Penn., was awarded on March 18 a $47,678,964 cost-reimbursement, no-fee contract. The award will provide for the procurement of Operation Desert Storm situational awareness material to be used to convert vehicles in support of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Work will be performed in York, Penn., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Contracting Center, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

Weeks Marine, Inc., Cranford, N.J., was awarded on March 18 a $21,149,002 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of the Port Jersey 4, consisting of the installation of protection measures above the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners sewer outfall. Work will be completed in Jersey City, N.J., and Bayonne, N.J., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2011. Ten bids were solicited with three bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, New York, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912DS-11-C-0005).

Georgia Department of Labor, Tucker, Ga., was awarded on March 18 an $18,050,685 cost-plus-award-fee contact. The award will provide for full food services at Fort Gordon, Ga. Work will be performed in Fort Gordon, Ga., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet with five bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Gordon, Ga., is the contracting activity (W911SE-06-C-0037).

General Dynamics Robotics Systems, Westminster, Md., was awarded on March 18 a $13,641,980 time-and-materials contract. The award will provide for Phase II Joint Improvised Explosive Devices Defeat Organization’s program to develop remotely operated ground vehicle utilizing a roller to neutralize victim operated improvised explosive devices. Work will be performed in Westminster, Md., and Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet with one bid received. The Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, Durham, N.C., is the contracting activity (DAAD19-01-C-0066).

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on March 18 an $11,561,688 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the acquisition of one Black Hawk helicopter for Jordan. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of July 30, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on March 18 a $7,187,311 firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials contract. The award will provide for the refurbishment of two Egyptian aircraft plus the procurement of all spares associated with these aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0118).

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

A-T Solutions, Inc., Fredericksburg, Va., is being awarded a $68,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Technical Support Group support services. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, Va., and is expected to be completed March 2016. Operation and maintenance contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three bids were received. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (HDTRA1-11-D-0003).

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DTN News - TECHNOLOGY NEWS: Rare Earths ~ Why China Is Cutting Exports Crucial To Western Technologies

DTN News - TECHNOLOGY NEWS: Rare Earths ~ Why China Is Cutting Exports Crucial To Western Technologies
**The key to hundreds of modern technologies, from iPhones to smart-bombs, lies in the little-known rare earth metals, 95 per cent of which are mined by China. Its decision to slash exports has left the West scrabbling for alternative supplies
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 22, 2011:

The Inner Mongolian city of Baotou is like an LS Lowry painting come to life: a faded industrial landscape of chimney-stacks and coal depots, shunting yards and steel plants. But amid the outskirts of this north China steel town there is one clutch of buildings that are noticeably more modern than the rest. They are home to a research institute that has suddenly become the envy of the world.

The showpiece headquarters of the 'Pioneering Rare Earth Hi-Tech Development Zone' is home to 400 research scientists who specialise in a group of 17 metals known as 'rare earths'. Until recently, most people had never even heard of these obscure elements.

New Generation Aircraft Concept of Chinese People

New Generation Aircraft Concept of Chinese AVIC

However, they are the magic ingredient in almost everything that makes modern life possible. They may have exotic-sounding names such as terbium, europium, dysprosium and lutetium, but they also have decidedly everyday applications; from BlackBerrys and iPhones to catalytic converters and low-energy lightbulbs.

Known in China as 'industrial vitamins', rare earths are an essential component in green technologies such as electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines. Rare earths are not only essential for civilian life; the world's hi-tech armies also need rare earths for a host of applications from toughening tank armour to guiding smart-bombs and powering night-vision goggles.

Given their global application, it may come as a surprise to know that 95 per cent of world rare earths production is controlled by a single country – China. Last year China's ministry of commerce announced drastic cuts in the amount of rare earths it would make available for export. Quotas were cut by more than 70 per cent for the second half of 2010 to only 8,000 tons, compared with 29,000 tons for the same period the previous year, at a time when global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) was picking up fast.

Analysts say quotas are expected to shrink by a further 11 per cent this year. Rare earths demand has tripled in the past decade to an estimated 136,000 tons this year. By 2014 some analysts are now predicting a 20,000-ton shortfall in key metals.

Prices of the most sought-after rare earth metals and oxides have spiked in the international markets, with some dealers reporting that neodymium (used in computers and lasers) is now impossible to obtain outside China. At $72 a kilo, cerium oxide, used in polishing glass and lenses, is now 15 times more expensive than it was a year ago; neodymium has more than tripled in value to $115 over the same period. Analysts do not expect them to cool off for at least two years.

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