Defense-Technology News

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: The Rafale Selected To Power The Indian Air Force

2012-01-31T16:37:00.001-05:00

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: The Rafale Selected To Power The Indian Air Force
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Dassault Aviation
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / Saint-Cloud (France), January 31, 2012: Following the announcement of the final selection of the Rafale program MMRCA, Dassault Aviation and its partners are grateful to the Indian authorities and people of India to give them the opportunity to continue to strengthen their partnership history. Dassault Aviation and its partners reaffirm their commitment to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force and recall their pride in contributing to the defense of India for over a half century.

About DASSAULT AVIATION With over 7500 military and civilian aircraft delivered for nearly 60 years in 75 countries and have made nearly 20 million flight hours, Dassault Aviation has an expertise and a recognized experience in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, the Rafale fighter to the family of business jets upscale Falcon. With its unique architectural complex airborne systems, Dassault Aviation is able to make strategic, operational solutions and innovative approach to efficient cooperation.

As part of a phased approach pursued for many years, its expertise in technology systems and control of airborne vectors allow users to offer optimized solutions. Finally, the pragmatic approach of the partnership has led to a vast network of cooperation with many companies, thus promoting the success of today's programs and helping to unite the defense industries of tomorrow.

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DASSAULT WINS INDIAN FIGHTER JET CONTRACT

Financial Times - ‎5 minutes ago‎

The Indian government said the French Rafale fighter jet had beaten the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon to become preferred bidder to equip India with the multi-role fighter jets in one of the world's largest military contracts.

'FRANCE'S RAFALE DEAL TO INCLUDE TECH TRANSFER'

IBNLive.com - ‎8 minutes ago‎

Paris: French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday said that he welcomed a decision by India's government to enter into "exclusive negotiations" with France's Dassault for the purchase of 126 Rafale jet fighter planes. In a statement, Sarkozy said ...

IAF SIGNS $18-BN DEAL FOR FIGHTER JETS WITH FRENCH FIRM

Hindustan Times - ‎10 minutes ago‎

French firm Dassault has won a multi-billion dollar contract to provide 126 fighter jets to the Indian military, a government source in New Delhi said on Tuesday. contract, which is estimated to be worth $12 billion. "You can take it as confirmed that ...

INDIAN AIR FORCE TO BUY 126 RAFALE FIGHTER JETS

Philadelphia Inquirer - ‎36 minutes ago‎

AP NEW DELHI - India has decided to buy 126 French-made Rafale combat aircraft for the Indian air force, clinching a massive $11 billion defense deal, a top government official said Tuesday. The French aviation company Dassault snapped up the $11 ...

INDIA AWARDS DASSAULT $12 BILLION CONTRACT TO REPLENISH AGEING AIR FORCE

The Express Tribune - ‎37 minutes ago‎

By AFP India decided to go with French built Rafale jets over the EuroFighter. PHOTO: AFP/FILE NEW DELHI: India has decided to replenish its ageing air force with the French firm Dassault, as it chose over the Eurofighter consortium as the preferred ...

DASSAULT CLOSES IN ON INDIA JET FIGHTER DEAL

Wall Street Journal - ‎41 minutes ago‎

By NOEMIE BISSERBE And SANTANU CHOUDHURY French firm Dassault is close to clinching a multibillion dollar contract to provide 126 Rafale fighter jets to the Indian military. Dassault Aviation SA is on the cusp of clinching a breakthrough multibillion ...

FRANCE SECURES EXCLUSIVE STATUS IN INDIAN JETS BID

Financial Times - ‎1 hour ago‎

By James Boxell in Paris and Carola Hoyos in London Dassault expressed “gratitude” to India on Tuesday after it was awarded exclusive bidder status for the $15bn-$20bn sale of 126 Rafale fighter jets. For not only is the Indian air force order the ...

FRENCH FIRM FLIES OFF WITH $10.4B IAF DEAL

Khaleej Times - ‎1 hour ago‎

NEW DELHI - In a defence deal that is India's — and amongst the world's — largest, France's Dassault has won a $10.4 billion (Rs52,000 crore) order for 126 fighter jets after over four years of a fiercely-fought bidding process.

FRANCE'S DASSAULT WINS $12 BLN INDIAN FIGHTER JET DEAL

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - ‎1 hour ago‎

(AGI) Paris - French company Dassault has won a $12 billion contract to supply the Indian military with 126 Rafale fighter jets. French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the news as a "vote of confidence for the French economy".

DASSAULT IS LOWEST BIDDER FOR FIGHTER DEAL

Livemint - ‎1 hour ago‎

New Delhi: India will begin exclusive negotiations with French defence company Dassault Aviation SA to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets for its air force in a deal valued in excess of $126 billion (Rs 6.3 trillion), marking the culmination of a process that...

BAE SYSTEMS UNION SAYS 'NOTHING SIGNED' IN INDIA JET DEAL

BBC News - ‎1 hour ago‎

A union leader at BAE Systems Warton said he was "not overly worried" that a French firm is the lowest bidder for an export deal worth $11bn (£6.3bn). BAE Systems was hoping to partly assemble 126 Eurofighter Typhoon jets at Warton and Samlesbury in ...

RAFALE BAGS IAF'S USD 10 BN MMRCA DEAL

Zee News - ‎1 hour ago‎

New Delhi: After being initially ruled out of the race for IAF's USD 10 billion deal for supplying 126 Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), French contender Rafale has reportedly bagged the prestigious contract. In the process, French contender ...

AIR FORCE MAY GET 126 RAFALE FIGHTER PLANES

Business Standard - ‎1 hour ago‎

The Rafale fighter aircraft built by France's Dassault Aviation has emerged the lowest bidder in the contest to sell the Indian Air Force (IAF) 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft. According to sources in the defence ministry, the Rafale has emerged...

INDIA PICKS FRENCH JET OVER EUROFIGHTER IN $10BN DEAL

BBC News - ‎2 hours ago‎

French firm Dassault has emerged as the lowest bidder for a $10bn (£6.3bn) contract to supply India jet fighters. Dassault Aviation, as preferred bidder, will now enter final talks before signing a deal that will supply India's air force with 126 ...

DASSAULT CHOSEN BY INDIA IN BIGGEST EXPORT FIGHTER CONTEST

BusinessWeek - ‎2 hours ago‎

Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Dassault Aviation SA said it will enter exclusive negotiations to supply 126 fighter jets to India, in the biggest export combat jet contest to date after its bid to provide Rafales was selected as the lowest-priced.

FRANCE TO SELL RAFALE FIGHER JET TO INDIA

Washington Post - ‎2 hours ago‎

PARIS — After more than two decades of trying, France apparently has finally found a foreign customer for its Rafale fighter jet, reaching an $11 billion deal with India for 126 planes and a heavy technology transfer, the government announced Tuesday.

DASSAULT JUMPS MOST IN 22 YEARS ON RAFALE INDIA BID: PARIS MOVER

BusinessWeek - ‎2 hours ago‎

Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Dassault Aviation SA rose the most in more than 22 years, after it emerged as the lowest bidder to supply 126 fighter jets to the Indian Air Force and entered into exclusive negotiations. Dassault shares rose more than 18 percent ...

INDIA CLOSES IN ON INDIA JET FIGHTER DEAL

Wall Street Journal (India) - ‎2 hours ago‎

By Noemie Bisserbe and Santanu Choudhury Dassault Aviation SA is on the cusp of clinching a breakthrough multi-billion dollar order to provide 126 Rafale fighter jets to the Indian military after the Indian government said Tuesday it was the lowest...

DASSAULT IS TOP GUN IN INDIAN ORDER DOG-FIGHT

euronews - ‎3 hours ago‎

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FRANCE'S DASSAULT BEATS BAE SYSTEMS TO CLINCH INDIAN GOVERNMENT FIGHTER JET ...

Telegraph.co.uk - ‎3 hours ago‎

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'WE ARE DISAPPOINTED': EUROPEAN EADS ON LOSING MMRCA DEAL

IBNLive.com - ‎3 hours ago‎

PTI | 10:01 PM,Jan 31,2012 New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) After losing out to the French Dassault Rafale the India's biggest-ever military contract for supplying 126 combat aircraft, European EADS today said it was disappointed over the development but...

DASSAULT CHOSEN TO BID ON $10 BILLION INDIAN MILITARY CONTRACT

New York Times - ‎3 hours ago‎

PARIS — India had selected Dassault Aviation of France as its preferred bidder in a $10 billion contest to supply its air force with a new fleet of advanced combat aircraft, the French government said Tuesday. Dassault edged out a European consortium ...

FRANCE LANDS INDIAN FIGHTER JET DEAL

Voice of America - ‎3 hours ago‎

January 31, 2012 France Lands Indian Fighter Jet Deal VOA News India has decided to buy 126 fighter jets from French firm Dassault in a $11 billion deal that is one of the world's largest arms contracts. Indian government officials, who spoke on the...

INDIA PREFERS EUROPEAN FIGHTER JETS TO AMERICAN

Hindu Business Line - ‎3 hours ago‎

Boeing and Lockheed Martin, both US-based manufacturers, have not made the final shortlist for India's $11-billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal. One of the largest defence deals in the country seeks to purchase 126 fighter jets for ...

DASSAULT, THALES FLY OFF WITH BID TO UPGRADE MIRAGE 2000S

Hindu Business Line - ‎3 hours ago‎

French companies Thales and Dassault Aviation have signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence to upgrade the Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft. The order to upgrade the 50 aircraft in the Air Force is valued at around $2 billion.

FRANCE'S DASSAULT FLIES AWAY WITH $10-B FIGHTER JET DEAL

Hindu Business Line - ‎3 hours ago‎

The over $10-billion (Rs 50000 crore) deal to supply 126 fighter jets to the Indian Air Force has been won by the French firm Dassault Aviation SA. The deal is estimated to be the largest Indian defence deal. The number of Rafale aircraft supplied ...

FRENCH WIN INDIA'S 126-AIRCRAFT DEAL

Indian Express - ‎3 hours ago‎

Almost knocked out from the race in 2009, the French Rafale fighter came back to be declared the lowest bidder in a multi-billion dollar contract to provide new generation fighters to the Indian Air Force, edging out competitor EADS Eurofighter.

INDIA TO BUY 126 RAFALE FIGHTER JETS IN $11B DEAL

ABC News - ‎3 hours ago‎

India is buying 126 French-made combat aircraft in a massive $11 billion deal that will increase the might of the world's fourth largest air force with the first exported Rafale jets, officials said Tuesday. India has become the world's biggest arms ...

SUMMARY BOX: INDIA TO BUY 126 RAFALE FIGHTER JETS IN $11B DEAL WITH FRENCH ...

Washington Post - ‎3 hours ago‎

BIG DEAL: India is buying 126 French-made combat aircraft in a massive $11 billion deal that will update its military with the first exported Rafale jets. ARMED WITH CASH: India has become the world's biggest arms importer as an economic boom allows it ...

FRENCH RAFALE FAVOURED FOR MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDIA JET DEAL

Reuters - ‎3 hours ago‎

* India's cabinet must sign off on deal * Sale would be lifeline for struggling Rafale * Defence ministry source: Rafale jet is cheaper, preferred By Manoj Kumar and Nigam Prusty NEW DELHI, Jan 31 (Reuters) - France's Rafale emerged on Tuesday as ...

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Dassault Aviation
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DTN News - IRAN DEFENSE NEWS: Iran To Equip Navy with New Flying Boats BAVAR 2 To Monitor Oil Tanker Traffic Through Straits Of Hormuz

2012-01-31T07:21:00.000-05:00

DTN News - IRAN DEFENSE NEWS: Iran To Equip Navy with New Flying Boats BAVAR 2 To Monitor Oil Tanker Traffic Through Straits Of Hormuz
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 31, 2012: Iran has three squadrons of new flying boats, Iranian news agencies reported. The craft, dubbed the Bavar 2, is armed with a machine gun and carries surveillance cameras, according to a report from the Iranian Student News Agency

"Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the few countries which managed to design, build and use flying boats in a short time," said Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who oversaw the delivering of the aircraft at the Bandar Abbas naval facility on the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. The delivery comes as Iran celebrates its Week of Sacred Defense, which commemorates its eight-year-long resistance to the 1980 Iraqi invasion, according to the Fars News Agency

While there is little available information as to the performance characteristics of the flying boats, and the only known weapon system is a good old-fashioned machine gun (some reports say they can carry missiles, but certainly nothing heavy enough to sink a major warship), it would be a mistake to discount these new vessels. While they might not have much chance of ever winning a battle against Western warships or aircraft, they are well suited to a task believed to be the most likely response to Iran if war with America were to come — massed suicide attacks.

The danger is real, as shown by what happened to the USS Cole in 2000. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, equipped with a state-of-the-art AEGIS radar suite and a variety of formidable missiles and guns, was almost brought down by a raft. While the ship was docked in port, the raft pulled up alongside and its three-man crew detonated the explosives they’d stashed on board. The billion-dollar warship had an enormous hole blown in its side and nearly went down. It had to be carried — literally carried — home on top of an enormous transport ship, so severe was the damage done by three men in a raft.

The Persian Gulf is, by modern military standards, incredibly shallow and narrow. Access to the Gulf is obtained through the Straits of Hormuz, a narrow choke point that Iran is fully capably of making a very dangerous place. Despite the Gulf’s small supply, roughly 40% of the world’s exported petroleum flows through the area. In a shooting war, while dozens of billion-dollar Western warships tried to maneuver in the shooting gallery that is the Gulf, Iran would unleash its shore-based cruise missiles (Some of which have wound up in the hands of Hezbollah, with devastating but illustrative results) and could flood the Gulf and its skies with swarms of these tiny boats.

It’s a threat the United States takes seriously. Two years ago, American warships came close to opening fire on Iranian boats that came out to challenge the warships, manuevering close by and explicitly threatening a suicide attack before veering away. Past history, such as during the Tanker War of the 1980s, has shown that small boats can approach large warships even in a hostile environment. Even though some orbiting airpower can make sure that most of them are destroyed before the surviving few reach their target, that is little consolation to those left to contend with those few.

All of this is, admittedly, hinged upon the unproven contention that these flying boats are indeed intended for suicide attacks, or at a more basic level, that Iranian pilots would be willing to carry out such attacks. To those points, I say this: Iran has announced its intention to mass produce vessels that serve virtually no conventional military purpose, that are too small and too lightly armed to be significant in a conventional battle and that will be controlled not by Iran’s Navy, but by a naval contingent of its fanatical Revolutionary Guards. And to those who question whether or not anyone would willingly sacrifice their lives to kill an enemy, recall that our experience over the last nine years, and Israel’s experience for two generations, shows that that region of the world is quite adept at producing angry, alienated young men happy to commit suicide as they wage war against the Crusaders and their Zionist masters. Recall also the Japanese kamikaze’s of the Second World War: If Japan could find 2,800 naval pilots willing to hurl their planes onto Allied ships, is there any reason to doubt that Iran can do the same?

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News - NORWAY TERROR PLOT: Norway Convicts Two Men Over al-Qaeda Plot On Danish Newspaper

2012-01-31T02:37:00.000-05:00

DTN News - NORWAY TERROR PLOT: Norway Convicts Two Men Over al-Qaeda Plot On Danish Newspaper
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Telegraph - UK
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 31, 2012: Two men were found guilty on Monday of involvement in an al-Qaeda plot to attack a Danish newspaper that caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, the first convictions under Norway's anti-terror laws.

A third defendant was acquitted of terror charges but convicted of helping the others acquire explosives.

Investigators say the plot was linked to the same al-Qaeda planners behind thwarted attacks against the New York subway system and a shopping mall Manchester in 2009.

The Oslo district court sentenced alleged ringleader Mikael Davud, to seven years in prison and co-defendant Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak to three and a half years.

Judge Oddmund Svarteberg said the court found that Davud, a Chinese Muslim, "planned the attack together with al-Qaeda". Bujak was deeply involved in the preparations, but it couldn't be proved that he was aware of Davud's contacts with al-Qaeda, the judge said.

The third defendant, David Jakobsen, who assisted police in the investigation, was convicted on an explosives charge and sentenced to four months in prison – time he's already served in pretrial detention.

It wasn't immediately clear if any of the defendants would appeal.

The case was Norway's most high-profile terror investigation until last July, when a right-wing extremist killed 77 people in a bomb and shooting massacre.

The three men, who were arrested in July 2010, made some admissions but pleaded innocent to terror conspiracy charges and rejected any links to al-Qaeda.

During the trial Davud denied he was taking orders from al-Qaeda, saying he was planning a solo raid against the Chinese Embassy in Oslo. He said he wanted revenge for Beijing's oppression of Uighurs, a Muslim minority in western China.

Davud, who moved to Norway in 1999 and later became a Norwegian citizen, also said his co-defendants helped him acquire bomb-making ingredients but didn't know he was planning an attack.

Prosecutors said the Norwegian cell first wanted to attack Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, whose 12 cartoons of Muhammad sparked furious protests in Muslim countries in 2006, and then changed plans to seek to murder one of the cartoonists instead.

Bujak, an Iraqi Kurd, said the paper and the cartoonist were indeed the targets, but described the plans as "just talk".

Prosecutors had to prove the defendants worked together in a conspiracy, because a single individual plotting an attack is not covered under Norway's anti-terror laws.

"There is no doubt that Davud took the initiative to prepare the terror act and that he was the ring leader," the judge said as he delivered the verdict.

He said Davud planned to carry out the attack himself by placing a bomb outside Jyllands-Posten's offices in Aarhus, in western Denmark.

The men had been under surveillance for more than a year when authorities moved to arrest them. Norwegian investigators, who worked with their US counterparts, said the defendants were building a bomb in a basement laboratory in Oslo.

Jakobsen, an Uzbek national who changed his name after moving to Norway, provided some of the chemicals for the bomb, but claims he did not know they were meant for explosives. Jakobsen contacted police and served as an informant, but still faced charges for his involvement before that.

An Associated Press investigation in 2010 showed that authorities learned early on about the alleged cell by intercepting emails from an al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan and – thanks to those early warnings – were able to secretly replace a key bomb-making ingredient with a harmless liquid when Jakobsen ordered it at an Oslo pharmacy.

The judge said it had been proven that Davud had contacts with al-Qaida in Pakistan, and that his notebook contained references to Saleh al-Somali, al-Qaeda's chief of external operations, who officials believe helped organise the New York, Manchester and Norway plots. He was killed in a CIA drone strike in Pakistan in 2009.

During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony obtained in the US in April from three American al-Qaida recruits turned government witnesses.

Source: AP

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Telegraph - UK
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated January 30, 2012

2012-01-30T21:30:00.000-05:00

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated January 30, 2012

Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 066-12 January 30, 2012

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 30, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued January 30, 2012 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc.*, Harrisonburg, Va., was issued a modification exercising the second option year on contract SPM8EJ-09-D-0001/P00016. The award is a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum $5,680,898,304 for delivery of items supported by the Special Operational equipment, tailored Logistics Support Program. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were 14 responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2011 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is March 9, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

W.S. Darley & Co.*, Itasca, Ill., was issued a modification exercising the second option year on contract SPM8EJ-09-D-0002/P00015. The award is a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum $5,622,398,304 for delivery of items supported by the Special Operational equipment, tailored Logistics Support Program. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were 14 responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2011 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is March 9, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

Source One Distributors, Inc.*, Wellington, Fla., was issued a modification exercising the second option year on contract SPM8EJ-09-D-0004/P00017. The award is a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum $5,470,398,304 for delivery of items supported by the Special Operational equipment, tailored Logistics Support Program. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were 14 responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2011 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is March 9, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

Atlantic Diving Supply*, Virginia Beach, Va., was issued a modification exercising the second option year on contract SPM8EJ-09-D-0003/P00017. The award is a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum $4,316,398,304 for delivery of items supported by the Special Operational equipment, tailored Logistics Support Program. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were 14 responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2011 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is March 9, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

Vital Images, Inc., Minnetonka, Minn., was issued a modification exercising the first option year on contract SPM2D1-11-D-8342/P00003. The award is a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $12,000,000 for radiology systems, subsystems, and components. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were 43 responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2012/2013 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

United Technologies Corp., East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract with a maximum $7,264,529 for F-100 rotor compressor. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. There was one solicitation with one response. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance funds. The date of performance completion is May 30, 2014. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (SPRTA1-09-G-0001-0300).

NAVY

Insitu, Inc., Bingen, Wash., is being awarded a $41,090,719 ceiling priced modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-11-C-0061) to exercise an option for operational and maintenance services in support of the ScanEagle unmanned aerial systems. These services will provide electro-optical/infra red and mid-wave infrared imagery in support of land-based operations in Operation Enduring Freedom to provide real-time imagery and data. Work will be performed in Bingen, Wash., and is expected to be completed in February 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $41,090,719 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

CGI Federal, Inc., subsidiary of CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $28,206,792 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for information technology support services for the Joint Strike Fight Program Office. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va. (70.49 percent); Rosamond, Calif. (8.57 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (7.62 percent); Ridgecrest, Calif. (2.86 percent); Dayton, Ohio (2.86 percent); Point Mugu, Calif. (1.90 percent); Valparaiso, Fla. (1.90 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (1.90 percent); and Jacksonville, Fla. (1.90 percent). Work is expected to be completed in January 2013. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. Contract funds in the amount of $3,520,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-12-C-0119).

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, L.L.C., Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $23,959,388 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-11-D-0024) to exercise an option for contractor logistics support and Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) support for the T-39 Undergraduate Military Flight Officer (UMFO) Training Program. This effort includes support of the UMFO government-owned T-39N and T-39G aircraft and associated equipment, including organizational and depot level repair. In addition, this provides intermediate level maintenance and support for Chief of Naval Air Training aircraft, transient aircraft, tenant, and other services activities at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., and NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and surrounding areas through the AIMD. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Fla. (75 percent), and Corpus Christi, Texas (25 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2012. No funds are being obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Boeing Defense, Space and Security, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $12,444,077 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N68335-10-C-0491) to exercise an option for the manufacture, test, and delivery of six AN/USM-702 reconfigurable transportable consolidated automated support systems and three self maintenance and test calibration interface devices. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (58 percent); North Reading, Mass. (40 percent); and Stillwater, Okla. (2 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 Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded an $8,261,510 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-10-C-0030) to procure an additional 700 precision laser guidance set kits for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Haifa, Israel (37 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (32 percent); and St. Charles, Mo. (31 percent). Work is expected to be completed in August 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $1,357,246 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICE

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit, Washington, D.C., is being awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide funding for Department of Defense transportation benefits for its employees. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2016. Washington Headquarters Service is the contracting activity (HQ0034-12-A-001-0002).

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., is being awarded a $14,189,4020 technology investment agreement. The goal of this agreement is for Novartis to perform a research and development program designed to develop a self-replicating RNA vaccine platform. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Mass. Work is expected to be completed by November 2015. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the contracting activity (HR0011-12-3-0001).

*Small business

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News - DEFENSE ACCOUNTABILITY: U.S. Defense Department Can't Account For Billions For Iraq, Audit Finds

2012-01-30T01:33:00.001-05:00

DTN News - DEFENSE ACCOUNTABILITY: U.S. Defense Department Can't Account For Billions For Iraq, Audit Finds
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Josh Levs, CNN
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 30, 2012: The U.S. Defense Department cannot account for about $2 billion it was given to cover Iraq-related expenses and is not providing Iraq with a complete list of U.S.-funded reconstruction projects, according to two new government audits.

The reports come from the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

The Iraqi government in 2004 gave the Department of Defense access to about $3 billion to pay bills for certain contracts, and the department can only show what happened to about a third of that, the inspector general says in an audit published Friday.

Although the Department of Defense (DoD) had "internal processes and controls" to track payments, the "bulk of the records are missing," the report says, adding that the department is searching for them.

Other documents are missing as well, including monthly reports documenting expenses, the audit says.

"From July 2004 through December 2007, DoD should have provided 42 monthly reports. However, it can locate only the first four reports."

A letter accompanying the report is signed by Stuart Bowen, the inspector general. The audit was overseen by Glenn Furbish, assistant inspector general for audits.

In a response letter also contained in the report, Defense Under Secretary Mark Easton acknowledges "a records management issue."

The audit says it believes records management is to blame, and "has been an ongoing problem for DoD in Iraq. By all accounts, DoD established good internal processes and controls to account for and report on" the funds it was given after the Coalition Provisional Authority dissolved.

Where the records did exist, they matched other records and contained "good financial documentation supporting individual payments." Also, there is "sufficient evidence" that required monthly reports were sent to the government of Iraq, even though they can't be found, the audit said.

The audit deals with a time when Iraq's government was undergoing a transition. The Coalition Provisional Authority ran the country for 14 months from 2003 to 2004. During that time, the authority awarded numerous contracts. When it dissolved in 2004, the Iraqi government gave the U.S. Defense Department access to the $3 billion to pay bills for contracts the provisional authority had awarded.

The Defense Department letter from Easton -- the department's deputy chief financial officer -- thanks the inspector general's office for "the collaborative effort and professional courtesy" in a series of audits.

Separately, the inspector general's office sent a letter Sunday to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq complaining that the U.S. government is not providing Iraq with a complete list of reconstruction projects.

The U.S. criteria for selecting which projects to report to Iraq -- which include only those valued at $250,000 or more -- is a central part of the problem, the letter says.

The U.S. Embassy says the system is designed to help Iraq "focus its limited resources on sustainment of infrastructure and other large capital projects done through U.S. reconstruction efforts," the report notes.

The inspector general's office argues that the limited list -- which is also "hampered by unreliable data and other data entry problems" -- does not allow Iraq to decide where to focus its resources, and notes that the country might consider some smaller projects more important than those that are reported.

"Without more comprehensive knowledge about reconstruction projects the (Iraqi government) will not be in a position to maximize the use of its resources," the report says.

Billions of dollars in spending are not reported to Iraq under the current system, the report says.

In a response letter, Peter Bodde, assistant chief of mission for the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, says that while the current system is incomplete, "it does capture the vast majority of reconstruction projects and there is no other alternative that captures more."

He also notes that the Iraq reconstruction effort "is now in its very last stages, and all remaining capital projects will be reported through the asset transfer process."

The Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was created in 2004 to continue oversight of Iraq reconstruction programs.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Josh Levs, CNN
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DTN News - SYRIA UNREST: Syrian Forces Battle To Retake Damascus Suburbs

2012-01-29T11:04:00.000-05:00

DTN News - SYRIA UNREST: Syrian Forces Battle To Retake Damascus Suburbs
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Reuters
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 29, 2012: Syrian soldiers killed 19 people in fighting to retake Damascus suburbs from rebels on Sunday, activists said, a day after the Arab League suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of mounting violence.

Around 2,000 soldiers in buses and armored personnel carriers, along with at least 50 tanks and armored vehicles, moved at dawn into the Ghouta area on the eastern edge of Damascus to reinforce an offensive in the suburbs of Saqba, Hammouriya and Kfar Batna, activists said.

The army pushed into the heart of Kfar Batna and four tanks were in its central square, they said, in a move to flush out rebels who had taken over districts just a few kilometers from President Bashar al-Assad's centre of power.

"It's urban war. There are bodies in the street," said one activist, speaking from Kfar Batna. Activists said 14 civilians and five insurgents from the rebel Free Syrian Army were killed there and in other suburbs.

The Arab League suspended the work of its monitors on Saturday after calling on Assad to step down and make way for a government of national unity. It said Arab foreign ministers would discuss the Syrian crisis on February 5.

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby left for New York on Sunday where he will brief representatives of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to seek support for an Arab peace plan that calls on Assad to step aside after 10 months of protests.

He will be joined by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, whose country heads the league's committee charged with overseeing Syria.

Speaking shortly before he left Cairo for New York, Elaraby said he hoped to overcome resistance from China and Russia over endorsing the Arab proposals. "There are contacts with China and Russia on this issue," he said.

A Syrian government official was quoted by state media as saying Syria was surprised by the decision to suspend operations, which would "put pressure on (Security Council) deliberations with the aim of calling for foreign intervention and encouraging armed groups to increase violence."

Assad blames the violence on foreign-backed militants.

ARMY DEATHS

State news agency SANA reported funerals on Saturday for 28 soldiers and security force members killed by "armed terrorist groups" in Homs, Hama, Deraa, Deir al-Zor and Damascus province.

Another 16 soldiers were reported killed on Sunday. SANA said six soldiers were killed in a bombing southwest of Damascus, while the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 10 soldiers were killed when their convoy was attacked in Jabal al-Zawiya in northern Syria.

Faced with mass demonstrations against his rule, Assad launched a military crackdown to try to subdue the protests. Growing numbers of army deserters and gunmen have joined the demonstrators, increasing instability in the country of 23 million people at the heart of the Middle East.

The insurgency has been gradually approaching the capital, whose suburbs, a series of mainly conservative Sunni Muslim towns bordering old gardens and farmland, known as the al-Ghouta, are home to the bulk of Damascus's population.

One activist in Saqba suburb said mosques there had been turned into field hospitals and were appealing for blood supplies. "They cut off the electricity. Petrol stations are empty and the army is preventing people from leaving to get fuel for generators or heating," he said.

The Damascus suburbs have seen large demonstrations demanding the removal of Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam that has dominated the mostly Sunni Muslim country for the last five decades.

TOWN BESIEGED

In Rankous, 30 km (20 miles) north of Damascus by the Lebanese border, Assad's forces have killed at least 33 people in recent days in an attack to dislodge army defectors and insurgents, activists and residents said on Sunday.

Rankous, a mountain town of 25,000 people, has been under tank fire since Wednesday, when several thousand troops laid siege to it, they said.

France, which has been leading calls for stronger international action on Syria, said the Arab League decision highlighted the need to act.

"France vigorously condemns the dramatic escalation of violence in Syria, which has led the Arab League to suspend its observers' mission in Syria," the Foreign Ministry said.

"Dozens of Syrian civilians have been killed in the past days by the savage repression taken by the Syrian regime ... Those responsible for these barbarous acts must answer to their crimes," it said.

The Arab League mission was sent in at the end of last year to observe Syria's implementation of a peace plan, which failed to end the fighting. Gulf states withdrew monitors last week, saying the team could not stop the violence.

The United Nations said in December more than 5,000 people had been killed in the protests and crackdown. Syria says more than 2,000 security force members have been killed by militants.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council discussed a European-Arab draft resolution aimed at halting the bloodshed. Britain and France said they hoped to put it to a vote next week.

Russia joined China in vetoing a previous Western draft resolution in October, and has said it wants a Syrian-led political process, not "an Arab League-imposed outcome" or Libyan-style "regime change.

(Additional reporting by Erika Solomon, Dominic Evans and Mariam Karouny in Beirut; Editing byJanet Lawrence)

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Reuters
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DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing And Israel Aerospace Industries Mark 10 Years Of Cooperation

2012-01-27T08:51:00.002-05:00

DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing And Israel Aerospace Industries Mark 10 Years Of Cooperation
>Companies extend work agreement on Arrow Weapon System
>Arrow 3 next step in Israel's national missile defense strategy
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 27, 2012: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has renewed its work agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on the Arrow Weapon System, and enhanced the IAI-Boeing Strategic Teaming Agreement to explore and develop new opportunitiesin the missile defense arena. Leaders of both companies gathered at IAI headquarters in Tel Aviv on Jan. 19 for a signing ceremony that also marked the 10th anniversary of the Boeing and IAI partnership.

"The Arrow program demonstrates Boeing's commitment to developing international missile defense partnerships around the globe," said Boeing Network & Space Systems President Roger Krone. "We are pleased to mark this 10-year milestone by expanding our cooperation on missile defense initiatives with our partner IAI."

Over the past 10 years, Arrow, the world's first operational national missile defense system, has become a vital anti-ballistic-missile defense strategy for Israel's national defense. IAI is the prime contractor for the Arrow Weapon System. It initiated, developed and deployed the in-service Arrow 2 program and, together with Boeing, is developing the Arrow 3 system -- a crucial asset in Israel's multi-tier anti-ballistic-missile defense strategy.

"This new agreement is the next logical step in our relationship with Boeing and a strong opportunity for both companies to play a bigger role in the missile defense market. It is based on a strong foundation of successful cooperation," said Itzhak Nissan, IAI president and CEO.

"Boeing's relationship with IAI has produced an innovative, versatile and affordable advanced missile defense capability. We look forward to our continued partnership and the development of the next generation of Arrow interceptor," said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Strategic Missile and Defense Systems.

The Arrow program has been a cooperative effort between the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Israel Missile Defense Organization since 2002.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security 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 Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 63,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

Contact:

Scott Day
Strategic Missile and Defense Systems
Office: +1 703-872-4206
Mobile: +1 703-403-3083
scott.day2@boeing.com

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
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DTN News - US DEFENCE BUDGET CUTS: More Drones But 80,000 Fewer Troops

2012-01-27T07:52:00.001-05:00

DTN News - US DEFENCE BUDGET CUTS: More Drones But 80,000 Fewer Troops
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Scotsman
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 27, 2012: The United States is to increase its fleet of unmanned drones by nearly a third and rely more on small, specially trained ground units as part of a slimmed down military.

As part of massive cuts to its budget, the army plans to shed 80,000 soldiers over the next few years, defence secretary Leon Panetta announced yesterday.

But he added the enforced belt-tightening would be an opportunity to modernise the military, with a focus on technology and the use of agile, rapid-deployment combat teams.

The US would also be refocusing it attention towards China and the Pacific, while seeking strategic partnerships in areas in which it will be cutting its presence, such as Europe.

The rethink was prompted by the need to find $487 billion (£310bn) in spending cuts over the next decade. Mr Panetta conceded it meant slashing the number of soldiers in the army from about 570,000 to 490,000 over the next decade.

Speaking from the Pentagon, he said: “The military will be smaller and leaner. But it will be agile, flexible, rapidly deployable and technologically advanced. It will be a cutting-edge force”.

He said he refused to allow the “hollowing out” of the US’s military might, and that the new strategy would “emphasise special operation forces”.

The effectiveness of these small, dedicated units was seen in the assassination of terror chief Osama bin Laden last year and the rescue of a US aid worker and her Danish colleague from Somali pirates this week.

The envisaged refocusing on smaller rotational bases will be at the expense of larger military sites, with closures expected to take place as part of the budget cuts.

There will be more money available for technologically advanced weapons and measures to counter cyber-terrorism.

Mr Panetta did not say how many more drones would be developed under the plan, but an increase of about 30 per cent has previously been reported.

Any rise in the use of umanned aircraft is likely to be met with suspicion by those who believe that their use endangers innocent life.

Figures from the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism show CIA drones stuck Pakistan 75 times in 2011, causing up to 655 fatalities. The majority of those killed were alleged militants, but as many as 126 civilians may also have lost their lives, the figures suggest.

The shrinking of the US army was signalled earlier this month in comments made by president Barack Obama.

Outlining plans to trim the armed forces, he said the US was ”turning a page on a decade of war”, with the end of hostilities in Iraq and the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan.

The president also fired a warning shot over China, by indicating the US would refocus its attention towards the Pacific region. As part of that repositioning, the US plans to station troops in Australia and dock navy ships in Singapore.

Meanwhile, US officials have been in talks with their counterparts in the Philippines over greater co-operation and an intensification of war drills in the region. It comes amid greater concern in Washington over both China’s rise as a military power and instability on the Korean peninsula following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Scotsman
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DTN News - UKRAINE DEFENSE NEWS: Ukraine Boosts Military Budget By 30%

2012-01-26T17:31:00.005-05:00

DTN News - UKRAINE DEFENSE NEWS: Ukraine Boosts Military Budget By 30%
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 26, 2012: Ukraine’s 2012 military spending will increase by around 30 percent, to about $2 billion or 1.1 percent of GDP, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s financial department said on Wednesday.

The ministry expects to spend about $120 million for purchases and modernization of military equipment, as well as scientific and military design projects, including the production of L-39 Albatros jet trainers and MiG-29 fighter jets. Ukraine’s existing fleet of MiG-29, L-39 and Su-25 close air support aircrafts will also be modernized.

Head of Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Financial Department Lt. Gen. Yvan Marko said 21 jets, five helicopters and 612 vehicles will be repaired and modernized this year.

Ukraine’s 2012 state defense order will stand at $184 million, four times more than last year, including $54 million to build a corvette-class ship and $13 million for the construction of the Sapsan multifunctional missile system.

Ukraine’s military budget amounted to 0.8 percent of GDP on average over the past few years, substantially less than the average 1.3 percent of other Eastern European states.

Related News

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
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DTN News - DRONES DEFENSE NEWS: New Drone Has No Pilot Anywhere, So Who's Accountable?

2012-01-26T16:57:00.001-05:00

DTN News - DRONES DEFENSE NEWS: New Drone Has No Pilot Anywhere, So Who's Accountable?
*The Navy is testing an autonomous plane that will land on an aircraft carrier. The prospect of heavily armed aircraft screaming through the skies without direct human control is unnerving to many
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By W.J. Hennigan, Los Angeles Times
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 26, 2012: The Navy's new drone being tested near Chesapeake Bay stretches the boundaries of technology: It's designed to land on the deck of an aircraft carrier, one of aviation's most difficult maneuvers.

What's even more remarkable is that it will do that not only without a pilot in the cockpit, but without a pilot at all.

The X-47B marks a paradigm shift in warfare, one that is likely to have far-reaching consequences. With the drone's ability to be flown autonomously by onboard computers, it could usher in an era when death and destruction can be dealt by machines operating semi-independently.

GRAPHIC: How the X-47B lands

Although humans would program an autonomous drone's flight plan and could override its decisions, the prospect of heavily armed aircraft screaming through the skies without direct human control is unnerving to many.

"Lethal actions should have a clear chain of accountability," said Noel Sharkey, a computer scientist and robotics expert. "This is difficult with a robot weapon. The robot cannot be held accountable. So is it the commander who used it? The politician who authorized it? The military's acquisition process? The manufacturer, for faulty equipment?"

Sharkey and others believe that autonomous armed robots should force the kind of dialogue that followed the introduction of mustard gas in World War I and the development of atomic weapons in World War II. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the group tasked by the Geneva Conventions to protect victims in armed conflict, is already examining the issue.

"The deployment of such systems would reflect … a major qualitative change in the conduct of hostilities," committee President Jakob Kellenberger said at a recent conference. "The capacity to discriminate, as required by [international humanitarian law], will depend entirely on the quality and variety of sensors and programming employed within the system."

Weapons specialists in the military and Congress acknowledge that policymakers must deal with these ethical questions long before these lethal autonomous drones go into active service, which may be a decade or more away.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said policy probably will first be discussed with the bipartisan drone caucus that he co-chairs with Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita). Officially known as the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, the panel was formed in 2009 to inform members of Congress on the far-reaching applications of drone technology.

"It's a different world from just a few years ago — we've entered the realm of science fiction in a lot of ways," Cuellar said. "New rules have to be developed as new technology comes about, and this is a big step forward."

Aerial drones now piloted remotely have become a central weapon for the CIA and U.S. military in their campaign against terrorists in the Middle East. The Pentagon has gone from an inventory of a handful of drones before Sept. 11, 2001, to about 7,500 drones, about one-third of all military aircraft.

Despite looming military spending cuts, expenditures on drones are expected to take less of a hit, if any, because they are cheaper to build and operate than piloted aircraft.

All military services are moving toward greater automation with their robotic systems. Robotic armed submarines could one day stalk enemy waters, and automated tanks could engage soldiers on the battlefield.

"More aggressive robotry development could lead to deploying far fewer U.S. military personnel to other countries, achieving greater national security at a much lower cost and most importantly, greatly reduced casualties," aerospace pioneer Simon Ramo, who helped develop the intercontinental ballistic missile, wrote in his new book, "Let Robots Do the Dying."

The Air Force wrote in an 82-page report that outlines the future usage of drones, titled "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan 2009-2047," that autonomous drone aircraft are key "to increasing effects while potentially reducing cost, forward footprint and risk." Much like a chess master can outperform proficient chess players, future drones will be able to react faster than human pilots ever could, the report said.

And with that potential comes new concerns about how much control of the battlefield the U.S. is willing to turn over to computers.

There is no plan by the U.S. military — at least in the near term — to turn over the killing of enemy combatants to the X-47B or any other autonomous flying machine. But the Air Force said in the "Flight Plan" that it's only a matter of time before drones have the capability to make life-or-death decisions as they circle the battlefield. Even so, the report notes that officials will still monitor how these drones are being used.

"Increasingly humans will no longer be 'in the loop' but rather 'on the loop' — monitoring the execution of certain decisions," the report said. "Authorizing a machine to make lethal combat decisions is contingent upon political and military leaders resolving legal and ethical questions."

Peter W. Singer, author of "Wired for War," a book about robotic warfare, said automated military targeting systems are under development. But before autonomous aerial drones are sent on seek-and-destroy missions, he said, the military must first prove that it can pull off simpler tasks, such as refueling and reconnaissance missions.

That's where the X-47B comes in.

"Like it or not, autonomy is the future," Singer said. "The X-47 is one of many programs that aim to perfect the technology."

The X-47B is an experimental jet — that's what the X stands for — and is designed to demonstrate new technology, such as automated takeoffs, landings and refueling. The drone also has a fully capable weapons bay with a payload capacity of 4,500 pounds, but the Navy said it has no plans to arm it.

The Navy is now testing two of the aircraft, which were built behind razor-wire fences at Northrop Grumman Corp.'s expansive complex in Palmdale, where the company manufactured the B-2 stealth bomber.

Funded under a $635.8-million contract awarded by the Navy in 2007, the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration program has grown in cost to an estimated $813 million.

Last February, the first X-47B had its maiden flight from Edwards Air Force Base, where it continued testing until last month when it was carried from the Mojave Desert to Naval Air Station Patuxent River in southern Maryland. It is there that the next stage of the demonstration program begins.

The drone is slated to first land on a carrier by 2013, relying on pinpoint GPS coordinates and advanced avionics. The carrier's computers digitally transmit the carrier's speed, cross-winds and other data to the drone as it approaches from miles away.

The X-47B will not only land itself, but will also know what kind of weapons it is carrying, when and where it needs to refuel with an aerial tanker, and whether there's a nearby threat, said Carl Johnson, Northrop's X-47B program manager. "It will do its own math and decide what it should do next."
william.hennigan@latimes.com

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Afghan-Led Combined Force Captures Taliban Leader

2012-01-26T13:07:00.002-05:00

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Afghan-Led Combined Force Captures Taliban Leader
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources - International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases - American Forces Press Service
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 26, 2012: An Afghan-led and coalition-supported security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The leader coordinated roadside bomb and ambush attacks against Afghan forces along Route 1 in Helmand province, officials said.

The security force also seized 15 pounds of opium and detained an additional suspected insurgent.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined patrol seized about 500 pounds of marijuana and about 45 pounds of marijuana seeds in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province.

-- In the Zharay district of Kandahar province, a combined force seized 300 pounds of marijuana and detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban facilitator who plans attacks against coalition forces and moves weapons and ammunition throughout Kandahar.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and detained another suspect in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province. The leader planned assassinations and direct-fire attacks against Afghan government officials.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent after he attacked coalition forces with small-arms fire in the Alishing district of Laghman province.

-- Coalition forces arrested six people found with Afghan army uniforms and weapons in the Alingar district of Laghman province.

-- Coalition troops detained three people suspected of being bomb makers in the Terezaki district of Khost province.

-- Afghan police detained a man who had two assault rifles and ammunition in the Zurmat district of Paktia province.

-- Coalition troops detained a man for having bomb-making materials Khost’s Khost district.

-- Afghan border police detained a man as a person of interest in Paktia’s Jaji district.

-- A combined patrol found about 550 pounds of hashish and multiple 82 mm mortar rounds in Kandahar’s Panjwai district.

-- A combined patrol found and destroyed about 1,000 pounds of hashish in Kandahar’s Zharay district.

-- A combined force found and destroyed about 660 pounds of hashish in Helmand’s Musa Qalah district.

In other Afghanistan news, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, International Security Assistance Force commander, joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning a recent insurgent rocket attack on a home in the Allasai district of Kapisa province that killed a woman and a child and injured seven other people.

"Continued deliberate attacks on the people of Afghanistan that result in the brutal murder of defenseless women and children clearly show that this heartless insurgency has no moral compass whatsoever," Allen said. "I join President Karzai in extending my deepest sympathies to the families of those who were killed, and in praying for the fastest recovery of those who were injured in this needless tragedy.”

Allen added that Taliban leader Mohammed Omar's “deafening silence and inaction in stopping these ongoing attacks against innocent Afghan civilians shows that his foot soldiers are now giving the orders while he and his inner circle reside in comfort, allowing the killing of their own brothers and sisters."

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources - International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases - American Forces Press Service
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DTN News - IRAN NEWS: Iran Defiant As EU Imposes Oil Embargo

2012-01-26T04:53:00.004-05:00

DTN News - IRAN NEWS: Iran Defiant As EU Imposes Oil Embargo
*Tehran accuses EU of waging "psychological warfare" as Washington threatens further measures over nuclear programme.
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Al Jazeera
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 26, 2012: Iran has accused the European Union of waging "psychological warfare" after the bloc banned imports of Iranian oil over Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.

The oil ban, which was approved at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, along with sanctions against Iran's central bank and other measures, came as Western powers stepped up pressure on Iran to return to negotiations amid concerns that it is moving closer to building nuclear weapons.

In Video

Al Jazeera talks to Iranian writer and journalist Hooman Majd about the EU oil embargo on Iran

"The method of threat, pressure and unfair sanctions against a nation that has a strong reason for its approach is doomed to fail," Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, told the state broadcaster.

"European Union sanctions on Iranian oil is psychological warfare," Mehmanparast said.

"Imposing economic sanctions is illogical and unfair but will not stop our nation from obtaining its rights."

Iran's oil ministry issued a statement saying the sanctions did not come as a shock. "The oil ministry has from long ago thought about it and has come up with measures to deal with any challenges," it said, according to the IRNA news agency.

Mehmanparast said: "The European countries and those who are under American pressure, should think about their own interests. Any country that deprives itself from Iran's energy market, will soon see that it has been replaced by others."

Washington welcomes sanctions

Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, said that global powers involved in negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme were still waiting for Tehran to resume talks stalled since January last year.

"The pressure of sanctions is designed to try and make sure that Iran takes seriously our request to come to the table," she said.

The EU action was welcomed in Washington where US President Barack Obama said officials would impose more sanctions to address the "serious threat presented by Iran's nuclear programme."

Washington also announced new sanctions against Iran's third largest state-owned bank, Bank Tejarat, and the Trade Capital Bank, an affiliate. Both are still accessing the international financial system.

Under Monday's embargo decision, all new contracts for crude oil and petroleum products between Iran and any of the EU's 27 member states, will be forbidden. Existing contracts have to be suspended by the end of June.

There will be a review of the embargo on May 1, a month before all oil contracts cease.

The EU is the second biggest importer of Iranian oil, after China, while the US banned imports in 1979 [Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer, reporting from the sidelines of the meeting in Brussels, said: "The reason for that is so that countries heavily dependent on Iranian oil, namely Greece, Italy and Spain, some of the most ailing members of the eurozone, can find new sources of supply, and secondly, to see what steps Iran is taking to come back to the negotiating table."

Describing the EU measures as part of "an unprecedented set of sanctions", William Hague, the British foreign minister, said: "Today's sanctions show how serious EU member states are about preventing nuclear proliferation and pressing Iran to return to the negotiating table," he said.

France, Britain and Germany said, just hours after the decision on Monday, that they were willing to negotiate with Iran if it was ready to talk seriously about its nuclear programme.

"We call on Iran's leadership immediately to suspend its sensitive nuclear activities and abide fully by its international obligations," the three countries said in a joint statement by their leaders.

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed on Monday that a high-level visit to Iran would take place from January 29-31 for talks on Tehran's nuclear activities.

Western countries believe Iran's uranium enrichment programme is part of an effort to build a nuclear bomb, but Iran says the programme is to generate electricity.

Diplomatic push

Nick Spicer reports on the meeting from Brussels

Issues of concern before Monday's meeting included the impact and costs of the ban for countries such as Greece, which relies on financial help from the EU and the International Monetary Fund to stay afloat, and received Iranian crude on preferential financing terms.

A diplomatic push is under way, officials say, to secure supplies from other producers. Saudi Arabia, the world's top producer, said this month it would increase production by about two million barrels per day.

The effort to take Iran's 2.6 million barrels of oil per day off international markets has kept global prices high, pushed down Iran's rial currency and is causing a surge in the cost of basic goods for Iranians.

Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, said the Iranian government believed that the EU sanctions would not really affect their oil revenues, with rising oil prices making up for a loss of revenues.

Our correspondent said the impact of the sanctions would be felt by ordinary Iranians by increasing the price of the US dollar against the Iranian rial, she said, noting that the dollar rose by about 10 cents after the EU sanctions announcement.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Sadegh Zibakalam, a professor of political science at Tehran University, said that EU sanctions would not "terribly affect" Iran.

"The real problem for Iran comes [from] Asia and not from Europe," Zibakalam said. "That is to say if China, South Korea, Japan ... and India move towards ... reducing their oil from Iran, that will create a serious problem for Iran."

The four Asian nations purchase about 59 per cent of Iran’s oil each year, while EU countries account for 18 per cent.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Al Jazeera
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DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Norwegian Carrier Aims High With 222 Aircraft Orders

2012-01-26T02:54:00.000-05:00

DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Norwegian Carrier Aims High With 222 Aircraft Orders
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Andrew Parker in London FT
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 26, 2012: Norwegian Air Shuttle plans to buy 222 new aircraft worth $21.1bn from Boeing and Airbus in a move that heralds its ambition to become one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines. Boeing secured its largest ever European deal through a firm order by the Oslo-based airline for 122 737 narrow-body aircraft, worth $11.4bn at list prices.

Norwegian also departed from its previous policy of only operating Boeing aircraft by making a commitment to purchase 100 A320 narrow-body aircraft from Airbus, worth $9.7bn at list prices.

Analysts said Norwegian’s orders looked like a bet on the demise of SAS, the struggling Scandinavian carrier.

Norwegian’s shares closed up almost 13 per cent at NKr74.5. Shares in SAS dropped 1 per cent to SKr9.

Bjorn Kjos, Norwegian’s chief executive and one of its founders, told the Financial Times that the airline would focus its expansion on Nordic countries, although he highlighted plans to open a new operating base this March in Malaga, Spain.

“If we have the newest equipment and one of the best cost bases in the world, we can more or less set up operations wherever we want,” said Mr Kjos, a former fighter pilot in the Norwegian air force, who is also a lawyer and author of a spy thriller.

Mr Kjos also highlighted Norwegian’s plans to begin long-haul operations next year, with flights linking Scandinavia with Asia and the US.

Norwegian started its low-cost carrier operations in 2002. It has operating bases in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, although Norwegian’s routes reach beyond Europe into north Africa and the Middle East.

Its fifth-largest shareholder is Finnair, Finland’s flag carrier.

Aircraft financing has become more difficult to obtain since the financial crisis, but Mr Kjos expressed confidence that Norwegian’s orders with Boeing and Airbus would secure loan guarantees from European and US export credit agencies.

Norwegian’s orders should increase its fleet from the current 64 to between 150 and 200 by 2020, because some of the new aircraft will replace existing ones.

Ryanair, Europe’s leading low-cost airline by passenger number, has 277 aircraft, while EasyJet, the second largest, has 204.

Andrew Lobbenberg, analyst at RBS, said Norwegian’s orders looked like “a gamble on SAS failing”.

The deals with Boeing and Airbus underline how airlines are keen to buy fuel-efficient aircraft because of high oil prices.

Norwegian is buying planned new aircraft that should burn between 10 and 15 per cent less fuel than existing ones.

Airbus will start delivering its A320neo aircraft to Norwegian in 2016, and Boeing will begin supplying its 737 Max jets in 2017.

Boeing on Wednesday announced strong fourth-quarter results, although it said profitability would be dented in 2012 by higher pension costs.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Andrew Parker in London FT
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DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated January 23, 2012

2012-01-24T03:29:00.003-05:00

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated January 23, 2012

Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 045-12 January 23, 2012

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 24, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued January 23, 2012 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

The Boeing Co., Long Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $693,373,638 firm-fixed-price contract for a modification to delivery order (DO) 0006 against the basic C-17 production indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, FA8614-06-D-2006, to procure five additional C-17 Air Force aircraft. Basic DO 0006 was awarded on May 13, 2011 to procure the first five aircraft of the fiscal 2010 Air Force C-17 requirement. The location of the performance is Long Beach, Calif. Work is expected to be completed by March 20, 2013. ASC/WLMK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8614-06-D-2006, DO 000603).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

I-Solutions Direct, Inc. (Metals USA), Fort Washington, Pa., was issued a modification exercising the first option year on contract SPM8EG-09-D-0013/P00024. The award is a fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum $116,293,693 for prime vendor contract for various metal items. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were three responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2012 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is Jan. 25, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

US Foods International, Inc.*, Gardena, Calif., was issued a modification exercising the second option year on contract SPM200-09-D-3310/P00023. The award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum $42,100,000 for full line food distribution for the republic of Korea. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, federal civilian agencies and other authorities, Department of Defense customers. There were five responses to the Defense Logistics Agency Internet Bid Board System solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2012/2013 Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

*Small business

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD issued No. 045-12 January 23, 2012
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DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Russia Hands Over Nerpa Nuclear Submarine To India

2012-01-23T17:00:00.002-05:00

DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Russia Hands Over Nerpa Nuclear Submarine To India
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources RIA Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 23, 2012: Russia’s K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine has been handed over to the Indian Navy, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Monday.

In line with the contract worth over $900 million, the Project 971 Shchuka-B (NATO: Akula II) class sub has been leased to India’s Navy for ten years. It will be renamed the INS Chakra.

The ceremony took place in the Far Eastern Primorye Territory. Russian submariners trained their Indian colleagues to steer the Nerpa in the Pacific Ocean.

The event was attended by Indian ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra, United Shipbuilding Corporation head Roman Trotsenko, Eastern Military District commander Admiral Konstantin Sidenko and other officials.

The submarine’s displacement is 8,140/12,770 tons. Its maximum speed is 30 knots, maximum operating depth, 600 m; its endurance is 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes.

India has become the sixth operator of nuclear submarines in the world, after the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China, though it previously leased another Russian submarine which was then returned.

Twenty sailors died on the Nerpa in 2008 after the vessel’s fire-suppression systems were accidentally triggered during sea trials, releasing toxic gases.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources RIA Novosti
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