DTN News: Japan TODAY August 11, 2009 ~ Strong Quake Hits Central Japan As Typhoon Nears

DTN News: Japan TODAY August 11, 2009 ~ Strong Quake Hits Central Japan As Typhoon Nears

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO, Japan - August 11, 2009: A strong earthquake measuring 6.4 struck central Japan early Tuesday, reportedly injuring more than 40 people and triggering fires while also shutting down a nuclear power plant and bullet trains. The shoulder of an express way is caved in after a powerful earthquake hit the area in Makinohara, west of Tokyo Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. Two powerful earthquakes struck Asia early Tuesday, killing one and injuring dozens in coastal Japan and sending panicked residents into the streets as tsunami warnings were issued on islands in the Indian Ocean. The quake hit at 5:07 am (2007 GMT Monday) in the Pacific Ocean about 170 kilometres (105 miles) southwest of Tokyo at a depth of 26.8 kilometres (16.7 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. The quake shook buildings and jolted people from their sleep in and around the capital Tokyo, a region bracing for the predicted arrival of a typhoon later in the day. At least 42 people suffered injuries, public broadcaster NHK reported, but most are believed to be minor. Jiji Press said three fires broke out in Shizuoka prefecture, citing police and emergency services in the worst-hit area, where some objects were thrown from shelves. Four people were taken to the prefecture's Yaizu City Hospital with minor injuries, including one pregnant woman, a hospital official said earlier. "One of them was hurt on the head as some objects fell, but no one so far is in a serious condition," the official said. The Hamaoka nuclear plant in Shizuoka immediately shut down two reactors after the quake, the operator Chubu Electric Power Co. said, with a company official adding that "no abnormalities are seen at the plant." Central Japan Railway Co. temporarily suspended Shinkansen bullet trains in the quake-hit region. Prime Minister Taro Aso's office set up an emergency centre shortly after the quake, which was followed by 13 noticeable aftershocks. Aso's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, told reporters: "Our prime minister ordered us to figure out details of the damage. He ordered us to do our utmost to rescue people if there are any such cases." But Shizuoka governor Heita Kawakatsu told public broadcaster NHK: "There have been no reports of serious damage. Please remain level-headed and gather correct information we provide through TV programmes." Japan's Meteorological Agency, which measured the quake at a revised 6.5 on the Japanese scale, said there was no risk of a tsunami after initial waves raised the ocean surface by about 40 centimetres (16 inches) at Omaezaki, Shizuoka. Typhoon Etau -- which has brought torrential rains that had caused at least 13 deaths from flooding and landslides by Monday -- was heading towards Shizuoka and Tokyo, the meteorological agency said. "As the typhoon is approaching... there are concerns about possible landslides. Please be vigilant," an official at the meteorological agency told a news conference. The USGS said the quake measured 6.4 on the moment magnitude scale, while the Japanese agency said the quake measured 6.5 on the Japanese scale, which measures how strongly an earthquake is felt by people. An earthquake also jolted eastern Japan on Sunday. Around 20 percent of the world's most powerful earthquakes strike the country.

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY August 11, 2009 ~ President Hamid Karzai Leading In Afghan Voter Survey

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY August 11, 2009 ~ President Hamid Karzai Leading In Afghan Voter Survey

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - August 11, 2009: A U.S. government-funded survey of Afghan voters released Monday shows President Hamid Karzai with a substantial lead just 10 days before the country's presidential election, but still short of the support needed to avoid a run-off. Afghan President Hamid Karzai who is also a presidential candidate in the upcoming election, speaks during a gathering to mark International Youth Day in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. The poll shows Karzai with 36 percent support among all the voters surveyed. His closest competitor former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah has 20 percent support. Twenty percent of voters were undecided or refused to answer, while 23 percent supported other candidates. Among voters who have already decided, Karzai had the support of 45 percent of respondents; Abdullah had 25 percent support. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the Aug. 20 election, the top two finishers go to a run-off. The survey is the first to be conducted in the country since campaigning began and provides the first look at how the candidates are faring. Most observers have felt that Karzai is likely to win a second five-year term, though Abdullah has attracted large and energetic crowds at some campaign events. A poll in May before campaigning began showed Abdullah with just 7 percent support. Karzai's campaign spokesman, Waheed Omar, said the poll underscored what the campaign believes is a large gap in support between Karzai and Abdullah. But he said the president's campaign believes Karzai can win 50 percent of the vote and avoid a run-off. A spokesman for Abdullah dismissed the results but said the campaign would be ready to take on Karzai in a run-off. The U.S.-funded poll was carried out by Glevum Associates, a Washington-based communications firm that has done survey work for the U.S. government and military. The poll surveyed 3,556 voting-age Afghans nationwide in mid-July and has a margin of sampling error of 1.6 percent. The survey was representative of Afghanistan's ethnic groups but polled slightly fewer females than males. The third-place candidate in the poll was Ramazan Bashardost, a parliamentarian and former minister. Former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani was fourth with 3 percent support. The poll found that 74 percent of Afghans said they would vote in next week's election, though the number dropped to around 50 percent in the south, where insurgent violence is highest. A lower turnout in the south _ where most are ethnic Pashtuns, like Karzai _ will likely hurt the president's results. U.S., NATO and Afghan forces are working to keep the vote safe from attacks by Taliban militants, who have vowed to disrupt the election and have warned Afghans not to take part. Despite the threats, the poll found that 79 percent of Afghans were certain or fairly certain the vote would be secure, though that number dropped somewhat in the south. Some 65 percent of Afghans said the country was heading in the right direction. At least one more poll is expected to be released before next week's election.

DTN News: U.S. Targets Afghan Drug Lords Tied To Taliban

DTN News: U.S. Targets Afghan Drug Lords Tied To Taliban * Militants with drug links are targets - Pentagon * Senate report sees opium trade as key to beating Taliban * Substantial progress is many years off - report (New story with details from report, Pentagon comment) *Source: DTN News / Reuters (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 11, 2009: The United States has placed 50 suspected Afghan drug traffickers with ties to the Taliban on a Pentagon list of people to be captured or killed, said a Senate report released on Monday. An Afghan man pours fuel over the drugs during a drug burning ceremony in Herat city west of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday, June 20, 2009. Over 700 Kgs of deferent kinds of drugs including opium, hashish, crystal heroin and bottles of alcohol were set on fire in Herat.* A Pentagon spokesman said he had not seen the report by staff for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but that militants with links to the drug trade were legitimate targets. The document, first reported in the New York Times, said major drug traffickers who help finance the insurgency in Afghanistan "are likely to find themselves in the crosshairs of the military." "Some 50 of them are now officially on the target list to be killed or captured," the document said.Afghanistan's opium industry produces more than 90 percent of the world's heroin and generates $3 billion a year in profits, it said. The Taliban, which initially suppressed opium production when the Sunni Muslim movement ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, has since embraced the drug trade as a source of funding for its fight against U.S.-led forces. The Times said the pursuit of Afghan drug lords reflected a shift in U.S. policy and was likely to raise legal concerns from some NATO countries with troops in Afghanistan. Several people suspected of ties to drug trafficking have already been captured and others have been killed by the U.S. military since the policy went into effect earlier this year, the Times reported, citing a senior military official. Pentagon spokesman Brian Whitman declined to describe any target lists. While the Pentagon did not conduct counter-narcotics operations, he said, "we are targeting terrorists that are linked to the drug trade." "So where terrorists are using drugs to finance their operations, where terrorists are using or are involved in those drug labs, yes, that makes them legitimate targets," he said. CUTTING OFF FUNDS The Senate report said this was a dramatic change "for a military that once ignored the drug trade flourishing in front of its eyes. No longer are U.S. commanders arguing that going after the drug lords is not part of their mandate. "It said many military and civilian officials from the United States, Britain, Canada and other countries operating in Afghanistan believe the Taliban cannot be defeated without cutting off the money from Afghanistan's opium industry. But the document also asked whether it was possible to slow money to the Afghan insurgency and whether the United States would be willing to provide the hundreds more civilians needed to transform a poppy-dominated Afghan economy into one where legitimate agriculture can thrive. "Some observers fear that the moment for reversing the tide in Afghanistan has passed and even a narrow victory will remain out of reach, despite the larger American footprint," the report said. Others were more hopeful but civilians and military officers interviewed spoke in terms of two, five or 10 years before they expected substantial progress, it said. There are now about 101,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, with U.S. numbers at about 62,000. Washington has been pouring in thousands of extra troops this year and plans to increase the number to about 68,000 by year's end. Research for the Senate report was conducted in Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, Senator John Kerry, chairman of the foreign relations panel, said in an introduction. His panel plans another round of hearings on Afghanistan and Pakistan this fall. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell and Adam Entous; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

DTN News: Russian Armed Forces Get New Chief Of Combat Training

DTN News: Russian Armed Forces Get New Chief Of Combat Training

*Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - August 11, 2009: Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich has started work as the new head of the Defense Ministry's Combat Training Directorate, the General Staff said on Monday. "General Yevnevich was appointed in July and began work at his new post on August 10," said Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy head of the Russian General Staff. Yevnevich, 57, is a former paratrooper and a Hero of Russia. Prior to his new appointment he served as deputy commander of the Russian Ground Forces. The Defense Ministry earlier said it would drastically change its approach to the combat training of highly-professional military units in light of the current military reform and experience gained during last year's brief military conflict with Georgia over South Ossetia. This year, the ministry plans to hold the Autumn-2009 and West-2009 strategic exercises, involving a large number of personnel from several military districts, fleets, and the Belarusian Armed Forces, as well as at least 30 brigade-level drills. Russia's military reforms are focused on the reorganization of the military command and control system from a four-tier (military district - army - division - regiment) to a more flexible and battle ready three-tier structure (military district - operational command - brigade) and are due to be completed in the next 3-4 years.

DTN News: Indian Naval Ships On Goodwill Visit To Brunei

DTN News: Indian Naval Ships On Goodwill Visit To Brunei *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Burnei - August 11, 2009: The Airavat and Khukri, both Indian Naval Ships (INS) arrived in Brunei on a goodwill visit, coinciding with the Bridex 2009, from August 9 to 12. INS Airavat was formally handed over to the Indian Navy in March this year at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkota. Airavat is the fifth LST (L) of the Indian Navy and third of the Shardul class. As a platform designed for amphibious operations against the enemy, she is a further upgrade on the basic Magar Class (the first LST (L)) in her suite of weapons, sensors and indigenous content. The High Commission of India said the visit is an important component of India's overall contribution to the Bridex which includes participation by the Indian defence industry and senior defence delegates. It added that the visit also signifies the importance that India 'attaches' toward sustaining and strengthening the age-old links and friendly relations with Brunei Darussalam. The INS Airavat is the fifth indigenously built Landing Ship Tank (Large) or LST (L) of the Indian Navy and was commissioned on May 19. The ship measures 125 metres in length, 17.5 metres in breadth and displaces 5600 tonnes and can achieve speed in excess of 16 knots. Third of the Shardul Class of ships, INS Airavat is one of the most sophisticated LST (L) in the Indian Navy, designed for amphibious operations. The ship can carry 10 main battle tanks, 11 combat trucks and 500 troops during operations. Aside from amphibious operations, the ship is a potent assault platform capable of operating both Seaking 42C and the indigenous Dhruv helicopters. In addition, the ship acts as a fleet tanker through stern refuelling of other naval vessels and also as hospital ship. The ship is commanded by Commander Manish Sharma, a specialist in navigation and direction. Meanwhile, the INS Khukri was commissioned in the Indian Navy on August 23, 1989 in Mumbai. It is a corvette of the Project 25 class of ships built at the Mazgaon Docks Limited. Being entirely indigenous in concept, design and construction, Khukri demonstrates India's technological advancement in the field of electronics, sensors and ship building. For her stellar service in the Navy, the ship was awarded the unit citation in 2006. It is commanded by Commander Ashutosh Ridhorkar, a specialist in antisubmarine warfare. During their stay in Muara, the ships and crews will participate in professional interactions with the Royal Brunei Navy. The commanding officers will call on the senior defence, police and port officials. The crew will also be participating in community services. The ships will be open to the public between 10am and 2pm on August 11 and 12. The ships will sail off on August 12 for Bitung Bay on the Sulawesi Island of Indonesia to participate in an International Fleet Review.

DTN News: British Forces Battling To Rebuild After PANTHER'S CLAW In Afghanistan

DTN News: British Forces Battling To Rebuild After PANTHER'S CLAW In Afghanistan

*Source: DTN News / MOD Report by Sharon Kean

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 11, 2009: Even at the ferocious height of Operation PANTHER'S CLAW, civilian and military stabilisation teams were moving into territory cleared of the Taliban to prepare local communities for national elections. Sergeant Matt Pallas, C Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, speaks to locals during Operation PANTHER'S CLAW [Picture: Sgt Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] A major offensive to remove the Taliban from key towns and villages in central Helmand involved British troops in fierce fighting against Taliban insurgents. Ten British soldiers were killed and more were injured during Operation PANCHAI PALANG (PANTHER'S CLAW). It did not help that the decisive operation took place in the searing heat of Afghanistan's summer. The aim was to create the security needed to restore the authority of the Afghanistan Government, in advance of elections. Commander Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Tim Radford, paid tribute to the soldiers involved: "They are fighting hard out there, with quite extraordinary skill and courage, to protect the population from fear and oppression - not just today, tomorrow or next month, but for the long term." At the same time, the US-led Task Force Leatherneck carried out a similar offensive in the south of the province, along the banks of the River Helmand. Head of the US Task Force, Brigadier General Larry Nicholson, said: "The Taliban have had a chance to stand and fight or to run and hide. Most have decided to leave the area." As soon as initial clearance was complete, mixed military-civilian stabilisation teams began work to restore order and civil rule. The Royal Navy's Lieutenant Hannah Byers, who works for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in the central town of Lashkar Gah, said: "When we plan for an operation, we work with civilians to establish what will need to happen afterwards. Within 24 hours of the fighting, we had teams on the ground assessing the state of villages, identifying the village elders and establishing what sort of infrastructure exists." The priority is always to build links between the remote areas of the district and government institutions in Lashkar Gah: "There's often been intimidation, a lack of transport, that means people feel disconnected from the centre," said Lt Byers. Iain King, a Civilian Stabilisation Advisor working in a team of six based in the Nad e-Ali district, parts of which were reached by PANTHER'S CLAW, added: "There are displaced and often confused people who don't know who is in charge or where to go for help." Mr King was with the District Governor as he arrived in some of the areas cleared during the operation. The welcome was largely positive, he said: "We have a very capable District Governor who spearheads our efforts. We make sure people are clear that the Government of Afghanistan is there to serve their needs." He is confident there has been progress in the Nad e-Ali district. Bridges have been repaired and irrigation improved. More people are using the central bazaar, which is near a new Army forward operating base. Iain King was optimistic about the coming elections in those areas where PANTHER'S CLAW cleared away the opposition: "There's a lot of interest from local people," he said. "They're discussing who they'll vote for, and there are lots of posters around." However, work in the area is far from finished, and his team is operating in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. This is reflected by the fact that team members travel in Mastiffs, the most heavily protected of military vehicles, with dedicated security teams. Briagadier Tim Radford speaking to Governor Mangal during the shura at Pay Kalay[Picture: Sgt Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] As Mr King spoke, he was sitting at a desk next to one which was formerly occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the most senior British officer killed in Afghanistan: "It brings home the danger, and of course it's very sad," he said. But there is little time for such reflection. Top of the Afghans' list of concerns is security. Lt Byers said: "That will always be the case, but as they see we are staying, they become less intimidated by the Taliban and they start to articulate what they want for their community." The key to success is ensuring that, however money is spent, it enhances trust in civil administration. Mr King added: "It's about demonstrating good government. We can say all we want on the radio, and write what we want on noticeboards, but the most effective way of communicating our message is to show Afghans that their Government is better than the Taliban."

DTN News: Royal Navy And Royal Air Force To Save Millions Under 10 Year Torpedo Contract

DTN News: Royal Navy And Royal Air Force To Save Millions Under 10 Year Torpedo Contract

*Source: DTN News / BAE Systems

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 11, 2009: The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will save millions of pounds over the next decade on the maintenance and development of their Spearfish and Sting Ray torpedoes thanks to a £369.5 million contract signed with BAE Systems. The Torpedoes Capability Contract (TCC) will cover in-service support for the torpedoes through to 2019 as well as providing the foundation for a proposed upgrade programme for the Spearfish torpedo. The contract will see BAE Systems and the MOD’s DE&S Weapons Operating Centre working as “Team Torpedoes”, in a partnering approach that will result in cost savings of around 20 per cent over the traditional support approach and result in efficiencies of at least £65 million. The TCC consolidates what were 11 separate contracts into one, leading to significant reductions in transactional activities, Torpedoes Project Team Leader, Captain Jim Johnson said. “This 10 year Contract for Availability is a radical improvement over legacy arrangements and has significantly reduced costs. It delivers more coherent and affordable support for torpedoes and also provides the foundation for the development and upgrade of the Spearfish weapon. The adoption of partnering principles and close collaborative working with BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte) was pivotal to delivering the optimum support solution”. The contract will support about 120 skilled jobs at BAE Systems in Portsmouth, while about a third of the total contract value, will go to sub-contractors, sustaining further industry jobs around the UK. Paul Laity, BAE Systems Insyte Naval Programmes Director, said: ”The TCC provides a coherent approach to torpedo support as well as providing a basis for future development programmes. It maintains a sovereign UK capability for the design, development and through-life management and support of the torpedo inventory, thus contributing to the aims of the Defence Industrial Strategy.” BAE Systems has been the Prime Contractor and Design Authority for design and development and in-service support for the UK torpedo inventory for almost 40 years.Spearfish is the UK’s submarine-launched heavyweight torpedo and is deployed in the Swiftsure and Trafalgar hunter/killer submarines and the Vanguard nuclear deterrent submarines. It will be deployed in the new Astute Class submarine from 2010. Spearfish is optimised for anti-submarine warfare, while retaining credible anti-surface warfare capability. It is powered by a high-performance thermal engine, has an analogue homing system and communicates with the launch submarine via a wire-guidance link. Sting Ray is the UK’s lightweight anti-submarine torpedo and is carried aboard RN ships, Lynx and Merlin helicopters and RAF Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The weapon is fully autonomous once launched. Sting Ray has recently undergone an update, improving its capability against the modern submarine threat, particularly in littoral waters, and against advanced counter measures About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded US $34.4 billion (£18.5 billion) in 2008.

For further information, please contact: Donna-Marie Dicker, BAE Systems

Tel: +44 (0) 1276 603472

Mobile: +44 (0) 7793 424569 / 7 771 24569

donna.dicker@baesystems.com

Mike Dennehy, BAE Systems

Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384 782

Mob: +44 (0) 7793 427 132

Michael.dennehy@baesystems.com

DTN News: Final Lockheed Martin-Built Modernized GPS IIR Satellite To Liftoff From Cape Canaveral

DTN News: Final Lockheed Martin-Built Modernized GPS IIR Satellite To Liftoff From Cape Canaveral *Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin (NSI News Source Info) CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, - August 11, 2009: The last in a series of eight modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellites built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the U.S. Air Force is set to launch aboard a Delta II rocket on Aug. 17 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. On May 15, 2008,the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. awarded a team led by Lockheed Martin a $1.46 billion contract to build the next-generation Global Positioning System Space System program, known as GPS III. This program will improve position, navigation, and timing services for the warfighter and civil users worldwide and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability. Under the Development and Production contract, the team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, ITT Corporation, and General Dynamics, will produce the first two GPS IIIA satellites with the first launch projected for 2014. The contract also includes options for up to 10 additional spacecraft. Eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites are planned for later increments, with each increment including additional capabilities based on technical maturity. When fully deployed, the GPS III constellation will feature a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing the entire GPS constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station. Additionally, a new spot beam capability for enhanced military (M-Code) coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming will be incorporated. These enhancements will contribute to improved accuracy and assured availability for military and civilian users worldwide. For GPS III, Lockheed Martin will build on its proven record of providing progressively advanced spacecraft for the current GPS constellation: the team designed and built 21 GPS IIR satellites for the Air Force and subsequently modernized eight of those spacecraft, designated GPS IIR-M, to enhance operations and navigation signal performance. The Global Positioning System enables properly equipped users to determine precise time and velocity and worldwide latitude, longitude and altitude to within a few meters. Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users. The spacecraft, designated GPS IIR-21(M), completes the IIR and IIR-M series of satellites the company designed and built for the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Modernized spacecraft deliver increased signal power to receivers on the ground, two new military signals to improve accuracy, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military, and a second civil signal that will provide users with an open access signal on a different frequency. "The team has once again completed a smooth and efficient launch readiness review and we are ready for flight," said Col. Dave Madden, the U.S. Air Force GPS Wing Commander. "Through effective collaboration and a joint commitment to successful execution, the GPS IIR program has significantly improved our nation’s position, navigation and timing capabilities, and we look forward to enhancing the GPS constellation with this last IIR-M satellite." Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pa., and its navigation and payload provider ITT of Clifton, N.J. designed and built 21 IIR satellites and subsequently modernized eight of those spacecraft. “Since the first successful launch in 1997, GPS IIR spacecraft have demonstrated unmatched capability, achieving exceptional on-orbit performance for military and civil users around the globe," said Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Navigation Systems. “We are extremely proud of our partnership with the Air Force on this important program and look forward to providing increased GPS accuracy and reliability with the launch of the final GPS IIR-M satellite." GPS provides essential services including situational awareness and precision weapon guidance for the military. It is also an information resource supporting a wide range of civil, scientific and commercial functions -- from air traffic control to the Internet -- with precision location and timing information. Air Force Space Command’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users. Building upon a legacy of providing progressively advanced GPS spacecraft, Lockheed Martin along with ITT Corporation and General Dynamics are developing the next generation of global positioning satellites, designated GPS III. This program will improve position, navigation and timing services for the warfighter and civil users worldwide. The team is progressing on-schedule in the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the program and is on track to launch the first GPS IIIA satellite in 2014.Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion. Media Contacts: Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail, stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com Samantha Un, 408-742-3516; e-mail, samantha.un@lmco.com

DTN News: Police ~ 400 Unaccounted For In Taiwan Mudslide

DTN News: Police ~ 400 Unaccounted For In Taiwan Mudslide *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - August 11, 2009: A mudslide touched off by a deadly typhoon buried a remote mountain village, leaving at least 400 people unaccounted for Monday, and military rescue helicopters unable to land because of the slippery ground dropped food to desperate survivors. Armored Personnel Carriers bring rescue workers through a flooded street of Pingtung county, southern Taiwan, Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. An estimated 400 Taiwanese are unaccounted for after the landslide spawned by Typhoon Morakot struck their isolated mountain village of Shiao Lin, a police official said Monday, and a newspaper quoted a resident as saying as many as 600 were buried. Typhoon Morakot slammed Taiwan over the weekend with as much as 80 inches (two meters) of rain, inflicting the worst flooding the island has seen in at least a half-century. The storm submerged large swaths of farmland in chocolate-brown muck and swamped city streets before crossing the 112-mile-wide Taiwan Strait and hitting China, where it forced the evacuation of nearly 1 million people. A disaster appeared to be unfolding around the isolated southern village of Shiao Lin, which was hit by a mudslide Sunday at about 6 a.m. local time — while many people were still asleep — and was cut off by land from the outside world. Speaking to The Associated Press, a Taiwanese police official who identified himself only by his surname, Wang, said 400 people were unaccounted for in the village. Wang said 100 people had been rescued or otherwise avoided the brunt of the disaster. One of the rescued villagers, an unidentified middle-aged man, told police that his family of 10 had been wiped out. "They're gone," he said, according to a local photographer who overheard the exchange. "All gone." Another rescued villager, Lin Chien-chung, told the United Evening News that he believes as many as 600 people were buried in the mudslide. "The mudslide covered a large part of the village including a primary school and many homes," Lin was quoted as saying. "A part of the mountain above us just fell on the village." Lin said he and several neighbors moved to higher ground several hours before the mudslide hit because torrential rains had flooded their homes. Taiwan's population register lists Shiao Lin as having 1,300 inhabitants, though many are believed to live elsewhere. Under leaden gray skies, military helicopters hovered over the community, dropping food and looking for survivors. They were unable to land because of the slippery terrain. Shiao Lin was cut off after floodwaters destroyed a bridge about 8 miles (12 kilometers) away. A back road wending its way northward toward the mountain community of Alishan was also believed to be cut off, and with rain still falling in the area, the prospects for an early resumption of overland travel were poor. Elsewhere in Taiwan, an additional 54 people were listed as missing. Authorities put the confirmed death toll in Taiwan at 14, but that seemed certain to rise. The typhoon's path took it almost directly over the capital of Taipei, but its most destructive effects were in the heavily agricultural south and along the island's densely foliated mountain spine. Shiao Lin is on Taiwan's southwestern coast. In rural Pingtung county, the rains turned rich swaths of farmland so sodden that it was difficult to distinguish them from the open sea. In the Pingtung community of Sandimen, troops maneuvered armored personnel carriers through flooded streets, plucking whole families from water-logged buildings and ferrying them to safety. ADDS locations of severe flooding in Taiwan; map shows path of Typhoon Morakot. In Taitung, in the southeastern lowlands, a raging flood toppled a five-story hotel. Anxious relatives in Taitung county begged President Ma Ying-jeou to help their loved ones. "You must try to save my father," cried one. "Please, I beg you to save my father." After pummeling Taiwan, Morakot slammed into China's Fujian province, directly across the strait, with heavy rain and winds of 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour, according the China Meteorological Administration. At least one child died after a house collapsed in Zhejiang province. Hundreds of villages and towns were flooded and more than 2,000 houses had collapsed, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Four people died in Zhejiang, and two other deaths were reported in Fujian and Jiangxi province, Xinhua said. Before plowing into Taiwan, the storm hit the Philippines, where it killed 22. In Japan, meanwhile, Typhoon Etau slammed into the western coast Monday. Twelve people were killed in raging floodwaters and landslides, and 10 others were missing, police said.

DTN News: Boeing Receives $1.15 Billion Contract For 15 Canadian Chinooks, Announces Matching Reinvestment In Industry

DTN News: Boeing Receives $1.15 Billion Contract For 15 Canadian Chinooks, Announces Matching Reinvestment In Industry *Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, - August 11, 2009: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday Aug. 10, announced that it has received a US$1.15 billion contract from the Canadian government for 15 new CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Under the contract, Boeing will match Canada's purchase price by executing contracts and investments of equal value with Canadian industry.The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h) was faster than utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s and even many of today. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks. Designated the CH-147 in Canada, the Chinooks have been contracted to meet Canada's Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopter program requirements. They will be produced at the Boeing Rotorcraft Systems facility in Ridley Township, Pa., with deliveries expected to occur between 2013 and 2014. Speaking today at an event hosted by the ministries of Defence and Industry at the I.M.P. Aerospace facility in Halifax, Jack Dougherty, Boeing vice president, H-47 Programs, said, "Boeing is extremely pleased that Canada has selected the CH-147 Chinook, the world's leading tandem-rotor helicopter, to modernize its defense forces' airlift fleet. "This is also great news for Canadian troops," Dougherty added. "They are a national treasure, because they not only place themselves in defense of Canada, but also are the heroes who are called on in every manner of civil emergency." The ceremony also included remarks from the Honorable Peter MacKay, Canada's Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. "This contract is key in ensuring the Canadian Forces are a first-class, modern, flexible force capable of defending Canada and the Canadian interest for years to come," MacKay said. "This helicopter will give Canada's military a robust capability with the ability to operate in remote and isolated areas, and increase their capacity to respond to disasters both at home and abroad." In line with Canada's Industrial & Regional Benefits policy, Boeing will match every dollar spent by the Canadian government in acquiring its CH-147 fleet by partnering with and issuing contracts to companies in Canada. These opportunities will result in long-term, high-value jobs for Canadians and build on the long-standing partnership between Boeing and Canadian industry. Contracts worth in excess of $500 million have been signed against this commitment and are being implemented by companies across Canada. "This is a win-win for Canada and The Boeing Company," said Mark Kronenberg, vice president of International Business Development for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "Boeing seeks to partner with the very best of industry, and as a result, we continue to make a significant commitment to Canadian industry. This new contract has created opportunities for new partnerships to further grow our already large supplier base in Canada." Along with the reinvestments Boeing will make as part of the delivery contract, the company could provide additional industry benefits in excess of $2 billion over 20 years for in-service support of the CH-147 fleet. The performance-based in-service support could include aircraft maintenance training systems and services, engineering support, supply chain management, and other expertise. The CH-147, which will be modified to meet Canada's operational environment, will be powered by two 4,733-horsepower Honeywell engines and feature extended-range capabilities. It will be able to transport more than 21,000 pounds (9,525 kg) of cargo. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide. Contact: Hal Klopper International Rotorcraft Communications Office: 480-891-5519 Mobile: 602-391-7489 hal.g.klopper@boeing.com Amy Horton Supplier Management and Industrial Participation Communications Office: 314-233-4368 Mobile: 314-705-0283 mailto:amy.e.horton@boeing.com