DTN News: Boeing-Led Missile Defense Team Completes 2-Stage Interceptor Booster Test

DTN News: Boeing-Led Missile Defense Team Completes 2-Stage Interceptor Booster Test

Source: DTN News / Boeing Dt. June 6, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., - June 7, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) June 6, completed a successful flight test of the two-stage ground-based interceptor (GBI) of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, the United States' only long-range ballistic missile defense system. "Having supported the MDA on GMD since its inception, through fielding and sustainment, it is a tremendous honor to watch the system continue to evolve with this successful two-stage flight test," said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Strategic Missile & Defense Systems. "As world events continue to show that ballistic missile threats are real, this system offers U.S. warfighters a robust and reliable hedge-capability to defend their homeland. Boeing is proud to be a part of GMD's continuing success." The test began at 3:25 p.m. Pacific time when the two-stage GBI lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The GBI -- carrying an operational Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) payload -- measured performance data for the new two-stage design as well as how an operationally configured EKV operates under stressful boundary conditions. The two-stage GBI has more than 95 percent commonality with the three-stage GBIs currently deployed in underground silos at Vandenberg and at Fort Greely, Alaska, and uses existing flight-qualified components. "Today’s test not only provided unique data that will allow us to characterize two-stage GBI performance, which enhances our models and simulations, but also took advantage of having an operational EKV on the booster to gather data on the entire GMD system," said Norm Tew, Boeing vice president and GMD program director. "By drawing on our unmatched expertise on the system and working with our government, military and industry partners, we have demonstrated a flexible capability for an already proven defense system." Boeing has been the prime contractor for GMD since 2001. Leading the design and development of the system, Boeing delivered an operational capability in just two and a half years. The company also continues to lead GMD's operations and sustainment efforts. GMD is an integral element of the Missile Defense Agency's overall layered ballistic missile defense architecture. It defends the United States against long-range ballistic missiles, with interceptors deployed in underground silos at Vandenberg and at Fort Greely. GMD also consists of radars, other sensors, command-and-control facilities, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile fiber optic communications network. Boeing's industry partners on the GMD team include Raytheon Co., Orbital Sciences Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. 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 $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

DTN News: Venezuela To Spend $82 Million On Chinese K-8 Karakorum Military Training Jets

DTN News: Venezuela To Spend $82 Million On Chinese K-8 Karakorum Military Training Jets

Source: DTN News / Reuters By Esteban Israel

(NSI News Source Info) CARACAS, Venezuela - June 7, 2010: Venezuela will spend $82 million on a second batch of Chinese K-8 military training aircraft, President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday. Chavez's socialist government has ordered 18 of the light attack and training planes from China, and the Latin American country received the first six jets in March. "We have approved $82 million for the second batch of Chinese-made K-8 jets. The aircraft are for the security and defense of the country," the Venezuelan president said during his regular television program. The United States, which accuses Chavez, a close ally of Cuba and Iran, of sparking an arms race across South America, imposed an embargo in 2006 on sales of U.S. weapons parts to the OPEC nation. Chavez has said he wants to buy a fleet of 40 K-8s. He ordered 18 of them from China after a plan to buy similar jets from a Brazilian company fell through, apparently because they included U.S. electrical systems. It was not immediately clear how many of the aircraft would be included in the second group, or when they would arrive. Venezuelan officials said in March the versatile jets would be used to train local pilots and intercept drug traffickers who use the country as a stop-off point to smuggle Colombian cocaine to the United States, Europe and Africa. Venezuela has also bought a network of Chinese radars and spent about $4 billion on Russian weapons, including tanks, missile systems and fighter jets, to replace F-16 planes that are rusting because of the U.S. embargo. Chavez said he was simply modernizing his armed forces. "Today, China has become one of the biggest allies of Venezuela, and Venezuela is one of the biggest allies of China in the world," he said. Chinese companies are involved in the exploration of Venezuela's vast Orinoco heavy crude belt, and Beijing says it is also providing $20 billion of long-term financing for projects in the South American oil exporter. (Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Peter Cooney)

DTN News: North Korea's Kim Jong-il Attends Parliament; PM Sacked

DTN News: North Korea's Kim Jong-il Attends Parliament; PM Sacked

Source: DTN News / Reuters By Jack Kim

(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - June 7, 2010: North Korean leader Kim Jong-il attended a rare session of its rubber-stamp parliament on Monday that replaced the country's premier, its official KCNA news agency said. The premier is considered the top official responsible for the North's economic policy and the move could be linked to a currency revaluation late last year that according to some media reports incited widespread public discontent. Incumbent Premier Kim Yong-il was replaced by a top Workers' Party official Choe Yong-rim, KCNA said. Kim's brother-in-law, Jang Song-thaek, was elected to the powerful post of a vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, which is headed by the reclusive leader, KCNA also said. Kim, who suffered a stroke in 2008, missed the previous session of the Supreme People's Assembly in April, which amended the country's constitution to strengthen his power. The second session in two months came amid growing momentum in the international community to punish Pyongyang for the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March that killed 46 sailors. Analysts had said the North could use the extra session of the Supreme People's Assembly to make a major announcement on personnel changes or power succession, or to issue a hardline response to sanctions imposed by the South over the ship sinking. North Korea drove tensions to new heights in recent weeks by threatening war if Seoul imposed sanctions, denying any role in the sinking of the corvette Cheonan and accusing South Korean President Lee Myung-bak of using the incident for political aims. The mounting antagonism between the two Koreas, which so far has remained rhetorical, has unnerved global investors, worried about armed conflict breaking out in a region home to the world's second and third biggest economies. (Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Alex Richardson)

DTN News: Israeli Patrol Kills Four Militants In Diving Gear

DTN News: Israeli Patrol Kills Four Militants In Diving Gear

Source: DTN News / Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) GAZA CITY, Palestine/TEL AVIV, Israel - June 7, 2010: An Israeli naval patrol killed at least four Palestinian militants in diving gear off the Gaza coast on Monday, Hamas security officials and the Israeli army said. "An Israeli naval patrol spotted a boat with four men in diving suits on their way to carry out a terror attack and fired at them," an Israeli army spokesman said, adding that the patrol had confirmed hitting its targets. The spokesman did not say what the army thought was the intended objective of the divers. Hamas security sources said four bodies had been found and a fifth man was missing and presumed dead. The incident occurred eight days after Israeli marines killed nine Turks in violent confrontations on a Turkish cruise ship which was part of a six-vessel convoy that set out to challenge an Israeli-led blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. A second attempt by pro-Palestinian activists to break the blockade on Gaza was stopped on Saturday by the Israeli navy without incident. Israeli media said Monday's sea patrol was carried out by naval commandos from the same unit that boarded the Gaza-bound ships last week. The military spokesman declined to comment on this. In a second incident in the Gaza Strip on Monday, Hamas security and medical officials said an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a group of militants in an open area near Gaza City, seriously wounding one man. An Israeli army spokesman confirmed that a missile had targeted a group of militants trying to fire a rocket at Israel. Palestinian militants in Gaza frequently try to attack Israeli border patrols and sporadically fire rockets and mortar bombs at Israel. The military spokesman said that more than 10 had been launched at Israel in the past three weeks. Attempts to attack from the sea are rare, however. In February, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza sent explosive devices, thought to be primitive sea mines, out to sea intending to hit naval vessels. At least three devices washed up on Israeli beaches and were detonated by sappers. (Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Receives Awards For M-ATV Rear-View Cameras

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Receives Awards For M-ATV Rear-View Cameras

Source: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation Dt. June 4, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - June 7, 2010: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has received three awards valued at over $46 million to deliver more than 3,100 rear-view camera systems for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV).

Oshkosh will supply 2,800 camera systems to the military for field installation and add more than 300 systems into current M-ATV production lines. Production installation will take place from August to September 2010. A small number of camera systems also will be shipped to testing sites. Oshkosh has now received awards to supply more than 7,500 rear-view camera systems for the M-ATV. The camera systems integrate with existing vehicle video displays and provide enhanced rearward visibility under all operating conditions, including dust, obscurants and increment weather in both day and night operations. The systems use an infrared camera core in an LED-equipped tailgate assembly. The M-ATV delivers MRAP-equivalent survivability and superior off-road mobility for operations in places like Afghanistan. The vehicle is produced with a factory-installed armor package, and can accept additional add-on armor and protection kits. The M-ATV uses the Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension system to achieve a 70 percent off-road profile capability in harsh mountainous terrain and unimproved road networks. To date, Oshkosh has received awards valued at more than $5 billion for 8,079 M-ATVs, upgrade kits, spare-parts kits and sustainment support. About Oshkosh Defense

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com. About Oshkosh Corporation

Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.

DTN News: Boeing To Deliver 199th C-17 Aircraft To USAF June-End

DTN News: Boeing To Deliver 199th C-17 Aircraft To USAF June-End

Source: DTN News By Roger Smith

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 7, 2010: The US Air Force (USAF) will get its 199th C-17 Globemaster-III strategic lift aircraft June-end. The aircraft has successfully been test flown and is due for delivery to its designated squadron, a company spokesman told India Strategic. The aircraft was shown to an Indian media team recently at its Long Beach manufacturing facility as part of Boeing's efforts to showcase the capability of this aircraft to various countries for possible sale. The latest version of the aircraft is marked Block 18, and that is what is on offer to India. The C-17 programme will end in about five years, just after Boeing delivers the last and 223rd of this highly successful strategic lift aircraft to the USAF, and some others to international customers. The production is being slowed to keep the manufacturing facility going for some time longer, just in case there are more orders, particularly in view of the aircraft's utility in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief role. According to Tommy Dunehew, Vice President, Boeing's Global Mobility Systems, Boeing is committed along with the US Government to support and service the aircraft for their lifetime, say another 30 to 40 years. The spares will be produced amply for a global supply chain. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to replace and augment its fleet of 17 Soviet vintage IL 76 aircraft which should retire in about 10-15 years. IAF acquired the first lot of its six IL 76 aircraft in April 1985. The IL 76 is now out of production, although Russia has been able to sell some of its second-hand machines after refurbishing them to some countries. India with its order for 10 C-17s is the largest non-US customer, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which ordered six of these aircraft last year. India should get its fist C-17 in about two to three years after signing the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) with the US government, now that US Congressional approval has been accorded to the Indo-US deal in this regard. Dunehew said that normally, it should take about three years to deliver an aircraft. But if India wanted, the delivery period could be cut short as Boeing could request other customers to delay their deliveries. Notably, barring an odd case of pilot error or attacks in combat, the aircraft has never had any accident, said Dunehew.

In June 2009, the Indian Air Force (IAF) selected the C-17 to fulfill its Very Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft requirement. If the deal is approved by the Indian Defense Ministry, the C-17 would replace the Ilyushin Il-76 as the largest heavy lift transport aircraft in-service with the IAF. According to the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik, the IAF plans to order ten C-17 aircraft. As of June 2009, the selection was being reviewed by the Indian Defense Ministry, but an order has not been placed.

According to DTN News, the Indian media reports in October 2009, the Defense Acquisition Council of India has "almost finalized" the deal with the United States for 10 C-17s. US Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, expressed optimism over the deal and said that the United States was committed to expanding the "strategic lift capability" of the Indian Air Force. In January 2010, the US Government received a request from India for 10 C-17s through a Foreign Military Sale. In June 2010, the US Congress approved the sale of 10 C-17s to India under the US's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Boeing Eyes Asia To Expand Its Defence Business

DTN News: Boeing Eyes Asia To Expand Its Defence Business

Source: DTN News / AFP

(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - June 7, 2010: Boeing wants to expand its defence business outside the United States as it moves to compensate for Washington's cuts in defence spending, a leading executive said Friday. Dennis Muilenburg, president and chief executive of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, said the aerospace giant aimed to sell more fighters, airlift planes and unmanned systems in Asia. The international market now accounts for about 16 percent of Boeing's total annual defence revenues of 34 billion dollars and the company plans to expand this to 20-25 percent in the next five years, Muilenberg said. The Asia-Pacific now contributes half of non-US revenues, he told reporters in Singapore, where he was attending a security forum. "We've seen some flattening in the US defence budget and that has impacted us in a couple of areas like missile defence," he said. With demand for its main products remaining robust, the company is expanding into other businesses such as unmanned systems, computer systems security and protecting electrical power grids. It is also expanding its business outside the US military, and is looking for more contracts in India, Singapore, Australia, South Korea and Japan, Muilenburg said. "Our international business segment is a strong growth area," he said. The need for new aircraft in humanitarian relief missions and disaster rescue is driving demand for its Chinook helicopters and C-17 military transport planes, he said. India has signed a deal to buy eight P8i anti-submarine aircraft from Boeing and has expressed an interest in purchasing 10 C-17 military transport aircraft. Boeing is also one of several companies battling to sell modern fighter jets to the Indian air force.

DTN News: Eurocopter To Display Its Latest-Generation Product Range At The 2010 ILA Berlin Air Show

DTN News: Eurocopter To Display Its Latest-Generation Product Range At The 2010 ILA Berlin Air Show

*Eurocopter, the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer in the civil and public services markets, will utilize this year’s ILA Berlin Air Show to highlight the company’s international market strength and its continuing ability to innovate.

*Tiger combat helicopter and NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter presented

*First public appearance of new NH90 MedEvac variant

*“Eurocopter goes East” initiative welcomes Lithuania and Poland

Source: DTN News / Eurocopter June 4, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) BERLIN, Germany - June 7, 2010: The company’s display features Eurocopter’s state-of-the-art military helicopters – the Tiger combat helicopter and NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter – both of which are in service with several nations. A new medical evacuation (MedEvac) variant of the NH90 developed by Eurocopter with a view to future German military requirements, as well as a large array of the company’s civil helicopters, will be shown in the HeliCenter static display and on the EADS Group’s booth.

The Tiger, which is being delivered to Germany, France, Australia and Spain, will demonstrate its spectacular maneuverability in the air show’s daily flying display. French Army Tigers have been successfully deployed in Afghanistan since mid-2009. The NH90 – of which 529 units are on order by 14 nations, and which is Europe’s largest military helicopter program – is being delivered to Germany, Sweden, Italy, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands and France, with deliveries to further customers to commence this year. The NH90 in its naval variant, which is operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy, will be on display. In the static display, Eurocopter is presenting a new MedEvac/CasEvac variant of the NH90 for the first time. The company developed this variant to meet future German military requirements as a premium solution for medical evacuation, casualty evacuation and combat search & rescue missions. Emphasizing its market success in the new member states of the European Union, as well as Eastern Europe, a Lithuanian Border Guard EC145 is being shown on the EADS exhibit (Stand #100 in Hall 7), while an emergency medical services-configured (EMS) EC135, the 11th out of a total of 23 ordered by the Polish Ministry of Health, is included in the HeliCenter static display. Rounding out Eurocopter’s presence in the HeliCenter static display are a Eurocopter-upgraded German Army CH-53GA for personnel recovery missions, an EMS-configured EC145 of the DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht), an EC145 Stylence aircraft for VIP and corporate missions, an EC135 of the Bavarian Police and an EC120 for executive transport and training missions. True to the company’s tradition of setting and raising the standards in the industry, Eurocopter also will participate in ILA’s helicopter conference program with several presentations of new concepts and technologies. In the EADS static display pavilion, new helicopter technologies for enhanced environmental compatibility are being presented. The company’s renowned maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities are shown on Eurocopter’s booth in the HeliCenter. All around ILA Berlin, several other Eurocopter helicopters will be displayed by the company’s customers. About Eurocopter

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2009, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.6 billion Euros, orders for 344 new helicopters, and a 52 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. More than 10,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

DTN News: Airbus Delivers The 30th A380

DTN News: Airbus Delivers The 30th A380

* On track to deliver at least 20 A380s in 2010

Source: DTN News / EADS, Blagnac - 4 June 2010

(NSI News Source Info) BLAGNAC, France - June 7, 2010: The 30th A380 to be delivered was handed over June 4., to Emirates Airline, one of the launch customers of the Airbus double-decker aircraft. This is the tenth A380 Emirates has received out of its total firm order for 58 aircraft.

This aircraft will be on display at the ILA Berlin Air Show which is taking place from June 8th to 13th. Lufthansa will also bring their recently delivered, first A380 to the show and from June 11th an Airbus flight test A380 will be on static and flying display.

Airbus has already delivered seven A380s so far in 2010, three to Emirates Airline, two to Air France, one to Lufthansa and one to Qantas. Airbus is on track to deliver a total of at least 20 A380s in 2010.

On June 4., five major airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airline, Qantas, Air France and Lufthansa, operate 30 A380s on 20 routes linking 18 major international destinations. Together they have carried nearly five and a half million passengers on 15,000 revenue flights and have clocked up almost 140,000 revenue flight hours. These A380 flights have saved 640,000t of CO2 emissions by replacing journeys that would otherwise have been made with less fuel-efficient large aircraft. The A380 has the lowest fuel burn of any wide body aircraft, needing less than three litres of fuel per passenger per 100km.

The A380 is also a proven profit generator. Delivering an impressive double-digit percentage reduction in cash operating costs, it allows airlines to either increase the number of seats offered at little or no extra cost or keep the same capacity at a much lower total cost. This is one of the reasons why seven of the 17 A380 customers have already placed repeat orders and over half the world’s top international carriers have ordered it.

Airbus has received 202 firm orders for the A380 from 17 customers.

DTN News: Dassault Falcon Delivers First Of Four Falcon 7X To Saudia Private Aviation For Charter Service In The Middle East - 2010/05/04

DTN News: Dassault Falcon Delivers First Of Four Falcon 7X To Saudia Private Aviation For Charter Service In The Middle East - 2010/05/04

Source: DTN News / Dassault Dt. May 4, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) GENEVA, Switzerland, - June 7, 2010: Dassault Falcon May 4, delivered the first of four Falcon 7X tri-jets to Saudia Private Aviation (SPA), the business aviation unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines marking the first Falcon 7X delivery in Saudi Arabia. Two more aircraft are scheduled for delivery to SPA later this year and the final aircraft will come in 2011. The order was originally announced at the Dubai Air Show in 2007.

SPA will use the Falcon 7X for VIP charter flights within the Middle East and around the world. With a range of 5,950 nm, the aircraft can connect major cities, such as New York to Riyadh, Dubai to Tokyo, or Rio De Janeiro to Jeddah.

"It is a day of commemoration,” said Wajdi Abdullah Al-Idrissi, the Vice President Royal & VIP Affairs & Head of SPA. “The Falcon 7X was carefully chosen out of many options due to its excellent technical specifications and performance,” he said. “It is a unique plane that can fly nonstop for over 11 hours and does not require a long runway which saves valuable time by being able to land at lower traffic airports.” Al-Idrissi continued, "Though SPA was carved out of Saudi Arabian Airlines a year ago, our long experience spans more than 60 years in VIP aircraft chartering, leasing, management and consultation, and Ground Handling.” Discussing the Falcon 7X, Al-Idrissi said that this state-of-the-art aircraft is distinctive and matchless in its class and conforms to the high taste of their Royal and VIP clients.

“The Falcon 7X has been well received by customers in the Middle East for its advanced technology, its efficiency as well as its comfort,” said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “It is capable of meeting the most demanding requirements of passengers, especially on very long non-stop flights.”

Dassault has approximately 50 Falcons based in the region and expects this number to increase by almost 50% over the next three years. The rapid growth of the Falcon fleet in the area prompted Dassault to establish a new Falcon Spares Distribution Center in Dubai in 2008 in order to expedite and simplify the delivery process of Falcon spares. The regional inventory is now worth more than US $1.5 million. A sales office for the region was also opened in Dubai in the same year.

Dassault also plans to establish an additional Falcon Authorized Service Center in the region with Saudi Arabian Airlines in Jeddah. "Saudi Arabian Airlines is renowned for providing a high quality of service. Their technical experience in aviation maintenance will support not only the expanding Falcon fleet based in the Middle East but also Falcon operators that fly regularly between the Asia-Pacific region and Europe,” said Rosanvallon. “Saudi Arabian Airlines is one of the leading airlines providing maintenance services providers and is capable of offering first class solutions to our customers.”

About Dassault Falcon

Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 70 countries across 5 continents. Dassault Aviation produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as a complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on multiple continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, 2000 Falcon jets have been delivered to more than 67 countries worldwide. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes three tri-jets—the Falcon 900DX, 900LX and the 7X—as well as the twin-engine 2000DX and 2000LX.