DTN News: Pakistan TODAY December 12, 2009 ~ Top al-Qaeda Planner Apparently Killed In Pakistan

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY December 12, 2009 ~ Top al-Qaeda Planner Apparently Killed In Pakistan Obama's War Combating Extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan

*Local authorities say missiles were fired by U.S. drone

*Source: DTN News / The Washington Post Joby Warrick and Karen DeYoung

Special correspondent Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report. (NSI News Source Info) PESHAWAR, Pakistan - December 12, 2009: An apparent U.S. missile strike along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan is believed to have killed a top al-Qaeda operations planner this week, U.S. counterterrorism officials said Friday. If confirmed, this would be the second deadly attack against a senior terrorist leader this fall. Saleh al-Somali was one of two Arab men thought to have been killed when a pair of missiles tore into their car Tuesday near the town of Miran Shah in North Waziristan province, according to U.S. sources and Pakistani officials in the region. Local authorities said the missiles were fired by an unmanned aircraft of the type operated by the CIA inside Pakistan's lawless tribal belt. "They were driving in a white car, heading toward the Afghan border, when the car was hit," said an official with Pakistan's civilian intelligence agency, speaking by phone from Miran Shah. The official said suspected local militants rushed to the spot and quickly confiscated what remained of the "totally demolished bodies." Local authorities were unable to verify the victims' identities, but two U.S. counterterrorism officials cited unspecified evidence that Somali was among the dead. Somali was described as a senior al-Qaeda military planner who ran the terrorist group's operations outside the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. "He was engaged in plotting throughout the world," said one senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of U.S. airstrikes inside Pakistani territory. "Given his central role, this probably included plotting attacks against the United States and Europe. He took strategic guidance from al-Qaeda's top leadership and translated it into operational blueprints for prospective terrorist attacks." The second U.S. official said Somali had risen quickly through al-Qaeda's ranks and was well-connected with other extremist groups in the region. "He may not be a household name to some Americans, but that in no way diminishes the threat he posed to us and our allies," the second official said. If his death is confirmed, Somali would be the second senior al-Qaeda or Taliban leader killed since September, when a similar strike killed Najmuddin Jalolov, the leader of a militant faction in the tribal belt, and three other top operatives. The tempo of strikes by CIA-run drones has declined since the summer, from an average of about six operations per month to two, according to a tally by the Long War Journal, a Web site managed by a nonprofit group. The decline may be due to improved tactics by terrorist groups, which have taken steps to limit their vulnerability while also ruthlessly killing suspected informants, the site said.

DTN News: Hercules Crews Begin Supplying Troops In Afghanistan With Air Drops

DTN News: Hercules Crews Begin Supplying Troops In Afghanistan With Air Drops *Source: DTN News / British Ministry of Defence (MoD) (NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - December 12, 2009: Crews from RAF Lyneham are reverting to Second World War methods of resupplying troops on the front line in Afghanistan by air drops, helping to reduce the danger posed by roadside bombs. Air dispatchers load a Hercules with supplies for an air drop to a forward operating base in Helmand province [Picture: Corporal Steve Bain (RAF) ABIPP, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] Traditionally, the forward operating bases (FOBs), where front line British troops are located throughout Helmand province, have been restocked by road as air drops have been notoriously inaccurate. But now stores, which include essential ration packs, are able to be thrown accurately out of the the back of a moving Hercules, helping to limit the danger to soldiers who resupply by land. It's only now a viable option because of the introduction of a new computerised system that works out a precise time and location for the drop to begin. Group Captain Terry Jones, Commanding Officer of Air Assets at Kandahar, explained the importance of the air drops: "If you drop by road, you put a convoy out for a long period where it's vulnerable to attack and where the vehicles can run over IEDs [improvised explosive devices] and that puts the people at risk. Supplies dropped by a C-130 Hercules aircraft near Forward Operating Base Edinburgh on the outskirts of Musa Qaleh [Picture: Sergeant Keith Cotton RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] "We can lower the burden on those patrols and reduce them to the minimum by making more use of air drops, where we can drop large numbers of supplies very close to the patrol bases and forward operating bases, precisely where the troops need them." Air drops to resupply the front line were used as far back as the Second World War, but historically the vast majority of loads never landed where they should. For that reason the FOBs in Afghanistan have been restocked by road. Flight Lieutenant Gareth Burdett, Captain of a Hercules C-130 aircraft dropping the supplies, said: "The challenges with an air drop in Afghanistan have always been knowing what the wind is doing. Dropping stores in the way that we do is a bit like dropping a feather in a corner of a room with a fan blowing. A soldier from the Household Cavalry Regiment Battle Group retrieves supplies dropped by a C-130 Hercules aircraft near Forward Operating Base Edinburgh on the outskirts of Musa Qaleh [Picture: Sergeant Keith Cotton RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] "But the kit that we have now enables us to find out accurately what the wind is doing, and therefore we can make sure that from where we release these stores the parachutes will all land in the correct position on the ground." Because of the accuracy of the new system, the size of the area the soldiers have to clear of improvised explosive devices is greatly reduced. The accuracy with which the pallets fall into a drop zone also makes it easier for the troops to unpack them quickly and take the consignment back to the relative safety of the FOB. See Related Links >>> to watch a special BFBS report on the air drops. Lieutenant Daniel Hurt, Second-in-Command of Forward Operating Base Edinburgh near Musa Qaleh, said: "We can secure the drop zone before, so we can make sure there are no IEDs or mines or anything there, and there's no insurgent activity. That way we are happy that it is safe and we're controlling the situation." Speaking about a recent drop he said: Parachutes float supplies down from the sky onto the desert plain near Forward Operating Base Edinburgh [Picture: Sergeant Keith Cotton RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] "In total I think we moved about sixty tonnes worth of kit and that was all man-handled. "A group of twenty guys did that last night. Picking up a huge volume of stores in the freezing cold of the Afghanistan desert at night in December is not as easy as it sounds, but the troops lifting the boxes on the receiving end were pleased to get their fresh rations." Watching the stores arrive, Captain James Horspool said: "It was eerily quiet apart from the brief flutter of parachutes far overhead, followed by gentle 'thuds' as they hit the ground. "They looked something like jellyfish floating down from the starry skies onto the desert plain."

DTN News: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Program Completes Static Test Analysis, Gauntlet Tests

DTN News: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Program Completes Static Test Analysis, Gauntlet Tests *Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) EVERETT, Wash., - December 12, 2009: Boeing (NYSE: BA) Dec.11 completed the review and analysis of the static test that was conducted Nov. 30 to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner. "I am happy to report that the program has validated the airplane structure for the 787 Dreamliner," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. Fancher also reported that the 787 team has completed final gauntlet testing on the first airplane. Testing lasted for just two days because only improvements made earlier this year during previous testing had to be examined. "We are very pleased with the results of this final functional testing. With the successful completion of static testing and this functional testing, our focus now moves to first flight." During the test on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe, the wing and trailing edges of the airframe were subjected to their limit load -- the highest loads expected to be seen in service. The limit-load test was required to clear the airplane for first flight. Boeing's test strategy is to conduct all limit-load tests and analyze data before conducting the ultimate load series, which is required for certification and will be conducted next year. Boeing announced June 23 that it was necessary to reinforce an area of structure at the side-of-body section of the 787. The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing attaches to the fuselage. The 787 team has completed modifications on the first three flight-test airplanes and the full-scale static test airplane. First flight of the 787 Dreamliner is expected to occur after final flight readiness reviews, receipt of documentation from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and taxi testing. Both taxi testing and first flight are subject to weather conditions. "We are pleased with the pace of progress in preparing to enter our flight test program," said Fancher.

DTN News: USAF To Develop New Bomber

DTN News: USAF To Develop New Bomber *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media By JOHN T. BENNETT (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 12, 2009: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Dec. 11 the 2011 Pentagon spending request is likely to include funding for development of a new Air Force bomber, Reuters reported.According to DTI quote "DTI reports this month that Northrop Grumman has won a classified Air Force contract to develop a secret bomber prototype. Naturally, nobody’s confirming this on the record, but we present strong evidence that such a project is under way." The long-talked-about program has been in limbo since Gates froze it in April amid several dozen major weapons program cuts. Gates wanted the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review to look at the need for a new long-range bomber fleet. "We are probably going to proceed with a long-range strike initiative coming out of the Quadrennial Defense Review and various other reviews going on," Gates told troops in Kirkuk, Iraq. "We're looking at a family of capabilities, both manned and unmanned." He said funding likely would start at $1 billion, and then ramp up in subsequent years.

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY December 11, 2009 ~ Pakistani And U.S. Agents Interrogate Five Americans

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY December 11, 2009 ~ Pakistani And U.S. Agents Interrogate Five Americans *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) SARGODHA, Pakistan - December 11, 2009: U.S. FBI agents and their Pakistani colleagues interrogated on Friday five young American Muslims who wanted to go to Afghanistan to fight U.S.-led forces, Pakistani officials said. Pakistani children play in front of a house where police reportedly arrested five American Muslims in Sargodha, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. Five young American Muslims arrested in Pakistan met with representatives of an al-Qaida linked group and asked for training but were turned down because they lacked references from trusted militants, a Pakistani law enforcement official said Thursday. The case is bound to fan fears in Western countries that the sons of immigrants from Muslim countries are being drawn to violent Islamist militancy, a process made easier by the Internet. The five men, students in their 20s from northern Virginia, were detained this week in the city of Sargodha in Punjab province, 190 km (120 miles) southeast of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The case has again focused attention on nuclear-armed Pakistan's performance in fighting militants as Washington presses Islamabad to root out Islamist fighters crossing the border to attack U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan. The five tried to contact militants and stayed in touch with each other through the Internet, Pakistani security officials said, highlighting the difficulty authorities face in trying to track and disrupt plots organized on the Web. Police in Sargodha had taken the first step toward filing charges with complaints based on laws pertaining to foreigners and use of computers to organize crime. "A case has been registered against the five for violating Pakistan's foreigners and cyber acts," Sargodha police chief Usman Anwar told Reuters. Pakistani agents and colleagues from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were interrogating the five, said a Pakistani security official. "They are still in Sargodha and they are being investigated by us as well as the FBI," said the official, who declined to be identified. "BRAINWASHED" Another Pakistani security official said the five had visited a madrasa, or Islamic religious school, in the southern city of Hyderabad saying they wanted to join jihad, or Muslim holy war. The school turned them away, he said. The hapless five had then tried to contact an Islamist charity, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, in the city of Lahore. They failed there too as they had no guarantor, the official said. "These are five raw men who had been brainwashed," said the security official. The five were found with maps and had intended to travel through northwest Pakistan to the al Qaeda and Taliban militant stronghold of Miranshah, in the lawless North Waziristan region on the Afghan border. "Their ultimate destination was Afghanistan. They wanted to go to Afghanistan for jihad," the official said. It is not clear if the five will be prosecuted in Pakistan or sent back to the United States. In Washington, the FBI said discussions were underway on their possible return. The suspects were wary about being detected through sending emails so instead they shared a password so different members of their group could access the same email site and read messages saved there as drafts, the first Pakistani official said. "It's a very difficult job to dismantle such networks which operate through the Internet," he said. The suspects were being investigated for links with the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad group, but it was not clear to what extent they had developed contacts. The Jaish-e-Mohammad, or Army of the Prophet Mohammad, has links with al Qaeda and the Taliban and is one of several factions with roots in Punjab province which have been battling Indian forces in disputed Kashmir.

DTN News: Third Phase Su-30MKI Delivery To India Started

DTN News: Third Phase Su-30MKI Delivery To India Started *Source: DTN News / IRKUT Corporation (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - December 11, 2009: IRKUT Corporation has started delivery of the third phase multifunctional two-seat fighter Su-30MKI to the Indian Air Force. Thus, IRKUT together with SUKHOI Design Bureau, RPKB, NIIP, Saturn and other companies participating in cooperation on the project, are completing fulfillment of contract signed with Indian Ministry of Defence in November 1996. Certification of the third phase Su-30MKI was successfully accomplished on exact date required.The Indian Air Force ordered 40 aircraft in 1996 and an additional ten aircraft in 1998. 18 Su-30K have been delivered which will be upgraded to MKI standard, starting in 2006. First deliveries of ten Su-30MKI full specification aircraft with thrust vectoring and phased array radar took place in September 2002 and deliveries were completed in December 2004. Hindustani Aeronautics (HAL) is also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017, under a licensed production agreement. The first indigenously assembled aircraft was delivered in November 2004. The Su-30MKI equipped with a phased array radar and an engine with thrust vector control (TVC) is currently the only aircraft of this level in the world being under series production. The contract with the Indian Air Force provided for delivery of the Su-30MKI fighters developed by SUKHOI Design Bureau in the period from 2002 to 2004. The contract was split into three phases. Ahead of contract terms and in contrast to the Su-30K aircraft delivered before, the first phase Su-30MKI was equipped with canards and TVC. The first phase aircraft were mostly intended for fighting aerial targets. At the second phase, the fighter was upgraded to apply the Kh-31A missile and simultaneous attack of four aerial targets by guided air-to-air missiles. Besides, additional radar modes were introduced including the digital map mode and application of a long range TV-guided missile Kh-59M. The third phase Su-30MKI fully implements all navigation and combat modes according to contract commitments. The fighter is capable of employment of the whole nomenclature of aerial weapons, including simultaneous attack of up to 4 targets by guided missiles into front and rear hemispheres, corrected aerial bombs 500 and 1500 kg with designation from laser designation pos. all aerial weapons can be applied with designation from the radar. The third phase aircraft ensures simultaneous operation on a surface target with retention of air space search and attack of an aerial target as well as group action mode. Su-30MKI radar, the N-011 designed by NIIP named after Tikhomirov, is equipped with an antenna with phased array and ensures simultaneous tracking of up to 15 targets and attack of up to 4 targets, in the free space and against earth background, as well as surface mapping with high, medium and low resolution. Further more, according to contract requirements, the third phase Su-30MKI implements all navigation and combat employment modes including launch of weapons in the supermaneuverability mode. Su-30MKI supermaneuverability is ensured due to outstanding aerodynamics and application of the AL-31FP engine with TVC developed by Saturn Corporation. Unique aerodynamics and TVC considerably improve safety of flight in all modes, prevent spin stalling and provide a critical advantage in the close combat. The first TVC engine in the world under series production, the AL-31FP complies with international standards for fighter engines and has no equivalent in Russia in terms of its life time performance (MTBO – 1000h, assigned life – 2000h, nozzle MTBO – 500h). Su-30MKI avionics is integrated in a suite that provides implementation of navigation and combat employment tasks. The main avionics systems (including the mission computer) were developed by the Ramenskoye Design Bureau (RPKB). Besides, RPKB was responsible for integration of avionics and development of corresponding software. Maintenance and mission planning are provided through a ground suite Sapfir of RPKB.. The whole work on integration of avionics and weapons was conducted with participation of an India Air Force Project Team working in Moscow on a permanent basis. Within the frames of developing cooperation with the Indian Air Force, IRKUT is actively participating in the implementation of a contract signed in December 200, for licensed prduction of the Su-30MKI fighters in India at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities. Presently, two first Su-30MKI of HAL are undergoing flight trials in the city of Nasik. According to the contract that reaches through 2017, the Indian Side is manufacturing the Su-30MKI including engines, aircraft systems and avionics.

DTN News: American Jihad ~ New Details Emerge About al-Shabaab Recruitment In North America

DTN News: American Jihad ~ New Details Emerge About al-Shabaab Recruitment In North America *Source: By Raffaello Pantucci The Jamestown Foundation (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 11, 2009: On November 23, federal prosecutors in the United States unsealed indictments against members of a group of Minneapolis natives accused of being at the heart of a cell sending men and boys to fight with al-Shabaab, a radical Islamist movement in Somalia with close ties to al-Qaeda. [1] The unsealing of the documents came in the wake of the arrest of one of the members of the group, Mahamud Said Omar in the Netherlands, and the possible discovery of a similar cell operating out of Toronto (AP, November 10; National Post [Toronto], November 21).Mahmoud Said Omar, an arrested member of a group of Minneapolis natives that allegedly sent recruits to fight with al-Shabaab in Somalia.

The release of the information, which for the most part does not pertain to new cases, does shed further light on the recruitment structures in place and the radicalization method by which a foreign terrorist organization like al-Shabaab is able to entice young Westernized men to join their ranks. In many ways, the revelations show the degree to which the sort of radicalization that was previously thought to be more prevalent in Europe is in fact a problem shared by the United States. On the basis of the growing numbers of American jihadis, it would appear as though foreign terrorist rhetoric has found an increasing resonance in America.

The released documents which show in detail the path taken by 26-year-old Shirwa Ahmed, a young Somali-American who laid claim to the dubious honor of being America’s first suicide bomber, having been identified by a finger that was found at the site of one of a pair of suicide car-bombings that targeted offices of the Puntland Intelligence Service in Bossaso on October 29, 2008. [2] Ahmed was part of a group of men who left Minneapolis in early December 2007, but while the others headed for Northern Somalia, Ahmed instead went on Hajj to Saudi Arabia, landing in Jeddah on December 4, 2007 (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, November 25, 2008).

Having completed his pilgrimage, Ahmed joined the others who had first passed through a series of al-Shabaab safe houses before starting a training course alongside dozens of “young ethnic Somalis from Somalia, elsewhere in Africa, Europe and the United States.” At these camps, the men were taught to use a variety of weapons while being indoctrinated in “anti-Ethiopian, anti-American, anti-Israeli, and anti-Western beliefs.” [3] The training regimen was apparently tough, with only Ahmed and one other recruit completing the course. These two went on to take part in an assault on Ethiopian troops before the second man left the conflict and lost track of Ahmed.

The documents also show the importance of a local support network of older individuals who help in the radicalization process and aid in supplying the young men with equipment and money to go to Somalia. Three individuals in particular are identified in the new documents: Abdulahi Ahmed Farah, 32; Abdiweli Yassin Isse, 24 (who both remain at large and were last spotted crossing the San Ysidro border into Mexico on October 8 with tickets to Mexico City); and Mahamud Said Omar, 43, who was captured in the Netherlands on November 8. [5]

The three men were allegedly involved in hosting a series of meetings at a variety of locations in Minneapolis, where Farah would tell the others of his experiences fighting in Somalia, claiming “that he experienced true brotherhood while fighting in Somalia and that travel for jihad was the best thing that they could do.” He exhorted them “not to be afraid” and that “to fight jihad will be fun.” Farah emphasized that “they would get to shoot guns in Somalia.” [5]

Farah claimed that he had sustained injuries (corroborated by others who knew him in Minneapolis) while fighting on the Somali/Kenyan border and had left soon afterwards for Nairobi where he married two women – undoubtedly intending to persuade the young men in Minneapolis of the possible benefits of jihad in this world as well as the next. He also allegedly helped coordinate a conference call between a group of potential recruits at a Minneapolis mosque and Isse in Somalia (Pioneer Press [St. Paul], November 24).

While both Isse and Omar are reported to have contributed to this radicalization (Isse allegedly referred to fighting in Somalia “a good jihad,” while Omar “provided encouragement”), the released documents point to a greater role as fundraisers. Isse was apparently involved in approaching other members of the Somali community to ask them to contribute money to help individuals study the Koran in Saudi Arabia. [6] It is unclear from the documents where Omar got the money he is alleged to have given the men, but he had enough to help nine of them to travel to Somalia. [7] He is also alleged to have traveled to join the men at a Shabaab safehouse in Somalia, where he supplied them with money to purchase AK-47s and calling cards. He also gave money to their Somali hosts (Pioneer Press [St. Paul], November 27). Finally, he is alleged to have hosted a meeting in Minnesota in November 2008, a few days before another group left for Somalia (Minnesota Public Radio, November 24, 2009).

In early November, six young ethnic-Somali men disappeared from Toronto’s Somali community. Their families are reported to have received a phone call from Kenya, where the men were believed to be preparing to cross into Somalia to join al-Shabaab (Toronto Star, November 19; National Post [Toronto], November 18). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) are searching for information on the missing men. Canadian Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan warned that those who traveled overseas to participate in terrorist activities could face prosecution in Canada (National Post, November 20). Toronto is home to about 150,000 ethnic-Somalis, a number of whom have returned to Somalia to join militant Islamist groups since 2006.

None of the new revelations point to a direct threat from these networks to the United States, but the role of a former fighter in the recruitment of others highlights the risk of such individuals returning home. Details are yet to emerge concerning the Minneapolis group (and the apparent Canadian parallel group in Toronto), but their existence shows an appetite for jihad amongst young Muslim men in North America. Whether this presages an impending threat on a scale similar to that seen previously in Europe is unclear, but it certainly shows that the United States is not immune to militant Islamist radicalization.

Notes:1. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, “Terror Charges unsealed in Minneapolis against eight men, justice department announces,” November 23, 2009, www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/November/09-nsd-1267.html

2. United States District Court, State and District of Minnesota – Criminal Complaint, United States of America v. 1) Cabdulaahi Ahmed Faarax; 2) Abdiweli Yassin Isse, October 8, 2009. The document uses the official Somali written form in rendering the names.

3.Ibid, p.8

4.Ibid, p.14

5.Ibid, pp.9-10, 14

6.Ibid, p.12

7. United States District Court, District of Minnesota – Indictment, Case 0:09-cr-00242-JMR-SRN, United States of America v. Mahamud Said Omar, August 20, 2009

Disclaimer statement Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein, DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions expressed herein are those of the author of the page and do not necessarily represent the corporate views of DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News.

DTN News: Royal Navy Sea King Crew Battle With Taliban

DTN News: Royal Navy Sea King Crew Battle With Taliban *Source: DTN News / British Ministry of Defence (MoD) (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, UK - December 11, 2009: In the two years that the Royal Navy Sea Kings have been flying over Afghanistan the crews have taken their helicopters into treacherous environments and have often encountered stiff resistance from insurgents. A Royal Navy Sea King assists troops on the ground in Afghanistan with a resupply mission [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] In January 2009, Lieutenant Commander Gavin Simmonite and his crew were tasked to fly their Sea King with an underslung load of equipment for ground forces. As Lt Cdr Simmonite was approaching the drop zone his Sea King was hit by sustained and accurate Taliban fire. Bullets pierced the fuselage and ricocheted in the cabin. In the ensuing mêlée, Door Gunner Naval Airman Thomas Saunders returned fire and pinned down the Taliban attackers. His quick reactions provided the vital seconds of respite needed for him and his fellow crew members to escape. Naval Airman Thomas Saunders sits near his gun position in the Sea King Mk4 [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2008] Likewise, Lt Cdr Simmonite's airmanship and handling skills enabled him to get the aircraft out of the danger zone without loss of life. His aircraft was so severely damaged by enemy fire that under normal circumstances it should have been landed immediately. Whilst this would normally have been the end of the incident, when the damaged aircraft was inspected it was noted that the control cable for the tail rotor had been hit by a bullet, slicing all but one of the strands. Once again, the aircrew were extremely fortunate as the cable was close to breaking, which would have had a catastrophic effect. Lt Cdr Simmonite was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exceptional airmanship and handling skills that enabled him to nurse the aircraft back to a safe location and in doing so saved the aircraft and his crew. Naval Airman Saunders also received an award from the Commander Joint Helicopter Command. On return to base the damage to the Sea King from the encounter with the Taliban was clear to see [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] When informed of his award Lt Cdr Simmonite said: "Flying in Afghanistan is an extremely challenging experience. As a naval force we would normally be flying at sea level from the decks of large ships. "In Afghanistan it is a totally different environment; we have had to adapt to the high altitude, excessive heat and a desert sand that is as fine as talcum powder that permeates throughout the aircraft. "The incident with the Taliban was very challenging, but I must mention the other members of my crew whose professionalism and skill contributed greatly to the safe and successful outcome of this event." Lieutenant Commander Gavin Simmonite[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] On returning to the UK, Naval Airman Saunders, who volunteered to become an Air Door Gunner, also praised the skills and courage of the aircrew, adding: "The recent fitment of an additional gun to the port side of the aircraft was extremely fortuitous as we were extremely vulnerable to attack. "The incident seemed to be over in minutes and my reactions to the attack were down to the excellent training provided by the squadron." After two years of successful service in Afghanistan the Sea Kings and their crews are proving to be a valuable asset to British forces in the country and look set to be deployed on many more vital sorties before they return home.

DTN News: Oshkosh Corporation Awarded Additional $175 Million Order To Supply 400 M-ATVs

DTN News: Oshkosh Corporation Awarded Additional $175 Million Order To Supply 400 M-ATVs *Source: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation (NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - December 11, 2009: Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today it has received an additional $175 million order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to deliver 400 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV). To date, Oshkosh has received six awards valued at $3.3 billion to deliver a total of 6,619 M-ATVs. The Oshkosh M-ATV incorporates rugged, durable, patented components and systems for maximum Warfighter mobility and survivability. Derived from the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) platform, the M-ATV incorporates the proprietary TAK-4® independent suspension system with battle-tested technology. It has the wheel travel, payload capacity, side slope stability, vehicle durability, extreme mobility and necessary Warfighter protection for today’s fight. In today’s most challenging battle zones, the M-ATV is the combat-tested, mobile, survivable, durable solution – the solution to getting Warfighters to the fight and back again. Oshkosh continues to exceed the accelerated delivery schedule with unprecedented production efforts at its manufacturing facilities. The company has ramped up production to achieve 1,000 vehicles per month in December and this new award will extend production into May 2010. “We are honored to build these M-ATVs that will help save Warfighters’ lives in Afghanistan. Our employees understand the importance of this program. There is an unfaltering commitment and tremendous persistence at Oshkosh to answer our customer’s needs,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “With world-class manufacturing capabilities, available capacity and a highly skilled workforce, we continue to be prepared to meet the needs of the U.S. Armed Forces for the M-ATV and other programs, however large the order or complex the vehicle.” The Oshkosh® M-ATV achieves superior off-road mobility through the incorporation of the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4® independent suspension system, which has undergone more than 500,000 miles of government testing and is used on more than 10,000 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR). The TAK-4 system provides 16 inches of independent wheel travel and a 70 percent off-road profile capability. Oshkosh also has received orders to supply more than 2,400 TAK-4 systems for legacy MRAP upgrades for improved off-road mobility in Afghanistan. The Oshkosh M-ATV launch team, which has exceeded M-ATV delivery requirements for five consecutive months, was a recipient of 2009 Defense Manufacturing Excellence Awards from the National Center for Advanced Technologies. Oshkosh Defense teamed with Plasan North America to provide an advanced armor solution for the M-ATV. Plasan also developed the armor system used on more than 5,000 legacy MRAPs and thousands of Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement MTVR Armored Cabs already in theater. Existing Oshkosh Defense manufacturing facilities have production capacity for all current and pending military vehicle programs, including the M-ATV and the U.S. Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), as well as any surges in production. 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: Afghanistan TODAY December 11, 2009 ~ Arrests Show Growing Internationalism Of Pakistani Militant Groups

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY December 11, 2009 ~ Arrests Show Growing Internationalism Of Pakistani Militant Groups *Source: DTN News / By Griff Witte Washington Post Foreign Service (NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - December 11, 2009: The arrest in Pakistan of five Americans who authorities say might have been on their way to terrorist training camps highlights the growing internationalism of Pakistani militant groups -- both in their aims and their appeal. A man walks past a house which residents say was raided by Pakistani security forces during the arrest of five Americans suspected of having links with militants, in the Pakistani city of Sargodha December 10, 2009. The five young Americans detained in Pakistan, which is fighting a violent Taliban insurgency, wanted to join a holy war and were in contact with militants through the Internet, officials said on Thursday. The men, who had not been charged as of Thursday night but were being questioned by the FBI, have been connected by Pakistani police officials to at least two armed Pakistani groups, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Jangvi. Both groups have traditionally had local aims but in recent years have increasingly been linked to al-Qaeda, an organization with global reach and aspirations. Police officials suggested that the five Americans arrested Tuesday might have been headed to North Waziristan, the rugged tribal land that has become al-Qaeda's home base. The region is used as a training ground for fighters and as a staging area for attacks against U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistani police officials said the men made clear that they intended to wage jihad, or holy war. For decades, Pakistan has had a long roster of militant groups, each with its own goals, tactics and memberships. Groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, for instance, once focused almost exclusively on attacking Indian targets in and around the disputed region of Kashmir, often with covert Pakistani government support. Lashkar-e-Jangvi, meanwhile, has targeted Shiites as part of a campaign of sectarian violence. But Pakistani analysts say the organizations have recently begun to show an unprecedented level of cooperation and appear to be working toward a common agenda that involves attacking U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani government targets. In this, the groups have aligned themselves with two radical Islamist organizations, al-Qaeda and the Taliban. They have also broadened the battlefield to encompass not just Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal belt, but the heartland of Pakistan. Punjab, Pakistan's largest province, has been hit repeatedly this year by suicide bombings that have been blamed on a nexus of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and local militant groups. Pakistani security analyst Hasan-Askari Rizvi said it was significant that the five Americans were arrested in Sargodha, a town on the eastern Punjabi plain, far from the tribal belt of the northwest. "The tribal areas have become a very difficult place for people from outside to access because of the military operation," said Rizvi, referring to an offensive in South Waziristan launched by the Pakistani military this fall. "Militant activity in the tribal areas has been curtailed somewhat. But in the small cities in Punjab, life is quiet and you can easily move around." The tribal areas, however, remain the hub of militancy in Pakistan, and they draw recruits from the world over. Although the majority of fighters in those areas are Pakistani or Afghan, the region has also become a haven for Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks and other young men from around the globe who have been influenced by radical Islamist ideology and are seeking a battlefield on which to fight. Until now, there have been few cases of Americans attempting to join in. But Pakistani analysts said the case of the five Americans arrested in Sargodha, coupled with that of a Chicago man charged this week with helping to plot last year's rampage in Mumbai, suggests that radical groups in Pakistan are finding an audience in the United States. "It shows that this is truly a global phenomenon," said Talat Masood, an Islamabad-based security analyst and former Pakistani general. For Pakistani-based groups, attracting Americans to their cause probably holds special appeal, Masood said. "It allows them to say, 'Look, our sense of duty and motivation is so high that people come all the way from the U.S. to fight with us,' " he said. Analysts said the discovery of the five Americans could further escalate pressure on Pakistan to crack down on militant groups. The Obama administration has said greater cooperation from Pakistan will be critical as the United States sends 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan next year to try to roll back the insurgency there. Pakistan's commitment to fighting militant groups has been questioned repeatedly by U.S. officials, who say that elements of the nation's military and intelligence services continue to back radical organizations with which they have a history of cooperation. But Rizvi said the arrests in Sargodha suggest that Pakistani law enforcement has stepped up its anti-militancy efforts, even against groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed that once enjoyed state support. Even the groups once tied to Pakistan's intelligence service are being monitored "very closely," he said.