DTN News: Boeing Supports Successful Intercept Test Of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

DTN News: Boeing Supports Successful Intercept Test Of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

*Source: DTN News / Boeing Company

(NSI News Source Info) KAUAI, Hawaii, - August 1, 2009: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] played a key role yesterday in the U.S. Navy's successful test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system, which intercepted a ballistic missile target with a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). This image provided by the U.S. Navy shows a Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) being launched from the USS Hopper Thursday July 30, 2009 in the latest Missile Defense Agency test in conjunction with the U.S. Navy. The missile intercepted a short-range ballistic missile target launched a few minutes earlier from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. It was the 19th successful intercept in 23 at-sea firings by the Missile Defense Agency’s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program, the sea-based element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. AP (Photo LEHTIKUVA) Fired from the USS Hopper, the SM-3 Block IA missile, guided by the Aegis BMD weapon system and a Boeing-built kinetic warhead sensor, engaged and destroyed the short-range ballistic missile target launched from the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. The test marked the 15th hit-to-kill intercept for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system’s SM-3 since flight tests began in 2002. "This successful test further validates the maturity and reliability of the SM-3 Block IA kinetic warhead," said Debra Rub, vice president of Boeing Weapons Programs. "Through rigorous, realistic testing, the system continues on a path to provide increased capability and expand the umbrella of protection against evolving ballistic missile threats." Boeing builds and integrates the SM-3 kinetic warhead's guidance assembly, and integrates and tests the avionics, guidance-and-control software and ejection subsystem at its Huntington Beach, Calif., and Huntsville, Ala., facilities. Prime contractor Raytheon provides the infrared seeker and divert attitude control system and integrates the kinetic warhead components into the SM-3. Boeing has partnered with Raytheon on SM-3 development since 1996. Boeing has delivered more than 80 Block IA guidance, navigation and control hardware suites in support of kinetic warhead deliveries. Ongoing spiral development will lead to improved performance and lower cost on a path to meet future threats with Block IB and Block IIA missiles. Boeing also develops and produces the Ka-band millimeter wave seeker for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile in Huntington Beach and Huntsville. 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.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Aegis BMD Weapon System Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target, Successfully Tests New Capabilities

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Aegis BMD Weapon System Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target, Successfully Tests New Capabilities

*Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin

(NSI News Source Info) MOORESTOWN, N.J, - August 1, 2009: Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System today destroyed a ballistic missile target in an at-sea firing under operationally realistic conditions. The event also successfully demonstrated two new capabilities on other ships. These tests mark the continued successful engineering development of the next generational upgrade in Aegis BMD capability. The Aegis BMD system on USS HOPPER (DDG-70) detected and tracked the ballistic missile target, and computed a targeting solution to guide an SM-3 Block IA missile to a successful exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) intercept. Nearby on the testing range, USS LAKE ERIE (CG-70) tracked the ballistic missile target and the post-intercept debris with an advanced BMD signal processor. The processor provides additional target discrimination capability and is part of the new Aegis BMD baseline 4.0.1, which was installed on USS LAKE ERIE in June for testing and certification. Aegis BMD 4.0.1 builds on earlier versions of the system that are operationally certified by the U.S. Navy and deployed in the Fleet. Over the next year, USS LAKE ERIE will complete a series of tests, leading up to full operational certification of the upgraded Aegis BMD 4.0.1 system in early 2011. Also nearby, USS O’KANE (DDG-77) used a prototype kill assessment system and a modified Mk 99 fire control system to collect telemetry data for improved post-mission analysis. The kill assessment system provides a video link from the SM-3’s kill vehicle. The video feed is combined with radar data to confirm that an intercept occurred and that the intended target was destroyed. Immediately following the first mission, USS LAKE ERIE (CG-70) conducted another successful tracking exercise against a second ballistic missile target, while the USS HOPPER and USS O’KANE both executed simulated engagements against the target. No intercept was planned or attempted. The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the United States’ Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Recently the Navy’s independent operational test agent assessed the Aegis BMD and SM-3 Block IA system to be operationally effective and operationally suitable. Currently, a total of 20 Aegis BMD-equipped warships – 18 in the U.S. Navy and two in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force – have the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tracking missions. Three additional U.S. East Coast-based Aegis-equipped ships are being modified to perform ballistic missile defense in the next six to 12 months. The Aegis Weapon System is the world’s premier naval defense system and the sea-based element of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System. Its precision SPY-1 radar and integrated command and control system seamlessly guides the interceptor and uplinks target track information to the missile for terminal homing. Its ability to detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space is proven and unmatched. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, receiving track data from and providing track information to other BMDS elements. The 91 Aegis-equipped ships currently in service around the globe have more than 950 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,500 missiles in tests and real-world operations. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Australia, Norway, South Korea and Spain. Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3). It also has considerable experience in interceptor systems, kill vehicles, battle management command, control and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and other sensors that enable signal processing and data fusion. The company makes significant contributions to nearly all major U.S. Missile Defense Systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships. 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 Contact:

Kathy Baier 856-722-3006; 609-472-7954 (cell)

Kathleen.m.baier@lmco.com For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation,

visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

DTN News: Philippine President Seeks US Commitment On Peace, Economy

DTN News: Philippine President Seeks US Commitment On Peace, Economy

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, USA - August 1, 2009: Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and President Obama will hold their first meeting in Washington Thursday, July 30.

One of the staunchest supporters in Asia of the U.S.-led war on terrorism, Mrs. Arroyo seeks a continued commitment from Washington on peace and economic assistance. U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, July 30, 2009.

But political analysts say the 2010 elections and Mrs. Arroyo's political plans will loom large when the two leaders meet.President Arroyo will be the first Southeast Asian leader to meet with President Obama in the White House.

Mrs. Arroyo says on top of the agenda will be peace and security, and development assistance particularly, in the conflict-ridden southern Philippines.

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has plowed millions of dollars into the rehabilitation of conflict areas in the Philippines. Much of the money has been aimed at Muslim communities in the south, helping education, telecommunications and livelihood projects.

The U.S. military also maintains hundreds of soldiers in the southern Philippines on rotation as part of joint counterterrorism exercises.

The visit comes as Mrs. Arroyo has less than a year left in office. Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute of Political and Economic Reforms in Manila, says another significant issue at the Washington meeting will be the 2010 election and Mrs. Arroyo's political plans.

The Constitution bars Mrs. Arroyo from seeking another term, and she says she no desire to extend her time in office.

But there is considerable speculation about the motives of her allies in Congress, who are taking steps to amend the Constitution and change the government from a presidential to a parliamentary system.

"There is a political struggle going on regarding the question of whether or not she would really leave the office ... It would be very much in their [U.S.] interest to ensure that Philippine democracy is stable and that it plays a role model in this part of the world and that they can do their business here without any destabilizing factor," said Casiple.

The U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said in June that the U.S. is "closely monitoring" the progress of the proposed constitutional amendments.

Mrs. Arroyo says her trip is also meant to pursue more U.S. investment in the Philippines, despite the global economic downturn.

Two American companies, the computer chip maker Intel and tire company Goodyear, have shut down plants in the Philippines this year.

The Philippines was a U.S. colony for nearly half of the 20th century. The U.S. military maintained bases in the country until 1992.

DTN News: Former President Pervez Musharraf Trampled Constitution ~ Pakistan Court

DTN News: Former President Pervez Musharraf Trampled Constitution ~ Pakistan Court

*Source: DTN News / Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - August 1, 2009: Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that former president Pervez Musharraf trampled the constitution when he imposed emergency rule two years ago and all actions taken by him then were illegal. Musharraf, who came to power in a coup in 1999, quit as president almost a year ago to avoid impeachment and has been living in London for the past two months. Pakistani lawyers dance to celebrate and share sweets to celebrate the Supreme Court decision in Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, July 31, 2009. Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled Friday that former President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule in 2007 was unconstitutional and declared invalid the appointments of judges he made during that period. Friday's judgment, delivered by a panel of 14 judges, did not touch on whether Musharraf should be punished for his misrule, but lawyers and politicians said it was a landmark ruling that would deter future power grabs by Pakistani generals. Hoping to secure a second term as president before giving up his dual role as army chief, Musharraf purged judges who stood in his way, suspended the constitution and ordered the arrest of hundreds of political opponents in November 2007. Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for President Asif Ali Zardari, described the ruling as a "triumph of the democratic principles, a stinging negation of dictatorship." Neither Musharraf nor his lawyers attended this week's hearings, despite being summoned by the court headed by his nemesis, Chief Justice Chaudhry. Lawyers clapped and shouted "Long live the chief justice" and "Hang Musharraf" after Chaudhry read the judgment. "It locks the door to future adventurism," Aitzaz Ahsan, the leader of the lawyers' movement that challenged Musharraf's rule, told reporters. A lawyer had asked the panel to launch a treason case against Musharraf, but Chaudhry said the Supreme Court did not have the authority to do so. Under Pakistan's constitution, any charges of treason against Musharraf would have to come from parliament. The previous parliament had endorsed Musharraf's actions. Saif Ali Khan, a lawyer for Musharraf, said the 14 judges, who gave the verdict, had been dismissed under emergency rule and were not competent to rule on it. "Under the simple legal norm of 'no one can be a judge in his own cause', in my view, these judges should not have given ruling on legality or illegality of the emergency rule," he told Reuters. While Musharraf is regarded as "yesterday's man," analysts say there are risks any legal vendetta against Musharraf could pose additional problems for Pakistan's civilian leaders. Pakistan is fighting a Taliban-inspired insurgency across its northwest and is struggling to keep its economy afloat with the help of International Monetary Fund money. Whatever parliament decides, those judges still serving who swore allegiance to Musharraf during the emergency will be removed. Once the most powerful man in Pakistan and a valued ally of the United States, Musharraf's popularity nosedived after he tried to dismiss Chaudhry in early 2007, sparking a crisis that led to his downfall. Even the army distanced itself from Musharraf as his grip began to slip, but the country's powerful generals will be reluctant to see their old chief punished or humiliated. Pakistan has had four military rulers, including Musharraf, since becoming a republic in 1956. (Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)

DTN News: Gen. Stanley McChrystal Prepares New Afghan War Strategy

DTN News: Gen. Stanley McChrystal Prepares New Afghan War Strategy

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, USA - August 1, 2009: The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan is preparing a new strategy that calls for major changes in the way U.S. and other NATO troops there operate, a vast increase in the size of Afghan security forces and an intensified military effort to root out corruption among local government officials, according to several people familiar with the contents of an assessment report that outlines his approach to the war. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took charge of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan last month, appears inclined to request an increase in American troops to implement the new strategy, which aims to use more unconventional methods to combat the growing Taliban insurgency, according to members of an advisory group he convened to work on the assessment. Such a request could receive a chilly reception at the White House, where some members of President Barack Obama's national security team have expressed reluctance about authorizing any more deployments. Senior military officials said McChrystal is waiting for a recommendation from a team of military planners in Kabul before reaching a final decision on a troop request. Several members of the advisory group, who spoke about the issue of force levels on the condition of anonymity, said they think more U.S. troops are needed but that it was not clear how large an increase McChrystal would seek.

DTN News: China's Military Machine Launches Website

DTN News: China's Military Machine Launches Website

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - August 1, 2009: Eighty-two years ago tomorrow, the world's largest army was founded in a country whose then-ascendant Communist leaders, once in power, kept the doors tight shut against outsiders until the late 1970s. China has roughly doubled its military budget since 2006, according to official government figures that some overseas analysts say vastly downplay what Beijing actually spends. Now, 60 years after the founding of the People's Republic and 30 after the country opened up, China's Ministry of National Defence has launched its first website in Beijing's latest effort to draw back the curtain of the secrecy shrouding the 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation Army. The site - like its PLA predecessor at the same address - is in both Chinese and English. A ministry spokesman, Hu Changming, said recently that the site was "a way to increase understanding between countries and raise trust between militaries". As China's military budget has grown by double digits in recent years, so too have concerns among its neighbours and potential rivals. China's spending of $70 billion, though dwarfed by the Pentagon's $500 billion annual allocation, is on a par with spending by Britain, Japan and Russia. A military analyst, Song Xiaojun, says the site will offer more detail on that spending and on general defence policy. "The Defence Ministry is a special organisation. In principle it should be in the system of the State Council," said Song, referring to China's cabinet. "In fact, it is more like a window of the army toward the outside world. The current chinamil site is mainly about life in the army. It doesn't have much on the policy level." Song explains that for centuries China was inward-facing. Now, as the world's third-largest economy, the country is playing catch-up as it grows more dependent on imported resources such as oil and the iron ore needed to fuel its steel industry, the biggest in the world. Last winter, China's navy, officially part of the PLA, sent a rare force to protect Chinese merchant vessels against Somali pirates in the Red Sea. "China only became an oil-import country in 1992. Large amounts of raw material imports happened after 2002. By then, China's interest in development was far ahead of China's interest in security," Song said. "China is now recuperating its debts on the state's basic security. As China does so, other countries start feeling that China is developing its army too fast." Ever since the military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing in June 1989, green uniformed soldiers have been omnipresent in China, from Beijing's crowded streets to the dirt roads of the provinces. With no wars to fight, the PLA has devoted itself to rescue efforts after natural disasters, such as the Sichuan earthquake last May, which killed 80,000 people. Soldiers helping quake victims were lionized in the state-controlled media. But recent ethnic unrest in west China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and ongoing tensions between Beijing and self-ruled Taiwan mean China's military also remains on high-alert at home. In keeping with Beijing's desire to control all information--both internal and international--about the image of the Communist Party, the new military web site already presents one face in Chinese and another one in English. Chinese site headlines are uniformly mundane, such as "Jiaoliu Train Line Derailed, Soldiers Perform Urgent Rescue," whereas the site's English avatar features items such as "U.S. May OK High-tech Exports to China."

DTN News: Indian Navy To Add 125 More Ultra Modern Warships And Many Submarines In The Next Ten Years

DTN News: Indian Navy To Add 125 More Ultra Modern Warships And Many Submarines In The Next Ten Years

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) MUMBAI, India - August 1, 2009: Indian Navy to add 125 more ultra modern Warships and many submarines in the next ten years. The race between Indian and Chinese Naval dominance is spectacular sight. Jointly Indian and Chinese Navy will soon counter US Naval strength. The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. It currently has approximately 55,000 personnel on active duty, including 5,000 members of the naval aviation branch and 2,000 marine commandos, making it the world's fifth largest navy. The Indian Navy currently operates more than 155 vessels, including the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, along with operational jet fighters. Though the primary objective of the navy is to secure national maritime borders, India also uses its navy to enhance its international relations through joint exercises, port visits and humanitarian missions, including disaster relief. In recent years, the Indian Navy has undergone extensive modernization and expansion with an intention to increase its capabilities as a recognized blue-water navy.* India has one of the fastest growing navies in the world. Its fleet of about 120 vessels is the fifth largest in the world. Within a decade Indian will only lad America in Naval power. China is not sitting around. Chinese are catching up fast. But India is zzoming fast past their Chinese Naval counterpart. Captain Alok Bhatnagar, director of naval plans at India’s ministry of defence gave an upbeat estimate of India's future naval plans. Hundreds of ships are already in the plans. Nuclear submarines, Aircraft carriers, Warships, Frigates, Remote controlled underwater submerged war apparatus are all in the making.

Admiral Sureesh Mehta, chief of naval staff, says in an upbeat statement that the Indian navy would spend more than Rupees $10 billion a year on an average over the next twelve years on new capabilities, with about 70 per cent devoted to acquisitions of sophisticated naval hardware.

DTN News: BAE Systems Welcomes Signing Of Typhoon Tranche 3 Production Contract

DTN News: BAE Systems Welcomes Signing Of Typhoon Tranche 3 Production Contract

*Source: DTN News / BAE Systems

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 1, 2009: BAE Systems welcomes yesterday’s July 31, signing of the production contract for 112 Tranche 3 Typhoon aircraft. This contract, which follows on from the UK Government’s confirmation in May that it would move ahead with the final stages of procuring a third production batch for the Royal Air Force, will provide:

- 40 aircraft for the UK

- 31 for Germany

- 21 for Italy

- 20 for Spain Under this agreement, these Tranche 3 aircraft will be of Tranche 2 standard provisioned with additional capacity to deal with projected high-technology future capability enhancements aligned with customer needs. This decision was reached following industry developing and submitting a more affordable Typhoon through-life support model. The overall value of this contract to BAE Systems is circa £2 billion. Chris Boardman, Managing Director of Typhoon Mission Support & International Programmes, commented: “This agreement demonstrates strong, long term commitment by the UK customer to the Typhoon programme which will sustain many highly skilled jobs across UK industry and provide our nation with outstanding defence capabilities for years to come.” About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defense, 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 £18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008. For more information, please contact: Rob Miatt, BAE SystemsTel: +44 (0)1772 856249 Mob: +44 (0)7793 429942 rob.miatt@baesystems.com John Neilson, BAE SystemsTel: +44 (0)1252 384795 Mob: +44 (0)7802 337704 john.neilson@baesystems.com Issued by: BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UKTel: +44 (0) 1252 384719

Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947

24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739

http://www.baesystems.com/

DTN News: India ~ Bell To Withdraw From Attack Helicopter Trials

DTN News: India ~ Bell To Withdraw From Attack Helicopter Trials

*Source: DTN News / Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - August 1, 2009: Bell Helicopter will withdraw from India's competition to purchase 22 attack helicopters for the Air Force. Sources close to the company here said Bell will not be able to spare the helicopter for trials as it is still in the evaluation stage. According to Indian Defence Ministry rules, the vendor has to field its weaponry and equipment for trials in India and bear all the cost of trials. This stipulation has not been accepted by some foreign vendors in the past. The Air Force reissued a bid in May, canceling the earlier bids issued in 2008, which allowed sale of the helicopters through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. FMS could have assisted a Bell sale. The fresh bids in May were sent to Italian-owned AgustaWestland, U.S. companies Bell Helicopters and Boeing, the European Eurocopter and the Russian Kamov. The Indian Air Force requires attack helicopters that have an empty weight of about 2,500 kilograms and they must have two engines. The helicopters must be highly agile, have advanced anti-armor capability and should be able to operate in temperatures ranging from minus 40 degrees Celsius to plus 55 degrees Celsius and humidity up to 95 percent. The helicopters must include a turret gun of at least 20mm caliber, be able to fire rockets of 70mm or higher caliber with a range of at least 1.2 kilometers, and be able to employ air-to-ground missiles that have a range of at least seven kilometers.

DTN News: Russia Expects $2.6 Billion In Military Aircraft Sales In 2009

DTN News: Russia Expects $2.6 Billion In Military Aircraft Sales In 2009 *Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - August 1, 2009: Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has said military aircraft will continue to dominate the company's foreign sales in 2009, and will total about $2.6 billion. The arms export monopoly is planning to sell about $6.5 billion worth of military hardware in 2009, and earlier said its defense order portfolio was worth $27 billion. "Aviation has always been a predominant part of Rosoboronexport's foreign sales portfolio, and 2009 will not be an exception. According to our plans, exports of Russian military aircraft will worth about $2.6 billion or 40.6% of the total," said Alexander Mikheyev, the company's deputy general director. Although India, China, Malaysia, Algeria and Venezuela remain Russia's key customers in the area of military aviation, Rosoboronexport is seeking to expand its presence on other markets. "We are expecting a major breakthrough in the Libyan direction, because Soviet and Russian-made combat aircraft continue to be the backbone of the Libyan air force," Mikheyev said in an interview with the Arms Export Journal, which is published by Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. According to some sources, the Libyan air force has at least 25 MiG-21 and 125 MiG-23 fighter jets, a number of Su-22 and Su-24 attack aircraft, combat helicopters and military transport planes. "At present, Libya is expressing an interest in MiG-35 [multirole fighter], Su-35 [multirole fighter], advanced attack helicopters, and air defense systems. We are expecting to resume traditional contacts with Libya [in sales of military aircraft] in the near future," the official said. A source in the Russian defense industry earlier told RIA Novosti that Russia had signed and had started the implementation of a contract with Libya on the overhaul of Su-24 attack aircraft in service with the Libyan air force.