AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - The Blue Force Tracker locator system is helping to blend military tactical resources in Iraq, although more compatibility among systems is needed, according to a Marine communications officer stationed in Al Anbar province. "Functioning on a joint battlefield, and trying to see each other out here is usually problematic," said Maj. Peter Schiefelbein, who oversees communications and information systems for 2nd Marine Division Regimental Combat Team-2, based out of Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq.
Kuka Robotics Corp. of Clinton Township, Mich., has joined forces with six other automation companies to develop new manufacturing processes for the aerospace industry. The industry needs to reduce production time by using new generations of flexible robots, sensors and "intelligent fixturing," the company said July 7.
CATCHING UP: The Senate faces both the authorization and spending bills for the Defense Department next fiscal year as it reconvenes from its July 4 break. Senate Democrats have complained that the authorization bill has been ready for debate since early May but was stifled by what they deem GOP preoccupation with confirming judges (DAILY, June 9). Meanwhile, Senate appropriators have yet to mark up their version of the fiscal 2006 spending, although they agreed on an allocation of almost $408 billion (DAILY, June 22). The House has approved both of its related bills.
SONIC BOOM: Four industry teams are studying how to build aircraft that make quieter sonic booms under NASA's Sonic Boom Mitigation Project. The studies will determine whether it's feasible to modify an existing aircraft or necessary to design a new one to demonstrate quieter booms. Based on the results of the studies, NASA could begin work on a demonstrator aircraft as early as this fall, the agency says.
July 11 - 12 -- 10th Annual Corporate Aircraft Transactions, Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York, N.Y. For more information call 1-800-599-4950 or go to www.srinstitute.com/cx542. July 19 - 20 -- Tactical IA, "Precise, Immediate, Secure Information Exchange on the Battlefield," Doubletree Hotel Crystal City, Arlington, Va. For more information go to www.idga.org. July 26 - 27 -- Nanotechnology for Defense, Georgetown Conference Center, Washington, D.C. For more information call 1-800-882-8684 or go to www.idga.org.
The decision by defense research company QinetiQ to move into the U.S. defense and security markets has paid off, according to the United Kingdom-based company. QinetiQ, which has acquired several U.S. defense technology companies in the past year, announced strong results July 6 for the 2004-2005 financial year. The company reported a 9.7% increase in sales, from 795.4 million pounds ($1.38 billion) to 872.4 million pounds ($1.51 billion), with operating profit up by more than 33% to 69.6 million pounds ($120.6 million).
WORK HARDER: Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, laments the inability of private sector and government researchers to find a solution to the problem of roadside bombs and mines, known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), plaguing coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. "What I'm not satisfied with is the speed at which our scientific and engineering community - and I know they're working hard - are coming up with new technologies to address this problem," he says.
The Australian government has approved a $207 million plan to improve special forces training facilities at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney which will allow Special Operations Command units to relocate there, Australia's defense department said July 8. The project will include construction of medical facilities, workshops, briefing rooms, warehouses and vehicle parks, Robert Hill, the defense minister, said in a statement. Communications, security, external lighting, and storm water management will also be upgraded.
B-2 RADAR: The radar modernization program (RMP) for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber plans to begin flight-tests in the January-March quarter of 2006, the U.S. Air Force says. The RMP, whose prime contractor is Northrop Grumman Corp. and which recently completed a final design review (DAILY, June 23), calls for replacing the B-2's radar antenna to resolve a radio-frequency conflict with commercial aircraft and to make it easier to upgrade the radar's performance in the future.
SPECIAL ENGINES: The U.S. Special Operations Command (Socom) has awarded General Electric Co.'s Aircraft Engines unit a $15.5 million contract for the UH-60M Alternate Engine Program for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The work will be performed at the GE unit's Lynn, Mass., facility and should be finished by Aug. 16, 2007, SOCOM said July 7. Socom, the lead combatant command in global counterterror operations, is unique among combatant commands in that it can acquire its own equipment.
ANXIOUSLY AWAITING: The crew of the International Space Station is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the space shuttle Discovery and its crew, currently scheduled for Friday, July 15, according to Flight Engineer John Phillips. "I'm very anxious to see them come up here, because we've had our assembly sequence for the space station on hold for about two and a half years," Phillips says. "So I'm looking forward to getting some new lab equipment ...
CHINA RISING: China and its military and economic ambitions will be the focus of House military authorizers this week as Congress looks at China National Offshore Oil Corp.'s proposed acquisition of Unocal Corp. The House Armed Services Committee, chaired by China critic Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), will host a hearing July 13 on the national security implications of the possible merger. Slated to appear are former CIA chief James Woolsey, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Chairman C. Richard D'Amato and Center for Security Policy chief Frank J.
A "significant" percentage of the U.S. military's pre-positioned tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles that would be used in a war with North Korea are not fully mission capable, but that's because the Defense Department is doubling its weapons inventory for such a conflict. The information came to light during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing June 30 in a dialogue between Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking committee Democrat, and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products will provide the U.S. Army with 168 armor tile sets for Bradley Fighting Vehicles under a $37.8 million contract modification, the company said July 7. The tiles fasten to the outside of the vehicles to provide better protection from anti-armor munitions. Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. Ordnance Systems of Haifa, Israel, a General Dynamics partner, will share half of the production workload. The work will be directed from General Dynamics' Burlington Technology Center in Burlington, Vt. U.S.
The U.S. Defense Department's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is tweaking the design of the Navy's carrier variant (CV) to ensure the jet performs as planned. The CV's wing area will grow to 664 square feet, an increase of 40 square feet or 6%, to meet the plane's speed goals for landing on aircraft carriers, said Navy Rear Adm. Steven Enewold, JSF's program executive officer. The increase will be hard to notice, adding only a few inches to the wing's leading and trailing edges.
NASA's network of Earth-observing satellites has revealed that global ocean levels have risen at a more rapid pace over the past 12 years than in previous decades. Over the past 50-100 years, Earth-based tide gauges have shown ocean levels rising at a rate of 1.8 millimeters (.07 inches) a year, according to NASA. By contrast, satellite data gathered since 1992 has shown that the rate has risen to 3 millimeters (.12 inches) a year.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malayasia - Thailand has agreed to buy four Mi-17 multirole helicopters worth $140 million from Russia and 132 armored vehicles from China through barter trade agreements with both countries for Thai agricultural products. The Mi-17, known as the Mi-8MT in Russia, can carry cargo with its cabin door half-open or completely removed. The Mi-17 also can operate with just one of its two engines if necessary. The helicopter can carry up to 30 troops and will be used for transport and logistics missions, Thailand army chief Pravit Wongsuwan said.
Sweden has agreed to purchase three hovercraft for its military's amphibious battalion from England-based Griffon Hovercraft, the FMV Swedish Materiel Administration said July 6. The cost of the hovercraft was not disclosed. The air-conditioned hovercraft will be used to transport people and equipment regardless of water depth or icing conditions. The hovercraft has a capacity of about 11 tons and can carry up to 50 people as well as vehicles or containers. Its cruising speed while loaded is about 35 knots, and its maximum speed is more than 42 knots.
Elbit Systems plans to buy all of Koor Industries' holdings in Elisra Electronic Systems, which Elbit's president said marks a "significant step" in the consolidation of Israel's defense industry.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has extended a contract with Italy-based Selenia Communications to support Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment both ashore and on navy vessels, the company said July 7. The current four-year program was extended to a fifth and sixth year. Financial terms were not disclosed. The contract covers all IFF systems, antennas and associated equipment for Type 42, CVSG, LPD, and LPH platforms, as well as shore-based establishments at HMS Collingwood and the Land-Based Test Site, Portsdown.
The competing industry teams working on the Air Force's Transformational Satellite effort are bracing for likely schedule slips as they await the final numbers on the fiscal 2006 budget cut to be levied by skeptical Capitol Hill lawmakers. House lawmakers have voted to cut the Air Force's $835.8 million FY '06 request for TSAT by $400 million, while Senate authorizers cut $200 million. The final scope of the reduction won't be known until the Senate finalizes its numbers and goes into conference with the House.
Alcatel Space will build the Thaicom 5 communications satellite for Thai satellite operator Shin Satellite Inc. to replace the aging Thaicom 1 and Thaicom 2, which are to be retired in 2008 and 2009. The contract covers delivery of the satellite, its launch and support for in-orbit testing. Thaicom 5 would allow Shin Satellite to expand its Ku-Band channels over Thailand and neighboring countries.
Congressmen are reconsidering the investment threshold and involvement that venture capital firms can have in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) recipient companies, many of which have answered the Pentagon's call for needed innovations.
United Defense's Ground Systems Division will provide seven Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and spare parts to Australia under an $8.9 million contract, the U.S. Department of Defense said July 7. The work is to be completed by May 31, 2006.
