Defense Daily back issues from September 2005:
Defense IG Schmitz Leaves For Senior Post With Blackwater.(Inspector General Joseph Schmitz)
Sep 01, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Defense Department Inspector General Joseph Schmitz will leave his post next month as the Pentagon's top watchdog for a job with a fast-growing private military company. Schmitz wrote in an e-mail Tuesday afternoon to his colleagues that he told ...
IG Report: Support To Reserve, Guard Troops 'Adequate'.(Inspector General)
Sep 01, 2005; ... By Nathan Hodge The Defense Department Inspector General has concluded that there was "no systemic disparity" between the support given to active-duty and to reserve- component soldiers, although the report acknowledged the Army faced significant challenges in delivering ...
Global Weapons Sales Growth Fueled By Deals With China, Other Nations.
Sep 01, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Global weapon sales increased for the first time in four years in 2004, fueled primarily by billions of dollars being spent by developing nations such as China and India, according to a new analysis by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). ...
Northrop Grumman, EADS, Indra, Team To Pursue NATO TBMD Work.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co)(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)(theater ballistic missile defense)
Sep 01, 2005; ... By Ann Roosevelt Northrop Grumman [NOC], the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS), and Spain's Indra yesterday announced the formation of an international team to pursue a systems engineering and integration (SE&I) contract that is a vital part of the new NATO ...
General Dynamics Wins $8.9 Million Contract For Air Force CSAR Radios.
Sep 01, 2005 ... General Dynamics' [GD] C4 Systems unit yesterday announced an $8.9 million delivery order from the Air Force Special Operations Command for 1,402 AN/PRC-112G Combat search and rescue (CSAR) radios. "Warfighters operate in isolated and hostile places, so the AN/PRC-112G is ...
U.S. Satellite Industry Dominates Despite Overcapacity, Study Says.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Ann Roosevelt The market for commercial communications satellites is expected to be worth $25.4 billion over the next 10 years, according to Forecast International's recently completed study. "Commercial Communications Satellites: 2005-2014." The study also ...
Hurricane Katrina Interrupts Production of Key Armored Vehicle.(Textron developing armored car )(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... By Nathan Hodge Hurricane Katrina has brought production of the M117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle to a halt, Defense Daily has learned. The ASV, a robust armored car made by Textron [TXT], is highly sought after for counterinsurgency operations in Iraq. Just ...
Correction.(Correction Notice)
Sep 01, 2005 ... Defense Daily incorrectly reported Aug. 30 that the T-50 was the first supersonic trainer jet. The first supersonic trainer jet was Northrop Grumman's [NOC] T-38, ...
SAIC Announces Plans To Go Public Early Next Year.(Science Applications International Corp.)
Sep 02, 2005 ... Calvin Biesecker SAIC, the nation's largest employee-owned company and a top 10 federal and defense contractor with $7.2 billion in sales, yesterday said it plans to issue stock to the public early next year to better deploy its cash for internal growth and acquisitions. ...
L-3 Acquires Engineering Services Firm.(Joseph Sheairs Associates)(L-3 Communications Corp.)(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005 ... L-3 Communications [LLL] yesterday said it has acquired Joseph Sheairs Associates (JSA), a multi-disciplined systems and software engineering firm specializing in Air Traffic Control Systems, complementing its Aviation Products business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed ....
NRO Director Says Spy Satellites Supporting Relief Operations.(National Reconnaissance Office)(Donald Kerr)
Sep 02, 2005; ... By Nathan Hodge The agency that operates the nation's spy satellites has focused assets to support relief operations along the hurricane-stricken Gulf Coast, the director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) said yesterday. Donald Kerr, who was appointed to ...
QinetiQ Acquires Belgian Space Systems Integrator.(Verhaert Design and Development NV)(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005 ... Britain's QinetiQ yesterday said it has acquired a 90 percent stake in Belgium's Verhaert Design and Development NV, creating what the companies say is a leading European mid-tier space company that can bridge the gap between the biggest players and smallest suppliers in the European ...
ATK Protests General Dynamics' Second Source Ammo Award.
Sep 02, 2005 ... By Ann Roosevelt Alliant Techsystems [ATK] said late Wednesday it is protesting the Army's Aug. 24 second source small caliber ammunition award to General Dynamics [GD]. ATK is the primary U.S. producer of small-caliber ammunition and the operating contractor at ...
Lockheed Martin Plans Bid On APKWS II Program.(United States Army contracts)(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005 ... By Ann Roosevelt Lockheed Martin [LMT] said yesterday it had notified the Army it plans to bid on the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) program. The APKWS II is a 2.75-inch air-to-ground precision-guided rocket system envisioned for use against ...
Air Force Announces Another Successful Flight Test For JASSM.(Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile )(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005 ... The Air Force announced yesterday that it successfully concluded two tests of the Lockheed Martin [LMT] Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. In a statement, an Air Force public affairs official said, "Both missiles separated from ...
Congress Returns Early From Recess To Pass $10.5 Billion Hurricane Aid Package.
Sep 02, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Congress returned earlier than expected from its summer recess late last night and today to quickly approve a $10.5 billion aid package for victims of Hurricane Katrina. It was not immediately clear if any of those dollars would go toward defense contractors ...
Defense Watch.(helping Hurricane Katrina victims)(defense industry and security services)
Sep 06, 2005 ... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Air Fragmentation. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Chief Robert Bonner last month decided to hand permanent tactical control of most of the agency's air assets to the Border Patrol's different sector chiefs ...
Defense Department Gets $500 Million For Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations.
Sep 06, 2005 ... By George Cahlink The Defense Department will receive $500 million of the $10.5 billion lawmakers approved last week in Hurricane Katrina aid, but none of that money will go toward defense contractors hit by the storm. "Normally, you would find a large business ...
China Caucus Chairman Warns About Emerging China.(Randy Forbes)
Sep 06, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Lawmakers will focus increased attention this fall on threats poised by the Chinese military, according to Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), a House Armed Services Committee (HASC) member who also heads the Congressional China caucus. Forbes told Defense ...
BTERM On Track For Extended Range Munition Program, ATK Says.(Ballistic Trajectory Extended Range Munition)(Alliant Techsystems Inc.)
Sep 06, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein Alliant Techsystems [ATK] officials said they are pleased with last week's successful Ballistic Trajectory Extended Range Munition (BTERM) test flight and they are confident that the 5-inch Extended Range Munition (ERM) is on the right track, a company spokesman ...
Lockheed Martin, Thales Win U.K. FRES Work.(from Atkins Systems House)
Sep 06, 2005; ... By Ann Roosevelt The U.K. units of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and France's Thales have won contracts from systems house Atkins for the Future Rapid Effect System Electronic Architecture (EA) Technology Demonstrator Program (TDP). Raytheon [RTN], General Dynamics [GD], ...
DHS Orders Predator B For Customs And Border Work.(Department of Homeland Security granted contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.)
Sep 06, 2005 ... Nearly two years after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began working with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Predator B reconnaissance drone, it has awarded the company a contract for the first Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). ...
Air Force Revisits Requirements For Search-And-Rescue Aircraft.
Sep 07, 2005; ... Nathan Hodge The Air Force is taking a fresh look at its plans to build a new fleet of search and rescue aircraft, Defense Daily has learned. According to industry and military sources, Kenneth Krieg, the Pentagon's top acquisition official, is supposed to meet with ...
Snowe Continues Opposition To England's Bid For Pentagon's No. 2 Post.
Sep 07, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has no immediate plans to drop her opposition to the nomination of Navy Secretary Gordon England to be the deputy defense secretary, despite a recent favorable recommendation by the Pentagon's base closing commission to keep two ...
Boeing Announces 'Alliance Shield' Team To Compete For NATO TBMD Work.(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)(Theater Missile Defense)
Sep 07, 2005; ... By Ann Roosevelt Boeing [BA] has formed an international team called "Alliance Shield" to compete on a future NATO Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) contract. The team consists of the U.K.'s BAE SYSTEMS, Italy's Finmeccanica, ...
IAI Elta Backlog Reaches $2.4 Billion.(Israel Aircraft Industries)
Sep 07, 2005; ... By B.C. Kessner TEL AVIV, Israel--Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Sunday said its Elta Systems subsidiary reached a record backlog $2.4 billion while the company posted yearly first half financial results that showed increased sales and profits. "The financial ...
Aerospace Foreign Trade Surplus Growing.
Sep 07, 2005 ... The U.S. foreign trade surplus in the aerospace industry continues to be strong and is on a pace to exceed last year's surplus, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) said yesterday. Through the first half of 2005 the surplus stands at $19 billion. Exports were $33 ...
JCM Instrumental Measurement Vehicle Integrated Onto Apache Helicopter.
Sep 07, 2005 ... Lockheed Martin [LMT] has successfully integrated and flown its Joint Common Missile (JCM) instrumented measurement vehicles (IMV) on Boeing's [BA] AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter, according to Lockheed Martin. The integration and flight validate the physical and ...
Alternative Fleet Architecture Driven By Technologies and Budget, Report Says.
Sep 07, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein A new study proposes an alternative fleet architecture design for the Navy, that runs the gamut from increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to building ships that will make it harder for adversaries to track and target, as well as ...
Raytheon, MBDA To Be Invited To Bid On Estonian Air Defense System.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 2005 ... The government of Estonia last week decided to begin an air defense system procurement and invite Raytheon [RTN] and European missile consortium MBDA to bid on the project. The goal is to provide Estonia with modern and flexible air defense system that could also be integrated ...
Australia Wants Contractor Help To Plan Logistics For Military Operations.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 2005 ... Australia's Ministry of Defense has issued an Invitation to Register for a commercial logistics-planning partner to improve reaction time and efficiency. The contractor would provide commercial expertise and advice on capabilities for a variety of contingencies, Defense ...
Ceradyne Opens New Facility For Armor Production.
Sep 07, 2005 ... Ceradyne [CRDN] recently celebrated the opening of a new 115,000 square foot production facility in Lexington, Ky., that will make ceramic armor for soldiers and ceramic components for diesel engines. The increase in manufacturing capacity will help the company meet expected ...
Congress To Launch Katrina Investigations.
Sep 07, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Congress has begun what will likely be the first of several investigations into what has widely been seen as the federal government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman ...
Northrop Grumman Teams With EADS On Air Force Tanker Program.(European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co.)
Sep 08, 2005; ... By Calvin Biesecker As expected Northrop Grumman [NOC] and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) yesterday announced that they have teamed to compete for the Air Force's next-generation aircraft tanker program, setting up a duel with Boeing [BA] for the ...
President Nominates Former Pentagon Official To Replace Young.(Dolores Etter appointed as Navy's acquisition chief)(Brief Article)
Sep 08, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein President Bush has nominated Dolores Etter, currently a Naval Academy professor and former deputy undersecretary of defense for science and technology, to replace John Young as the Navy's acquisition chief. From June 1998 through July 2001 Etter ...
Singapore Selects Boeing's F-15T In Fighter Competition.(Brief Article)
Sep 08, 2005 ... By Geoff Fein Singapore has selected Boeing [BA] to supply the country with up to 20 new fighter aircraft, the details of which are currently being worked out, according to the Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF). Boeing's F-15T, based on the company's F-15E ...
Warner Still Expects Defense Authorization Bill For 2006.
Sep 08, 2005 ... By George Cahlink Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman (SASC) John Warner (R-Va.) believes Congress will pass a defense authorization bill for fiscal 2006, despite a legislative agenda now dominated by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. "Don't for a moment doubt we ...
Air Force Plans To 'Grow Capability' of Predator, Global Hawk Fleet.
Sep 08, 2005; ... By Nathan Hodge The Air Force is building infrastructure that will allow it to ramp up the number of missions flown by its high-end unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, military deputy to the office of the assistant secretary of the Air Force ...
PAC-3 Intercept Test Expected At White Sands Missile Range.(Patriot Advanced Capability missile system developed by Lockheed Martin Corp.)(Brief Article)
Sep 08, 2005; ... By Ann Roosevelt The Army this morning plans an intercept flight test for the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile system at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built PAC-3 is a high-velocity hit-to-kill missile, the newest in the ...
Jury Rules Against GD In $130 Million Lawsuit, But Judge Has Final Say.
Sep 08, 2005 ... A federal jury on Tuesday ruled that General Dynamics [GD] owes another firm $130 million as part of two-year old lawsuit Final Analysis Communications Services (FACS) has pending against GD alleging breach of contract, but the judge in the case asked for more information from both ...
Global Defense Cooperation More Vital Than Ever, Krieg Says.
Sep 08, 2005; ... By Ann Roosevelt More and better defense cooperation is required to meet the number one challenge: providing forces the capability they need in this era of transformation and globalization, the Defense Department's top acquisition official said. "Our collective ...
Defense Technology Officials See 'Serious' Energy Problem.(energy efficieny in military )
Sep 08, 2005 ... By Nathan Hodge The recent surge in energy prices has become a "serious problem," according to the director of a major Pentagon effort to develop sophisticated pilotless aircraft for penetrating enemy air defenses. Michael Francis, director of the Joint Unmanned ...
GAO Warns DoD To Come Up With Missile Defense Support Costs Plan.(Government Accountability Office)(Department of Defense)(Brief Article)
Sep 08, 2005; ... By George Cahlink The Defense Department must quickly decide how it will cover the costs of operating and sustaining its missile defense systems or it risks having to scale back the effort or cut other programs, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. ...
Spain Seeking 94 SM-1 Block VIB Tactical Standard Missiles.(Brief Article)
Sep 08, 2005 ... The Pentagon Tuesday notified Congress of an impending sale of 94 Raytheon [RTN] SM-1 Block VIB Tactical Standard missiles, 94 Aerojet [GY] SM-1 MK 56 Dual Thrust Rocket Motors and other associated equipment and services to Spain for its navy's frigates. The estimated cost of ...
Turkey Spending $35 Million On JSOW For F-16 Modernization Effort.(Joint Standoff Weapon)(Brief Article)
Sep 08, 2005 ... The Pentagon notified Congress this week of a potential $35 million major defense equipment (MDE) sale of Raytheon's [RTN] Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) to Turkey for modification of that country's F-16 fighter aircraft. Turkey has requested 50 AGM-154 A-1 JSOW with BLU-111 and ...
General Outlines Marine Corps Vision For Humvee Replacement.
Sep 09, 2005; ... By Nathan Hodge A top Marine Corps general yesterday outlined his service's vision of a replacement for the Humvee, the all-purpose utility vehicle that has somewhat unexpectedly become a major fighting platform for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lt. Gen. James ...
Northrop Grumman Shipyards Could Soon Resume Limited Operations.
Sep 09, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Northrop Grumman [NOC] will likely begin limited operations next week at two of its three shipyards along the Gulf Coast that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, according to a company spokesman. Brian Cullin said the company could resume operations ...
Lockheed Martin Wins $308 Million Government Records Contract.
Sep 09, 2005 ... The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) yesterday awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a $308 million contract to develop and create a permanent electronic archives system for the federal government. Lockheed Martin defeated a Harris Corp. [HRS]-led team for the ...
PAC-3 Software Changes Successful In Intercept Test.(Patriot Advanced Capability-3)(Brief Article)
Sep 09, 2005 ... The Army yesterday announced a successful intercept flight test of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile system with software changes and improvements at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. "We continue to mature our system's capability to pace the evolving threat," ...
Lockheed Martin To Acquire Laser Radar Firm.
Sep 09, 2005 ... Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire Coherent Technologies, Inc., a developer and supplier of laser-based remote sensing systems, a deal aimed at strengthening its core competencies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Coherent, based near Denver, ...
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Form Teams For $20 Billion Army IT Program.(information technology)(Brief Article)
Sep 09, 2005 ... Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] have formed teams to compete on a potential $20 billion Army information technology project aimed at providing more support for soldiers throughout the Army. The Information Technology Enterprise Solutions 2 Services (ITES-2S) ...
Goodrich To Buy Short Wave Infrared Tech Firm.(Brief Article)
Sep 09, 2005 ... Goodrich [GR] said last week that it has agreed to acquire Sensors Unlimited, Inc., a designer and producer of Short Wave Infrared technology based on Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) imaging technology, for $60 million in cash. Sensors Unlimited, based in Princeton, N.J., has ...
Turkey To Spend $175 Million On Munitions And Components For Its F-16s.
Sep 09, 2005 ... Turkey is looking to spend upward of $175 million on munitions and aircraft components for its F-16 fighter aircraft, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The DSCA has notified Congress that Turkey is looking to acquire major defense equipment (MDE) ...
HAC-D Chairman Young Says Lawmakers Kept From Hurricane Region.
Sep 09, 2005; ... By George Cahlink Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.), the House's top Defense appropriator, blasted the White House and congressional leaders yesterday for not allowing him to lead a congressional delegation to assess damage at military installations hit by Hurricane Katrina or hold ...
Acquisition Reform Will Require Discipline, Service Officials Say.
Sep 09, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein For the services to carry out successful acquisition reform, they will need to get better control over requirements discipline, control over how many systems they want to buy, and maintain a stable cash flow, according to a panel of service officials. ...
Navy High Speed Vessel Makes Second Disaster Relief Effort.
Sep 09, 2005; ... By Ann Roosevelt The Navy's High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift is hard at work on its second disaster relief mission this year off the hurricane-ravaged Gulf coast. The Incat Australia-built 98-meter wave-piercing catamaran HSV 2 Swift is normally homeported at Naval ...
BVR Systems Wins F-16 Simulator Contract For IAF.
Sep 09, 2005 ... BVR Systems Tuesday said it was awarded a $2.15 million sub-contract from Elbit Systems [ESLT] for the supply of workshare in a new F-16I simulator for the Israel air force (IAF). "We believe that we are well-positioned to capture additional opportunities for F-16 simulators ...
Lawmakers Criticize Northrop Grumman-EADS Alliance for Tanker Competition.
Sep 09, 2005; ... By George Cahlink House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) sharply criticized Northrop Grumman's [NOC] plans to team with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) to compete against Boeing [BA] for a lucrative contract to build tanker- ...
Defense Watch.
Sep 12, 2005 ... The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense Not Budging. Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee, is praising the Coast Guard's rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina ....
Armor Holdings Displays Latest In Commercial Vehicle IED Protection.(improvised explosive devices)
Sep 12, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein Armor Holdings [AH] last week displayed its latest entry into the armor vehicle market with a commercial product aimed at protecting vehicles from improvised explosive devices (IED). Company officials also announced that Armor Holdings was merging its ...
Airbus, Electronics, Military Programs Drive BAE's First Half Sales, Earnings.
Sep 12, 2005 ... BAE SYSTEMS last week reported strong first half-year financial results driven mainly by growth in sales and profits at its commercial aerospace, electronics and military programs businesses. The British-based company, which bills itself as the "premier" transatlantic ...
On Relief Ops, Air Force Helo Commander Sees 'Aggressive' Flying.
Sep 12, 2005; ... By Nathan Hodge An Air Force helicopter squadron is doing some heavy flying to support Gulf Coast relief operations, according to the unit's commander. In a telephone interview last week with Defense Daily, Lt. Col. Gary Bontly, the commander of the 620th Air ...
Reps Jockey With Leaders Set To Pick Homeland Committee Chair This Week.
Sep 12, 2005; ... By George Cahlink House Republicans will decide this week who will take over the chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee, a job that became vacant this summer when Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.) left Congress to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. The ...
Navy Not Satisfied With Latest ATK BTERM Test Flight.(Alliant Techsystems Inc. Ballistic Trajectory Extended Range Munition )
Sep 12, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein One week after Alliant Techsystems [ATK] said its Ballistic Trajectory Extended Range Munition (BTERM) was on track following its latest test flight, the Navy said the results of the latest Extended Range Munition (ERM) test were not to its liking. ...
NAVSEA Begins Comprehensive Study of Its Operations, Commander Says.(Naval Sea Systems Command, Paul Sullivan)
Sep 13, 2005; ... By Geoff Fein The commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is conducting several "significant studies" examining the partnership between NAVSEA and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the alignment of NAVSEA and its affiliated program executive officers, corporate ...