Hamastan
Gaza - to become a Wahhabist Outpost?
Saudi Arabian influence into the Gaza strip could introduce
a new danger to secular Palestine - Wahhabism, which no less
extreme than Hezbollah or al Qaeda.
The Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft has received Type Acceptance
from the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency NETMA
for the final Tranche 1 standard, known as Block 5. This configuration
represents the last build standard in Tranche 1 and, with the
R2 Retrofit program ongoing across the four Partner Air Forces,
will be the standard to which all earlier Typhoons are brought
up to. This will also be the capability standard of the 18 aircraft
on order to the Austrian Air Force. The first Block 5 aircraft
was delivered to the Spanish Air Force, (Spanish single-seater
SS011). Further improvements are currently in the planning stages,
with the integration of a Laser Designator Pod into Tranche
1 aircraft destined to join the Royal Air Force in 2008.
The first orders for large volume production MRAP vehicles
were issued this week to BAE Systems and Force Dynamics. The
two contracts, totaling over US$122 million are funding the
production of the first 200 vehicles, to be delivered to U.S.
services within the next four months.
The Defence Materiel Organization of the Dutch Ministry of
Defense ordered six new-build CH-47F (NL) Chinook helicopters
from the Boeing Company [NYSE: BA]. These Netherlands-unique
version helicopters will offer advanced avionics, improved situational
awareness and survivability features and special operations
equipment. The aircraft will be delivered between July 2009
and January 2010.
Iridium plans to deploy its next generation 'Iridium Next'
satellite constellation within the next 7 years. The new network
will extend the capacity and availability of the current system
by offering high capacity and short messaging data communications
for mission critical applications. The company expects the new
constellation will be fully operational in the next decade.
Through NEXT, Iridium plans to extend its current voice communications
services to offer high bandwidth data, voice and short messaging
services based on modern IP- based architecture.
SAIC
Awarded US$32 Million To develop Persistent ISR Capability
Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI)
was awarded a $32 million USAF contract to demonstrate new persistent
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability. The
company is already engaged in a DARPA program called Persistent
Operational Surface Surveillance and Engagement (POSSE) - system-of-systems
effort aims to provide persistent surveillance and exploitation
capabilities needed to help counter the wide range of threats,
facing deployed troops and allies.
Republic of Korea to Upgrade Reconnaissance
Asset
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has been awarded a $28 million
contract through the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency
for the support and upgrade of RC-800 reconnaissance aircraft
and associated ground stations used with the Republic of Korea's
Peace Krypton system. Peace Krypton collects reconnaissance
imagery of selected areas during long-range missions. Installed
on a militarized special mission former Hawker RC-800XP series
business jet used by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKF),
the aircraft carries synthetic aperture radar (SAR) providing
tactical intelligence imagery of large areas across the demilitarized
zone.
DRS Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: DRS) was awarded a $124 million
contract to provide Horizontal Technology Integration Second
Generation Forward Looking Infrared (HTI SGF) sighting systems
to the U.S. Army. These systems are used on the M1A2 Abrams
Main Battle Tank System Enhancement Package (SEP) and M2A3 Bradley
Fighting Vehicles.
Cubic to Supply Air Combat
Training System to Australia
Cubic Defense Applications, the defense segment of Cubic Corporation
(Amex: CUB), will providing Australia’s first-ever instrumented
air combat training system under a new contract with the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) worth nearly $10 million. The company
was required to deliver the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation
(ACMI) pods and Individual Combat Aircrew Display Systems (ICADS)
in time to support Talisman Sabre exercise – a joint training
exercise scheduled for summer 2007. The new Australian air combat
training system is interoperable with U.S. Pacific Air Forces
(PACAF) systems to permit a joint training programs and is also
intended for deployment to multiple RAAF and joint training
sites, including the RAAF’s Tindal Air Base and Delamere
Air Weapons Range.
