• AN/SPY-1 Radar to Integrate with Aegis BMD by 2010
• Oshkosh, PVI, RAFAEL Team for Golan Production
• Viper Strike Guided Weapons Tested Against Moving Targets
• Estonia Selects Mistral, Giraffe for New Air Defense System
• Norwegian Orions Service Extended for Additional 25 Years

Analysis:

• Is America Losing its Strategic Hold on Central Asia?
  Over the past two years, US relations with former Soviet Central Asia nations have collapsed. For the United States be able to rapidly deploy troops or have theater strike capability in the future, America will need new Central Asian allies soon.
  
• An Eastern Mediterranean Oil War?
  A new oil pipeline has dramatically changed the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean.
  

AN/SPY-1 Radar to Integrate with Aegis BMD by 2010

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is incorporating the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Signal Processor (Aegis BSP) into the AN/SPY-1 radar. The company received about $979 million from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to continue the development program of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System. Aegis BSP provides the target discrimination capability to defeat more complex ballistic missile threats. The Aegis BSP is scheduled to be installed on all Aegis BMD ships beginning in 2010.

Oshkosh, PVI, RAFAEL Team for Golan Production

In previous news articles (PVI ,Alpha ) Defense Update reported on two parallel contracts won by PVI and Oshkosh Truck Corp, for the production of two different configurations of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. PVI will produce Golan wheeled armored vehicles and work with Oshkosh as a subcontractor for the Alpha armored vehicles. However, Oshkosh is also joined the PVI RAFAEL team, to provide final assembly and integration of the Golan Vehicles, providing the group its well established production scalability and logistical support.

Viper Strike Guided Weapons Tested Against Moving Targets

The Hunter-Viper Strike weapon system proved effective again during tests conducted by the US Army. The guided weapon, developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) successfully destroyed a series of moving and stationary targets in testing at the White Sands Missile Range in January. According to U.S. Army LTC(P) Jeff Gabbert, Hunter program manager, the US Army has placed the Hunter system in the Combat Aviation Brigade to provide general support to the division. The integration of the weapon with the UAV provides a lethal and persistent combination that reduces sensor-to-shooter timeline.

Estonia Selects Mistral, Giraffe for New Air Defense System

The Estonian Ministry of Defence ordered Mistral air defence missiles under a €60 million contract signed with MBDA and SAAB AB. The missile systems will be integrated with the Giraffe AMB radars produced by SAAB AB. The two-company consortium led by MBDA competed against Raytheon for this program.

Norwegian Orions Service Extended for Additional 25 Years

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) will provide service life extension (SLEP) kits for six Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft under a US$95 million contract. The service will add more than 15,000 flying hours to each aircraft, representing 20 to 25 additional years of service for this critical maritime patrol and reconnaissance resource.