• The Pentagon Releases Orders for 884 Additional Armored Vehicles
• Harris, Thales Compete Multi-Billion JTRS Radio Procurement
• GMLRS Program Moves Into Low-Rate Initial Production
• KMW Introduces the Grizzly Highly Protected Vehicle

Stumble It!

Recent News Analysis:

• Rafah's Subterranean Tunnel City: The Gateway to Hamastan
  By seizing the so-called "Philadelphi" route along the Gaza- Egyptian international borderline, Hamas has finally taken full control of all exits and border crossings into the Gaza Strip- where they are about to create an Islamic Fundamentalist Hamastan.

• Gaza - Hamastan to be Declared Rogue State
  Following long hesitation, in face of Hamas' highly provocative and brutal takeover of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has finally reacted to the challenge right on his doorstep. Perhaps too late to redress the situation in Gaza, Abbas is trying hard not to lose his grip of the West Bank as well.

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The Pentagon Releases Orders for 884 Additional Armored Vehicles

The Pentagon is releasing another batch of orders for armored vehicles, as part of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and other armored vehicle programmes. The new orders cover additional orders from Force protection and International, for 395 Category I (Cougar) vehicles and 76 Category II vehicles (60 from Force Protection and 16 from International). Under a parallel program the Army is buying at Textron Systems 369 additional M1117 armored cars. However, with production capacity running short with all US based armored vehicle production facilities, deliveries of the recently awarded orders are to be fulfilled only next year. The US Army is also buying additional 44 RG-31 Mk 5 vehicles from BAE Systems, these vehicles produced by OMG in South Africa and are scheduled for delivery within 4 – 5 months.

Harris, Thales Compete Multi-Billion JTRS Radio Procurement

The US Department of Defense selected Harris and Thales Communications Inc. as the two contenders to compete for multiyear deliveries of new 'multiband radios' to the US armed forces, as part of Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS). Harris was awarded $2.7 billion while Thales Communications Inc. received $3.5 billion to cover the first year procurement. Both orders are representing framework awards, enabling the two companies to compete on segments of the five year program, totaling $7 for Harris and $9 billion for Thales. This is the first production contract vehicle issued by the Joint Program Executive Office for the next-generation, software-defined radios.

GMLRS Program Moves Into Low-Rate Initial Production

The Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) - Unitary is shifting into low-rate production status, with the award of $125 million contract for rocket production. Guided MLRS Unitary integrates a 200-pound class unitary warhead into the GMLRS rocket, giving battlefield commanders the ability to attack targets up to 70 kilometers away with high precision.

KMW Introduces the Grizzly Highly Protected Vehicle

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has unveiled a new, medium weight highly protected vehicle called Grizzly, designed for operation with the German Army. KMW is developing the vehicle under the German Ministry of Defense technology and procurement agency (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung - BWB). The "Grizzly" offers the crew optimum protection, especially against explosive devices, mines and small arms direct fire. The first vehicle will be delivered as early as November 2007.