Recent News Analysis:
- Syria's
Chemical Weapons Proliferation Hydra New!
Parallel to its nuclear development ambitions, Syria dramatically
expanded its chemical warfare capabilities. This feature outlines
some of the recent developments and brings vivid images showing
the extensive buildup in Al-Safir base, where on 25th of July
this year, a mysterious explosion killed 15 military personnel.
- Assad's
"big secret" A Joint Iran-Syrian-DPRK Nuclear Program?
There have been persistent allegations that Syria's regime wants
to create its own nuclear weapons capability. Will the recent
"air show" mystery over northern Syria bring these
covert actions to light?
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 Air
Launched Weapons - Sept 24-26, 2007. Arlington, VA.
USA
Joint
Urban Operations - Sept 26-28, 2007. Washington DC,
USA
Military
Antennas - Sept 26-28, 2007. Georgetown Univ. Washington
DC, USA
 INMEX
India 2007 - Sept 27-29, 2007. Mumbai, India
October
planned events:
Joint
Search & Rescue, 1-3 Oct. Washington DC, USA
 Helitech
2007 - U.K. 2 - 4 Oct, Imperial War Museum, London
UK
Modern
day Marine 2- 4 Oct., Quantico, VA. USA
AUSA
Annual Meeting 2007, 8 - 10 Oct., Washington DC, USA
MilComms
2007, 9 - 10 Oct. London, UK
 Milipol
2007, 9 - 12 Paris, France
 Naval
& Defense 2007, 9 - 12 Oct. Busan, Rep. of Korea
 Border
Security Asia 2007, 10 - 11 Oct. Singapore
 TechNet
Europe 2007, 16 - 19 Oct. Stockholm, Sweden
Seoul
Air Show, 16 - 21 Oct., Seoul, Rep of Korea
Coastal
Surveillance 2007., 17 - 18 Oct. Singapore
Intelligence
Analysis and Processing., 22 - 24 Oct. Washington
DC USA
Border
Management Summit., 22 - 25 Oct. Washington DC, USA
 NATO/EU
Air Systems Requirements Conference, 24-25 Oct. Riga,
Latvia
 Heli-Asia
2007., 24 - 25 Oct. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Energizing
Indian Aerospace., 25 - 26 Oct. New delhi, India
MILCOM
2007., 28 - 31 Oct. Orlando, FL, USA
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AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ:AVAV) will develop and
build three high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned
aerial systems for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
The contract includes development and production of one
Global Observer platform and ground station and options
for the delivery of two additional aircraft and one additional
ground station, resulting in a potential contract value
of $108 million. Tim Conver, chairman and chief executive
officer of AV Considers the new platform to introduce a
brand new value proposition – affordable persistence
in the stratosphere.
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 Marines
Buy Ear-Protecting Headsets for $27 Million
Nacre AS was awarded a $27 million firm-fixed-price commercial
contract by the by the Marine Corps System Command to supply
the Quietpro Integrated
Intra Squad Radio (IISR) Hearing Protection Headset (IISR-HPH).
You can read more on the Quietpro system and how it protects
warfighter's hearing in our latest coverage of Remote
Radio Controllers & Headset modern infantry radios
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DTI
to Continue Studying Air Delivered UAVs
Defense Technologies Inc. has been awarded $25 million
to continue a study of a 'Wing and Bomb Bay Launched Unmanned
Air Vehicle' over the next five years. The program is currently
in the 3rd phase of a 'Small Business Initiative Research'
(SBIR) program funded by the US Navy. The technology is
expected to provide for the research, development, and engineering
support for open source, secure, net ready, modular common
control stations for unmanned systems. Air
inserted UAVs such as Coyote,
Finder and Voyeur
are becoming increasingly popular among the services, as
they enabling the deployment of small, relatively low-cost
UAVs from unmanned systems or aircraft at significant depths
without risking ground, special ops or manned aerial assets.
A future system called RapidEye pursued by DARPA, will enable
the deployment of a UAV by an intercontinental ballistic
missile, to cover any spot on the globe with persistent
aerial surveillance within 60 minutes.
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Pentagon
Adds $16 Million to Viper Strike
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp was awarded a $16 modification
to a cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract for
Viper Strike Munitions and engineering services. The work
is expected to be completed by the end of next year (2008).
Viper Strike are expected to be fielded with medium-altitude,
long endurance unmanned systems such as Sky warrior and
the Hunter Tactical UAS, as well as the Air Force Special
Operation Command AC-1320 Spectre gunships.
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The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Government
of Saudi Arabia has reached agreement with the UK Government
to purchase 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The agreement
follows plans outlined in December 2005 to modernize the
Saudi Arabian Air Force. Under the terms of the current
agreementthe new Typhoons would replace Tornado ADV fighters
and other aircraft currently in service with the Royal Saudi
Air Force. (more...)
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Following the initial deployment of the S-400 strategic
anti-missile air defense system, the Russian Army plans
to embark on a modernization of its tactical air defense
assets, with the fielding of a modernized version of the
Tor-M2 (SA-15 Gauntlet) and BUK M3 (SA-11 Gadfly) missiles.
Upgrades and life extension programs will also be performed
with the SA-8 (Gecko) mobile air defense units, mobile short
range Tunguska missile-gun system and Strela 10 (SA-13 Gopher).
(more...)
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Saeqeh - Iran's New Thunderbolt
The Iranians flew last week the first two aircraft from
the new Azarakhsh (Thunder) fighter family. These fighters
were locally built and are based on adaptations of reversed-engineered,
modified (twin-tail) American F-5 platforms developed by
IRI, the Air Force and Iran's Defense Ministry. The development
of the aircraft began in the late 1990s and proceeded through
different designs and prototype phases. The current version
named Saeqeh (Thunderbolt), represent the second type of
the Azarakhsh fighter. The Iranians described these fighters
 as
similar to the American F-18 Hornet. An earlier model was
flown for the first time last month at Isfahan. The development
of the Azarakhsh was first announced in September 2006.
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The Playmouth based DML Company will supply the British
Ministry of Defence (MoD) with Mobility Weapons-Mounted
Installation Kit (MWMIK) to be used for long range patrols
in Afghanistan. MWMIK continues a long tradition of long
range desert patrol vehicles, pursued by the British forces
since the early 20th century, and clearly demonstrated its
validity in the Western Desert in WW2 and during the first
gulf war. (more...)
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Insight
Technologies to Equip US Marines with Night Sights
Insight Technology, Inc. was selected to provide the Marine
Corps with Individual Weapon Night Sights, Image Intensified
(IWNS-I2) systems. The total worth of the contract over
the two year period until 2009 could reach $53 million.
These devices provide individual marine riflemen a rifle
combat optic compatible night sight.
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The U.S. Army has awarded a five year contract worth up
to $280 million to supply up to 3,000 small robotic vehicles,
designed to combat IEDs and clear caves and buildings in
combat areas. The contract is part of the Army's response
to a Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement from commanders
in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army requires thousands such
robots, weighing less than 50 pounds each to assist troops
to clear objectives in urban areas and combat IEDs. (more...)
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USAF
To Deploy a New Persistent Video Surveillance from BAE
BAE Systems, Advanced Technologies will develop a wide
area video surveillance system called ARGUS, offering real-time,
persistent surveillance with high-resolution video. The
company was awarded $18 for the development and transitioning
ARGUS to the Air Force.
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