Reapers Gather in the Afghan Sky

Since September 2007 Sky Warrior and MQ-9 Reaper weaponized UAVs began flying combat sorties in support of coalition forces operations in Afghanistan. Currently, the USAF 42nd UAV attack squadron and US Army 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade are flying the armed UAVs while RAF No 39 squadron fly unarmed ISR missions in support of coalition forces in theater.

First Army MRAPs Arrive in Iraq

MRAP vehicles are trickling into Iraq, airlifted to the country by C-5 and C-17s from the US Navy's completion center in South Carolina, where they are fitted with 'government furnished equipment' such as CREW type IED jammers, radios and accessories. The first examples from each model are delivered to the MRAP training center at Camp Liberty, western Baghdad where drivers and mechanics are trained through a 40 hour orientation course, before they are delivered to the combat units. The MRAPs are currently being fielded to units who need them the most and operate in areas with the highest threat, officials said. Although the Humvee is not expected to be phased out anytime soon, the MRAPs will begin to take its place as a new standard Army vehicle.

Airmen prepare to load a Buffalo mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle into a C-5 Galaxy at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., for shipment to Iraq. (DOD photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson)

Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT) received a contract worth $22.3 million from the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for the production of 29 Buffalo mine-protected vehicles. More than 140 Buffalo vehicles were delivered to the US Army, operating as Mine Protected Vehicles, used for route clearance missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

British Army issues UBACS, Under-Armor
Combat Shirt for Hot Climate

The British Ministry of defense (MoD) issued a new Under Body Armour Combat Shirt (UBACS) to soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The long sleeved UBACS is made of special moisture wicking fiber designed to be worn under protective body armor. Designed especially to be worn under the latest issue Body Armour systems (including the Osprey and the assault vest), the shirt is constructed from Coolmax fabrics forming a lightweight, breathable garment. Also displayed were soft leather combat gloves issued to the troops. (more on: Infantry Mobility & Ergonomics)

Photo-Stealth Camouflage Technology Unveiled

Military Wraps Inc. has unveiled today a patent-pending, camouflage technique enabling military units to conceal vehicles, aircraft, UAVs, boats or hardware by blending them in the surrounding scene. The company unveiled the new camouflage at the U.S. Special Operations trade show (SOFEX 2007) and will also display again at the SpecOps East Warfighter Symposium and Expo next week.

SCAR Move into Full Rate Production

FN Herstal is expected to move the Special Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) weapon into full rate production in preparation for serial orders from the US Special Operations Command under a 10-year contract awarded in 2004. To date the company produced the rifles in low rate production, fulfilling preliminary orders worth a total US$11 million for initial operational test and evaluation of the new rifles.

Metal Storm, iRobot Pursue Scalable Force Response for Robots

Australian based Metal Storm (NASDAQ: MTSX) (ASX: MST) and US based iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT). have signed Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in joint pursuit of opportunities within the global defense and security sectors. At the AUSA exhibition last month, the two companies unveiled a model of the Warrior heavy robot from iRobot, carrying a Redback weapon station with four MetalStrom electrically initiated high speed projectile launchers. Peter D. Faulkner, senior vice president and general manager for Metal Storm's U.S. Operations. "Together, we stand to shape a revolution by combining robot platforms with a scalable force response and increased mission capability including the defeat of IEDs."

Carnegie Mellon University team Wins DARPA's Urban Challenge

The Tatran Racing Team from the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) won the Urban Challenge competition and grabbed the $2 million first prize this weekend. The race was organized by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Stanford University took second place, followed by Virginia Tech which came third.

The six hour race tested driverless vehicles driving autonomously on terrain representing suburban roads at the former George Air Force Base in Oro Grande, California. The vehicles had to obey traffic laws, avoiding obstacles and collisions with other robots while fulfill their tasks. Six of 11 finalists crossed the finish line including teams from MIT, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania.

Russia, Saudi Arabia Finalize a Multi-Billion Arms Deal

Saudi Arabia and Russia have finalized an agreement to supply more than 150 Russian-made Mi-35 Hind and Mi-17 Hip helicopters to Saudi Arabia. The deal, expected to be worth over $2.2 billion. Riyad favored the Russian offer over French proposals to supply 148 helicopters to the kingdom - reports the French based Defense Aerospace publication. According to the magazine, the deal signed last month in Riyad, reflects the shift of power from Saudi Arabia’s decision to retain Russia as a major arms supplier is the result of recent policy decisions made by King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, particularly his decision to take direct control of major arms purchases, which were previously largely the domain of the defense and aviation ministry headed by Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Crown Prince and deputy prime minister who is also Abdallah’s half-brother. (read the full article at Defense Aerospace)

Iran Expects to Receive 24 Chinese J-10 Fighters by 2010

Iran is buying two squadrons of J-10, China's most advanced strike fighter. The deal worth over US$1 billion will include 24 aircraft. The J-10 follows the design of the Lavi developed at Israel Aerospace Industries in the late 1980s. The development was aborted under US pressure and according to press reports the plans may have leaked to China and provided the foundation for the J-1 design. The J-10 is powered by a single AL-31FN engine, an upgraded version of the Russian Saturn AL-31F turbofan (two such engines power the Su-27 Flanker). Integration of an indigenous engine (known as WS-10A Taihang) is currently underway to equip three squadrons (36 aircraft) of J-10 aircraft destined to Pakistan. The maximum range of the J-10, when equipped with maximum internal and external fuel is 2,940 km., some 800 km beyond the reach of Iran's current MiG-29s. Theoretically, Iranian J-10s will have the range to attack targets in Israel.