Russia and Poland have failed again to reach an agreement over the proposed U.S. missile shield in Central Europe, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
When my air conditioning broke in mid-July I was very nervous about the repair costs, but I remember that my real estate agent purchased a home warranty for my home. I called Nationwide Home Warranty and within a few hours my a/c was fixed for only a service call fee. My realtor really helped me out.
Pakistan and China have reiterated their desire to further expand and consolidate bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and defence.
The T-37 Tweet formally retired April 3 from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training here after 39 years of service as the gateway to the sky for more than 10,000 Air Force aviators.
Top defense officials for the United States and Chile today signed an agreement to begin sharing science and technology information, further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
A leading group working on behalf of disabled people accused the United States Wednesday of pressuring European and African countries not to join a new treaty next month banning cluster bombs.
The United States should take 45 days after the last "surge" brigade leaves Iraq in July to evaluate the situation before deciding future troop levels, the coalition's top military commander said here today.
The RAF's fifth C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft flew into RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, yesterday, Monday 7 April 2008.
The first of the UK military's tough new 'Jackal' 4x4 patrol vehicles have been put through their paces in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.
Thales UK presented the I-Master radar in cooperation with Seabird Aviation at SOFEX 2008. Seabird Aviation and Thales are working together to study the incorporation of the I-Master radar onto the Seabird SB7L-360 Seeker...
Lockheed Martin has received a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) valued at approximately $250 million to manufacture components for eight additional F-2 production aircraft.
The Pentagon just released its latest numbers on MRAP deliveries to Iraq, boasting today that over 5,200 have been sent to theater so far.
The number of deliveries by sea now exceeds those airlifted into Iraq by heavy transports, which makes a heck of a lot more sense (and costs less). I remember during my stop over at al Asad airbase seeing those contracted AN-124 Condor (Ukrainian transports) flying in and out all day delivering the IED-resistant vehicles to western Iraq.
It's interesting the see the raging back and forth over the MRAP (partly stoked by yours truly) Peter out as of late. In fact, I hear the Marine Corps is quietly trying to duck out of the "program executive office" role for MRAPs, hoping to hand over the politically radioactive and costly program to the big boys in the Army to deal with.
The Marines have always been more jazzed about the JLTV anyway, so let's give them the breathing room to execute that badly needed program.
You know, I spent some time with Army units over there, but didn't roll in MRAPs with them. Still spent a lot of time in the latest up-armored Humvees. If anyone's got some inside gouge on where these 5,200 MRAPs are operating, I'd like to post it here. Maybe they're mostly around Baghdad.
-- Christian
Russia believes the United States will build a European missile defense system against Moscow's objections, yet is pleased with recent US attempts at confidence-building, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a newspaper Tuesday.
Denmark's defense ministry said April 8 it was sending extra helicopters and troops to Afghanistan, where it has suffered one of the highest per capita death tolls among coalition forces.
The top US general in Iraq Tuesday called for US troop withdrawals to be frozen for at least 45 days after July, warning military gains remained fragile and accusing Iran of seeking to stoke violence.
DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today that it received a $10.8 million contract from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., for the design, development and testing of the Internal Cargo Handling System for the CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps.
A newly released report from the U.S. Department of Defense shows that estimated acquisition costs dropped by nearly $1 billion from 2006 to 2007 for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program.
The Boeing Company's CH-47F Chinook helicopter has been fielded by Bravo Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas.
Iran's defense minister said on Monday the world needs a missile shield to protect against threats from Israel and the United States.
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar said on Monday that Iranian missile capability is completely defensive and only against the aggressors.
Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
The United States and North Korea wrapped up key talks here on Tuesday over the communist state's nuclear disarmament, as the US warned they were running out of time to resolve an impasse.
Today, the European Union took a decisive step forward in the realisation of the Galileo project, which represents the greatest technological challenge in the history of the Union in terms of ensuring its own satellite-navigation system.
Canada issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Boeing Company to acquire 16 medium-to-heavy lift helicopters (MHLH) for the Department of National Defence (DND).
Two workers were killed Tuesday after a gas leakage at a Pakistani nuclear facility, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission said in a statement.
Within the framework of the programme, Latvia along with 14 other NATO and EU members will purchase three Boeing C-17 transport aircrafts
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical reconnaissance radars, today announced that a U.S. Army UAS has reached a record 10,000 flight hours on a single aircraft.
Here are some highlights of the latest Selected Acquisition Report data provided by the Pentagon the other day. It's noteworthy that some key Army programs have price declines and that those that increased did so because of quantity increases rather than any fundamental price problems.
FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below) Program costs increased $685.0 million (+25.5 percent) from $2,686.1 million to $3,371.1 million, due primarily to a quantity increase of 28,895 systems from 44,568 to 73,463 systems to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (+$683.0 million) and associated schedule, engineering, and estimating allocations* (+$99.0 million). There was an additional increase in other support for retrofit of Type I encryption for the increased quantities (+$114.1 million). These increases were partially offset by lower unit costs from beneficial contract pricing of the increased quantities (-$131.3 million) and lower estimates for the aviation A- kits (i.e., modification kits) based on current contract data (-$45.7 million).
FCS (Future Combat System) Program costs decreased $2,609.9 million (-1.6 percent) from $161,930.1 million to $159,320.2 million, due primarily to the application of revised escalation indices (-$1,331.0 million) and a correction of previously reported costs that were overstated due to the use of incorrect escalation indices (-$913.2 million). There were additional decreases in other support (-$190.6 million) and Congressional statutory reductions and budget decrements (-$146.5 million).
GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) Program costs decreased $764.2 million (-11.3 percent) from $6,772.5 million to $6,008.3 million, due primarily to lower estimates of hardware costs for the Unitary variant at the production decision (Milestone C) (-$496.6 million) and an acceleration in the procurement buy profile (-$68.9 million). Because of the shorter buy schedule, there were lower estimates for systems engineering/program management costs (-$84.5 million), engineering services (-$44.8 million), and Government production verification testing (-$19.4 million).
LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) Program costs increased $208.4 million (+11.1 percent) from $1,881.8 million to $2,090.2 million, due primarily to a quantity increase of 23 aircraft from 322 to 345 aircraft ($139.3 million). There was an additional cost increase for modifications to address issues identified during the Initial Operational Test (+$171.1 million). These modifications included ARC-231 secure radios and cabin ventilation kits for all 345 aircraft, engine inlet (air) filters for 66 aircraft, and medical evacuation kits for 84 aircraft.
STRYKER Program costs increased by $2,560.2 million (+19.5 percent) from $13,130.9 million to $15,691.1 million, due primarily to a quantity increase of 640 vehicles from 2,887 to 3,527 vehicles (+$1,907.2 million) and associated schedule, engineering, and estimating allocations* (+$621.8 million), and spares and support associated with the quantity increase (+$425.1 million), There were additional increases for survivability enhancements (+$502.6 million), revised testing and management costs (+$375.7 million), and updated MILCON estimates (+$340.9 million). These increases were partially offset by a change in the mix of models procured and new cost estimates (-$797.1 million) and removal of Stryker Product Improvement Program funding (-$816.0 million).
-- Christian
It is hard to pick up a tech publication without finding a story about another security breach that has compromised credit card information. According to Identity Theft Resource Center there were 167 data breaches in the first three months of this year. At least 8.3 million records containing sensitive information were potentially compromised in the same time period.
One Recent Event: Data from 4 Million credit cards stolen. Recently, Hannaford announced what security experts call a sophisticated attack on their computer network that resulted in the theft of credit and debit card account information.
When we think of credit card data theft and fraud you don't think about terrorism - but that is indeed the case. Al Qaeda is a skilled practitioner at using the Internet for a multitude of reasons. According to FBI Director Robert Mueller, "The Internet has been used by the likes of Al Qaeda to recruit, to train, to communicate." The arrest of Al Qaeda's top cyber terrorist provided hard evidence of their use of stolen credit card data for funding. In one case, terrorist groups use the stolen credit card information to purchase $3 million of materials to carry out terrorist attacks. Al Qaeda's top cyber terrorist 23 year old Younes Tsouli (online name - Irhaby007), recently admitted conspiring to defraud banks, credit card companies and charge card companies.
For additional information about terrorist cyber attack capabilities you may want to download this CRS Report to Congress titled: Terrorist Capabilities for Cyber Attack.
Overview and Policy Issues:
The game has changed! Information security as it relates to sensitive data, like credit card information, has now risen because of the link to terrorist financing. Imagine the psychological impact if you were to find your credit card was used to finance a terrorist attack that resulted in the death of innocent civilians. Imagine the damage to a corporation's brand and possible backlash from their customers. Significant improvement in all aspects of security is needed to cut off this funding source.
Germany on Monday denied reports that its federal police and soldiers had covertly trained Libyan security forces, except in one case where a sergeant has been suspended and placed under investigation.
Although B-2 Spirit flying operations remain in temporary pause, the Airmen and aircraft are ready and capable to generate missions if necessary, according to Air Combat Command officials here and the 509th Bomb Wing commander at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
Two Mi-171 helicopters were accepted at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, which are to be delivered for antinarcotics service of Pakistan.
BAE Systems has been awarded a US $19.7 million contract modification from U.S. Army’s Anniston Army Depot to support, in partnership with the Depot, the reset to combat ready status of 57 Army-configured M88A1 medium recovery vehicles.
This year, the German army kickstarts Project Hercules, a multi-billion euro initiative transferring non-military computer services to a public-private partnership. The move has stirred deep unease in some quarters.
A top Taiwan air force officer said Monday that the United States may clear the island's bid to buy 66 F-16 fighters after the island's new president takes office, a move that could irk China.
Israeli ministers were scheduled April 7 to test their response to the scenario of simultaneous attacks from Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip as part of a major home front defense drill.
Lessons learned during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have created awareness amongst the top defence equipment manufacturers about the need for new technologies that increase survivability and limit the incidence of mobility kill during armoured warfare, particularly unconventional battle scenarios
Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly launched at 1:01 a.m. April 1 by Vandenberg Air Force Base officials.
Detained Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan said he took the blame four years ago for passing atomic secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya in order to "save his country".
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce the introduction of the AW139 helicopter into the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s search and rescue service.
The latest version of the Royal Navy's Tomahawk land attack missile (TLAM) has been declared operational - three months earlier than planned.
As the Swedish Air Force prepares to modernize its first C-130 aircraft, members of Sweden's C-130 program and Boeing's C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) are working together to ensure success.
The Royal Navy's nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Torbay, is returning to the Fleet following a year-long £8M refit at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, which has equipped her to be the most powerful boat in the fleet.
Pratt & Whitney completed all altitude testing necessary for flight qualification of the F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee.
Finmeccanica views Chile not just as a market but also as a potential partner. The Italian technology group participates in Chile’s FIDAE airshow with a stand shared by several of its companies.
The Boeing Company delivered the Canadian Forces' fourth C-17 Globemaster III today at the company's Long Beach, Calif., C-17 manufacturing facility, completing Canada's order for the world's most advanced air lifter.
I think this is awesome. Tell me why fuel cells aren't the answer for the dwindling carbon-based energy supplies.
Boeing announced [yesterday] that it has, for the first time in aviation history, flown a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The recent milestone is the work of an engineering team at Boeing Research & Technology Europe (BR&TE) in Madrid, with assistance from industry partners in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat with none of the products of combustion such as carbon dioxide. Other than heat, water is its only exhaust.
A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe. Built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, it was modified by BR&TE to include a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.
Three test flights took place in February and March at the airfield in Ocana, south of Madrid, operated by the Spanish company SENASA.
During the flights, the pilot of the experimental airplane climbed to an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level using a combination of battery power and power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Then, after reaching the cruise altitude and disconnecting the batteries, the pilot flew straight and level at a cruising speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) for approximately 20 minutes on power solely generated by the fuel cells.
According to Boeing researchers, PEM fuel cell technology potentially could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles. Over the longer term, solid oxide fuel cells could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units for large commercial airplanes. Boeing does not envision that fuel cells will ever provide primary power for large passenger airplanes, but the company will continue to investigate their potential, as well as other sustainable alternative fuel and energy sources that improve environmental performance.
(Gouge: ED)
-- Christian
NATO leaders ordered experts Thursday to draw up options for a missile system that would complement the US anti-missile shield and provide cover to some allies left out in the cold, a statement said.
Representatives from the Royal Saudi air force arrived to collect their newly repaired E-3 March 24 from Tinker Air Force Base officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds an unprecedented meeting with NATO leaders Friday amid deep divisions over the alliance's expansion but possible common ground in Afghanistan.
A locally developed second-stage rocket has been put through a live sequence test to determine if it can send its payload safely into orbit, the state-run aerospace research institute said Thursday
Casualties sustained in Afghanistan and Iraq by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have prompted the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to pay greater attention to electronic warfare (EW) programs.
The Air Force vice chief of staff and his counterparts from the other services, testified on readiness before the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support April 1.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has begun establishing the supply chain for the S-70i International Black Hawk Helicopter program, and is developing plans for the aircraft’s final assembly and hangar operations at the company’s PZL Mielec facility.
Some things you just can't change.
Remember when the Pentagon got all up in arms after pictures of custom nose-cone art filtered into the mainstream media during the invasion of Iraq (and some in Afghanistan)?
God forbid the troops have a little fun with the idea of putting warheads on the foreheads of the "butchers of Baghdad"...wouldn't want to offend anyone, huh?
Well, here's a similar little piece on a far more, shall we say, "lethal" nose cone...or blast door...or...oh, come on, you get the picture:
At the back of what looks like an enclosed porch of an unpretentious ranch house near Wall, South Dakota, a steel-runged ladder leads down a 30-foot concrete access shaft. At the bottom, a massive, eight-ton steel-and-concrete door is painted the red, white and blue image of a Dominos Pizza box, with a slightly altered phrasing of the chains familiar promise: World-wide Delivery in 30 Minutes or Less; Or Your Next One is Free. But in this case the Next One is a Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). For almost three decades, the house was the Delta One Launch Control Facility (LCF) for ten Minuteman missiles armed with nuclear warheads. The massive blast door was designed to ensure that the underground launch control center survived a nuclear attack.
Welcome to the mordant, jingoistic and occasionally crude but rarely before seen world of blast-door art.
Like the garish and cheeky illustrations etched across the noses of World War II aircraft, these images in launch control centers across the United States testify to the bravado of the men (and, from the mid-1980s onward, women) of what has been called Americas Underground Air Force. But they also reflect the sometimes surreal pressures faced by two-person missile crews on 24-hour duty alerts, waiting for a call to turn their missile launch keys and perhaps end civilization as we know it. Youre sitting there waiting for the message you hope never comes, says Tony Gatlin, who painted the Dominos homage as a young deputy flight commander at Delta One in 1989. Thats a pretty screwed up way of looking at the world.
Now an Air Force major and deputy director of staff with the 100th Air Refueling Wing, based at the Royal Air Forces Mildenhall Base, in England, Gatlin was struck by the similarity of Dominos delivery time and that of his missiles. One went with the other kind of well, he deadpans. Gatlins painting is one of only a few the public can see, following the transformation in 1999 of the Delta One control facility and the nearby Delta Nine missile silo into an historic site by the National Park Service (NPS). Under the terms of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the then-Soviet Union and the United States, many Minuteman missile sites have been deactivated or destroyed.
(Thanks to CM for the gouge)
-- Christian
BAE Systems today welcomed the publication of a new report which shows the Company adds billions of pounds to the UK economy through its contributions to GDP, employment, investment and research plus development spending.
In a test campaign on March 15, 2008, the RBS15 Mk3 heavy anti-ship missile, jointly developed by Diehl and Saab, demonstrated its ability to also engage land targets successfully.
BAE Systems has received a $132 million production contract from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for 179 Medium Mine-Protected Vehicles (MMPV).
Iraq is expected to buy more than $590 million in military equipment, including weapons and ammunition, in 2008, the U.S. military said April 2.
The US Army has taken delivery of 24 UH-72A Lakotas from EADS North America -- all received on time, or ahead of schedule -- as the new Light Utility Helicopter demonstrates its mission capabilities in operational service.
Saab has signed a contract for delivery of five GIRAFFE systems to prime contractor Lockheed Martin UK - INSYS, for the United Kingdom. The contract value for Saab is in the region of GBP 30 million.
Lockheed Martin opened its new P-3 Orion wing production line today, marking production kickoff at its Marietta, Ga., facilities with a brief ceremony attended by Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) and Lockheed Martin officials.
Ground commanders are to get a new system that will tell them what is happening in the air, helping to reduce friendly fire incidents and improve their ability to counter air attacks, under a £100 million contract with Lockheed Martin UK INSYS.
Space technology developed by Europe’s leading space company Astrium will soon be installed on French submarines.
On 1 April 2008 Thales Nederland was awarded a contract for the supply of integrated sensor, command & control and communication systems for three new multi-mission frigates that will be built for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
Pakistan Air Force achieved a major landmark in its Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) Program with the roll out of its first aircraft - SAAB 2000 AEWC - in a simple but impressive ceremony held at the Saab facility in Sweden.
I'm sure you all have already seen this, but here's a story we ran as our lead item at Military.com this morning:
DoD Audit Finds Body Armor Buys Flawed
The Army can't be sure some of its body armor met safety standards, partly because it didn't do proper paperwork on initial testing of the protective vests, a Defense Department audit said.
Democratic Rep. Louise M. Slaughter of New York, who requested the department inspector general's report, on April 3 demanded the firing of officials responsible. But the Army said the gear is safe and the issue is a disagreement over when and what type of testing is required - principally so-called "first article testing" typically done on a product before a contract is awarded.
The inspector general reviewed $5.2 billion worth of Army and Marine Corps contracts for body armor from 2004 through 2006.
"Specific information concerning testing and approval of first articles was not included in 13 of 28 Army contracts and orders reviewed, and contracting files were not maintained in 11 of 28 Army contracts to show why procurement decisions were made," the report concluded.
"As a result, DoD has no assurance that first articles produced under 13 of the 28 contracts and orders reviewed met the required standards," or that 11 of the 28 contracts were awarded based on informed decisions, it said.
The news wires beat me to the punch on this, but I did find the report on the DoD IG web site if you want to read it for yourself...
I also pinged PEO Soldier for their reaction to the report. Here's what they told me:
Soldier protection is the Army's top priority. Since its initial fielding in 1999, the Army's Interceptor Body Armor has demonstrated superior combat performance in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Many Soldiers are alive today because of it. Prior to issuing body armor to Soldiers, the U.S. Army conducts rigorous and extensive testing to ensure it meets Army standards and is safe for use by Soldiers in combat.
The Army is in full and complete compliance with the FAR, DFAR, source law and current policy in every case concerning body armor procurement.
The fact that the Defense Department Inspector General was not completely able to verify testing and approval of first-article testing or aspects of contracting files does not mean the body armor did not meet specifications.
The Army requires two levels of performance verification prior to acceptance of body armor issued to Soldiers: First Article Test (FAT) and Lot Acceptance Test (LAT). These two test requirements verify that body armor meets U.S. Army standards before being issued to Soldiers and ensure production processes remain in check. The Army's response to the draft report states that first-article testing is a regular and consistent current business practice for purchasing body armor.
The current body armor is doing what it is designed to do: stop or slow bullets and fragments, and reduce the severity of wounds.
Prevention of injuries to our men and women is a top priority for the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.
IG Report Points:
DoD IG found:
Now, I don't like the idea that the Army took shortcuts in testing. But I can understand that the service wouldn't pay for a series of FAT tests if they're contracting for another large buy of the same vest.
When I looked into the Marine Corps armor flaws -- where waivers were issued on specific production lots of armor that government testers believed were flawed -- the rejections did not require a FAT test to verify. In fact, the engineers looked at earlier FAT test data as a benchmark for performance of the new, flawed lots.
Technically, it seems correct that if the Army -- or any service -- is buying a new type of armor, or new components or either with new manufacturing techniques, a FAT test must be conducted. It seems to me on the surface that the Army issued a new contract to the same company -- Point Blank -- for the same vest with the same components and manufacturing technology as previous ones. That shouldn't technically require another FAT test. But, I guess you could argue that it's better to be safe than sorry.
As a commenter on the Military.com story put it:
"Yeah, it's too bad they cut through all the red tape to rush this equipment out to the troops instead of the usual procedure that keeps new gear in the prototype phase until years after the need has passed and the technology has become obsolete."
You can kind of see the guy's point.
-- Christian
The B-52 Stratofortress is continually modified with new technology making the 50-year-old airframe one of the Air Force's most effective long-range heavy bombers.
If America allows the improvised-explosive device to control its strategic decisions, IED will become the weapon of choice for all of America's enemies, according to the director of the organization charged with its defeat.
The chief of the US military said Wednesday it was too soon to tell who won or lost the Iraqi government's fight against Shiite militiamen in Basra.
For only the sixth time in its 59-year history, NATO is poised to expand its membership this week At the alliance’s three-day summit conference that begins tomorrow in Bucharest, Romania, officials are expected to extend an invitation to Albania, Croatia and Macedonia for NATO membership.
BAE Systems has received a new order from the U.S. Department of Defense for 87 additional M777A2 155mm towed howitzers, valued at $176 million.
Is it un-American to want the U.S. Air Force to purchase the primarily European-built EADS Airbus A330 aircraft for its next-generation tanker aircraft? Speaker of the House Ms Nancy Pelosi and several members of Congress, Republicans as well as Democrats, believe that to procure a foreign aircraft is reprehensible.
The A330MRTT was selected in a second competition for the next-generation tanker -- to be designated KC-45 -- winning out against the Boeing KC-767. There was great irony when the Air Force announced selection of the A330MRTT in late February 2008. Boeing had been awarded a contract for its KC-767AT to serve as the next-generation tanker in a 2002 lease-buy agreement. That deal was to provide 100 tankers at a cost of more than $20 billion.
But several members of Congress as well as Department of Defense officials and analysts questioned that deal. It unraveled with the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition -- who took a job with Boeing shortly after the contract award -- going to jail and several Boeing officials stepping down.
A new competition for the tanker contract was held with a rigorous and transparent process. The A330MRTT was selected on the basis of cost and, in most selection categories, superior performance. The A330MRTT has operated as a tanker and has been selected for that role by Great Britain (14 aircraft), Australia (5), the United Arab Emirates (3), and Saudi Arabia (3).
(While the KC-767AT has not yet operated as a tanker, four have been ordered by Italy and Japan has ordered four convertible freighter variants.)
Boeing has protested the tanker award and several members of Congress have declared that the foreign buy (1) would cost American jobs,(2) was possible only because of European governments subsidizing the aircrafts development, and (3) secret American technology would be lost. These issues dominate the debate as this blog is written.
Yes, American jobs will be lost. Boeing would have to work harder to sell more aircraft to compensate for the loss of tanker aircraft. Airbus, owned by EADS, and its American partner -- Northrop Grumman -- will assemble the aircraft in Mobile, Alabama, creating new jobs in what the firm calls "a new aerospace manufacturing corridor in the southeastern United States." This could strengthen the overall U.S. aerospace base.
The argument that European nations, especially France, help pay for the lower-cost A330 is great. An aircraft that costs less for the same (or superior) performance is good for American taxpayers. We have previously procured foreign-developed and even foreign-built aircraft in the past-the British AV-8 Harrier, the French HU-25 Guardian and HH-65 Dolphin, and the Italian MH-68 Stingray; the U.S. services have also bought foreign-developed missiles, fire control systems, uniforms, and even ships. At the same time, foreign nations -- often under "buy-back" agreements -- use American-built aircraft, missiles, torpedoes, communications gear, and more. Indeed, the French Air Force flies Boeing-built KC-135 tankers as does Turkey and Singapore.
It is difficult to understand what "secret" American technology would be lost if the U.S. Air Force uses foreign-built tankers. Today the U.S. Air Force refuels foreign tactical aircraft, and the U.S. military aircraft regularly refuel from foreign tankers. And, the various services have regular personnel exchanges and share technical data on their tankers.
The KC-45 tanker buy will see the procurement of up to 179 aircraft for approximately $35 billion.
The Air Force selection used a "best value" determination to select a winner on the basis of mission capability, proposal risk, past performance, cost/price, and an integrated fleet air refueling assessment. The Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Duncan J. McNabb, has said, "The tanker is the number one procurement priority for us right now."
The new aircraft is needed. The competition was fair and transparent. For several reasons, the A330MRTT was the right selection. Time to move on.
President Bush strongly endorsed Ukraine’s and Georgia’s aspirations to join NATO during a news conference with reporters in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv today.
The above is the question that the US Department of Defense is asking itself, courtesy of a new Defense Science Board Task Force chaired by Jacques Gansler. I wrote about the issue in a news analysis published this week in Flight International. I've posted an excerpt below, and you can read the full story here.
Taking an "off-the-shelf" aircraft and adapting it for a new military role was supposed to be the cheap and easy alternative to designing an all-new platform.
So, in accord with the mantra "faster, better and cheaper", US military services since 2001 have often turned to off-the-shelf derivatives of commercial and military aircraft to satisfy new and emerging requirements for a wide range of missions, including scout and utility helicopters, VIP transports, surveillance aircraft and aerial tankers, to name but a few.
The results, however, have proved disappointing. Far from removing cost and schedule risks, procurements based on off-the-shelf aircraft and similar equipment have led to some of the most expensive acquisition fiascos for the US military over the last decade.
Examples range from aborted efforts, such as the ERJ-145-based aerial common sensor (ACS) or the 767-400ER-based E-10A, to multi-billion dollar development fiascos, as endured by the EH101-based VH-71A presidential helicopter and the Bell 407-based ARH-71A armed reconnaissance helicopter.
Despite the dubious track record, off-the-shelf alternatives remain popular. A pending contract for an unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft, as well future procurements for new signals intelligence fleets, are all expected to rely on platforms originally designed to perform a different role.
Jacques Gansler, a former US undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (ATL), has been recruited to help solve the Department of Defense's problem.
"A lot of the older systems also had the same characteristics" as today's off-the-shelf aircraft programmes, Gansler says, adding: "We've just got a collection now of bad stories."
Current ATL chief John Young has tapped Gansler to chair a task force aimed at evaluating the reasons why acquisition programmes based on off-the-shelf equipment often fail or face costly delays.
Recent events have raised the concerns about hidden backdoors and malicious code inside of counterfeit hardware -- all the way down to the integrated circuit level.
In fact, a 2005 report by the Pentagon's Defense Science Board addresses this issue. While this report assessed the problem, recent events have now raised the anxiety over cyber sabotage in bogus hardware. In fact, many consider the use of compromised counterfeit hardware as a strategic tactic in cyber warfare.
In January of 2008, a joint task force seized $78 million of counterfeit Cisco networking hardware. This international effort resulted in over 400 seizures of counterfeit networking hardware that was shipped between China, Canada and the United States. This international effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and supported by other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clearly shows the criminal efforts that are underway.
This investigation has been underway for the last two years and has shown great results.
The Numbers:
While there has been no public disclosure of counterfeit hardware sabotage/espionage on America by foreign countries or rogue groups, the threat is there. Supply-Chain threats have now moved into the spotlight and many organizations are moving to address the threat of purchasing counterfeit computer related equipment. Sources at Spy-Ops told me that in 2008 they estimate counterfeit computer hardware will exceed $1.25 billion and that current security measures such as holographic labels on integrated circuits and printed circuit boards are no longer adequate means to identify authentic equipment.
Michelle Kalnas, a supply-chain subject matter expert working with me on this issue pointed out that refurbished computer equipment poses the same threat and is more difficult to control. She went on to say that, "Close coordination between the security department and purchasing with external critical equipment vendors is necessary to resolve this issue. But at this time it is the exception not the rule."
The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard have joined forces in an unprecedented effort to create a unified maritime strategy, describing how seapower will be applied in the 21st century to protect America’s way of life.
To meet a critical warfighter need, Tobyhanna produced a month's worth of kits in just nine days.
BAE Systems is displaying the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), during the 7th Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX) held at the King Abdullah II Airbase near Amman, Jordan March 31-April 3.
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $10.4 billion, five-year Multi-Year Procurement contract for 167 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter and The Boeing Company.
Turkey's army chief on Saturday backed planned peace negotiations to reunify Cyprus, but warned that a withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from the island after any deal would not be swift.
During combined combat system ship qualification trials, the U.S. Navy's guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG-102) flight tested four Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News)-built Standard Missile 2 Block IIIB missiles.
A Raytheon Company AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile successfully destroyed its target Feb. 13 in a test engagement of the newest variant of the combat-proven missile.
With progress made in developing Afghanistan’s army and police forces, the coalition focus there has expanded to include building an Afghan air corps, the U.S. general leading the effort told military analysts today.
We just got word through the grapevine that a V-22 multi-year plan has been reached between Bell-Boeing and the government. The plan guarantees a buy of 167 Ospreys for $10.4 billion. That's about $62 million per aircraft, which is above the unit flyaway target of $58 million, but considerably down from the $72 million or so price of recent years.
This multi-year plan has been in works for years. Sticky points were the wording of the commitment letter and the details surrounding "reopeners" - the caveats that would allow the government to renegotiate the terms in the future.
Meanwhile, word from the front is the V-22 has morphed into the VIP transport of choice due to its speed and smooth ride. (Even John McCain was ferried around in one during his recent visit.)
(Gouge - SC)
-- Ward
Army officials announced today that the service has suspended its contract with a company that delivered ammunition from China for use by Afghan army and police forces in a way that violated the contract terms.
In a new study, “The Market for Medium/Heavy Military Rotorcraft,” Forecast International projects that a total of 3,706 rotorcraft will be produced in this market segment from 2008 through 2017. The value of this production is estimated at $84 billion.
The Boeing Company has returned the second C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft, H2.5, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for continued testing and software upgrades.
Australian scientists have developed a prototype remote-controlled robotic vehicle to detect radiation, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, The Hon. Warren Snowdon, announced today.
Thales has received an order to supply, integrate and install four additional sonar suites under the Franco-Italian FREMM multimission frigate programme.
Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, has today responded to a request from the Croatian government for information regarding the supply of 12 new Gripen fighter aircraft.
The MoD "needs to take the difficult decisions which will lead to a realistic and affordable Equipment Programme", according to a report published today by the House of Commons Defence Committee
A fleet of new Airbus A330-200s will replace the RAF's TriStar and VC-10 aircraft under a £13 billion PFI deal signed today with AirTanker Ltd, announced Baroness Taylor, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support.
The Swedish Armed Forces are in the process of losing a part of their capability to operate in a winter environment – snow, darkness and cold. Can it really be that bad?
AirTanker and its Shareholders (Cobham, EADS, Rolls-Royce, Thales UK and VT Group) have today signed a 27-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of an advanced Air to Air Refuelling and Air Transport capability for the Royal Air Force.
Plans to sell three Airbus plants in Germany have been scrapped after talks between the three parties involved collapsed on Thursday. But Airbus parent EADS did score a lucrative contract with Britain's Royal Air Force.
AirTanker, the EADS-led consortium, has today signed a 27 year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of air transport and air refuelling capability to the Royal Air Force.
Cobham plc has today delivered the tenth and final new border patrol surveillance aircraft to the Australian Border Protection Command, under the AUS$1 billion, 12 year Sentinel project.
Enjoy what's left of your weekend by riding along on the shuttle during launch:
(Gouge CM)
-- Ward
It ain't sexy, but this is how you build an army.
Here's a list of the latest trucks the Iraqi army bought as part of its foreign military sales activities (from Multi-National Security Transition Command):
This Foreign Military Sales delivery included logistical support equipment such as 4 BREM tracked recovery vehicles, 47 x 2,000 liter water trailers, 66 x 5-ton cargo trucks, and 175 x 1-ton cargo trailers. This equipment is valued in excess of $11.4 million.
The delivery of the 19 x Shop Equipment Contact Maintenance Humvees, procured through the Iraqi Security Forces Fund, are valued in excess of $3.2 million. These vehicles will increase the capacity of the Iraqi army to repair vehicles and equipment.
This equipment and materiel will be issued to Iraqi Army units throughout the country as new units are generated and to replace any losses that have occurred in their efforts to secure the country.
What's the weakest link in the Iraqi army? Combat support and logistics. These trucks will go a long way to relieving some of that pressure on coalition forces.
-- Christian
Raytheon Company has been awarded a $17.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy and the NATO SEASPARROW Project Office for the company's MK57, MK29 and MK73 NATO SEASPARROW missile systems.
So where do you come down on corporate presence in the blogosphere? Let us know:
-- Christian
The Army's only tactical unmanned air vehicle (UAV) regiment, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, have said farewell to the Phoenix UAV surveillance aircraft which has most recently been used on operations in Iraq.
Now Boeing's gone all "new media" on us, putting together a web log that focuses on its Tanker Deal protest.
Good on 'em for recognizing that blogs like DT and Ares and The Dewline are a force to be reckoned with in shaping the debate and often cross-reference within the blog world. But I've always found it kind of pathetic when "big business" tries to blog.
I mean, isn't the appeal of Defense Tech and our other blog friends the fact that we're not tied to any corporate interests in the defense world? That's what blogs are for; and the idea that Boeing -- or NorGrum/EADS, for that matter -- can pump out investigative insights on the subject instead of market-tested bullet points is preposterous. There won't be any candor. There won't be any objectivity.
While we have our protest in with the GAO, we wanted Americans to know that the KC-X acquisition process was flawed and clearly understand our reasons for protesting. Boeing firmly believes that changes were made to the bid requirements and evaluation criteria that led the Air Force away from a highly capable, mid-sized tanker and pushed them into selecting a less capable, less survivable tanker.
With a GAO decision on the protest due in twelve weeks, we will continue to tell our story throughout the country in order to leave no doubt that Boeing offered the most capable tanker, at the lowest risk to the warfighter and taxpayer.
Mark McGraw Vice President & Program Manager 767 Tanker Programs.
Oh well.
But that's okay. Since the blogosphere is open to everyone, everyone seems to think they need a presence in it. We'll take the info for what it's worth and move on.
Let's just keep an eye on the internet jockeying and where it lands.
-- Christian
BAE Systems today showcased a vision system suite with content developed here for military ground vehicles that provides enhanced situational awareness for U.S. and coalition ground forces.
The Department of Defense announced today that four non-nuclear ballistic missile nose-cone assembly components were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan in August 2006.
The US military has regained control of four non-nuclear nose cone assemblies for a Minuteman missile mistakenly sent to Taiwan in 2006, Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said during a news conference here today.
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s RQ-4 Global Hawk set an endurance record for a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft on Saturday, March 22, 2008, when it completed a flight of 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000 feet over Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The launch of a Russian carrier rocket with a German satellite from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia has been postponed until March 26 due to poor weather, a spokesman for Russia's Space Forces said on Tuesday.
Finland has decided to take part in a joint purchase of large military transport planes along with Sweden and a number of NATO countries.
The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract worth $166.4 million for the production of 2.75-inch Hydra-70 rockets.
The Nordic Battlegroup now has access to four HKP 4 (CH-46s—Ed.) helicopters. The second type of helicopter with which the Nordic Battlegroup is to be equipped has, however, still not been delivered.
For two years the submarine HMS Gotland has been on exercises with the American naval forces in the Pacific. The aim of the exercise has been to prepare for participation in international peacekeeping missions and to contribute to the development of the submarine forces of both countries.
After the completion of the Torpedo Reliability Demonstration Programme (TRDP) and the introduction of the BLOCK1 upgrade into the weapons in order to maximize reliability, the MU90 LWT sea acceptance firings, together with torpedo deliveries to customers, are running at full steam.
With the handover of GT015, a German Twin-Seater aircraft, the final aircraft out of Tranche 1 destined for the four partner Air Forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom in the core programme has been delivered on March 20, 2008.
With U.S. civil and military officials increasingly concerned about cyber attack