DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Iran Warns Deployment Of F-22s In UAE Is Harmful And Destabilizing Regional Security

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Iran Warns Deployment Of F-22s In UAE Is Harmful And Destabilizing Regional Security


(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 1, 2012: Iran's Defence Minister, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, has warned that the basing of the US F-22 Raptor strike aircraft in the United Arab Emirates is "detrimental to regional security."


According to the FARS news agency Vahidi said today that "The deployment of F-22 fighters in a base in the UAE is a harmful move and undermines the security of the region.      


"We consider such (military) presence in the region as to be useless and harmful and more aimed at creating a psychological ploy and an insecure atmosphere in the region. We don't see it useful" Vahidi told Al Alam TV network, according to FARS.


Vahidi said that guaranteeing security in region is possible only through cooperation among all the regional states. 


The comments by the Iranian minister came after media reports revealed that the US has recently deployed its F-22 Raptors at the UAE Al Dafra Air Base.
In a comment, FARS said that Iranian officials have always cautioned about the devastating consequences of tension in the region, and called on certain regional states to be "watchful of the plots of some aliens who seek to stir tension in this sensitive region."


It said: "Tehran believes that deployment of trans-regional powers in the region impairs security and is a source of tension in the region, reiterating that regional peace and security will be established if all the regional countries grow united and stage all-out cooperation."


http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/05/dtn-news-defense-news-iran-warns.html

DTN News - MALABAR 2012: Delhi Scales Down US War Games - Air force Request To Join Exercise With American Navy Turned Down

DTN News - MALABAR 2012: Delhi Scales Down US War Games - Air force Request To Join Exercise With American Navy Turned Down

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 29, 2012: The Centre recently turned down an air force request to participate in the war games with the US navy in the Bay of Bengal that concluded last week.

The seven-day Malabar 2012 exercise involved the American and Indian navies.

The Centre’s move followed a quiet policy decision in the defence ministry to scale down — but not stop — the friendly military engagements with the US armed forces, which have gathered pace and increased in complexity over the past decade.

The defence ministry is wary of the “hype” that the US builds around joint military exercises with India.

Among the most important of the war games that the Indian and US forces conduct is the Malabar series involving the two navies. An air force component is integral to the exercises because the US deploys a carrier battle group.

The Malabar exercise in 2007 in the Bay of Bengal involved the armed forces of five countries and was easily the largest international war games that India has hosted. The exercise involved three aircraft carriers and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

That drill irritated the Chinese so much that Beijing asked New Delhi if it was forging a military alliance against it.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-malabar-2012-delhi-scales-down.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Northrop Grumman Upgrade Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter For U.S. Navy

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Northrop Grumman Upgrade Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter For U.S. Navy

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 25, 2012: The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander's intelligence-gathering efforts.

According to a U.S. Department of Defense news release on contract awards released April 23, the company will produce a total of eight Fire Scouts within an amount not to exceed $262 million. The Navy plans to purchase a total of 28 aircraft under a rapid development effort.

The Fire Scout endurance upgrade has been designated as the MQ-8C.

"Through our company-funded Fire-X demonstration effort we proved that using the mature unmanned systems architecture developed for the MQ-8B Fire Scout paired with the Bell 407 helicopter would provide greater capability efficiently and affordably," said Duke Dufresne, vice president and general manager for unmanned systems. "By using systems that have many years of development already invested in them we can meet the Navy's needs quickly."

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the MQ-8C program. Major suppliers for new variant include Bell Helicopter and Rolls Royce.

Final assembly of the new Fire Scout variant will be completed at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-defense-news-northrop-grumman.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Boeing $30,144,000 To Procure Additional Long Lead Materials In Support Of U.S. Navy P-8A

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS:  U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Boeing $30,144,000 To Procure Additional Long Lead Materials In Support Of U.S. Navy P-8A

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 26, 2012: The Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $30,144,000 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-09-C-0022) to procure additional long lead materials in support of P-8A Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) III.  

Work will be performed in Seattle, Wash. (63.8 percent); Greenlawn, N.Y. (11.7 percent); Baltimore, Md. (11.0 percent); North Amityville, N.Y. (8.2 percent); and McKinney, Texas (5.3 percent); and is expected to be completed in May 2015.  

Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  

The Naval Air System Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.   

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/03/dtn-news-defense-news-us-dod-awarded_26.html 

DTN News - ISRAELI DEFENSE NEWS: The Israeli Red Flag

DTN News - ISRAELI DEFENSE NEWS: The Israeli Red Flag

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 24, 2012: For the third time in the last six months the Israeli Air Force has hosted foreign fighter pilots for tactical training. Israeli fighter pilots are considered the best trained in the world, and Israel maintains a special training program, complete with pilots trained and equipped to operate as likely foes would, to train their own pilots. The latest nation to send fighters and pilots for training is Poland, flying F-16s in for that purpose. Previously, Italy had sent Typhoons and Tornados and Greece F-16s.

The Israeli training center is based on the one pioneered by the U.S. Air Force Red Flag program and the U.S. Navy's Top Gun training. Using American aircraft for "aggressor (or dissimilar) training" began in the 1960s. The original "Top Gun" fighter pilot school was established in 1969, by the U.S. Navy, in response to the poor performance of its pilots against North Vietnamese pilots flying Russian fighters. What made the Top Gun operation different was that the training emphasized how the enemy aircraft and pilots operated. This was called "dissimilar training". In the past, American pilots practiced against American pilots, with everyone flying American aircraft and using American tactics. It worked in World War II because the enemy pilots were not getting a lot of practice and were using similar aircraft and tactics anyway. Most importantly, there was a lot of aerial combat going on, providing ample opportunity for on-the-job training. Not so in Vietnam, where the quite different Russian-trained North Vietnamese were giving U.S. aviators an awful time. The four week Top Gun program solved the problem. The air force followed shortly with its Red Flag school.

Over the last 40 years the two training programs have developed differently, and the entire concept of "dissimilar training" has changed. The navy kept Top Gun as a program to hone a fighter pilot's combat skills. The air force made their Red Flag program more elaborate, bringing in the many different types of aircraft involved in combat missions (especially electronic warfare). But after the Cold War ended it became increasingly obvious that none of America's potential enemies was providing their fighter pilots with much training at all.

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Strategy Page

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/03/dtn-news-israeli-defense-news-israeli.html 

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Delivers 1st P-8A Poseidon Production Aircraft To US Navy‏

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Delivers 1st P-8A Poseidon Production Aircraft To US Navy‏

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 6, 2012: Boeing [NYSE: BA] on March 4 officially delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of 13 anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeing will deliver as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2011.

“Delivering this capability to the warfighter is the ultimate goal and we’re proud to be able to meet our commitment and hand over the P-8A ‘keys’ to the Navy fleet,” said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager. “This is a great day for Boeing, our supplier teammates and our Navy customer.”

“The Navy fleet is more than ready to receive the P-8A, which will provide the users and operators a step increase in mission capabilities,” said Rear Admiral Paul Grosklags, U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs. “Thanks to Boeing and the entire team for its efforts and great partnership to date.”

Following delivery in Seattle, Navy pilots flew the first production P-8A, LRIP1-1, to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., where it will be used for aircrew training.

The Poseidon team is using a first-in-industry in-line production process that draws on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737 production system. All P-8A-unique aircraft modifications are made in sequence during fabrication and assembly.

Along with production aircraft, the P-8A team also has built and is testing six flight-test and two ground-test aircraft. The flight-test aircraft are based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and have completed more than 1,500 flight hours.

A derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, the Poseidon is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.

The Navy plans to purchase 117 Boeing 737-based P-8A aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/03/dtn-news-defense-news-boeing-delivers.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Panetta Cites ‘Red Lines’ Iran Should Avoid

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Panetta Cites ‘Red Lines’ Iran Should Avoid


(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 16, 2012:  The nation is open to reaching diplomatic solutions with Iran, but is keeping all options on the table in case clear-cut “red lines” are crossed, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.


Speaking to members of a House Appropriations subcommittee, Panetta said Iran is becoming increasingly isolated in the world.


“The international community has sent a very clear message,” he said. “We will not tolerate this. You’ve got to change your ways. You’ve got to come into the international community. You’ve got to abide by international laws, rules and regulations.”


The United States and the international community share the same concerns, Panetta noted. First, he said, “We will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.”


Panetta said intelligence reports clearly indicate that Iran continues to develop its enrichment capability; however, “intelligence does not show they’ve made the decision to proceed with developing a nuclear weapon.”


“That is the red line that would concern us and that would ensure the international community, hopefully together, would respond,” he said.


The international community also will not allow Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary said. The strait is the only sea passage to the open ocean for petroleum-producing nations in the Persian Gulf region. Iran recently threatened to cut off access to the strait if the United States continues to maintain an aircraft carrier presence there.


Other concerns include the spread of violence, the country’s support of terrorism and its attempts to undermine other nations, Panetta added.


“All of that has been made very clear,” he said.


The international community has implemented strong diplomatic and economic sanctions that are having “a very strong impact,” he said.


“We are open … to negotiations with them to try to find a diplomatic solution to these issues, but we do keep all options on the table in the event the red lines, I just made very clear, are crossed,” Panetta said.


http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-defense-news-panetta-cites-red.html

DTN News - AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets To Receive New Air Combat Training System

DTN News -  AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets To Receive New Air Combat Training System

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 15, 2012: Cubic Defense Applications, Inc., a defense systems business of Cubic Corporation CUB -0.12%, has received a new contract valued at more than $11 million. Cubic and its principal subcontractor, DRS Training and Control Systems LLC, a unit of DRS Defense Solutions LLC, will provide the P5 Tactical Combat Training System (P5TCTS) to the Royal Australian Air Force for use in training F/A-18F Super Hornet crews.

"This new system represents a step forward for the RAAF," said Michael Rodriguez, Senior Program Manager, Air Ranges. "Australia currently operates a fourth generation Cubic air combat training system at RAAF Base Williamtown for training on its F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. The RAAF decided to purchase the fifth generation P5TCTS for use on its newest F/A-18F aircraft operating at RAAF Base Amberley. This new system will allow for interoperability with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft that the RAAF is planning to purchase in the near future. All F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for Australia will be delivered with an on-board, internal P5 airborne subsystem."

P5TCTS for the Super Hornet will be delivered in late 2012 to RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. Amberley was previously home to the RAAF's F-111 aircraft, which were recently retired from service and were replaced with two squadrons of F/A-18F Super Hornets. The RAAF's new P5TCTS will be very similar to the current U.S. Navy TCTS system and will include airborne instrumentation pods built by principal subcontractor DRS, transportable ground systems with live monitor, and portable ground subsystems, which includes Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System (ICADS) software for debriefing. For this effort Cubic, has also been contracted to provide software and hardware to ensure that the legacy Cubic-developed Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system operating at Williamtown will be able to "merge data" to allow for postmission debriefing between the Classic Hornet and Super Hornet aircrews.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-australian-defense-news-royal.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Navy says Iran Prepares Suicide Bomb Boats In Gulf

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Navy says Iran Prepares Suicide Bomb Boats In Gulf

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 12, 2012: Iran has built up its naval forces in the Gulf and prepared boats that could be used in suicide attacks, but the U.S. Navy can prevent it from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the region said on Sunday.

Iran has made a series of threats in recent weeks to disrupt shipping in the Gulf or strike U.S. forces in retaliation if its oil trade is shut down by sanctions, or if its disputed nuclear program comes under attack.

"They have increased the number of submarines ... they increased the number of fast attack craft," Vice Admiral Mark Fox told reporters. "Some of the small boats have been outfitted with a large warhead that could be used as a suicide explosive device. The Iranians have a large mine inventory."

 "We have watched with interest their development of long range rockets and short, medium and long range ballistic missiles and of course ... the development of their nuclear program," Fox, who heads the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said at a briefing on the fleet's base in the Gulf state of Bahrain.

Iran now has 10 small submarines, he said.

Military experts say the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet patrolling the Gulf - which always has at least one giant supercarrier accompanied by scores of jets and a fleet of frigates and destroyers - is overwhelmingly more powerful than Iran's navy.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-defense-news-us-navy-says-iran.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Navy says Iran Prepares Suicide Bomb Boats In Gulf

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Navy says Iran Prepares Suicide Bomb Boats In Gulf

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 12, 2012: Iran has built up its naval forces in the Gulf and prepared boats that could be used in suicide attacks, but the U.S. Navy can prevent it from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the region said on Sunday.

Iran has made a series of threats in recent weeks to disrupt shipping in the Gulf or strike U.S. forces in retaliation if its oil trade is shut down by sanctions, or if its disputed nuclear program comes under attack.

"They have increased the number of submarines ... they increased the number of fast attack craft," Vice Admiral Mark Fox told reporters. "Some of the small boats have been outfitted with a large warhead that could be used as a suicide explosive device. The Iranians have a large mine inventory."

 "We have watched with interest their development of long range rockets and short, medium and long range ballistic missiles and of course ... the development of their nuclear program," Fox, who heads the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said at a briefing on the fleet's base in the Gulf state of Bahrain.

Iran now has 10 small submarines, he said.

Military experts say the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet patrolling the Gulf - which always has at least one giant supercarrier accompanied by scores of jets and a fleet of frigates and destroyers - is overwhelmingly more powerful than Iran's navy.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-defense-news-us-navy-says-iran.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Oshkosh Defense For Navy LVSR

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Oshkosh Defense For Navy LVSR 

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 4, 2012:  Oshkosh Defense, Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded $94,352,041 for fixed-price delivery order 0151 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028) for the purchase of 143 Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) production cargo vehicles, federal retail excise tax for 113 cargo vehicles; 69 LVSR tractor (fifth wheel) vehicles; and federal retail excise tax for 20 tractor vehicles.  

Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2013.  

Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Northrop Grumman Amounting $157,942,000 For E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircrafts

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS:  U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Northrop Grumman Amounting $157,942,000 For E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircrafts 

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 1, 2012:  Northrop Grumman Corp., Integrated Systems, Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $157,942,000 advance acquisition contract for long lead material and related support for the full rate production of five E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft (Lot 1).  

Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y. (32.6 percent); Bethpage, N.Y. (15.5 percent); Dallas, Texas (12.4 percent); Menlo Park, Calif. (9.8 percent); Woodland Hills, Calif. (6 percent); and various locations within the United States (23.7 percent).  

The work is expected to be completed in March 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-12-C-0063).

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-defense-news-us-dod-awarded_02.html 

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Begins Production Of F/A-18E/F Distributed Targeting System

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Begins Production Of  F/A-18E/F Distributed Targeting System

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / ST. LOUIS, - February 1, 2012: Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has started production of the new Distributed Targeting System (DTS) for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter.

DTS provides enhanced targeting capability for the Super Hornet. It is part of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Network Centric Warfare Upgrades program and the F/A-18E/F Flight Plan, which will ensure that the Super Hornet remains ahead of emerging threats in coming decades.

The Navy granted approval for Low Rate Initial Production of DTS following successful completion of initial operational assessment flight testing at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., and NavalAir Station Patuxent River, Md., between September 2010 and March 2011. Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons VX-31 and VX-23 conducted the tests.

“Distributed targeting is going to be a real game-changer for Super Hornet aircrews,” said Kevin Fogarty, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G Mission Systems director. “DTS increases pilot and aircrew situational awareness and precision targeting when engaging air-to-ground targets, in part by using geo-registration technology.”

Geo-registration technology compares images taken from tactical sensors with an onboard imagerydatabase to produce highly accurate target coordinates.

DTS is on schedule to achieve Initial Operational Capability in January 2013.

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 480 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered ahead of schedule and on budget.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-defense-news-boeing-begins.html