Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Jul 2004 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties

• Rumsfeld: Security Role Shifting from Coalition to Iraqi Forces AFPS 19 Jul 2004 -- U.S. and coalition military officials are working with Iraq's interim government to fashion a military chain of command for the Iraqi forces, according to Defense Secretary Donald H. . HRumsfeld.
• HASSOUN DISAPPEARANCE VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- An American Muslim Marine who was reported to have been kidnapped by extremists in Iraq has spoken about his ordeal for the first time since his return to the United States last week. But the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun still remain unknown amid an on going investigation by the military.
• Iraqi Guard, Police Conduct First Major Joint Operation AFPS 19 Jul 2004 -- The Iraqi national guard and police worked together on a large-scale operation for the first time July 18 to search for insurgents involved in an attack that killed an Iraqi police officer and wounded two others, a coalition news release announced today.
• Car Bomb Kills At Least Nine In Baghdad RFE/RL 19 Jul 2004 -- Iraqi officials say at least nine people were killed by a car bomb that exploded outside a police station in Baghdad today.
• IRAQ WRAP VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- At least nine people were killed and as many as 60 others wounded following the bombing of a police station in southern Baghdad. Elsewhere in the capital, gunmen assassinated a senior defense ministry official near his home late Sunday. Meanwhile, the Philippines waits to see if kidnappers release a Filipino hostage.

• COALITION FORCES SEIZE WEAPONS CACHES CENTCOM 19 Jul 2004 -- Coalition forces on Saturday seized two weapons caches 39 kilometers southeast of Qalat.
• Afghanistan: U.S. Envoy Says Free Elections, Disbanding Militias Key To Country's Future RFE/RL 19 Jul 2004 -- Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, told RFE/RL that Washington will not attempt to influence the country's presidential elections in October. Khalilzad, who was in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) in search of investment from the local Afghan community, also said the United States is determined to help disarm Afghanistan's private militias.

• Firefighting Missions Keep Guard, Reserve Units Busy AFPS 19 Jul 2004 -- Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units are staying busy with firefighting missions in the West.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S.: Big Week Begins For Prisoners Held By Pentagon RFE/RL 19 Jul 2004 -- The status of prisoners captured by U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan and Iraq is a controversial issue in the United States. Lawmakers continue to receive new reports of abuses of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops. And the Supreme Court has sought to clarify the legal status of foreign detainees at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, saying they have the same rights as prisoners incarcerated in the United States.

• 'We Do Not Need a Draft,' Rumsfeld Says AFPS 19 Jul 2004 -- "We do not need a draft," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in a July 16 interview with National Public Radio. The all- volunteer force "has worked brilliantly for our country."
• HST Strike Group Completes Majestic Eagle Navy Newsstand 19 Jul 2004 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) (HST) and the other ships in its strike group wrapped up a first-of-its-kind multinational exercise known as Majestic Eagle July 15.
• CNA Report SURFPAC's Sea Swap Experiment a Success Navy Newsstand 19 Jul 2004 -- Vice Adm. Timothy W. LaFleur, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SURFPAC) discussed the findings of the Center for Naval Analyses' (CNA) Lessons Learned from SURFPAC's DD/DDG (destroyer) Sea Swap program during a media conference July 13.
• Kitty Hawk Underway in Support of Summer Pulse '04 Navy Newsstand 19 Jul 2004 -- This summer, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) will continue to make history as she participates in the Navy's Summer Pulse '04 Exercise.
• Main Engine light off in First Ship of LPD 17 Class NAVSEA 19 Jul 2004 -- A significant event recently occurred for the first of the LPD 17 class ships, the USS future San Antonio. Two of the four Colt Pielstick Main Propulsion Diesel Engines were started on 11 and 12 July at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Division.
• NSWC Crane teams with European Counterparts in Infrared Countermeasures Testing NAVSEA 19 Jul 2004 -- NSWC Crane supported infrared (IR) countermeasures testing at the Royal Artillery Range, Manorbier, Wales, and United Kingdom (UK) during May 2004. The purpose of the test was to compare various European and U.S. spectrally balanced decoys on a number of Dutch and British aircraft, including the F-16, Euro Fighter, Fokker 60, C-130, AH-64 and AV-8 Harrier. Trial participants included the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States.

• Putin Sacks Several Top Military, Security Officers RFE/RL 19 Jul 2004 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today dismissed several top military and security officers.
• Putin Names New Head Of Russian Armed Forces RFE/RL 19 Jul 2004 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today dismissed several top military and security officers.

• State Department Noon Briefing, July 19 Washington File 19 Jul 2004 -- Iraq, Japan, Iran, Israel/Palestinians, Sudan, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Under Secretary Bolton Travel, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Greece
• White House Daily Briefing, July 19 Washington File 19 Jul 2004 -- President's schedule, United States intelligence, Iran, responsibility for Iraq war, new CIA Director, India, Israel/Palestine, Haiti, custody of Mr. Jenkins

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Signs International Agreements For F-35 Joint Strike Fighter BAE Systems 19 Jul 2004 -- BAE Systems North America recently signed Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) for work-share partnerships with Norway, The Netherlands, Italy, and Australia for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
• BAE SYSTEMS TrilogiView "Paperless Manual" Selected For F-35 JSF BAE Systems 19 Jul 2004 -- BAE Systems trilogiView technical information web browser has been selected for the worlds largest military programme, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. BAE Systems is already a partner on the programme.
• BAE SYSTEMS Completes Hardware delivery For UK Fast Jet DIRCM BAE Systems 19 Jul 2004 -- BAE Systems recently completed hardware delivery for the United Kingdom Fast Jet Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), achieving the key system acceptance milestone for the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Boeing X-45C Full-Scale Model Makes Debut at Farnborough Boeing 19 Jul 2004 -- A glimpse into the future was unveiled today when the Boeing [NYSE: BA] Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45C full-scale model made its debut at the Farnborough International Air Show.
• EADS Defence and Communications Systems rolls out the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar System in Lithuania EADS 19 Jul 2004 -- The Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar System (TRML-3D) from EADS Defence and Communications Systems has successfully delivered the first of three planned systems to the Lithuanian Air force. The contract originally signed in 2001 promises the delivery of three such TRML-3D systems with the last delivery slated for August of this year. The first delivery of the TRML-3D marks the first surveillance modernisation efforts on behalf of the Lithuanian Air Force, meeting NATO requirements for air surveillance.
• GE F110 and F404 Fighter Engines Expand Capability and Global Presence GE Aviation 19 Jul 2004 -- General Electric Company's F110 and F404 engine families have successfully powered fighter aircraft since the 1980s. And yet, these engines have a bright, long-term future through the infusion of new technologies and by expanding its aircraft applications worldwide.
• GE's CF6 Engines Play Large Role in Powering Military Aviation GE Aviation 19 Jul 2004 -- The GE CF6 engine family, the most reliable and best-selling commercial engine on wide-body aircraft, is playing an increasingly larger role in military aviation. The CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 engines have been selected to power numerous air transport applications for military operations.
• GE F414 Engine in Service with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with Additional Applications Planned GE Aviation 19 Jul 2004 -- The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet powered by GE's F414 engines continues to expand its presence in the U.S. Navy fleet, with over 175 delivered aircraft and 10 active squadrons. This includes aircraft located at Naval Air Stations Lemoore, California, and China Lake, California, as well as Super Hornets deployed aboard ships.
• GE Rolls-Royce F136 Program History & Engine Details GE Aviation 19 Jul 2004
• GE Rolls-Royce Team Gearing Up For Full-Engine JSF Testing GE Aviation 19 Jul 2004 -- The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team is embarking on a series of full F136 development engine tests, capping a successful Phase III pre-System Development and Demonstration (SDD) for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
• General Dynamics Team Selected to Supply Landmark Transformational JTRS Radio Technologies to U.S. Forces General Dynamics 19 Jul 2004 -- A team led by General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today was awarded a $295 million contract to develop small, lightweight software-defined radios for use by all branches of the U.S. military in devices such as unattended sensors and soldier systems. General Dynamics, a leader in the development of the computer-based radio technology that uses software to enable a single system to emulate many types of radio, is the prime contractor for the program. The contract has a potential value in excess of $1 billion through 2011 if all options are exercised.
• Aegis Weapon System Delivers Aboard U.S. Navy Destroyer James E. Williams Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2004 -- The seventh generation of the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-developed Aegis Weapon System successfully completed an extensive battery of testing in a single two-day at-sea period aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer James E. Williams (DDG-95).
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Describes Programs' Status And Five-Year Measures Of Success Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2004 -- Dain M. Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Aeronautics Company, cites annual sales growth, a doubled order backlog and a 22 percent increase in jobs as indicators of success since Lockheed Martin’s military aircraft businesses began operating as a single company four-and-a-half years ago.
• Lockheed Martin Wins $15 Million Contract to Develop Advanced Communications Network Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2004 -- The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, through the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, selected Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to develop and demonstrate a prototype network that combines the speed of laser-based communications with the dependability of radio frequency communications to support the information-sharing needs of military commanders. The contract has an initial value of $15 million.
• Northrop Grumman Introduces Full-Scale Model of X-47B Joint Unmanned Combat Air System at Farnborough International Airshow Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today unveiled a full-scale model of its X-47B Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (JUCAS) vehicle during the opening of the Farnborough International 2004 air-show in the United Kingdom. The model will remain at Northrop Grumman's outdoor static display throughout the air-show.
• Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command To Benefit From New, Advanced Targeting System Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2004 -- The U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command have expanded their operational capabilities through the advanced targeting systems offered by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC).
• Northrop Grumman's Large Aircraft Countermeasures Program Completes Initial Operational Test and Evaluation Ahead of Schedule Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2004 -- A full year ahead of schedule, a U.S Air Force-led team has entered initial operational test and evaluation of Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system on Air Force C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft.
• Light-speed Raytheon AESA Radar Navigates Smoothly Through Flight Tests Raytheon 19 Jul 2004 -- A revolutionary Raytheon radar that scans the skies at nearly the speed of light is navigating through flight tests aboard the U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet in anticipation of operational readiness by September 2006.
• Deliveries of Raytheon's Combat-Proven ATFLIR Targeting Pod Supporting U.S. Navy Hornet Deployments Raytheon 19 Jul 2004 -- Through June 30, 2004, Raytheon Company had delivered 55 of what might be considered the ultimate accessory to aircrews of the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet.
• Raytheon Sells Enhanced Paveway(TM) II to Denmark Raytheon 19 Jul 2004 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a contract to produce Enhanced Paveway(TM) II bomb guidance kits for Denmark.
• Boeing Team Demonstrates Revolutionary UAV Control Capabilities and Integration with Fighters Boeing 19 Jul 2004 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA], a leader in aerospace technology development, along with a team of leading industry and academic researchers, has demonstrated for the first time that manned fighter aircraft such as the F-15E can effectively utilize an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a partner in coordinated combat operations.
• Northrop Grumman, Aurora Flight Sciences, Israel Aircraft Industries Form Alliance to Penetrate Tactical, Long Endurance UAV Market Israel Aerospace Industries 19 Jul 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Manassas, Va.-based Aurora Flight Sciences today announced a landmark collaborative business agreement to design, develop and produce tactical, long endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems based on Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)-developed UAVs.
• Northrop Grumman, Aurora Flight Sciences, Israel Aircraft Industries Form Alliance to Penetrate Tactical, Long-Endurance UAV Market Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Manassas, Va.-based Aurora Flight Sciences today announced a landmark collaborative business agreement to design, develop and produce tactical, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems based on Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)-developed UAVs.
• Northrop Grumman-Built Global Hawk UAV Passes 2,000 Combat Hours Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2004 -- The U.S. Air Force's RQ-4A Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system recently achieved a significant program milestone by surpassing 2,000 combat flight hours. This accomplishment, achieved while supporting the global war on terrorism, adds to a long string of successes for the system, which is produced by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 19 Jul 2004
• UN / SUDAN VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- An international human rights group says it has proof that the Sudanese government is supporting and even helping to arm the Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, that have killed tens of thousands of people and displaced close to a million others in the Darfur region of Sudan.
• ICJ RULING ON ISRAEL BARRIER: A 'MORAL VICTORY' FOR THE PALESTINIANS US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 19 Jul 2004
• U-S-PALESTINIANS VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- The United States Monday accused Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of hampering the consolidation of security services and other steps needed to bring order to the increasingly chaotic situation in the Gaza and the West Bank.
• SUDAN: Government officials implicated in supporting Janjawid militias IRIN 19 Jul 2004 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday it had obtained documents showing that Sudanese government officials had directed the recruitment, arming and support for Janjawid militias in the country's western region of Darfur.
• Middle East: Arafat Dismisses Security Chief Amid Continuing Crisis In Gaza RFE/RL 19 Jul 2004 -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in a bid to defuse mounting tension, announced today he had reversed a decision to appoint his nephew as head of the Palestinian security services. The veteran Arab leader's move comes amid a rapidly deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian gunmen protesting Arafat's appointment of his nephew, and general corruption in his security apparatus, last night stormed the headquarters of a military-intelligence unit in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
• LEBANON/BLAST VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- The militant Hezbollah organization is blaming Israel for a bomb blast that killed a leading member of the guerilla group outside Beirut. There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials, but the French news agency says a shadowy Sunni-Muslim fundamentalist group has claimed responsibility for today's killing, calling it a move to eradicate Shi'ite heresy.
• SUDAN: Darfur peace talks break down before they start IRIN 19 Jul 2004 -- Peace talks aimed at ending 17-months of conflict between the Sudanese government and two rebel groups in the Darfur region broke down on Sunday before negotiations had even begun. The talks, which were aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict, had opened two days earlier, on 15 July.
• PALESTINIAN/POLITICS VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- The Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, bowed to pressure on Monday and fired his relative, Musa Arafat, as head of security in the Gaza Strip. His appointment Saturday sparked two days of violent protests. The dismissal came as the Palestinian cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss the political unrest.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 19 Jul 2004 -- Serbia's Kostunica calls for national strategy on cooperation with UN tribunal / NATO's deputy commander says no troop reduction planned in Kosovo / Rocket fired into Afghan capital kills woman near peacekeepers' base / Zarqawi group puts bounty on Iraqi PM's head¨ Solana says EU's Iraq divisions healing well
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 19 Jul 2004 -- NATO to boost force in Afghanistan for election / Greek authorities to launch full-scale Olympic security measures / Latvia to host military maneuvers

• Boeing Delivers JIMO Spacecraft Design Proposal Boeing 19 Jul 2004 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered its conceptual design proposal Friday, July 16, for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO), a spacecraft that could become the nation's first nuclear-fission-powered exploration vehicle with technologies applicable to future Mars and lunar missions.
• Boeing 'Can-Do' Spirit of Apollo Continues to Deep Space Boeing 19 Jul 2004 -- In 1969, the Apollo program opened a new era in human history by placing Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon. It also gave the world a preview of today's Boeing [NYSE: BA].
• EADS Astrium wins contract for Thai Optical Earth Observation Space System EADS 19 Jul 2004 -- THEOS will be fully owned and operated by GISTDA and will provide Thailand with worldwide geo-referenced image products and image processing capabilities for applications in cartography, land use, agricultural monitoring, forestry management, coastal zone monitoring and flood risk management. THEOS will provide access to any part of Thailand in less than 2 days.
• ILS Launches At Record Pace Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2004 -- International Launch Services (ILS), which has amassed the lion’s share of launch contracts in 2004, also is sending customers’ satellites into orbit at a record pace.
• Lockheed Martin Scores Success With Landing Technology Tests For A Future Astronaut Crew Exploration Vehicle Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2004 -- Yuma drop test b thumbLockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully performed a series of drop tests at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Ariz., to validate soft landing technology that can be used for astronaut crew capsules upon return to Earth. The technology makes use of an array of dual airbags that, upon ground impact, releases air from the outer bags of the system, allowing the capsule to settle softly to the ground on its inner airbags.