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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 Aug 2005 [PDF]

• Airmen train for convoy duty in Southwest Asia AFPN 29 Aug 2005 -- Twelve 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operators here are preparing to leave in early September to support convoy operations in Southwest Asia.
• Kirkuk firefighters train Iraqis AFPN 29 Aug 2005 -- In order to stabilize Iraq, coalition forces must teach Iraqis the skills they need to stand on their own.
• Iraqi governors, Coalition leaders confer in Kirkuk Army News 29 Aug 2005 -- Governors from the Iraqi provinces of Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, Diyala and Saladin met Aug. 24 at the Iraqi Army's K-1 military installation near Kirkuk to discuss issues affecting north-central Iraq.
• Embarked Security Detachment 131 Prepares for Deployment Navy NewsStand 29 Aug 2005 -- Nearly 100 Sailors from Embarked Security Detachment (ESD) 131 completed weapons qualifications Aug. 25 at Camp Pendleton as part of their training for an upcoming deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Iraqi Soldiers Showcase Capabilities During Raids AFPS 29 Aug 2005 -- The 3rd Iraqi Army Battalion working with U.S. troops from 1st Brigade Combat Team of Multinational Division Central South carried out a raid one kilometer south of Mashru, Iraq, Aug. 28.
• Task Force Freedom Forces Detain 17 Terror Suspects AFPS 29 Aug 2005 -- Multinational forces from Task Force Freedom detained 17 suspected terrorists in Iraq on Aug. 28, U.S. military officials reported today.
• Task Force Freedom nabs 11 suspects MNF=I 29 Aug 2005 -- Multi-National Forces from Task Force Freedom detained 11 suspected terrorists Aug. 28.
• Task Force Freedom detains six; seizes cache MNF=I 29 Aug 2005 -- Multi-National Forces from Task Force Freedom detained six additional suspected terrorists and seized another weapons cache Aug. 28.
• IED emplacer killed, four detained in Samarra MNF=I 29 Aug 2005 -- One terrorist was killed when an improvised explosive device he was removing from his vehicle detonated Aug. 29 around 10 a.m in Samarra .

• US-Led Afghan Forces Kill Suspected Taleban Commander VOA News 29 Aug 2005 -- U.S. and Afghan forces have killed a suspected Taleban commander and three of his fighters in southern Afghanistan.
• AFGHANISTAN: Focus on security prior to election IRIN 29 Aug 2005 -- With less than three weeks to go before parliamentary elections in Afghanistan and with campaigning in full swing, security continues to be a major concern for voters, candidates and for national and international electoral bodies involved.
• NATO Deploys 2,000 More Troops For Afghan Elections RFE/RL 29 Aug 2005 -- NATO-led peacekeepers have deployed 2,000 extra troops across northern and western Afghanistan to secure the parliamentary elections on 18 September.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Commission Wraps Up BRAC Decisions AFPS 29 Aug 2005 -- The Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission wrapped up four days of deliberations in final actions Aug. 26 and 27 by voting to turn Pope Air Force Base, N.C., into an Army airfield and recommending sweeping recommendations to revamp the Air National Guard and consolidate its operations.

• Aviation Transformation includes new aircraft, upgrades Army News 29 Aug 2005 -- Many changes are in store for Army aviation, beginning with a contract for 368 new Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters.

• National Guard Responds to Hurricane Katrina AFPS 29 Aug 2005 -- Thousands of National Guard troops from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were on duty today as Hurricane Katrina hammered New Orleans, Gulfport, Miss., and other points on the Gulf Coast with 145-mph winds and torrential rains.
• Hurricane Response Demonstrates Guard's State, Federal Capabilities AFPS 29 Aug 2005 -- National Guard's solid response to Hurricane Katrina demonstrates that the Guard is still fully capable of responding to stateside emergencies while supporting the war in terror overseas, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told the American Forces Press Service today.
• Troops ready to assist with Hurricane Katrina Army News 29 Aug 2005 -- More than 5,000 National Guard troops have been activated in four states to assist with recovery operations as 140-mile-per-hour winds of Hurricane Katrina strike the Gulf Coast.
• Bataan Prepared to Assist in Hurricane Katrina Aftermath Navy NewsStand 29 Aug 2005 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and other U.S. Navy assets are making preparations to provide assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, if needed.

• Kirtland Pave Hawk accident investigation complete AFPN 29 Aug 2005 -- The Air Force has completed its investigation of the HH-60G Pave Hawk accident May 11 near Angel Fire, N.M., which resulted in the death of an Air Force flight engineer.
• F/A-22 to begin follow-on operational test, evaluation AFPN 29 Aug 2005 -- The F/A-22 Raptor began follow-on operational test and evaluation Aug. 29.
• ESG-1 Conducts Successful EOD Exercise with Australian Navy Navy NewsStand 29 Aug 2005 -- The members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 3 Detachment 7 and EOD Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted training exercises here with the Australian Clearance Diving Teams (AUSCDT) Aug. 15-21.

• State Department Briefing, August 29 Washington File 29 Aug 2005 -- North Korea/Six-Party Talks, Russia, Iraq, Venezuela, Kosovo, Egypt

Defense Industry

• BAE Systems Receives $10.6 Million Contract to Produce Black Hawk Engine Controls BAE Systems 29 Aug 2005 -- FORT WAYNE, Indiana -- BAE Systems has received a U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command contract to produce spare electronic control units (ECUs) for the GE T700 engines installed on UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters. The 400 spares are valued at $10.6 million.
• BAE Systems Receives Production Contract for Stryker Thermal Imaging Modules BAE Systems 29 Aug 2005 -- NASHUA, New Hampshire -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from Kongsberg Protech AS of Norway to supply the TIM1500 thermal imaging module for the Remote Weapon Station on the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Commands Stryker vehicle. This initial production contract is valued at $9.4 million and will require delivery starting in late 2005.
• BAE SYSTEMS Test-Flies First RBAF Hawk BAE Systems 29 Aug 2005 -- The first of six Hawk 129s destined for the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) made its first flight at Warton on Friday 26 August - some 9 months ahead of schedule.
• BAE SYSTEMS Awarded $17 Million Contract For Mk 41 Vertical Launching System Canister Production BAE Systems 29 Aug 2005 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command for more than $17 million to continue production of missile canisters for the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS).
• Boeing, BAE Systems Team for U.S. Air Force B-52 Stand-Off Jammer Proposal Boeing 29 Aug 2005 -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] and BAE Systems have combined their B-52 and electronic warfare expertise to offer the U.S. Air Force a highly qualified team to execute the B-52 Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ) program.
• General Dynamics Wins Demilitarization Contract General Dynamics 29 Aug 2005 -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $30 million contract with four option years from the U.S. Army Field Support Command, Rock Island, Ill., for the demilitarization of munitions. This award culminates a winner-take-all competition to establish a long-term commercial provider of demilitarization services. The total potential value of the contract is $191 million if all options are exercised.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN F/A-22 RAPTOR ENTERS FOLLOW-ON TEST AND EVALUATION, ACHIEVES ANOTHER MILESTONE TOWARD OPERATIONAL FIELDING Lockheed Martin 29 Aug 2005 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F/A-22 Raptor team marked another milestone today toward operational fielding of the F/A-22 when the U.S. Air Force officially began Follow-On Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada.
• Crew Moves Aboard Sailor-Friendly Northrop Grumman-Built LPD 17 Amphibious Transport Dock Ship Northrop Grumman 29 Aug 2005 -- U.S. Navy sailors Thursday began moving aboard LPD 17, the first San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC). This activity is a significant step in bringing this modern, highly technical asset to life as part of the nation's defense plan.
• Northrop Grumman Wins U.S. Navy Contract to Study Maritime Surveillance Concepts Northrop Grumman 29 Aug 2005 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has won one of several contracts from the U.S. Navy to study and recommend solutions to the service's requirement for an around-the-clock, worldwide maritime surveillance capability.
• Pratt & Whitney Awarded Contract Modification to Extend System Development and Demonstration Program for F135 Engine Pratt & Whitney 29 Aug 2005 -- Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a contract modification to align the F135 engine System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter schedule plan. The modification extends the original SDD contract by 16 months at an additional value of up to $968 million depending upon the level of work required.
• BAE Systems Achieves First Flight of Its Next-Generation Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle BAE Systems 29 Aug 2005 -- LOS ANGELES -- BAE Systems recently achieved a successful first flight of its third-generation vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle at its Southern California flight test facility.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED CONTRACT TO STUDY INTEGRATION OF U.S. NAVY'S AERIAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS Lockheed Martin 29 Aug 2005 -- The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $998,000 contract to study concepts that will assist the Navy in developing approaches to integrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems in manned and unmanned aircraft.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 29 Aug 2005
• Sharon: Israel Will Not Keep All West Bank Settlements in Final Peace Deal VOA News 29 Aug 2005 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says Israel will not keep all Jewish settlements in the West Bank in any final peace deal with the Palestinians.

• DR of Congo: UN will provide immediate logistical support for electoral process UN News Centre 29 Aug 2005 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would begin sending Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resources right away to help meet deadlines in the biggest and most expensive electoral process the world body has ever helped organize, even before the Security Council formally approves his recommendations.

News Reports

• LIBERIA: Presidential candidates divided over what to do about Charles Taylor IRIN 30 Aug 2005 -- Candidates vying to be Liberia's next head of state are divided about whether to ask for former president Charles Taylor to be transferred from exile in Nigeria to stand trial for war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.