Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Roadside bomb strikes MND-B patrol
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Update: 14 Task Force Lightning Soldiers die in helicopter downing
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Kamiya from Ft. Bragg, N.C. 23 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Director Joint Training for the Joint Warfighting Center and Joint Forces Command Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya and Deputy Commander for Operations 18th Airborne Corps Brig. Gen. Michael Ferriter
• Aug. 22 airpower summary: Transports keep cargo, pax on the move AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Violence Down in Iraq; Iraqi Forces Becoming More Capable AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- Due to the sustained presence of coalition forces in former insurgent safe havens and increased capability of Iraqi security forces, levels of violence in Iraq are the lowest they've been since June 2006, an operational leader on the Joint Staff said today.
• Investigation finds engine failure caused Predator crash AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Engine failure caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft Jan. 17, at a forward location in Southwest Asia, according to an Accident Investigation Board report released by Air Combat Command today.
• 18th Airborne Corps Prepares for Lead Role in Iraq Theater AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- To prepare the 18th Airborne Corps for its upcoming lead role at Multinational Corps Iraq, some 600 servicemembers are engaging in an exercise Aug. 13-24 to replicate the "rigor, complexity and realism" of Iraq's combat environment, a corps spokesman said today.
• O'Kane and Paul Hamilton Returns From Deployment Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Arleigh Burke-Class guided missile destroyers USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and USS O'Kane (DDG 70) returned home Aug. 20 from a seven-month deployment with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) carrier group to the Persian Gulf.
• Investigation finds engine failure caused Predator crash AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Engine failure caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft Jan. 17, at a forward location in Southwest Asia, according to an Accident Investigation Board report released by Air Combat Command today.
• One Terrorist Killed, 10 Detained During Iraq Operations AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 suspected terrorists today during operations around Iraq targeting al Qaeda weapons and leadership networks.
• Operation Lightning Hammer disrupts al-Qaeda in Diyala MNF-I 23 Aug 2007 -- Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq's Diyala province.
• Airmen mentorship helps develop Afghan hospital AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Airmen and Soldiers are blending medical supply logistics with a dose of Afghan national army partnership in a dusty warehouse at ANA's Hero Camp near Kandahar Airfield.
• AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN: Sudden return of Afghans could cause crisis, UNHCR warns IRIN 23 Aug 2007 -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called on the government of Pakistan not to close a refugee camp in its North West Frontier Province (NWFP) until spring 2008.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Sherlock from the Pentagon 23 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Director for Operational Planning Joint Chiefs of Staff Brig. Gen. Richard Sherlock
• Air Force Reserve to form F-15E associate detachment AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- As part of the Air Force's Total Force Integration, the Air Force Reserve is teaming up with Air Combat Command to establish an F-15E Strike Eagle associate unit in October.
• Neither snow nor deep freeze keep mail from Antarctica AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Members of the Det. 4, Pacific Air Forces Air Postal Squadron here have been busy supporting Operation Deep Freeze 2007-08 winter flights to Antarctica beginning in late August after more than 150 days since the last shipment of mail to the ice station.
• Air Force fighter squadron celebrates 90th year AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- An F-22A Raptor demonstrated its air power during the wrap up Aug. 20 of the 90th Fighter Squadron's 90th anniversary.
• 'Bomb Squad' battles explosives with technology, expertise AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Using the latest technology and the power of teamwork, Air Force explosive ordnance disposal experts fight a daily, deadly battle on the war on terrorism front lines.
• Alaska Guard Sees Dynamic Change in Face of Deployments AFPS 23 Aug 2007
• Suspected Cocaine Smugglers Rescued After Semi-Submersible Craft Sinks Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Four suspected drug smugglers were rescued and detained approximately 300 miles southwest of the Mexico-Guatemala border Aug. 20 by a combined U.S. Coast Guard and Navy crew. During the rescue several bales of cocaine were seized following the sinking of a semi-submersible craft.
• SECNAV Visits Peleliu, Thanks Sailors for Pacific Partnership Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Donald C. Winter came aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) to meet with Sailors and view progress of the ship's Pacific Partnership summer humanitarian-aid mission Aug. 22.
• MDSU-2 Finishes Work in I-35 Recovery, Prepares to Return Home Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Va., completed their part of the I-35 bridge collapse recovery efforts in Minneapolis Aug. 21.
• Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits Naval Station Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, visited more than 500 military personnel assigned to commands throughout the Pearl Harbor area Aug. 17 for an all hands call at Sharkey Theater on Naval Station Pearl Harbor as part of his tour of military bases on the island of Oahu.
• Comfort Departs Ecuador Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Ecuador Aug. 20, after completing almost a week of humanitarian work in Ecuador.
• U.S. Helicopter Squadron Meets with Singaporean Leaders Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilot maneuvering his American-made Apache helicopter in the local flying pattern at Sembawang Airbase Aug. 7 cast the perfect backdrop for a forum between leaders of the U.S. and Singaporean naval forces.
• Coalition Forces Provide Assistance to Danish Merchant Vessel Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Two Coalition ships from Combined Task Force (CTF 150), French Warship Commandant Blaison (F 793) and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), provided assistance to Danish merchant vessel Danica White following its release from Somali pirates Aug. 22.
• Kearsarge Resupplies at Souda Bay Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) made a brief stop in Souda Bay Aug. 20-21 for supplies and refueling.
• Missile Launch to Support Boost Phase Data Collection Experiment Successfully Completed Missile Defense Agency 23 Aug 2007 -- Lt. Gen. Henry "Trey" Obering III, Missile Defense Agency director, announced today the successful execution of an important exercise designed to collect data on a boosting long-range target missile by the Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) research satellite.
• Vandenberg supports successful missile defense experiment AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Vandenberg space technicians successfully launched a space launch vehicle, the Chimera, Aug. 23 from North Vandenberg.
• General Dynamics-built NFIRE Satellite Successfully Completes First Missile Defense Experiment General Dynamics 23 Aug 2007 -- The Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) satellite, built by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, today successfully completed its first experiment for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
• Russian Air Force chief says technical failure caused Su-24 crash RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2007 -- A power supply failure most likely caused the crash of a Su-24 strike aircraft in Russia's Far East early Thursday, the Russian Air Force commander said.
• Russia suspends Su-24 flights after Thursday crash in Far East RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2007 -- Russia's Air Force has suspended all Su-24 strike aircraft flights following a crash in the country's Far East early Thursday, an AF spokesman said.
• Su-24 strike aircraft crashes in Russia's Far East, pilots eject RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2007 -- An Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft crashed Thursday in the Khabarovsk Territory in Russia's Far East, but both pilots successfully ejected from the plane, an Air Force spokesman said.
• Russia Unveils Pilotless Stealth Aircraft VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Russia has unveiled a mock-up of a pilotless bomber jet that Russian engineers say will evade enemy radars even better than U.S. Stealth bombers and fighters.
• Ivanov says strategic bomber patrols no return to Cold War RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2007 -- Russia's resumption of long-distance strategic bomber patrol flights, suspended after the collapse of the Soviet Union, does not imply a return to the Cold War, a top government official said Thursday.
• Russia Says Bomber Flights Not Return To Cold War RFE/RL 23 Aug 2007 -- Russia says its resumption of the Soviet-era practice of sending strategic bombers on long-range flights does not represent a return to the Cold War.
• Multi-nation naval exercise as per schedule: Navy chief IRNA 23 Aug 2007 -- With the Left parties deciding to stage protest in major eastern coastal towns against the five-nation Malabar naval exercise, the Government on Thursday said the planned exercise in the Bay of Bengal will held as per schedule.
• NATO to give Georgia access to radar data - representative RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2007 -- NATO is prepared to provide a number of its partners, including Georgia, access to its radar air data exchange system, a deputy NATO spokesman said Thursday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 23 Aug 2007
• Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe The White House 23 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 23, 2007
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Team Will Support 4,900 Jobs and Generate Economic Activity Exceeding $600 Million in Texas Northrop Grumman 23 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and its KC-30 Tanker industry team will generate economic activity and support thousands of aerospace jobs throughout Texas if the KC-30 Tanker aircraft is selected by the U.S. Air Force.
• General Dynamics NASSCO and Navy Agree to Terms for Five Additional T-AKE Ships General Dynamics 23 Aug 2007 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has reached an agreement with the U.S. Navy for options to build up to five additional T-AKE dry cargo ammunition ships.
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Aerial Refueling Boom System Successfully Completes Electrostatic Discharge Tests Northrop Grumman 23 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS) has passed another key technical milestone with the successful completion of electrostatic discharge tests.
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Will Create Aerospace Jobs and Generate Economic Activity in Arkansas Northrop Grumman 23 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and its KC-30 Tanker supply base will generate significant economic activity and support 150 direct aerospace jobs in Arkansas.
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Will Create Aerospace Jobs and Generate Economic Activity in Louisiana Northrop Grumman 23 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker team will generate economic activity and support aerospace jobs in Louisiana if the KC-30 Tanker aircraft is selected by the U.S. Air Force. Northrop Grumman and KC-30 teammate EADS generate a combined direct and indirect economic activity of $600 million annually.
• Raytheon Advances Zumwalt's Integrated Undersea Warfare System to Production Raytheon 23 Aug 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) achieved a significant milestone in the Zumwalt Class destroyer program with the successful design review of the ship's undersea warfare systems -- collectively referred to as the integrated acoustic sensor suite. With this success, the U.S. Navy has given Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) approval to advance the acoustic sensor suite's design into production.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES NAVY BASIC ORDERING AGREEMENT FOR WEAPONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES BAE Systems 23 Aug 2007 -- BAE Systems has received a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) from the U.S. Navy for up to $368 million to build and refurbish naval weapon systems, and provide support services over the next five years.
• Russia unlikely to export S-400 SAM systems any time soon - source RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2007 -- Russia will not export advanced S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) antiaircraft missiles in the foreseeable future, a source in the military-industrial complex said Thursday.
• SAIC Begins Privatized Management of DoD Chemicals, Petroleum, Oils, Lubricants SAIC 23 Aug 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) has begun work on supply chain management of chemicals and packaged petroleum, oils and lubricants (POLs) for the Department of Defense under a firm-fixed-price indefinite- delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year base term, one five- year option period and a ceiling value of $6.2 billion if the customer exercises all options.
• Roll-out of 29 COBRA Systems for France, Germany and the United Kingdom completed Thales 23 Aug 2007 -- COBRA is a high mobility weapon location radar which meets all NATO requirements, and is currently being manufactured by the Euro-Art Consortium. Euro-Art has developed the first multifunctional counter battery radar in the world with a fully active phased array antenna. The COBRA system is now being promoted worldwide for export sales. Germany has already sold two of its systems in an adapted version to Turkey.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 23 Aug 2007
• AU Envoy Says Sudanese Government Must Ensure Darfur Peace Talks Happen VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Envoys from the AU and the United Nations have been working for weeks to prepare for peace talks between the government and rebels in Sudan's Darfur region
• Saharan Experts Fear Spread of Niger's Tuareg Rebel Violence VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Recent rebel violence from a nomadic tribe in northern Niger may escalate into civil war according to analysts, who are concerned the revolt may affect neighboring countries in the West African Saharan region
• DRC-UGANDA: UN peacekeepers caught up in continuing unrest in North Kivu IRIN 23 Aug 2007 -- Instability in the Rusthuru region of North Kivu, which included an attack on UN peacekeepers, caused the temporary displacement of more than 10,000 people, officials said.
• CHAD: Revised plan for peacekeeping raises concern IRIN 23 Aug 2007 -- For humanitarian officials in Chad a revised UN plan for a peacekeeping mission in the east of the country raises more questions than it answers regarding its mandate, rules of engagement and, most importantly, whether it will help or hinder ongoing relief operations in the area.
• Israeli School Year to Begin Under Palestinian Rocket Threat VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Israeli border communities are facing the new school year under the threat of Palestinian rockets
• Georgia Accuses Russia of New Airspace Violations VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Georgian U.N. Ambassador Irakli Alasania is accusing Russia of new airspace violations
• Georgia, Russia Ratchet Up Missile Accusations RFE/RL 23 Aug 2007 -- Georgia and Russia continue to trade accusations over Tbilisi's claims that planes flying from Russia violated Georgian airspace twice this month alone.

News Reports