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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Feb 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Feb. 13 airpower summary: B-1Bs destroy targets AFPN 14 Feb 2008
• Coalition Forces in Iraq Kill 7 Terrorists, Detain 16 AFPS 14 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 16 suspects yesterday and today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials said.
• Combined Forces Working Together to Improve Iraqi Region AFPS 14 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces, Iraqi troops, and "Sons of Iraq" security volunteers are working together to rebuild areas south of Arab Jabour, Iraq, a senior military official in Baghdad said this morning.
• Afghan Strategy Sound, But Execution Poses Challenge, Official Says AFPS 14 Feb 2008 -- The U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is sound and can work, but the challenge lies in executing that strategy and sustaining success over time, a Defense Department official told Congress today.
• Coalition Forces Disrupt Taliban Networks AFPS 14 Feb 2008 -- Several armed insurgents were killed and nine armed individuals were detained during two separate coalition forces operations yesterday to disrupt Taliban command and control networks.
• Germany plans to send 500 additional troops to Afghanistan IRNA 14 Feb 2008 -- The German government has reportedly succumbed to intense US pressure and agreed to dispatch at least 500 additional soldiers to Afghanistan, the daily Die Welt newspaper said Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Democrats Suffer Defeat in House on US Foreign Intelligence Measure VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- In a blow to Democrats, the House of Representatives has voted to reject a measure that would have extended existing foreign intelligence surveillance legislation by three weeks
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Deputy National Security Advisor Jeffrey, Gen. Cartwright and NASA Administrator Griffin 14 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Deputy National Security Advisor James Jeffrey, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin
• Navy to Shoot Down Malfunctioning Satellite AFPS 14 Feb 2008 -- The Navy will shoot down a malfunctioning U.S. spy satellite sometime after Feb. 20, government officials said during a Pentagon news conference today.
• DoD To Engage Decaying Satellite 14 Feb 2008 -- An uncontrollable U.S. experimental satellite which was launched in December 2006 is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere between the end of February and early March
• Navy Awards Contracts for Zumwalt Class Destroyers Navy NewsStand 14 Feb 2008 -- The Navy has exercised contract modifications for the construction of the dual lead ships of the Zumwalt class (DDG 1000) to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.
• Army Announces Environmental Impact Notice for Stryker Unit Stationing Army News Release 14 Feb 2008 -- Conflicting reports of a potential deal on a NATO troop presence in Uzbekistan have spawned talk of a delicate thaw that could raise Russia's hackles and prompt a backlash from rights groups angry over a deadly crisis in eastern Uzbekistan in 2005.
• New matting system to improve deployment capability AFPN 14 Feb 2008 -- Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate here have made recent significant advancements developing a super-strong, lightweight composite airfield matting that speeds up forward aircraft deployments, expands parking space and reduces costs.
• Bacteria research could protect Airmen from radiation AFPN 14 Feb 2008 -- An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded scientist has identified manganese complexes in the bacterium Deinococcus radioduran that resists the damaging effects of radiation.
• Civilians add stability during emergencies AFPN 14 Feb 2008 -- Airmen here are fighting the base during this week's local operational readiness exercise Beverly High 08-04 and a special group of civilians is right alongside them contributing to the mission.
• USS Augusta Bids Farewell to Homeport Navy NewsStand 14 Feb 2008 -- The Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710) departed Naval Submarine Base New London for the final time Feb. 12, moving to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., to commence its inactivation process.
• Congress Preparing Defense Budget for Remainder of 2008 VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- Two top U.S. Defense Department officials have testified before a Congressional committee in charge of military spending
• General Calls Training Critical in IED Fight AFPS 14 Feb 2008 -- Technology is critical to countering roadside and car bombs and to attacking terrorist networks that emplace them, but a big part of the solution boils down to good, old-fashioned training, the new director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization said.
• AIMD Starts SCOOP Process On Board USS Carl Vinson Navy NewsStand 14 Feb 2008 -- Crew members assigned to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) began moving shipboard equipment back on board, Feb. 4, marking another milestone in the aircraft carrier's shipboard coordinated on-load and outfitting plan (SCOOP) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in Newport News.
• SOCOM Visits USS Ohio Navy NewsStand 14 Feb 2008 -- During a brief stop for personnel transfer, Adm. Eric T. Olson, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, visited the guide-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) in Apra Harbor, Feb. 4, to see for himself the fully operational deployed capabilities of the guided missile and special operations forces (SOF) platform.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 14, 2008
• Bath Iron Works Awarded $1.4 Billion Contract to Construct ZUMWALT (DDG 1000), the Navy's Next Generation Surface Combatant General Dynamics 14 Feb 2008 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a $1.4 billion contract to build ZUMWALT (DDG 1000). The ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2014.
• U.S. Navy Awards Northrop Grumman $1.4 Billion Contract to Build DDG 1001; Deckhouse for DDG 1000 Northrop Grumman 14 Feb 2008 -- U.S. Navy today awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $1.4 billion cost plus incentive fee contract for the construction of a Zumwalt-class destroyer, DDG 1001, as well as major components for the DDG 1000.
• WORLD'S LIGHTEST 155MM HOWITZER MAKES ITS INDIAN DEBUT BAE Systems 14 Feb 2008 -- BAE Systems will display the world's most battle-proven lightweight 155mm towed howitzer on its stand for the first time in India at the 5th Defence and Naval Exhibition (DEFEXPO) in New Delhi [Hall 10, Stand 12].
• BAE SYSTEMS WINS $242 MILLION U.S. NAVY ENTERPRISE PLATFORM INTEGRATION CONTRACT TO SUPPORT NEW CONSTRUCTION SHIPS BAE Systems 14 Feb 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $242 million Enterprise Platform Integration Contract (EPIC) from the U.S. Navy to provide integration, engineering, procurement, fabrication, assembly, test, inspection, delivery, and limited installation of integrated Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) capabilities aboard new construction ships.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $91.4 MILLION CONTRACT MODIFICATION FOR M113 RESET BAE Systems 14 Feb 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $91.4 million contract modification from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to reset up to 1074 M113 Family of Vehicles.
• EADS Defence & Security to supply SAMOC to Saudi Arabian forces EADS 14 Feb 2008 -- EADS Defence & Security (DS) has received a contract from the Defence Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the delivery of a Surface-to-Air Missile Operations Centre.
• First Northrop Grumman-Built National Security Cutter Returns From Successful Builder's Trial Northrop Grumman 14 Feb 2008 -- The Northrop Grumman-built (NYSE:NOC) National Security Cutter (NSC), Bertholf (WMSL 750), returned Monday after four days of builder's trials in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship's return to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Gulf Coast Operations here marks the latest milestone for the first NSC, which is nearing completion.
• Northrop Grumman Completes Successful Demonstration of New Synthetic Aperture Radar Capability for F-22 Fighter Northrop Grumman 14 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated the capability to generate high-resolution, in-flight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps using the AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar being produced for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft.
• Northrop Grumman's Newest Radar Tracking and Sensor Fusion System Delivered to U.S. Marine Corps Northrop Grumman 14 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has delivered the first three production units of a new-generation multi-radar tracker (MRT) system to the U.S. Marine Corps that will enable the fusing of multiple sensor inputs into a single radar picture for enhanced mobile command-and-control operations.
• Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker Can Save U.S. Air Force More Than $55 Billion Over the Life of the Program Northrop Grumman 14 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that comprehensive analyses indicate that its KC-30 Tanker proposed to the U.S. Air Force in the KC-X Tanker Replacement Program can provide the service more than $55 billion in cost savings over 40 years -- almost $1.4B per year -- compared to its competitor, the KC-767 Advanced Tanker (AT).
• Raytheon Receives $17 Million in Orders for Army Sensor Development Raytheon 14 Feb 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received two U.S. Army orders totaling $17.2 million for 18 common sensor payloads as system design and development continues.
• Navy Awards GE F414 PBL Contract GE Aviation 14 Feb 2008 -- GE Aviation has been awarded a $193 million Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Navy for the F414-GE-400 turbofan engine. The contract covers repairs and parts for F414 engines and modules at the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center - Southeast (Jacksonville, Fla.).
• Elta Systems will Deliver the First Conformal Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft (CAEW) to the Israel Air Force Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- Elta Systems Ltd, an IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.) Group and wholly owned subsidiary, will deliver on February, 2008, the first Conformal Airborne Early Warning & Control (CAEW) to the Israel Air Force (IAF).
• Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems Group Awarded $130 Million in New Contracts for a Variety of Elta Products Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- Elta Systems, a group and subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has announced a series of contracts totaling $130 million to a variety of international customers
• IAI/Ramta Division's First Super Dvora Mark 3 Waterjet-Powered Fast Patrol Craft Reaches Speed of 48.3 Knots in Sea State 3 During First Sea Trial Conducted Off Mediterranean Coast Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- The first Super Dvora MK-3 waterjet-powered fast patrol craft has begun sea trials. In its maiden sea trial carried out recently, the waterjet-powered fast patrol craft attained a top speed of 48.3 knots in seasonal waters reaching Sea State 3 (wave heights of 3.5 ft). The Super Dvora MK-3 is designed and produced by the Ramta Division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), located in Beer Sheva, Israel.
• IAI’s Tamam Division Announces the Launch of its New Multi-Mission Optronic Stabilized Payload (MOSP3000) Unit Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam Division (IAI/Tamam) has announced the launch of its new Multi-Mission Optronic Stabilized Payload (MOSP3000) unit. MOSP3000 provides advanced image processing and automatic video tracker capabilities, and enhanced surveillance, targeting and geo-location capabilities for a variety of platforms including rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aerostats, ground applications and naval vessels. The first customer deliveries are scheduled for 2008 with further orders to additional customers scheduled for 2009.
• Israel Ministry of Defense Awarded IAI a Production Contract for Arrow Missiles Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) / Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) has awarded a follow-on production contract to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)'s MLM Division for an undisclosed number of additional Arrow 2 Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile (ATBM) system interceptors.
• IAI’s Tamam Division Unveils New Small Lightweight Advanced Navigation (ADNAV) System Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam Division (IAI/TAMAM) has unveiled its new small, lightweight ADvanced NAVigation (ADNAV) system.
• IAI’s Tamam Division Unveils Third Generation Precision Terrain Navigation System (RNAV-IPON) Israel Aerospace Industries 14 Feb 2008 -- Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam Division (IAI/TAMAM) has unveiled the new Reference and NAVigation Inertial, Position, Orientation & Navigation (RNAV-IPON) system. RNAV-IPON is Tamam’s third generation of successful precision terrain navigation systems. The system is suitable for tanks, mobile mortars, air-defense systems, command and Special Forces vehicles and surveillance vehicles.
• Oshkosh Defense and U.S. Army Celebrate 20,000th HEMTT Oshkosh 14 Feb 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), along with senior leaders of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), will celebrate the production of the 20,000th Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) today with a ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Oshkosh, Wis.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 14 Feb 2008
• Colombia and UN food agency join forces to help over half a million displaced UN News Centre 14 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a $157 million joint operation with the Colombian Government to provide food and other humanitarian assistance to more than 530,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the South American country over the next three years.
• Temporary relocation of UN mission from Eritrea has begun - Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 14 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has begun temporary relocating personnel and equipment from Eritrea to sites on the Ethiopian side of the border because of fuel restrictions imposed by the Government in Asmara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today.
• Ban Ki-moon hails signing of status of forces agreement for Darfur mission UN News Centre 14 Feb 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the signing of the status of forces agreement (SOFA) for the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) deployed to Darfur to try to quell the violence and suffering in the war-wracked Sudanese region.
• Kenya's Rival Parties Sign Agreement Before Adjourning Talks VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- Kenya's rival political parties signed an agreement Thursday before adjourning talks aimed at resolving the dispute over December's presidential election.
• Hezbollah Leader Declares 'Open War' on Israel VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- The leader of the Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah has threatened "open war" on Israel and accused the Jewish state of assassinating a top Hezbollah commander.
• Israel on High Alert Following Death of Hezbollah Leader VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- Israel put its embassies on high alert and advised Jewish institutions around the world to be on guard against possible attacks, following the assassination of a senior Hezbollah leader Tuesday in Damascus
• US Decries Hezbollah Threats Against Israel VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- The United States Thursday expressed alarm over Hezbollah threats against Israel in the wake of the assassination in Damascus of Hezbollah commander and reputed terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyeh
• CHAD: Captured rebels include children IRIN 14 Feb 2008 -- Around 135 rebels captured when they attacked the Chadian capital N'djamena in early February were displayed by Chadian police on 13 February, some of whom were identified as children.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Israeli experts propose radical changes to West Bank closure regime IRIN 14 Feb 2008 -- A team of Israeli security experts has devised a plan to replace the existing closure regime in the West Bank with an alternative system which they say will offer Israel security while easing restrictions on Palestinians and allowing their economy to grow.
• SUDAN: Hundreds of children missing after Darfur attack IRIN 14 Feb 2008 -- Several days after Sudanese government-backed militia attacked villages in West Darfur, hundreds of children remain unaccounted for, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said.
• CAMEROON-CHAD: Refugees from N'djamena still fearful of returning IRIN 14 Feb 2008 -- Fighting ended in Chad's capital N'djamena almost a week ago but many of the tens of thousands of Chadians who sought refuge across the River Chari in northern Cameroon say they are not planning to return for now.
• Hezbollah ready for war with Israel RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2008 -- Hezbollah is ready for open war with Israel, the Lebanese radical group's leader said Thursday, following the assassination of a top Hezbollah commander.
• Serbia says Kosovo's independence bid illegal RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2008 -- The government of Serbia passed a resolution Thursday calling 'illegal' any move by the breakaway province of Kosovo to declare unilateral independence.
• Serbian Government 'Annuls' Kosovo Independence in Advance VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- Serbia's government has adopted a resolution annulling an expected declaration of independence to be issued by leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority.
• Putin says Russia backs U.S. peace efforts in Mideast RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2008 -- Russia backs Washington's moves to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

News Reports

• Ban Ki-moon sets up 'management committee' of Lebanon Tribunal UN News Centre 14 Feb 2008 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has established a Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon being set up to try those responsible for political killings, particularly the February 2005 car bombing in Beirut that killed the former prime minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others.
• Georgia: Can Saakashvili Keep The Country Together? RFE/RL 14 Feb 2008 -- Mikheil Saakashvili may have successfully retained his presidency, but he still has a mountain to climb in getting the country behind him again.
• Georgia: U.S. Ambassador Says Democracy 'Depends On Both Sides' RFE/RL 14 Feb 2008 -- It's been a rocky season for Georgia.
• Russia seeks to prove it has right to part of Arctic shelf RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2008 -- Russia's Arctic research is aiming to secure the country's right to a piece of the Arctic shelf, Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at his last annual news conference as Russian president.
• Russia: Putin Gives Final Annual News Conference RFE/RL 14 Feb 2008 -- President Vladimir Putin today delivered his annual Kremlin conference to more than 1,330 Russian and foreign journalists.
• PAKISTAN: Apprehension palpable ahead of 18 February elections IRIN 14 Feb 2008 -- With just days to go before the general election, colourful flags and election banners flutter in the winter breeze across towns and cities in Pakistan.
• Pakistan's President Promises Free, Fair Elections VOA 14 Feb 2008 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is pledging that next week's parliamentary elections will be free, fair, transparent and peaceful