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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 13 Jan 2009 [PDF]
• Jan. 12 airpower summary: A-10s deter enemy actions AFNS 13 Jan 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Iraqi Forces Capture Criminal Suspects, Seize Weapons AFPS 13 Jan 2009 -- Iraqi security forces arrested suspected criminals and seized multiple weapons in operations.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Biden, Iraqi Leaders Discuss US Withdrawal VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- US Vice President-elect Joe Biden is in Kirkuk on the latest leg of his trip to Iraq.
• Obama to Reassess US Mission in Afghanistan VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- A published report says the incoming Obama administration will conduct a complete review of the U.S. military's mission in Afghanistan.
• Mullen Urges Emphasis on 'Soft Power' in Foreign Policy AFPS 13 Jan 2009 -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advocated 'whole-of-government approach' to foreign policy.
• Clinton Offers Clues To 'Different' Tack On Iran RFE/RL 13 Jan 2009 -- There is broad consensus that immediate challenge will be to find ways to respond to Iran's growing regional influence and curb that country's nuclear ambitions.
• Malfunctioning component delays satellite launch AFNS 13 Jan 2009 -- USAF delaying launch of Tactical Satellite-3 until repairs to avionics component complete.
• Guantanamo Solution Remains a Defense Department Priority, Spokesman Says AFPS 13 Jan 2009 -- A solution for closing down the US detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has vexed DoD officials.
• Maritime Evaluation Assesses Non-Lethal Weapons Navy NewsStand 13 Jan 2009 -- The DoD's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program sponsored a Non-Lethal Maritime Operational User Evaluation.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon DoD 13 Jan 2009-- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• Russia has 3 export orders for Ka-52 helicopters - manufacturer RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- Russia has received export orders for the delivery of Ka-52 Hokum-B combat helicopters from 3 countries.
• Russian Air Force to get 34 warplanes rejected by Algeria RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- Russia's Air Force will receive later 34 MiG-29 fighter jets that Algeria refused to accept under an earlier contract.
• Shipbuilding contributes $7bln to Russia's annual arms exports RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- Shipbuilding contributes $7 billion to the annual portfolio of orders of Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport.
• Taiwanese ship escorted by Chinese naval vessels in Gulf of Aden CNA 13 Jan 2009 -- A ship belonging to Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Marine Corp. was escorted by Chinese naval vessels against pirate attacks.
• ROC ship escorted by China off Somalia registered in Liberia: MAC CNA 13 Jan 2009 -- A Mainland Affairs Council official: Chinese navy's escort of a ship in the Gulf of Aden was not arranged by Taiwan.
• Taiwan, U.S. in talks about piracy in Gulf of Aden: AIT CNA 13 Jan 2009 -- The American Institute in Taiwan issued a statement saying it has discussed with Taiwan the problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
• Japanese Reactionaries' Ambition for Overseas Military Expansion Flayed KCNA 13 Jan 2009 -- The Japanese government set a goal of modifying "defense planning guidelines."
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 13 Jan 2009
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto The White House 13 Jan 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 13, 2009
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED $112.5 MILLION FOR BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE REPAIRS AND UPGRADES BAE Systems 13 Jan 2009 -- The U.S. government has awarded BAE Systems $112.5 million to purchase long-lead items, such as bearings, brackets, armor and adapters, for repairs and upgrades to more than 600 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
• Key Milestone Achieved For GE's New Turboshaft Engine for the U.S. Marine Corps. GE Aviation 13 Jan 2009 -- GE Aviation has completed on schedule the Critical Design Review (CDR) of its new GE38 turboshaft engine, clearing the way for full-engine testing in 2009.
• GE LM2500 Digital Fuel Control Retrofit Kits Provide United States Navy with Lower Maintenance Costs, More Accurate Control GE Marine 13 Jan 2009 -- GE Marine reports that the United States Navy has retrofitted nearly 50 LM2500 marine aeroderivative gas turbines with GE's Digital Fuel Control (DFC) kits. The LM2500s power the U.S. Navy's CG-47 Ticonderoga class cruisers and DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers, GE announced today at the Surface Navy Association National Symposium.
• Boeing Awarded $1.1B for Performance-Based-Logistics Sustainment of C-17 Globemaster III Boeing 13 Jan 2009 -- Boeing on Monday received a $1.1 billion contract for C-17 Globemaster III total systems support from the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Third VH-71 Presidential Production Helicopter Completes Initial Flight Lockheed Martin 13 Jan 2009 -- The VH-71 presidential helicopter program set another milestone with the maiden flight of the third pilot production helicopter today.
• Lockheed Martin Paveway II Dual Mode Laser-Guided Bomb Begins Operational Release With U.S. Navy Lockheed Martin 13 Jan 2009 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] paveway II Dual Mode Laser-Guided Bomb (DMLGB) has achieved the U.S. Navy’s initial operational capability and is now preparing for operational employment.
• First Marine Corps UH-1Y Helicopter With Northrop Grumman Integrated Cockpit Deploys in 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Northrop Grumman 13 Jan 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Avionics System (IAS) and the company's integration support were key parts of preparing the UH-1Y Huey helicopters for initial deployment early in 2009 with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
• Northrop Grumman Donates Navigation Training Software to U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Northrop Grumman 13 Jan 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Sperry Marine business unit has contributed a gift-in-kind of navigation interactive courseware (ICW) to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation to support navigation training programs at the Academy.
• Raytheon awarded $23 million for Ship Self-Defense System Raytheon 13 Jan 2009 -- Raytheon Company received a $23 million U.S. Navy contract to serve as the platform systems engineering agent for the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS). This is the first step toward a base year with options years through fiscal year 2012 platform systems engineering agent contract.
• Lockheed Martin Begins Key Test Of First SBIRS GEO Satellite With New Flight Software Lockheed Martin 13 Jan 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that the first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-1) satellite has entered a major test phase with the latest version of flight software designed to provide highly reliable spacecraft command and control operations.
• U.S. Air Force Selects Northrop Grumman for Next Generation Missile Warning System Northrop Grumman 13 Jan 2009 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract to deliver Next Generation Missile Warning Systems (NexGen MWS) as the latest upgrade to their Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system, which protects aircrews and high value aircraft from shoulder-fired, heat seeking missiles.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 13 Jan 2009
• Hamas Has Had Long History of Conflict With Israel VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- The Israeli military has closed in on densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip, seeking to kill gunmen loyal to the militant group Hamas.
• Unconventional Weapons: Comments From the 'New Weapons Committee' MISNA 13 Jan 2009 -- We are in contact with the doctors working in Gaza...and we have reached the conclusion that...DIME and white phosphorous weapons were used
• Unconventional weapons: medical account from Gaza MISNA 13 Jan 2009 -- "...Wounds that we are treating...similar to those...seen in Lebanon in 2006...and...are related to 'DIME'...as well as white phosphorous..."
• Israel Pushes Into Gaza Strip VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Israeli ground forces fought street battles with militants in Gaza City on Tuesday, in the latest stage of their offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
• UN Agency Suspends Gaza Relief Operations VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees says it is suspending food delivery operations in the Gaza Strip after Israeli strikes killed two of its Palestinian staffers and injured another.
• Please secure ceasefire, UN Gaza official tells Ban on eve of Mideast mission UN News Centre 13 Jan 2009 -- A senior United Nations official in Gaza warned today that 'tragically the horror continues.'
• Arab Leaders Lock Horns over Proposed Summit on Gaza VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Arab leaders are scrambling to react to calls for an emergency summit, as an Egyptian peace plan for Gaza fails to bring progress.
• Israel Intensifies Attacks on Gaza Despite Diplomatic Efforts for Cease-Fire VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Israel says it has inflicted serious damage on Hamas' military infrastructure.
• Hamas uses Gaza Palestinians as human shield - Israeli envoy RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- Hamas is holding civilians hostage and using them as human shields during Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.
• Fighting intensifies as Israel pushes deeper into Gaza RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- Israeli troops are reported to have intensified their attacks on Palestinian positions overnight.
• Israel should allow media into Gaza to report on war, UN agency says IRNA 13 Jan 2009 -- The UNIC called on Israel to allow local and international media professionals to report on events in the area.
• Lebanese Hizbollah in full combat readiness: informed source IRNA 13 Jan 2009 -- An informed source in Lebanon said that the Lebanese Hizbollah now in full combat readiness to deal with aggression to Lebanon.
• UN human rights body to send fact-finding mission to Gaza IRNA 13 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution strongly condemning the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza.
• OSCE resumes talks on observers in Georgia, S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe resumed talks on its observer missions in Georgia and South Ossetia.
• Ethiopian troops leave Somalia prompting UN call for calm and timely presidential poll UN News Centre 13 Jan 2009 -- The top UN envoy to Somalia today urged local factions to ensure peace and stability in the war-ravaged country.
• ETHIOPIA-SOMALIA: Ethiopian troops leave parts of Mogadishu IRIN 13 Jan 2009 -- Ethiopian troops for the first time quit some of their bases in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on 13 January, locals told IRIN.
• Somali Pirates Release 2 Ships VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Pirates in Somalia have released two foreign-owned ships with a total of 35 crew members.
• BURUNDI: Name change to help legalise rebel party IRIN 13 Jan 2009 -- The decision by Burundi's last active rebel group to remove the word "Hutu" from its name should ease its registration as a political party, a senior government official said.
• LRA Continues Attacks in Eastern Congo VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- The UN refugee agency increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army continue.
• Ugandan rebels killed over 500 in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 13 Jan 2009 -- A notorious Ugandan rebel group has killed more than 500 people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Congo Wildlife Sanctuary Struggles to Weather Local Militia Attacks VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Mai Mai militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo have attacked a guard post in Congo's Virunga National Park, killing one ranger and wounding another.

News Reports

• Gang of saboteurs related to US crushed in Iran IRNA 13 Jan 2009 -- Judiciary spokesman, Ali-Reza Jamshidi: A gang of saboteurs related to the US government was recently discovered and destroyed.
• Ukraine and Russia Dispute Europe's Gas Flow VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Russia and Ukraine remain at odds over renewed gas deliveries to Europe as Moscow says the flow is non-existent and Kyiv claims it is proceeding at a pace that is necessarily slow.
• Back To Square One In Russian-Ukrainian Gas Dispute RFE/RL 13 Jan 2009 -- Officials from Russia's export monopoly made a prominent display of restoring the flow of natural gas to Europe via Ukraine early on January 13.
• Ukraine says not stealing or blocking transit of Russian gas RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- The Ukrainian president denied on Tuesday that Kiev was blocking Russian gas transit to Europe or stealing gas, following a failure by Russia to make a test delivery through Ukraine.
• Russia says Ukraine blocking gas transit to Europe RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2009 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin informed European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday that Ukraine was blocking the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe.
• Russia Opens Gas Valves to Europe VOA 13 Jan 2009 -- Russia has resumed the flow of natural gas to Europe, amid an ongoing contract dispute between Moscow and Kyiv that sparked the current energy crisis on the continent.
• SOMALIA: Inside a pirate network IRIN 13 Jan 2009 -- Hassan and Mohamed were fishermen in Bossaso, in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, but turned to piracy out of desperation and lack of alternative livelihoods.