• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Three MND-N Soldiers die in combat operations
• Feb. 22 airpower summary: B-1B destroys enemy bunker AFNS 23 Feb 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Martin From Iraq DoD 23 Feb 2009 -- Presenter: Commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Ist Infantry Division, Col. Joseph Martin and Team Leader, Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team 6, John Bennett
• Media Roundtable: Brig. Gen. David Quantock, Feb. 23, 2009 MNF-I 23 Feb 2009 -- Brig. Gen. David Quantock, deputy CG of MNF-I Detainee Operations and CG of Task Force 134 hosts a Media Roundtable
• Iraqi Forces Discover Explosives, Arrest Criminals AFPS 23 Feb 2009 -- Iraqi security forces discovered improvised explosive devices and arrested four suspected criminals in Baghdad.
• 3 US Soldiers, Interpreter Killed in Iraq VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Three US soldiers and an interpreter were killed Monday during combat operations in Iraq's Diyala province north of Baghdad.
• Rapid acquisition, training team helps secure Iraqi elections AFNS 23 Feb 2009 -- Members of an Electronic Systems Center rapid acquisition project from helped ensure recent Iraqi elections was peaceful.
• Airmen teach Iraqi air force members aircraft maintenance AFNS 23 Feb 2009 -- Airmen from the 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron teaching Iraqi air force members aircraft structural maintenance.
• Predator crashes northeast of Balad AFNS 23 Feb 2009 -- An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft stationed here crashed off base at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time Feb. 22.
• Violence in Iraq Drops to Six-Year Low AFPS 23 Feb 2009 -- Violent attacks in Iraq are at their lowest levels since August 2003.
• Progress in Baghdad Continues on all Fronts, Commander Reports AFPS 23 Feb 2009 -- 2 months after new agreements took effect in Iraq, commander reports Iraqi security forces ever-increasing responsibilities.
• Newly-elected officials must work constructively for Iraqis, Ban says UN News Centre 23 Feb 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban urges newly-elected provincial officials to work together to improve the lives of Iraqis.
• New Troops to Be Deployed to Secure Afghan Elections VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Deputy commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan confident members will send extra troops needed to bolster security for elections.
• Pakistani, Afghan Diplomats to Meet With US Officials in Washington VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan scheduled to take part in review of South Asia policy in Washington.
• Foreign Minister embarks on US visit to provide input to policy IRNA 23 Feb 2009 -- Pakistani FM Qureshi left for Washington to provide input to review of policy being undertaken by Obama Administration.
• Prospects For Stability In Pakistan Uncertain Despite Peace Deal RFE/RL 23 Feb 2009 -- The latest plan to bring security to Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province calls for distributing 30,000 weapons to villagers.
• Pakistani Taliban free top govt official after holding him hostage IRNA 23 Feb 2009 -- Taliban in Pakistan's troubled Swat valley freed top government official after kidnapping him hostage for several hours.
• Pakistani Kidnappers Refute Reports of Death of American Hostage VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Pakistani separatists holding UN official John Solecki hostage say he is still alive, refuting reports he had been killed.
• UNHCR says no confirmation of reports of official's death IRNA 23 Feb 2009 -- UN refugee agency Monday: No conformation of local TV reports that abducted official has been killed in southwestern Pakistan.
• Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts to Combat Piracy in Gulf of Aden AFPS 23 Feb 2009 -- Turkey and Singapore recently committed forces to join Combined Task Force 151, a counter-piracy operations naval coalition.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing With Adm. Walsh From The Pentagon DoD 23 Feb 2009 -- Presenter: Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Patrick M. Walsh
• Africa Partnership Station Nashville arrives in Ghana Navy NewsStand 23 Feb 2009 -- USS Nashville arrived in Sekondi, Ghana, the second African port in support of Africa Partnership Station.
• Gates to Take Comprehensive Approach to End 'Stop-Loss' AFPS 23 Feb 2009 -- Ending the military’s so-called “stop-loss” program is a priority for Defense Secretary Gates.
• Defense, VA Reform Evaluation System for Seriously Injured Vets AFPS 23 Feb 2009 -- Two years is much too long to determine service disabilities, especially when the injuries obviously qualify a servicemember.
• Winter defense forum focused on BRAC, mission growth AFNS 23 Feb 2009 -- Attendees at the ADC Winter Forum learned about the latest solutions to challenges resulting from BRAC and mission growth.
• South Korea Says North Increasing Special Forces, Deploying New Missile VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- S Korea: N Korea enhancing military strength by deploying new missile and increasing number of elite forces.
• Peacekeeping, under severe strain, to undergo review UN News Centre 23 Feb 2009 -- UN peacekeeping operations, faced with unprecedented demands and constraints, will undergo review in the coming year.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 23 Feb 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 2/23/2009 The White House 23 Feb 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 23, 2009
• NORWEGIAN DEFENCE LOGISTICS ORGANISATION SELECTS BAE SYSTEMS STING RAY MOD 1 TO MEET ANTI-SUBMARINE TORPEDO REQUIREMENT BAE Systems 23 Feb 2009 -- The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation has selected BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo to meet the requirements of its Norwegian Antisubmarine Torpedo (NAT) programme.
• GE Selected for the AV-8B Harrier Technology GE Aviation 23 Feb 2009 -- GE Aviation has been awarded a development contract from the U.S. Navy for AV-8B aircraft radar display computers. The contract is valued at more than $16 million, with completion in 2011 at which time the follow-on production contract is anticipated.
• Oshkosh Delivers Two M-ATV Production Vehicles For Military Evaluation Oshkosh 23 Feb 2009 -- Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today that its Defense division delivered two production-representative MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) to the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for military evaluation. The mission-proven Oshkosh® M-ATV meets the survivability and mobility requirements of the warfighter for Afghanistan. The U.S. Armed Services have an urgent need requirement for M-ATVs to be used in the harsh conditions of Afghanistan. The M-ATV contract has a potential award value of $2 billion.
• BAE SYSTEMS TEAMS WITH NORWAY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SEP ARMOURED VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BAE Systems 23 Feb 2009 -- BAE Systems today announced a teaming arrangement with Kongsberg Devotek A/S of Norway to develop a new system of gears and transmissions for the Spitterskyddad Enhets Platform (SEP) 8x8 armored vehicle.
• General Dynamics Awarded $39 Million for F-16 Ammunition Handling System Production General Dynamics 23 Feb 2009 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin for production of F-16 Ammunition Handling Systems (AHS).
• Lockheed Martin’s VUIT-2 Delivers Video Network Capability in Theater Lockheed Martin 23 Feb 2009 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] Video from Unmanned Aerial Systems for Interoperability Teaming – Level 2 (VUITTM-2) for Apache technology recently began operational use in theater. The VUIT-2 system advanced from design to production in less than seven months to accommodate a rapid fielding request from the U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff.
• U.S. Army Increases Northrop Grumman FBCB2 'I Kit' Contract Ceiling by $574 Million Northrop Grumman 23 Feb 2009 -- The U.S. Army has increased the contract ceiling of a Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) contract by $574 million to provide installation kits, cables and related hardware for the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) program.
• Northrop Grumman Begins Study of Electronic Warfare System of the Future Northrop Grumman 23 Feb 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a study contract by the U.S. Navy to investigate a Next Generation Jammer to replace its aging ALQ-99 airborne electronic attack system.
• Raytheon Nets $173 Million U.S. Army Award for Infrared Technology Kits Raytheon 23 Feb 2009 -- The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon Company $173 million to provide second-generation infrared kits for a variety of combat systems.
• Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 126 Successful Test Flights Lockheed Martin 23 Feb 2009 -- The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test flight Feb. 13 of a Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).
• Northrop Grumman Awarded U.S. Army Biometric Intelligence Resource Contract Northrop Grumman 23 Feb 2009 -- The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $36.9 million cost-plus-award-fee contract to enhance the capabilities of the Biometric Intelligence Resource (BIR) system, which uses biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial recognition or iris scans to identify and track individuals of interest in the Global War on Terrorism.
• Northrop Grumman Receives U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Contract Award for Third Year of Low Rate Initial Production Northrop Grumman 23 Feb 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) program moves closer to Operational Evaluation (OpEval) with a recent U.S. Navy modification award to a previous firm fixed-price contract for the procurement of three VTUAV systems.
• ATK and AFRL Successfully Test Development Motor for Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology Program ATK 23 Feb 2009 -- Alliant Techsystems and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base have successfully tested a developmental solid rocket motor -- designated Phase II -- as part of the Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT) program.

Other Conflicts

• Amnesty Calls for Arms Embargo of Israel and Hamas VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Amnesty International has called for an arms embargo because of alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict.
• Amnesty International Says Israel Misused US-Supplied Weapons in Gaza VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- The human rights group Amnesty International is accusing Israel of misusing weapons supplied by the United States .
• Sri Lankan Government Rejects Tamil Rebels Talk of Truce VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Tamil rebels willing to accept calls for a cease-fire, but government rejecting truce that does not include unconditional surrender.
• Tamil Tigers offer ceasefire with Sri Lankan government IRNA 23 Feb 2009 -- LTTE: Ready for ceasefire with Sri Lankan government but refused to lay down their arms.
• AU Says Somalia Attack Will Not Deter Peacekeeping VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- AU: peacekeeping mission in Somalia will not be deterred by terrorist bomb attack that killed 11 Burundian peacekeepers.
• Al-Shabab Group Threatens More Terror Attacks in Somalia VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Somalia's militant al-Shabab group has promised to launch more attacks against AU peacekeeping troops.
• Somalia: top UN envoy speaks out against killing of AU peacekeepers UN News Centre 23 Feb 2009 -- Top UN envoy to Somalia shocked to hear about an attack against AU peacekeepers that claimed the lives of 11 Burundian troops.
• African Union Condemns Sunday's Suicide Attacks as Barbaric VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- AU described as barbaric attacks by Somali insurgent group al-Shabaab which left at least 11 peacekeepers dead.
• Two Sudanese Aid Workers Killed in Ambush VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- U.N. peacekeepers say two Sudanese aid workers have been killed in an ambush in Darfur.
• Signs of Progress Reported in Congo Peace Negotiations VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Negotiators for the Congolese government and a rebel group in the country's east have reached a preliminary agreement.
• AFRICA: Climate change and conflicts IRIN 23 Feb 2009 -- Karamoja, a semi-arid region in northeast Uganda, is in crisis: a potent mix of the impact of climate change, border conflicts, armed cattle-raids, and difficult development and sustainability issues are the main features.

News Reports

• Israel's Netanyahu Fails to Persuade Barak to Join Coalition VOA 23 Feb 2009 -- Israel's PM-designate Netanyahu has failed to persuade the leader of a center-left party to join him in a national unity government.
• EU Foreign Ministers Discuss Eastern Partnership RFE/RL 23 Feb 2009 -- EU is expected to offer 6 countries an upgrade of its European Neighborhood Policy called the Eastern Partnership."
• Mottaki: No talks with any US official IRNA 23 Feb 2009 -- FM Mottaki rejected reports that Senior Presidential Advisor Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi held talks with US officials.
• As Crisis Deepens, Russian Finance Ministry Battles 'Siloviki' RFE/RL 23 Feb 2009 -- Hard-nosed security-service veterans and bean-counting economists comprised key pillars of Vladimir Putin's Russia.
• Chattier Medvedev Could Be Testing Path To 'Real Power' RFE/RL 23 Feb 2009 -- Dmitry Medvedev reassures the nation that it has little to fear from the current economic crisis.
• Georgian opposition parties unite against Saakashvili RIA Novosti 23 Feb 2009 -- Two major Georgian opposition groups merged to form Alliance for Georgia with former ambassador to the UN, Irakly Alasaniya.
• MADAGASCAR: At least they are talking IRIN 23 Feb 2009 -- Madagascar's President Ravalomanana and opposition leader Rajoelina have met for the second time since violent political unrest erupted in late January.
• ZIMBABWE: Tit-for-tat violence flares up IRIN 23 Feb 2009 -- Political violence, despite the formation of unity government, is picking up in Zimbabwe.