Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 05 Oct 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Oct. 4 airpower summary: B-1Bs protect friendly convoys AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF troops in Afghanistan during operations.
• Forces Arrest Suspected Terrorist Leaders in Iraq AFPS 05 Oct 2009 -- Iraqi forces arrested several suspected terrorist leaders in Iraq in recent days.
• Suicide Bomber Kills 6 at Iraqi Funeral VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Iraqi police say a suicide bomber entered a funeral tent in western Iraq and detonated explosives, killing at least six mourners and wounding 15 others.
• 35th Signal Brigade begins mission Army News 05 Oct 2009 -- Back to back transfer of authority ceremonies held for the 35th Signal Brigade and 67th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.
• Reconstitution of materials supports fight, saves money AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- Members of the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron began to prepare for the drawdown of servicemembers serving in Iraq.
• Gates: Withdrawal from Afghanistan Would Embolden Radicals AFPS 05 Oct 2009 -- Withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan would greatly embolden Islamic radicals worldwide.
• Gates Says Military Recommendations to President Should Be Kept Private VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- US Defense Secretary Gates: Current review of U.S. and NATO strategy in Afghanistan should remain private.
• Gates Cites Importance of Obama's Afghanistan Decisions AFPS 05 Oct 2009 -- Gates: President Obama’s decisions on the next phase of the Afghan war will be among the most important of his presidency.
• Jones Calls Troop Levels Only Part of Afghanistan Equation AFPS 05 Oct 2009 -- Jones: Increasing U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan is only one part of the formula for success there.
• Forces Disrupt, Detain Insurgents in Afghanistan AFPS 05 Oct 2009 -- Afghan and NATO troops have killed or detained numerous militant fighters throughout eastern and southern Afghanistan.
• Marines, Afghan soldiers conduct Operation Gator Crawl USMC News 05 Oct 2009 -- Marines, parts of the regiment's headquarters, and Afghan National Army soldiers conducted Operation Gator Crawl - a rolling patrol.
• 1/4 braves elements to receive resupply USMC News 05 Oct 2009 -- Marines deployed to Afghanistan often conduct operations "outside the wire" for extended periods of time and require more items than they can carry.
• Marines multi-task at Patrol Base Fielder USMC News 05 Oct 2009 -- All service members are trained to do a specific job - their military occupational specialty.
• Kyrgyz MPs approve deployment of French, Spanish troops to Manas RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- A Kyrgyz parliamentary committee approved agreements allowing France and Spain to deploy troops at the former-Soviet republic's Manas airbase.
• France, Spain to use Kyrgyz air base RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- A Kyrgyz parliamentary committee will consider draft agreements allowing France and Spain to use the Manas airbase for the transit of troops and supplies to Afghanistan.
• Afghan Officials Expect Final Results in Presidential Election Next Week VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Afghan election officials say workers are recounting some of the ballots from the disputed August 20 presidential election and should be ready to formally declare a winner by late next week.
• In Brief: Afghanistan slipping down UN human development index IRIN 05 Oct 2009 -- Afghanistan has slipped down the latest UN human development index which ranks it 181 out of 182 countries, with only Niger lower.
• UN Condemns Pakistan Suicide Bombing VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- The UN Secretary-General is condemning the terrorist attack that killed five World Food Program aid workers in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Ban condemns 'heinous' attack on UN food aid office in Pakistan UN News Centre 05 Oct 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban strongly condemned suicide attack against office of the UN World Food Programme in Pakistan.
• Five Killed In Attack On Pakistani UN Office After Taliban Threat RFE/RL 05 Oct 2009 -- Suicide bomber has blown himself up at the UN's World Food Program office in Islamabad, killing at least 5 people.
• Suicide bomber kills three at UN building in Pakistan RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Three people were killed in Islamabad when a suspected suicide bomber attacked a UN World Food Program office.
• Suicide Bomb Blast at UN Office in Pakistani Capital VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Suspected suicide bomb blast hit the offices of the World Food Program in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, killing five people.

Defense Policy / Programs

• As KC-135Es retire, Air Force officials' focus shifts to KC-X AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- One of the last of the KC-135E Stratotankers to retire made its final flight Sept. 28 to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
• Secretary Gates Remarks at the Association of United States Army DoD 05 Oct 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gatese
• Technology Approach Could Extend Gun Barrel Service Life Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2009 -- PEO Integrated Warfare Systems' Naval Gunnery Project Office reviewing results from the Advanced Gun Barrel Technology Rapid Fire Test.
• Improved battery technology sitting unordered in Army inventory Army News 05 Oct 2009 -- Soldiers are carrying unnecessary weight into battle because many units do not realize that newer, lighter batteries with more capacity are sitting unordered in the Army supply channel.
• Spotlight On Aviation Technology For Ground Support Army News 05 Oct 2009 -- The Army's aviation maintenance equipment is only as good as the Soldiers who use it to repair and maintain helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
• Army Energy Security Army News 05 Oct 2009 -- The Army Energy Security Implementation Strategy establishes five strategic goals to promote energy security by fostering a culture of energy awareness.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems Team Opens Site In Utah Army News 05 Oct 2009 -- Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office officially opened its Rapid Integration and Acceptance Center.
• Airmen use space to develop warfighting technology AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- A group of Airmen at NASA's Johnson Space Center here is using space to help develop technology for the warfighter.
• Eglin wing transitions to become first F-35 training unit AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing transitioned to the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter training unit.
• Weapons Company rolls through humvee attack course USMC News 05 Oct 2009 -- Purpose of this training exercise aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Sept. 13, 2009, was to refine the mounted combat skills.
• AMC simulator linking initiative making pilot training better AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- Air Mobility Command is not only training its pilots, it's doing it better.
• Wasp Begins Southern Partnership Station Deployment Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2009 -- USS Wasp departed Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 4 for a 3 month deployment in support of Southern Partnership Station.
• Whitescarver Assumes Command of USS Scranton Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2009 -- A traditional change of command ceremony was held on board the USS Scranton, moored at Pier 3, Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 1.
• NAVSCIATTS Global Maritime Security Symposium Builds Relationships Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2009 -- NAVSCIATTS hosted Naval Special Warfare Group 4's Global Maritime Security Force Assistance Symposium.
• Samoa relief winds down; efforts continue elsewhere AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- US military continues to provide assistance to victims of storms and earthquakes in the Philippines and Indonesia.
• Hawaii Guard medical team returns, civil support team stays in American Samoa AFNS 05 Oct 2009 -- Hawaii National Guard's medical mission wrapped up, but 14 personnel with the state's civil support team will remain.
• Russia to start construction of 4th Borey-class sub in December RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Russia's Sevmash shipyard will start the construction of the fourth Borey class strategic submarine on December 22.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs The White House 05 Oct 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 05, 2009
• L-3 Wins Special Operations Contract for Expeditionary Unmanned Systems L-3 Communications 05 Oct 2009 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has awarded its Geneva Aerospace division a contract for expeditionary unmanned systems.
• ATK Awarded $25 Million Contract Option to Produce LW30mm M789 HEDP ATK 05 Oct 2009 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has been awarded a $25 million contract option to provide lightweight (LW) 30mm M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) tactical ammunition for the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter.
• ATK Marks 30 Years of Tank Ammunition Innovation ATK 05 Oct 2009 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) is marking its 30th year as an innovative developer and producer of tank ammunition for the U.S. Army and its allies. In 1979, the company became a systems integrator for tank ammunition when the U.S. Army sought to "upgun" the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT) from a 105mm system to a 120mm main gun.
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED $63.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR PROTOTYPE PALADIN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT VEHICLES BAE Systems 05 Oct 2009 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army Tank Automotive & Armaments Command for the procurement and fabrication of five prototype M109A6 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) self-propelled howitzer vehicles and two prototype M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles (FAASV). The total contract value is $63.9 million.
• EADS North America and U.S. Army validates global mobility of the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter EADS 05 Oct 2009 -- EADS North America and the U.S. Army successfully loaded four U.S. Army UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) and one additional company-owned EC145 helicopter onto a U.S. Air Force C-17, validating the transportability of the LUH.
• EADS North America’s Armed Scout 645 highlighted at this year’s Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting EADS 05 Oct 2009 -- EADS North America’s Armed Scout 645 will be the centerpiece of the company’s presence Oct. 5-7 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual convention – underscoring the helicopter’s readiness as a low-risk, highly capable and best-value solution to fulfill the Army’s current and long-term Armed Aerial Scout mission requirements.
• General Dynamics Awarded U.S. Army Contract for Engineering and Manufacturing Services General Dynamics 05 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems one of 14 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for engineering and manufacturing services. The five-year contract has a $430 million ceiling value to all awardees if all options are exercised. General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Northrop Grumman to Continue Development of GPS-Free Inertial Navigation System Northrop Grumman 05 Oct 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a contract modification from the U.S. Department of Defense to further demonstrate a revolutionary advance in inertial navigation.
• Northrop Grumman to Supply Land Navigation Systems for Germany's New Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle Northrop Grumman 05 Oct 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract by the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) to deliver the first 257 inertial navigation units for the German Bundeswehr's new Boxer multi-role armoured vehicle.
• Northrop Grumman Announces Successful G/ATOR AESA System Tests Northrop Grumman 05 Oct 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced a prototype partial array antenna representative of the U.S. Marine Corps Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) active electronic scanned array (AESA) has completed successful testing at a company antenna test range in Norwalk, Conn., where all planned test objectives were met.
• Northrop Grumman Selected to Supply U.S. Army With Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinders Northrop Grumman 05 Oct 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Army to provide Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinders (LLDR) under a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with an estimated value of up to $599 million.
• Raytheon Wins U.S. Armed Forces Combat Training Program In Kuwait Raytheon 05 Oct 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has won a contract to improve, deliver and maintain an advanced combat training program for U.S. Armed Forces and coalition partners in Kuwait.
• DCNS wins contract to supply torpedo countermeasures for entire French submarine fleet DCNS 05 Oct 2009 -- On 2 September 2009, DCNS signed a contract to supply and install torpedo counter¬measures for the French Navy’s entire submarine fleet. This new success further strengthens the Group’s international standing as a world leader in underwater weapons.
• First Oshkosh M-ATVs on the Ground in Afghanistan Protecting Warfighters Oshkosh 05 Oct 2009 -- Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today that the first MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) are on the ground and in theater in Afghanistan. The vehicle’s delivery comes just three months after Oshkosh was awarded the M-ATV contract.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 05 Oct 2009
• Israel Deploys Police Around Jerusalem's Old City VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Israel has deployed security officers in and around Jerusalem's Old City after police and Palestinian protesters clashed Sunday.
• Fearing Arrest, Israeli Cabinet Minister Rejects British Trip VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- An Israeli Cabinet minister has decided not to visit Britain because of concerns he could be arrested there on suspicion of committing war crimes.
• Russian warships to escort Abkhazia-bound freight vessels RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Russian coastguard patrol boats and Black Sea Fleet warships will escort freight vessels carrying supplies to Abkhazia.
• Abkhazia to order foreign passports in Russia RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Authorities from the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia will order passports in Russia giving its citizens the ability to travel abroad.
• Russia to back Serbia in UN Kosovo hearings - Lavrov RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- FM Lavrov: Russia will support Serbia's case in UN court hearings on the legitimacy of Kosovo's declaration of independence.
• Ban extols UN mission in Kosovo for spurring dialogue and cooperation UN News Centre 05 Oct 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban commended the efforts of the UN mission in Kosovo for encouraging dialogue and cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia.
• UN agency warns group of Congolese refugees in Burundi against returning home UN News Centre 05 Oct 2009 -- UN refugee agency warned more than 2,000 Congolese sheltering in Burundi against returning to their homes in conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Nigerian Peace Group Calls for Permanent Peace in Oil-Rich Delta VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Peace activist Onengiya Erekosima said the administration should quickly take advantage of the end of fighting to begin the process of building a genuine peace.
• Increased Violence Forces 1,000 Residents to Flee VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Civilians near Senegal's southern border face a dire situation after fleeing increased violence by rebel forces in the area.
• UN peacekeeping chief to visit top three contributors of personnel UN News Centre 05 Oct 2009 -- UN peacekeeping chief next week pays an official visit to Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.

News Reports

• US Denies Policy Shift in Deferring Dalai Lama Meeting VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- State Department: President Obama's decision to put off a meeting with the Dalai Lama until after he visits China next month does not signal a change in US policy on Tibet.
• Dalai Lama Not Meeting Obama This Week VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- The Dalai Lama will visit Washington, DC this week, but he will not meet with U.S. President Barack Obama.
• Lavrov warns against pitting Russian president against premier RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned against pitting Russia's president against the prime minister.
• Interim government cancels state of emergency in Honduras RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- The de facto president of Honduras announced on Monday the cancelation of a state of emergency in the country and the restoration of citizens' civil liberties.
• Burkinabe President Mediates Guinea Crisis VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- President of Burkina Faso is in Guinea for talks with military leaders and their political opponents as part of a regional mediation effort.
• Sudan Party Nominates Bashir as Candidate for 2010 Vote VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- National Congress Party of Sudan has nominated embattled President al-Bashir to be its candidate in the scheduled April 2010 general election.
• Former UN Chief Pressures Kenya on Reforms VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Former United Nations chief Kofi Annan met with Kenya's president and prime minister Monday to urge their coalition government to hasten the pace of reforms in the country.
• Kofi Annan to Meet Kenyan Leaders Monday VOA 05 Oct 2009 -- Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is scheduled to hold discussions with Kenyan President Kibaki and PM Odinga.
• German parties aim to form coalition by late October - media RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- The CDU/CSU group led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to conclude talks on a coalition government by late October, German media reported Monday.
• Socialists to form new Greek government RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Greece's president asked George Papandreou to form a government on Monday after his Socialist party won a decisive victory over the ruling conservatives in early elections.
• Greek communists 'disappointed' with election results RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece disappointed with the results of Sunday's parliamentary election.
• Greek opposition winning parliamentary election with 43.3% RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- Greece's Socialist opposition party won Sunday's parliamentary election in the Mediterranean country gaining 43.3% of the vote.
• Kearsarge Prepares Offensive Against H1N1 Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2009 -- USS Kearsarge's Medical Department outlined procedures to educate and protect service members and their families against H1N1.
• Swine flu cases in Russia total 570 - top sanitary official RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- The number of people diagnosed with swine flu in Russia has risen to 570.
• GLOBAL: Island nations frustrated at climate talks IRIN 05 Oct 2009 -- Up to half a million people in the Pacific will lose their homes and their countries to rising sea levels because small island nations cannot persuade the rest of the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently, campaigners say.
• Ingushetia leader dismisses government over corruption RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2009 -- The leader of Russia's volatile southern republic of Ingushetia dismissed the government, citing its failure to tackle socio-economic problems and corruption.