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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 May 2010 [PDF]
• Airpower Summary: May 19 AFNS 21 May 2010
• KC-10 pilot supports air refueling missions in Southwest Asia AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Airmen supporting the KC-10 Extender deployed air refueling mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility flew more than 1,000 sorties off-loading more than 108 million pounds of fuel to more than 6,600 aircraft in support of combat operations in the first three months of this year.
• Iraqi Forces Arrest 8 Terrorism Suspects AFPS 21 May 2010 -- Iraqi security forces arrested eight suspected terrorists in recent combined operations in Iraq with U.S. advisors, military officials reported.
• Tripartite mission denies violent extremists support zones, safe haven Army News 21 May 2010 -- Tripartite is defined as "containing three parts or involving three participants or elements," according to the American Heritage Dictionary of English Language.
• Lobos' support company keeps 25th CAB moving Army News 21 May 2010 -- Though less visible than the helicopters and air crew they support, ground support operations in an aviation brigade are no less important.
• 3rd ID ground troops depend on aviation unit out of Germany Army News 21 May 2010 -- A cool wind breezes past the face of a U.S. Army Soldier as he gestures his hand forward, letting the other team members know it's time to press forward, as the squad moves silently through the night. The team leader's heart begins to race as the Soldiers pass alleyways and homes. The sound of men speaking a foreign dialect seems to surround them.
• NMCB 133 Seabees, Air Force Personnel Complete Joint Project in Afghanistan Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 assisted U.S. Air Force's 809th Red Horse Squadron in completing the Stryker Brigade Headquarters Facility March 27 while deployed to Afghanistan.
• NMCB 133 Sets Others Up for Success in Kandahar, Afghanistan Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 culinary Specialists (CS) assisted Kandahar Airfield (KAF)Afghanistan personnel in preparing for the surge of troops in April.
• NMCB 133 Moves Forward in Delaram, Afghanistan Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133's Detail Delaram II Seabees arrived at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Delaram II in Afghanistan May 15.
• Officials Provide More Details on Bagram Attack AFPS 21 May 2010 -- Military officials provided more details today on the May 19 attack here that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded several servicemembers.
• Forces Detain Insurgents, Seize Drugs, Weapons AFPS 21 May 2010 -- Afghan and international forces detained several insurgents and seized illegal drugs and weapons in recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• Fields: Rebuilding Afghanistan Requires Wise Choices AFPS 21 May 2010 -- A clear understanding of the Afghan people’s needs and attainable milestones for progress are necessary for U.S. funds to be used wisely, the special U.S. inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction told Congress yesterday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Top U.S. Intelligence Coordinator Announces Resignation RFE/RL 21 May 2010 -- The top U.S. intelligence coordinator, Dennis Blair, has announced his resignation, making him the highest-profile figure to leave President Barack Obama's national security team.
• Obama accepts intelligence chief's resignation RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of U.S. Director of National Intelligence Adm. (Ret.) Dennis Blair on Friday.
• Gates establishes U.S. Cyber Command and names first commander AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced May 21 Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander's appointment as the first commander of U.S. Cyber Command, officially establishing the Initial Operating Capability for the new command.
• Lynn Notes Cyber Command’s Significance AFPS 21 May 2010 -- Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III called the establishment of U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md., today a milestone in the United States being able to conduct full-spectrum operations in a new domain.
• DOD Announces First U.S. Cyber Command and First U.S. CYBERCOM Commander DoD 21 May 2010-- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander’s appointment as the first U.S. Cyber Command commander, officially establishing the initial operating capability for the new command. The announcement comes immediately following Alexander’s promotion to receive his fourth star during a ceremony at Fort Meade, Md., today.
• Army Forces Cyber Command Headquarters Standup Plan Announced DoD 21 May 2010 -- The Army announced today that it intends to establish a new Army Forces Cyber Command (ARFORCYBER) Headquarters within the National Capital Region, no later than October 2010.
• DoD News: DOD to Implement New Suspicious Activity Reporting System DoD 21 May 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it will use the FBI-owned and maintained eGuardian suspicious activity reporting system as a long-term solution to ensure access to appropriate law enforcement related threat information in support of the department’s missions.
• Ronald Reagan Ready for Sea After Successful Sea Trials Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) pulled into Naval Air Station North Island May 19 after a successful two-day sea trial, which marked the official end to its six-month planned incremental availability (PIA) period.
• Future USS Jason Dunham Completes "Super Trials" Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- The future USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), the 58th ship of the Arleigh Burke-class, successfully completed a combined builder's and acceptance "super trial" May 20, after spending four days at sea operating in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Enterprise Conducts First CONREP in More than Two Years Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducted a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) May 19.
• Truman Strike Group Deploys Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) deployed May 21 for a six-month deployment, to the 5th and 6th fleet areas of operations, in support of maritime security operations.
• Practicing Damage Control in Exercise Phoenix Express Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Teams from eight ships came together to participate in damage control training as a part of exercise Phoenix Express 2010 (PE10) at Marathi Pier in Souda Bay, Greece, May 19.
• Swift Wraps Up SPS 2010 Jamaica Visit Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- The crew aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 wrapped up two weeks of subject-matter expert (SME) exchanges, and departed Port Antonio, Jamaica, May 21.
• Navy, DLA Continue Efforts to Implement the Vision of Industrial Supply Chain Integration Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- The Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency are continuing joint efforts to make the vision of supply chain integration a reality.
• Combat and Operational Stress Conference Lays Groundwork for Future Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- The first joint Navy and Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Control (COSC) Conference concluded May 20, after three days of discussions and presentations on stress control.
• Pacific Partnership Receives Logistical Support in Guam Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- In the Southeast Pacific, the Military Sealift Command's hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and her crew are moored in Guam as they bring on additional mission support teams, supplies, and other equipment to further prepare for their five-month Pacific Partnership 2010 deployment.
• AIRLANT Presents Truman with Battle "E" Award Prior to Deployment Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic (CNAL) presented USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Sailors with the carrier's second consecutive Battle Efficiency Award May 21.
• Seabees and Vietnamese Engage in Technique Building Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 and Vietnamese volunteers engaged in subject matter expert exchanges are ensuring the Pacific Partnership renovation of the Tuy Phuoc District Health Center is a mutually advantageous engagement for both.
• Naval Facilities Engineering Command Welcomes New Leader Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and Chief of Civil Engineers held a change of command ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard May 21.
• Navy Property Transferred to the City of Virginia Beach Navy NewsStand 21 May 2010 -- Naval Air Station Oceana and the city of Virginia Beach closed May 18 on the transfer of 98 acres, called the Marshview property, from the Navy to the city.
• DoD News: Fort Lee Army Force Structure Actions Announced DoD 21 May 2010 -- The Department of the Army announced today the planned inactivations of the 82nd Quartermaster Detachment (Water Purification) and the 506th Quartermaster Company at Fort Lee, Va.
• USNS Mercy Arrives in Guam for Pacific Partnership AFPS 21 May 2010 -- The Military Sealift Command's hospital ship USNS Mercy is moored in Guam to bring on mission-support teams, supplies and other equipment to prepare for a five-month humanitarian deployment.
• Panel Discusses Post-traumatic Stress AFPS 21 May 2010 -- As the frequency and length of military deployments increase, servicemembers and their families are faced with challenges associated with deployment and combat.
• Official Explains Approach to Climate Change, Energy AFPS 21 May 2010 -- Developing a deliberate approach to energy and climate change is an important platform to national security and the U.S. military mission, a senior Defense Department official told members of Congress here yesterday.
• Aviano officials tap into Earth's energy AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Construction has begun to build a $680,000 geothermal plant here, the first of its kind in U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
• Air Guard engineers assist Navajo Nation AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Two Air National Guard civil engineering units began renovation and construction work May 16 here at St. Michaels Association for Special Education.
• Surge participation by McChord reminiscent of the historic Berlin airlift AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Sixty-two years ago on July 2, Airmen in the 1-year-old Air Force made history with a mission that airlifted 2.3 million tons of coal, food and supplies to Berlin, Germany after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin had cut off all ground transportation through Russia.
• Portal offers new secure network tool similar to Facebook AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Air Force Portal Web designers are keeping up with the Web 2.0 era by offering portal users a new means to engage in professional communications in a secure social media environment.
• U.S. Army Environmental Command moves to San Antonio bringing 200 jobs Army News 21 May 2010 -- With the single command "Uncase the Colors," transfer of the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, was made official during an Uncasing Ceremony at Fort Sam Houston on May 21.
• Army Takes Lead In Clearing Low-Level Airspace Army News 21 May 2010 -- Operating in deconflicted airspace and having a joint air picture of all low level flying activity is as critical as the missions the military conducts every day.
• Expo offers glimpse of future gear Army News 21 May 2010 -- One part "Star Wars" and one part "Call of Duty," tables and booths were filled with top-of-the-line tactical gear such as socks and gloves that remain dry even when immersed in water, a robot helicopter capable of using ground-penetrating radar, and a chemical test that can tell if a captured enemy carried a specific weapon and how long ago it was fired.
• Human terrain teams train at Fort Leavenworth Army News 21 May 2010 -- Ghouse Loynab and Zabeh Noori both have in-depth knowledge of Afghanistan and want to help the U.S. Army develop better relationships with its people.
• Schoomaker emphasizes values, trust at medical symposium Army News 21 May 2010 -- "Our Soldiers and Families trust in you, as medical professionals, to be technically, physically, emotionally and spiritually prepared to care for them during some of the most difficult and frightening times of their lives," said Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric B. Schoomaker, Army surgeon general and commander, U.S. Army Medical Command to more than 2,000 military and civilian medical professionals gathered at the Association of the U.S. Army's Institute of Land Warfare Medical Symposium and Exposition in downtown San Antonio May 17.
• Airborne artillery light up the night at JFEX Army News 21 May 2010 -- Airborne artillerymen from 18th Fires Brigade, exited a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft a few seconds behind their howitzers and into the dusk on Sicily Drop Zone as part of the joint forcible entry exercise on April 28.
• Hungarian Soldiers have opportunity to fire American weapons Army News 21 May 2010 -- Hungarian Soldiers from Multinational Battle Group West visited Multinational Battle Group East's Camp Bondsteel May 14 for a team building exercise that included a day of qualification on U.S. weapons.
• 'White Knights prepare for Western Pacific deployment USMC News 21 May 2010 -- Marines and sailors gathered with their families on the piers here Wednesday to bid farewell to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Reinforced), as they set sail on a Western Pacific tour with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
• 4th FW Strike Eagles assist shuttle launch AFNS 21 May 2010 -- Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, or CONR, and Air Forces Northern Command provided crucial airspace control and manning support to the successful launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis May 14 here.
• Marines test out alternative energy system at African Lion USMC News 21 May 2010 -- Marines here at exercise African Lion are currently testing a new environmentally-friendly energy system which will enable deployed troops to purify water, light their tents and power their equipment through solar energy and leverage technology.
• Moroccans, U.S. forces work to hone planning process during AFRICAN LION 2010 USMC News 21 May 2010 -- U.S. and Moroccan troops joined together to plan and respond to a series of simulated scenarios during a week-long command post exercise (CPX) here as part of AFRICAN LION 2010, May 19.
• Russia, NATO, U.S., EU work on ways to deal with captured pirates RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- Russia is in discussions the United States, EU and NATO on developing a legal framework to deal with pirates in the Horn of Africa region, the Russian defense minister said on Friday.
• China to train Indonesian pilots for Su-family fighters RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- Indonesia and China have agreed to continue cooperation in training pilots for Russian-made Su-family fighters in service with the Indonesian air force, the Antara news agency said on Friday.
• New Russia-U.S. arms treaty to be submitted to Russia's Federal Assembly by end of May RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- A new Russian-U.S. arms reduction treaty is expected to be submitted to the Russian Federal Assembly by the end of May, a top Russian senator said on Friday.
• Russia postpones Bulava missile tests until November RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- Russia has postponed test launches of the troubled Bulava ballistic missile until November this year, the Russian defense minister said on Friday.
• U.S. to evaluate Taiwan's request for F-16 fighters CNA 21 May 2010 -- The United States will further evaluate whether to upgrade Taiwan's existing F-16 A/B fighters or make new sales of F-16 C/D fighters to Taiwan to help it maintain a viable air defense, a senior U.S. Air Force official said Thursday.
• May 21, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 May 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 21, 2010
• Russia to start licensed production of foreign military equipment RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- Russia will launch in July the licensed production of thermal imagers developed by a French firm as part of efforts to gain access to advanced foreign technologies, a Russian daily said on Friday.
• Northrop Grumman to Deliver Information Technology Services to the Defense Intelligence Agency Through the SITE Contract Northrop Grumman 21 May 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) under the Solutions for the Information Technology Enterprise (SITE) contract vehicle. The company will provide worldwide IT coverage and technical support services to the government, including system design, development, fielding, and sustainment of global intelligence and command and control assets vital to national security.
• BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman Submit Bid for Ground Combat Vehicle Competition BAE Systems 21 May 2010 -- The BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman team pursuing the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) submitted its proposal to the Army today.
• Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 680 Jobs, $32 Million to Arizona Boeing 21 May 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Arizona will benefit from approximately 680 jobs and an estimated $32 million in annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force's next aerial refueling aircraft.
• General Dynamics Team Submits Army Ground Combat Vehicle Proposal General Dynamics 21 May 2010 -- A team led by General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) that includes Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) and MTU Detroit Diesel today submitted its proposal for the Technology Development (TD) phase of the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program.
• BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman Submit Bid for Ground Combat Vehicle Competition Northrop Grumman 21 May 2010 -- The BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman team pursuing the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) submitted its proposal to the Army today.
• Oshkosh Corporation Awarded More Than $234.8 Million in Delivery Orders for M-ATV Protection Kits Oshkosh 21 May 2010 -- Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a leading manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, announced today that its Defense division has received four delivery orders valued at more than $234.8 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to supply more than 4,300 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) protection kits.

Other Conflicts

• 21 May 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 May 2010
• S. Korea Says North Will 'Pay' For Ship Sinking VOA 21 May 2010 -- South Korea is talking tough a day after it revealed what it views as irrefutable evidence North Korea sank one of its navy ships. North Korea has threatened war over any retaliation, and says it wants to send a team to inspect the evidence.
• North Korea threatens to quit nonaggression pact with South RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- North Korea will withdraw from the nonaggression pact with South Korea if Seoul continues to accuse Pyongyang of sinking one of its warships, the country's news agency said citing a statement from a government committee.
• Foreign Ministry US of Linking with S. Korean ship Sinking KCNA 21 May 2010 -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday denouncing the United States for pulling up the DPRK, absurdly asserting that the sinking of a south Korean warship was an attack made by north Korea and challenge to the international peace and security.
• U.S. to discuss Korea ship sinking with partners in six-nation talks RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- The U.S. will continue discussions on a South Korean warship which was sunk by a North Korean submarine in March with its partners in the six-nation talks, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department has said.
• Clinton Condemns North Korean Sinking of South's Ship; Promises International Response VOA 21 May 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the evidence that a North Korean torpedo sank a South Korean navy ship is "overwhelming and condemning." Clinton made the comments during a brief stop in Tokyo Friday, where she met with her Japanese counterpart and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
• Do not force refugees back to strife-torn Somalia, UN urges governments UN News Centre 21 May 2010 -- The United Nations today again appealed to governments worldwide not to forcibly return refugees to Somalia, where tens of thousands of people have been killed and some 2 million displaced by years of fighting, as the situation deteriorates even further in the Horn of Africa country.
• Ban arrives in Turkey to attend international summit on Somalia UN News Centre 21 May 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived today in Turkey to take part in a major international conference in Istanbul on bolstering the fragile peace process in Somalia.
• Solution on Cyprus well within reach, Secretary-General says UN News Centre 21 May 2010 -- Considerable progress has been made over the past six months in United Nations-sponsored talks on the unification of Cyprus and a solution is well within reach even as the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community has changed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.
• PHILIPPINES: Muslim rebels agree to help de-mine, ready for talks IRIN 21 May 2010 -- Muslim separatists blamed for years of conflict and displacement on the southern island of Mindanao have agreed to help the government rid the area of unexploded ordnance and landmines.
• More Questions Than Answers in Middle East Talks VOA 21 May 2010 -- A second round of indirect talks has ended in Middle East. They are part of a four-month effort by the United States to jumpstart peace negotiations that ended eighteen months ago. Israeli and Palestinian analysts have different views on what can be achieved in the coming weeks.

News Reports

• Iran’s letter to IAEA Chief to be submitted on Monday IRNA 21 May 2010 -- In pursuit of the May 17 Tehran fuel swap declaration, signed by Iran, Turkey and Brazil, Iran’s letter will be submitted to the IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano on Monday.
• Russia's delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran 'not hit by UN sanctions' RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- Proposed new UN sanctions against Iran will not stop Russia from fulfilling its contract to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to the Islamic Republic, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Friday.
• Brazilian president criticizes proposed sanctions against Iran RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- The Brazilian president criticized on Friday additional sanctions against Iran which are currently being discussed by the UN Security Council.
• Thai PM Calls for Reconciliation VOA 21 May 2010 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called for national reconciliation as the country begins counting the economic cost following an army crackdown on anti-government protests.
• Thailand Weary, Divided After Military Crackdown On Red Shirt Protesters VOA 21 May 2010 -- Bangkok is now recovering from 10 weeks of anti-government demonstrations that shut down much of the city. The Thai army removed the protesters by force Wednesday, in a military operation that left at least seven people dead and 88 wounded. While the government arrested most of the protest leaders, the divisions in Thai society that help create the protest movement remain.
• NEPAL: Food supplies running low in western hills IRIN 21 May 2010 -- Food security for more than 600,000 people in the western hills of Nepal is set to deteriorate, aid agencies warn.
• Kyrgyz Government Publishes New Draft Constitution RFE/RL 21 May 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government today made public the country's new draft constitution, which shifts power from the president to the prime minister, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
• Guinea Military Pledges Neutrality in Next Month's Vote VOA 21 May 2010 -- Guinea's army chief says the military will stay neutral during next month's presidential election, which is intended to restore civilian rule.
• Police say 24 killed in Pakistan’s Karachi violence IRNA 21 May 2010 -- Police chief in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi says that 24 people have been killed in targeted attacks over the past 24 hours.
• NASA sets date for Curiosity mission to Mars RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- NASA has set the date for its next Mars mission, choosing a schedule that will allow for better monitoring of the spacecraft's descent to the surface of the Red Planet, the U.S. space agency said on its website.
• Japan moves to test "space yacht" and solve Venus's "biggest mystery" RIA Novosti 21 May 2010 -- A Japanese H-2A rocket blasted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Friday carrying the country's first Venus probe and an experimental solar sail, the country's space agency said.
• Astronauts Install New Batteries on Space Station VOA 21 May 2010 -- Astronauts from the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis finished installing a new six-pack of batteries on the International Space Station Friday during the third and final spacewalk of their mission.