• 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

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Apr 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 18 April 2011
• Press briefing on Libya by the NATO Spokesperson and Brigadier General Mark van Uhm, Chief of Allied Operations, Allied Command Operations (SHAPE) NATO 19 Apr 2011
• U.S. Continues Support of NATO Operations in Libya AFPS 19 Apr 2011 -- A U.S. military fighter jet destroyed two of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's surface-to-air missile sites near the Libyan capital of Tripoli yesterday, continuing U.S. support of NATO operations there, officials reported.
• British Military Officers to Advise Libya's Rebels VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Britain is sending a group of military officers to Libya. Foreign Secretary William Hague said the officers will be advising rebel forces, but won't be training or arming them.
• NATO pounds Qadhafi regime Command and Control Centres NATO 19 Apr 2011 -- NATO conducted deliberate, multiple strikes against command and control facilities of the Qadhafi regime last night, including communications infrastructure used to coordinate attacks against civilians, and the headquarters of the 32nd Brigade located 10 km south of Tripoli.
• UK sending military advisers to assist Libyan rebels IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- The British government Tuesday markedly stepped up its involvement in the Libyan civil war with Foreign Secretary William Hague announcing the despatch of a team of military advisers to assist the rebels based in Benghazi.
• HMS Liverpool protects Libya's civilian population UK MOD 19 Apr 2011 -- As part of the UK's ongoing involvement in Operation ELLAMY, Royal Navy destroyer HMS Liverpool has been working tirelessly to protect Libya's civilian population under threat of attack from Colonel Gaddafi's forces.
• UK military liaison advisory team to be sent to Libya UK MOD 19 Apr 2011 -- The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has announced that the National Security Council has decided to expand the diplomatic team already in Benghazi, led by Christopher Prentice, to include an additional military liaison advisory team.
• Britain to send military advisers to Libya RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- Britain will send a group of military advisers to the town of Benghazi in eastern Libya to coordinate the actions of scattered rebel forces, media quoted British Foreign Secretary William Hague as saying Tuesday.
• Spanish parliament votes to extend Libya operations RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- The majority of Spanish parliamentary parties voted on Tuesday to extend the country's participation in NATO's Libya operation by two months.
• Army chief of staff visits Soldiers in Iraq Army News 19 Apr 2011 -- Leader development is key to the ongoing success of Army, said the Army's new chief of staff during a visit with troops from United States Division - Center at Camp Liberty, Iraq.
• Black Jack Brigade cases colors, prepares for deployment Army News 19 Apr 2011 -- Soldiers and families of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, gathered together on Cooper Field April 15 to watch as the brigade cased its colors during the division's color casing ceremony.
• UK aviation command changes hands in Afghanistan USMC News 19 Apr 2011 -- The United Kingdom's Joint Aviation Group and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) welcomed a new commander for the deployed U.K. rotary aviation community in a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 15.
• RC-East Troops Making Progress Against Insurgents AFPS 19 Apr 2011 -- Army Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell makes no bones of the fact that his job as the commander Regional Command East is the most challenging problem he ever has confronted.
• Afghan official: We have not accepted US security treaty ISNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Afghan Senate Deputy Chairman al-Haj Mohammad Alam said Afghan people have not accepted US-Afghan security treaty.
• Forces Kill Insurgent Commander in Afghanistan AFPS 19 Apr 2011 -- Coalition forces killed an insurgent commander in a precision airstrike yesterday in the Burkah district of Afghanistan's Baghlan province.
• Mullen Cites Pakistani Cooperation in Afghanistan AFPS 19 Apr 2011 -- Cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani soldiers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is better than it has ever been, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• US Speaker says al-Qaeda targets Pakistan IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- US House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) led a six-member congressional delegation to Pakistan, where members met with key civilian and military leaders, the US embassy said Monday.
• Pak MPs chant slogans against US drone strikes IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Pakistan opposition lawmakers Monday chanted slogans during parliament session against strikes by American drone aircraft in country's tribal regions.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army to Transfer Manning to Leavenworth AFPS 19 Apr 2011 -- The Army plans to transfer Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, charged with leaking classified military information in the WikiLeaks incident, to a new Joint Regional Correctional Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Jeh C. Johnson, the Defense Department's general counsel, announced today.
• Transcript: DOD News Briefing with General Counsel Johnson, Under Secretary Westphal and Lt. Col. Hilton from the Pentagon on the status of Army Pfc. Manning DoD 19 Apr 2011 -- Presenter: Jeh Johnson, General Counsel, Department Of Defense; Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal; and Army Lt. Col. Dawn Hilton, Commander of the Joint Regional Correctional Factiliy at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
• Lynn Opens Countertrafficking Command Center AFPS 19 Apr 2011 -- A new, high-tech command center here will move the fight against illicit traffickers to a new level, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said yesterday.
• Ugandan, American Soldiers build drop zones, skill sets during Atlas Drop 11 Army News 19 Apr 2011 -- Soldiers from the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and the U.S. Georgia Army National Guard have been training and living together in the bush north of Soroti as part of Atlas Drop 11.
• Sacramento District hosts first-ever regional Corps environmental conference Army News 19 Apr 2011 -- The Sacramento District hosted the first of what is hoped will be many gatherings of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division's environmental clean-up professionals here March 23 and 24.
• Marine Corps Police practice active shooter scenarios USMC News 19 Apr 2011 -- Approximately 25 Marines and civilians with the Marine Forces Reserve Marine Corps Police Department worked on their unit cohesion and room clearing techniques during an active shooter training package here April 11-15.
• Continuing Promise Doctors Hold Ultrasound Exchange with Kingston Staff NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- Medical personnel embarked aboard Military Sealift Command USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) facilitated a subject matter expert exchange with Jamaican medical personnel from the Kingston Public Hospital in support of Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11), April 18.
• Stephen W. Groves Completes APS East NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) ended their successful Africa Partnership Station (APS) East deployment in Mombasa, Kenya, April 18.
• USS McCampbell Strengthens Partnership NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) completed a maneuvers and communication exercise with Republic of Korea Ulsan-class frigate ROKS Seoul (FF 952) April 18.
• Navy Units Team Up to Save Life NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- Communication and coordination across multiple naval units is being credited for the rescue of a civilian scuba diver who was injured April 14 off the coast of Mayport, Fla.
• Commander, Navy Region Europe Africa Southwest Asia Relieves Rota CO NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- The Commander of Naval Activities Spain and Commanding Officer of Naval Station Rota was relieved of command April 18.
• Enterprise Rescues Overboard Sailor NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) successfully recovered one of its Sailors who went overboard, April 18 at 9 p.m. local time, while the ship was operating in the Arabian Gulf.
• Secretary of the Navy Visits Seoul, Korea NNS 19 Apr 2011 -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), visited Commander, Naval Forces Korea to meet with the command's senior leadership and talk with Sailors and Marines April 19.
• Eielson recycling project kicks off AFNS 19 Apr 2011 -- Icemen will soon have the opportunity to reduce their waste by recycling paper, plastic and glass products on-base when the new recycling program kicks off in the weeks following Earth Day, April 22.
• Smartphone app helps troops, vets manage stress AFNS 19 Apr 2011 -- Veterans dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can turn to their smartphones for help any time with the 'PTSD Coach' application created by the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments.
• DoD News: DOD Announces Winners of the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards DoD 19 Apr 2011 -- The Department of Defense has announced the winners of the 2011 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.
• Medvedev sacks Navy admiral responsible for Mistral talks RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sacked the senior Navy official who was in charge of talks with France over the purchase of Mistral-class warships.
• Moscow queries Montenegro's NATO membership plans RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- NATO expansion to include Montenegro will not make anyone more secure, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
• Czech Republic may sell combat jets to Iraq RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- The Czech Republic is planning to offer Iraq a number of light attack aircraft and help Baghdad to modernize its helicopter fleet, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said.
• Pakistan tests nuclear capable missile IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Pakistan on Tuesday successfully conducted the first flight test of the newly developed short range surface to surface Multi Tube Ballistic Missile (NASAR), the army said.
• Firouzabadi: Iran poses no threat to regional countries IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Chairman of The Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said on Tuesday that Iran's military might is no threat to the countries of the region.
• Army Commander: our armed forces' combat readiness deterrent IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Commander of IRI Army 58th Commando Brigade, Zolfaqar, said her Monday Iranian armed forces' combat readiness is a deterrent factor keeping enemies away.
• Admiral Qaderpanah: US diplomacy defeated in Persian Gulf IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Commander of IRI Navy 1st District said here Monday: Long pursued US 'Naval Diplomacy' in Persian Gulf has faced full defeat with wave of nations' awakening in the region.
• April 19, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 19, 2011
• Boeing Supports Australian Army Kiowa Fleet Through 60,000 Flight Hours Boeing 19 Apr 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] earlier this month reached the milestone of supporting the Australian Army's 27 Bell 206B-1 Kiowa helicopters for more than 60,000 flight hours. The achievement includes 180 hours of relief efforts following the recent cyclone and flooding in Queensland.
• General Dynamics Awarded $13 Million to Produce Gatling Gun Systems and Spares General Dynamics 19 Apr 2011 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products was recently awarded two contracts with a combined value of $12.9 million to produce 22 Gatling gun systems for the U.S. Navy and to supply various Gatling gun spare items to the U.S. Army. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Lockheed Martin Tests JAGM Tri-Mode Seeker on Sabreliner in High-Speed, Long-Range Captive Flight Tests Lockheed Martin 19 Apr 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently tested its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) tri-mode seeker in high-speed captive flight tests on a Sabreliner jet at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., demonstrating the robustness of the seeker on fixed-wing aircraft.
• Air Force Central Command Awards Northrop Grumman $99 Million Base Security and Support Services Contract Northrop Grumman 19 Apr 2011 -- U.S. Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a five-year contract to perform base security operations and support services at overseas U.S. air bases.
• Lockheed Martin Tactical Reconnaissance Radar Completes Unmanned Aerial System Test Flights Lockheed Martin 19 Apr 2011 -- Lockheed Martin's Tactical Reconnaissance and Counter-Concealment-Enabled Radar, TRACER, has completed flight testing aboard a Predator B MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System. TRACER is a dual-band (UHF and VHF) synthetic-aperture radar capable of detecting and geo-locating objects that are buried, camouflaged or concealed under foliage.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $77.9 Million for U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Workstation Development and Support Northrop Grumman 19 Apr 2011 -- The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $77.9 million contract to continue providing software development and lifecycle support for the Air and Missile Defense Workstation (AMDWS).

Other Conflicts

• 19 April 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-GeneralUnited Nations 19 Apr 2011
• Russia says Western support for Libyan rebels 'dangerous' RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- The backing of Libyan rebels by Western powers could lead to further conflict in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
• International mediators to discuss Libya conflict in Rome RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- An international meeting in Rome next month will discuss the future of Libya amid calls for NATO to increase pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Tuesday.
• Libya: UN food aid arriving via newly-opened humanitarian corridor UN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today it has started moving food aid through a new humanitarian corridor into western Libya to reach areas heavily affected by the fighting.
• WFP Delivers Food To Western Libya VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- The World Food Program has started moving food assistance by land into parts of western Libya heavily affected by fighting for the first time since violence between the government and protesters began two months ago.
• Ban voices concern at deadlock in UN-backed negotiations on Western Sahara UN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- Neither party to the dispute over Western Sahara has taken steps to date that would suggest a readiness to move to an acceptable compromise, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report in which he recommends measures to help advance progress in the United Nations-backed negotiations.
• UN health team travels to western Côte d’Ivoire to review medical needs UN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- A team of United Nations health experts have visited western Côte d'Ivoire in an effort to identify what needs to be done to improve access to health services, which were severely disrupted by the post-election conflict.
• Nepal: UN human rights official urges creation of justice and reconciliation commissions UN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- A senior United Nations human rights official today urged Nepal to quickly enact the draft laws that will establish a commission to probe enforced disappearances in the Asian country and create a mechanism to seek the truth about conflict-related abuses and facilitate national reconciliation.
• Taiwan vows no concessions on South China Sea claims CNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang made it clear Tuesday that Taiwan will made no concessions on its claims to sovereignty over some areas of the South China Sea, despite being a non-member of the United Nations.
• Satellite Spots Torched Sudanese Village VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Satellite images of Sudan's South Kordofan State indicate a village in the Nuba Mountains may have been the target of political violence.

News Reports

• US Skeptical About Syrian Law Changes VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- The United States expressed skepticism Tuesday that a vote by Syria's cabinet to end 48 years of emergency rule will actually ease human rights conditions there. The State Department confirmed U.S. opposition to Syria's candidacy for the U.N. Human Rights Council.
• Reports: Syria's Government Passes Bill To Scrap Decades-Old Emergency Law RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Syria's state news agency says the government has approved a bill lifting a nearly five-decades old emergency law - one of the main demands of pro-reform demonstrators.
• Syria Lifts Emergency Law But Warns Against More Protests VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Syria's government has approved an end to decades-old emergency laws - meeting a key demand of anti-government protesters. But authorities also are warning against any further demonstrations. Syrian security forces earlier fired on protesters in the city of Homs for the second night in a row.
• Iran calls (P)GCC's claims unfounded ISNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast rejected the repetitive claims and false allegation against the country raised in the [P]GCC recent statement.
• Yemeni Police Fire on Demonstrators as Violence Continues VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Witnesses in southern Yemen say police have fired on anti-government protesters, wounding several people.
• US Reinforces Tough Sanctions on North Korea VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has issued an executive order that reinforces economic sanctions against North Korea beginning Tuesday.
• TEPCO starts pumping radioactive water out of damaged unit RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- TEPCO, the operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has started pumping radioactive water into storage tanks, the Kyodo news agency said on Tuesday citing company sources.
• Japanese Nuclear Plant Owners Begin Removing Radioactive Water VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Japanese workers on Tuesday began pumping highly radioactive water from one of the badly damaged reactor buildings at the Fukushima nuclear plant, beginning an essential first step before the plant's vital cooling systems can be repaired.
• Donors Pledge Millions For Chornobyl On 25th Anniversary Of Nuclear Disaster RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Governments and international organizations have pledged about 550 million euros ($780 million) to help Ukraine deal with the aftermath of the world's worst nuclear accident at Chornobyl.
• Ukraine raises $782 mln to spruce up Chernobyl zone - Yanukovych RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- Ukraine has raised some $782 million for the completion of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant shelter project during an international conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the disaster, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on Tuesday.
• Iran says ready to continue talks if other side is prepared ISNA 19 Apr 2011 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday the country is ready to continue talks with P5-plus-one whenever the other side is ready.
• Iran's Nobel Laureate Ebadi Warns Of Unrest Among Ethnic Arabs In Iran RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has warned the United Nations of the possible spread of unrest in Iran's Khuzestan Province, home to most of the country's ethnic Arab minority.
• On eve of Chernobyl visit, Ban outlines path to strengthening nuclear safety UN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- The recent power plant accident in Japan, like the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago, calls for 'deep reflection' on the future of nuclear energy, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, as he outlined a five-step plan to enhance nuclear safety.
• Iraqi Foreign Minister Says Camp Ashraf Is Unconstitutional RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Iraq's foreign minister says a military raid that the UN says killed 34 people was aimed at taking back land from the control of Iranian exiles, but he admits that Iraq no longer wants them in the country.
• 81 Wounded in Northern Iraq Protests VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Medical officials in northern Iraq say at least 81 people were wounded in the northern Kurdish region Monday, during a second straight day of clashes between security forces and demonstrators protesting official corruption and a lack of basic services.
• Protest Escalates at Proposed Indian Nuclear SiteVOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Protests at the site of a proposed nuclear plant in India are heating up well in advance of a mass rally scheduled there next week. There has been at least one death so far, and demonstrators say the government is ignoring their concerns about the threat the reactor poses to their safety and livelihoods.
• India says all its nuclear plants safe IRNA 19 Apr 2011 -- All the nine nuclear plants in India are safe and the country will never face Japan-like situation as there is a lot of geographical difference between the two countries, Nuclear Energy Corporation of India claimed.
• Reports Of Names Of Alleged Subway Bombers Set Off Frenzy RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Authorities in Belarus remain mum about the suspects who have been detained in connection with the April 11 Minsk subway bombing, which left 13 people dead. In fact, it remains unclear whether authorities have detained four men and one woman or three men and one woman.
• Lukashenko accuses West of 'heartlessness' over metro bomb RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday hit out at Western powers for 'not sending condolences' to the people of Belarus following a deadly bomb attack in the capital, Minsk.
• Raul Castro Named Head of Cuba's Communist Party VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Cuban President Raul Castro has been named the head of the nation's ruling Communist Party, officially replacing his brother, former President Fidel Castro, who held the post since the party's founding 46 years ago.
• Security Council committee meets to discuss how to accelerate fight against terrorismUN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- The Security Council committee tasked with spearheading efforts to tackle terrorism began a three-day meeting today with regional organizations that is aimed at accelerating and unifying international strategies to defeat the scourge.
• UN agency deplores pirates' use of seafarers as human shields UN News Centre 19 Apr 2011 -- The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has condemned the use of sailors as human shields after Somali pirates continued to detain seven crew members of a recently released ship even though a ransom had been reportedly paid.
• Islamic Scholars In Pakistan Condemn Suicide Attacks, Warn Government RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Hundreds of religious scholars in Pakistan have condemned suicide attacks and urged the state and government to protect people against terrorists, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal reports.
• Croatia Edges Closer To EU Membership RFE/RL 19 Apr 2011 -- Croatia has edged closer to EU accession by closing 'chapters' on regional policy and agriculture in its negotiations with Brussels.
• Bout's defense appeals his trial in the United States RIA Novosti 19 Apr 2011 -- Lawyers for alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, held in a U.S. prison on conspiracy charges, have lodged an appeal on the illegality of their client's prosecution in the United States.
• Nigerian President Calls for Calm Following Re-Election VOA 19 Apr 2011 -- Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is calling for calm after days of electoral violence following a presidential vote that most observers believe was largely free and fair. But the political party that finished second says Jonathan's re-election was rigged.