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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 16 Aug 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 15 Aug 2011
• NATO Condemns Libya's Use of Scud Missile VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- NATO is condemning Libya's use of a scud missile in its battle against rebels who are advancing toward Tripoli to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
• Remarks by Secretary Clinton and Secretary Panetta at National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. DoD 16 Aug 2011 -- Presenter: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
• Clinton, Panetta Discuss Cooperation in Afghanistan AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- The security mission in Afghanistan is making progress, but much more needs to be done on governance and development, two top Cabinet officials said at Fort McNair here today.
• Electronics technicians keep Marine pilots flying in Afghanistan USMC News 16 Aug 2011 -- Within every Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier is a nervous system. A network of wires and cables relay battlefield information to the pilot and send his intent with the flick of a wrist or press of a button back through the jet at the speed of light.
• ISAF Chief Apologizes for Civilian Casualty Incident AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- The International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan commander met today with family members of Afghan civilians killed and injured during a July 26 incident in the Nejrab district of Afghanistan's Kapisa province, military officials reported.
• US drone strike kills 4 people in NW Pakistan IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- A US drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt along the Afghan border killed at least four people, local media said.
• 9 NATO supply tankers, trucks torched in Pakistan IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- Nearly nine tankers, carrying oil for NATO troops in Afghanistan, were attacked in bomb blast and firing in Pakistan on Monday, officials said.
• Pakistan suspends supplies to NATO forces IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- Pakistani authorities Tuesday temporarily stopped supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan a day after nearly 10 NATO oil tankers were attacked and torched, local media said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by Deputy Secretary Lynn at the 2011 DISA Customer and Industry Forum, Baltimore, Md. DoD 16 Aug 2011 -- Presenter: Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III
• Sharing Intelligence Helps Contractors Strengthen Cyber Defenses AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- A new pilot program in which the Defense Department shares classified threat intelligence with defense contractors or their commercial Internet service providers is showing promise in increasing their cyber defenses and preventing enemy intrusions into sensitive government networks, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said today.
• Panama Canal Defense Exercise Begins AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- One of the world's largest multinational military exercises gets under way today to test plans to defend the Panama Canal.
• New Biofuels Market to Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- The Navy Department is providing the market share for the nation's nascent biofuel industry as part of a White House initiative to kick-start the alternative energy sector, administration officials announced today.
• Department of Defense Announces Return of Facilities in Belgium DoD 16 Aug 2011 -- The secretary of defense announced today the decision to inactivate three microwave radio relay sites in Belgium and return them to the host nation. The sites are Ben Ahin, Le Chenoi and Spa Malchamp.
• Panetta: Congress Must Look at Whole Federal Budget for Cuts AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- Budget concerns and the need for the Defense Department to work with the State Department dominated a discussion at the National Defense University here today with the Cabinet members who lead those departments.
• Resilience Study Can Help DOD Strengthen Programs AFPS 16 Aug 2011 -- The military has a plethora of programs aimed at building resilience in service members and their families, but needs a better system in place to measure their success, a study has revealed.
• Marines arrive in Tonga USMC News 16 Aug 2011 -- Approximately 60 Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, arrived in the Kingdom of Tonga for Exercise Tafakula 2011 Aug. 9.
• John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group Arrives in 7th Fleet NNS 16 Aug 2011 -- The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Aug.16.
• Comfort Sails Into Final Phase of Continuing Promise Mission NNS 16 Aug 2011 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and the Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11) mission team transited the Panama Canal, Aug. 15, heading northbound to the final stop of their mission.
• USS Missouri Completes Successful Undocking NNS 16 Aug 2011 -- The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780) undocked from General Dynamics Electric Boat Aug. 12.
• NMCB 7 Completes Field Training Exercise, Deployment Certification NNS 16 Aug 2011 -- The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 completed Operation Bearing Duel, the battalion's field training exercise and final evaluation period (FTX/FEP) at Joint Training Facility Camp Shelby, Miss., Aug. 9.
• Navy Completes Arctic Environmental Assessment NNS 16 Aug 2011 -- The Navy released an Arctic environmental assessment and outlook Aug. 15 that will be instrumental in developing future strategic plans and investments in a region that is becoming increasingly accessible to exploration and commercial enterprise.
• US, South Korea Naval Drills Draw Threats From North VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- The South Korean and United States navies began joint military exercises Tuesday in the Yellow Sea. Those waters are a flashpoint of tension between North and South Korea and have been the site of several deadly incidents during the past decade. Analysts say the volatility stems in part from a maritime border that has been in dispute for almost 60 years.
• Eighth Army trains for full-spectrum operations in UFG Army News 16 Aug 2011 -- The U.S. Army's top operational headquarters in South Korea will train with its Republic of Korea counterparts to confront and defeat a variety of external threats during Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian, Aug. 16-26.
• III Corps sets up in ROK Army News 16 Aug 2011 -- More than 200 III Corps Soldiers arrived at Command Post Yongin Aug. 7 for the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise.
• 157th uncases at Camp Atterbury Army News 16 Aug 2011 -- Camp Atterbury welcomed a new unit Aug. 15 as the 157th Infantry Brigade, formerly at Fort Jackson, S.C., unfurled the brigade colors during a ceremony in Building 4.
• New M-98 grenade provides troops non-lethal warning options Army News 16 Aug 2011 -- The M-98 Non-Lethal Distraction Grenade is the latest in a growing supply of non-lethal munitions available to American Soldiers.
• Pakistan rejects China access report to downed US helicopter IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- Pakistan Army Monday rejected as malicious Western media reports that Islamabad let Chinese military engineers photograph and take samples from US helicopter that was left behind when American special forces killed Osama bin Laden.
• Russian commander says MiG-35 equal to U.S. F-35 fighter RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2011 -- The Russian military will use new MiG-35D multirole fighters as an equal to the U.S. F-35 fighters, the Air Force chief said on Tuesday.
• Russia's Air Force commander sets out new plans RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2011 -- The Russian Air Force is proceeding steadily with its re-equipment program despite unresolved questions about funding and deliveries of equipment, commander Col Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday on the first day of the MAKS air show.
• Russian military to receive 450 helicopters this year RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2011 -- Russia's biggest helicopter building company has said it will supply the country's Air Force with more than 450 helicopters this year.
• New stealth fighter jet 'principal' for Russia, India RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2011 -- Russia's new stealth fighter jet, which is expected to make its first public appearance at the MAKS exhibition near Moscow on Tuesday, will be the principal plane for both the Russian and Indian military, a top official says.
• Taiwan to continue U.S. F-16 bid: president CNA 16 Aug 2011 -- President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that Taiwan will continue its efforts to acquire F-16 C/D fighters and diesel-powered submarines from the United States despite improved ties with mainland China.
• Ukraine develops 'world class infrared seeker' RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2011 -- Ukraine's Arsenal Design Bureau said on Tuesday that it had developed a world class sensitive infrared seeker for use on anti-ship missiles.
• Vahidi: Iran would be among top five military powers IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to be placed among top five military powers.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 8/16/2011 The White House 16 Aug 2011
• August 16, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Aug 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 16, 2011
• BAE Systems and Iveco Defence Vehicles Finalize Teaming Agreement in Pursuit of the Marine Corps Personnel Carrier BAE Systems 16 Aug 2011 -- BAE Systems and Iveco Defence Vehicles today announced their official teaming relationship, which followed the licensing agreement announced last June, for the pursuit of the U.S. Marine Corps Personnel Carrier (MPC) program. The companies have signed both a Teaming Agreement and Technology Cross Licensing Agreement (TCLA).
• Voyager tanker enters final trials phase Thales 16 Aug 2011 -- Following the arrival in the UK of the first two Voyager A330 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) earlier this year, AirTanker (of which Thales UK is a shareholder) is putting the aircraft through the final testing phase in Boscombe Down.
• General Dynamics Awarded $36 Million for 30mm M789 Cartridges General Dynamics 16 Aug 2011 -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $35.6 million contract for the production and delivery of 30mm M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) ammunition cartridges by the U.S. Army Contracting Command. Work will be performed at the company's Marion, Ill., operations.
• Lockheed Martin Awarded Up To $47 Million to Develop Unmanned Autonomous Technologies Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $47 million contract to develop, demonstrate and deliver autonomous technologies for unmanned air systems in support of in-theater unmanned cargo resupply missions.
• Raytheon Completes Fifth Small Diameter Bomb II Tri-Mode Seeker in New Factory Raytheon 16 Aug 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has built the fifth Small Diameter Bomb II seeker in its new factory expressly designed to assemble integrated tri-mode seekers.
• SAIC Awarded $30 Million Contract by U.S. Marine Corps System Command SAIC 16 Aug 2011 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced it was awarded a prime contract by Marine Corps System Command's (MCSC) Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group (PG10) to provide systems integration services in support of the Total Force Structure Management System (TFSMS).
• Boeing Communications Relay Links Radios with Multiple Unmanned Platforms Boeing 16 Aug 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced it has successfully demonstrated the company's newest narrowband communications relay aboard two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) -- an Insitu ScanEagle and a portable AeroVironment [NASDAQ: AVAV] Puma All Environment (AE).
• Lockheed Martin Introduces Ruggedized Extreme Endurance UAS Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has developed a ruggedized version of its Stalker Unmanned Air System (UAS), called the Stalker eXtreme Endurance (XE) UAS.
• Lockheed Martin Unveils Samarai Flyer at Unmanned Vehicle Conference Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- Inspired by a maple seed, Lockheed Martin's Samarai handheld vehicle flew publically for the first time today at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International conference.
• Northrop Grumman-built Block 30 Global Hawks Receive U.S. Air Force Initial Operational Capability Declaration Northrop Grumman 16 Aug 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command has declared that the Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC)-built unmanned RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk has reached its initial operational capability (IOC).
• STARLite Radar Demonstrates Dismount Tracking at Empire Challenge 2011 Northrop Grumman 16 Aug 2011 -- At the U.S. Joint Forces Command's Empire Challenge 2011, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully demonstrated the ability of its STARLite radar to provide Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) data and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery to ground commanders in real time.
• DCGS Upgrades Help Reduce Costs for Image Processing of High-Altitude Missions Raytheon 16 Aug 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has upgraded the Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) nodes for the Kansas and Indiana Air National Guard with the latest net-centric, cost-efficient and service-interoperable capabilities.
• U.S Air Force's Second Missile Warning Satellite Completes Major Environmental Test at Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] has successfully completed acoustic testing of the second Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-2) spacecraft.
• MEADS Program Completes Successful BMC4I Software Review Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program has successfully completed a Battle Management Command, Control, Communications and Computers and Intelligence (BMC4I) software design review in Huntsville, Ala.
• Raytheon Teams with Rafael to Market Iron Dome Weapon System Raytheon 16 Aug 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd have teamed to market the Iron Dome weapon system in the United States. Rafael developed the original Iron Dome to provide protection against rockets, artillery and mortar attacks.

Other Conflicts

• Fighting Rages In Libya As Rebels Deny Talks RFE/RL 16 Aug 2011 -- Fighting raged across Libya after rebels denied they were in talks with Muammar Qaddafi's regime.
• UN condemns Israel's housing plans in occupied Palestinian territory UN News Centre 16 Aug 2011 -- Voicing great concern at Israel's recent announcements to advance planning for new housing in Ariel and East Jerusalem in occupied Palestinian territory, the United Nations and its partners in the search for Middle East peace today called the action contrary to international law.
• Palestinian President to Submit Statehood Proposal to UN Chief VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says an application for Palestinian statehood will be submitted to the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in September.
• Bombings in Southern Philippines Draw Attention to Peace Talks VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- Negotiators from the Philippine government and the country's largest Muslim rebel group say a series of bomb-attacks in the restive south should not be a stumbling block for ongoing peace talks.
• UN mission to remote area of Darfur finds thousands in need of aid UN News Centre 16 Aug 2011 -- As many as 400,000 people living in a remote and mountainous part of Sudan's troubled Darfur region need urgent humanitarian assistance, according to a United Nations assessment of an area that has been largely cut off for two years because of ongoing conflict.

News Reports

• Syrian Death Toll Continues to Climb VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- Syrian security forces are using heavy machine gun fire in the port city of Latakia, where President Bashar al-Assad's government has been cracking down on opposition demonstrators the past four days.
• UN: Palestinians Flee Refugee Camp In Syria RFE/RL 16 Aug 2011 -- The United Nations says thousands of Palestinian refugees have been forced to flee their camp in the Syrian city of Latakia as government troops continue to shell the besieged town.
• US Sanctions Southeast Asian Terror Leaders VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- U.S. officials are taking more steps to cut off funding for a Southeast Asian-based terror group with links to al-Qaida.
• SOMALIA: Coordinate aid and build for long term, agencies urged IRIN 16 Aug 2011 -- Aid agencies operating in Somalia should improve coordination among themselves and explore concrete measures beyond the drought and famine ravaging parts of the country to improve livelihoods and build the resilience of affected communities, humanitarian officials said on 15 August.
• WFP Outraged Food May Have Been Stolen from Starving Somalis VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- The World Food Program strongly condemns the diversion of food from starving, vulnerable Somalis. WFP says it is investigating the allegations of theft of desperately needed humanitarian food and will suspend any parties found responsible.
• UGANDA: Food prospects improve in Karamoja IRIN 16 Aug 2011 -- The Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda is often associated with chronic food shortages, malnutrition and poverty, but the area is unlikely to suffer a food crisis in the coming months, officials and aid workers said.
• Mehmanparast denies arrest of PKK's number-2 man IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast denied the arrest of Turkey's outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) number-two leader by Iran's intelligence forces.
• Iran says has not got Russian nuclear plan officially ISNA 16 Aug 2011 -- Iran said on Tuesday it has not received Russian 'step-by-step approach' officially yet.
• FBI may join hunt for kidnapped American IRNA 16 Aug 2011 -- The American investigators are likely to join Pakistani police in hunt for a US national who was kidnapped from his residence in Lahore a few days ago, sources and local media said Tuesday.
• National Weather Satellite Threatened by US Budget Cuts VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- On May 22, 2011, a single massive tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, claiming more than 150 lives. But the death toll would have been much higher a century ago.
• LIBYA: Civil society breaks through IRIN 16 Aug 2011 -- Sidelined under Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan civil society organizations are beginning to assume an important role in helping the most vulnerable in 'liberated' areas.