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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 18 Aug 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 17 Aug 2011
• RAF destroys Gaddafi command post UK MOD 18 Aug 2011 -- The RAF has launched precision strikes on one of Colonel Gaddafi's main command facilities used by the former regime to co-ordinate attacks on the Libyan people.
• Iraqi, 'Big Red One' Soldiers provide humanitarian aid to more than 500 people Army News 18 Aug 2011 -- Soldiers with Company D, 1st 'Dragon' Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division-Center supported an Iraqi-led humanitarian outreach operation Aug. 2 on a hot summer evening at Joint Security Station Deason, Iraq.
• Deploring deadly blasts in Iraq, Security Council urges punishment of perpetrators UN News Centre 18 Aug 2011 -- The Security Council today strongly condemned the series of terrorist attacks that killed scores of people in Iraq and injured many others earlier this week, stressing the need to bring those responsible for the bloodshed to justice.
• Governance, Development Efforts Continue in Afghanistan AFPS 18 Aug 2011 -- Corruption and insurgent violence remain serious issues, but Afghan community members and leaders are strengthening their local governments 'from the bottom up,' a senior Defense Department civilian serving in Afghanistan said today.
• 1/3 Motor T rolls through Garmsir USMC News 18 Aug 2011 -- There are no speed signs, signal lights or state troopers on the 'Garmsir expressway,' and no, TomTom won't be able to map a route over the hard-packed dirt roads traveled by 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment's Motor Transportation section.
• Karzai, ISAF Condemn Herat Province IED Attack AFPS 18 Aug 2011 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai, his government's interior ministry and the International Security Assistance Force jointly condemned today's improvised explosive device attack that reportedly killed numerous civilians and wounded many others in the Tark Abad district of Afghanistan's Herat province, military officials reported.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Announces Ground Combat Vehicle Contracts DoD 18 Aug 2011 -- The Army announced today the award of two contracts to BAE Systems Land and Armaments, L.P., Troy, Mich. ($449,964,969), and General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich. ($439,715,950), for the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program technology development phase.
• USS Samuel B. Roberts Departs Seychelles NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) departed Seychelles Aug. 18, after six-days of training in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) East.
• Navy Achieves $50 Million Savings in Weapons Procurement on Amphibs NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- Program Executive Office (PEO) Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS) announced Aug. 18 that the command has realized a $50 million savings in procuring weapons systems on new construction amphibious ships in fiscal years 2009-2011.
• ESSEX Sailors Prepare for ULTRA-C Evaluation NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- The crew of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) prepared for its upcoming Unit Level Training Assessment-Certification (ULTRA-C) by fighting a simulated helicopter fire and responding to a simulated mass casualty scenario on the flight deck, Aug. 15.
• Kentucky Combines Crews Under One Commander NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- The Trident ballistic missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) prepared for its upcoming refueling overhaul by combining its Blue and Gold crews during a change-of-command ceremony at the Keyport Undersea Museum, Aug. 12.
• Swift Hosts Conference, Completes APS Visit to Nigeria NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) departed Lagos, Nigeria, Aug. 13, following a two-week visit in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West.
• NUWC Division Newport Dedicates New Facility NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport officially opened its new $11 million Maritime Subsurface Sensor Operations Laboratory Aug. 16.
• USS Carney Departs Malta NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) departed Valletta, Malta, Aug. 17, completing a scheduled port visit.
• Construction Commences on Future USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- Naval Sea Systems Command announced Aug. 18 that fabrication of the future USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), the fifth ship of the littoral combat ship class, has begun at Marinette Marine Corp. Shipyard in Marinette, Wis.
• First Enlisted Retention Board Ready to Convene NNS 18 Aug 2011 -- Phase I of the Navy's first-ever enlisted retention board (ERB) will convene Aug. 22.
• Body Armor Works, Army Acquisition Official Says AFPS 18 Aug 2011 -- No American service member or civilian ever has deployed to the combat theater with defective body armor, Army officials stressed here today.
• Marines Train on Robotic Truck for Future Convoys AFPS 18 Aug 2011 -- Next week, in a test area just east of Pittsburgh, six Marines will learn to control a robotic truck that may represent the future for logistics convoys, route-clearing missions and other high-risk battlefield operations.
• 'Vanguards' deploy 2 engineer companies Army News 18 Aug 2011 -- Hundreds of Soldiers from 4th Engineer Battalion assembled to case the colors of two companies Aug. 12, as the units' final formal step toward deploying for route-clearing missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Anniston Army Depot to reset Wolverines Army News 18 Aug 2011 -- Sitting in Anniston Army Depot's Combat Vehicle Repair Facility, the two tanks look similar to other M1 Abrams in the building.
• Missile Defense Agency completes realignment of headquarters building Army News 18 Aug 2011 -- More than 7,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of Defense civilians are descending upon Camp Atterbury, the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, and various surrounding areas in Indiana, to execute DoD support to civil authorities in a consequence management role during the Vibrant Response 12 exercise.
• Service members respond to worst-case scenario during Vibrant Response 12 exercise Army News 18 Aug 2011 -- More than 7,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of Defense civilians are descending upon Camp Atterbury, the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, and various surrounding areas in Indiana, to execute DoD support to civil authorities in a consequence management role during the Vibrant Response 12 exercise.
• Space ops squad calls on reliable spare for active service AFNS 18 Aug 2011 -- The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here is set to swap out an underperforming satellite with a handy spare this week.
• Russia to get 2nd aircraft for Open Skies inspections in 2012 RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2011 -- Next year Russia will build its second aircraft specially equipped for international aerial inspections under the Open Skies Treaty, Vladimir Verba, the director general of Vega concern, said on Thursday.
• August 18, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Aug 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 18, 2011
• BAE Systems' Scottish Electronics Division Wins £20 Million Typhoon Order BAE Systems 18 Aug 2011 -- BAE Systems Manufacturing at Hillend in Fife has been awarded a major contract worth in excess of £20million to provide procurement and electronic manufacturing services to SELEX Galileo, as part of their contract to deliver the Typhoon Tranche 3a Captor radar programme, which is the primary sensor for the Typhoon jet, and one of the most technically advanced airborne radar systems in the world.
• Boeing to Provide Simulator-based Training for Australian Army Kiowa Pilots Boeing 18 Aug 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it will use a Helimod helicopter simulator leased from Ryan Aerospace to help train Australian Army pilots to fly Bell 206B-1 Kiowa helicopters. Delivery is expected before the end of this year.
• General Dynamics Team Awarded Army Ground Combat Vehicle $440 Million Technology Development Contract General Dynamics 18 Aug 2011 -- A team led by General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) that includes Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Tognum America, Inc., was awarded a $439.7 million contract for the Technology Development (TD) phase of the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program.
• BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman Team Selected for $449.9 Million Technology Development Contract for Ground Combat Vehicle Program Northrop Grumman 18 Aug 2011 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $449.9 million contract to participate in the technology development (TD) phase of the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program.
• Raytheon Approach to DARPA Project Applicable For All Military Services Raytheon 18 Aug 2011 -- An ongoing series of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) trade studies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program revealed there is broad, cross-service applicability to Raytheon's proposed solution.
• Boeing Demonstrates 'Swarm' Reconnaissance with Unmanned Aircraft Boeing 18 Aug 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the successful autonomous communications and operation of dissimilar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in flight tests over the rugged terrain of eastern Oregon.
• New Raytheon Unmanned Aircraft Systems Open Architecture Could Yield Cost Savings Raytheon 18 Aug 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is developing a service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework capable of providing unmanned aircraft systems with a mechanism that enables rapid integration of weapons and sensors.

Other Conflicts

• 18 August 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Aug 2011
• Libyan Rebels Claim to Control Key Oil Refinery VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- Libyan rebels say they have seized the government's last functioning oil refinery in a city west of Tripoli, as they continue to push towards the capital in a bid to force leader Moammar Gadhafi from power.
• Israel Retaliates in Gaza After Gunmen Attack Near Eilat VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- Israeli aircraft hit Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip late Thursday, killing six people. The dead include leaders of the Popular Resistance Committee, which the Israeli government accuses of being behind attacks in southern Israel that killed seven Israelis earlier in the day.
• Israel Retaliates for Deadly Attacks Near Sinai VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- Israeli jets attacked the southern Gaza Strip Thursday after the government blamed Gaza militants for a series of deadly raids in southern Israel.
• Security Council calls for concerted efforts to enhance stability in Central Africa UN News Centre 18 Aug 2011 -- The Security Council today encouraged the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) to form partnerships with other organizations to help countries in the region to address peace and security challenges, particularly the flow of illicit small arms, border security and the threat posed by the marauding Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
• Lebanon: UN force seeks to reduce tension over line of separation with Israel UN News Centre 18 Aug 2011 -- The head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon today discussed 'critical issues' with Lebanese and Israeli commanders to prevent a recurrence of the exchange of gunfire earlier this month between the two armies across the line separating the countries.
• In Burmese Ethnic Conflict, Calls for Peace Do Little to Break Standoff VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- Burmese President Thien Sein has called on ethnic militias currently fighting government troops in Burma to hold peace talks with respective state governments -- not the central government -- in a bid to end months of conflict that has displaced as many as 50,000 people in eastern and northern states.
• Key witness in Kosovo war crimes case handed over to UN tribunal UN News Centre 18 Aug 2011 -- Dutch authorities today handed over to the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia a key witness cited for contempt for refusing to testify in the trial of former Kosovo prime minister Ramush Haradinaj on charges of crimes against humanity.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Finding peace after power shift IRIN 18 Aug 2011 -- With power in Côte d'Ivoire having changed hands from Laurent Gbagbo to Alassane Ouattara, the social dynamic has shifted in Moyen-Cavally, the cocoa- and coffee-rich region where political partisanship runs largely along ethnic lines. But observers say community structures and local will to overcome divisions remain and can be built upon to move past unprecedented turmoil.
• YEMEN: Violence threatens children's health IRIN 18 Aug 2011 -- Continuing fighting in various parts of Yemen, which has recently displaced thousands of people especially in Abyan Governorate and the Arhab District of Sana'a, could compromise the nutritional status of those affected, especially children, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warns.
• Nasrallah: Resistance combatants' selflessness led to victory against Zionists IRNA 18 Aug 2011 -- Secretary General of Lebanese Hezbollah said here Wednesday evening, 'Our great victory against Zionist regime was not gained free of charge, but thanks to selfless resistance of our combatants.'

News Reports

• US, Europe Call for Syria's Assad to 'Step Aside' VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- The United States and its key European allies on Thursday made a coordinated call on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, after he ignored appeals to end a brutal five-month crackdown on protestors. The U.S. appeal for regime change is coupled with far-reaching sanctions against the Damascus government, including a ban on imports of Syrian oil.
• Syria Crackdown Continues Despite International Criticism VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- As U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders call on Bashar al-Assad to step down as president of Syria, witnesses inside the country say security forces continued to arrest scores of people in the last 24 hours.
• Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on Syria The White House 18 Aug 2011
• Syrian crackdown on protesters may amount to crimes against humanity – UN report UN News Centre 18 Aug 2011 -- The Syrian Government's 'widespread and systematic' attacks against its own people may amount to crimes against humanity and warrant an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United Nations human rights office said in a report released today.
• Obama Calls for Syria's Assad to 'Step Aside' VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- The United States, acting in concert with major allies, has called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down after he ignored international appeals to end a brutal five-month crackdown on protesters. The appeal for regime change is coupled with far-reaching U.S sanctions against the Damascus government.
• Traumatized Syrians Flee Government Crackdown VOA 18 Aug 2011 -- The Assad government's violent repression of a five-month-old popular uprising is sending thousands of Syrians into Turkey and Lebanon as refugees. Several hundred of them recently sought food and medical assistance at a mosque in northern Lebanon's Wadi Khaled region, a few kilometers from the Syrian border.
• U.S. Emergency Flood Assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) US Dept. of State 18 Aug 2011
• Kidnapped US national alleged to get involved in intelligence work IRNA 18 Aug 2011 -- The US national, who had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from his residence in the Pakistani city of Lahore at the weekend, was engaged in intelligence gathering, a provincial minister said in comments on Thursday.
• UN meeting in Rome discusses ways to tackle Horn of Africa food crisis UN News Centre 18 Aug 2011 -- A United Nations-convened meeting to discuss ways to boost food security in the drought-prone Horn of Africa got under way in Rome today, as humanitarian agencies step up their response to cholera and diarrhoea in Somalia, where famine and water shortages have made people vulnerable to infectious diseases.
• Iran, Azerbaijan, And Turkey: Zero Problems? Zero Chance RFE/RL 18 Aug 2011
• Russia launches high-power telecoms satellite RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2011 -- Russia's Proton-M rocket with the high-power Express-AM4 satellite was launched early on Thursday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
• Russia loses contact with new satellite RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2011 -- The designer and manufacturer of a Russian satellite launched on Thursday has no information about its location or condition, the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said.