Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 30 Jan 2012 [PDF]
• Combined Force Captures al-Qaida Facilitator AFPS 30 Jan 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force captured an al-Qaida facilitator in the Gardez district of Afghanistan’s Paktia province.
• UK soldiers and Afghan police launch airborne operation UK MOD 30 Jan 2012 -- Soldiers from the Queen's Royal Hussars Battle Group and Afghan police joined forces recently to launch their first joint airborne operation in Helmand province.
• Kabul Plans Direct Peace Talks With Taliban In Saudi Arabia RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Afghan officials are planning direct peace talks with Taliban militants in the coming weeks.
• Taliban, US Begin Talks in Qatar VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Afghan Taliban negotiators are meeting with U.S. officials in Qatar for a series of discussions aimed at building trust between the two sides ahead of the upcoming peace talks.
• Prime Minister and Afghan President sign UK-Afghanistan strategic partnership UK MOD 30 Jan 2012 -- Prime Minister David Cameron and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met at Chequers, Mr Cameron's country residence, where they signed an enduring strategic partnership between the UK and Afghanistan.
• Suicide Bomber Kills At Least Three In Pakistan RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- A suicide bomber has reportedly killed an Islamist militant commander and at least two other people in northwest Pakistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Presidential Memorandum - Delegation of Authority in Accordance with Sections 610 and 652 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 The White House 30 Jan 2012
• Panetta Discusses Defense Issues on ‘60 Minutes’ AFPS 30 Jan 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called his role in taking down Osama bin Laden a high point in his career.
• Sustaining Leadership Hinges on Flexibility, Policy Chief Says AFPS 30 Jan 2012 -- US policymakers can draw some useful lessons in managing “profound transitions” from President Harry S. Truman’s actions in 1950, the Defense Department’s policy chief said.
• Flournoy Discusses State of World as She Leaves Office AFPS 30 Jan 2012 -- The day Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden was also a long and tense day for Michele Flournoy, the undersecretary of defense for policy.
• Reserves Critical to U.S. Military Capabilities, Petraeus Says AFPS 30 Jan 2012 -- The reserve components are an integral part of the military in ways that Cold War planners could not have imagined, retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said.
• Northern Command helps Border Patrol with Southwest mission Army News 30 Jan 2012 -- Technology originally created for use in tracking improvised explosive device networks is finding new purpose.
• Deputy Commandant of Marine Aviation speaks about the future of air warfare USMC News 30 Jan 2012 -- The Corps is experiencing a major evolution in its capabilities with the arrival of the F-35B Lightning II.
• Yama Sakura 61 begins with opening ceremony Army News 30 Jan 2012 -- Yama Sakura 61, an annual bilateral exercise with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Army Pacific officially began Jan. 30 at Camp Itami, Japan.
• KCNA Commentary: "U.S. Pacific Century" and Korean Peninsula KCNA 30 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. recently made public a new defense strategy the keynote of which is to maintain its "position as a world leader".
• Bounty Hunters Maintainers Keep Lincoln's Jets in the Air NNS 30 Jan 2012 -- The Sailors of the maintenance department of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2, have kept the squadron's jets in full mission capable status throughout the deployment which paid off as they flew training operations in the Arabian Gulf Jan. 28, said the saquadron's mainenance officer.
• Navy Warfare Development Command Plays Critical Role in Bold Alligator 2012 NNS 30 Jan 2012 -- The Navy Warfare Development Command is playing a critical role in planning, executing and evaluating Bold Alligator 2012.
• Navy Expeditionary Combat Command participates in Bold Alligator NNS 30 Jan 2012 -- Riverine Group 1 will command the Navy's expeditionary forces for Bold Alligator 2012, the nation's largest joint forces and multinational amphibious exercise on the East Coast, which began Jan. 30.
• ESC working to upgrade the 'heart' of control, reporting center AFNS 30 Jan 2012 -- The Electronic Systems Center is working to modernize the U.S. Air Force Control and Reporting Center and has recently put out a request for information to upgrade the CRC Operations Module.
• Corps of Engineers completes Yolo Bypass levee repairs Army News 30 Jan 2012 -- West Sacramento levees are no longer sinking as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District wraps up repairs on nearly a mile of levees near the Yolo Bypass.
• Russia Pulls Out of S.Korea Fighter Tender RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Russia's main military aircraft maker has decided not to take part in South Korea’s largest-ever arms tender, for a new fighter aircraft, The Korea Times said on Monday citing the country’s military procurement authorities.
• Russia to Start Construction of Two New Warships RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Two new warships will be laid down for the Russian Navy.
• Russian Bombers Complete 16-Hour Arctic Patrol RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Two Tu-95MS strategic bombers have successfully completed a routine patrol mission over the Arctic Ocean.
• Russia, Mongolia Plan Joint Military Drills RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- A Russian Army delegation has started a five-day visit to Mongolia to discuss preparations for a joint exercise, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the President of Romania, Traian Basescu NATO 30 Jan 2012
• New Sea Ceptor missiles to be developed for Royal Navy UK MOD 30 Jan 2012 -- The MOD has confirmed the development of a new Royal Navy missile defence system which will be able to intercept and destroy enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds.
• Massive Israeli Drone Crashes RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- The Israeli military says one of its most sophisticated drones has crashed.
• Indian army to hold war games with top powers IRNA 30 Jan 2012 -- Top global powers, including, Russia, France, US and some neighbours such as Bangladesh, will engage in war games with the Indian army.
• Iran Develops Laser-Guided Artillery RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Iran has developed smart, laser-guided artillery projectiles capable of hitting moving targets at a distance of up to 20 kilometers, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said.
• Iran Says It Produces Laser-Guided Artillery Rounds RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi has announced that Iran has developed what are described as laser-guided artillery rounds capable of hitting moving targets at a distance of up to 20 kilometers.
• Defense minister unveils new smart ammunition IRNA 30 Jan 2012 -- On the threshold of the victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi unveiled new home-made smart munitions dubbed as “Basir”.
• Kim Jong Un Inspects KPA Air Force Unit 1017 KCNA 30 Jan 2012 -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un inspected Unit 1017 of the KPA Air Force honored with the title of O Jung Hup-led 7th Regiment.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 1/30/12 The White House 30 Jan 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, January 30, 2012 US Dept. of State 30 Jan 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 30, 2012
• Boeing Selects Canadian Firms for Chinook In-service Support Program Boeing 30 Jan 2012 -- Boeing has selected three Canadian firms to receive the first group of work packages for in-service support of 15 Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters, designated CH-147F for the Canadian Forces.
• Eurocopter Delivers Today the First NH90 TTH Qualified in its Final Operational Configuration (FOC) EADS 30 Jan 2012 -- During a visit by the French Defense Minister Gérard Longuet to its facilities in Marignane, Eurocopter officially delivered the first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) qualified in its final operational configuration to the French armament procurement agency today.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers 2400th C-130 Hercules Lockheed Martin 30 Jan 2012 -- Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules program has reached yet another historic milestone with the delivery of its 2400th aircraft. The aircraft is an MC-130J Combat Shadow II assigned to U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command and will be operated by the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
• U.S. Army Awards Northrop Grumman $122 Million Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Contract Northrop Grumman 30 Jan 2012 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $122 million contract to install and sustain Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) systems at forward operating bases (FOBs) supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the ongoing United States Mission in Iraq (USM-I).
• Northrop Grumman Delivers 25,000th Electro-Optic Laser System to U.S. Army Northrop Grumman 30 Jan 2012 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that its Laser Systems business unit recently delivered its 25,000th electro-optic (EO) laser system in support of U.S. warfighters since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Raytheon's RAM Strikes Twice During Back-to-Back Tests Raytheon 30 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company's Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 successfully completed two guided test vehicle flights within one week, demonstrating the system's upgraded kinematic performance, guidance system and airframe capabilities.
• Raytheon Awarded Naval Power System Contract Raytheon 30 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $10 million contract from Naval Sea Systems Command to develop a pulsed power system that will enable projectiles to reach great distances without the use of an explosive charge or rocket motor.
• Thales selected to supply proximity fuzes for new UK anti-air missile Thales 30 Jan 2012 -- Thales UK has been awarded an £11m contract by MBDA to provide the laser proximity fuze for Sea Ceptor’s common anti-air modular missile (CAMM). The contract is for the development and qualification of the laser proximity fuze, and includes options for various production quantities.
• HMS Daring sets sail with world-class Thales systems Thales 30 Jan 2012 -- The first of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Type 45 destroyers, HMS Daring, has set sail on operational duty fitted with Thales UK’s new fully digital radar electronic support measures (RESM) system.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract for Integration of Battlefield Airborne Communications Node on Global Hawks Northrop Grumman 30 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $47.2 million contract for the purchase and integration of two more Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payloads on two existing Block 20 Global Hawk aircraft.
• General Dynamics Awarded Contract by Aerojet for Standard Missile-3 Control Actuators General Dynamics 30 Jan 2012 -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has received a contract for the design and production of electromagnetic control actuators for Aerojet's Throttleable Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS) in support of the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile interceptor. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $921 Million Contract for Production of Combat-Proven PAC-3 Missiles Lockheed Martin 30 Jan 2012 -- Lockheed Martin received contracts totaling $921 million from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for hardware and services associated with the combat-proven Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment program.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 30 January 2012 United Nations 30 Jan 2012
• Secretary Clinton Statement on Sharp Escalation of Regime Violence in Syria US Dept. of State 30 Jan 2012
• Free Syria Army Claims Gains Against Government Forces VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Syrian activists say that in the last few days there has been a spike in violence in the city of Homs.
• Diplomatic Efforts Continue as Syrian Crackdown Intensifies VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Syrian government forces intensified their military crackdown against opposition forces near the capital, Damascus.
• US: UN Must Stop Syria's Vicious Crackdown VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said UN must act to end what she calls the Syrian government's "violent and brutal attacks on its own people."
• West Pushes For UN Resolution On Syria As Fighting Rages RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Syrian government forces intensified their military crackdown against opposition forces near the capital, Damascus.
• Diplomatic Efforts Continue as Syrian Crackdown Intensifies VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- The West is pushing for a new resolution on Syria as fighting raged for a third consecutive day on the outskirts of Damascus on January 30.
• Fighting Continues Near Damascus; Russia Offers Mediation RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Gunfire and explosions have rocked the suburbs of Damascus for a third consecutive day.
• Russia Says Syrian Govt Agrees to Moscow Talks With Opposition VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Russia says the Syrian government has agreed to send a delegation to Moscow for proposed talks with Syrian opposition activists.
• Syria Ready for Opposition Talks in Moscow RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Syrian authorities have accepted Russia’s proposal to meet with the opposition in Moscow, but the opposition is yet to give its consent.
• Syrian Army Retakes Damascus Suburbs RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- The Syrian army cleared eastern suburbs of Damascus from rebels and restored control of the area.
• Rebels Block Assad’s Relatives Leaving Syria RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Syrian rebel forces have disrupted an attempt by relatives of President Bashar al-Assad to leave the country late on Sunday.
• AID POLICY: Islamic agencies battle the odds in Gaza IRIN 30 Jan 2012 -- Secours Islamique France is a respected aid agency, part of the global Islamic Relief network based in the UK.
• Analysts: Difficult Dialogue with Nigeria's Violent Boko Haram Essential VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Even though Islamic radicals in northern Nigeria continue attacks and are so far resisting offers of dialogue, analysts closely following the violence say negotiations will be essential in any solution.
• Attacks on Nigerian Police Stations Leave 2 Dead VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Police in northern Nigeria say gunmen have attacked two police stations in Kano, leaving two civilians dead.
• Nigeria’s Igbo Tribal Elders Call for Evacuation Due to Violence VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Nigeria’s Igbo tribes are staging a mass evacuation of women and children from the north due to violence blamed on the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram.
• Ethiopia Opens New Front against Somalia's al-Shabab VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Witnesses in Somalia say columns of Ethiopian troops have crossed into the country and are marching toward key al-Shabab strongholds.
• Somalia's Islamist Rebels Ban ICRC RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Somalia's hard-line Islamist al-Shabaab rebels say they have ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross out of areas the group controls in the south and central parts of the country.
• More needs to be done to enhance Darfur’s peace process – UN official UN News Centre 30 Jan 2012 -- A strong political will, adequate financial resources and strengthened operations to help Darfur’s vulnerable population are needed to accelerate the peace and reconciliation process in Sudan.
• UN Chief Rejects African Criticism of International Court VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- UN Secretary General Ban: African criticism of the International Criminal Court is unfounded.

News Reports

• Panetta Asks Egypt to Lift U.S. Citizen Travel Ban AFPS 30 Jan 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta applauded recent elections, but asked lifting a travel ban on U.S. citizens and expressed concern over restrictions on nongovernmental organizations.
• US Citizens Banned From Leaving Egypt Take Refuge at Embassy VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Several U.S. democracy activists who are being prevented from leaving Egypt have taken refuge at the U.S. embassy in Cairo.
• Bahrain Opposition Fears Effects of Iran-West Tensions VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Opposition supporters in Bahrain have expressed concern that escalating tensions between Iran and the West may further stifle their calls for democratic reform.
• Supreme Leader calls for Shia-Sunni convergence in Islamic Awakening IRNA 30 Jan 2012 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said that the current waves of Islamic Awakening in Muslim countries are gaining momentum regardless of Shia and Sunni affiliations.
• Panetta Says Iran Could Develop Nuclear Weapon Within A Year RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says analysts believe that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within about one year.
• Iran calls for the scientist's immediate release ISNA 30 Jan 2012 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the U.S. intelligence agencies have used to lay trap for Iranians.
• Iran Officials 'Optimistic' Over IAEA Visit RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Iranian FM Salehi has expressed optimism over the current visit of a team of UN nuclear experts tasked with answering pressing questions about Tehran's disputed atomic program.
• Iran Offers To Extend IAEA Inspection RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Iran's FM Salehi has offered to extend a three-day visit of United Nations' nuclear experts and expressed optimism that their findings would help ease tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
• South Korean President Seeks Alternatives to Iranian Crude VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- South Korea's president is to visit Saudi Arabia and two other Gulf oil producers in an attempt to secure stable sources of energy.
• Iran installs nuclear fuel plate at Tehran reactor soon ISNA 30 Jan 2012 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the country would install the nuclear fuel plate at the Tehran Research Reactor within a month.
• Tehran to Use Home Made Fuel Rods in Few Months RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Iranian specialists plan to use domestically-produced fuel rods for a research reactor in the capital Tehran in just a few months, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.
• China Criticizes West, Dalai Lama Over Recent Unrest RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- State-run Chinese media have accused Western governments of distorting and exacerbating recent unrest in China's Sichuan Province.
• Tibetan Exiles to Beijing: Violence 'Unsustainable' VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- Chinese official media are accusing elected Tibetan-exile and Western officials of distorting recent episodes of violence.
• China to Boost Police Presence in Restive Xinjiang Region VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- China says it will boost the police presence in northwestern Xinjiang province, in a push to manage the area's huge migrant population and crack down on what Beijing calls illegal religious activities.
• WTO Rules That Chinese Export Restrictions Broke Trade Rules RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- The World Trade Organization has upheld its ruling that Chinese restrictions on key raw material exports broke trade rules following an appeal by Beijing.
• Pakistan's former U.S. envoy allowed to travel abroad IRNA 30 Jan 2012 -- Pakistan's former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani was allowed by Supreme Court that he can travel abroad with the court’s permission.
• Pakistan Court Lifts Travel Ban On Former Envoy To U.S. RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has lifted restrictions barring the country’s former envoy to the United States from leaving Pakistan.
• UN experts begin assessment of effects of Fukushima nuclear accident UN News Centre 30 Jan 2012 -- Experts assessing effects resulting from the accident at Fukushima Daiichi kicked off a week-long meeting.
• AU Leadership Race Deadlocked VOA 30 Jan 2012 -- The race for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission ended in a deadlock, as the incumbent chairman, Jean Ping, andf challenger Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority needed to win.
• Cuba to Never Give Up One-Party System - Raul Castro RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Cuba will never give up the one-party system, President Raul Castro said in a closing speech to the ruling Communist Party’s national conference.
• Remarks by President Obama and President Saakashvili of Georgia After Bilateral Meeting The White House 30 Jan 2012
• Obama Meets Saakashvili At White House RFE/RL 30 Jan 2012 -- U.S. President Barack Obama meets his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili later today at the White House.
• Monitoring Group Reports ‘Intimidation’ Ahead of Polls RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- Russia’s largest independent election monitoring group, Golos, said it was being pressured by the authorities ahead of presidential polls.
• Churov Accused of Spying for Britain RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2012 -- A group of Communist lawmakers asked the Federal Security Service to check the country’s election tsar for ties to British intelligence.