Second Boeing 787 Dreamliner Moves to Flight Line

EVERETT, Wash., June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The second Boeing (NYSE: BA - News) 787 Dreamliner has moved to the flight line to begin fuel testing. This is the second of six 787s being used in the all-new airplane's flight-test program.
"Momentum continues to build with each milestone achieved," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program.
Each of the six flight-test airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests during the flight-test program. This airplane, designated ZA002, will focus on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, this airplane has successfully completed a rigorous series of tests while still in the factory. Fuel testing began immediately upon the airplane entering the fuel dock.
ZA002 features the livery of the Dreamliner's launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan.
"ANA will be the first to fly the 787 Dreamliner in commercial service," Fancher noted. "We are honored to fly in ANA livery throughout the flight-test program as a tribute to our partnership in bringing this all-new airplane to market."
The 787 Dreamliner has 865 orders from 56 airlines.
Contact:
Mary Hanson
787 Dreamliner Communications
+1-206-898-4749
mary.hanson@boeing.com

Poland wants clear answer on US missiles: government

Warsaw (AFP) June 15, 2009: Poland wants a clear answer from Washington on plans to deploy part of a US anti-missile shield and a battery of Patriot missiles on Polish soil under a 2008 deal, the government said Friday.
"We're still lacking an essential, clear response as to whether the United States will go ahead with the shield plan. It's a fundamental question to which we need a definite answer," government spokesman Pawel Gras said on the Polish rolling news station TVN24.
"On our side we've met the pledges in this deal. The land (for the base) is ready and waiting," he said.
After more than a year of painstaking negotiations, Warsaw and Washington struck a deal in 2008 on deploying 10 long-range interceptor missiles in Poland.
According to the previous US administration of George W. Bush the system -- meant to be in operation by 2013, and also including a powerful targeting radar in the Czech Republic -- was aimed to help foil threats from what it dubbed "rogue states" citing Iran.
But Moscow was enraged by the plans in its Soviet-era sphere of influence, and threatened to train nuclear warheads on Poland and the Czech Republic, which broke free from the communist bloc in 1989 and joined NATO 10 years later.
In 2008, Warsaw and Washington signed a related accord on boosting Poland's air defences by deploying Patriot missiles.
Gras underlined that Warsaw was still waiting for the "United States to make good on the promise by the new administration, independently of the shield plan, to deploy a battery of Patriot missiles".
In April, US President Barack Obama said he would move forward with the missile defence plan developed by the previous administration as long as a missile threat from Iran persisted. But he said the system must be cost-effective and proven to work.
Last month Washington insisted it would push ahead with the Patriot deployment regardless of what happened to the anti-missile plan.
But Poland has since been riled by the US side, the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita reported.
Rzeczpospolita said that the United States had proposed to temporarily transfer a Patriot battery to Poland, destined only for exercises.
Speaking in Brussels on Friday, Poland's Defence Minister Bogan Klich underlined that Warsaw wanted "a fully-equipped battery which could be integrated into the operational air-defence system".
Poland is not an "arms fair" where the US can deploy shop-window hardware, Klich was quoted as saying by Poland's PAP news agency.

NKorea's uranium plan to create trickier nuclear standoff

Seoul (AFP) June 15, 2009: North Korea's vow to start a new nuclear weapons programme based on enriched uranium will make the goal of denuclearisation even more daunting for the US and its allies, analysts say.
The North, which for years adamantly denied any uranium enrichment plan, said Saturday it would start such a programme to bolster its nuclear arsenal in protest at new United Nations sanctions.
"It's a threat via a confession," said Baek Seung-Joo, of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. "The nuclear-ambitious North is shifting its strategic goal from having just developed atomic weapons to expanding its nuclear arsenal in a more stable manner and by all means available."
US claims in 2002 that Pyongyang was running a secret uranium enrichment programme, in addition to its admitted plutonium-based operation, led to the collapse of a nuclear disarmament deal.
Six-nation disarmament talks which started a year later focused on plutonium and led to the shutdown in 2007 of plants which produced the material.
The North, angry at the Security Council's earlier censure of its April long-range rocket launch, has already said it is restarting the plants.
On Saturday it announced it would turn all the new plutonium it reprocesses into weapons.
The claim to have developed uranium enrichment technology is alarming, said Professor Yang Moo-Jin of Seoul's University of North Korean Studies.
"If this is true, the world would face a very disturbing situation," he told AFP. "The North has abundant natural uranium of good quality which, if combined with technology and facilities, would result in a great nuclear arsenal."
Baek warned that the United States would have to face a desperate North Korea that is more anxious than ever to show off its nuclear capability.
American TV networks have said US intelligence officials believe the North will stage a third atomic test in response to the latest UN sanctions to punish it for the May 25 nuclear test.
There is no confirmation of the North's claim that it has mastered uranium enrichment technology. But the prospect is a new concern, analysts said.
Uranium enrichment uses centrifuges to spin hot uranium gas into weapons-grade fuel, requiring a relatively small space, said Kim Yong-Hyun, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongkuk University.
"The United States has a new challenge that, with the uranium enrichment programme, North Korea can produce nuclear materials incessantly," Kim warned.
"It would be a great concern for the US side."
Several analysts and officials believe ailing leader Kim Jong-Il, 67, is intensifying military tensions to bolster his authority as he tries to put in place a succession plan involving his youngest son, Jong-Un.
Whatever the motives, the North's longstanding goal of normalising US ties -- to end Washington's perceived threat and ease sanctions -- now seems impossible, analysts say.
"The North will face a strong backlash from the United States and the international community for lying in the past about its uranium enrichment programme," Baek said.
"Chances for normalising US-North Korean ties -- a diplomatic reward which Pyongyang formerly demanded for its nuclear disarmament -- have turned to zero."
The sanctions in themselves may not prompt the North to change course.
"North Korea is not an ordinary country which may care about isolation or sanctions," Yang said.
The key question is whether China, the North's sole major ally, will strictly enforce them.
The North's trade volume with the world, excluding South Korea, was 3.82 billion dollars in 2008, the highest figure since 1990.
Trade with China accounted for 73 percent of the total compared with just 33 percent in 2003.
The sanctions resolution agreed Friday, which does not provide for the use of force, authorises tougher inspections of suspected shipments of banned items related to nuclear and missile activities.
But China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui told reporters the "countries concerned have to act prudently in accordance with international and domestic laws" and with "sufficient evidence."

Iranian elections deal blow to Obama's hopes for dialogue

Washington (AFP) June 15, 2009: The reelection of Iran's hardline incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dealt a swift blow to US President Barack Obama's efforts to overturn decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.
Ahmadinejad's declared landslide win, which triggered riots by opposition supporters and furious complaints of cheating from his defeated rivals, will also complicate international efforts to halt Tehran's nuclear ambitions, experts said.
Although Obama has said his outreach to arch-foe Iran does not depend on its leaders, he will have to deal with a man who has been hostile to the United States, intransigent on his controversial nuclear program and vowed to "wipe out" top US ally Israel.
Obama's young administration now faces a gamble: join the chorus of Ahmadinejad's rivals who say votes were rigged and face criticism over interfering in Iran's internal affairs, or contain its indignation and face the criticism of rights advocates.
The outcome of the presidential election also spells the possibility of an escalation of violence in the Middle East, warned Karim Sadjapour of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"The process of some type of military strike on Iran, an Israeli military strike on Iran, increases significantly if Ahmadinejad remains president," he said.
The White House's initial reaction, a brief statement by spokesman Robert Gibbs, reflected the delicate balance Obama now faces.
The United States is "impressed by the vigorous debate and enthusiasm that this election generated" and continues "to monitor the entire situation closely, including reports of irregularities," Gibbs said.
Obama has made a clean break with the approach of his predecessor, George W. Bush, opting instead for a firm yet direct dialogue with the Islamic republic.
On Friday, Obama again reiterated that he would seek engagement with "whoever ends up winning the election in Iran."
But Obama's administration is "in a bind," according to former State Department policy advisor Suzanne Maloney.
"They have to deal with the Iranian power structure that exists" on key matters such as Tehran's nuclear program, Afghanistan, Iraq and oil, she said.
"It will make any further negotiating process much more difficult, it will make the effort of building public support for engagement much more difficult."
Maloney joined other experts in doubting the legitimacy of the results announced by Iranian officials and predicting a difficult road ahead.
"This is the worst result," Thomas Pickering, a former under secretary of state, told The New York Times as he commented on the vote outcome. "The US will have to worry about being perceived as pandering to a president whose legitimacy is in question. It clearly makes the notion of providing incentives quite unappetizing."
But Obama will likely continue his efforts, having said he wants to see serious progress on his diplomatic outreach by the end of the year, albeit after a possible pause of several weeks to allow the dust to settle in Iran.
In his second term, experts said Ahmadinejad may show more willingness to negotiate on his country's nuclear program, which Western powers suspect of concealing efforts to build atomic weapons, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.
But non-proliferation expert Joseph Cirincione said the Iranian president may approach those negotiations bolstered by his election victory.
"The good news is that Ahmadinejad has got his negotiating team in place and is ready to engage the Obama administration immediately," he said. "The bad news is that he is going to come back with a hard line and not be in the mood to compromise."
Since Iranian policy is set by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and not the president, "there is some possibility that, seeing the results and the turmoil inside Iran, the leadership might be looking for a compromise to reset Iranian foreign policy with the West," Cirincione said.
Events leading up to Friday's vote, which saw throngs of mostly young supporters of moderate ex-premier Mir Hossein Mousavi take to the streets, may have confirmed Khamenei's long-standing fears about a velvet revolution provoked by foreigners to topple his regime, said analyst Patrick Clawson.
"These events of the last two weeks will have persuaded Khamenei that he has been right for 20 years in saying that the real danger is a velvet revolution, and that the West is behind it, and that therefore there is no point in doing a deal with the West over the nuclear matter," Clawson said.

Kyrgyz, Russian leaders to discuss fate of US base: source

Bishkek (AFP) June 15, 2009: The presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Russia will discuss the future of a key US airbase at a meeting on Sunday in Moscow, a source in the Kyrgyz government told AFP.
Kyrgyzstan has ordered US forces to quit the Manas airbase, which is used to support operations in Afghanistan, by August 18 in a decision that was widely seen as having been made under Russian pressure.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will discuss the future of the US presence when they meet on the sidelines of a regional summit in Moscow on Sunday, the Kyrgyz government source said.
"It is expected that during the bilateral meeting there will be discussion of the continued presence at the Bishkek airport of the US military base," the source told AFP ahead of the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Moscow denies playing any role in Kyrgyzstan's decision to close the base, although Bakiyev announced the decision in Moscow in February the same day that Russia unveiled a huge aid package to the impoverished Central Asian country.
Bakiyev is expected in Moscow on Sunday for a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a regional security body consisting of Russia and six other former Soviet republics.
The Kyrgyz leader is also expected to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Karzai recently appealed to Bakiyev to allow the US base to remain open.
Located outside the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Manas airbase is used to ferry tens of thousands of troops in and out of Afghanistan each year.
The loss of Manas would deal a major blow to coalition military efforts in Afghanistan at a time when US President Barack Obama has pledged to boost the campaign there against the Islamist militants of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

SKorea leader to plot NKorea moves with Obama

Washington (AFP) June 15, 2009: US and South Korean leaders meet Tuesday to coordinate action in an escalating showdown with North Korea, with President Barack Obama expected to try to reassure the US ally of security commitments.
President Lee Myung-Bak's visit to Washington was planned well ahead of the North Korea crisis and aimed in part at smoothing out relations after Obama in his campaign rejected a hard-negotiated free-trade deal with Seoul.
The global economic crisis, which has hit South Korea hard, is also expected to be on the agenda between the two nations whose alliance has dramatically broadened in recent years to include working together on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Obama "looks forward to exploring ways in which the two countries can strengthen cooperation on the regional and global challenges of the 21st century," said Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary.
But North Korea is set to take center-stage after the hardline communist state tested a nuclear bomb and long-range missile and stormed out of a six-nation disarmament agreement.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously Friday to toughen sanctions on North Korea, leading some experts and officials to fear Pyongyang will carry out another nuclear test in retaliation.
Lee, who starts his talks Monday meeting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has enraged the impoverished North by refusing aid without progress in the nuclear and other rows -- reversing a decade of liberal policies by Seoul.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal ahead of the trip, the South Korean president stressed the importance of the six-party talks that include the United States, the two Koreas, Japan, China and Russia and aim to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.
"Our ultimate objective is to try to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, but we must also ask ourselves: What do the North Koreans want in return for giving up their nuclear weapons program?" he said. "I think this is the type of discussion that the five countries should be engaging in now, robustly."
Victor Cha, who was former president George W. Bush's top aide on Pyongyang, said he did not think there was "any daylight between President Lee and President Obama in terms of North Korea.
"As a former negotiator, I have to tell you that is music to our ears because that wasn't always the case," said Cha, now at Georgetown University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think-tank.
Quoting official sources in Seoul, Yonhap news agency said Obama -- who advocates abolishing nuclear weapons -- would publicly reaffirm the US nuclear umbrella in Asia amid jitters in both South Korea and fellow US ally Japan.
South Korea gave up work on nuclear weapons in the 1970s under US pressure, and Lee answered, "at this moment, no, absolutely not," when asked by The Journal whether South Korea considered developing its own nuclear deterrent.
The United States has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea and commands joint forces on guard against North Korea, which has 1.1 million army soldiers.
Washington plans to hand operational command to South Korea in 2012.
Cha predicted Obama and Lee would confirm the date, despite calls by some conservatives in the two countries to look at pushing it back due to the crisis with North Korea.
While North Korea has been a headache for both countries, they may nonetheless find it easier to agree about Pyongyang than about trade.
"In some sense, it could be the elephant in the room when the two presidents meet," said Steven Schrage, an expert on international business at CSIS.
Negotiators completed a draft deal in 2007 that would be the biggest US free-trade accord since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, with Canada and Mexico.
Yet Obama as a candidate said the deal was flawed. US lawmakers, who need to ratify the agreement for it to come into force, are pushing for South Korea to give more access to US beef and cars.
South Korea's leaders see the agreement as crucial for an economy stuck between giants Japan and China, but it triggered massive street protests in Seoul led by activists who questioned the safety of US beef.
"I think we'll hear nice things about the Korea FTA and the trade agenda," he said. "The real danger is just strategic drift," Schrage said.

Russian agreement with security group deepens Belarus rift

Moscow (AFP) June 15, 2009: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday Moscow has agreed to establish a rapid reaction force with a regional security group, deepening a rift with longtime ally Belarus which boycotted the talks.
"The main result of the summit is an agreement on a CSTO joint rapid reaction force," Medvedev said after a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Moscow.
He added the establishment of the force "aims to improve collective security and strengthen the organisation's potential."
The agreement had been expected after the idea of such a force was discussed during a previous summit in Moscow in February.
But it angered Belarus, a member of the security group, which has been at odds with the Kremlin after Russia banned the import of Belarussian milk.
Strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko announced earlier Sunday that Belarus would not attend the Moscow meeting, in a blow to Russian efforts to tighten military cooperation among countries of the former Soviet Union.
Minsk branded the agreement on the new force as "illegitimate" following the meeting as it was made without all the members of the security group present.
Medvedev urged Belarus and Uzbekistan, another member of the group which refused to sign Sunday's agreement, to reconsider their decision.
The CSTO is a group of former Soviet states that Moscow has touted as a counterweight to NATO. It also includes Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The so-called "milk war" broke out between Belarus and Russia on June 6 when Moscow abruptly banned the import of 500 kinds of Belarussian dairy products, ostensibly for health reasons.
Ties between Russia and Belarus have become strained in recent months as Moscow has expressed anger at Lukashenko's moves to seek closer ties with the European Union.

Eight dead in Pakistan blast as Taliban targeted in tribal belt

Miranshah, Pakistan (AFP) June 15, 2009: The latest in a string of bombs in northwest Pakistan killed eight people Sunday as a US missile strike hit a tribal belt where troops are expected to launch a fresh anti-Taliban onslaught.
Militants remotely-detonated explosives hidden in a rickshaw, causing chaos at a busy Sunday market in Dera Ismail Khan town, with eight people killed and dozens injured, police and hospital officials said.
Dera Ismail Khan is about 300 kilometres (186 miles) south of the provincial capital Peshawar, where a commando-style suicide gun and bomb attack killed nine people at the luxury Pearl Continental hotel on Tuesday.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack and twin bombings at mosques on Friday, exacting revenge for a seven-week military offensive against them across swathes of the northwest.
"Eight people have been killed and 20 injured in the blast," said Syed Mohsin Shah, the top administrator of Dera Ismail Khan town.
"The bomb was planted in a cycle-rickshaw and it was rush hour in the bazaar at the time of blast," he told AFP.
Dera Ismail Khan district borders the lawless tribal agency of South Waziristan, where a suspected missile strike by a US drone aircraft targeting Islamist extremists killed at least three people Sunday, officials said.
"A drone attack targeting a militant vehicle killed three people in Mardar Algad area," said Amir Mohammad Khan, a local administration official.
A security official based in Peshawar told AFP: "Uzbek and Arab militants were killed in the strike."
Washington alleges that Al-Qaeda and Taliban senior leaders and fighters who fled Afghanistan after the 2001 US-led invasion are holed up in South Waziristan, plotting attacks on Western targets.
The US military does not confirm drone attacks, but its armed forces and the CIA operating in Afghanistan are the only forces that deploy unmanned drones in the region.
Pakistan publicly opposes drone attacks, saying they violate its territorial sovereignty and deepen resentment among the populace.
Pakistan's military has also recently bombed militant hideouts in South Waziristan -- a rugged, semi-autonomous region on the Afghan border -- as they escalate a seven-week campaign to crush Taliban militants.
In its daily briefing Sunday, the military confirmed that 30 suspected militants were killed in strikes in South Waziristan a day earlier.
In another tribal area of Bajaur -- the focus of a military campaign against the Taliban last year -- jet planes bombed hideouts Sunday killing four suspected militants, local government and security officials told AFP.
Security forces launched the latest offensive against Taliban fighters across three northwestern districts near Swat valley on April 26, after the insurgents advanced to within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of Islamabad.
A US defence official said Friday that the tribal zone on the Afghan border would be targeted by Pakistani forces next.
The region is a stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud, the head of Pakistan's umbrella Taliban organisation, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The unnamed senior US defence official said Pakistan was planning "a separate campaign in South Waziristan" and noted that a strategy would work best with pressure on militants from both sides of the border.
A 90,000-strong US and international coalition is fighting Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan.
The United States has adopted a new strategy to defeat Islamist extremists, putting Pakistan at the heart of the fight against Al-Qaeda and sending an extra 21,000 US troops to Afghanistan.
"Pakistani forces can hit Taliban in both Swat and Waziristan," said Ikram Sehgal, an analyst and columnist with Defence Journal (Pakistan).
"US forces should hit them on the Afghan side, and Pakistani forces should hit them in Pakistani territory," he told AFP.
More than 1,980 people have been killed in Taliban-linked attacks in Pakistan since July 2007, with nearly 170 killed since the military launched the anti-Taliban offensive in late April.

Defense Focus: How wars start -- Part 2

Washington (UPI) Jun 15, 2009: Sometimes wars go exactly the way the governments or political movements that launch them expect. But more often than not, they don't. The secret to success in launching a war is to be able to wrap it up fast and to know when to stop. Those were techniques that the United States was not able to apply in either Afghanistan or Iraq.
The German army since the 1860s had become the global masters of swift lightning campaigns that demolished opponents in a matter of weeks. Their wars of 1862 against Denmark, 1866 against Austria-Hungary and 1870-71 against France all followed this pattern in their decisive campaigns. But they needed good summer and early fall weather to do it. For in the spring and fall, heavier rains turned roads to mud and prevented rapid advances.
In Iraq, however, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his planners bungled the occupation of Iraq, put far too few ground troops in there to secure law and order, and completely failed to anticipate the Sunni Muslim insurgency that grew to civil war scale over the next three and a half years.
In 1914, Helmut von Moltke the Younger and his planners of the imperial German army were confident that their Schlieffen Plan would crush France in a matter of weeks by the end of August. They planned a colossal enveloping attack swinging through Belgium. But the Schlieffen Plan did not work. The German attack bogged down against the French and was driven back from Paris in the Battle of the Marne. Four years of hellish trench warfare followed on the Western Front.
In 1939, aided by the new tactical doctrines of armored warfare and close air support -- soon to be known as "blitzkrieg," or "lightning war" -- the German plan for a brisk, efficient campaign against Poland that would be conveniently over by fall worked perfectly.
German declarations of war came at the beginning of August 1914 and at the beginning of September 1939. The late Professor Hans G. Schenk, a leading expert on modern European history at Oxford University, liked to remark that the German general staff were so orderly that they liked to start world wars on the first of the month in order to keep their records straight.
At the beginning of the 21st century, advanced industrial societies are far less geared to the rhythms of bringing in their harvests. Also, no great powers have fought directly since U.S. and Chinese forces clashed by the hundreds of thousands in their undeclared war in Korea in 1950-53. But the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait showed that traditional patterns of history did not end with the collapse of communism. And both Russia and the United States have repeatedly resorted to the direct use of military power to achieve their political and strategic goals over the past two decades.
Despite the arguments of American political analyst Francis Fukuyama to the contrary, the collapse of communism did not mean the "The End of History" and the automatic start of a new, peaceful, open and trusting era among the nations of the world. Even as he argued that view, frightful genocidal massacres killed more than 1 million people in Rwanda and wars of ethnic cleansing rocked the Balkans.
Indeed, Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the most eminent and effective of modern U.S. national security advisers, once dismissed the Fukuyama hypothesis with a terse comment: "After the end of history comes -- more history."
The coming years of the 21st century look likely to be a grim, ironic fulfillment of Brzezinski's prophecy as governments ruling more and more people compete for increasingly expensive and scarce resources in land, food, oil, gas and precious minerals and metals. It will also be a time to remember that the horrors of history can erupt on unsuspecting societies when they least expect it.

Saudis take delivery of first Typhoon jets

London (AFP) June 15, 2009: Saudi Arabia has taken delivery of two Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Friday, the first of a massive order which fell into doubt over an arms scandal.
Saudi Assistant Defence and Aviation Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan received the two fighter jets on Thursday in a ceremony at manufacturer BAE Systems' Warton site in northwest England.
Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and Britain's armed forces minister Bill Rammell also attended, the MoD said.
The two fighters were the first out of an order for an eventual 72 that has been valued at up to 20 billion pounds (32.9 billion dollars), including armaments and long-term servicing.
Saudi Arabia is the first country outside Europe to have the Typhoon, a multi-role aircraft produced by a BAE Systems-led consortium of European firms.
The deal was first announced in August 2006, but then fell into doubt due to a British investigation into massive corruption allegations in earlier arms deals between Saudi Arabia and BAE Systems that implicated senior officials of both countries.
The investigation into the so-called Yamamah deals was called off by the British government in December 2006 on grounds of "national security" and "public interest," and the final contract for the Typhoon aircraft was signed in September 2007.
The purchase will help the Saudis upgrade their air force from its current fleet of BAE's 1980s-vintage Tornado F3s and US-made Boeing F-15s.
Under the original deal, BAE is to deliver 24 Typhoons completely built to the Saudis, and another 48 are to be assembled inside Saudi Arabia as the country seeks to build up its own aeronautic industry capabilities.
"The Royal Saudi Air Force is getting a fantastic aircraft," said Rammell.
"Typhoon is a world-class, multi-role aircraft and will provide the RSAF with the defence capability it needs to meet the defence challenges of today and for the foreseeable future.
"The industrial benefits of the project are also substantial for both nations and will help to sustain several thousand, skilled jobs in the UK and Saudi Arabia over the next 10 years."
Prince Khaled, who also commands the RSAF, said the new aircraft were "not to threaten anyone but to protect and secure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the coming decades," Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
But Riyadh is known to want to maintain air superiority over rival Iran amid fears that Tehran is seeking to extend the range of its air force to full region-wide capability.
According to Lebanon-based defence news service Tactical Newswires, the Saudis will soon begin meetings with US officials to discuss buying F-16 fighters.

ITT successfully tests Digital Enhanced Night Vision Goggle

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT - News) in partnership with the U.S. Army has recently provided prototypes of the Digital Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, or ENVG (D), to the U.S. Army for evaluation. The ENVG (D) utilizes digital thermal and low-light-level sensors to provide digitally fused imagery to the dismounted soldier. ENVG (D) will offer the ability to export and import digital imagery, connecting the dismounted soldier to the digital battlefield.
“We were extremely proud to provide our latest night vision technology to our U.S. Army customer,” said Mike Hayman, president of ITT’s Night Vision business. “By providing the ability to connect to the digital battlefield, tomorrow’s warfighter will be able to send and receive imagery, greatly enhancing situational awareness.”
ITT’s ENVG (D) is a leap in technology as it replaces the standard image intensification tube with a new digital sensor, the MicroChannel Plate Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (MCPCMOS). The MCPCMOS sensor provides outstanding image intensified video, enabling digital fusion with thermal infrared video. This allows full digitally fused video to be exported to the digital battlefield for intelligence exploitation, as well as the ability to import video, giving the soldier enhanced situational awareness on the battlefield.
Currently, ITT’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG) is being fielded by the U.S. Army. This goggle optically combines an image intensification image and next-generation infrared image, allowing for improved mobility and situational awareness—through clear target identification and improved target detection. The ENVG combines the strengths of both technologies into one unit, allowing soldiers to complete their missions more effectively, even when confronted by low-light conditions or obscured conditions.
ITT’s Night Vision business, based in Roanoke, Va., is the world’s leading developer, producer and supplier of head- and helmet-mounted night vision solutions and image intensifiers for U.S. and allied military forces as well as the homeland security market. ITT has served the U.S. military with premier research, development, production and logistics for analog and digital fusion solutions for 50 years. ITT delivered its one millionth Gen 3 image intensification tube in 2007. To learn more, visit www.nightvision.com.
About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated 2008 sales of 11.7 billion. www.itt.com
Contact:
ITT Corporation
Steve Brecken, 540-561-0395
steve.brecken@itt.com

Ultra Signs Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Engine Licensing Agreement With RCV Engines Ltd

GLOUCESTER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ultra Electronics is pleased to announce that its Precision Air Systems business has signed an agreement encompassing a worldwide marketing, development and manufacturing licence with RCV Engines Limited for a 4-stroke, lightweight, dual fuel Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Engine.
With its inherently low emissions, impressive fuel efficiency and extremely high power to weight ratio, RCV’s patented rotary valve engine technology offers unique benefits for small UAV applications. Moreover its ability to operate both on kerosene (JP8) as well as on gasoline is particularly attractive for defence applications. Interest in such micro-UAVs is booming worldwide, based on a growing number of potential defence and civil applications. Such vehicles are ideally suited for combat and peacekeeping roles, including the clearance of mines and other munitions, general surveillance and reconnaissance work, as well as civil applications such as border monitoring, fire-fighting, geological surveying and even filming major sporting events.
Kevin Hurst, Ultra Electronics Precision Air Systems Sales and Marketing Director said ‘We are delighted to have reached agreement with RCV to bring this product to market. It’s excellent fuel efficiency and dual fuel capability will offer UAV operators significantly increased mission endurance and the logistics benefit of being able to use either JP-8 or gasoline fuels. We are currently working with RCV to develop an Electronic Engine Management System and production units will be available early in 2010. We will be displaying the engine on our stand at the Paris Airshow.’
About Ultra Electronics
Ultra Electronics is a group of specialist businesses designing, manufacturing, and supporting electronic and electromechanical systems, sub-systems and products for defence, security and aerospace applications worldwide. The Group focuses on obtaining a technological edge in niche markets, with many of its products and technologies being market leaders in their field.
About RCV Engines Ltd
RCV Engines Ltd, a privately held company, has developed its patented internal combustion engine technology since its formation in 1997. The company has exported its engines to over 50 countries and has been engaged in a number of significant development contracts leading to licensed production by RCV customers.
Contact:
Ultra Electronics
Mr Keith Scivier
Telephone: +44 (0)1452 715211
Mobile number: +44 (0) 7966 962503
keith.scivier@ultra-pas.com
www.ultra-pas.com
Paris Airshow Stand No. G91

Global Partners Building Global Security: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Builds Global Security Through Enduring Air Power

PARIS, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At the Paris Air Show today, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) officials discussed the role of air power in global security and the effects of the company's technologies, products and programs in assuring security for the future.
Addressing the evolving threats to world security is a priority, said George Standridge, vice president of Business Development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "In times of uncertainty, more than ever, our military customers need stability - which means economic strength and global security. Air Power remains critical to ensuring global security, and Lockheed Martin has a long, proven history of providing air power solutions to nations around the world."
"Lockheed Martin Aeronautics provides air power that gives our customers an asymmetric advantage over these threats during traditional conflicts, irregular warfare and catastrophic events," said Standridge. "We have had excellent records of achieving success with programs like the C-130, F-16 and others, and it's a track record we will continue with the F-35. This kind of success has been a benefit not only to Lockheed Martin but also to our customers in nations around the world," he said.
Within the aerospace industry, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has a proven portfolio of military aircraft and services that are all flexible in their ability to meet mission needs, enjoy the "critical mass" of a large business base with strong customer commitments, and are deployed to meet the strategic global security needs of partners in nations around the world, Standridge said.
"These are the three characteristics that are needed for a program to be stable, especially in a dynamically changing world," he said. "The true beneficiaries are the customers and operators who fly these aircraft and depend on them to protect their national sovereignty - as well as the governments and citizens who pay for them," said Standridge. "Lockheed Martin is proud of the part we play in providing this capability and value to our customers."
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is highlighting the F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-130J Super Hercules, and the company's Global Sustainment support and services in its displays and briefings at this year's Paris Air Show.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of 42.7 billion.

Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas Named Distributor of the Year by Texas Instruments

Award Recognizes Highest Sales Revenue in High Reliability/Space Grade Products During 2008
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas business region of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT - News), has been named the Texas Instruments High Reliability Product Division’s 2008 Distributor of the Year. The award recognizes Avnet as the distributor with the highest sales revenue of Texas Instruments’ (TI) high reliability/space grade products during the 2008 calendar year in the Americas region.
Bryan Brady, vice president of defense/aerospace for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, accepted the award on behalf of the company in Phoenix today. “TI is well-known in the industry for its extensive array of products that operate in extreme temperatures and rugged environments – making them ideal for many defense and aerospace applications,” said Brady. “Being named Distributor of the Year is a terrific recognition of the Avnet team’s efforts to promote and deliver TI capabilities to our customers – one we hope to earn again in 2009.”
“With its deep understanding of local customer needs and experience in highly regulated marketplaces such as aerospace and defense, the Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas team has been able to give leading-edge support to our high reliability customers in the Americas region,” said Mike Tolnay, high reliability marketing manager for Texas Instruments. “We look forward to continuing along this path together to provide customers easy and fast access to the TI HiRel products they need for their applications.”
Texas Instruments is one of the world's largest ISO 9001 certified broad-line suppliers offering an array of Digital Signal Processors (DSP), analog and mixed signal, logic, FIFOs, programmable array logic, and space industry products. For more information about Avnet and the Texas Instruments product line, please visit: www.em.avnet.com/ti.
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at www.em.avnet.com. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT - News), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

ITT Receiver to Play Critical Role in Global Precipitation Measurement

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT - News) has successfully completed the Critical Design Review for the Global Precipitation Measurement-Microwave Imager (GMI) Receiver Subsystem with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Critical Design Review is a multi-disciplined technical review to ensure the system can proceed into system fabrication. With this achievement, ITT can begin manufacture of the first flight unit.
Global Precipitation Measurement is a joint effort between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to study regional and global precipitation, including rain, snow, and ice. This space-based remote sensing instrument will improve ongoing effort to predict climate, improve accuracy of weather and precipitation forecast, and provide more frequent and complete sampling of the earth’s precipitation.
“With fresh water becoming an ever more vital global resource, managing global water supplies will demand increasingly accurate real-time measurement of precipitation,” said Chris Bernhardt, president of ITT’s Electronic Systems business. “We’re pleased to get the go-ahead to begin assembly of this key component of the GPM mission.”
During the design phase, an Engineering Model Unit (EMU) was tested in late 2008, which demonstrated compliance to the technical requirements. The first flight unit is scheduled for delivery in April 2010, with the launch of the GPM Core Satellite scheduled for June 2013.
ITT’s Electronic Systems business is one of the world’s leading suppliers of electronic warfare technology for mission success and survivability. Key technologies include integrated EW systems for self-protection, reconnaissance and surveillance, force protection, mine defense, naval command/sonar applications, and submarine communication and tracking. In addition, ITT produces aircraft armament suspension/release equipment; electronic weapons interface systems, and advanced composite structures and subsystems, as well as Gilfillan precision landing and air traffic systems.
About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated 2008 sales of $11.7 billion. www.itt.com

AIRSHOW-Airbus hopes for more orders at air show

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - Airbus sales chief John Leahy said he hoped to double the tally of 24 orders taken so far at the Paris Air Show this week.
"I'd like to believe we could but we'll see," Leahy told Reuters Television in an interview on Monday.
He declined to say whether he could reach 100 orders at the show, a threshold which analysts consider the minimum required if Airbus is to approach its new 2009 orders target of "up to 300".
Orders are sharply down from 2008.
Leahy said financing had been secured for the European planemaker's remaining deliveries this year, but the jury was still out for 2010.
"Essentially, they (2009 deliveries) are now financed. The question is whether they will stay financed.," Leahy said.
Well over half of anticipated 2010 deliveries have been financed, Leahy added.
European credit agencies have been asked to raise the amount of finance offered to support aircraft deliveries to 50 percent of the total from 20 percent last year.
Airlines are currently getting about 40 percent of their finance from such agencies, Leahy said, adding "we will put some money in ourselves".
He added: "I think we are fine for 2009. The jury, however, is still a bit out for 2010."

Lockheed Martin to Deliver Sniper(R) Advanced Targeting Pods to the Royal Saudi Air Force

ORLANDO, Fla., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) has signed a foreign military sales contract to deliver Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) to the Royal Saudi Air Force. This is the first phase of a multi-year $100 million precision sensor modernization program to replace Lockheed Martin LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods used aboard Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S aircraft since the mid 1990s.
"The Royal Saudi Air Force has been a valued customer for nearly two decades," said John Rogers, Saudi Sniper ATP program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "With this contract to deliver the Sniper pod for their F-15S aircraft, Lockheed Martin can continue to provide the Royal Saudi Air Force with the latest in advanced targeting pod technology."
Packaged in a single lightweight pod, Sniper ATP's enhanced image clarity provides critical long-range positive identification of targets and real-time targeting for weapons. Its state-of-the-art tracker enables employment of advanced laser-guided weapons against moving targets. The only fielded targeting pod incorporating meta-data in every frame of video, the date/time stamp and coordinate information further ensure accuracy throughout intelligence and command and control functions.
Currently flying on the U.S. Air Force and multinational F-16, F-15, B-1, F-18, Harrier, A-10, B-52 and Tornado aircraft, the Sniper pod's common software and hardware interface design enables users to "plug and play" across services and multiple platforms, providing a common software and hardware configuration across aircraft fleets.
The Sniper ATP is currently in service with the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and 10 international air forces and coalition partners.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

UPDATE 1-AIRSHOW-Finmeccanica sees muted impact from crisis

* U.S. defence spending stable outside big programmes
* Italy seeing first positive signals on economy
By Deepa Babington
PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - Italian defence company Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) on Monday said its order backlog was helping shield it from the economic slump and that U.S. defence spending was holding up despite cuts to big-ticket programmes.
DRS, the U.S. defence technology firm that Finmeccanica acquired last year to gain a foothold in the world's biggest defence market, has already racked up orders worth $2 billion in the first five months of the year, the company said.
"U.S. defence spending remains very stable if you look beyond the big programs," said Finmeccanica Chief Operating Officer Giorgio Zappa told reporters at the Paris air show, saying demand in the logistics and systems segment of the U.S. market remained strong despite the crisis.
Despite its growing presence in the U.S., which has become Finmeccanica's second-largest market after Italy, Finmeccanica has suffered setbacks on major contracts such as the U.S. presidential helicopter and the C-27J cargo plane project.
Finmeccanica intends to stick to its plans to set up an assembly line in the United States for the C-27J project, despite the Pentagon's decision to halve the contract and buy 38 planes instead of the 78 initially planned, Zappa said.
Overall, the company was feeling the pinch from the recession only in the civil aircraft and helicopter segment, thanks to a backlog from orders from governments and other institutional clients, CEO Pierfrancesco Guarguaglini said.
He said comments by governments and reports suggested that Italy was seeing the first "positive" signals in the general economic climate, but Zappa warned signs of recovery in the civil aircraft market had yet to be seen.
Still, Finmeccanica's helicopter unit AgustaWestland on Monday announced orders worth 150 million euros, saying a bulk of them were chalked up in China, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia and the United States.
Finmeccanica also said it expected to get "good news" this week on a contract for M346 training jets from the Italian armed forces, but did not say how much the contract could be worth.
The company also confirmed that it planned to sell its remaining 3.2 percent stake in chipmaker STMicroelectronics NV (STM.PA).

Order Book at $4 Billion as Aerion Nears Decision on Manufacturing Partner for Its Supersonic Jet Design

RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aerion Corporation is nearing a decision on an aerospace manufacturing partner to lead the development and production of its pioneering supersonic business jet design.
The next step is to carry out a pre-launch phase jointly with the manufacturer to confirm the Aerion SSBJ performance, costs and market, prior to formal launch in the third quarter of 2010. Thereafter a five-year program is planned so that the Aerion SSBJ could be flying in 2013 and certified by late 2015.
The $80 million Aerion supersonic jet relies on a concept known as supersonic natural laminar flow to reduce airframe drag, thereby reducing engine power requirements and fuel consumption. The patented concept was developed by Dr. Richard Tracy, Aerion’s chief technology officer, and demonstrated in NASA flight tests and in transonic wind tunnel testing.
The Aerion jet flies with efficiency comparable to a large subsonic business jet when operating below the speed of sound, making it practical for use over populous areas where sonic booms are prohibited. At supersonic cruise speeds up to Mach 1.6—nearly double the speed of most of today’s jets—it also operates at costs competitive with large business jets.
“Both our customers and aerospace manufacturers are looking beyond the current economic turmoil,” said Aerion Vice Chairman Brian Barents. “These companies understand that they need to think five to ten years ahead and have new products in the pipeline. The development timeline for the Aerion supersonic business jet fits well with this sort of planning horizon.”

AIRSHOW-UPDATE 1-Boeing sees mid-2010 commercial plane recovery

* Question remains shape, scope of recovery
* Credit to reach normal trend in H2 2010
* Finmeccanica CEO sees positive economic signals
PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - The commercial aircraft chief of U.S. planemaker Boeing (BA.N) expects growth to return to the industry in the middle of next year, he told a news conference at the Paris Air Show on Monday. The recovery would be in both air freight and air traffic, though the big question remained the shape and scope of the upturn, Scott Carson said.
"It feels to me as if we may have reached a bottom both in terms of air freight but perhaps even more importantly in terms of global air traffic," Carson said.
"The long-term prospects for this industry remain robust and as global GDP recovers we expect to see a recovery both in air freight and passenger traffic."
The head of Italian defence company Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) meanwhile told a news conference at the air show he was seeing the first "positive" signals in the overall economic climate.
This gave hope the situation could be reviewed again in the second half of the year or next year, Chief Executive Pierfrancesco Guarguaglini said.
Boeing's Carson added that he expected a more normal trend in credit in the second half of 2010.
The air transport industry has been battered by a slump in the economy coupled with weakened credit. Together these have cast doubt on the ability of airlines to pay for the roughly $800 billion of planes on order following a previous order boom.

Leading Russian Helicopter Engineering Firm Kamov Turns to Dassault Systemes PLM Solutions

Largest CATIA and ENOVIA SmarTeam Implementation in Russian Helicopter Engineering History
LE BOURGET, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Paris:DSY - News) (NASDAQ:DASTY - News), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that Kamov Corporation, a world leader in helicopter engineering, is starting the deployment of CATIA, Dassault Systèmes’ industry-leading virtual design solution, and ENOVIA SmarTeam, Dassault Systèmes’ project management and collaboration solution. Kamov is transforming its business with PLM, moving from 2D drawings to a 3D virtual modeling paradigm. Its use of CATIA PLM Express - the Dassault Systèmes’ solution combining the power of CATIA’s design excellence with ENOVIA SmarTeam’s collaborative virtual product information management - will optimize the work of Kamov engineers and designers and speed time to market. It is the largest implementation of Dassault Systèmes PLM in Russian helicopter industry history.
Prior to purchasing CATIA, Kamov designers worked on drawing boards in 2D. Typically, designers involved in one project worked independently and had no connection with each other. The company lacked a unified, collaborative design process, which resulted in excessive interactions among designers and a lengthy documentation approval period. Taking into consideration the growing competition in the market and the need to establish efficient design processes with new helicopter models, Kamov decided to switch to more innovative and collaborative digital design methods.
During the first phase of implementation, nearing completion now, Kamov implemented the CATIA PLM Express module for mechanical product creation. This module provides extended functions for large and complex product design, surface modeling and design of castings parts and is a core component of Kamov’s move to a PLM design authoring strategy. The company also plans to benefit from the implementation of additional dedicated modules for the design and manufacturing preparation of helicopter’ individual parts and components, including composites, sheetmetal, and electrical wire harness. In addition, Kamov deployed the Microsoft® SQL Server 2005 database management system – a productive and intelligent data platform that helps companies reduce time and costs for development and maintenance of applications, and to deliver applicable information to the entire organization. By implementing on Microsoft Windows Server, customers open up possibilities for creating a unified operating environment that is easier and less costly to maintain, providing enterprise performance and scalability with lower deployment and maintenance investments. Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA uses the full potential of the Microsoft Application Platform in order to enable customers to reduce costs and free up resources by optimizing business processes.
“A critical factor in our decision to switch to a 3D design strategy was the ability to not only visualize the designed products, but to reuse that design data in technical calculations and NC machining,” said Alexander Petrov, CEO, Kamov Corporation. “CATIA and ENOVIA SmarTeam’s technical documentation capabilities, remote management and multi-CAD capabilities were key as well.”
“With Dassault Systèmes PLM solutions, we have made an important step towards transforming our business and succeeding in this highly competitive market,” added Petrov. “PLM’s ability to improve assembly quality and provide greater visibility into each project’s economic indicators will help Kamov once again prove its leadership.”
“We are pleased to have been selected by such a famous design bureau as Kamov, which has been defining standards for the helicopter industry for over 60 years,” says Laurent Valroff, director of Dassault Systemes in Russia and CIS. “CATIA, the world leader in virtual authoring software, will allow Kamov to simplify and speed up the design process, reduce the time required for the launch of new helicopter models, and to decrease its costs. Moreover, because CATIA is the worldwide aerospace industry design standard, this implementation will enable Kamov to work with foreign helicopter companies in a framework of global partnership.”
About Kamov
Kamov JSC (Moscow) is one of the world leaders in helicopter engineering. It deals with design and construction of all types of “KA” helicopters for various purposes: navy, army, and civil. Kamov JSC is the part of the “Helicopters of Russia” corporation.
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY).

Piaggio Aero Industries Selects Dassault Systmes V6 for Global Product Development

ENOVIA V6 Provides Global Collaboration Platform, Production-Proven SOA Environment and Critical Enterprise Solutions to Drive Business Transformation and Foster Innovation
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Paris:DSY - News) (NASDAQ:DASTY - News) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that Piaggio Aero Industries, one of the world’s most prestigious aircraft manufacturers, has selected DS V6 as its global product development platform including all required applications to support the company’s business needs and industry leadership strategy.
Piaggio Aero Industries is implementing the ENOVIA V6 platform and DS PLM applications including ENOVIA and CATIA to enable the company and its core risk-sharing partners to collaborate on the creation of new product designs in real time. This approach addresses the complexity of managing a global supply chain by developing a single version of the truth capable of speeding product delivery, reducing operational costs and driving return on investment.
“As the international aerospace industry continues to evolve, our biggest business challenge is ensuring that we have the infrastructure in place to support the transformation of our company from a low volume, niche manufacturer in a best-in-class, global player,” said Antonio Maglione, CTO, Piaggio Aero Industries. “Dassault Systemes’ V6 PLM solution is enabling us to more efficiently compete on a global stage by maximizing real time collaboration to drive sustainable innovation, product development and new programs.”
Known for the development of its P180 Avanti II,Piaggio Aero wanted to transform its isolated business processes into a closely integrated collaborative environment that would provide employees and partners with access to mission-critical intellectual property including design data. The DS V6 solution provided a centralized PLM platform to support product development, communication and data sharing, and decision-making across the product lifecycle of its aircraft.
Michel Tellier, CEO, ENOVIA, Dassault Systèmes says, “Piaggio Aero Industries is demonstrating its industry leadership by adopting DS’s vision and solutions supporting PLM 2.0, or PLM online for all. Whereas other companies are still deploying separate engineering and enterprise solutions, DS’s ENOVIA V6 is the only solution that provides a single, unified collaboration platform for all users In addition, ENOVIA delivers production proven applications built on an SOA environment including regulatory compliance/eco design, integrated global supply chain management, program management and contracts and security management all on one platform that scales from workgroups to support a global enterprise, delivering low TCO and a platform for innovation. When combined with DS CATIA for real-time collaboration and 3D-design, Piaggio is well-positioned to surpass their competitors in delivering next-generation products first — in both business aviation and engine design.”
To enhance the real time component of the implementation, Piaggio Aero also deployed the ENOVIA 3DLive interface as part of the V6 solution. Designed as a web-based 3D application for improved collaboration, 3DLive provides Piaggio Aero’s technical and non-technical employees with 24/7 access to a common environment to share and manage mission critical intellectual property (IP) for the development of design elements and programs. For example, users have the ability to edit the same model virtually in real time over the Internet without physically having to share large, image-based files.
About Piaggio Aero Industries
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. is the only company in the world that is active in the design, manufacturing and maintenance of both aircraft and aircraft engines. Leading technologies, expertise and commitment, combined with a constant attention to environment, style, innovation and comfort are the embodiment of Piaggio Aero Industries' success.
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.
CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.

Goodrich signs deals with Airbus, British Airways

(Reuters) - Aircraft components maker Goodrich Corp (GR - News) said on Monday it signed service agreements with EADS (Paris:EAD.PA - News) unit Airbus, British Airways (LSE:BAY.L - News) and Scandinavian Airlines System (Stockholm:SAS.ST - News).
The company, which makes aircraft wheels, brakes and landing gear, will provide cabin attendant seats for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.
The Airbus deal is expected to generate $100 million in original equipment and aftermarket revenue over the life of the program, Goodrich said.
Goodrich signed a service agreement with British Airways covering engine controls systems for Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft. The deal covers over 300 Rolls-Royce RB211-524 engines for a minimum of five years, the company said.
The company also signed a 5-year deal with Scandinavian Airlines System to provide thrust reverser overhaul services on all V2500 engines that are used in the carrier's Airbus A320 aircraft.
In April Goodrich cut its sales forecast and the upper end of its outlook for the full year, citing weakness in commercial aerospace.
(Reporting by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore; editing by John Stonestreet)

Northrop Grumman Completes Successful Ground Based Fighter Radar Demonstration

BALTIMORE, June 15, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - News) has successfully demonstrated the Defense Department's new Ground Based Fighter Radar (GBFR), a multi-mission ground tactical radar designed to provide on-the-move air defense capability to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps.
The demonstration took place recently at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Md. Northrop Grumman was awarded the GBFR contract by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
The objective of GBFR was to package a proven airborne radar into a compact, lightweight ground configuration operating on a single HMMWV. In this configuration, the radar provides 360-degree coverage while the vehicle is moving. The radar employs an adaptation of active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology from airborne platforms as a basis for its operation. GBFR's compact, lightweight configuration makes it easily deployable from a variety of expeditionary platforms providing the rapid transport capability required for today's battlespace.
"This demonstration represents a paradigm change for future military forces operating with ground radar," said Pat Newby, vice president of Weapons and Sensors for Northrop Grumman's Land Forces Division. "The on-the-move capability, as demonstrated by GBFR, will bring important capabilities to the current irregular warfare missions being conducted around the world by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. We will continue to work with the U.S. Army to mature this system to support our warfighters."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Hamilton Sundstrand Increases its A350XWB Content With Ratier-Figeac Cockpit Side Stick Controllers

PARIS, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- Airbus, an EADS company, has selected Hamilton Sundstrand's Ratier-Figeac unit to supply cockpit side stick controllers for its new A350XWB (Extra Wide Body) aircraft family. Hamilton Sundstrand is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News).
Hamilton Sundstrand will provide one pilot and one co-pilot cockpit side stick controller per aircraft. They will be designed and produced at the company's Ratier-Figeac facility in Figeac, France. The contract is worth approximately $200 million (USD).
"Hamilton Sundstrand is pleased to be the sole cockpit side stick controller provider for Airbus' commercial aircraft line," said Michel Ferey, Hamilton Sundstrand's Ratier-Figeac president. "We are also excited to continue our partnership with Airbus as it develops its new A350XWB aircraft family. This selection further solidifies Hamilton Sundstrand's position as a leading supplier of aircraft systems."
In addition to being chosen to provide the A350's cockpit side stick controllers, Hamilton Sundstrand was selected by Airbus to provide the A350 XWB's Ram Air Turbine and electric power generation system. Ratier-Figeac was selected by Diehl to provide the cockpit flap control lever. Through ECE, a Zodiac company, Hamilton Sundstrand will provide the solid state power controllers for the aircraft's electric power distribution system. Hamilton Sundstrand's Kidde Aerospace & Defense business was selected by Honeywell to provide the aircraft's bleed air overheat detection system. Through Honeywell, Hamilton Sundstrand's Nord-Micro business will provide the aircraft's ventilation control system including fans and humidification/dehumidification. Hamilton Sundstrand will also provide the pneumatic start system to Rolls-Royce for the Trent XWB engine.
Hamilton Sundstrand's Ratier-Figeac unit designs, manufactures and services cockpit controls and actuation systems for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It is also the world's largest propeller supplier for commercial and military aircraft.
With 2008 revenues of $6.2 billion, Hamilton Sundstrand employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn. Among the world's largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products, the company designs, manufactures and services aerospace systems and provides integrated system solutions for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It also is a major supplier for international space programs.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide.
This release includes "forward looking statements" concerning business opportunities and other matters that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward looking statements include changes in government procurement priorities; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies and new products; and delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers. For information identifying other important legal, technological, competitive and other uncertainties, see UTC's SEC filings as submitted from time to time, including but not limited to, the information included in UTC's 10-K and 10-Q Reports under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Cautionary Note Concerning Factors that May Affect Future Results," as well as the information included in UTC's Current Reports on Form 8-K.

GE Qualifies and Delivers Boeing P-8A Poseidon Systems

LE BOURGET, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Aviation recently achieved two significant P-8A milestones including flight management system hardware qualification and deliveries of stores management system hardware. The flight management system qualification is the final milestone prior to formal flight testing of the P-8A, due to take place later this year. The stores management system hardware deliveries follow delivery last month of key software for integration lab activity.
Business Wire - GE Aviation recently achieved two significant P-8A milestones including flight management system hardware qualification and deliveries of stores ...
“GE’s integrated flight management and stores management systems are designed for growth and allow rapid and affordable future technology integration to meet evolving threats and diverse mission requirements,” commented Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE Aviation Systems. “We are pleased to play a key role in advancing the mission of the U.S. Navy’s P-8A.”
GE’s flight management system provides an integrated open architecture that is compliant with the military and commercial framework along with an inherent growth path for upgrades. The stores management system provides a comprehensive system for the electronic control of integrated weapons management and is designed for future growth.
The integrated Navy/Boeing team will begin formal flight testing of the P-8A later this year. The P-8A first flight successfully took place on April 25 and Boeing unveiled the U.S. Navy paint scheme on May 5, displaying its new U.S. Navy livery.
The P-8A, a derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aviation. The team currently is assembling and testing the first five P-8As.
The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8As to replace its fleet of P-3C aircraft. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE - News), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Systems LLC and GE Aviation Systems Ltd are subsidiaries of General Electric Company. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.

Intergraph(R) Launches New Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Application

Geospatial software to enable governments and corporations to seamlessly share geospatial information and comply with industry standards
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Intergraph® has introduced new spatial data infrastructure (SDI) application software to ensure harmonized geospatial data exchange within the enterprise and between government, businesses and the public for improved communication, collaboration, productivity, ease of maintenance and reduced costs.
Intergraph's SDI application now includes the GeoMedia® SDI Pro product, which provides advanced Web services for implementing spatial data infrastructures and enables organizations to meet government data collaboration and compliance mandates. The application leverages open standards (OGC, ISO) and service-oriented architecture (SOA) and works with best-of-breed industry software including Microsoft, Oracle and others.
Intergraph's SDI application also includes GeoMedia Fusion, Intergraph's existing desktop data harmonization product, for facilitating compliance with INSPIRE and other government directives that ease geospatial data sharing. Future Intergraph SDI application components will include the GeoMedia SDI Portal, which will provide the building blocks for empowering existing browser applications with SDI technology.
"Intergraph's technology and expertise play an invaluable role in our SDI initiatives," said Arco Groothedde, Executive Board of Netherlands' Kadaster. "Netherlands' Kadaster is heavily involved in land registration, topographical surveying and geo-information delivery in the Netherlands and in 50 developing countries around the world. Intergraph's innovative, open product platform and experience in SDI helps these initiatives to be successful."
"Intergraph's open architecture, extensive experience working with governments and leadership in industry standards bodies and government directives including OGC, ISO and INSPIRE make us an ideal partner for organizations seeking a complete solution for spatial data maintenance, sharing and distribution," said Johann Jessenk, global industry manager for Government & Transportation at Intergraph. "Governments at the local, regional and national levels require current, accurate geospatially related information to make better decisions for emergency, infrastructure and land information management, as well as for security, mapping and public services. Intergraph provides a sustainable, flexible and interoperable turnkey application developed to meet these SDI requirements."
Geospatial information has become an increasingly critical component for government performance. SDI projects remove the barriers of geospatial data sharing, optimizing both internal and external workflows and providing organizations with a competitive advantage.
GeoMedia SDI Pro extends the value and capabilities of Intergraph's widely adopted and proven GeoMedia software for optimal operation in an SDI environment, addressing the availability and monitoring requirements of modern infrastructures. The offering goes beyond traditional geographic information system (GIS) functionality to foster secure data sharing, improve collaboration for organizations of all sizes, provide more control over service reliability and allow for the easy administration and configuration of Web services based on OGC and ISO standards. Advanced monitoring capabilities combined with secure Web service access results in greater stability and more seamless content sharing.
Intergraph GeoMedia has always enabled users to bring data from disparate databases into a single GIS environment for viewing, analysis and presentation, making it an ideal foundation for SDI implementations. Because all users are obtaining data from the same source, problems with redundant and out-of-date information are avoided and collaboration efforts are improved. With GeoMedia SDI Pro, organizations can now seamlessly share this harmonized data with internal and external audiences in the most ideal formats. An innovator in geospatial technologies for the past 40 years, Intergraph provides deep technical and domain knowledge in government operations dealing with geospatial information to ensure smooth and successful SDI implementations.
Governments around the world are already embracing Intergraph technology for SDI projects. These projects include, among many others, a land planning and management solution for the region of Galicia, Spain, a geospatial portal for the state survey agency of Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany, the building of a national SDI for the Slovak Republic and an SDI implementation on a national, regional and local level for Poland. Intergraph has also participated in many government-funded SDI initiatives, including GIS4EU, HUMBOLDT and eSDInet+, further demonstrating a deep understanding of and commitment to SDI.
Intergraph GeoMedia SDI Pro will be available in July 2009.
About Intergraph
Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. Businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on Intergraph's industry-specific software to organize vast amounts of data into understandable visual representations and actionable intelligence. Intergraph's software and services empower customers to build and operate more efficient plants and ships, create intelligent maps, and protect critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world.
Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine (PP&M) and Security, Government & Infrastructure (SG&I). Intergraph PP&M provides enterprise engineering software for the design, construction and operation of plants, ships and offshore facilities. Intergraph SG&I provides geospatially-powered solutions to the defense and intelligence, public safety and security, government, transportation, photogrammetry, utilities, and communications industries. For more information, visit www.intergraph.com.

JDSU Introduces New Industrial Diode Laser Solution for Automotive and Electronic Manufacturing Applications

IDL 200 Series Includes Single Emitter Architecture to Help Maintain Uptime and Lower Maintenance Costs for Laser System Integrators
MILPITAS, CA and MUNICH, GERMANY--(MARKET WIRE)--Jun 15, 2009 -- JDSU (NasdaqGS:JDSU - News) (Toronto:JDU.TO - News) today announced availability of the Industrial Diode Laser (IDL) 200 Series systems and modules that will help end users and systems integrators improve the uptime of their instruments and lower maintenance costs when compared to the use of similar bar-based products. The new IDL 200 Series will be integrated into production tools designed exclusively for manufacturing processes that include plastics welding in the automotive industry and selective soldering in the electronics industry.
The key to the IDL 200 Series is the implementation of single emitter architecture based on JDSU's proven and widely adopted L4 diode lasers. Each diode laser emitter operates in parallel and is unaffected by thermal crosstalk that can damage other emitters and is common in competing technologies. The result of JDSU's design is highly reliable operation over the life of products in even the most demanding operational environments. In addition, JDSU's single-emitter based products operate reliably under modulated conditions (pulsed on and off) without the lifetime limitations associated with competing bar-based technologies.
The IDL 200 Series systems and modules also include multiple point monitoring of the individual output power of each diode emitter, ambient and internal system temperatures, various critical system voltages, and other key functions. Data is reported back to the operator through various ports, including analog, RS-232 and a front-mounted serial USB port. Health information can be monitored in real time and a regularly updated health log is available through the USB port for easy downloading and review.
"JDSU is dedicated to providing both end users and system integrators with technology that provides performance and cost advantages," said Jim Christian, Commercial Lasers product manager for the Commercial Communications Optical Products business segment at JDSU. "The IDL 200 Series will help our customers maintain consistently reliable operations while providing the performance that they expect from JSDU's fiber-delivered industrial diode laser products."
JDSU will display the IDL 200 Series systems and modules at booth #141 at Laser 2009 in Munich, Germany. The event will be held at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from June 15 - 18, 2009.
About JDSU
JDSU (NasdaqGS:JDSU - News) (Toronto:JDU.TO - News) enables broadband and optical innovation in the communications, commercial and consumer markets. JDSU is the leading provider of communications test and measurement solutions and optical products for telecommunications service providers, cable operators, and network equipment manufacturers. JDSU is also a leading provider of innovative optical solutions for medical/environmental instrumentation, semiconductor processing, display, brand authentication, aerospace and defense, and decorative applications. More information is available at http://www.jdsu.com/.

Lockheed Martin Marks 25th Anniversary of World's First Hit-to-Kill Missile Intercept

PARIS, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the world's first hit-to-kill intercept of a ballistic missile target outside the earth's atmosphere. The U.S. Army's Homing Overlay Experiment vehicle, developed by a Lockheed Martin-led team, destroyed a test missile above the Pacific Ocean June 10, 1984. This proved the ability to destroy enemy missiles with sheer force of impact, without explosive warheads on the interceptor, to minimize lethal effects on the ground.
More hit-to-kill technology success followed with Lockheed Martin-developed systems, including: the Exo-atmospheric Re-entry Interceptor Subsystem vehicle, which successfully intercepted a target in 1991; the Payload Launch Vehicle, which achieved five midcourse intercepts with the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle from 1999 to 2002; and the Ground-based Midcourse Defense Boost Vehicle Plus booster, which made a successful demonstration flight test in 2004.
Since the 1980s, the technology debuted by the Homing Overlay Experiment has been proven in more than 40 successful intercept tests. Systems using hit-to-kill technology today include the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense, the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile, as well as the Medium Extended Air Defense System being developed by the United States, Germany and Italy.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion

AIRSHOW-Qatar may order 20 Airbus single-aisle jets-sources

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways may order around 20 single-aisle Airbus planes worth roughly $2 billion at the Paris Air Show, doubling its medium-haul fleetas it prepares to fend off low-cost competition, industry sources said on Monday.
Such a deal would stand out from what is expected to be a dearth of major orders at Le Bourget as the airline industry weathers an economic crisis and concerns over travel demand.
Qatar Airways last year unveiled a deal to buy up to six Airbus (EAD.PA) A321 planes and said it was ready to set up a budget airline to fend off any attack by a rival airline in its home market.
The airline said last summer it was in negotiations with Airbus to buy further A320-family aircraft. It already operates 19 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family of single-aisle planes, which includes the A321.
Airbus said it would make a customer announcement at 1030 GMT but declined further comment.
Two aviation industry sources, asking not to be identified, said Qatar could announce a purchase of around 20 aircraft.
A third, however, said there was speculation Qatar Airways, which has called for planes to be delivered faster as it shrugs off the recession hammering many other carriers, could place a large order for both single-aisle and long-haul aircraft.
Ahead of the air show, Qatar Airways had been expected to provide one of the few new orders at the event but there were doubts over whether it needed to add to the 114 wide-body jets it had already ordered from Airbus and Boeing (BA.N).

Hamilton Sundstrand Announces Multi-Year Procurement for F-22 Main and Auxiliary Generator Repair Support

PARIS, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- Lockheed Martin has awarded Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News), a contract for work on a performance based logistics (PBL) program providing military spare parts to support F-22 generator repairs at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah.
The three-year contract, which includes program management and on site support, represents a potential value of $10.5 million to Hamilton Sundstrand, which supplies parts for repair of the Pratt & Whitney main engine and auxiliary generator.
Hamilton Sundstrand and Lockheed Martin have structured the program to provide detailed parts in a kit that supports the shop technicians making the repairs at the base.
"Hamilton Sundstrand is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with Lockheed Martin by supplying main engine and auxiliary generator spare parts for this significant program," said Matthew Bromberg, Hamilton Sundstrand Customer Service vice president & general manager.
Hamilton Sundstrand's Customer Service organization provides customer support, ranging from spares and provisioning to repair and exchange services, technical support and aircraft asset management. Hamilton Sundstrand's C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive Asset Repair and Exchange) program offers total repair and inventory support services, and is fully supported by key OEM accessory suppliers. Hamilton Sundstrand has long-term aftermarket agreements with 28 of the world's 30 largest airlines.
With 2008 revenues of $6.2 billion, Hamilton Sundstrand employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn. Among the world's largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products, the company designs, manufactures and services aerospace systems and provides integrated system solutions for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It also is a major supplier for international space programs.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide.

Hamilton Sundstrand Signs Fixed Price Repair Services Agreement With Air France Industries

PARIS, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News), has entered into an agreement with Air France Industries to provide fixed price repair services.
Under the five-year agreement, Hamilton Sundstrand will provide fixed price repair services on various Hamilton Sundstrand components to support Air France Industries' growing customer base. Air France Industries is a maintenance provider for multiple aircraft types including both Boeing and Airbus aircraft fleets.
"We are excited to partner with Air France Industries in support of its component repair requirements," said Matthew Bromberg, Hamilton Sundstrand Customer Service vice president and general manager. "Hamilton Sundstrand's industry-leading quality and turn-around time will provide Air France Industries with the most cost-effective maintenance solution."
Air France Industries offers a comprehensive range of fleet management services, from line maintenance to full support in compliance with the customer's specific fleet requirements and offering tailor-made solutions for individual situations.
With 2008 revenues of $6.2 billion, Hamilton Sundstrand employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn. Among the world's largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products, the company designs, manufactures and services aerospace systems and provides integrated system solutions for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It also is a major supplier for international space programs.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide.

Breaking Paris Air Show 2009 News Distributed By Business Wire and Virtual Press Office Available

LE BOURGET, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As official news release distribution partners for the Paris Air Show 2009, Business Wire/Virtual Press Office will be posting exhibitor news releases and electronic press materials on a dedicated show news archive within the official show site. Media may contact the Business Wire Event Services Group at tradeshow@businesswire.com with any questions pertaining to these news releases.
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