U.S. KC-10 tanker upkeep contract delayed to Sept

* Contract award initially due in June 2008
* Value estimated at $2.5 billion
WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force said on Friday it does not plan to award a major contract for maintenance of its KC-10 refueling tankers until Sept. 30, a further delay of several months. Industry executives had expected an announcement sometime this month or next in the competition between Boeing Co (BA.N) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) (NOC.N) to service the large refueling aircraft.
Analysts value the deal at around $2.5 billion.
The Air Force had initially planned to award a contract in June 2008, after the companies submitted bids in late 2007.
But the contract award was delayed because all contractors submitted "insufficient cost and pricing data," said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Linda Pepin.
As a result, the Air Force contracting officer sought help from the Pentagon's Defense Contract Audit Agency, which recommended a full audit of all vendors, Pepin said.
It was not immediately clear if other companies besides Boeing and Northrop bid for the work.
Pepin said the Air Force issued a contract extension to Boeing, which holds the current contract, in January 2008, to cover maintenance of the planes until a new contract could be awarded. It included several four-month extension options, and the final one would carry the program through January 2010, Pepin said.
Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said his company had not been notified about the rescheduling of the contract award.
"Northrop Grumman submitted a best-value proposal in good faith and we look forward to winning the contract and working closely with the Air Force to supply support for this vital capability," he said.
Boeing spokesman Scott Day said the company had provided support for the KC-10s for over a decade, achieving a "100-percent, on-time delivery rate."
"We believe our... proposal is strong and that what sets Boeing apart is customer satisfaction, solid and consistent performance and a proven ability to ensure aircraft availability and readiness to the warfighter," he said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

S. Korea Announces Cyber Warfare Command Plans

Published: 26 Jun 2009 11:01
SEOUL - South Korea will launch a cyber warfare command center to fend off attacks on government and military IT networks from North Korea and other countries, officials said June 26.
The plan to create the command center by 2012 was included in a military reform package presented to President Lee Myung-Bak, the defense ministry said, at a time when relations with North Korea are particularly strained.
South Korea's military computer networks are under ever-growing cyber attack.
The South's military security unit said in a report last month that every day the military counters an average of 10,450 hacking attempts and 81,700 computer virus infections.
Experts say South Korea - one of the world's most wired societies - needs an integrated unit to fight cyber attacks by North Korea and China, which run elite hacker units.
In 2004, hackers based in China used information-stealing viruses to break into the computer systems of Seoul government agencies.
Last year, South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo warned his cabinet against what he said were attempts by Chinese and North Korean computer hackers to obtain state secrets.

India Wants Air-to-Air Missiles for Its Jaguars

Published: 26 Jun 2009 10:06
NEW DELHI - India is on a global hunt for air-to-air close-combat missiles along with helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) for the Air Force's British-made Jaguar ground-attack aircraft. Bids for the procurement, valued at more than $100 million, have been sent to MBDA of France, Rafael of Israel, Diehl Defense of Germany, Raytheon of the U.S. and Rosoboronexport of Russia.
The Air Force also is improving its Jaguars through the incorporation of stealth technology, an engine with higher thrust and advanced avionics. The Air Force wants to raise the combat capability of its Jaguar aircraft to be comparable with the Russian-made Su-30MKI multi-role aircraft in its fleet.
Precision-guided bombs and anti-ship missiles will be acquired later, an Air Force official said.
As part of the upgrade, Thales is supplying autopilot systems for the Jaguar, and Rafael is supplying laser designator pods.
The Jaguars also will be equipped with Magic-2 and R-77 missiles. Communications and radio navigation systems are being built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), and the mission computer is being provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
HAL and DRDO also have teamed up to develop software for the upgrades. Elta Electronics Industries of Israel is supplying other radar equipment, including electronic countermeasures.
In the current bid, the Indian Air Force has a requirement for 384 fire-and-forget missiles, 130 HMDs and 226 launchers.
The Air Force requires that the missiles be able to scan the target area for hostile aircraft and then lock on after launch. The missile also should be capable of firing backwards, employ thrust vector technology and have an infrared imaging system.
The missile must have a range of more than 10 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 4.

U.S. SouthCom Head Warns of Iranian Influence in Region

MIAMI - Iran's growing influence in Latin America is a "potential risk" to the region, the newly-appointed head of the U.S. Southern Command has warned.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, who took charge of U.S. military operations in 31 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean on June 25, expressed "real concern" about the Islamic Republic's links with "extremist organizations" in the region.
"The real concern is not a nation-to-nation interaction, it is the connection that Iran has with extremist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, and the potential risk that that could bring to this region," Fraser told journalists ahead of taking up the post.
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has forged close ties with several leftist Latin American leaders in recent years, most notably Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Raul Castro.
Commenting on Iran's ties to extremist groups in the region, Fraser said: "It is a concern, and it is an issue we will continue to monitor for any increasing activity."
He cited Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which has links to Iran and is accused of being behind a suicide bombing that killed 200 U.S. marines in Beirut in 1983 and the 1996 bombing of the Khobar towers in Saudi Arabia, which killed more than 20 people.
The group has denied playing a role in those attacks and the bombing of Israeli and Jewish targets in Buenos Aires.
Fraser, who was deputy commander at U.S. Pacific Command, said the illicit trade in arms drugs and people was worrying, and indicated it would be the focus of his work.
"The major concern is the illicit trafficking and the impact that that is having in the security and the stability, especially through the northern part of South America through Central America and the Caribbean, and through Mexico and the United States."
He added the U.S. needed to ensure links between narcoterrorism and illicit trafficking do not become more pronounced.
Fraser played down talk of a conventional threat in the hemisphere, but said Venezuela's military stance was concerning.
"I'm concern with the military buildup in Venezuela because I don't understand the threat that they see," he said. "I don't see a conventional military threat in the region. So I don't see why they see a need to build their military to the point that they are pursuing."
Fraser, who lived in Colombia for three years as a teenager, said Southern Command would continue to help that country combat leftist guerillas like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - the FARC - and narcoterrorist groups.
"The FARC is not defeated and we need to continued that effort. That's been a focus for a very specific reason," he said.
"But Southern Command has been engaged with all the militaries within the region, with the exception of Cuba," he continued. "My intent is not to focus on one nation or the other because it is together that we build that capacity."
Fraser is the first Air Force officer to take the helm of the Southern Command.
He replaces U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, who has been tapped to become NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

U.S.-Kyrgyz Deal Allows Military Cargo Shipment

ASTANA, Kyrgyzstan - A new agreement that allows the U.S. to retain a key air base in Kyrgyzstan will still let it ship military cargo as it did before, a senior U.S. official told AFP on June 25.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said that despite reports to the contrary, the U.S. air base at Manas would continue to be used to send military cargo to Afghanistan.
"It still will allow us to transit the kinds of cargo with logistical support and personnel that we need," he told AFP on the sidelines of a NATO regional security summit being held in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.
"It's a broad umbrella and it includes what we have been doing under the previous agreement."
Kyrgyzstan - an impoverished Central Asian state - changed course this week after ordering the U.S. base to close in February, a decision that would have been a blow to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban.
Under the agreement, which was ratified by the Kyrgyz parliament June 23, Washington will more than triple the rent it pays for the base as part of a financial compensation package worth about $177 million.
Kyrgyzstan had long complained that the rent it was receiving for the base was too low.
The key functions of the Manas Air Base are the ferrying of tens of thousands of troops in and out of Afghanistan each year and the hosting of planes used for the mid-air refueling of combat aircraft.
Under the new agreement, the U.S. official said, those operations would continue, effectively putting to rest months of diplomatic wrangling as Washington sought to firm up its Afghan supply routes.
A majority of 75 lawmakers in the 90-member Kyrgyz parliament voted to let the U.S. maintain a "transit center" at the air base, which sits just outside the capital Bishkek.
None voted against the agreement, which was signed by U.S. and Kyrgyz officials earlier this week.
Since the agreement was announced, Kyrgyz officials have publicly insisted that it amounts to a base closure and that from now on Manas will only be used for the transit of "non-military" goods.
"This is no longer a military airbase, the coalition soldiers must leave now. The dismantling of the base infrastructure can begin," said Kabai Karabekov, a lawmaker from the country's ruling Ak Zhol party.
"This is nothing more than a corridor for transit," he added, speaking after Thursday's ratification vote.
But despite Karabekov's comments about evicting soldiers, the agreement allows U.S. personnel to remain and Kyrgyz officials have said they will be permitted to carry weapons.
And in fact, the agreement places no restrictions on what U.S. forces may ship through it.
The U.S. government and its personnel may bring "any form of personal property, equipment, provisions, materials, technology" into and out of Kyrgyzstan, according to the text ratified by parliament.
Moreover, U.S. flights into and out of Manas may not by be searched by Kyrgyz authorities, the agreement says.
Kyrgyzstan announced that it would evict the U.S. air base in February, on the same day that Moscow promised more than two billion dollars in loans and aid to the ex-Soviet republic.
Moscow has long complained about the presence of U.S. military bases in Central Asia, which it says lays within what President Dmitry Medvedev has called Russia's privileged sphere of influence.

EnerSys Enhances Lithium-Based Capabilities with Expansion of Design, Assembly and Sales Operations

READING, Pa., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EnerSys® (NYSE: ENS - News), the world's largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of industrial batteries, enhanced its lithium-based capabilities with the launch of an EnerSys Advanced Systems (EAS) unit in Budapest, Hungary, in addition to an existing EAS unit located in Horsham, Pa., near Philadelphia. These enhancements are in response to the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries.
The new EAS unit in Budapest, led by Dr. Laszlo Nagy, provides customers with additional resources for the design and assembly of advanced lithium-ion batteries. It also employs a team of engineers for customer assistance in lithium-based applications.
New lithium-based battery products for defense applications have been developed and launched at EAS in Horsham since its acquisition as the former ATK Power Sources Center. In addition, EnerSys' joint venture with Modular Energy Devices Inc. develops small-format lithium-ion products for customers, including those in the telecommunications industry.
EnerSys previously established a marketing alliance with GAIA, a German unit of LTC Corp., to develop large-format lithium-ion products, primarily for defense and industrial applications.
As telecommunications technology advances, end users seek ways to upgrade their facilities quickly, without retrofitting existing structures. Among the advantages that lithium-ion batteries offer is lighter weight and smaller volume than lead or nickel batteries, which eliminates the need to make architectural enhancements to accommodate their installation on rooftops and in tight spaces. For example, a 1,600 amp-hour, 48-volt lead calcium battery typically weighs 3,045 kg (6,700 pounds) and requires 5.75 square meters (62 square feet) of floor space, while an equivalent, 48-volt lithium-ion battery typically weighs 986 kg (2,170 pounds) and requires 1.86 square meters (20 square feet) of floor space; this represents a three-fold reduction in weight and floor space needs.
In addition to being smaller and lighter, lithium-ion batteries do not require venting, making them advantageous for use in distributed power architecture that incorporates DC power sources and batteries with newly installed equipment. The higher energy density of lithium-ion batteries makes them useful for powering applications, including digital television operations, in both land-line and fiber-optic applications, and a host of other uses, including defense applications.
"Our investment in lithium-ion technology demonstrates the commitment to meeting the ever growing, worldwide demand for small- and large-format lithium products," said EnerSys Chairman, President and CEO John Craig. "While this technology is more expensive than our existing nickel and lead-acid battery solutions, there are applications where the premium can be justified.
"We will continue to invest in advanced solutions to meet our customer's needs. In the quickly changing environment for energy storage, we are convinced that there are good growth opportunities for lithium, nickel and advanced lead solutions. All of these technologies bring some unique performance characteristics valued by our customers in cost, power, energy, cycle life and ease of recycling, so we will keep investing."
Lead-based battery products continue to dominate EnerSys' sales to industrial and specialty markets, with growth driven in part by its product line of thin plate pure lead (TPPL) batteries, which provides more than 20 percent of improvement in performance over that of existing lead-based products. Recent expansion of EnerSys' product portfolio accommodates the widening and changing demands of the industrial energy storage market. This expansion included the acquisition of GAZ in Zwickau, Germany for nickel-based battery products, as well as the aforementioned investments and alliance for lithium-based battery products.
ABOUT ENERSYS
EnerSys, the world leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes reserve power and motive power batteries, chargers, power equipment, and battery accessories to customers worldwide. Motive power batteries are utilized in electric fork trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles. Reserve power batteries are used in the telecommunications and utility industries, uninterruptible power suppliers, and numerous applications requiring standby power. The Company also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers from over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world.
More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.

iLOOKABOUT Announces Progress in Property Tax Assessment Market Vertical

On Friday June 26, 2009, 8:17 pm EDT
iLOOKABOUT Corp. (TSX-V:ILA - News) (the "Company") announced today its progress within the property assessment market across North America to provide visual data via StreetScape images within a number of Counties, Provinces and States within Canada and the US.
"We are extremely pleased with our progress in property assessment," commented Jeff Young, President and CEO of iLOOKABOUT. "Working with Town, City, County and Provincial property data aggregation organizations, as well as private sector property tax assessment firms, we have seen significant growth in both completed transactions and pipeline opportunities which are at different stages of completion."
"iLOOKABOUT StreetScape imagery provides assessors with a new layer of imagery data that improves the efficiency and productivity in the property tax assessment process in addition to providing a unique perspective and enabling solution for valuing properties," continued Young. "We are in the final stages of completing a number of projects in the US, and we are extremely encouraged by the response from the assessment community in Canada and the United States."
About iLOOKABOUT
iLOOKABOUT is a visual data intelligence company serving commercial enterprise in the real estate, insurance, municipal, utility, assessment and appraisal sectors in North America and Europe. iLOOKABOUT is a pioneer in visual data intelligence with its StreetScape and Virtual Tour products. StreetScape is a visual data intelligence product for the geo-spatial market, providing panoramic, comprehensive, street level perspective visual data, geo-coded with latitude and longitude coordinates for accuracy and supported by patented software processes and proprietary security and storage systems. Headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, iLOOKABOUT has offices in Toronto, Canada and London, UK. iLOOKABOUT's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ILA.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact:
Contacts:
iLOOKABOUT Corp.
Jeff Young
President and CEO
519-963-2015
519-963-5009 (FAX)
info@ilookabout.com
www.ilookabout.com

MEDIA ADVISORY: Volaris Airlines Launches First International Service at LAX

Source: Los Angeles World Airports
On Friday June 26, 2009, 7:39 pm EDT
WHAT: Volaris -- Mexico's leading low-fare air carrier -- launches
its first international service at Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX) and welcomes its inaugural flight from Toluca,
Mexico at a press conference in celebration of new daily service
to Toluca and Guadalajara, Mexico. Volaris will operate a modern
fleet of Airbus A320s and join Southwest Airlines in a code share
agreement set to begin next year.
WHO: -- Dr. Pedro Aspe, Volaris Board of Directors President
-- Enrique Beltranena, Volaris Managing Director and CEO
-- Michael Molina, Senior Director of External Affairs,
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
-- Pepe Aguilar, Mexican singer and eight-time Grammy Awards
winner
-- Max Villar, Director of the Americas, LA INC. The Los Angeles
Convention and Visitors Bureau
-- Kyle O'Neal, Director of Alliances, Southwest Airlines
WHEN: 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2009
WHERE: LAX Flight Path Learning Center
6661 W. Imperial Highway
Los Angeles, CA 90045
VISUALS: -- Ribbon-cutting ceremony with airline and airport executives
and singer
-- Volaris aircraft with special art showcasing Los Angeles
-- Volaris crew in uniform
-- Special video highlighting Volaris' story
PARKING: Free parking at the museum
CONTACTS: Volaris - Sai Irene Sanchez Correa, 011 52 1 55 91 85 53 81
sai.sanchez@volaris.com.mx
LAX Public Relations - Katherine Alvarado, (424) 646-5260
kalvarado@lawa.org
Contact:
CONTACTS:Volaris
Sai Irene Sanchez Correa
011 52 1 55 91 85 53 81
sai.sanchez@volaris.com.mx
LAX Public Relations
Katherine Alvarado
(424) 646-5260
kalvarado@lawa.org

Brazil calls off search for Air France victims

SAO PAULO, June 26 (Reuters) - Brazil's Air Force and Navy on Friday called off the search for additional victims and wreckage from Air France (AIRF.PA) Flight 447, which crashed over the Atlantic on June 1 carrying 228 people.
French officials have given no indication they are ending their own search efforts. To date, authorities have recovered 51 bodies as well as 600 pieces of wreckage from the Airbus A330-200 jetliner.
Brazilian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Henry Munhoz said the military was unlikely to find additional bodies and wreckage in the search area so many days after the crash.
"It's already been nine days without seeing any bodies," Munhoz said in a televised news conference.
Brazilian Navy Captain Giucemar Tabosa said French navy ships will remain in the area looking for beacon signals from the plane's voice and flight data recorders, the so-called black boxes.
The cause of the crash is unknown, and there is still no sign of the black boxes, which could give vital information about why the plane went down.
Weather and distance from the coast have complicated search efforts from the outset, and officials have said it will be difficult to find the black boxes.
(Reporting Pedro Fonseca; Writing by Reese Ewing; Editing by Will Dunham)

UPDATE 3-Toronto to cover gap in C$1.2 bln streetcar deal

* Toronto to defer projects to cover funding gap
* Ottawa again refuses C$400 mln funding request
* Finance minister says timeframe too long (Updates with results of Toronto city councilors' vote)
By Frank Pingue and John McCrank
TORONTO, June 26 (Reuters) - Toronto reluctantly agreed on Friday to pay about C$400 million more than it had planned to buy streetcars from Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) after the Canadian government refused to help fund the C$1.2 billion ($1.04 billion) project.
The deal with Bombardier would have expired if Toronto had not completed arrangements to fund the fleet of 204 streetcars by Saturday, and the city would have had to issue another call for bids.
Councilors in Canada's biggest city agreed in a raucous eleventh-hour meeting on Friday to defer other transit projects to beyond 2018 in order to cover the funding gap.
Toronto will now pay nearly C$800 million toward the streetcar project, while the province of Ontario has pledged C$416 million.
The city had initially expected about one-third of the money to come from Ottawa, but federal politicians said the project did not meet the requirements of its infrastructure stimulus fund.
"We have just secured the transit future for this city for a generation," Toronto Mayor David Miller told reporters.
"Was it unfortunate the federal government, at the very end of the process said no (to the funding)? ... Yes, of course. But as you can tell, the provincial government reads the stimulus guidelines to say this fits."
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Friday that the streetcar project would not be in place fast enough to tap into its C$4 billion stimulus fund.
"The streetcar project, as advantageous as it may be in the long term, is not stimulus," he said. "It doesn't happen right away; it's several years out. The whole idea of stimulus is to get it done in the next two years."
Under the agreement with Montreal-based Bombardier, the larger, more energy efficient streetcars would not enter service until 2012, with all 204 delivered by 2018. As well, most of the jobs created would have been at Bombardier's plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario, not Toronto.
Cities that wanted a share of Ottawa's stimulus fund were asked to present shovel-ready projects that could be completed in two years and would create jobs locally.
Toronto's plea to Ottawa for over C$400 million to help replace its aging streetcar fleet was the only request it made to the federal government for stimulus dollars.
Flaherty said it was regrettable the streetcar program was Toronto's only attempt at securing stimulus funding, given other shovel-ready initiatives in the city such as improving roads or the waterfront area.
However, Miller said that federal Infrastructure Minister John Baird had recently held out an olive branch, saying the city could still submit bids for other projects that would qualify for stimulus funding.
"Minister Baird generously has allowed us the opportunity to make another ask and we're asking for everything we possibly can that fits within the rules," he said.
Miller said that if the projects were ones that the city had already committed to funding, and if they were accepted by the federal government, Toronto could put the additional cash toward the streetcar deal.
Within the past six months, Toronto has secured funding for C$10 billion in transit projects.
($1=$1.15 Canadian) (Reporting by Frank Pingue and John McCrank; editing by Rob Wilson)

Canadian aerospace sector seen posting 2009 profit

* Sector profit of C$620 million forecast this year
* Profit seen relatively stable over the next two years
* Order backlog cushioning effects of recession
OTTAWA, June 26 (Reuters) - Canada's aerospace industry is forecast to post a profit of C$620 million ($539 million) in 2009, cushioned from the recession by a big backlog of orders, the Conference Board of Canada said in a report on Friday.
Despite a sharp drop in demand for business jets, the order backlog for aerospace companies such as Bombardier (BBDb.TO) and CAE Inc (CAE.TO) is equal to nearly two years of production work, the report said.
In the face of falling demand and tight credit markets, airlines are grounding planes, cutting capacity, and delaying or even canceling orders.
Aerospace industry profits, which fell to C$592 million in 2008, are seen as relatively stable over the next two years and then growing an average of 3.3 percent annually from 2011 to 2013, the Conference Board report said.
Profit margins, which dropped to 2.7 percent in 2008, are expected to remain slim, averaging 3 percent annually over the next five years.
Production is forecast to slow in the next two years, but output will still outpace the rest of the manufacturing sector, the organization said. After an increase of more than 10 percent in 2008, production growth should slow to 1.7 percent in 2009 and decline slightly in 2010.
The value of unfilled orders dipped slightly to C$38 billion in March 2009 from C$39 billion in November 2008, the report said, citing Statistics Canada data.
"The industry can afford some cancellations and still weather the storm for many more months even without new orders," the report said. But companies will need to control costs to navigate difficult conditions.
The outlook is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, a national trade group.
($1=$1.15 Canadian) (Reporting by Susan Taylor; editing by Rob Wilson)

Heli-One Composites

On Friday June 26, 2009, 1:52 pm EDT
Heli-One Composites announced yesterday it has experienced a downturn in the demand for manufactured aircraft components. The decreased demand has been primarily caused by reductions in aircraft sales due to the world economic environment.
As a result, the business has decided to immediately reduce the workforce at its Gander, Newfoundland facility. The reduction consists of approximately 120 unionized and non-unionized staff.
Despite the reduced demand, the business has not experienced a loss of any contracts and has recently earned new certifications with additional major aircraft companies. There are several contract opportunities pending and the business is working with customers to replace the work volume with new work packages. The business expects to be successful with these opportunities.
Contact:
Contacts:Heli-One
Prab Dhanwant
Executive Assistant to the President
+1.604.952.7986
pdhanwant@heli-one.ca

SBA's Patriot Express Loan Initiative Delivers $315 Million to 3,750 Vets, Military Community

On Friday June 26, 2009, 12:17 pm EDT
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In just two year’s time, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative has supported more than $315 million in loans to more than 3,750 veterans and their spouses who are using the SBA-guaranteed funds to establish and expand their small businesses. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which raised loan guarantees to 90 percent, and eliminated fees temporarily, the number of Patriot Express loans increased to record levels in April and May of 2009.
Patriot Express, launched June 28, 2007, builds on the more than $1 billion in loans SBA guarantees annually for veteran-owned businesses, and the counseling assistance and procurement support it provides each year to more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and Reserve members.
“This commitment to more than 25 million veterans across the country, and the thousands returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is something we at SBA take seriously,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. “The Patriot Express initiative, in conjunction with other SBA programs, goes directly to the needs of our veterans who want to start, or already have their own businesses. This critical access to capital helps them grow their businesses and create good paying jobs in their communities.”
Patriot Express is a streamlined loan product based on the agency’s highly successful SBA Express Program, but with an enhanced guaranty and interest rate. The Patriot Express loan is offered by SBA’s network of participating lenders nationwide and features one of SBA’s fastest turnaround times for loan approvals. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA’s maximum guaranty of up to 90 percent.
The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases. Local SBA district offices will have a listing of Patriot Express lenders in their areas. Details on the initiative can be found at www.sba.gov/patriotexpress.
Interest rate maximums for Patriot Express loans are the same as those for regular 7(a) loans: a maximum of Prime + 2.25 percent for maturities under seven years; Prime + 2.75 percent for seven years or more. Interest rates can be higher by two percent for loans of $25,000 or less; and one percent for loans between $25,000 and $50,000.
Patriot Express is available to military community members including veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members participating in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, Reservists and National Guard members, current spouses of any of the above, and the widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service, or of a service-connected disability.
Patriot Express loans have been approved in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam and generally range from $5,000 to $375,000 in individual loan amounts. The average loan amount is almost $85,000. Nearly 15 percent of those loans have gone to military spouses. After loan applications are approved by the bank, they are submitted to SBA for approval. Most applications are approved by SBA within 24 hours.
SBA has veterans’ business development officers in district offices in every state and territory able to provide military community members full access to the SBA’s range of programs and services. There are also eight Veterans Business Outreach Centers located in: Albany, N.Y; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Lynn Haven, Fla.; Edinburg, Texas; Sacramento, Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.; Boston, Mass.; and Flint, Mich.
In addition to district offices, SBA’s resource partners SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, Small Business Development Centers, and Women’s Business Centers provide local and online assistance with: writing a business plan, financing options to start or grow your business, managing the business, expanding the business and selling goods and services to the government.
For those who are already small business owners and who expect call-up, the SBA and its resource partners have expertise to assist with preparing their businesses before deployment, managing their businesses, selling goods and services to the government, obtaining other SBA financing and financial assistance, and obtaining loans for economic injury – Military Reserve Economic Injury Disaster Loans (MREIDL) – Loans of up to $2 million are available for small businesses sustaining economic injury because an owner or essential employee has been called to active duty as a military reservist.
The SBA and its Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) provides comprehensive assistance, outreach and support to veterans. Each year the SBA assists more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists. Go to www.sba.gov/vets.
Editor please note: A Web-based press kit on the Patriot Express Initiative can be found at http://www.sba.gov/patriotexpress/SBA_PATRIOT_PRESS_KIT.html.
Release Number: 09-45
Contact:
U.S. Small Business Administration
Dennis Byrne,
202-205-6567
http://www.sba.gov/news

Raytheon Facilities Earn Cogswell Award for Outstanding Security Practices

TEWKSBURY, Mass. and TUCSON, Ariz., June 26, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News) facilities have been awarded the 2009 James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award from the Defense Security Service (DSS).
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' Surveillance & Sensors Center, Sudbury, Mass., and Raytheon Missile Systems' East Camden, Ark., facility were among the 14 facilities named by DSS as this year's winners.
The Surveillance & Sensors Center provides innovative and mission critical technology for key Raytheon programs including Cobra Judy Replacement, Surveillance Radar Program, the Zumwalt Class Destroyer, Dual Band Radar and in-service AEGIS radars.
"We're honored to receive this recognition of our security practices," said John Letendre, mission center executive for the Raytheon IDS Surveillance & Sensors Center. "The award underscores our 'no doubt' commitment to our warfighters and our dedication to maintaining a world-class security program."
The Weapon Integration Center - Camden assembles, tests and delivers the Tomahawk Cruise Missile, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and Standard Missile on its 300-acre secure campus.
"Security is a team effort, and the Cogswell Award represents the dedication and commitment of our 143 employees," said Randy Graham, general manager of the Camden facility. "Everyone takes great pride in this award, which validates our proactive approach to security."
To be considered for the Cogswell Award, facilities must be nominated by their assigned Industrial Security Representatives and earn two consecutive superior industrial security review ratings. The facilities must also display a sustained degree of excellence and innovation in overall security program management, implementation and oversight. Less than one percent of the more than 12,500 cleared contractors in the United States receive the award each year.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
Contacts:
Joyce Melikian, Raytheon IDS
978.858.9787
John Eagles, Raytheon Missile Systems
502.634.6768

Honeywell Selected by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Upgrade and Modernize Federal Facilities

Utility Monitoring and Control Systems to Deliver More Secure, Comfortable and Efficient Working Environments
MINNEAPOLIS, June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON - News) today announced it has received a multiple award task order service contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to upgrade federal buildings with safe, secure, comfortable and energy-efficient technology.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071030/AQTU029LOGO)
As part of the contract, Honeywell will be able to install utility monitoring and building control technology -- such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), fire alarm and life safety, and security systems -- at any federal facility, nationally or abroad. Honeywell was one of eight companies to receive a contract from the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Ala., for this new program, which could collectively involve as much as $650 million in projects over the next three years.
"The Army Corps of Engineers is focused on continuous process improvement and this program creates a standard procurement vehicle for boosting safety and comfort for employees and citizens, and reducing operating costs at facilities," said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. "We have the technology, experience and footprint to help meet these goals."
The contract builds on decades of work for the federal government. Honeywell provides nearly $50 million of infrastructure improvements for government organizations annually, and has completed projects for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy (DOE) and all four branches of the military, among other agencies.
Honeywell also recently received similar contracts from the DOE and Army Corps of Engineers for programs that could provide nearly $6 billion of energy-efficiency, renewable energy and water-conservation improvements in government buildings combined.
Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Raytheon Demonstrates Breakthrough Antenna Technology During Air Force Flight

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 26, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- During a recent flight test, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News) successfully demonstrated breakthrough antenna technology that dramatically improves and delivers on the next generation of airborne communications for wide-body aircraft.
The Advanced Multiband Communication Antenna System (AMCAS), developed for the U.S. Air Force, is an extremely low-profile antenna that significantly reduces drag on an aircraft. Attaching to the aircraft skin, the antenna extends 8 1/2 inches. This solution, which simplifies installation and minimizes time out of service, is an affordable alternative to today's antennas, which require more extensive and complex installations and extend considerably farther from the aircraft's fuselage.
During the test, the AMCAS antenna, which is being evaluated for use with the Family of Advanced line-of-sight Terminals, communicated with the Milstar satellite's medium data rate waveform. FAB-T is the Air Force's next-generation communications system.
"This test highlights Raytheon's leadership in satellite communications and shows a clear path forward to delivering even higher data rates when the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite comes online," said Jerry Powlen, vice president, Network Centric Systems Integrated Communications Systems. "This technology is a promising alternative for troops on the ground, sailors at sea, and both international and commercial markets."
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
Note to Editors:
AMCAS uses Raytheon's Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub technology, which was developed with ThinKom Solutions, Inc.
The AMCAS antenna was attached and flown on a Lincoln Laboratory 707 test bed aircraft.
Contact:
MB Hodgkiss
508.490.2607

KEMET Expands Its Tantalum Military Capacitor Series to Meet the Most Stringent Testing Standards

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- KEMET Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: KEME - News), a leading manufacturer of tantalum, multilayer ceramic, solid aluminum, plastic film, paper and electrolytic capacitors, today announced an expansion of their CWR 09, 11, 19, and 29 Series of tantalum capacitors to fully meet the requirements of MIL-PRF-55365 T-level testing. KEMET'S CWR Series is designed for use by military/aerospace customers in high reliability applications. These capacitors already meet the standard requirements of MIL-PRF-55365, including surge current options, Weibull grading, and termination options that include gold plating, hot solder dip, solder fused, and solder plating.
"KEMET has expanded its CWR product lines to fully meet the requirements of MIL-PRF-55365 T-level testing because this enhancement is important to our military and aerospace customers," stated Ed Jones, Product Manager-Specialty Products. "This expanded testing demonstrates KEMET's commitment to offering our customers the highest quality and reliability capacitors available," continued Jones.
KEMET is now on the Qualified Products List (QPL) for all options of styles CWR 09, 11, 19, and 29 specified in MIL-PRF-55365 which will provide our customers with "one stop" shopping to cover all their demand for this category of product. KEMET remains the capacitor supplier with the largest number of QPL products in the world.
About KEMET
KEMET Corporation (KEME.OB) applies world-class service and quality to deliver industry-leading, high-performance capacitance solutions to its customers around the world. KEMET offers the world's most complete line of surface-mount and through-hole capacitor technologies across tantalum, ceramic, film, aluminum, electrolytic, and paper dielectrics. Additional information about KEMET can be found at http://www.kemet.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws about KEMET Corporation's (the "Company") financial condition and results of operations that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets in which the Company operates, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's judgment only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
Factors that may cause actual outcome and results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: (i) the Company's ability to consummate the tender offer for the Notes and accomplish its financing plan described in the Offer to Purchase; (ii) generally adverse economic and industry conditions, including a decline in demand for the Company's products; (iii) the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to realize current operating plans; (iv) adverse economic conditions could cause further reevaluation of the fair value of the Company's reporting segments and the write down of long-lived assets; (v) the cost and availability of raw materials; (vi) changes in the competitive environment of the Company; (vii) economic, political, or regulatory changes in the countries in which the Company operates; (viii) the ability to successfully integrate the operations of acquired businesses; (ix) the ability to attract, train and retain effective employees and management; (x) the ability to develop innovative products to maintain customer relationships; (xi) the impact of environmental issues, laws, and regulations; (xii) the Company's ability to achieve the expected benefits of its manufacturing relocation plan or other restructuring plan; (xiii) volatility of financial and credit markets which would affect access to capital for the Company; and (xiv) increased difficulty or expense in accessing capital resulting from the delisting of the Company's common stock from the New York Stock Exchange. Other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the Company's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Dean W. Dimke
Director of Corporate and Investor Communications
deandimke@KEMET.com
954.766.2806

EMRISE Corporation Announces Results of Annual Stockholders' Meeting

On Friday June 26, 2009, 8:45 am EDT
EATONTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EMRISE CORPORATION (NYSE Arca:ERI), a multi-national manufacturer of defense and aerospace electronic devices and communications equipment, today announced that it held its annual meeting of stockholders at 11:30 am EDT on June 25, 2009, at the Staybridge Suites in Eatontown, NJ. Approximately 83% of the Company’s stockholders were present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
EMRISE stockholders approved the proposal to elect Otis W. Baskin, 63, as a Class I director to serve a three-year term, and also approved the proposal to ratify the selection of BDO Seidman LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for 2009.
In prepared remarks, EMRISE Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Carmine T. Oliva discussed key strategic initiatives designed to enhance stockholder value that have been launched by the Company and he reviewed a number of opportunities and challenges faced by the Company.
“As many of you know, EMRISE Corporation completed a major strategic initiative in the 18-month period beginning in November 2007 and ending in March 2009. This initiative was undertaken in order to focus our Electronic Devices business segment on new higher growth, higher revenue core businesses while shedding lower growth, smaller non-core businesses. The core business this strategic effort was focused on was the acquisition of Advanced Control Components (ACC), which has an RF devices business in the US that would allow EMRISE to address the large U.S. military market from which it was precluded from doing previously since all of our RF device manufacturing was located in Europe. The non-core businesses we divested included our Digitran digital and rotary switch business, our Japanese switch and outside sourced resale business and our printed circuit board manufacturing business. In order to implement this strategy, we arranged a $26 million debt financing in November 2007 followed by the acquisition of ACC in August 2008. We then sold the last of the three divested, non-core electronic devices businesses by March 2009 and paid down our debt from $26 million to $16 million, primarily with the $11.5 million gained from the sale of non-core assets,” Oliva said.
“We believe that the bullish global military market represents a significant opportunity for us in 2009. In particular, some of our products are targeted at the U.S. priority spending categories of 'force protection' and terrorist interdiction. We are delivering products for numerous military programs such as 'IED' jamming devices and unmanned air vehicles just to name two. Our expectation for revenue from ACC, which is a driver of this opportunity, is running at or above the top of the range of the previous guidance we provided for ACC, which was in the range of $17 million to $18 million, up from $12 million for the trailing 12 months before we acquired ACC. In our communications products segment, sales of test instruments for the FAA and U.S. military have been robust and we believe that these sales will be a major contributor to our overall revenues in the second half of 2009. Despite the impact of current economy on our communication business, our timing and synchronization communication equipment products remain one of our best opportunities for significant growth in the future,” Oliva said.
Oliva also noted some of the challenges faced by the Company, including the overall weakness in the economy which is affecting among other things, EMRISE’s In-Flight Entertainment business, spending reductions by the French military which is negatively impacting EMRISE’s European communication business, and the current impact of exchange rates on EMRISE’s foreign operations, Oliva added, “Despite these challenges, we believe we are on track to achieve revenue this year of around $60 million from continuing operations, up from about $51 million in revenue from continuing operations in 2008, which represents a growth rate of approximately 18%.”
Oliva said that going into the second half of 2009, EMRISE will begin to experience the favorable impact of approximately $1 million in annualized cost reductions at the corporate G&A level and approximately $2 million in annualized cost reductions at the business unit level. Of the remaining severance costs associated with the Company’s cost reduction programs, most will be absorbed in the second and third quarters of 2009.
He closed his remarks with a brief discussion of the appointment earlier this week of Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. as the Company’s financial advisors. He said that Boenning will initially be focused on helping EMRISE secure a new credit facility, but their ultimate mission is to identify and negotiate potential strategic mergers, acquisitions or alliance targets to help the Company execute its ongoing strategic business plans, which are designed to continue to enhance shareholder value.
Commenting on the recent decline in the Company’s stock price Oliva said, “Over the last several weeks we have seen our stock price decline from more than $1.50 a share to around a $1.20 a share, and I have no idea why, since nothing has happened at the Company that would explain it. The situation is as frustrating and difficult for me as I know it is for our stockholders. We have recently added several new stockholders to the roles and we are continuing to work hard to meet an increasing number of potential new investors and to make sure that our story and prospects are well understood. All of these efforts are designed to help the financial markets recognize the value of EMRISE and to enhance stockholder value.”
About EMRISE Corporation
EMRISE designs, manufactures and markets electronic devices, sub-systems and equipment for aerospace, defense, industrial and communications markets. EMRISE products perform key functions such as power supply and power conversion; RF and microwave signal processing; network access and timing and synchronization of communications networks. Primary growth driver applications for EMRISE products include RF devices for RCIED jamming systems and Edge Network Timing and Synchronization equipment. EMRISE serves customers in North America, Europe and Asia through operations in the United States, England and France. The Company has built a worldwide base of customers including a majority of the Fortune 100 in the U.S. that do business in markets served by EMRISE and many similar-size companies in Europe and Asia. For more information go to www.emrise.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this press release, including without limitation, EMRISE’s expectation that revenues contributed by ACC for 2009 will be in the range of $17 million to $18 million and that overall revenues for EMRISE during 2009 will be approximately $60 million; EMRISE’s expectation that sales of test instruments to the FAA and the U.S. military will be a major contributor to EMRISE’s overall revenue for 2009; EMRISE’s expectation that it will experience a favorable impact of approximately $3 million in annualized cost reductions as a result of certain actions taken in the first half of 2009 and EMRISE’s expectation that most of the remaining severance costs associated with EMRISE’s cost reduction programs will be absorbed in the second and third quarters of 2009. The actual future results of EMRISE could differ from those statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, EMRISE’s ability to manufacture products to meet expected demand and existing and future orders; the realization of expected orders, including orders of test instruments from the FAA and the U.S. military; general market and economic conditions; changes in technology and governmental regulations and policies, competitive products and services; unforeseen technical issues; the ability of EMRISE to achieve the perceived financial benefits of its cost reduction programs, both in terms of the amounts of such benefits and the timing of those benefits, and the ability to fully absorb the associated severance costs during the second and third quarters of 2009; and those factors contained in the “Risk Factors” section of EMRISE’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009, and other EMRISE filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
EMRISE Corporation
John Donovan,
Vice President Finance and Administration
732-387-5790
jdonovan@emrise.com
ORAllen & Caron,
IncRene Caron (investors)
Len Hall (media)
949-474-4300
rene@allencaron.com
len@allencaron.com
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Northrop Grumman Wins VisIOn Information Operations Contract

Cyber-Based Mission Planning Tool to Support Information Operations for All U.S. Military Commands
On Friday June 26, 2009, 8:00 am EDT
Northrop grumman corporation
RESTON, Va., June 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - News) has been awarded a one-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) task order valued at $4 million to develop the software architecture for the Virtual Integrated Support for Information Operations eNvironment (VisIOn) system, which will provide situational awareness and mission planning capabilities for information operations across all U.S. military commands.
Information operations employs electronic warfare, cyber network operations, military deception, psychological warfare and operations security to disrupt enemy decision-making, while protecting information necessary for U.S. warfighters to make critical decisions.
Under the task order, Northrop Grumman will provide a VisIOn baseline system integrated upon a network-centric, service-oriented architecture. The task order is the first phase of the VisIOn program and was awarded through the Defense Information Systems Agency's Encore II umbrella contract.
VisIOn is a cyber-based mission planning tool for the information operations warfighter. It is an easy-to-use, web-based program to develop a specific and deliberate course of action based on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data coming in from across the battle space. VisIOn will monitor the information operations situation by continually mining intelligence data from a wide array of sources, ensure situational awareness to warfighters, evaluate potential plans, and develop and execute appropriate courses of action.
"Information is more critical than ever to the success of our warfighters, and VisIOn will help commanders collect, protect and use that information to plan and execute critical missions," said Kathy Warden, vice president of the Cyber and Signals Intelligence Systems business unit within Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "Northrop Grumman understands the necessity of providing warfighters the best possible information operations mission planning capability. To that end, we have established a team to employ subject matter experts with critical information operations field experience."
U.S. Joint Forces Command and U.S. Strategic Command have formed a strategic partnership to develop, manage and execute VisIOn with oversight by the Pentagon's Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
As an information systems powerhouse, Northrop Grumman is a top provider of integrated, complex, cyber security solutions to the U.S. government, state and local governments and commercial businesses. As an industry leader in all aspects of computer network operations, Northrop Grumman is offering customers innovative solutions to help secure the nation's cyber future.
The Northrop Grumman VisIOn team includes Booz-Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va.; Bientech International, La Jolla, Calif; Juno Technologies Inc., Rancho Sante Fe, Calif; Pathway Project Management Enterprises LLC, Charleston, S.C.; APG Technologies LLC, Potomac Falls, Va.; MBA-VETS LLC, Suffolk, Va.; and Syzygy Technology Inc. and Dragon Research and Engineering, both of San Diego.
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.
Contact:
Marynoele Benson
Northrop Grumman Information Systems
(703) 345-6734
marynoele.benson@ngc.com

Snecma and Volvo Aero Sign Key Agreement in Principle for Deliveries up to 2014

On Friday June 26, 2009, 5:16 am EDT
STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
At the Paris Air Show, Snecma and Volvo Aero agreed on the basic principles of a five-year partnership between the two companies in the field of space propulsion. The agreement between Snecma and Volvo Aero involves the series production of 37 nozzles and the same number of turbines, which will be manufactured by Volvo Aero in Trollhättan from the end of 2009 until mid-2014. For Volvo Aero, sales of several hundreds of millions of Swedish kronor will be secured through the agreement.
The signing of the agreement came about after the Swedish government recently announced that Sweden would continue to participate in the launch-vehicle program, meaning it will continue its involvement in the Ariane space program.
“We are extremely pleased with this support from the Swedish government”, Leif Johansson, Program Director at Volvo Aero said. “It was a condition for Volvo and Snecma’s discussions on continuing our partnership. We are now ready to develop the next generation of Ariane rockets together.”
The agreement means that Volvo Aero will deliver all nozzles and turbines for the Vulcain 2 engine of the Ariane 5 rockets. Accordingly, production in the space propulsion area has now been secured at Trollhättan for a further five years. At the same time, Snecma is provided with guarantees for deliveries from Volvo Aero for the same period of time.
Volvo Aero unveiled also the brand new sandwich nozzle for future Ariane rocket’s Vulcain 2 engine at the Paris Air Show. By applying a new welding technology, the new sandwich nozzle will be significantly less expensive to manufacture, while simultaneously being more robust and delivering higher performance, allowing Ariane 5’s payload to increase by 100 kg.
The company has also made substantial progress in its work with the TPX, a demonstrator for developing turbine technologies with liquid hydrogen.
“Volvo Aero is already a leader in turbines and nozzles. We can now proceed with the technological development of demonstrators for the next generation of Ariane rockets,” said Leif Johansson.
No new jobs will result from this agreement. However, it will guarantee work for many of the employees of Volvo Aero’s space propulsion operations.
Volvo Aero develops and manufactures components for aircraft and rocket engines with a high technology content in cooperation with the world’s leading producers. Volvo Aero offers an extensive range of services, including sales of spare parts for aircraft engines and aircraft, sales and leasing of aircraft engines and aircraft, as well as overhaul and repair of aircraft engines. Volvo Aero is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com
Contact:
Volvo AeroLeif Johansson,
Program Director
Phone +46 520 94647

Pentagon nears award on new trucks for Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is nearing a contract award to one of four teams bidding to build thousands of armored off-road vehicles for use in Afghanistan, a program potentially worth billions of dollars to the winner.
An award for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle (MRAP-ATV) is expected within days, probably early next week, said one industry executive, who asked not to be named because the competition was still ongoing.
U.S. defense officials have already said that the winning bidder should expect to share its design and subcontract with at least one losing bidder to quickly build vehicles for a U.S. military buildup in Afghanistan, said the executive.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is a big fan of the MRAP armored vehicles, which feature a V-shaped hull to deflect roadside bombs, but the earlier versions are not maneuverable enough to deal with Afghanistan's difficult, mountainous terrain so the Pentagon is racing to buy a lighter version.
BAE Systems (BAES.L), Oshkosh Corp (OSK.N), Navistar International Corp (NAV.N) and Force Dynamics LLC, a joint venture between Force Protection Inc (FRPT.O) and General Dynamics (GD.N), are competing for the lucrative contract.
The Pentagon appears likely to meet its goal of awarding a contract by the end of June, said defense consultant Jim McAleese. He said the Pentagon expected to buy 5,244 vehicles for $12 billion in fiscal 2009 and 2010.
The Pentagon already has $1.7 billion in funding for the program from the fiscal 2009 budget, plus an additional $4.5 billion included in a supplemental war spending budget, which would allow quick orders of a large number of trucks, he said.
McAleese said the Pentagon decided to pick just one winning design to streamline logistics, given difficulties in getting weapons and supplies into Afghanistan, a land-locked country.
He said the Pentagon could stave off potential protests by ordering more trucks up front so that the winner bidder could award a sizable subcontract to one or more of the losing bidders.
The Pentagon's request for proposals said technical factors such as vehicle survivability and mobility would be the most important evaluation criteria in the competition, followed by delivery schedule and production capability, pricing and past performance. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Gary Hill)