Tuesday, January 19, 2010

DynCorp International Given Option Year for F-18 Maintenance in Kuwait

Defense News ~ FALLS CHURCH, Va.--January 19, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--The United States Navy has awarded DynCorp International (NYSE:DCP - News) a $16.9 million modification to a previously awarded contract for maintenance services in support of the Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 program under the Foreign Military Sales program. This modification exercises the final option year under the contract, initially awarded in 2006 by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md.
DynCorp International (DI) provides organizational and intermediate-level aviation maintenance support for F/A-18 aircraft, as well as supply support, quality control, training, and maintenance and material documentation services for these aircraft owned by the Kuwaiti military.
DI has supported the Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 program since 1997.
About DynCorp International
DynCorp International is a provider of specialized mission-critical services to civilian and military government agencies worldwide, and operates major programs in law enforcement training and support, security services, base operations, aviation services, contingency operations, and logistics support. DynCorp International is headquartered in Falls Church, Va. For more information, visit www.dyn-intl.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. All forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of management and are based on estimates and assumptions that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors outside of the Company's control that may cause its business, strategy or actual results or events to differ materially from the statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, the risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.


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DynCorp International

Media Contact:
Douglas Ebner, 571-224-7822

Sikorsky in US helicopter deals totalling $1.52 bln

Defense News ~ Jan 19 (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp's (UTX.N) Sikorsky Aircraft won two U.S. military helicopter contracts worth a total of $1.52 billion, the Defense Department said on Tuesday.
The first contract, totaling $923.7 million, funded the fourth year of a multiyear contract for a range of Army Black Hawk helicopters.
The second, for $600.7 million, covered the fourth year of funding for various Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters, the Pentagon's daily contract digest said.
(Reporting by Jim Wolf, Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

Textron Defense Systems' XM1100 Scorpion Intelligent Munitions System Demonstrates Operational Capabilities in Successful End-to-End Testing

Defense News ~ WILMINGTON, Mass.--January 19, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT - News) company, announced today that its XM1100 Scorpion networked sensor and munitions system successfully completed a rigorous test series at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Testing culminated in the first end-to-end, live-fire engagement by the Scorpion networked sensor and munitions platform, with the Scorpion system scoring a perfect three for three against vehicle targets. Remote-controlled military targets were driven through multiple fields of emplaced Scorpion systems, which identified and tracked the targets and passed information to an operator overlooking the fields. The operator then armed a fully functional Scorpion system with a high-explosive munition, destroying the targets and demonstrating the system’s effectiveness.
The Scorpion system includes networked, arrayed lethal and non-lethal engagement effects and components for command and control, situational awareness and communications, all of which are linked by a central command-and-control module. The system can detect, track, classify, report and engage enemy vehicles, making it effective for battlespace shaping and force protection.
A full network of 16 dispensing modules was employed during the White Sands Missile Range test event, which included demonstration of command and control, ground sensor tracking, target engagement, anti-vehicle munitions launch and warhead lethality, as well as self-destruction testing and soldier interaction testing and assessment. Additional achievements included the testing of a fielded Scorpion system overnight to observe its force protection capability.
“The White Sands Missile Range end-to-end test event demonstrates that our Scorpion system operates as intended — to protect warfighters from surrounding threats and provide them critical force protection capability,” says Textron Defense Systems’ Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Catizone. “The demonstration’s successful completion brings us an important step closer to delivering this system into the hands of warfighters.”
Following this major program milestone, Textron Defense Systems plans to deliver production representative systems for government qualification testing, which is expected to commence early this year.
About Textron Defense Systems
Textron Defense Systems employs advanced technology and industry expertise to develop and manufacture state-of-the-art smart weapons; airborne and ground-based sensors and surveillance systems; and protection systems for the defense, aerospace and homeland security communities. Its innovative systems for the military provide precision effects, actionable intelligence and force protection. More information is available at www.textrondefense.com.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment services, Textron Systems includes AAI Corporation, Lycoming Engines, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: (a) changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; (b) changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Overseas Contingency Operations; (c) changes in national or international funding priorities, U.S. and foreign military budget constraints and determinations, and government policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; (d) our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; (e) legislative or regulatory actions impacting defense operations; (f) the timing of new product launches and certifications of new products; (g) the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products (h) the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; and (i) performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors and business partners.
Scorpion is a trademark of the U.S. Army.

Contact:
Investor Contact:

Textron
Doug Wilburne, 401-457-2288
or
Bill Pitts, 401-457-2288
or
Media Contact:
Textron Systems Corporation
Sharon Corona, 410-628-3184
or
Textron
Michael Maynard, 401-457-2474

BAE Systems Partners with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on First Test Flight of Coyote Unmanned Aircraft System

Defense News ~ TUCSON, Ariz.--January 19, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--BAE Systems, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has completed the first successful test flight of its small, electric-powered Coyote unmanned aircraft system. The system deployed in midair from a 3-foot-long sonobuoy dropped from a P-3 aircraft.
The flight, which lasted 49 minutes, marks a significant milestone in the development of the Coyote for military uses and scientific research.
“This is a major step forward for this innovative and one-of-a-kind system,” said John Wall, vice president of aviation programs for BAE Systems.
Initially funded by the U.S. Navy, the Coyote weighs only 13 pounds and has a 58-inch wingspan. During freefall, the system is designed to emerge from a sonobuoy, unfold its wings, and begin a directed flight path. Equipped with sensors or cameras, it can perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions while the host aircraft remains in safe airspace.
NOAA funded the test flight, using its WP-3D Orion aircraft, to explore the Coyote’s potential use in weather research. Future testing will assess the system’s suitability to be dropped into a hurricane or tropical storm to measure wind speed and other data critical to forecasting.
“Small unmanned aircraft systems are important tools that can help improve our understanding of the environment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nancy Ash, NOAA manager for the Coyote project. “The Coyote has demonstrated the potential to provide researchers with valuable observations of high-wind environments.”
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defense, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £18.5 billion ($34.4 billion) in 2008.
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BAE Systems

Neil Franz,
+1 301-838-6112
Mobile: +1 240-687-0127
neil.franz@baesystems.com
or
Susan Lenhardt,
+1 301-838-6907
Mobile: +1 703-850-1621
susan.lenhardt@baesystems.com
www.baesystems.com

Facing budget cuts, UK navy sets lofty ambitions

* Navy chief defends heavy military spending ahead of review
* Fear of budget cuts brings friction between army, navy

By Estelle Shirbon
Defense News ~ LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain's naval chief on Tuesday defended spending on aircraft carriers and major hardware, as lobbying for cash intensified ahead of a defence review.
Admiral Mark Stanhope acknowledged budgetary constraints at a time when Britain is struggling to emerge from recession and cope with a deficit forecast to reach 12 percent of GDP, but he nevertheless laid out an ambitious agenda for his service.
"I must retain and develop the quality to deliver success across the full spectrum of defence activity up to and including high intensity warfare," Stanhope said in a speech.
He insisted on flexibility, urging the government to look beyond the Afghan conflict and ensure that the armed forces are prepared for "surprises and strategic shocks" in coming decades.
Whichever party wins an election due by June, the next government will conduct an in-depth review of defence priorities and the amount of money allocated to each service.
But the Ministry of Defence is just one of many government departments that will struggle to shield their budgets from the Treasury's eye as it looks for costs it can reduce.
While the government has yet to give a breakdown of spending cuts, media speculation that some areas could see funding cut by up to 17 percent has raised anxiety levels, with advocates of universities among those already kicking up a fuss.
HARD POWER
Fighting the navy's corner, Stanhope defended a delayed and costly programme to build two aircraft carriers, saying these were a requirement of the British military as a whole.
"People that keep turning around and talking about 'the navy's carriers' have missed the point entirely. These carriers are about supporting (troops) ashore, not protecting a fleet."
His views contrasted with comments from the army chief, who said on Monday that new forms of warfare and tight budgets required giving priority to troops on the ground capable of winning over hearts and minds on a mass scale. [ID:nLDE60H2KX]
General David Richards spoke of "reducing investment in higher-end war-fighting capability" and suggested that foreign allies could make up for a lack of any particular equipment.
Stanhope was at pains to stress that he and his army colleague were "not at loggerheads" and were merely engaging in a "well-articulated debate" ahead of the strategic review, but he did acknowledge the potential for friction.
"My business, and where I am pushing harder maybe than he is, is that I'm about using armed force to be a deterrent mechanism to try and prevent the engagement ashore," he said.
"But if engagement ashore is what is required and it is what the nation decides is important, then we need to make sure we can do that properly."
Stanhope said the armed forces recognised the importance of activities like peacekeeping, humanitarian missions and diplomacy, but they should not lose sight of their basic role.
"These soft power activities and the benefits that accrue from them depend on the underpinning credibility of our armed forces through success on operations and their ability to fight and win wars, which is our ability to deliver 'hard power'."