Air China to Expand Boeing Airplane Health Management Coverage

Air China Cargo is included in coverage of Boeing 777 and 747-400 fleets

Defense News ~ SEATTLE, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE:BA -News), in conjunction with Air China and Air China Cargo, announced today that the airlines will expand the use of Boeing's Airplane Health Management (AHM) system to monitor the in-flight condition of the carriers' Boeing 777 and 747-400 fleets.

The new agreement adds 42 in-service and on-order airplanes to a previous agreement to monitor 117 Air China 737s that are in service and on order. Air China is Boeing's first Chinese customer for AHM and the 33rd commercial customer overall.

"We are certain that Boeing's Airplane Health Management will benefit our passengers and cargo customers who count on Air China and Air China Cargo meeting our schedules," said Air China Chief Engineer Zhong Detao. "This will improve our entire operation."

Airplane Health Management captures and evaluates critical real-time in-flight flying condition data and relays the information to maintenance controllers. That allows the airline to turn a potentially time-consuming and costly maintenance delay into a well-planned and more easily accomplished repair. Airlines are better able to meet flight schedules, benefiting the airline, passengers and other cargo customers.

The AHM system helps airlines identify and respond to problems proactively while accessing a multiple operator knowledge base, so repair decisions are more reliable and the airplane is available for service more quickly.

"Airplane Health Management is a key tool in working with our customers in our mutual pursuit of greater efficiency," said Dennis Floyd, vice president, Technical Services for Commercial Aviation Services at Boeing. "The expansion of AHM coverage at Air China and Air China Cargo will provide them an advantage in the highly competitive Chinese aviation market."

AHM is a component in Boeing's larger vision of Lifecycle Solutions – improving airline efficiency with digital productivity tools, product and industry expertise and the power of aviation's leading integrated supply chain, supporting Boeing airplanes from order placement through retirement.

Air China operates 10 Boeing 777-200s and 10 747-400s. Air China Cargo operates seven 747-400 freighters, including two Boeing Converted Freighters.

Contacts:

Bob Saling

Boeing Seattle

+1 206-766-2914

bob.saling@boeing.com

Wang Yukui

Boeing China

+86 10 5925 5588

yukui.wang@boeing.com

A400M meeting to be held on Friday -Germany says

Defense News ~ BERLIN, March 3 (Reuters) - A meeting of senior government officials in countries acquiring the Airbus A400M military transport plane will be held on Friday, a German Defence Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

The meeting will be held at state secretary level, the spokesman said, confirming a Reuters story from Monday. (Reporting by Erik Kirschbaum)

Lockheed Martin Receives $213 Million Contract for 20 New F-16s for Egypt

Defense News ~ FORT WORTH, Texas, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. government has awarded an initial $213 million to Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - News) for long-lead tasks for the production of 20 new Advanced Block 52 F-16 aircraft for Egypt.

"This is a great day for Lockheed Martin and a testament to the enduring partnership and commitment we have made to the government of Egypt. We remain committed to providing our customer with a proven, advanced 4th Generation multirole fighter," said John Larson, vice president, Lockheed Martin F-16 programs. "This marks the 53rd follow-on buy of F-16s by 14 repeat customers. The aircraft we will deliver to Egypt will join the fleet of more than 4,400 F-16s representing 25 nations."

The new aircraft order includes 16 F-16Cs and 4 F-16Ds, and will supplement the Egyptian Air Force's (EAF) existing fleet of F-16s and contribute to the modernization of the EAF. The final Egyptian F-16 under this contract will be delivered in 2013.

Egypt was the first Arab country to purchase F-16s through a Foreign Military Sales program called Peace Vector. The Egyptian Air Force received a total of 42 F-16s in its first order in 1980 and since then has purchased five more lots of aircraft, for a total of 240 F-16 Fighting Falcons.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 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 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

For additional information, visit our website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com

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Helinet Technologies Expands Aerial Surveillance Services Engagement with Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT)

Partnership to Implement HD Surveillance Capability for SAUTT Builds Upon Firm's Work Deploying Nationwide Aerial Surveillance Solution for Agency

Defense News ~ LOS ANGELES, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Helinet Technologies, the aerial surveillance solutions division of Helinet Aviation, announced today it has been selected by the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago(SAUTT) to assist the agency in implementing a fulltime, high definition aerial surveillance capability. The assignment represents a continuation of Helinet's work with SAUTT providing HD image gathering and live broadcast capabilities and will encompass infrastructure design and build-out, technology integration and training.

The new assignment follows Helinet's engagement with SAUTT to provide the entire aerial surveillance capability for two, large-scale international gatherings hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in 2009: The 34-nation Summit of the Americas and the 53-nation Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Beginning with the design of a nationwide network of broadcast receive sites, the firm worked with SAUTT to develop a comprehensive security system that delivered a continuous live feed from above the events to commanders on the ground. The assignments also included assisting with staffing of air crews, securing all necessary physical assets and delivering the live feed to SAUTT's command center where it could be immediately shared with the security services of attending nations.

"We are pleased to be in partnership with SAUTT to upgrade their aerial platform to a full HD surveillance capability," said Ron Magocsi, vice president, chief technical officer, for Helinet Technologies. "The assignment corresponds to the growing interest we have seen worldwide for aerial surveillance tools that deliver higher quality, more actionable images that improve the ability of law enforcement, government agencies and the military to make critical decisions in real time."

Backed by decades of experience at the forefront of the aerial surveillance and network broadcasting industries, Helinet was one of the first firms to deploy a live HD surveillance capability for its law enforcement and government clients. Benefits of an HD solution include an improvement in image quality in terms of the level of detail and the ability to obtain high quality images from greater standoff distances. In addition to its work with SAUTT, Helinet's international footprint enables it to quickly create and deploy aerial surveillance packages to organizations across the globe with services ranging from basic equipment sales to fully outsourced surveillance solutions, including providing training, ongoing support, pilots and aircraft.

About Helinet Aviation Services

Helinet Aviation Services is an international provider of aviation services to a diversity of markets. Founded in 1987 and based in Van Nuys, California, the company serves clients in the broadcasting, government, law enforcement, medical, motion picture and transportation industries.

Orbital Sciences Corporation Selects GS Yuasa to Power Cargo Transport Missions to International Space Station

Defense News ~ ROSWELL, Ga., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- GS Yuasa Lithium Power (GYLP) today announced it has been awarded a contract to supply batteries for Orbital Sciences Corporation's (Orbital) Cygnus™ maneuvering space vehicle. Cygnus will be used to provide cargo delivery services to the International Space Station. The battery will be assembled at GS Yuasa Lithium Power's new manufacturing facility in Roswell, Georgia and will utilize their LSE190 lithium ion cell.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100303/CL63672 )

"GS Yuasa's lithium batteries will play a vital role in the success of our cargo delivery missions to the International Space Station that we will carry out beginning in late 2011. The Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract is vital to NASA's plans to support the ISS in the years ahead and we have assembled a world-class team of suppliers to help us design, build and operate a highly reliable cargo transportation system," said Mr. Frank DeMauro, Orbital's Cygnus Program Manager.

The CRS program is a multi-year contract for Orbital to provide cargo services to the International Space Station. GS Yuasa's lithium ion batteries provide a light weight and reliable solution to power the Cygnus space vehicle. After launch of the un-manned Cygnus vehicle, GS Yuasa's Lithium batteries will power the spacecraft, discharging during that portion of the orbit when Cygnus is shaded by the earth and recharging during each sun-facing orbital phase.

"GS Yuasa has been a leader in lithium ion cell technology for space applications for over 15 years. The selection of GS Yuasa Lithium Power to provide the battery solution highlights Orbital's confidence in the cell technology and in our battery manufacturing capability," said GS Yuasa Lithium Power President William Moll. He continued, "This program award establishes GS Yuasa's role as more than a cell supplier, and will showcase our new battery manufacturing facility's ability to provide highly engineered battery solutions."

Orbital is under contract to carry out eight CRS missions from 2011 to 2015, transporting a total of approximately 20 tons of cargo to the International Space Station. Orbital's CRS missions will originate from the Mid-Atlantic Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia.

GS Yuasa Lithium Power

GS Yuasa is one of the world's leading battery manufacturers for automotive, telecom, and industrial applications and has produced commercial lead acid batteries for more than one hundred years. GS Yuasa manufactures a variety of specialty battery technologies, including Lithium-ion, Nickel-Metal Hydride, Silver Zinc, and Thermal batteries.

GS Yuasa Lithium Power is the United States subsidiary of GS Yuasa focused on large format lithium ion battery system manufacturing for US customers. Primary products are lithium ion battery systems for aerospace, defense, commercial, and industrial applications.

See company websites at:

http://www.gs-yuasa.com/us/index.asp

http://www.gsyuasa-lp.com

New Zealand Defence Force Awards Lockheed Martin 10-Year Logistics Contract

Defense News ~ ORLANDO, Fla., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - News) was awarded an initial 10-year contract valued at more than $100 million by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to provide its Army with warehousing and repair services.

The contract allows for syndication with other New Zealandagencies, including New Zealand Police, for which Lockheed Martin could also assume warehousing and facilities maintenance work. The agreement includes the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the organization's equipment and supply chain services ranging from soldier store acquisition, such as tents and weapons, to warehouse sustainment.

The New Zealand Army is composed of 7,500 regular and reserve forces and civilian personnel. Approximately 500 NZDF personnel are deployed on multiple peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises around the world. The Army's fleet of more than 500 vehicles includes NZ Light Armoured Vehicles, Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicles, Unimogs, and transport, service and supply vehicles.

"Our goal is to ensure we provide the best possible supply service in the most cost-effective way," said Debra Palmer, vice president of enterprise logistics solutions at Lockheed Martin's Simulation, Training & Support business unit. "We are focused on improving the availability of equipment and supplies to sustain current operations while moving toward improved capabilities in the future."

Lockheed Martin offers similar services to a number of military customers. These include asset management capabilities to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence through its Joint Asset Management Engineering Solution, a program which will ultimately enable the MoD to manage its land-based equipment throughout all its services by providing an end-to-end logistics management system. In addition, Lockheed Martin supports the U.S. Marine Corps with the Embedded Platform Logistics System, and manages the supply chain for automotive parts for the U.S. military's land-based vehicles with the Fleet Automotive Support Initiative.

The contract begins in June 2010 after a transition from the current service providers.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 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 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

For additional information, visit our web site: www.lockheedmartin.com

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Aurora Unveils Test Wing for Solar Aircraft

Defense News ~ MANASSAS, VA--(Marketwire - 03/03/10) - Aurora Flight Sciences has completed the fabrication and initial tests of an advanced wing design that could revolutionize solar-powered aircraft.

The test wing has a span of 22 feet and a chord of 15 feet. It is built entirely of advanced composite materials and lightweight plastics. Its upper surface is covered with advanced solar cells, which convert sunlight into electricity that would be used to power the aircraft and its payloads.

"Aurora's interest in solar-powered aircraft dates from the earliest days of the company," said Aurora CEO John Langford. "Our very first externally funded study, in 1989, was for a solar-powered version of the Daedalus human-powered aircraft. Today's designs are for much larger aircraft -- literally hundreds of feet in wingspan. The idea of this test panel was to develop and validate designs and manufacturing techniques. Doing this is essential for the accurate planning of any future solar aircraft development program."

In 2008, Aurora was selected as a contractor by DARPA for Phase 1 of the "Vulture" ultra-long endurance aircraft program. Aurora's design, called "Odysseus" uses a unique variable geometry design known as the "Z-wing."

The large solar test panel was privately funded by Aurora as an adjunct to Vulture. In addition to the test panel, Aurora has funded the development and flight test of the SunLight Eagle, a 114 foot wingspan solar UAV which made its first flights in the spring of 2009.

About Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences designs and builds robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA and operates production plants in Bridgeport, WV and Columbus, MS and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA. To view recent press releases and more about Aurora please visit our web site at www.aurora.aero.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1189407

Contact:

Contact: 
Patricia Woodside
Director, Public Relations
(703) 396-6304
Email Contact

Oshkosh Corporation Announces Completion of Offering of $500 Million of Senior Notes

Defense News ~ OSHKOSH, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK - News) today announced that it successfully completed its previously announced private offering of $250 million of senior notes due 2017 and $250 million of senior notes due 2020 to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The senior notes due 2017 were issued at par with an interest rate of 8¼%, and the senior notes due 2020 were issued at par with an interest rate of 8½%.

The Company received approximately $489.5 million in proceeds from the sale of the notes, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses of the offering. The Company used the entire net proceeds from the sale of the notes to repay a portion of the debt currently outstanding under term loan B under the Company’s senior secured credit facility.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Oshkosh Corporation

Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh^®, JLG^®, Pierce^®, McNeilus^®, Medtec^®, Jerr-Dan^®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline^™, SMIT^™, CON-E-CO^®, London^® and IMT^®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount.

^{®, TM} All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include risks related to sustaining the required rate of production for the M-ATV contract and the amount, if any, of additional orders for M-ATVs that the Company may receive; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during a global recession and tight credit markets; the duration of the global recession, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets; the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures, the potential for the government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine contracts and the uncertainty of government contracts generally; the consequences of financial leverage associated with the JLG acquisition, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; risks related to the collectability of receivables during a recession, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; risks related to production delays as a result of the economy’s impact on the Company’s suppliers; the potential for commodity costs to rise sharply, including in a future economic recovery; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations; and the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release.

Contact:

Oshkosh Corporation
Financial:
Patrick Davidson
Vice President, Investor Relations
920.966.5939
or
Media:
Ann Stawski
Vice President, Marketing Communications
920.966.5959

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Herley is Awarded a $11.7 Contract to Provide Complex Microwave Assemblies for a U.S. Navy Electronic Attack Aircraft

Defense News ~ LANCASTER, Pa., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Herley Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:HRLY - News) announced today that itsHerley New England division in Woburn, Massachusetts has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $11.7 million from a major U.S. Prime contractor. Herley New England will manufacture a number of multi-function integrated microwave assemblies (IMAs) for a U.S. Navy Electronic Attack Aircraft.

Richard F. Poirier, CEO and President, said, "This award is the latest in a series of significant awards received from this U.S. Prime contractor over the last few years for IMA's for use aboard this Navy Aircraft. Herley New England continues to meet and exceed customer expectations for this important long-term program. With this award, Herley New England has a record backlog exceeding $50 million."

Herley Industries, Inc. is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of microwave technology solutions for the defense, aerospace and medical industries worldwide. Based in Lancaster, PA, Herley has seven manufacturing locations and approximately 1000 employees. Additional information about the company can be found on the Internet at www.herley.com

For information at Herley contact:
Tel: (717) 397-2777
Peg Guzzetti
Investor Relations

Safe Harbor Statement - Except for the historical information contained herein, this release may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve various important assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this discussion can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "may," "should" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievement. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors including but not limited to, competitive factors and pricing pressures, changes in legal and regulatory requirements, cancellation or deferral of customer orders, technological change or difficulties, difficulties in the timely development of new products, difficulties in manufacturing, commercialization and trade difficulties and current economic conditions, including the potential for significant changes in US defense spending under the new Administration which could affect future funding of programs and allocations within the budget to various programs as well as the factors set forth in this report and in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Government Contract Consulting Firm, Federal Schedules, Inc. Marks 24 Years as GSA Schedule Consultant

Founded in 1986 as one of the first GSA Schedule Consulting firms, Federal Schedules, Inc. marks 24th anniversary

Defense News ~ HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Federal Schedules, Inc. (FSI), the nation’s leading government contract consulting firm specializing in the GSA Schedule, marks 24 years of providing superior service to government contractors worldwide.

Founded in 1986 by Roxanne H. Dobrynski, Federal Schedules, Inc. was one of the first established GSA Schedule consulting firms. Over the past twenty-four years, FSI has propelled thousands of companies – of all sizes and industries – to compete and grow within the federal space through the strategic acquisition and management of government contracts. The GSA Schedule consulting firm attributes its continued success to a visionary understanding of contractors’ needs and its ability to adapt and grow in step with the government contract industry.

“Federal Schedules, Inc. was built upon integrity, excellence, teamwork, and customer-focus. While our methods and process have changed over the years, our company core values have remained firm, allowing us to grow both in size and experience as a GSA Schedule consultant,” said Julie C. Akers, President of Federal Schedules, Inc.

In addition to keeping up with the ever changing regulations impacting government contractors, the GSA Schedule consulting firm has also grown to keep in step with the way businesses receive information. Federal Schedules provides Twitter followers and Facebook fans with a continuous flow of information, from the latest news and events, to reminders and tips – covering government contract acquisition, management, and compliance to marketing and selling to government agencies.

Over the past year the GSA Schedule consultant has expanded their website to serve as a resource to both established GSA Schedule Contractors and companies researching the GSA Schedule. Beyond learning about Federal Schedules and its services, website visitors will find information on:

• GSA Schedule FAQ
• Getting a GSA Schedule
• Eligible GSA Schedule Users
• TAA Designated Countries

The GSA Schedule consultant also looks forward to launching a newly designed website next month which will continue to serve as a resource to visitors.

About Federal Schedules, Inc.

Federal Schedules, Inc. (FSI) is the nation’s leading government contract consulting firm specializing in the GSA Schedule. With more than two decades of experience, FSI has helped thousands of companies obtain and maintain their GSA Schedule Contracts. FSI offers a comprehensive list of contract acquisition and maintenance services. For more information visit http://gsa.federalschedules.com.

Contact:

Federal Schedules, Inc.
Heather Rattmann
Sales and Marketing Assistant
703-709-8700
hrattmann@fedsched.com