Strategic Partnership Announced Between AIS and DFKI

Defense News ~ ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) and the German Research Institute for the Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) will work together on integrated solutions for civil safety and security, it was announced today. The two entities are presently co-exhibiting innovative concepts, solutions and products at the International Security and National Resilience Exhibition and Conference ("ISNR") which opened here yesterday. AIS is a strategic partner of the Conference in association with the Ministry of Interior.

Joint research will focus on the growth sectors of civil safety and security, crisis management, visualization and security robotics as well as the challenges of effective urban management. Technologies that are being developed for these activities include video and image data processing, interface management and semantic analytics – all areas of research in which each firm excels.

Khalfan Al Shamsi, head of AIS in Abu Dhabi, emphasized that this new relationship will bring significant benefits to AIS, "The shared research and collaboration that will take place between AIS and DFKI marks an important and exciting new development in the field of civil safety and security. Our work together will involve some of the best and the brightest among the world's scientific and research community. We are delighted that the prestigious DFKI shares our interest in creating and exploiting new opportunities through research and development in our shared fields of interest."

Since its formation in 1988, the aim of DFKI has been to translate cutting-edge research quickly into practice-oriented application solutions. The institute is one of the leading centers of excellence worldwide which through its proactive and demand oriented projects nationally and internationally has acquired the reputation of being a competent and reliable partner boosting the industry with innovation.

AIS' technology, products and systems includes critical asset protection, urban management and ALANQA, its subsidiary for the design, manufacture and sale of the next generation of extreme vehicles for the military and private sectors.

Media Contacts
Michael France/Justin Dini
Brunswick Group
212-333-3810

Patent Issued for Humanetics' BIO 300 Radiation Countermeasure Drug

Primary Market Remains Military, Civilian Protection from Nuclear Event, but Humanetics Also Will Look to Develop Application to Protect Patients Undergoing CT Scans

Defense News ~ MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an announcement today, Humanetics Corporation reported that its BIO 300 medical radiation countermeasure drug candidate has been issued a U.S. patent. The patent is assigned to the United States of America with Humanetics as the designated licensee.

BIO 300 was discovered by researchers at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), a research institute within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Humanetics obtained a worldwide exclusive license from The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., acting on behalf of USU and NIH, for patents covering the use of BIO 300 as a medical radiation countermeasure. Patents protecting BIO 300 have now been issued in the United States, Europe and Australia - with others pending in Japan and Canada.

BIO 300 is being developed as a medical countermeasure for ionizing radiation resulting from a nuclear or radiological attack, act of terrorism or accident. The initial application of BIO 300 is intended for military and civilian protection from events involving a nuclear device or weapon. However, the Company said today it also will focus on applications in medical diagnostics—particularly in the area of CT scans which have been linked recently to excessive levels of ionizing radiation.

“We are pleased that BIO 300 has reached this critical milestone,” said Ronald Zenk, President and CEO of Humanetics Corporation. “There is an urgent need for a safe and practical countermeasure to protect against the devastating effects of both lethal and non-lethal doses of ionizing radiation. We are also extremely concerned about patient exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation in common diagnostic CT scans. We anticipate that BIO 300 may become a standard of care for patients receiving CT scans,” he added.

Currently, there are 62 million CT scans conducted annually in the United States. Recent studies have found that patients may receive far more radiation from many common diagnostic CT procedures than previously believed. According to a recent report in USA Today, these scans may cause 29,000 new cancers a year as well as 14,500 deaths.

Department of Defense Support

BIO 300 has been developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, primarily in response to the U.S. military and federal government’s urgent desire to identify and procure medical radiation countermeasures for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS), a serious illness that occurs when the body receives a high dose of partial or full body ionizing radiation, usually over a short period of time. ARS affects multiple organ systems with profound effects on the rapidly dividing cells of the bone marrow and intestinal tract with further later-stage effects to the lungs and other vital organs. The chance of survival for people with ARS decreases with increasing radiation exposure.

The Company is now expanding its BIO 300 program to include an array of disease states collectively known as the Delayed Effects of Acute Radiation Exposure. While not immediately lethal, these delayed effects can lead to pulmonary injury such as pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis months after exposure, often with a lethal outcome.

The primary objective in the development of BIO 300 is to provide a treatment for members of the military, first responders and the civilian population who may be the targets of a radiological or nuclear event. The urgency is underscored by the fact that there are no FDA-approved drugs to prevent or treat radiation injury.

Most of Humanetics’ research on BIO 300 has been supported by $7.75 million in appropriations funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. Since 2003, Humanetics has been working with researchers at AFRRI to develop BIO 300 as a safe and effective medical radiation countermeasure. A primary focus of their work is the development of effective compounds that can be self-administered by military and civilian populations in the event of radiation exposure. Humanetics is now expanding that technology to include use as a medical prophylactic for CT scans or cancer therapy. AFRRI, located in Bethesda, Maryland, is recognized as the nation’s premier center for radiation injury countermeasure research.

In 2007, BIO 300 was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA. The U.S. Orphan Drug Act provides significant support, financial and marketing incentives and tax credits to companies that develop safe and effective therapies to treat rare diseases and conditions. To date, BIO 300 is the only drug granted this status as a medical countermeasure for the prevention of ARS.

BIO 300 is currently in Phase II clinical trials after showing strong evidence of safety in a Phase I human study.

About Humanetics Corporation

Humanetics is a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company focuses on the rapid discovery, development and commercialization of new drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of diseases in categories with urgent and unmet needs. Humanetics has proprietary compounds in clinical and pre-clinical stages of development in the areas of medical radiation countermeasures, Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and obesity. For more information, visit: http://www.humaneticscorp.com.

This press release contains discussion of certain expectations regarding Humanetics’ future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current views and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from these current expectations and projections, and from historical performance.

Contact:

For Humanetics Corporation:
Pam Pettinella, 952-404-1853
LATITUDE
pam@latitude-c.com

European Buyers Of Airbus Plane Agree To Cover Its Cost Overruns

Defense News ~ (NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - March 6, 2010: European Aeronautic Defense and Space, the parent company of Airbus, said Friday that buyers of its A400M military transport plane had agreed to a 10 percent price increase, a measure that will help cover substantial cost overruns and allow the troubled project to continue.The company said the seven European governments that signed on as customers for the A400M announced in Berlin that they had agreed to the increase for the 180 planes on order. They will also provide 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) in loans in exchange for a share of the revenue from future exports.
“EADS considers this a sound basis for a successful evolution of the A400M program,” the company said.
EADS said it would also absorb some of the cost overruns by taking a write-off of 1.8 billion euros ($2.5 billion) for the project, a provision that would cause it to post a loss for 2009. The A400M project is nearly four years behind schedule and more than 7 billion euros over budget, and the plane itself is several tons overweight. EADS has already written off 2.4 billion euros in costs. The project was expending cash at a rate of about 100 million euros a month.
EADS had hoped to minimize the size of the write-off because of concern that it could have negative implications for the company’s credit rating, a main factor in determining the costs of borrowing for future jet programs like the A350-XWB commercial plane, which the company hopes to deliver in 2013.
Last month, the ratings agency Fitch warned that a significant charge for the A400M might lead it to downgrade its rating on EADS, which, at its current BBB+, remains at investment grade.
Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg and Turkey agreed Friday to increase by 2 billion euros the price of the original contract, which was 20 billion euros, and to waive all penalty charges for late deliveries. Those are now projected to begin in 2014, EADS said. The countries also agreed to accelerate predelivery payments for the planes, although the precise schedule of those payments had yet to be completed.
The financing agreement comes after more than a year of uncertainty about the A400M program, which EADS had threatened to cancel to preserve the company’s long-term viability.

Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

Malaysia TODAY March 6, 2010 ~ Maiden Flight For Micro Aircraft

Defense News ~ JASIN, Malaysia - March 6, 2010: The Sungai Rambai Microlight Park here capped a milestone recently when it hosted the maiden test flight of the Fulmar SR08, Malaysia’s latest multi-role unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The RM1.5mil UAV, designed and built by Unmanned Systems Technology Sdn Bhd (UST), was launched from a specially built two-man launch catapult. It spent almost an hour flying some500m above ground.UST general manager Mohd Khalizi Mohd Razak said the Fulmar SR08 was part of the company’s ongoing effort to tap the growing international UAV market.
He said the composite-body Fulmar SR08 had a 2m wing span, a range of 50km and eight-hour flight capability.
“It can easily be fitted with sensors including night vision cameras to allow use for commercial and security surveillance purposes.“When one mentions UAV, most think it is used only by the military, like the model known as Predator.
“We hope to create awareness that UAVs are not used solely by the military but can be used by the commercial sector,” he said at the airstrip here.
The UAVs could be used by the agriculture sector to monitor tracts of plantation and farm land, he said, adding that it could be fitted with sensors to gauge the moisture content of an area.
“It can even be used by highway operators such as PLUS to monitor traffic flow along highways instead of relying on helicopters which are expensive,” said Mohd Khalizi.
UAVs could also be used by enforcement agencies in surveillance on smuggling or illegal logging, he said.
Besides testing the Fulmar SR08, UST showed off its smaller 3kg single-camera Aludra UAV that can cover a 15km radius on a maximum 90-minute flight duration.
Mohd Khalizi said the Fulmar SR08 and the single-camera Aludra together with their computer and ground-control systems could be deployed at a cost of RM1.3mil.
UST, a subsidiary of Composite Technology Research Malaysia, spent several years and RM10mil on research and development to produce the first fleet of UAVs in Malaysia and the Asean region, he added.
The company, in collaboration with the Defence Ministry, deployed its Aludra MKI to carry out aerial surveillance in Semporna, Sabah, under Ops Pasir.
Meanwhile, Sungai Rambai assemblyman Datuk Hasan Abd Rahman, also the deputy chairman of the Malacca Youth and Sports Committee, said he was proud that UST had chosen to use the microlight aircraft park for the Fulmar SR08’s maiden flight.
The airstrip has come a long way since its operations began in 1999.
“With the state’s support, we have been able to upgrade it to include a hangar, fencing and a watchtower,” he said.
He said he would lobby to the secretariat overseeing Sukma XIII in Malacca this June to use the UAVs to monitor sports events such as sailing and long-distance cycling and running.
He would also apply to the Youth and Sports Ministry for a RM200,000 allocation for upgrading works on the airstrip to allow light aircraft to use it during emergencies, he added.

Source: DTN News / malacca@thestar.com.my By Martin Carvalho Photos By A. Malex Yahaya

U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 5, 2010

Defense News ~ WASHINGTON - March 6, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 5, 2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY
~Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office,Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded an $117,401,603 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive fee V-22 multi-year production contract (N00019-07-C-0001) to provide two additional MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. Pursuant to the variation in quantity clause, this procurement will bring the number of MV-22 aircraft on this contract from 141 to 143. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pa. (50 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); and Amarillo, Texas (15 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $117,401,603 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames, LLC, Tampa, Fla., is being awarded a $70,140,000 firm-fixed-price letter contract for the detail, design, and construction of two offshore support vessels and associated equipment and services for the Iraqi Navy. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Iraq. Work will be performed in Houma, La., and is expected to be completed by December 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $47.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured based on the terms of a Foreign Military Sales case which the Government of Iraq specified RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames, LLC, as the source for this effort. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-2222).
~General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Bloomington, Minn., is being awarded a $30,602,134 firm-fixed-price contract for the full-rate production of 118 Type 3 advanced mission computers for the F/A-18 and E/A-18G aircrafts. Work will be performed in Bloomington, Minn., and is expected to be completed in December 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $6,480,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0014).
~Atlantic Marine Philadelphia, LLC, Philadelphia, Pa., is being awarded a $12,771,174 firm-fixed-price contract for a 70-calendar day regular overhaul of Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys. The ship’s primary mission is to provide fuel to Navy ships at sea and jet fuel to aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. Humphreys, which deactivated and joined the Navy’s Inactive Ships program in 1996, is being reactivated this summer by the direction of U.S. Fleet Forces Command to support counter-piracy and global war on terrorism operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations where the ship will serve as a duty oiler to U.S. and coalition warships. Work performed will include tank inspections; ballast tank preservation; main engine cylinder head inspection and overhaul; underwater hull cleaning; and paint and propeller system maintenance. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $15,492,209. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and is expected to be completed by May 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an unrestricted solicitation and four offers were received. The solicitation was posted to the Military Sealift Command, Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities Web sites. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Fleet Support Command, a field activity of Military Sealift Command, is the contracting activity (N40442-10-C-1001).
~Lockheed Martin Corp., Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $10,232,032 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order # 0002 under previously awarded contract (N00014-09-D-0702) for the Integrated Topside program. This task order supports the technology development phase of a Navy acquisition program to develop a satellite communication prototype/advanced development model system suitable for integration into Navy submarines. This contract contains options which, if exercised, will bring the value of the contract to $32,003,899. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J., and work is expected to be completed March 2011. With options exercised, the completion date is July 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.
~Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,111,723 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-07-C-0008) for 12 months of AIM-9X Sidewinder missile support for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the governments of Australia, Denmark, Finland, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey and Switzerland. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. and is expected to be completed in December 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($2,678,281; 38 percent), U.S. Air Force ($2,578,282; 36 percent), and the governments of Australia ($438,658; 23 percent); Denmark ($202,358; 11 percent); Finland ($202,357; 11 percent); Korea ($202,357; 11 percent); Saudi Arabia ($202,358; 11 percent); Singapore ($202,358; 11 percent); Turkey ($202,357; 11 percent); and Switzerland ($202,357; 11 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~Sealaska Environmental Services, LLC*, Juneau, Alaska, is being awarded a $6,832,006 firm-fixed-price contract modification to increase the maximum dollar value of previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N44255-09-D-4005) for the operation, maintenance, and long term monitoring environmental services at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for operation and maintenance of various remediation sites, systems, wellsm and long-term monitoring in order to ensure compliance with environmental agency requirements. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $34,913,885. Work will be performed in the NAVFAC Northwest AOR, including, but not limited to, Washington (78 percent), Alaska (18 percent), Oregon (1 percent), Idaho (1 percent), Montana (1 percent), and Wyoming (1 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of March 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity.
~Kalman & Co., Inc., Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded $6,624,698 to exercise task order #0023 option under previously awarded contract (M67854-03-A-5158). The scope of this effort is to provide business and analytical support to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) systems. Objectives of this initiative include risk analyses supporting enterprise-wide efforts and current programs of record, leading to concise business case analyses that identify cost and performance projections, schedule impacts, and sustainment/lifecycle considerations. This effort will require applied use of decision support tools to conduct comparative analyses of costs, quantify benefits and attendant risks, and fully vet each alternative through appropriate stakeholder business forums. The expected outcome of this effort is to assist the JPEO-CBD in continuing best business practices and effective course of action selection criteria for the management of their portfolio of acquisition programs, efforts, and initiatives. Ancillary efforts will include subject matter expertise representation at stakeholder sponsored forums, program objectives memorandum and budget planning, preparing Congressional testimony and briefings, and ensuring a comprehensive program of technology insertion (e.g., research-and-development-based investment) is established and maintained. Work will be performed in Marine Corps Command organizations in Falls Church, Va., and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
~General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $6,165,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5100) for system integrator/design agent for Open Architecture Track Manager. As the systems integrator design agent, the contractor assists in developing and maintaining architecture and requirements; modifies government-furnished information to implement and maintain the open architecture track manager; and integrates open architecture track manager onto Navy-specific platforms. Work will be performed in Fairfax, Va. (98 percent), and San Diego, Calif. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
~Northrop Grumman Corp., Apopka, Fla., was awarded on March 1, 2010, a $79,000,624 fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract is for the lightweight laser designator rangefinders. Work is to be performed in Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. Bids were solicted on the World Wide Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-09-D-0061).
~General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Height, Mich., was awarded on March 1, 2010, a $62,123,818 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for the award program Year Four Increment 2 of the Abrams multi-year contract for a quantity of 22 M1A2 systems enhancement package, Version 2 upgrade vehicles. Work is to be performed in Lima, Ohio (75 percent); Tallahassee, Fla. (10 percent); Anniston, Ala. (9 percent); Scranton, Penn. (3 percent); and Sterling Heights, Mich. (3 percent), with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2012. One bid was solicted with one bid received. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-G-0006).
~Northrop Grumman Corp., Apopka, Fla., was awarded on March 1, 2010 a $46,172,662 fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract is for the lightweight laser designator rangefinders. Work is to be performed in Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. Bids were solicted on the World Wide Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-09-D-0061).
~Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on March 3, 2010, a $34,416,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for a requirement to procure a minimum of 144, maximum of 326, upturned exhaust systems to be installed in UH/HH 60M production line aircraft and retrofit of aircraft that will be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2015. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, CCAM-BH-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-D-0001).
~Oshkosh Corp, Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on March 2, 2010, a $29,735,676 requirements contract for the purchase of 79 new Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, M978A4 trucks on the existing HEMTTA4 contract along with ancillary items. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2012. One bid was solicted with one bid received. TACOM , Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0024).
~BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc., Rockville, Md., was awarded on March 2, 2010, a $22,365,515 cost-plus-award-fee contract for logistical support and services consisting of the three major functional areas of maintenance, transportation, and supply on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work is to be performed in the island of Oahu (96.4 percent) and island of Hawaii (3.6 percent), with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2018. 54 bids were solicited with seven bids received. Regional Contracting Office, Hawaii, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).
~Northrop Grumman Corp., Apopka, Fla., was awarded on March 1, 2010, a $17,615,004 fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract is for the lightweight laser designator rangefinders. Work is to be performed in Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. Bids were solicted on the World Wide Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-09-D-0061).
~Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc., Edgewood, Md., was awarded in Feb. 26, 2010, a $16,933,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is to provide all labor, personnel, supervision, administration, materials, equipment, tools, and transportation necessary to perform public works functions at the following general locations in the state of Alaska: Fort Wainwright and the Donnelly, Yukon, and Black Rapids training areas. Work is to be performed in Fort Wainwright; the Donnelly, Yukon, and Black Rapids training areas; and Seward campground, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Expeditionary Contracting Command, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W912CZ-09-D-0004).
~FN Manufacturing, Columbia, S.C., was awarded on March 3, 2010, a $10,326,020 firm-fixed-price contract for a 5 year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the FN303 firing device. The FN303 firing device is a non-lethal launcher used for riot control and training purposes. Work is to be performed in Columbia, S.C., with an estimated completion date of March 1, 2015. One bid was solicted with one bid received. TACOM Rock Island CCTA-AR-SR-SC, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-10-D-0125).
~SUMO-NAN, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, was awarded on March 2, 2010, a $10,260,010 firm-fixed-price contract for an upgrade air support operations center complex, Wheeler Administration Annex, Wheeler Army Airfield, Oahu, Hawaii. Work is to be performed in Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 5, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W9128a-10-C-0004).
~Creative Times Day School, Inc., dba as Creative Times, Inc., Ogden, Utah, was awarded on March 1, 2010, a $9,023,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a training support center at Fort Riley, Kan. Work is to be performed in Fort Riley, Kan., with an estimated completion date of July 10, 2011. Bids were solicted on the World Wide Web with nine bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DQ-10-C-4010).
~Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training, Sterling, Va., was awarded on March 1, 2010, an $8,704,479 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of one transportable Blackhawk operations simulator US Device 8. Work is to be performed in Sterling, Va., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2013. One bid was solicted with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, CCAM-BH-C, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0257).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
~GE Datex-Ohmeda, Inc., Madison, Wis., is being awarded a maximum $19,847,688 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for patient monitoring systems, subsystems, accessories, parts, and training. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 17 proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the first option year period. The date of performance completion is March 5, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-10-D-8348).
*Small business

Source: U.S. DoD issued March 5, 2010

LM Awarded $171 M For Advanced Hawkeye AEW Radars

Lockheed Martin Awarded $171 Million For Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning Radars

Defense News ~ Syracuse, NY., March 4, 2010) -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a low-rate initial production contract valued at $171.8 million from Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Bethpage, NY, for four AN/APY-9 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) radar systems and spare parts. The radar systems will be integrated into the U.S. Navy's new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

"The APY-9 radar will provide unprecedented capability to the U.S. Navy and allied forces operating in the littorals to detect and track airborne and cruise missile threats," said Carl Bannar, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Radar Systems business, headquartered in Syracuse, NY. "This radar represents a two-generation leap in AEW capability."

Designed and developed by Lockheed Martin, the AN/APY-9 radar features both a solid-state transmitter with higher power than its predecessor for extended range, as well as digital receivers to increase sensitivity. The UHF radar can "see" smaller targets -- and more of them -- at a greater range, particularly in coastal regions and over land. Its electronically scanned array provides critically important, continuous 360-degree coverage. As a new capability, flight operators also can now focus the radar on select areas of interest.

Two engineering-development models and four pre-production radar systems are currently in flight and qualification testing. Over the last several months, the Navy/Industry integrated test team has flown more than 230 radar flights, performing multiple hours of over-water, near-land and over-land radar operations. Mission system and radar-related testing are currently ahead of schedule.

"We are pleased with the radar's detection performance," said Dr. Doug Reep, Lockheed Martin's program management director for AEW Radar. "Software updates are being released as scheduled and, with each release, the radar has demonstrated improved stability and performance during flight tests. We are confident we will meet the challenges of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation scheduled to begin at the first quarter fiscal year 2012."

Lockheed Martin will produce AN/APY-9 radars to equip all 75 planned U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Lockheed Martin has produced several generations of AEW radars for the aircraft over four decades. Lockheed Martin's AN/APS-145 airborne radar is currently aboard in-service E-2C Hawkeyes and Hawkeye 2000 aircraft.

Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) - click here for more information

Germany says expects first A400M deliveries in 2014

Defense News ~ BERLIN, March 5 (Reuters) - The German Defence Ministry said on Friday the first deliveries of the A400M military transport planes are scheduled for 2014 after an agreement in principle was reached on financing for cost overruns.

In a statement, the ministry said detailed fine-tuning of the agreement would be done in the weeks ahead.

Delays and problems in developing the West's largest turbo-prop engines have pushed Europe's largest defence project billions of euros over budget, forcing seven European NATO nations to step in with a mixture of direct aid and guarantees.

Procurement officials from buyer nations met EADS chief executive Louis Gallois at the German defence ministry.

The A400M was ordered in 2003 to meet a looming shortfall in military and humanitarian airlift capacity among seven nations -- Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; writing by Erik Kirschbaum)

UPDATE 2-Orbital says General Dynamics deal to add $50 mln rev

* Sees about $50 mln in additional revenue in 2010

* Sees deal adding modestly to 2010 earnings

* Aims to boost existing product line through buy

* Shares rise as much as 2 percent

Defense News ~ BANGALORE, March 5 (Reuters) - Orbital Sciences Corp (ORB.N) on Friday said it expects its $55 million purchase of General Dynamics Corp's (GD.N) satellite development and manufacturing business to add about $50 million in additional revenue in 2010.

The deal takes the maker of small rockets and satellites closer towards its strategy of addressing the soaring demand for medium and small-class satellites.

Orbital, which has been investing in the development of a new medium-class commercial satellite bus called STAR 2.7 with a focus on the commercial sector, is expected to use the new acquisition to boost position in the government sector.

"It fits perfectly with our overall strategy to extend the product lines ... With the GD technology now being added in, these new products should more than double Orbital's addressable market over the next few years," Chief Executive David Thompson said on a conference call with analysts.

The deal, which is expected to close in early April, will also add modestly to 2010 earnings, the company said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

On Thursday, the company had said it agreed to acquire the business from GD Advanced Information Systems, a unit of General Dynamics, mainly to add medium-class low-Earth orbit satellites to its existing product line. [ID:nWNAB5690]

Orbital also said it was looking at expanding customer relations, increasing technical staff and contributing modern industrial facilities through the buy.

Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences also makes small-class space and rocket systems for commercial, military, intelligence and civil government customers.

Shares of Orbital Sciences were up about 1 percent at $18.75 in mid-day trade on the New York Stock Exchange. General Dynamics shares were up about 1 percent at $73.27. (Reporting by Bijoy Koyitty in Bangalore; Editing by Aradhana Aravindan and Maju Samuel)

Pratt & Whitney Receives Conventional Take Off and Landing-Carrier Variant F135 Engine Receives Initial Service Release

Defense News ~ EAST HARTFORD, Conn., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney has achieved initial service release (ISR) for the conventional take off and landing/carrier variant (CTOL/CV) F135 engine, marking another major milestone as the engine is cleared for operational use in the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX - News) company.

"Achieving initial service release means the F135 CTOL/CV engine, with more than 13,000 test hours, has met all necessary requirements and proven the safety, reliability and performance of this product for operational use in the field," said Warren Boley, Vice President of F135 Engine Programs. "I am so proud of the F135 CTOL/CV team and our partners at Hamilton Sundstrand, Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office for this great program accomplishment. We look forward to seeing the F135-powered Lightning II in operational flight."

Pratt & Whitney has delivered 17 flight test engines, as well as the first production F135 engine, and expects to deliver the final short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) flight test engine early this year.

"The F135 CTOL/CV propulsion system has been certified for Low Rate Initial Production and flight operations," said Rob Burnes, F-35 Joint Program Office, Propulsion Director. "I congratulate the entire F135 team on achieving this milestone."

Pratt & Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135 to deliver the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as for eight international partner countries. The F135 is derived from proven technology of the only operational fifth generation fighter engine, the Pratt & Whitney F119 that powers the F-22 with more than 275,000 operational flight hours. It has been further enhanced with technologies developed in several Air Force and Navy technology programs.

The F135 propulsion system has proven it can meet diverse aircraft requirements, and the ground and flight test experience demonstrates the capability of the F135 engine for armed forces around the world.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities and operational engine performance. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in funding related to the F-35 aircraft and F135 engines, changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Erin Dick
Pratt & Whitney Military Engines
860.557.0122
860.565.9600
erin.dick@pw.utc.com Related Headlines Willis H. Carrier Total Indoor Environmental Quality Lab Dedicated at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems- PR Newswire Pratt & Whitney Receives Conventional Take Off and Landing-Carrier Variant F135 Engine Receives Initial Service Release - PR Newswire GE's Immelt declines bonus, total pay nudges up - Reuters General Electric (GE) Predicted To Lose Their AAA Rating; Profitability Continues For The Behemoth - Wall Street Transcript Boeing Selects Pratt & Whitney to Power Boeing's Proposed NewGen Tanker to be Offered to U.S. Air Force - PR Newswire

Roland Announces MPX-90 Desktop Impact Printer for Industrial Marking

Defense News ~ IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roland DGA Corp. has introduced the MPX-90 desktop impact printer, a powerful, affordable imprinting device for industrial marking applications.

Based on the Roland Photo Marking System (RPMS), the MPX-90 uses a durable diamond-tipped stylus to imprint hard surfaces including stainless steel, titanium, iron, gold, silver, copper, platinum, brass, aluminum, nickel and acrylic. This innovative system produces flawless photographs, vector images and fonts up to 529 dpi. The MPX-90 features a maximum printing area of 3.1” x 3.1” and imprints items as large as 3.9” x 7.9” x 1.5” with the cover closed. Users can also insert items of virtually any length when the cover is open. Additional features include automatic surface detection, a center vise, USB connectivity and a user‐replaceable print head cartridge.

The MPX-90 is one of the industry’s lowest cost marking solutions and is ideally suited for the production of serial number plates and data plates. It can also be used for medical and industrial tool identification. With three times the force of the previous MPX model, the MPX-90 precisely imprints even the smallest text and graphics on hard surfaces including non-plated and unpolished materials. Variable data printing capabilities enable users to automatically apply unique identification numbers to each product in a series.

The MPX-90 comes with Metaza Studio photo editing software which imports data files in AI, EPS, JPEG or BMP format and accepts data from digital cameras and compatible scanners. Users can add text, frames and borders, remove backgrounds, and rotate text and images. In addition, it supports vector designs which allows for faster, more precise production of text and line art.

The MPX-90 also includes Dr. Engrave, easy-to-use engraving software that inputs text and bitmap images and supports True Type fonts. The software also comes with a built-in single stroke font editor (SFEdit) to convert any Windows True Type font into a stroke font that improves engraving speeds and allows the user to engrave smaller text without any type of overlap or bleed. Dr. Engrave supports variable data printing using .CSV or .TXT files imported into a template. This feature enables automated serialization and data plate production.

The MPX-90 is priced at $4,495. For more information, please call (800) 542-2307 or visit www.rolanddga.com.

Photo Available on Request

Contact:

Roland DGA Corporation
Laurie Weller
(949) 727-2100 ext. 1287
lweller@rolanddga.com

OGC Announces Earth Observation Profile for Web-Based Catalogue Services

Defense News ~ WAYLAND, MA--(Marketwire - 03/05/10) - The Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC®) announces adoption and availability of the OGC Catalogue Services Standard Extension Package for ebRIM Application Profile: Earth Observation Products, and also the related Geography Markup Language (GML) Application Schema for EO Products. Together, these standards, when implemented, will enable more efficient data publishing and discovery for a wide range of stakeholders who provide and use data generated by satellite-borne and aerial radar, optical and atmospheric sensors. The OASIS standard ebRIM (Electronic business Registry Information Model) is the preferred cataloguing metamodel foundation for application profiles of the OpenGIS Catalogue Service Web (CS-W) Standard.

The CS-W ebRIM EO standard describes a set of interfaces, bindings and encodings to be implemented in catalog servers so that data providers can publish descriptive information (metadata) about Earth Observation data. Developers can also implement this standard as part of Web clients that will enable data users and their applications to very efficiently search and exploit these collections of Earth Observation data.

The CS-W ebRIM EO standard was developed based on requirements from the European Space Agency and partners as part of the Heterogeneous Missions Accessibility project. The Submission Team for this standard included ERDAS, Spacebel s.a. and the European Space Agency. The Geography Markup Language (GML) Application Schema for EO products was developed by the European Space Agency, the French Space Agency, the European Satellite Center, Spacebel s.a. and Spot Image.

The CS-W ebRIM EO standard and the GML Application Schema for EO products are available athttp://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/cat2eoext4ebrim.

The OGC® is an international consortium of more than 390 companies, government agencies, research organizations, and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available geospatial standards. OpenGIS® Standards support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web, wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT. OGC Standards empower technology developers to make geospatial information and services accessible and useful with any application that needs to be geospatially enabled. Visit the OGC website at http://www.opengeospatial.org.

Contact:

 
Contact: 
Lance McKee
Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc 
Tel: +1-508-655-5858
Email Contact