Monday, March 7, 2011

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: BAE Systems Continues Paveway IV Testing On Typhoon

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: BAE Systems Continues Paveway IV Testing On Typhoon
(NSI News Source Info) WARTON, UK - March 7, 2011:

The first ever release of a Paveway IV precision guided bomb from a Typhoon aircraft, using the avionics system to safely release the weapon, has been achieved in an hour long test flight over the Aberporth Range in Wales. The integration of Paveway IV demonstrates a commitment to enhance and upgrade Typhoon’s capabilities in its ground attack role and forms part of the Typhoon Future Capability Upgrade.

Typhoon Test Pilot Nat Makepeace, who was at the controls of development aircraft IPA6, said: “This was a successful test flight demonstrating the avionics system is able to use global positioning system (GPS) data and target information sourced from the aircraft to prepare for the release. All communication with the aircraft and safe release of the bomb went to plan.”

Paveway IV is a highly accurate, precision guided bomb capable of significantly minimising collateral damage. It is low cost and will provide Typhoon pilots with the very best technology for operations with its all-weather, day and night precision capability.

The test is part of an ongoing programme to integrate Paveway IV onto the aircraft and builds on the environmental and jettison trials which have already been performed.

Paveway IV is expected to be provided to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) early in 2012 when the RAF will start operational evaluation.

This work further demonstrates the systems integration capabilities of the BAE Systems Typhoon team. These skills are essential for the continued development of the Typhoon aircraft. The team is working closely with the MOD, the Eurofighter partner nations and Raytheon on this development programme.


Notes to Editors

Paveway™IV is the next generation guided weapon selected by the UK Ministry of Defence for the Precision Guided Bomb (PGB) programme. In an environment where time sensitive targeting remains fundamental to success, Paveway™IV provides the ultimate in operational flexibility. The combat proven dual-mode guidance, together with height of burst and penetrating capability in one weapon system, enable the decision of target engagement to be made right up to the point of release.

Paveway™IV has been successfully integrated onto the Harrier GR9/9A and Tornado GR4 and under contract is being integrated onto Typhoon and Joint Combat Aircraft. It expands the boundaries of traditional laser guided weapons and also exceeds the range of rival GPS guided bombs. The enhanced launch zone increases both weapon effectiveness and platform survivability.

For more information, please contact

Debbie Stott, BAE Systems
Tel: +44- (0)1772 855840 Mob: +44 (0)7801 716476
deborah.stott@baesystems.com

Jon Bonnick, BAE systems
Tel: +44-(0)1772 854636 Mob: +44 (0) 7801 714753
Jon.bonnick2@baesystems.com

Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com


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DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 7, 2011

Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 7, 2011
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 7, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 7, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Bristol Design Build Services, LLC*, Anchorage, Alaska (N40085-11-D-8007); Grahams Construction, Inc.*, Delco, N.C. (N40085-11-D-8008); The Guerrero-Pence Group, LLC*, Raeford, N.C. (N40085-11-D-8009); FYI Technology, Inc.*, Apex, N.C. (N40085-11-D-8010); Richard Brady & Associates, Inc.*, Matthews, N.C. (N40085-11-D-8011); and WECC, Inc.*, Fayetteville, N.C. (N40085-11-D-8012), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for general construction projects at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and other outlying facilities in North Carolina. The maximum dollar value, including the base year and four option years, for all six contracts combined is $100,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, demolition, repair, total/partial interior/exterior alteration/renovation of buildings, systems and infrastructure, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, communication systems, installation of new or extensions to existing high voltage electrical distribution systems, extensions to the existing high pressure steam distribution systems, extensions to the potable water distribution systems, extensions to the sanitary sewer systems, additional storm water control systems, painting, removal of asbestos materials and lead paint, and incidental related work. WECC, Inc. is being awarded task order 0001 at $123,266 for the redesign of lockers at Building TT-22 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by April 2011. All work on this contract will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C.; Havelock, N.C.; and other outlying facilities in North Carolina. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of March 2016. Contract funds for task order 0001 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 26 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems, Land and Armament Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $13,820,262 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (M67854-09-C-6006) to exercise option period two, which provides continued support for technical, engineering, and management services for the Assault Amphibious Vehicle System. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va. (80 percent), Albany, Ga. (10 percent), and Barstow, Calif. (10 percent). Work for this option is expected to be completed March 31, 2012. Funds in the amount of $2,500,000 are obligated to incrementally fund the option. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Danilo D. Lopez Associates, Inc.*, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a maximum amount $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for preparation of plans and specifications for bachelor quarters and other architectural projects in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, design analysis and/or preparation of design-build request for proposal contract documents, field investigation, engineering study, geotechnical investigation, topographic survey, interior design, post construction award services, and other related services. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Hawaii AOR, and is expected to be completed by March 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 19 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-11-D-5013).

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Williston, Vt., is being awarded a $7,838,160 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed price contract (N00421-10-C-0024) to exercise an option to procure 22 M61A2 20mm lightweight Gatling gun systems in support of the F/A-18 E/F Strike Fighter Program. Work will be performed in Burlington, Vt. (50 percent), and Saco, Maine (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

ARMY

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., was awarded on March 3 a $64,285,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. The award will provide for product support, logistical support and sustainment operations to the Extended Range/Multi-Purpose Quick Reaction Capability Unmanned Aircraft System. Work will be performed in Poway, Calif.; Adelanto, Calif.; Palmdale, Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Hunt Valley, Md., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 7, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0153).

Ceradyne, Inc., Costa Mesa, Calif., was awarded on March 2 a $56,565,600 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 120,000 enhanced small arms protective insert plates. Work will be performed in Costa Mesa, Calif., with an estimated completion date of Sep. 30, 2011. Three bids were solicited with three bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-09-D-0001).

BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc., Rockville, Md., was awarded on March 2 a $32,939,312 cost-plus-award-fee contract. The contract has a cumulative total of $70,441,134. The award will provide 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 will be performed in Schofield Barracks, Oahu; East Range, Oahu; Wheeler Army Airfield, Oahu; Fort Shafter, Oahu; and Pohakuloa Training Center, Hawaii, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2018. Fifty-four bids were solicited with seven bids received. The Regional Contracting Office-Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).

BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc., Rockville, Md., was awarded on March 1 a $10,969,501 cost-plus-award-fee contract. The contract has a cumulative total of $59,471,633. The award will provide 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 will be performed in Schofield Barracks, Oahu; East Range, Oahu; Wheeler Army Airfield, Oahu; Fort Shafter, Oahu; and Pohakuloa Training Center, Hawaii, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2018. Fifty-four bids were solicited with seven bids received. The Regional Contracting Office-Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).

AIR FORCE

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $50,637,860 cost-plus-award-fee contract modification for proactive technical management to enable more effective program execution, which involves managing a technical baseline, interfaces and system performance by performing systems engineering and integration. Work will be performed at El Segundo, Calif. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Global Positioning Systems Directorate, PKP, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8807-07-C-0002; P00069).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded an $8,881,386 firm-fixed-price contract modification for C-5 RERP Lot 4 readiness spares package, part two, for Dover and Travis Air Force Bases. One bid was solicited and one received. ASX/WLSK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-07-C-6471; P00076).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Meridian Airport Airport Authority, dba Meridian Aviation, Meridian, Miss., is being awarded a maximum $17,856,639 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 115 proposals solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2015. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-11-D-0108).



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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russia To Lose $4 Billion In Arms Exports To Libya

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russia To Lose $4 Billion In Arms Exports To Libya
DTN Canada Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP
(NSI News Source Info)
MOSCOW, Russia
- March 7, 2011:
Russia is to lose $4 billion in arms exports to Libya due to the imposition of UN sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, one of its chief weapons clients in the Middle East, an official said Thursday.

State arms exporter “Rosoboronexport’s lost income from the situation in Libya amounted to $4 billion,” the head of state industrial holding Russian Technologies Sergei Chemezov was quoted as saying by the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies.

Russia was initially slow to echo Western condemnation of Gaddafi amid his bloody crackdown on an uprising but on Saturday it joined other UN Security Council members in ordering an arms embargo against Libya and other sanctions.

The Arab world is the main export market for Russian arms after traditional partners China and India.

Libyan Defence Minister Yunis Jaber had gone on a major spending spree during a January 2010 visit to Moscow, signing 1.3 billion euros ($1.8 billion) worth of deals including for six Yak-130 military planes.

Meanwhile, Libya had also been expected to become the first foreign buyer of Russia’s new Su-35 fighter and a contract worth $800 million for 12-15 planes had been ready for signing, reports have said.

A range of other contracts for helicopters and missile systems were also being discussed.

Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Moscow was “really alarmed” by the effect the revolts sweeping the Arab world could have on its weapons exports.

Asked whether Russia would now be able to record $10 billion of arms exports this year, Chemezov replied: “We will try.” He gave no further details or comments.

Despite its concern over arms exports, Moscow has slowly started to show a tougher political line towards Gaddafi’s regime as it battles to stay in power.

A Kremlin source said this week that Gaddafi is a “living political corpse” who has no place in the civilised world, in Russia’s first clear call for the Libyan leader to quit.

Medvedev has yet to echo such graphic rhetoric himself but on Thursday he issued one of bluntest warnings yet over the situation by any world leader, saying Libya is on the verge of civil war.

“This is an extreme situation,” he told Russia’s Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to state news agency ITAR-TASS.

“Libya was and is on the verge of civil war and our main task was to save our people there (Russian citizens),” he said, praising the operation to evacuate Russians from Libya.

“During such events (such as in Libya) there is usually a complete disorganisation in the management of the state. And this is what we are seeing,” he added.


*Link for this article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP
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DTN News: Pratt & Whitney Canada Joins Med-Trans Corporation In Celebrating Delivery Of Milestone 1,000th PW206B2 Engine Aboard EC135P2 Helicopters

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Pratt & Whitney Canada Joins Med-Trans Corporation In Celebrating Delivery Of Milestone 1,000th PW206B2 Engine Aboard EC135P2 Helicopters
(NSI News Source Info)

ORLANDO, Florida

- March 7, 2011:

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) presented Med-Trans Corporation (Med-Trans) with a commemorative plaque at a ceremony here today marking the delivery of the 1,000th PW206B2 engine aboard Eurocopter's EC135P2 helicopter. P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX - News) company.


"This is another major milestone in our ongoing relationship with Med-Trans, with whom we already have long-term fleet management programs in place," said Raffaele Virgili, Vice President, Customer Service, P&WC. "Med-Trans is currently in a multi-year process of taking delivery of 16 EC135P2 twin-engine helicopters equipped with our PW206B2 engines."

Med-Trans, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading provider of air-ambulance programs in selected locations throughout the United States focused on establishing partnerships with leading hospital systems, medical centres and EMS agencies to provide customized air medical programs through specialized delivery formats, including alternative delivery models, community-based models and traditional hospital-based models. The company's extensive fleet delivers teams of highly trained medical and flight professionals to patients requiring emergency medical care and transports them to the appropriate medical facility.

The EC135P2 is a light twin-engine, multi-purpose helicopter of the two- to three-ton class with up to eight seats for the pilot and passengers. Popular for its low operating costs, high quality and high flexibility in mission adaptation, The EC135P2 is ideal for Med-Trans' medical applications.

Helicopter OEM Eurocopter is a valued partner for P&WC, having taken delivery of its first PW206B production engine in 1996. Eurocopter has also selected P&WC's PT6C-67E engine for its EC175 aircraft.

P&WC customer service

P&WC is celebrating the 22nd anniversary of its ESP® plan this year, with more than 1,000 operators and 3,000 engines enjoying the benefits of membership.

Operators of P&WC's family of PW200 engines enjoy the full backing of P&WC's world-class customer service supported by a worldwide network of more than 100 field support representatives (FSRs), distribution centres in key locations around the world and more than 80 mobile repair technicians; a broad pool of rental and exchange engines; a customized Fleet Management Program (FMP®) and Eagle Service™ Plan (ESP); comprehensive warranty coverage; as well as an extensive Customer Service Network with more than 30 facilities around the world.

P&WC and the helicopter industry

Since the 1970s, P&WC has produced more than 12,000 engines for the helicopter market, accumulating more than 43 million flying hours. The company has certified 31 models for more than 25 applications and engines destined for the helicopter industry.

We continue to make significant investment in our market-leading PW200 and PT6 turboshaft families of engines. Our outlook remains strong and we continue to direct our R&D investments toward customer-driven initiatives that target outstanding performance and reliability, optimal power-to-weight ratio, fuel burn, operating economics and environmental performance.

Come see us at Heli-Expo: Booth 421, Orange County Convention Center

Interested operators are invited to drop by P&WC's booth (421) to speak with a customer service representative.

About Pratt & Whitney Canada

Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada is shaping the future of business aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Every second, a Pratt & Whitney Canada-powered aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world. Pratt & Whitney Canada's engines, with more than 500 million hours in the air, are the industry benchmark for innovative design, dispatch reliability, operating economics and easy maintenance. Pratt & Whitney Canada is firmly committed to ensuring that its products are designed, produced and operated while minimizing environmental impacts throughout their life cycle.

There are currently more than 47,000 engines in service on over 25,000 aircraft operated by some 10,000 operators in 198 countries. The most extensive support network in the industry, which includes more than 30 company-owned and designated service facilities, supports this global fleet.

P&WC has been taking front-line services to the next level ever since it launched its Customer First Centre (CFirst) in 2007. CFirst brings together a multidisciplinary and multilingual support team to resolve issues so that customers can return to service quickly. CFirst handles more than 100,000 contacts every year.

Based in Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), Pratt & Whitney Canada is a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE:UTX - News). UTC is a diversified company providing high-technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

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DTN News: US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD, TowerJazz Sign Contract To Develop High Performance CMOS Low Light Imaging Solutions For Army Portable Systems

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD And TowerJazz Sign Contract To Develop High Performance CMOS Low Light Imaging Solutions For Army Portable Systems
**US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision Electronics and Sensors Directorate (NVESD) to utilize TowerJazz on-shore foundry capability for image sensor development
(NSI News Source Info)

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.

- March 7, 2011:

TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, announced it has signed contracts for two phases of development with the US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision Electronics and Sensors Directorate (NVESD) for CMOS low light image sensor development for Army portable systems. As part of this effort, TowerJazz is expanding its aerospace and defense on-shore capability by introducing world class CMOS image sensor (CIS) foundry processes and solutions in its Newport Beach, CA facility. This project will result in advanced CIS technology at TowerJazz’s on-shore facility and provide the US Army with a solution for its demanding technology needs and provide state-of-the-art CIS technology for Department of Defense (DoD) CIS programs.


A key goal of the US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD program is to enable CMOS imagers with low noise and high sensitivity over a broad spectral range. TowerJazz was chosen as a development partner due to its pixel process which uses advanced methods and technology providing higher pixel performance than competing commercial approaches. The transferred 180nm CMOS image sensor process at TowerJazz’s US location is meant to be a viable, commercially sustainable foundry offering to support not only the Army NVESD and their suppliers, but all DoD agencies and other interested third parties.

The TowerJazz pixel and process will be used as the base for the development of a lower dark current PMOS Pixel that will enable the design of the NVESD 4 Mpixel low light level BSI sensor and other low dark current, high performance imagers. TowerJazz will also evaluate the types of process flows needed to support fabrication of backside illuminated or SOI based CMOS image sensors.

“We appreciate the vision and leadership of the US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD team in supporting this CMOS low light image sensor development. As a US-based supplier for key manufacturing technology, TowerJazz looks forward to our continued partnership in the establishment of advanced specialty technology that supports their program roadmaps,” said Mike Scott, Director of Sales and Marketing – USA Aerospace and Defense Division, TowerJazz.

About TowerJazz

Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM) (TASE:TSEM.ta - News), the global specialty foundry leader and its fully owned U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor, operate collectively under the brand name TowerJazz, manufacturing integrated circuits with geometries ranging from 1.0 to 0.13-micron. TowerJazz provides industry leading design enablement tools to allow complex designs to be achieved quickly and more accurately and offers a broad range of customizable process technologies including SiGe, BiCMOS, Mixed-Signal and RFCMOS, CMOS Image Sensor, Power Management (BCD), and Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) as well as MEMS capabilities. To provide world-class customer service, TowerJazz maintains two manufacturing facilities in Israel and one in the U.S. with additional capacity available in China through manufacturing partnerships. For more information, please visitwww.towerjazz.com.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. A complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may otherwise affect Tower and/or Jazz’s business is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in Tower’s most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Israel Securities Authority and Jazz’s most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as were filed with the SEC, respectively. Tower and Jazz do not intend to update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release.



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