Saturday, February 6, 2010

RemoteMDx and STOP Announce Settlement of GPS Offender Tracking Patent Litigation

Defense News ~ SANDY, UT and HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - 02/05/10) - RemoteMDx, Inc. (OTC.BB:RMDX - News), together with its subsidiary SecureAlert, Inc. and Satellite Tracking of People LLC ("STOP") of Houston, Texas, announced today that they have settled lawsuits pending in Texas and California and entered into a settlement agreement which encompasses the cross-licensing of certain patents and related technology, inclusive of but not limited to the patents that were the subject of the litigation.
Under the settlement agreement, STOP and RemoteMDx have stipulated to the termination of all litigation between them, acknowledged infringement and validity of the patents-in-suit, and agreed to license a portfolio of certain of each other's patents and related technology. In consideration of the net value of the licenses and rights granted between the parties, RemoteMDx will pay STOP a settlement fee, as well as royalty payments based on future RemoteMDx one-piece GPS tracking device and related monitoring service revenues, subject to certain revenue thresholds, minimums and conditional adjustments.
The licensing agreement will provide RemoteMDx with access to STOP's RE39,909 one-piece patent and certain other STOP patents, while RemoteMDx grants rights in its U.S. Patent No. 7,330,122 and certain other RemoteMDx patents to STOP.
John Hastings, President and Chief Operating Officer of RemoteMDx, stated, "We are pleased to add depth to our patent portfolio with this settlement agreement. It adds significant value to our company, products and services, while permitting us to continue to develop important intellectual property strength throughout critical areas, as we provide our services to corrections and law enforcement agencies throughout the world." Mr. Hastings added, "The licensing of STOP and RemoteMDx intellectual properties will better serve the needs of a continuously expanding offender tracking marketplace and the agencies and customers served by both companies, which will allow us to better meet the needs of our respective customer bases. We can concentrate our resources and energies to focus on our future growth, which is in the best interests of our stakeholders."
Steve Logan, Chief Executive Officer of STOP, commented, "STOP has made significant investments in our acquisition and development of the patents around our GPS device. Our patents include the original one-piece tracking technology from the 1990s, an approach counter-intuitive to the offender GPS technology at that time that has since become the preferred standard for offender tracking. While STOP's focus is providing one-piece GPS devices and services directly to governmental agencies, we also pride ourselves in being in the position to supply technology and intellectual property to this growing industry." Mr. Logan added, "We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with RemoteMDx and SecureAlert, and believe this positions each company to better serve the offender tracking marketplace through enhanced and ever-evolving technologies."
About RemoteMDx, Inc.
RemoteMDx (website at www.remotemdx.com) is a leading edge, patented monitoring, case management and advanced communications technology company, widely utilized by approximately 15,000 offenders in over 625 law enforcement agencies, judicial districts and county jurisdictions across 35 states, with applications targeted for offender tracking and homeland security. Through its SecureAlert subsidiary, RemoteMDx observes and tracks offenders no matter where they may be -- in their car, home or office. SecureAlert offers the only single-piece device and GPS tracking technology integrated with 3-way voice, text and data communications, which interacts with real time intervention monitoring services, and is unrivaled in the industry. The SecureAlert programs allow convicted criminals to re-enter society by keeping them accountable 24 hours a day, every day, supporting rehabilitation initiatives and providing for enhanced public safety, while reducing the overall burdens and costs carried by the criminal justice and corrections systems. To learn more about RemoteMDx, visit www.remotemdx.com.
About STOP
Satellite Tracking of People LLC (STOP; website at www.stopllc.com) is a leading provider of Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking systems and services to government agencies. Our system offers these agencies the most recent technological one-piece GPS developments in offender tracking. STOP offers patented systems and one-piece GPS products unmatched in the industry. STOP was founded by a group of corrections and technology professionals who realized that although incarceration is sometimes the only alternative for violent criminals, too often it is used because it is the only safe sanction available. The founders of STOP were convinced that the criminal justice system required a technologically advanced, cost-efficient, electronic monitoring solution. STOP provides this desired alternative using BluTag� and its family of monitoring devices and our VeriTracks� application.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, including future growth and earnings opportunities of the company. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include references to the results of operations during future periods, the success of implementing cost-cutting plans, the goal for break-even operating results, future phases of the company's business plan, and the launch of new products. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the company's ability to retain and to promptly satisfy current backorders and other economic, competitive, governmental, technological, regulatory, manufacturing and marketing risks associated with the company's business and financial plans. The contents of this release should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors, warnings, and cautionary statements that are contained in the company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Contact:
Jeffrey Peterson
Investor/Media Relations
866-451-6141


Opsens named as part of 2010 TSX Venture 50

Defense News ~ QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - TSX Venture Exchange today announced that Opsens Inc. (TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE: OPS - News) has been named as one of the TSX Venture 50, a ranking of strong performers listed on TSX Venture Exchange. TSX Venture 50 is comprised of 10 emerging companies in five industry sectors that have been identified as leaders in Canada's public venture market.
"It is an honour to be named as part of this year's TSX Venture 50," said Pierre Carrier, President and CEO of Opsens. "Opsens became, almost four years ago, a public company dedicated to the development and the commercialization of patented fiber optic sensor systems for the measurement of pressure/temperature in the oil and gas, medical, laboratory and transformer markets. These markets have growing needs for the instruments we develop to improve and optimize their operations. Our products are unique and their effectiveness has been proven. Opsens works at increasing its market shares in each of these sectors."
Pierre Carrier continues: "Our products' performances and our attention to our clients' needs are the key elements in our progression. Our listing on TSX Venture Exchange has provided us with the ideal environment to meet our growth goals and objectives."
The 2010 TSX Venture 50 were selected based on four equally weighted criteria that include return on investment, trading, analyst coverage and market capitalization growth in Cleantech, Diversified Industries, Mining, Oil & Gas and Technology and Life Sciences sectors.
"We are pleased to celebrate the 2010 TSX Venture 50," said John McCoach, President, TSX Venture Exchange. "These outstanding companies are proven leaders in their respective sectors and we are proud to have them listed on TSX Venture Exchange. We wish them all continued success."
About Opsens (www.opsens.com)
Opsens is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of fiber optic sensors and associated signal conditioners based on proprietary patented and patent pending technologies. Opsens' sensors provide long-term accuracy and reliability in the harshest environments. Opsens provides sensors to measure pressure, temperature, strain and displacement to original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and end-users in the oil and gas, medical, high-power transformers, and laboratory fields. Opsens provides complete technical support, including installation, training, after-sales service, for its fiber optics systems that are regulated by the ISO 9001-2008 norm.
The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not an invitation to purchase securities listed on TSX Venture Exchange and/or Toronto Stock Exchange. TMX Group Inc. and its affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities referenced. Neither TMX Group Inc. nor its affiliated companies represents, warrants or guarantees the accuracy or the completeness of the information. You should not rely on the information contained herein for any trading, business or financial purposes. TMX Group Inc. and its affiliates assume no liability for any errors or inaccuracies herein or any use or reliance upon this information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements of Opsens to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the said forward-looking statements.

For further information
Pierre Carrier, President and CEO, (418) 682-9996
Louis Laflamme, CA, CFO, (418) 682-9996


Related Headlines
Opsens named as part of 2010 TSX Venture 50 - CNW Group
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Abiomed announces partnership with Opsens to utilize sensor technology for Impella - CNW Group
Opsens reports first quarter 2010 results - CNW Group
Opsens reports FY2009 results - CNW Group

AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Named as Part of 2010 TSX Venture 50

Defense News ~ CALGARY, Alberta--February 5, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--TSX Venture Exchange today announced that AeroMechanical Services Ltd. (“AMA”) has been named as the number one ranked company within the diversified industries sector of the TSX Venture 50, a ranking of strong performers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. TSX Venture 50 is comprised of 10 emerging companies in five industry sectors that have been identified as leaders in Canada’s public venture market.
“It is an honour to be named as part of this year’s TSX Venture 50 and especially as the number one ranked company within AMA’s industry sector,” said Bill Tempany, CEO. “Our listing on the TSX Venture Exchange has provided us with the ideal environment to meet our growth goals and objectives.”
The 2010 TSX Venture 50 were selected based on four equally weighted criteria that include return on investment, trading, analyst coverage and market capitalization growth in Cleantech, Diversified Industries, Mining, Oil & Gas and Technology and Life Sciences sectors.
“We are pleased to celebrate the 2010 TSX Venture 50,” said John McCoach, President, TSV Venture Exchange. “These outstanding companies are proven leaders in their respective sectors and we are proud to have them listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. We wish them continued success.”
About AeroMechanical Services Ltd.
AeroMechanical Services Ltd. provides proprietary technological solutions and services designed to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in the aviation industry. The company has successfully commercialized three products and associated services currently marketed to airlines, manufacturers and maintenance organizations around the world. Its premier technology, afirs™ UpTime™, FLYHTStream™ and FIRSTTM allows airlines to monitor and manage aircraft operations anywhere, anytime, in real-time.
afirs, UpTime, FLYHT, FLYHTStream and aeroQ are Trade Marks of AeroMechanical Services Ltd.
The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not an invitation to purchase securities listed on TSX Venture Exchange and/or Toronto Stock Exchange. TMX Group Inc. and its affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities referenced. Neither TMX Group Inc. nor its affiliated companies represents, warrants or guarantees the accuracy or the completeness of the information. You should not rely on the information contained herein for any trading, business or financial purposes. TMX Group Inc. and its affiliates assume no liability for any errors or inaccuracies herein or any use or reliance upon this information.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6168979&lang=en
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6168979

Contact:
AeroMechanical Services Ltd

Tom French, CFO, 403-291-7427
tfrench@amscanada.com
www.amscanada.com
or
The Howard Group Inc.
Bob Beaty, 1-888-221-0915
Info@howardgroupinc.com
www.howardgroupinc.com


Related Headlines
AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Named as Part of 2010 TSX Venture 50 - Business Wire
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AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Announces Issuance of Stock Options - Business Wire
AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Announces Successful Conversion of Clients to UpTime - Business Wire
AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Announces European and Canadian Approval for Business Jets - Business Wire

Eurocopter says Taiwan helicopters for civil use

Defense News ~ PARIS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - European helicopters being sold to Taiwan are civil models to be used for search and rescue missions, manufacturer Eurocopter said on Friday.
Taiwan said earlier it would buy up to 20 military helicopters from Europe less than a week after Washington infuriated China by proposing a $6.4 billion arms deal for the island which Beijing claims as its own."Eurocopter confirms that, following an international tender, it has been selected by Taiwan for the purchase of 3 EC225 civil helicopters, which will be used for search and rescue missions," Eurocopter said in a statement.
Eurocopter is a subsidiary of French, German and Spanish group EADS (EAD.PA).
Eurocopter said the EC225 was already being operated in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam for search and rescue missions, offshore operations and VIP transport.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Dan Lalor)

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Hong Kong Airlines Selects Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Advantage70(TM) Engines in $470 Million Deal

Defense News ~ SINGAPORE, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SINGAPORE AIR SHOW -- Hong Kong Airlines has selected Pratt & Whitney's PW4170 Advantage70™ engine to power six new Airbus A330 aircraft. The memorandum of understanding, valued at approximately $470 million at list prices, includes two spare engines and a fleet management program. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.
"We are very pleased with the fuel burn and environmental performance benefits of the PW4170 Advantage70 engine," said Wang Jun Shan, General Manager Purchasing Management Department, of HNA Group, parent company of Hong Kong Airlines. "We look forward to extending these benefits to our customers."
"Pratt & Whitney is proud that HNA Group is the second Chinese carrier to select the PW4170 Advantage70 engine to power its new Airbus A330 aircraft," said Todd Kallman, president, Commercial Engines & Global Services, Pratt & Whitney. "The Advantage70 engine has performed extremely well since entering service last year."
Pratt & Whitney offers the Advantage70 both as a new engine and as an upgrade kit for existing engines. The upgrade includes a suite of technology enhancements that can be incorporated into a fleet during engine overhaul. Advantage70 technology delivers superior engine performance, including a 2 percent thrust increase, a 1 percent reduction in fuel consumption, increased durability, and reduced maintenance costs.
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 commercial building industries.

Contacts;
Katy Padgett
Commercial Engines & Global Services

Int'l Cell +1-860-324-6121
kathleen.padgett@pw.utc.com
Greg Brostowicz
Pratt & Whitney
+860-565-1655
gregory.brostowicz@pw.utc.com


Related Headlines
Hong Kong Airlines Selects Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Advantage70(TM) Engines in $470 Million Deal - PR Newswire
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Singapore Polytechnic's Students Take Flight with Pratt & Whitney - PR Newswire
China Airlines Selects Pratt & Whitney for Inventory Logistics Program - PR Newswire
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France hopeful Brazil will buy its Rafale jets

* Minister says has reason to be confident on Rafale sale
* Brazil has said still undecided on French jets
Defense News ~ PARIS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - France is confident that Brazil will choose French-made Rafale jets as its next generation fighter planes, trade minister Anne-Marie Idrac said on Friday.
"Brazil's decision is not confirmed. We have indeed information that gives us reason to be confident," Idrac told reporters on the sideline of a news conference on trade figures.
"We think our plane has so many qualities that we have reason to be optimistic," she added.
Idrac was speaking one day after Brazil's Defense Minister Nelson Jobim denied his country had reached an agreement to buy Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA), and that his government was still undecided.
A local newspaper had earlier reported Brazil had agreed on a price to buy 36 Rafale jets.
The Rafale is in competition with the Gripen NG made by Sweden's Saab (SAABb.ST) and the Boeing Co (BA.N) F-18.

(Reporting by Veronique Tison and Dominique Vidalon; editing by Marcel Michelson and Jon Loades-Carter)

Bombardier Aerospace Delivers 302 Aircraft in Fiscal Year 2009/10

Defense News ~ MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - 02/05/10) - - Business aircraft: 176 deliveries; 85 negative net orders
- Commercial aircraft: 121 deliveries; 88 net orders
- Amphibious aircraft: 5 deliveries; 8 net orders
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it delivered 302 aircraft for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2010, compared to 349 aircraft deliveries in the previous fiscal year 2008/09 (year ending January 31, 2009). It received 11 aircraft orders, net of cancellations, compared to 367 orders, net of cancellations, for the previous fiscal year. With the aviation industry continuing to struggle in the current difficult economic environment, Bombardier Aerospace's performance was solid.
"The global economic crisis which began in 2008 continued to impact the civil aviation industry throughout 2009 as conditions remained challenging," said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. "While indicators of market stabilization have started to emerge, we remain cautious as economic uncertainty still prevails. We have taken significant steps to strengthen our operations and continue to invest significantly in future programs. We strongly believe that through flawless execution and by creating a loyal customer base for our products and services, we will emerge from this crisis a stronger and more efficient company," he added.
Business Aircraft
In fiscal year 2009/10, Bombardier delivered 176 business jets, compared to 235 for the same period last fiscal year, in line with the 25 per cent decrease in business aircraft delivery guidance provided in 2009.
Business aircraft deliveries for the current fiscal year 2010/11 are expected to be approximately 15 per cent less than fiscal year 2009/10.
Commercial Aircraft
In fiscal year 2009/10, Bombardier delivered 121 commercial aircraft, compared to 110 for the previous fiscal year. This is in line with the 10 per cent increase in commercial aircraft delivery guidance provided last year.
Bombardier expects that most of the deliveries of its commercial aircraft will take place in the last three quarters of the current fiscal year 2010/11 as a result of the production rate reductions announced in 2009 and the delay in the certification and entry into service of the CRJ1000 aircraft to the second half of fiscal year 2011. Compared to the previous fiscal year, the Corporation expects to deliver approximately 20 per cent fewer commercial aircraft in fiscal year 2010/11.
Tables at the end of this press release provide delivery totals and net order totals for business, commercial and amphibious aircraft for the previous fiscal year 2009/10.
Note:
All fiscal year 2009/10 delivery and order numbers are unaudited.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009, were $19.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.

Contact:
Contacts:Bombardier Aerospace

Marc Duchesne
514-855-7989
www.bombardier.com


Related Headlines
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Qantas unit signs $3.5 bln order for engines, service

Defense News ~ SINGAPORE, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Jetstar Airways, a unit of Qantas (QAN.AX), has signed a $3.5 billion deal with International Aero Engines for V2500 engines and long-term services, it was announced at the Singapore Airshow on Friday.
The International Aero Engines consortium groups Pratt & Whitney (UTX.N) together with Rolls-Royce (RR.L), MTU Aero Engines (MTXGn.DE) of Germany and a trio of Japanese heavy engineering companies.
The announcement by the airshow organisers said the deal consisted of $1.5 billion for the engines and $2.0 billion for a long-term service agreement.
(Reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by David Fogarty)

Neuro Kinetics Is Company 'To Watch,' Says Top Defense Publication

Heralds "Critically Important" Research into Early Diagnosis of Combat Brain Injuries
Defense News ~ PITTSBURGH, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Defense Technology International, an influential publication serving the defense and military markets, says medical device manufacturer Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (www.neuro-kinetics.com) is a company "to watch" for its research into new methods of detecting traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in wounded combat soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Neuro Kinetics is one of just eight companies serving the military to be highlighted by the magazine. (http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416111587&p=88)
"We're honored to be given this distinction by Defense Technology International," said J. Howison Schroeder, Neuro Kinetics president and CEO. "We believe our work with the military holds great promise. America's wounded soldiers deserve the best care possible and we are proud to be playing a part to improve early and accurate diagnosis of brain injuries that can have life-long consequences for them."
Defense Technology International notes that Neuro Kinetics' research "is critically important, since an estimated 20% of soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from mild TBIs."
Neuro Kinetics is collaborating with military medical specialists at U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) at Fort Rucker (Alabama), Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii), The Traumatic Brain Injury Warrior Resilience and Recovery Center at Fort Campbell (Kentucky) and Walter Reed Army Medical Center (D.C.) in the comprehensive research effort.
The coordinated research focuses on using Neuro Kinetics' I-Portal® NOTC (Neuro-Otologic Test Center) system to evaluate and characterize neuro-otologic and neuro-physiologic, conditions that appear to indicate otherwise hard-to-detect mTBI as a result of blast exposure.
A portion of the research is being supported financially by grants from the T.R.U.E. Research Foundation (http://trueresearch.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that assists the military medical community.
A number of other U.S. military hospitals have installed the I-Portal NOTC system to improve diagnosis and monitoring of returning brain-injured military personnel. Other federal government medical facilities, including those operated by the Veterans Administration and the National Institutes of Health, also rely on Neuro Kinetics equipment for conducting daily clinical evaluations of patients as well as undertaking a range of research projects.
ABOUT NEURO KINETICS, INC.
Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (www.neuro-kinetics.com) is a fast-growing manufacturer of noninvasive medical test equipment used worldwide by audiologists, neurologists, neuro-otologists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists and other medical specialists in the detection and evaluation of neurological, otological and vestibular disorders. The privately owned company, originating in the 1970s, pioneered the development of vestibular and neuro-otologic testing equipment, including the renowned Barany (rotational) chair. The company's patented products include the I-Portal® NOTC system (Neuro-Otologic Test Center), I-Portal® VNG (Video Nystagmography) system and I-Portal® VOG (Video Oculography) system, along with related accessories, software, training and support services. Users include doctors and researchers in universities and government facilities as well as specialists in fields such as audiology, neurology, neuro-otology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology.

John Buckman
Buckman Communications, for Neuro Kinetics, Inc.
+ 1 412-381-2900
jbuckman@buckman.biz


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Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Facilities Honored by California Environmental Agency for Recycling Activities

Defense News ~ LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Several Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - News) sites have been honored by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery as Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) winners.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=7060
Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) Winners. Established in 1993 by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the Waste Reduction Awards Program annually recognizes those California businesses that have made outstanding efforts to reduce the volume of paper, cardboard and other recyclable waste products that otherwise might end up in local landfills.
For the fourth consecutive year, Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division in Woodland Hills was cited for its comprehensive waste reduction and recycling activities, including recycling approximately 660 tons of waste and the reuse of more than eight tons of green waste each month as compost at its 58-acre Woodland Hills facility.
Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sites in El Segundo and Palmdale each won the WRAP award for the 12th consecutive year. The two sites, which together employ about 8,000 people, recycled approximately 1,000 tons of waste in 2009.
Northrop Grumman's Defense Systems Division was cited for its comprehensive waste reduction and recycling activities including diverting nine tons of waste in 2008 at its 20-acre Carson facility. The Carson facility has been recognized for its WRAP efforts since 1998.
"We are very proud that several of our facilities have been recognized and continue to be recognized for their waste reduction efforts," said Tom McCabe, corporate director, Environmental, Health and Safety for Northrop Grumman. "We feel that those efforts not only benefit Northrop Grumman but also the communities in which we live and work."
As part of Northrop Grumman's long-standing environmental initiatives, employees are encouraged to actively support environmentally-friendly initiatives at work, at home and in their local communities. Several volunteer employee resource groups at the company are focused on the continued development and implementation of a wide range of "green" initiatives of benefit to both the company and the surrounding community.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Contact:
Gina Piellusch

Northrop Grumman Corporation
(818) 715-2285
gina.piellusch@ngc.com


Related Headlines
Northrop Grumman Corporation Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript - at Seeking Alpha
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Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Facilities Honored by California Environmental Agency for Recycling Activities - GlobeNewswire
Northrop posts 4Q profit on higher sales - AP
Northrop swings to fourth-quarter profit - at MarketWatch

Lockheed Martin Receives $243 Million from the U.S. Air Force for Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile Lot 8 Production

Defense News ~ ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has received a U.S. Air Force contract valued at $243.5 million for an eighth production lot of the JASSM cruise missile. The award brings the total contracted quantities of the cruise missile to over 1,200.
The Lot 8 contract is for 158 JASSM missiles, along with fuze reliability, parts obsolescence efforts, test instrumentation kits, system reliability and flight test support. In recent flight tests on B-52 and F-16 aircraft, the stealthy standoff cruise missile proved its reliability and capabilities across a wide variety of targets – including hardened, underground bunkers and air defense systems.
"This contract enables Lockheed Martin to continue to provide the critical capabilities of JASSM to the Warfighter," said Alan Jackson, JASSM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "JASSM's combination of standoff range, low observable flight and high lethality provides an unrivaled precision engagement capability and a greater range of options to combatant commanders."
"With the recent success of Lot 7 reliability testing, a successful test flight of a production upgrade vehicle, and the award of this contract, JASSM is back on track," said Lt. Col. Jeff Gates, U.S. Air Force Deputy Program Manager for JASSM.
JASSM is a critical weapon for the U.S. Air Force, with eight production lots already under contract toward a total objective of 4,900 JASSM and JASSM-ER (Extended Range) missiles. Lockheed Martin also produces the baseline JASSM for foreign military sale customers. JASSM has been successfully demonstrated on the B-1, B-2, B-52 and F-16 aircraft. Future platforms include the F-15E, F/A-18 and F-35.
A 2,000-pound class weapon with a penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead, JASSM cruises autonomously in adverse weather, day or night, using a state-of-the-art infrared seeker in addition to the anti-jam GPS to find a specific aimpoint on the target. Its stealthy airframe makes it extremely difficult to defeat.
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

Related Headlines
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Lockheed Martin Receives $243 Million from the U.S. Air Force for Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile Lot 8 Production - PR Newswire
NASA Plan Faces Turbulence in House - at The Wall Street Journal Online
Lockheed Martin Names Mathew Joyce Vice President and Program Manager for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense - PR Newswire

GE Aviation Completes Second GPS-Independent Navigation System Flight Test for Automated Aerial Refueling Applications

Defense News ~ GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--February 4, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Aviation successfully completed a second flight test of its Electro-Optical Grid Reference System (EOGRS) in support of future automated aerial refueling applications in late December 2009. This activity further expands the EOGRS operational envelope and demonstrated performance enhancements beyond those which were successfully achieved during the first flight test conducted in late July 2009.
"These flight tests confirm the viability of our technology for aerial refueling drogue stabilization and tanker-relative navigation, including in a GPS-denied scenario,” said Stuart Mullan, president, Military Business for GE Aviation Systems. “This is the second successful airborne test of proprietary GE laser-grid technology and the wealth of data that was gathered confirms robustness and field of view improvements over the first flight.”
This second flight test enabled GE to confirm refinements made to the grid navigation system transmitter and detectors. An Omega Aerial Refueling Services Inc K-707 tanker was again used for the flight test. It was modified by adding GE’s EOGRS transmitter and a form, fit, and function replacement US/NATO MA-3 refueling drogue with EOGRS detectors.
This flight test provides high fidelity refueling drogue motion and position data, allowing GE to validate EOGRS navigation accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability.
Advances in automated aerial refueling technology, such as GE’s EOGRS, will increase the safety of manned refueling as well as facilitate unmanned refueling operations. This technology is a key enabler of persistent, world-wide aerial refueling operations. In addition, EOGRS solves the complex portion of the automated refueling equation by providing a system capable of performing terminal guidance between the tanker and receiver aircraft. The GE EOGRS tanker-relative navigation system is on a path toward certification as a sole and/or supplemental means of navigation.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE - News), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Systems LLC and GE Aviation Systems Ltd are subsidiaries of General Electric Company. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.

Contact:
GE Aviation

Jennifer Villarreal, +1 616 241 8643
jennifer.villarreal3@ge.com


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Kubotek USA Donates Software for SkillsUSA Championships Contestants

Defense News ~ MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--February 4, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--Kubotek USA is pleased to be providing its KeyCreator software to support SkillsUSA Championship competitions and students nationwide. The donation will provide KeyCreator software to local, statewide and national level SkillsUSA competitions for use by students, and fully licensed versions of KeyCreator will be given as prizes to student winners of state and national level contests.
“It’s important for students to be exposed to 3D direct CAD, especially as companies in the supply chain begin shifting away from popular history-based CAD software,” states Scott Sweeney, Vice President, Kubotek USA. “KeyCreator is a 3D Direct Modeler that is perfect for students—easy to learn, easy to use and great for conceptualizing new designs. Students can focus their energy into learning how to apply design concepts and not just a software package.”
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. Students can showcase their occupational and leadership skills in competitions, culminating with the annual national level SkillsUSA Championships. The vision of SkillsUSA to bring students, teachers and industry together to ensure America has a skilled workforce resonates profoundly with Kubotek.
Mark Parent, COO, Kubotek USA says, “Kubotek is very interested in helping educational institutions train the next generation of workers. We believe that design, engineering and manufacturing are critical to a strong economy in the US. SkillsUSA helps us reach out to those students who see the value in technical know-how.”
Adds David Worden, Program Director, SkillsUSA Championships, “We are happy to have the support of Kubotek USA. We rely on like-minded business and industry sponsors to help us continually grow and improve our programs and competitions.”
Students competing in the following contests will be eligible for KeyCreator, as well as free, online training: Architectural Drafting, Automated Manufacturing Technology, Engineering Technology, Technical Drafting, Precision Machining Technology, CNC Milling and CNC Turning. Interested students can visit Kubotek’s website to fill out a grant form.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA has more than 305,000 members annually, organized into 13,000 chapters and 54 state and territorial associations (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands).
SkillsUSA prepares America’s high performance workers. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills.
SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the classroom, and promote community service. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited as a successful model of employer-driven youth development training program by the U.S. Department of Labor.
For more information: www.skillsusa.org.
About Kubotek
The Kubotek Corporation Creation Engineering Division is the leading pioneer in geometry-based engineering software. Kubotek’s flagship KeyCreator 3D direct modeling product introduced the first-ever capabilities for real-time feature inference in 2005 and direct dimension-driven editing in 2007. KeyCreator is used by design and manufacturing professionals to innovate new solutions, improve quality, and reduce time-to-market in a broad range of applications from jet aircraft to medical prosthetics to consumer packaging. Other Kubotek software products include Validation Tool™ for precise CAD model comparison and Spectrum multi-CAD viewer.
Visit Kubotek USA at: www.kubotekusa.com.
Kubotek, KeyCreator, Validation Tool, Kubotek Spectrum and CADKEY are registered trademarks or trademarks of Kubotek Corporation. All other brand or product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:
Kubotek USA, Inc.

Andrea Giles, 508-229-2020
marketing@kubotekusa.com


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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Google, NSA may team up to probe cyberattacks-Post

Defense News ~ WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Internet search firm Google is finalizing a deal that would let the U.S. National Security Agency help it investigate a corporate espionage attack that may have originated in China, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
The aim of the investigation is to better defend Google (GOOG.O), the world's largest Internet search company, and its users from future attacks, the Post said, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the arrangement.
The sources said Google's alliance with the NSA, the world's most powerful electronic surveillance organization, would be aimed at letting the two sides share critical information without violating Google's policies or laws that protect the privacy of online communications.
Under the arrangement, the NSA would not be viewing user searches or e-mail accounts, the sources said. Google also would not be sharing proprietary data with the NSA, they said.
Google took the unusual step Jan. 12 of announcing that it had been hit by sophisticated cyberattacks in mid-December and that it was reviewing its business operations in China.
The Silicon Valley-based firm said the cyberattacks targeted Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists and an investigation found at least 20 other large companies had been targeted by cyberattacks.
China responded several days later with a defense of state control of the Internet. A top official said online pornography, fraud and rumors were a menace and that Internet media must help "guide public opinion" in China.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said on Tuesday the cyberattacks against Google were a wake-up call.
A partnership between the Internet search giant and the NSA touches on the sensitive issue of how to balance individual privacy and national security online.
Google approached the NSA in the aftermath of the attacks but reaching an agreement has taken weeks because of the sensitive nature of information-sharing between the two sides.
The focus of the cooperative venture would not be to determine who was behind the attacks, the Post quoted its sources as saying. That would be nearly impossible.
Instead the aim is to build a better defense of Google's networks, or what technicians call "information assurances," the Post quoted sources as saying.
(Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Bill Trott)

Indonesia is potential market for A400M - EADS

Defense News ~ SINGAPORE, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Indonesia could be a market for the troubled Airbus military transport plane, the A400M, a senior company executive said on Thursday.
"Yes, Indonesia could be a potential market for the A400M," Christian Duhain told reporters on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow.
Southeast Asia's largest economy is looking to renew its C-130 fleet of military transporters, which could be an opportunity for the European defense and aerospace firm to secure more deals for them in the region.
Malaysia has four A400M planes on order.
Talks between Airbus parent EADS (EAD.PA) and main buyers of the A400M -- Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey -- broke off last week over a 2.4 billion euro ($3.4 billion) gap in the amount of money each side is prepared to invest in completing development of the plane.
Negotiations will resume in Berlin on Thursday.
(Reporting by Harry Suhartono, editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Gates defends F-35, rejects increase in F/A-18s

* Gates sees smaller Navy fighter shortfall
* Says multiyear contract savings fall short

By Andrea Shalal-Esa
Defense News ~ WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Top Pentagon leaders on Wednesday underscored their commitment to the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter program and challenged some of the arguments Boeing Co (BA.N) is hoping could help it sell more of its F/A-18 fighters before production of the F-35 gets into full swing.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said recent data showed that a multiyear contract for new Boeing F/A-18 fighters would save only 6.5 percent in procurement costs, far short of a 10 percent threshold for signing such long-term agreements.
Gates also said the Navy faced a shortfall of about only some 100 carrier-based aircraft in 2018 before the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 reached maximum production levels, far less than a shortfall of 243 planes often cited by Boeing backers.
Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee repeatedly questioned Gates and the military's top uniformed officer about the so-called strike fighter shortfall, arguing that the Pentagon should buy more of the older-model Boeing jets.
Boeing has lauded the performance of its F/A-18 fighters, arguing they could be a cheaper alternative to some of the F-35s the military plans to buy in coming years -- at less risk since the plane has been in production for some time.
Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers the F/A-18 was "a great airplane," but said the F-35 -- at $300 billion the Pentagon's largest weapons program ever -- was "the right answer for the future."
Gates and Mullen acknowledged that the F-35 program had run into some problems, but said a restructuring effort led by Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter would improve oversight and allow more time for testing before production of the new radar-evading fighters ramped up to higher levels.
Gates said the F-35 program office had been too optimistic in its estimates, but the fighter's problems were not unlike those seen on other developmental aircraft.
"The reality is it's a good airplane. It's meeting the performance parameters," he said.
Mullen said the Pentagon was still due to get its first training squadron of F-35s in 2011, with the Marine Corps slated to start using their first squadron in 2012, the Air Force in 2013 and the Navy in 2014.
Gates said the Navy was also developing strategies for dealing with its projected shortfall, including better aligning air wing readiness with carrier readiness and reducing the size of the Marine Corp's F/A-18 squadrons.
Mullen told lawmakers that the Navy was also sharply increasing its purchases of an electronic attack version of the F/A-18, the EA-18G, calling that a "very positive step."
He acknowledged Boeing's concern about the end of the F/A-18 production line but said several foreign countries were actively considering the plane in their fighter competitions.
The increased capabilities of the new fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 also meant the Pentagon would not need to replace legacy aircraft on a one-to-one basis, Gates said.
In addition, new unmanned planes were accomplishing many missions previously handled by manned aircraft, Gates said, noting that eight unmanned Reapers could do the work of 36 F-16 fighters, and they were armed with the same weapons.
He said the U.S. military currently had about 2,245 combat aircraft, a number projected to drop to 1,864 by 2020. But that would be offset by planned increases in unmanned aircraft over the same period, leaving a gap of only some 40 planes.
He said it was also important for Congress to allow the U.S. Air Force to retire some of its oldest planes so it could find the money to buy new ones.

(Editing by Steve Orlofsky)

Pentagon OKs plans to buy more armored vehicles

* Decision adds 1,460 truck orders for Oshkosh
* Navistar, General Dynamics and BAE also get orders
* Pentagon added up to 4,000 vehicles to requirement

By Andrea Shalal-Esa
Defense News ~ WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The Pentagon's weapons chief has approved plans to buy more than 2,800 additional armored vehicles for use in Afghanistan, including 1,460 all-terrain versions made by Oshkosh Corp (OSK.N).
Defense Undersecretary Ashton Carter signed a memorandum on Jan. 29 boosting the total number of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to be bought to 25,700, according to a copy of the document obtained by Reuters.
He approved specific orders of 1,460 MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) made by Oshkosh; 1,050 Dash MRAP versions with independent suspensions built by Navistar International Corp (NAV.N); 250 RG-31A3 versions built by General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) and 58 RG-33 MRAPS made by BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L).
The U.S. Central Comman, which runs the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, requested the additional vehicles, Carter said in the memo. More could be needed later, he said.
"It is not known and will not be known soon, how many vehicles will ultimately be required," Carter said in the memo, which was first reported by trade publication Inside the Army.
"While these assessments are going on, it is important to begin production and initial fielding since otherwise needed vehicles will be unnecessarily delayed," he wrote.
Carter's memo followed a Jan. 4 decision by the Pentagon's Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) to add up to 4,000 more trucks to its MRAP requirement, boosting that number to 26,882 vehicles.
Defense consultant Jim McAleese said the orders should provide a short-term boost for the four companies, but probably represented the tail end of the MRAP orders for Afghanistan.
"These represent the majority of the final orders to support the war in Afghanistan," McAleese said, although he noted Central Command still had the option to ask for about 1,200 more vehicles, if needed, given the JROC decision.
In addition, he said the companies would be vying for work upgrading the vehicles and supporting them in the field.
The U.S. military had a total of 4,170 MRAPs in Afghanistan, including 575 of the Oshkosh all-terrain models, as of Jan. 21, said Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates last year said U.S. plans to increase troops in Afghanistan would likely require an additional 4,000 to 5,000 all-terrain MRAPS built by Oshkosh.
The U.S. military has spent more than $12.5 billion in recent years to speed the blast-proof MRAP trucks, first to Iraq, and now to Afghanistan.
The vehicles have a v-shaped hull that helps to protect troops against roadside bombs and other threats that have been blamed for killing U.S. troops in less armored Humvees and other land vehicles.
Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Monday the Pentagon's fiscal 2010 supplemental war budget includes more than $1 billion to complete the MRAP program and $3.4 billion in the fiscal 2011 budget to sustain it.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Andre Grenon, Leslie Gevirtz)

Pentagon vows to move forward on tanker

* Pentagon will move forward, even if only one bidder
* Gates underscores need for new tankers

Defense News ~ WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The Pentagon wants Boeing Co (BA.N) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) to compete for billions of dollars of orders for a new aerial refueling plane, but will press ahead even if there is only one bidder, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday.
"Obviously, we would like to have a competition for it and we hope that both companies will agree to participate," Gates told the House Armed Services Committee.
"But should that not prove to be the case, we ... have to move forward," Gates said, when pressed on how the Pentagon would respond if one of the companies dropped out. "It's been delayed too long. We need to get this thing started."
Northrop and its European partner, EADS (EAD.PA), have told the Pentagon they will not submit a bid unless the Air Force makes significant changes to its final request for proposals (RFP) for the competition, which is valued at more than $35 billion and could be worth up to $100 billion in the long run.
The Air Force plans to issue final rules for the competition later this month and award a contract this summer.
Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz last month said the service could change some "financial arrangements" for the competition, but was sticking to its requirements for the planes, which will deliver fuel to fighter jets and other aircraft in mid-air.
Industry executives had expected the terms around Feb. 12, but now say they are more likely to be released the week of Feb. 22, or possibly the following week.
Northrop said it was looking forward to the release of the final terms for the competition and hoped it would be structured in a way that allowed the company to compete.
"Northrop Grumman feels that the current draft RFP, as structured, fails the test of true competition and, without meaningful changes, is not an RFP to which Northrop Grumman can respond," spokesman Randy Belote said.
This is the Air Force's third attempt to replace its aging fleet of KC-135 aircraft, which are 49 years old on average.
Northrop and EADS won a projected $35 billion contract for 179 tanker planes in February 2008, but the Pentagon canceled it after government auditors upheld a protest filed by Boeing.
Congress killed an earlier Air Force plan to buy 100 767-based tankers under a sole-source deal with Boeing, because of a procurement scandal that sent a former top Air Force official and Boeing's former chief financial officer to prison for violating federal conflict of interest rules. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Leslie Gevirtz)