DTN News: Lockheed Martin Announces New Green Initiatives For 140,000 Employees, Their Families And Communities

Defense News: DTN News: Lockheed Martin Announces New Green Initiatives

For 140,000 Employees, Their Families And Communities

Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) Bethesda, MD - April 9, 2010: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) April 8., yesterday announced new green initiatives to reach its 140,000 employees, their families and communities. The orchestrated effort is rolling out in conjunction with National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the largest organized environmental education event in the United States.

Held each year during the week before Earth Day, EE Week coordinates environmental education outreach nationwide to increase Earth Day’s impact. Lockheed Martin will celebrate EE Week and Earth Day by introducing several new company-wide employee initiatives to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior at work, at home and in local communities.

“At Lockheed Martin, it is our goal to raise awareness of natural resource conservation and to help our employees take an active role in their communities,” said Dr. David J.C. Constable, vice president, Lockheed Martin Energy, Environment, Safety & Health. “With the reach of our organization’s network, we have the opportunity to inspire hundreds of thousands of individuals - starting with our employees, their families and communities - so that as a corporation, we can make a big impact one small action at a time.”

A program of the National Environmental Education Foundation, EE Week reaches millions of students with environmentally-themed lessons and activities. In further support of EE Week, Lockheed Martin donated $5,000 to create the EE Week Nature Center Map, which includes contact information for more than 2,000 nature and environmental education centers nationwide, and is a perfect way for educators to find local natural areas for field trips and outdoor study.

“We’re grateful to Lockheed Martin for making National Environmental Education Week’s nature center map possible,” said Diane Wood, president, National Environmental Education Foundation. “Giving children unstructured time to explore nature benefits both their physical and mental health. This nature center finder enables families to find nearby outdoor space easily so they can explore nature and have fun learning about local plants and animals.”

Lockheed Martin’s employee-based initiative surrounding EE Week is just a portion of the corporation’s overall Go Green business strategy. Lockheed Martin is committed to reducing its overall energy usage by building and operating greener, more-efficient buildings, embarking on Green IT activities, constructing on-site renewable energy projects and purchasing renewable energy credits. The Corporation also ranks among the top 50 organizations in the country in green power purchases based on kilowatt hours of power used, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership. The Corporation’s long-term absolute goals through 2012 are to reduce carbon emissions, waste to landfill and water usage - each by 25 percent.

In addition to reducing its own environmental impact, Lockheed Martin is working with its customers in the areas of energy efficiency, management, next-generation alternative energy generation, and climate monitoring, Lockheed Martin provides a full range of energy solutions to the government and regulated industry, including the Department of Energy, state and regional energy organizations, utilities and businesses.

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.

Media Contact:
Matthew Swibel, 301-214-3178, matthew.swibel@lmco.com.

DTN News: First Live Warhead Flight For Lockheed Martin’s Multi-Purpose Hellfire II Missile

Defense News: DTN News: First Live Warhead Flight For Lockheed Martin’s

Multi-Purpose Hellfire II Missile

Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) ORLANDO, FL, - April 9, 2010: Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] multi-purpose AGM 114RHELLFIRE II missile scored another success in its second proof-of-principle (POP) flight test, the first armed with a live warhead. The R model, or “Romeo” missile, features a multi-purpose warhead that enables a single HELLFIRE missile to cover all of the target sets of the currently fielded laser-guided variants.

HELLFIRE II has seen extensive action in the global War on Terrorism, with more than 3,000 rounds fired successfully from Apache and Cobra attack helicopters, Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, and other platforms.

The POP 2 flight test, conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, featured a lock-on-after-launch engagement of a stationary target board at 1.6 miles (2.5 km). The team used a ground-based laser designator to illuminate the target. The multi-purpose warhead was set with a delayed fuze that allows the missile to penetrate the target before detonating.

The missile was launched with a low trajectory suitable for a military operation in urban terrain scenario and struck the target board precisely designated by the laser aimpoint. The precursor warhead detonated on impact, while the primary warhead successfully detonated a short distance beyond the target.

“This test successfully demonstrates the Romeo’s multi-purpose warhead and electronic safe, arm and fire, or ESAF, module, which provides the pilot-programmable delayed fuzing function,” said Ken Musculus, director of Air-to-Ground Missile System programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “It’s an important milestone for the HELLFIRE program, bringing us one step closer to providing the Warfighter with one missile that can defeat hard, soft and enclosed targets. In this case, we tested the Romeo’s ability to penetrate and then detonate within a target vehicle or structure, a critical capability against today’s threats.”

“Both the multi-purpose warhead and ESAF module are new to the HELLFIRE,” Musculus said. “Video imagery of the test clearly shows these systems functioned exactly as designed.”

The multi-purpose HELLFIRE II missile can be carried on both rotary-wing and UAV platforms, can be launched from higher altitudes—increasing the impact angle and enhancing stealth and lethality—and provides a wide engagement zone to properly equipped platforms, enabling them to target and fire upon targets to the side and behind them.

With more than 26,000 rounds produced for the U.S. and 15 international customers, HELLFIRE II has been successfully integrated with attack helicopters in the U.S. and many Allied fleets. It is also capable of surface launch from ground vehicles, tripods and small vessels. More than 10,000 HELLFIRE missiles have been successfully fired in combat.

Lockheed Martin performs all work on behalf of the HELLFIRE Systems, Limited Liability Company and will produce the missiles at its manufacturing facilities in Troy, AL, and Ocala, FL.

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.

Heather Kelly, (407) 356-5351
e-mail heather.kelly@lmco.com

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

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Receives Four Awards Valued At $19 Million To Refurbish Vehicles In-Theater

Defense News: DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Receives Four Awards Valued At $19 Million To Refurbish Vehicles In-Theater

Source: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation
(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - April 9, 2010: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has received four awards valued at more than $19 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) for additional work to be included under its Theater-Provided Equipment Refurbishment (TPER) program with the U.S. military. This work includes the delivery of nearly 200 refurbished heavy and line-haul vehicles, and will extend the Oshkosh Defense TPER work at its Kuwait facility to January 2011.
Oshkosh will deliver more than 140 refurbished Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV), including the Oshkosh® Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), Palletized Load System (PLS) and Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET), as well as the HET M1000 trailer. The company also will deliver more than 50 refurbished line-haul vehicles. Oshkosh has the in-theater capabilities, including a multifaceted supply-chain management approach, to repair and refurbish non-Oshkosh products such as the trailers and line-haul vehicles.
“Oshkosh Defense and our partners in the military undertook a groundbreaking operation with the TPER program, and it has significantly benefitted fleet sustainment,” said Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense. “Whether it’s routine service or vehicle upgrades, our extensive repair and recapitalization capabilities ensure mission-ready vehicles are affordably and efficiently delivered to meet the Warfighters’ needs.”
The TPER program is the result of an urgent requirement to repair and refurbish tactical wheeled vehicles operating in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The program brings vehicles that have become worn from extreme in-theater conditions back to full mission operability. Performing the work in-theater minimizes refurbishment costs, reduces maintenance cycle time and quickly returns vehicles to service. Upon completion of these efforts, more than 1,850 vehicles and trailers will have been repaired and returned to U.S. forces through the TPER program.
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visitwww.oshkoshdefense.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

NRL Scientists Use Atomic Physics Codes to Study Coronal Mass Ejections

Defense News: WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Giant eruptions of ionized gas, or plasma, from the Sun called coronal mass ejections [CMEs] produce solar energetic particles that cause spacecraft anomalies and communication interruptions, and can have significant adverse effects on Global Positioning Systems. Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory’s Space Science Division are studying CMEs in an effort to better understand and predict their impact on instrumentation.

The composition of CMEs can tell us much about how they erupt and propagate through interplanetary space. The NRL research team is now coupling computer codes that compute the evolution of CME ion charge states (elements such as Carbon or Iron with different numbers of electrons removed) to the output of numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of CME dynamics.

The ionization evolution code used in the simulations, developed by Martin Laming and Cara Rakowski of the Space Science Division, incorporates the latest and most accurate theoretical data for ionization and recombination (removal and attaching electrons to an element) of all ions up to Nickel in the periodic table.

Of the abundant elements in the solar atmosphere, Iron [Fe] is highly useful to study, because it has many charge states to evolve through. As a simulated CME eruption proceeds, plasma heating beginning at a heliocentric distance of about four solar radii increases the charge states of the ions in the plasma.

The final simulated Fe charge state distribution exhibits a characteristic “two-peaked” structure that is commonly detected in CME observational data for Fe, with charge states around Fe¹⁶⁺ and Fe¹¹⁺ dominant, which indicates that basic features of the new coupled numerical model are correct.

Laming explains that a research goal of this work is to produce quantitative inferences about the energy released, and estimate for example the energy going into solar energetic particles that constitute a major radiation hazard for space borne instrumentation. Such inferences are only feasible because the energy required to produce specific ions is understood from atomic physics.

Contact:

Naval Research Laboratory
Donna McKinney, 202-767-2541
donna.mckinney@nrl.navy.mil

Aerojet Engine Test Demonstrates Engine Design for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle

Defense News: SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY - News) company, successfully completed 100 hot-fire test sequences of its R-1E 25-pound, thrust-bipropellant engine. The test included more than 27,389 starts with 6,298 seconds of total burn time under a broad variety of conditions expected for NASA's Orion service module.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100408/SF83701)

Aerojet Engine Test Demonstrates Engine DesignClick Here to Download Image

Aerojet is providing propulsion to Lockheed Martin for NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle as well as all engines aboard the Orion service module. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA developing the Orion crew exploration vehicle – the nation's next generation spacecraft for future exploration throughout our solar system.

This early demonstration of the engine's performance at expected Orion operating conditions was conducted to retire risk to the Orion vehicle. "Through collaboration with Lockheed Martin and NASA, Aerojet engineers have conducted a valuable R-1E engine test program that will lead to a low-risk propulsion approach for NASA's Orion service module," said Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet's vice president for Space Programs.

The R-1E currently provides in-space propulsion for the Space Shuttle and has a long history of successfully enabling Space Shuttle maneuvers. The R-1E also provides precise in-space propulsion for the Japanese H-II transfer vehicle (HTV), which rendezvoused and docked with the International Space Station last year. This engine complement includes sixteen 25-pound thrust engines, eight 100-pound thrust bipropellant engines and a 7,500-pound thrust Orion Main Engine. Additionally, Aerojet will supply twelve 160-pound thrust monopropellant engines for the Orion Crew Module.

Aerojet is part of the nationwide Orion industry team led by Lockheed Martin, which also includes five major subcontractors and an expansive network of minor subcontractors and small businesses working at 88 facilities in 28 states across the country.

Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the company's excess real estate assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the companies' Web sites at http://www.Aerojet.com andhttp://www.GenCorp.com.

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UAL pilots attack U.S. Airways merger prospect

Defense News: CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United Airlines' pilots union lashed out against efforts to merge the airline with US Airways Group (NYSE:LCC - News), underscoring the challenges facing decade-old attempts to unite the carriers.

Tough antitrust enforcement could also pose another stumbling block to a merger, which would form the world's second-largest airline after Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL - News), industry experts said.

Passengers wait to check-in at the U.S. Airways ticket counter at Phoenix International Airport in Phoenix, April 8, 2010. REUTERS/Joshua Lott

But the possibility of consolidation in the industry spurred airline shares higher on Thursday, although US Airways and United parent UAL Corp (NasdaqGS:UAUA - News) would not confirm the discussions that sources said were advancing.

Chicago-based United, the No. 3 U.S. airline, has a $3.39 billion market value, based on Thursday's close. Tempe, Arizona-based US Airways, the No. 6 U.S. airline, ended the day with a $1.22 billion market capitalization.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters the negotiations began more than a month ago, although much of the groundwork was laid in 2008 when the two held similar talks.

The sources said the parties are currently focused on general themes, and issues like deal structure and management will be discussed in coming weeks.

The parties were said to be mindful of hurdles to a successful merger, including competition concerns and serious labor questions at both carriers involving pilots.

"Everybody is aware of the problems," said one source.

United's pilots said Thursday they were vehemently opposed to a merger, while US Airways' pilots said they were open to a merger and wanted to be part of the discussions.

United's flight attendants said they would not support a deal that would "distract from contract negotiations."

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS - News) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM - News) are advising United, several people familiar with the matter said. Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C - News) is advising US Airways, the sources said.

All three banks declined to comment.

UAL shares closed up 6.8 percent at $20.23 on Nasdaq. US Airways shares gained 10.7 percent to finish at $7.55 on the New York Stock Exchange.

CHANGING LANDSCAPE

US Airways and UAL have courted for a decade -- interrupted only by their turns in bankruptcy between 2002 and 2005.

An offer in 2000 by United to buy US Airways crumbled in 2001 over fears the U.S. government would block the deal.

Talks revived in 2008 but fizzled amid the recession.

Aviation experts generally agree that consolidation would help the airline industry, and a merger with US Airways would help United. But some said a deal with Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL - News) would be best for United.

United and Continental held merger talks in 2008 and later opted for an alliance, which has been successful.

Airlines are recovering from a painful downturn that forced massive downsizing in the last two years. A merger could accelerate fleet reductions, helping improve balance sheets.

Philip Baggaley of rating agency Standard & Poor's said a merger with US Airways would improve United's route network but could lead to higher labor costs. The combined company would probably emerge with heavy debt, he said.

"Clearly these potential talks are a massive positive for US Airways and United, but I think it speaks volumes to the changing landscape in the airline industry," said Morningstar Equity analyst Basili Alukos.

He said a potential major airline merger, combined with the capacity cuts of 2008 and 2009 hint that the industry "could be en route to earning its cost of capital."

"History is not on the side of the airlines, but maybe the horrible losses encountered recently have scared newcomers enough to reconsider starting an airline," Alukos said.

The chief executives at both companies, Doug Parker at US Airways and Glenn Tilton at United, were, and continue to be, vocal proponents of further consolidation in an industry that has long suffered from competitive pressures and overcapacity.

The last merger of two major U.S. airlines was between Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL - News) and Northwest Airlines, which concluded in 2008 and analysts consider successful.

LABOR ISSUES

Alukos and other experts said the biggest challenge would be integrating unionized employees.

US Airways, formed in 2005 from a merger with America West Airlines, still has two pilot unions.

Airline labor groups - especially pilots - are notoriously hard to merge because pay and work rules are closely tied to seniority. A pilot could easily lose seniority in a merger and end up flying less desirable routes and planes.

James Ray, spokesman for the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), which represents pilots at US Airways said the union is open to a merger, but wants to be part of the discussions.

"Our union president has talked to Doug Parker and said we are open-minded and look forward to being an active partner with U.S. airways should they pursue a merger with anyone," Ray said.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents pilots at United, said it was vehemently opposed to a merger with US Airways, that would benefit neither the airline nor its pilots.

"United CEO Glenn Tilton is well aware of our position regarding mergers and US Airways," said a statement by union official Capt. Wendy Morse.

Bill Swelbar, an airline researcher at MIT, said union troubles could be a fatal impediment.

"It is my opinion that the labor issues will significantly undermine the synergies. I'm just not convinced there is an attraction. There is nothing about this that has me going 'this just seems like a great deal'," Swelbar said.

Delta and Northwest worked out their labor issues before announcing their deal.

ANTITRUST

Prospects of a US Airways-United marriage have for years raised questions about market concentration in the eastern portion of the United States, particularly at airports in the Washington D.C. area.

Any proposal would have to satisfy Justice Department antitrust officials under the Obama administration.

The Delta-Northwest merger was approved by the Bush administration, which was considered more business friendly.

"Now you've got a more aggressive enforcement regime. It seems to me the antitrust hurdles are no lower than they were in 2001 and maybe higher," said John Briggs, an antitrust expert with Axinn Veltrop Harkrider LLP.

US Airways is trying to beef up its already strong presence at Washington's Reagan National airport and held 11 percent of the regional Washington market overall in 2009. United is big at Dulles airport in Virginia and commanded 22 percent of Washington air travel last year, according to government data.

US Airways biggest hub is Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by Phoenix and Philadelphia. United spreads the rest of its operations at Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"There are still some significant overlaps between United and US Airways, and I think the government would take a close look at that. I'm not necessarily saying to block it, but to decide what may need to be taken away in certain markets," said Edward Faberman, an aviation attorney with Wiley Rein LLP.

(Reporting by Kyle Peterson and John Crawley; Additional reporting by Karen Jacobs in Atlanta, Deepa Seetharaman and Jui Chakravorty in New York, and Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Derek Caney and Tim Dobbyn)

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ITT Corporation Opens Office In New Delhi, India

Defense News: NEW DELHI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT - News) today announced the opening of ITT Defence International Inc., the company’s first defence-focused office in India. The new office was opened today in the capital of New Delhi, where it will be accessible to many government entities. ITT Defence International Inc. will focus on delivering ITT’s portfolio of defence and information solutions to the Indian market.

“India requires sophisticated defence technologies, and ITT is committed to working with the Indian Ministry of Defence to deliver our best solutions for their military and home affairs operations,” said David Melcher, president of ITT Defense & Information Solutions. “Opening a local office emphasizes our long-term commitment to the growing Indian market.”

ITT will offer a range of defence solutions for the Indian market including night vision technology, tactical radios and global air traffic management. Ron Smith, vice president of business development and general manager of ITT Defence International, will lead the office initiatives and day-to-day operations. “We are excited to establish a new office in India,” said Smith. “It is a natural expansion for ITT and will allow us to deliver high-performing defence solutions and technologies for the region.”

ITT, a top-10 U.S. defence contractor, recently realigned its Defense & Information Solutions business segment to meet the emerging needs of its global customers. The realignment will allow ITT to deliver broader solutions to customer needs, as the company expands outside the United States. ITT Defence International in India is the company’s second international defence office. ITT Defence Ltd., in Basingstoke, England has been in operation since 1993.

About ITT Corporation

ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defence and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated 2009 revenue of $10.9 billion. www.itt.com

Contact:

ITT Corporation
David Albritton, 001.703.790.6320
david.albritton@itt.com

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