Saturday, July 9, 2011

Defense News: Panetta Assures Karzai of Continued Commitment

Defense News: Panetta Assures Karzai of Continued Commitment

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan, July 9, 2011 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta assured President Hamid Karzai of the United States' continued, long-term commitment to Afghanistan during meetings in Kabul today.

Click photo for screen-resolution image
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
"I assured him the U.S. is committed to the long-term security of the Afghan people," the secretary said following a dinner with the president. "Our goal here is to ensure that Afghanistan is stable in the future and can secure, defend and govern itself so it can never again become a safe haven for al-Qaida and its militant allies."

While it was the secretary's first meeting with Karzai in his new position, Panetta has dealt with the president while serving as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Panetta said he has a good relationship with the Afghan leader and that they will work together closely to ensure the relationship remains positive.

The goal is to establish a real partnership between the United States and Afghanistan, the secretary said.

Panetta said he believes the coalition and the Afghans are moving in the right direction in Afghanistan. He credits the military strategy in place and the resources provided by President Barack Obama and the American people.

The successes to date are giving the Afghans the opportunity "to establish their own independence free of Taliban influence," he said.

During the meeting Karzai and Panetta discussed the transition now underway to shift security responsibility to Afghan forces, Panetta said. Overall, seven areas – three provinces and four municipalities covering 25 percent of the population – will transition to Afghan responsibility.

"We can begin the process of drawing down our forces," Panetta said. "I think we've got the momentum on our side, President Karzai is supportive of President Obama's proposal and we are both confident that we can get this done in a way that not only protects the security of Afghanistan but ensures the Taliban cannot return to this country."

The United States will withdraw 10,000 troops by the end of the year and will draw down another 23,000 by the end of September 2012. That still leaves around 70,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Those troops "will continue the strategy and operations through 2014," Panetta said. "My goal is to make sure we can continue the effort to establish greater security in this country so we can transition to the Afghans."

Karzai and Panetta also discussed the quality of Afghan forces. The training effort is paying off, but there is more to do, Panetta said. Afghan officials told Panetta that they are looking to improve the quality of the officer and noncommissioned officer corps. "Bottom line is they have an increasing confidence in their military to do the job," he said.

Karzai asked Panetta how the United States managed to field an Army that was both professional and apolitical throughout its history.



"I said it began with George Washington making very clear that that's the way we ought to be operating," Panetta said. "I told him it would be well if he would do the same thing as president of this country."

Defense News: Pakistan May Have Sanctioned Reporter's Death: US

Defense News: Pakistan May Have Sanctioned Reporter's Death: US

The US military's top officer said that Islamabad may have sanctioned the killing of a Pakistani journalist, voicing grave concern over the murder.

Asked about media reports that the Pakistani government approved the killing of the reporter, Admiral Mike Mullen on Thursday said: "I haven't seen anything that would disabuse that report."

He said he was "concerned" about the incident and suggested other reporters had suffered a similar fate in the past.

"His (death) isn't the first. For whatever reason, it has been used as a method historically," Mullen told reporters at a Pentagon Press Association luncheon.

While acknowledging Pakistani officials have denied the government had any role in the death of Saleem Shahzad, Mullen said the episode raised worrying questions about the country's current course.

"It's not a way to move ahead. It's a way to continue to quite frankly spiral in the wrong direction," said Mullen, who has held numerous meetings with Pakistani counterparts during his tenure as chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mullen's remarks are sure to aggravate already strained relations between the uneasy allies after the US raid north of Islamabad in May that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, which was carried out without Pakistan's knowledge.

Asked if Pakistan's intelligence service had been behind the killing of the journalist, Mullen said he could not confirm that allegation.

The New York Times, citing US officials, reported Monday that the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency ordered the killing of Shahzad to muzzle criticism.

The ISI has denied as "baseless" allegations that it was involved in the murder of Shahzad, who worked for an Italian news agency and a Hong Kong-registered news site.

Shahzad, who had reported about militants infiltrating the military, went missing en route to a television talk show and his body was found May 31 south of the capital, bearing marks of torture.

He disappeared two days after writing an investigative report in Asia Times Online saying Al-Qaeda carried out a recent attack on a naval air base to avenge the arrest of naval officials held on suspicion of links to the global terror network.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ordered an inquiry into the kidnapping and murder, pledging that the culprits would be "brought to book."

Citing mounting tensions over the past year, Mullen acknowledged the US relationship with Pakistan is "under extraordinary pressure."

Even before the unilateral bin Laden raid, ties had become strained, Mullen said, particularly over the arrest of a CIA contractor in Pakistan who was charged with double murder before eventually being released.

"So we've been through a very, very rough time," he said.

Washington was "committed to sustaining that relationship," he continued.

"But we recognize it's under great stress right now and we need to see our way through it."

The military's top-ranking officer, who is due to step down at the end of September, confirmed the US military presence in Pakistan had been dramatically scaled back at Islamabad's request.

Despite growing frustration in the US administration over Pakistan's failure to crack down on militant sanctuaries near the Afghan border, Mullen said it would be a serious mistake to cut off financial aid to Islamabad, as some American lawmakers have urged.

"I think that would be a disaster now and it would be a disaster in the future," he said.


Shahzad death: Outrage in Pak over US allegation

Friday, July 8, 2011

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: F-35 Jet Blast Deflector Testing Underway At Lakehurst

Defense News: DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: F-35 Jet Blast Deflector Testing Underway At Lakehurst
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / LAKEHURST, N.J., - July 8, 2011: F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft CF-2 is performing Jet Blast Deflector (JBD) tests at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.


The JBD, located behind the catapults aboard aircraft carriers, deflects high energy exhaust from the engine to prevent damage and injury to other aircraft and personnel located in close proximity.

JBD testing is one portion of the tests required to ensure the F-35C is compatible aboard the aircraft carrier.

Testing continues with varying distances between the aircraft and JBD, and at power settings up to and including maximum afterburner power. CF-2 arrived at Lakehurst on June 25 for JBD tests. (Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe)

Media Contact:

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DTN News - UAE DEFENSE NEWS: UAE May Buy More F-16s

Defense News: DTN News - UAE DEFENSE NEWS: UAE May Buy More F-16s
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / PARIS, France - July 8, 2011: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now talking with Lockheed Martin about buying more F-16 fighter aircraft because France's offer of an advanced version of the Rafale combat jet is seen as too expensive, said a source familiar with the negotiations in the gulf.

"The UAE is finding the Rafale offer to be too costly compared to the capabilities of aircraft and other technologies on the market," the source said. "The negotiations with France are still ongoing and both sides are looking for a compromise."

The UAE has been seen as a potential first export buyer of the Dassault Rafale in a deal estimated at $10 billion. Meetings on the Rafale sale were held at the Paris Air Show, which ended June 26.

But price resistance has led UAE officials to open discussions with Lockheed Martin to buy more F-16s with the latest "weaponry and targeting sensors," the source said.

Last year, UAE officials asked for technical information on the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, following a political chill at the highest levels between Abu Dhabi and Paris.

In negotiations with the French, the elements said to be stretching the UAE's planned budget are the co-development costs for a more powerful "special" Rafale version, plus maintenance and spare parts. The UAE wants its Rafales powered by uprated Snecma M88 engines, whose 9 tons of thrust provide 1.5 tons more than the version flown by the French Air Force. Other improvements requested include a longer range active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and a more capable Spectra electronic warfare suite.

The upgrades previously have been estimated at 2 billion euros ($2.9 billion) by then-French Defense Minister Hervé Morin.

Dassault Aviation declined to comment.

Shortly before the Paris Air Show, Dassault Chief Executive Charles Edelstenne said of the Rafale offer to the UAE, "the talks are advancing."

The gulf source said, "Lockheed Martin is offering a very attractive financial package."

A UAE sale might help Lockheed keep its F-16 assembly line open, after India rejected the U.S. fighter from its short list for the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft competition.

Lockheed officials were unable to comment by press time.

France badly needs export success on the Rafale, a showcase of military technological competence, as the national defense budget assumes foreign contracts to help pay for a steady rate of production.

Dassault has said it must build 11 Rafale units a year to keep the line working at an economic rate.

Large companies depending on the Rafale include Safran subsidiaries Sagem, for the forward looking infrared gear, Snecma for the twin engines, Thales for the electronics and RBE2 AESA radar, and MBDA, which hopes to sell the Meteor long-range missile.

In the 1990s, the UAE bought 80 F-16 E/F fighters with distinctive conformal fuel tanks, under a $7.3 billion foreign military sales (FMS) contract, of which a reported $3 billion went to co-develop the Block 60 Desert Falcon, widely viewed as the most capable of the F-16s worldwide. As co-developer, the UAE is co-owner of some of the sensitive military technology on the Block 60 version. As part of the deal, UAE personnel worked on the co-development program, and Lockheed trained Emirati nationals to service the Block 60 aircraft.

The 1990s also saw the UAE buy Dassault Mirage 2000-9 fighters, which were more advanced than the 2000-5 version flown by the French Air Force. Older Mirage fighters were also upgraded to the more capable variant.

The Mirage 2000-9 fleet still has a long life ahead of it, but the UAE could start taking delivery of the new F-16s in under five years while keeping the existing Mirage aircraft, the source said.

France has previously offered to buy back the Mirage fleet and resell the fighters in export markets to encourage the sale of the Rafale to the UAE.

The UAE has purchased the Black Shaheen cruise missile for the Mirage. In long-range strike, the UAE also has the Hakim, which was shown under the wing of a Rafale model displayed on missile manufacturer MBDA's stand at the IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi in February.


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Thursday, July 7, 2011

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

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

CONTRACTS

NAVY

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded an $119,415,215 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of two Lot 86 Harpoon missile bodies; two exercise Grade B canister All Up Round (AUR); eight anti-submarine rocket AUR; and associated hardware for the government of Taiwan. In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of four exercise air launch and associated hardware for the government of Taiwan (two) and India (two); 20 tatical air launch AUR for the government of India; 20 tactical light weight canister AUR for the government of Egypt; and Harpoon-associated hardware for the governments of Singapore, Japan, Australia, Korea and Canada. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Mo. (43.5 percent); McKinney, Texas (13.5 percent); Toledo, Ohio (6.0 percent); Motherwell, United Kingdom (4.4 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (3.6 percent); Lititz, Pa. (3.5 percent); Elkton, Md. (3.0 percent); Grove, Okla. (2.6 percent); Black Mountain, N.C. (2.2 percent); Middletown, Conn. (1.8 percent); Kirkwood, Mo. (1.6 percent); Galena, Kan. (1.5 percent); Joplin, Mo. (1.3 percent); Huntsville, Ala. (1.1 percent); Chandler, Ariz. (1.0 percent); Palo Alto, Calif. (0.8 percent); McCalester, Okla. (0.8 percent); El Paso, Texas (0.7 percent); Clearwater, Fla. (0.7 percent); Lancaster, Pa. (0.7 percent); Estill Springs, Tenn. (0.6 percent); and various location in and outside the continental U.S. (5.1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in July 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the governments of Taiwan ($26,939,620; 22.5 percent); India ($35,107,410; 29.4 percent); Egypt ($51,197,160; 42.9 percent); Singapore ($404,441; 0.3 percent); Japan ($2,051,762; 1.7 percent); Australia ($1,883,516; 1.6 percent); Korea ($1,155,312; 1.0 percent); and Canada ($675,994; 0.6 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. This contact was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-11-C-0300).

G4S-SJC, LLC, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $90,000,000 design-build indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity construction contract for various repairs, alteration, construction, and demolition work to shore facilities at the U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia. Task order 0001 is being awarded at $3,951,880 for the repair shoreline revetment at the back of Bachelor Officers Quarters 7 at U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia; task order 0002 is being awarded at $1,172,466 for the replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at facility number 939, Air Force Galley, Diego Garcia; task order 0003 is being awarded at $217,571 for the construction of a shelter for two base stations at U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia. Work for all three task orders is expected to be completed by July 2012. All work on this contract will be performed in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed by July 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $3,951,880 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Asia Navy Electronic Commerce Online websitewith four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Far East, Yokosuka, Japan, is the contracting activity (N40084-11-D-0004).

Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $46,158,317 modification to increase funding to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive fee contract (N0019-07-C-0097) for the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, England (20 percent); Orlando, Fla., (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $34,300,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Aquate Corp., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $44,590,377 cost-plus-fixed-fee/hybrid-cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price completion contract to provide work efforts for procurement, total package fielding, and sustainment support of state-of-the-art commercial-off-the-shelf equipment in support of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives used by responders for combating weapons of mass effect. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and is expected to be completed by June 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity (N00174-11-C-0037).

General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., was awarded on July 5 a $15,776,023 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2100) for continued engineering, technical services, concept studies, and design of a common missile compartment for the United Kingdom Successor SSBN and the Ohio replacement SSBN submarine. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn. (93 percent); Quonset Point, R.I. (3 percent); Newport News, Va. (2 percent); and Newport, R.I. (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Makers Architecture and Urban Design, LLP*, Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a maximum amount $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for facilities planning documentation services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for project planning documents, plans, studies, geo-spatial information and service, global positioning system services and other services. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but not limited to, California (87 percent), Arizona (5 percent), Nevada (5 percent), Colorado (1 percent), New Mexico (1 percent), and Utah (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed by July 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $5,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website,with 10 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-11-D-0010).

TCOM, LP*, Columbia, Md., is being awarded a $10,224,392 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N68335-11-C-0250) for the procurement of hardware in support of phase three of the Persistent Ground Surveillance Systems (PGSS) for the Army. Hardware to be procured includes five 22M+ aerostat systems, six tether-up spares kits, and two line replaceable units/site spares to outfit and enhance the capabilities of the existing PGSS currently fielded. Work will be performed in Elizabeth City, N.C. (90 percent), and Columbia, Md. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was issued a modification exercising the sixth option year on the current contract SPM4AX-09-D-9404/P00087. Award is a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum $70,595,754 for supply spare parts to support numerous aircraft platforms. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The date of performance completion is July 7, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Va., is the contracting activity.

Michelin North America, Inc., Greenville, S.C., was awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $29,643,016 for ground tires. Other locations of performance are Indiana and South Carolina. Using services are Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The date of performance completion is Sept. 13, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (SPM7LX-11-D-0144).

Michelin North America, Inc., Greenville, S.C., was awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $9,887,860 for ground tires. Other locations of performance are Spartanburg, S.C., and France, Spain, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, Romania, Italy, Canada. Using services are Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The date of performance completion is Sept. 13, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (SPM7LX-11-D-0142).

Plaza Fueling Agents, Inc.*, Newport News, Va., was awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $8,599,340 for marine gas oil. Other locations of performance are Pennsylvania and Maryland. Using services are Navy, Coast Guard, and federal civilian agencies. The date of performance completion is April 30, 2015. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-11-D-0374).

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Tribalco, LLC, Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a contract option which will increase the total estimated contract ceiling to $54,595,617 for the four-year ordering period indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of tactical combat casualty care sets in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. The work will be performed in Bethesda, Md., and is expected to be completed in 2015. This contract was awarded through competitive acquisition, in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2305(b)(4)(B) and 41 U.S.C. 253b(d)(3). U.S. Special Operations Command is the contracting activity (H92222-10-D-0023).

Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $37,274,119 contract under its indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the development and test period which consists of an engineering development model, engineering services, training, long lead time materials, and travel. The contract is for the Shallow Water Combat Submersible in support of U.S. Special Operations Command, Program Executive Office-Maritime. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and is expected to be completed within 24 months from issuance of delivery order. U.S. Special Operations Command is the contracting activity (H92222-11-D-0002).

FSCX, Inc., Lawton, Okla., is being awarded a firm-fixed-price contract in the amount of $17,560,721 for a base year and four one-year option periods for survival evasion resistance escape instruction support in support of U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The work will be performed in Fort Bragg, N.C., and surrounding areas and is expected to expire in July 2016. This contract was awarded as a service disable veteran owned small business set-aside. U.S. Army Special Operations Command is the contracting activity (H92239-11-C-0011).

*Small business


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DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated July 7, 2011

Defense News:
DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated July 7, 2011
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 7, 2011: Comprehensive daily news related to Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY.
*Comprehensive daily news related on Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY

Thursday July 7, 2011

Wednesday July 6, 2011


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