DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Near Brega....NSI News Source Info # 1760
DTN News - PAKISTAN UNREST: NWFP Under Militants Attack....NSI News Source Info # 1759A policeman gestures in front of a shop damaged by a bomb explosion in Charsadda, in Pakistan's northwest March 31, 2011. A prominent Pakistani Islamist politician narrowly escaped an apparent assassination attempt on Thursday when the bomb exploded near his car in the the country's volatile northwest, killing at least 11 people, government officials and aides said. (Photo - Reuters Pictures)
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/
March 30, 2011: HMS Cumberland is ready to move into the next phase of operations in Libya by enforcing the arms embargo under UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.
The Royal Navy Type 22 frigate has been a key part of the UK's response to the crisis in Libya since the beginning of the troubles in February.
One way she is able to enforce the arms embargo is through her embarked Lynx helicopter which can search a wide area of the sea quickly to assess the activities of Libyan forces and search out any vessels which are in breach of the UN-sanctioned arms embargo on Libya.
The ship's Royal Marines and Royal Navy boarding parties have been honing their skills recently so they are ready to be deployed at minutes' notice if needed to conduct searches of suspect vessels stopped by the Type 22 frigate under the embargo.
The boarding teams can be deployed rapidly by sea boat or by fast-roping onto the deck of a suspect vessel from Cumberland's Lynx helicopter.
HMS Cumberland's Commanding Officer, Captain Steve Dainton, said:
"Cumberland is demonstrating her capability as a highly flexible asset, capable of enforcing the will of the international community. Over the last month, we have conducted three evacuation operations from Benghazi, conducted patrols off the coast and acted as an effective deterrent to Gaddafi's naval forces.
http://defensenews-updates.blogspot.com/2011/03/defense-news-hms-cumberland-ready-for.html
But the fate of a proposed arms deal remains uncertain, Wu said, amid speculation that it could jeopardise Washington's ties with Beijing.
"My understanding is that Washington does not say 'yes' or 'no'. The deal is still under Washington's evaluation," Wu said during a press conference in Taipei.
Wu said that "upgrading the F-16A/Bs is the more likely direction".
The US Congress in 1979 passed the Taiwan Relations Act requiring the United States to provide the island with defensive weapons.
A sale of F-16 C/Ds to Taiwan would be certain to ignite the anger of Beijing, which reacted furiously when the Barack Obama administration in January 2010 announced a 6.4-billion-dollar arms package for the self-governing island.
The package included Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, and equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, but no submarines or new fighter jets.
http://defensenews-updates.blogspot.com/2011/03/defense-news-us-likely-to-help-taiwan.html
CONTRACTS
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
The Missile Defense Agency is awarding a cost-plus-incentive fee modification to Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., for contract N00024-07-C-6119, CLIN 0016, for $312,663,118. The modification is to manufacture 24 Standard Missile-3 Block IB missiles. The work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. The period of performance is March 2011 through June 2013. Fiscal 2011 research, development, test and evaluation funds will be used to incrementally fund the modification for $47,826,087. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a modification to decrease contract N00024-07-C-6119, CLIN 0004, by $72,306,105 from $229,900,477, to a new total value of $157,594,372. The modification is to reduce the quantity of Standard Missile-3 Block IA missiles manufactured, from 24 to 18. The remaining work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. The performance period is from March 2011 through April 2012. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.
ARMY
The Engility Corp., Billerica, Mass., was awarded on March 24 an $84,181,310 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for management, engineering, integration, logistical staff, and liaison support services for Program Executive Office Soldier. Work will be performed in Fort Lewis, Wash.; Eatontown, N.J.; Fort Knox, Ky.; and Fort Belvoir, Va., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-11-D-0074).
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_29.html
With regard to the companies working directly on the territory of Libya, there are three most active Russian companies - Tatneft, Gazprom and the Russian Railways (RZD). Stroytransgaz has an office in the country as well.
Tatneft has been operating in the country for 6 years. The company received a concession to develop an oil block in the Ghadames (Unit 82-4) and won the rights to three oil blocks in the Sirte basin and Ghadames. The Russian company is involved in the projects under the production sharing agreement with Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC). In 2009 alone it has invested $43 million in the projects.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-libyan-war.html
Such a request was received by Riyadh on March 14, and he responded immediately. As stated earlier by the representatives of the ruling Saudi dynasty, they are ready to assist "the ruler and the people of the friendly country of Bahrain." Fortunately, it is allowed by the existing agreements on mutual support between the two countries, members of the Council on Cooperation in the Persian Gulf.
Yet, it is difficult to say who is considered the "people" by Saudi authorities since the anti-government rallies are attended not only by the representatives of the Shiite majority (70 percent of the population of Bahrain), but rather numerous representatives of the Left (including the Communists) from among the Sunnis.
The rallies in Bahrain have been ongoing for over a month. The Shiite majority actively opposes the oppression by the ruling Sunni minority, which includes Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who is especially zealous in insisting on foreign intervention.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-possibility-of-future-conflict.html
DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS: Multipurpose HELLFIRE II ‘Romeo’ Strikes Target, Completes Proof-Of-Principle Flight Tests....NSI News Source Info # 1752ORLANDO, FL, - March 28, 2011: The U.S. Army’s Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) Project Office and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully fired a multipurpose AGM 114R HELLFIRE II “Romeo” missile with a live warhead and penetrated a brick-over-block target in its sixth proof-of-principle (POP) test.
The flight test, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., demonstrated the Romeo’s enhanced software capability and superior performance in a military-operations-in-urban-terrain scenario. The new Romeo’s multipurpose warhead design enables the missile, with a designator spot laser, to seek out and defeat hard, soft and enclosed targets with outstanding success. The initial fielding of the HELLFIRE II Romeo is scheduled for late 2012.
“The AGM-114R baseline design is now defined and allows us to go into system qualification,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mike Brown, HELLFIRE Systems product manager at JAMS. “The R model remains on cost and on schedule, and meets all performance objectives.”
Engineers ground-launched the single HELLFIRE II Romeo missile in a lock-on-after-launch mode, simulating the missile being fired from a rotary-wing platform. The short-range (2.5 kilometer) high-speed impact shot penetrated the brick-over-block target and successfully detonated with the specified fuze delay.
This was the final POP test for this next-generation precision missile. The Romeo’s advanced fuze technology and new warhead design performed flawlessly in test flights, proving reduced risk through system performance. Additionally, Lockheed Martin’s Joint-Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) incorporates the same warhead technology and fuze design that is present in the HELLFIRE II Romeo.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-lockheed-martin-news.html
You remember once we were talking about things we would miss on our tour around the world, I had quite some things on my list though that list has slowly decreased in size, while Alex's only concern was how to get a hold on a proper cup of coffee on the oceans where it is hard to use an electrical coffee/espresso machine. 
DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS: Lockheed Martin’s Huntsville Integrated Test Center To Provide Effective Support For Missile Defense Systems....NSI News Source Info # 1751HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 28, 2011: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Huntsville Integrated Test (HIT) Center in Huntsville, Ala. The Lockheed Martin HIT Center will enable cost-effective and realistic testing of full-scale missile defense systems in a laboratory environment.
“This facility demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s commitment to advancing the state-of-the-art in missile defense capabilities,” said John W. Holly, vice president of Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, who led the ceremony. “It also represents our continued investment in the Huntsville community, which plays a key role in protecting our nation.”
Government and community officials participating in the ceremony included U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Charlie Kettle, chairman of the board for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. More than 100 people attended the ceremony, including Lockheed Martin employees, government and military personnel, industry partners and community members.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-lockheed-martins.html
DTN News - LIBYA NO-FLY ZONE: UAE Jets Arrive In Italy For Libya Operations....NSI News Source Info # 1749DECIMOMANNU, Italy -
Six F-16 fighter jets from the United Arab Emirates, a key U.S. ally, landed at an Italian base on March 27 ahead of their deployment to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.
The six planes could be seen landing at the Decimomannu base on the island of Sardinia after a logistics plane also arrived at the base.
The UAE said March 24 it had committed six F-16 and six Mirage fighters.
"The UAE air force has committed six F-16 and six Mirage aircraft to participate in the patrols that will enforce the no-fly zone now established over Libya," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said then.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-libya-no-fly-zone-uae-jets.html
DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: China Growing Naval Power In The Region....NSI News Source Info # 1748That was the description given recently by Adm. Gary Roughead, the Navy’s chief of naval operations, when asked for his assessment of America’s former Cold War opponent.
“The Russian Navy still has great ambition, still has great pride,” he said.
The collapse of the Soviet Union significantly reduced the navy, Roughead noted, with most shipbuilding programs coming to a halt or dragging out.
“That has stopped in recent years,” he said. An improving Russian economy will mean “you’re going to see an increase in their capability and capacity, with new shipbuilding programs taking hold.” Roughead noted the recent move by Russia to acquire several French-designed Mistral-class amphibious ships as an indication of rising interest in increased operations.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-asian-defense-news-china.html
BENGHAZI, Libya
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi were retreating Saturday after rebels recaptured the key eastern towns of Ajdabiya and Brega in their first significant victory since Western-led air strikes began a week ago.
US President Barack Obama said the international mission had saved countless innocents from a "bloodbath" threatened by Kadhafi, and the rebels thanked France for its role in the military blitz but said "outside forces" could now leave the country.
Ajdabiya was "100 percent in the hands of our forces," a rebel spokesman, Shamsiddin Abdulmollah, told reporters in the stronghold of Benghazi.
"Who is on the back foot are Kadhafi's forces because they no longer have air power and heavy weaponry available" after a week of bombing by coalition warplanes, he said.
Scene: In Benghazi, fierce defence of no-fly zone
Another spokesman, Ahmed Khalifa, said the rebels had captured at least 13 Kadhafi fighters who were being treated as prisoners of war.
A rebel fighter told AFP insurgents had retaken Brega also, and a journalist travelling with them confirmed seeing rebels in control of the centre of the oil town, and said government forces had completely withdrawn.
"We are in the centre of Brega," 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Ajdabiya, Abdelsalam al-Maadani told AFP by telephone. "Kadhafi's forces are on the retreat."
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-battle-for-libya-muammar.html
DTN News - LIBYA NO-FLY ZONE: Qatar Fighter Jet On Duty Over Libya....NSI News Source Info # 1746The Qatari Air Force Mirage 2000 was joined by a French fighter jet when heading out on its first patrol.
"Qatar has been a great ally since day one," said Mustafa Gheriani, spokesman for the opposition Benghazi city council. "It's an Arab country to be proud of."
Qatar has pledged six Mirages and two C-17s transports in the Libyan operation. Officials did not release any details of the Qatar pilot's role in his debut coalition flight.
"Having our first Arab nation join and start flying with us emphasizes that the world wants the innocent Libyan people protected from the atrocities perpetrated by the pro-regime forces," said U.S. Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-libya-no-fly-zone-qatar.html
DTN News - LIBYA NO-FLY ZONE: Ground Operation In Libya Could Start In April - Russian intelligence....NSI News Source Info # 1745The international coalition force is planning a ground operation in Libya that could start in late April, a high-ranking Russian intelligence service source said on Friday.
"Information coming via different channels shows that NATO countries, with the active participation of Britain and the United States, are developing a plan for a ground operation on Libyan territory," he said.
"From all indications, a ground operation will be launched if the alliance fails to force the Gaddafi regime to capitulate with air strikes and missile attacks."
If the events in Libya follow this scenario, the ground operation could start "in late April-early May," he added.
The UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya on March 17, allowing "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on rebel-held towns.
The operation to enforce the no-fly zone, codenamed Odyssey Dawn, is being conducted jointly by 13 states, including the United States, Britain and France.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-libya-no-fly-zone-ground.html
