Trainer Aircraft ( T-6A Texan ) for Israeli Air Force

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a posible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of T-6A Texan aircraft as well as associated equipment and services.

The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $190 million.

The Government of Israel has requested a possible sale of 25 T-6A Texan aircraft, Global Positioning System (GPS) with CMA-4124 GNSSA card and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) spares, ferry maintenance, tanker support, aircraft ferry services, site survey, unit level trainer, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $190 million.

Israel's strategic position makes it vital to the United States interests throughout the Middle East. Our policy has been to promote Middle East peace, support the Israeli commitment to peace with other regional Arab countries, enhance regional stability and promote Israeli readiness and self-sufficiency. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.

The Israeli Air Forces (IAF) fleet of Zukit aircraft was produced in the early 1960s. The Zukit’s high fuel and maintenance costs, and low mission capable rates led to the IAF's decision to procure new trainer aircraft. The T-6A aircraft will reduce training fuel requirements by 66%. The IAF will use these new aircraft to modernize its air force and to improve operational capability in coalition operations and exercises, and contribute to a modern air defense network for the legitimate defense of Israel. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be: Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Wichita, Kansas Pratt & Whitney Corporation, Quebec, Canada and Bridgeport, West Virginia Martin Baker, Middlesex, United Kingdom Hartzel Propeller, Pique, Ohio Canadian Marconi, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma L-3 Vertex, Madison, Mississippi Offset agreements associated with this proposed sale are expected, but at this time the specific offset agreements are undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to Israel involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of up to15 years.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

General Dynamics NASSCO Delivers USNS Robert E. Peary

General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, delivered USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) to the U.S. Navy. Named in honor of the Navy rear admiral who led the first expedition to the North Pole, the Robert E. Peary is the fifth ship delivered in the Navy's T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ship program in two years.

Starting with the delivery of USNS Lewis and Clark in June 2006, NASSCO has delivered five ships into service with the Navy's Military Sealift Command.Like her sister ships, T-AKE 5 is a high-quality, extremely-capable auxiliary ship that is complete and ready to help fulfill the Navy's global combat logistics requirements."

Construction of the USNS Robert E. Peary began in July 2006. NASSCO has incorporated international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features into T-AKE class ships, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system, to minimize operating costs during their projected 40-year service life. With a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the primary mission of T-AKE ships is to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions from shore stations to combat ships at sea.

NASSCO has contracts to build 11 T-AKE ships to replace single-mission vessels that are nearing the end of their service lives. The Navy has options to build three additional T-AKE ships for a total of 14 vessels. The sixth through ninth ships of the T-AKE class are currently under construction at NASSCO and are expected for delivery through the first quarter of 2010.

General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 4,700 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. The San Diego shipyard is also building the first two of nine product carriers for U.S. Shipping Partners L.P.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 84,000 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.

Off-Road Prototype Vehicles Tested in Afghanistan

Recently, Soldiers from Combined Task Force Currahee test drove a new vehicle that could help alleviate maneuverability constraints in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a country made of natural barriers like mountains and valleys, which make it difficult for Coalition forces to move through the countryside.

The Enhanced Logistic Off-Road Vehicle may be the answer to navigating Afghanistan's rugged terrain.

Three prototypes are currently being tested. The terrain in Afghanistan is made up of rocks, which make supply routes, evacuation and basic ground transportation difficult and slow.

All three prototypes are currently in Afghanistan so Soldiers can learn how they handle in the terrain. Over the last year, the ELSORVs went through operational assessments in the U.S. and now they are here for a real-world assessment by Soldiers who could end up using the vehicles.

ELSORVs can carry 2,700 pounds, and have modified Humvee engines that can conquer approach angles of 90 degrees and climb slopes at 80 degrees.

The ELSORVs allows Soldiers to go over obstacles without getting hung up on the undercarriage. The vehicle can go 90 miles per hour safely on a hard surface.

For Mississippi Army National Guard , First UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters

ARLINGTON, VA: The Army National Guard is receiving new, front-line, state-of-the-art UH-72A helicopters, which will improve its capability to perform home security missions, disaster relief, search and rescue, medical evacuations, counterdrug and other vital missions. They will replace Vietnam-era helicopters in the current Army National Guard inventory.

Formal presentation of the U.S. Army National Guard's first two new UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters, which are being received by the Mississippi Army National Guard, will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the Aviation Support Facility in Tupelo, Mississippi

UH-72A Lakotas are being acquired from EADS North America, which is producing them at a new helicopter center of excellence in Columbus, Mississippi. Current U.S. Army planning calls for a total 345 UH-72As to be acquired through 2017, of which 200 will be delivered to Army National Guard units throughout the country.

The UH-72A program represents one of the most rapid introductions of an Army aircraft in the service's history. The first two helicopters to be presented June 7 to the Mississippi National Guard are the 28th and 29th UH-72As delivered by EADS North America -- all of which were provided on or ahead of schedule.

Greece Puts First Leopard 2A6 HEL into Service

The 25th armoured brigade of the Greek armed forces has put the first LEOPARD 2A6 HEL supplied by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) into service. Present at the tanks' commissioning in Xanthi were Greece's Deputy Minister of Defence Konstantinos Tasoulas, standing German representative in Athens Féaux de la Croix, high priests of the Greek Orthodox Church, and representatives of participating corporations.

In addition to the 170 main battle tanks, KMW supplied the Greek armed forces with armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs), armoured vehicle launched bridges (AVLBs), driving and shooting simulators, as well as the world's most advanced simulation centre. KMW is also fulfilling one of the most extensive offset programmes for Greece. The contract was worth 1.7 billion euros.

On 25 March 2008, the Greek national holiday commemorating the 1821 revolution, the armed forces presented the LEOPARD 2A6 HEL to the public at a parade in Athens.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG is Europ's market leader for armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles. At sites in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the United States 3.100 employees develop, produce and support a product portfolio that ranges from airtransportable and highly protected wheeled vehicles (MUNGO, DINGO, FENNEK, GFF4 and BOXER), to reconnaissance, air defense and artillery systems (FENNEK, GEPARD, LeFlaSys, PzH 2000 and AGM) all the way to main battle tanks (LEOPARD 1 and 2), infantry fighting vehicles (PUMA) and bridge layers (LEGUAN und PSB2).

Furthermore KMW possesses a broad system competence in the field of civil and military simulation, command and control applications and fully automatic remote controlled gun mounts. The armed forces of more than 30 nations worldwide rely on operational systems supplied by KMW.

South Korea Launches Latest High-Tech 214-Class Submarines

South Korea on Wednesday launched the third and latest of its 214-class submarines to be commissioned by the end of next year, bringing the total number of submersibles in the country to 12, Yonhap news agency reported.

The latest submarine, named "Ahn Jung-geun" after the late independence fighter under Japan's colonial rule of Korea in the early 20th century, was officially launched in a ceremony at the dockyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries in the southeastern city of Ulsan.

The ceremony was attended by some 100 Hyundai and military officials, including Gen. Kim Tae-young, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Jung Ok-keun.

The 1,800-ton submarine will be commissioned and deployed late next year, along with two other 214-class submarines that were launched in 2006 and 2007, Navy officials said.

Seoul plans to build three more 214-class submarines in the next 10 years, according to Navy officials.

The new 214-class submarine is equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system that significantly adds to the ship's stealth capabilities, allowing it to strike enemy vessels or submarines without even being noticed, according to the officials.

South Korea launched its first Aegis destroyer, Sejong the Great, last year, becoming the fifth nation in the world to possess the high-tech naval ship.

The country is to build two more Aegis ships by 2012 under an existing project, and plans to build three more Aegis destroyers and three 3,000-ton submarines in the future, according to Navy officials.

Two ASTER 30 Missiles Tested for SAMP/T Air Defence System By Italy

The Italian Army has successfully conducted two test firings of its Aster 30 missile as part of the operational evaluation of the SAMP/T air defence missile system.

The SAMP/T is a land-based air defence system, incorporating the MBDA ASTER 30 missile, designed to protect land forces and sensitive sites and zones from conventional threats such as aircraft, UAVs, helicopters and the new generation of stand-off missiles and short range ballistic missiles.

The two firings were carried out by the army at the PISQ (Poligono Interforze Salto di Quirra) joint armed forces test range in Sardinia. For both firings, the full operational configuration of the SAMP/T weapon system was tested entirely autonomously by the Italian army unit. The system included an additional Command Module to manage the system deployment and the links with the upper defence network.

For the first firing, conducted on 22nd May, the Aster 30 missile was launched against a Mirach 100 aerial target flying at low altitude at approximately 150 metres. The system correctly tracked the target at a range of 25 km from the battery and intercepted it target within 15 km over the test range waters.

During the second firing, on 26th May, a more complex scenario was demonstrated. This involved a patrol of two Mirach 100 targets flying towards the SAMP/T system Flying Control Unit. Under the scenario, the system tracked the patrol, correctly identified the selected “attacking” target and intercepted it at 21km during its evasive manoeuvre.

Both trials were a total success with the complete range of test objectives achieved.

SAMP/T MBDA Project Head in the Aster missile systems directorate, Moreno Bossini, said: “This is a key moment for the programme as our customer, the Italian Army, has tested the capability of the SAMP/T system using a fully trained unit carrying out an operational procedure”.

Both firings were conducted as part of the ATOC (Acceptance Test of Operational Capabilities) that the Italian Army and the French Army and Air Force are conducting throughout 2008.

Background Information
The ASTER modular family of vertically-launched missiles is being developed under the leadership of MBDA within the Franco-Italian FSAF (Future Surface-to-Air Family) programme. Under this programme, France and Italy agreed to develop and produce a family of air defence systems for the armed forces of both countries.

These comprise:
-- SAMP/T: The land-based medium-range area defence system using the Aster 30 (120km range) missile for the French and Italian armies as well as the French air force. SAMP/T comprises a fire control system based on multifunction electronic scanning radar and a Vertical Ground Launcher, mounted on Italian Astra/Iveco and French Renault-TRM 10000 trucks, capable of firing eight missiles in rapid sequence. The Aster 30 missile system offers high-level tactical and strategic mobility and due to its high rate of fire is capable of countering saturating threats. Ten systems are on order for France (for the army and the air force) and five for Italy. This includes the evolved Block 1 version of the missile, which, with its extended TBMD capability, will be capable of intercepting missiles of the 600km class. MBDA is also developing a further system growth known as Aster 30 Block 2, capable of countering theatre ballistic missiles with a much longer range.

The SAMP/T ASTER 30 munition qualification trials were concluded at the end of 2003. SAMP/T ASTER 30 is now available for the export market and the munition is in series production.

- SAAM (Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile): A naval point defence system using the Aster 15 (30km range) missile for the French and Italian navies.

- PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System): A subsequent trilateral agreement signed between France, Italy and the United Kingdom resulted in the development of a third naval air defence system forming part of the Aster family, known as PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System). PAAMS utilises a mix of Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles to provide self-defence for the host ship, local area defence of nearby vessels as well the wider defence of the fleet.

With an annual turnover exceeding EUR 3 billion, a forward order book of over EUR 13 billion and over 90 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company. MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes in operational service and has proven its ability as prime contractor to head major multi-national projects. MBDA is jointly owned by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).