US Army

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« J'aime les USA, et je combats pour elle», c'est ainsi que Lamia Lahlou commente son adhésion à l'armée américaine, et sa participation à la guerre contre l'iraq- depuis déjà 8 mois-. Née au Maroc en 1986, Lamia Lahlou rejoint l'armée américaine 3 ans après les attentats du 11 septembre 2001.

Tempérée par sa propre volonté, «la marocaine», ne mâche pas ses mots pour affirmer que ce pas emboité s'inscrit dans le cadre d'un «vrai Jihad». Rapporte une idéo diffusée largement sur Internet (Voir ci-aprés).

Choquée par la mort de sa meilleure amie, Lamia croit dur comme fer que l'adhésion à l'armée américaine est le seul et unique moyen susceptible de calmer le feu de sa vengeance.

A noter que les USA continuent à «renforcer » son armée via le recrutement des marocains, à l'heure où ALQIADIA ciblent d'autres recrues du Maroc vers la Hollande et la Belgique, tout en passant par la Syrie, l'Espagne et l'Iraq.

source: emarrakech.info

Rafi

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U.S. Army tests new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle


The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle runs a dirt track test at the Churchville Test Area near Aberdeen Proving Ground

10:10 GMT, June 8, 2010 CHURCHVILLE TEST AREA, Md. | The Army is testing a new vehicle looking to eventually replace the iconic Humvee. Officials said the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will offer increased protection and performance.

The Army took a group of reporters to a dirt test track about 30 minutes from Aberdeen Proving Ground June 3 to put the new vehicles through their paces. At first glance, the JLTV looks heavier and safer than current light tactical vehicles. The armor plating and bullet-proof glass will offer better protection for the warfighter, officials said.
The vehicle has different configurations, which seat four to six people.
The JLTV project is a joint project, but also international. The vehicle is a collaborative product between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, the Australian government and three American industry teams.
"There are three contractor teams working on a common phased set of requirements," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, project manager. "The vehicles have a little bit different design solutions built into them."
Petermann said the contractors delivered the vehicles on schedule and within cost requirements of the contract.
"What you'll see is a balanced solution," he said. "The key attributes for JLTV are to keep that balance, but also to reduce life-cycle costs for the services. We've improved reliability, maintainability. We've designed the vehicle to be, one, reliable, but when it does break down, it is easily repairable."
Petermann said another requirement is transportability.
"We need to be able to get to the fight by a C-130 (airplane) or CH-47 or CH-53 helicopter. We have to be able to get down to different decks on shipping," he said. "We have maintained an expeditionary capability for the services."
The contractors for the project are BAE Systems, General Tactical Vehicles and Lockheed Martin. During the 15-month design and build phase, industry teams interpreted military's requirements to come up with their own vehicle prototypes. Officials said the design and build phase ended May 3 when the contractors delivered the vehicles.
The JLTV has now entered a technology development phase giving the team an opportunity to demonstrate "mature technologies integration" as a complete system.
Petermann said the group will conduct performance tests on the vehicles at Aberdeen Proving Ground to "provide an assessment of the technical and performance risks."
The team will also conduct tests at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., to assess vehicle reliability.
United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command tank and automotive engineers from the unit's research center near Detroit have been on the job from concept to testing. The Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center assists throughout product development, officials said.
"Our Advanced Concepts Group over in TARDEC from the beginning has taken a look at our requirements from the standpoint of what is achievable," said Chris Brouwer, C4I chief systems engineer with the project. "They've given us that first look on what they think we're going to get with the requirements we have. Because of the work TARDEC did, we were fairly confident what we would end up with."
When the project team had requirements changes, TARDEC engineers would update their concepts.
"They would say, 'this is what we think industry is going to provide you,'" he said. "It really gave us an early benefit as far as what our requirements were actually driving into the design of the vehicle."
Brouwer was on the team three years ago writing the original requirements and scope.
"It's been a great project so far," Brouwer said. "It's very rewarding to see the vehicles out here on the track and performing quite well."
(Editor's note: The JLTV program is aligned with a joint program office under the management of the U.S. Army's Project Manager for Joint Combat Support Systems, which fulls under the leadership of Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support.)

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ThalesRaytheonSystems Awarded $21.8 Million to Modernize U.S. Army AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radars

FULLERTON, Calif., and PARIS, June 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ThalesRaytheonSystems has been awarded a $21.8 million contract by the U.S. Army to upgrade multiple AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense radar systems. This award is an option to the existing upgrade contract originally awarded in June 2007.

The contract will upgrade the U.S. Army Sentinel radar transmitters, receivers and exciters and increase functional capabilities such as faster data processing and greater detection range for smaller targets. Additional capabilities will also help minimize instances of fratricide and accidental counter-missile firing and facilitate a transition to defense-force mobility.

"The latest system enhancements will benefit the warfighter by providing earlier threat detection," said Kim Kerry, chief executive officer, ThalesRaytheonSystems, U.S. Operations. "It will also prepare the Sentinel for future missions such as special events protection, air traffic control and general homeland defense."

Upgrade work will be performed in El Paso, Texas, and Fullerton, Calif.

The Sentinel radar is the premier air surveillance and target acquisition and tracking sensor for the U.S. Army's Cruise Missile Defense Systems program. The radar's primary mission is to protect maneuver forces and critical assets from cruise missile, unmanned aerial vehicles, and rotary- and fixed-wing threats. The Sentinel accurately acquires targets far enough forward of friendly troops to provide sufficient reaction time for air defense weapons to engage at optimum ranges. More than 200 Sentinel radars are currently deployed by military forces worldwide.

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1578

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Northrop Grumman Awarded $517 Million Agreement for U.S. Army Airship With Unblinking Eye


The company today announced it has been awarded a $517 million (£350.6 million) agreement to develop up to three Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) systems for the U.S. Army. Northrop Grumman has designed a system with plug-and-play capability to readily integrate into the Army’s existing common ground station command centers and ground troops in forward operating bases—the main objective to provide U.S. warfighters with persistent ISR capability to increase awareness of the ever changing battlefield.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=7613
“This opportunity leverages our longstanding leadership positions in developing innovative unmanned air vehicles, C4ISR weapon systems, and leading edge systems integration, and moves Northrop Grumman into this rapidly emerging market space of airships for the military and homeland defense arenas,” said Gary Ervin, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems sector.
Under the agreement, awarded by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, Northrop Grumman will design, develop and test a long-duration hybrid airship system within an 18-month time period, and then transport the asset to the Middle East for military assessment.
“It is critical that our warfighters are equipped with more enabling integrated ISR capability to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s conflicts,” said Alan Metzger, Northrop Grumman LEMV program manager. “Our offering supports the Army’s Joint Military Utility Assessment that this disruptive innovation must meet the Army’s objective of a persistent unblinking stare while providing increased operational utility to battlefield commanders. Part of our innovative offering includes open architecture design in the payload bay to allow sensor changes by service personnel in the field.”
LEMV will sustain altitudes of 20,000 feet for a three-week period, and it will operate within national and international airspace. It will be forward-located to support extended geostationary operations from austere operating locations using beyond-line-of-sight command and control.
Northrop Grumman has teamed with Hybrid Air Vehicles, Ltd. of the United Kingdom using its HAV304 platform, Warwick Mills, ILC Dover, AAI Corporation, SAIC, and a team of technology leaders from 18 U.S. states to build LEMV. Northrop Grumman will provide system integration expertise and flight and ground control operations to safely take off and land the unmanned vehicle for worldwide operations.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Northrop Grumman Awarded $517 Million Agreement for U.S. Army Airship With Unblinking Eye", url: "http://www.aviationnews.eu/2010/06/16/northrop-grumman-awarded-517-million-agreement-for-u-s-army-airship-with-unblinking-eye/" });

aviationnews

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Bazaar Patrol



Posted 6/22/2010
U.S. Army soldiers walk through a bazaar while patrolling the area surrounding Forward Operating Base Baylough in Zabul province, Afghanistan, June 18, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Europe. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric Cabral

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Slosh Patrol



U.S. Army soldiers wade through a small creek while conducting a dismounted patrol in the village of Babus in Pole-Elam district, Afghanistan, May 7, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to the 264th Route Clearance Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, Task Force Tiger Engineer Brigade. U.S. Army photo by Spc. De'Yonte Mosley

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General Dynamics Awarded $14 Million by U.S. Army for 25mm and 30mm Ammunition

M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) ammunition.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has been awarded two contracts from the Project Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM MAS) at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., for production of 30mm M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) ammunition and Phase III development of 25mm scalable fuze technology. The total value of the two contracts is more than $14 million.

The 30mm M789 HEDP is the primary tactical round of the Apache AH-64 helicopter, widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan operations. The Apache’s ability to provide accurate air support with minimal collateral damage has led to increased use and volume demands for M789 ammunition. In response to the increased demand, the U.S. Army has contracted General Dynamics to establish a full-production capability for the M789 cartridge.

“Establishing a second, independent production line for the M789 eliminates potential single-point production failure and gives the Army more resources to meet the growing ammunition needs of the warfighter, quickly and efficiently,” said Tim McAuliffe, vice president and general manager of medium caliber ammunition for General Dynamics.

In addition, General Dynamics was awarded the Phase III development effort of the Scalable Medium Cannon Caliber Airburst Fuze Development Study. General Dynamics has successfully completed Phase I and II of the study. An essential overall objective of this development effort is to create scalable fuze technology that provides a plug-and-play capability for munitions ranging from 25mm to 50mm calibers.

The successful development of the 25mm fuze technology will provide the U.S. Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle and U.S. Marine Corps LAV-25 with the capability to reach targets in defilade via an airburst projectile. The technology also provides the ability to detonate a projectile within a hard target by using a selectable or delayed point detonation feature. The scalable technology has already been successfully demonstrated across a variety of weapon platforms from 25mm to 40mm and has the ability to be inserted in future platforms such as the Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle.

“The advancement of scalable technology will allow the military to upgrade the capability of their legacy systems while easily integrating onto future weapon platforms,” said Mr. McAuliffe.

defpro

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Shaghasi Kala Patrol



Posted 7/1/2010
U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade travel dismounted through the village of Shaghasi Kala, June 30, Logar province, Afghanistan. Shaghasi Kala is frequently patrolled to conduct key leader engagement's. Photo by Spc. Deyonte Mosley

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AH-64 Run-up Procedures Before Mission




(Right) U.S. Army Specialist Joshua Moehring, AH-64 Apache helicopter crew chief for Company B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade inspects the Hughes M230 Chain Gun affixed to the Apache helicopter with help of crew and Apache pilot Chief Warrant Officer Tom Gore during pre-flight inspections before mission launch from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Aubree Rundle

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Army UAV shows size doesn't matter at Farnborough International Air Show

By Staff Sgt. Heather M. Norris
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom -- Sitting in the shadows of a C-17 Globemaster at the Farnborough International Air Show here, is the much smaller but equally important RQ-7B Shadow.

Weighing in at approximately 460 pounds fully fueled, this compact unmanned aerial vehicle provides critical battlefield intelligence to key components instantly and its mobility allows for set up in less than one hour.

"It's an opportunity to showcase the only Army asset here", said Lt. Col. Jennifer Jensen, U.S. Army Security project office production manager. "We are actively engaged in the war effort so it's great to be able to bring the Shadow here. The United Kingdom is our closest ally, and this event brings everyone together in one spot."

The Army uses a variety of systems to support soldiers in theatre, with UAVs providing eyes forward on the battlefield. The Army logs more unmanned flying hours than manned flying hours-approximately 20,000 per month in theater.

The RQ-7B Shadow is considered to be the main work horse of the Army's UAV arsenal. According to Colonel Jenkins, the one-system remote video terminal used in the RQ-7B Shadow provides customers on the battlefield access to information they have never had before.

"The near real-time feed is linked to the units, not just the operator", said Colonel Jenkins. "It helps all ground forces communicate-extending across the battlefield. It is the way of the future, enabling teaming while reducing risk."

Teaming, the pairing of units with unmanned aerial systems, is one of many advantages of the RQ-7B Shadow. This attribute enhances joint service mission capabilities.

The Army RQ-7B Shadow meets the dynamic needs of Marine Corps units by increasing their operational capabilities in theater. The main benefit of the UAS is the time saved from target acquisition to action.

Capt. Bret Morris, Marine Corps UH-1 Yankee pilot, said that in the past after intelligence was gathered, the UH-1 returned to an installation where it was analyzed. The target was actioned on a later mission.

"[With the RQ-7B Shadow]we acquire the coordinates instantly and then set up 5-7 miles out and just shoot the missile" said Captain Morris.

Just as with any aircraft, maintenance has to be accomplished daily for proper performance. Current war environments are not ideal for this type of technology.

"It's an easy to maintain system as long as you do preventative maintenance" said Mr. Rick Falk, AAI Field Service Representative. "We know cleanliness is next to godliness."

The Army RQ-7B Shadow and its launcher is now on display for over 285,000 spectators at the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show 19-25 July.

http://www.dsca.mil/pressreleases/by-date/2010/farnborough-071910a.htm

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Renvoyé de l'US Army pour avoir révélé qu'il était gay



Le lieutenant Dan Choi, qui vivait une histoire d'amour depuis plus d'un an, a décidé au printemps 2009 de ne plus se cacher. Crédits photo : ASSOCIATED PRESS

Un jeune officier américain a fait jeudi les frais de la loi «Don't ask don't tell», dont l'abrogation avait franchi une première étape il y a un mois.


Diplômé de la prestigieuse académie de West Point, le lieutenant Dan Choi a servi en Irak comme chef de section en 2006 et 2007. Parlant couramment l'arabe et le coréen, ses compétences sont très utiles à l'armée américaine. Pourtant, celle-ci a décidé de s'en passer à l'avenir, en signifiant jeudi à l'officier de 29 ans son renvoi. Sa faute : avoir révélé son homosexualité.
«C'est une nouvelle douloureuse et rageante», a réagi Dan Choi. S'il s'était tu, le jeune homme aurait pu continuer à servir le drapeau américain. Mais au printemps 2009, alors qu'il vit une histoire d'amour depuis plus d'un an, il décide de ne plus se cacher et révèle son homosexualité à la télévision. Immédiatement, l'armée lui signifie qu'il tombe sous le coup de la loi «Don't ask don't tell» (littéralement «Pas de questions, pas d'aveux»).
Votée sous l'administration Clinton en 1993, cette législation constituait à l'époque un compromis dans la discrimination des homosexuels, qui pouvaient ainsi rejoindre l'armée mais à la condition expresse de cacher leur orientation sexuelle. L'institution militaire jugeait en effet qu'un tel affichage serait dangereux pour la cohésion de ses troupes. Du fait de cette loi, 13.000 militaires ont déjà dû quitter l'armée.
65.000 militaires seraient concernés




Mais depuis 1993, les mentalités ont évolué. L'opinion publique américaine est favorable à 75% à la fin de cette discrimination, devenue le cheval de bataille des associations gays américaines. Candidat à la présidentielle, Barack Obama avait promis de l'abroger, une promesse réitérée plusieurs fois depuis son accession à la Maison-Blanche. «Nous savons que forcer les homosexuels à vivre une vie de mensonge ou à quitter l'armée ne contribue pas à notre sécurité, elle y porte préjudice», a-t-il encore déclaré en juin dernier.

Outre son caractère discriminant, «Don't ask don't tell» constitue en effet un gâchis pour les forces américaines. Au cours des cinq dernières années, selon l'organisation Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) citée par le Guardian, l'armée s'est déjà privée de compétences spécifiques précieuses en se séparant, parce qu'ils étaient gays, d'une soixantaine de militaires parlant l'arabe et d'une dizaine parlant le farsi (la langue de l'Iran). Selon l'association KnightsOut, il y aurait 65.000 homosexuels dans les rangs de l'armée, qui peuvent être renvoyés à tout moment si leur orientation sexuelle est révélée ou découverte. C'est autant que le nombre de soldats américains engagés en Afghanistan.

En mai dernier, une première étape vers la levée du tabou a pourtant été franchie. La chambre des représentants américaine a adopté un texte prévoyant l'abrogation du «Don't ask». Mais la bataille n'est pas encore gagnée car, pour être effective, cette abrogation doit encore être évaluée par le ministère de la Défense et recevoir l'aval des principaux commandants de l'armée. Le débat promet également d'être féroce au Sénat, où les opposants sont nombreux. «Je continuerai à me battre jusqu'à ce que cette loi soit sur mon bureau et que je la signe», a néanmoins assuré Barack Obama.

lefigaro

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Raytheon awarded $23 million support contract for RAID mission by U.S Army

Raytheon Company has been awarded a $23 million U.S. Army contract extension to provide mission support and system sustainment for the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment systems that protect U.S. and coalition forces deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"This additional mission and sustainment support will further improve RAID's capability as a multifunctional battlefield system, providing enhanced situational awareness to the warfighter," said Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president of National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "This award enables Raytheon to continue providing unparalleled support to our warfighters and reinforces an unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest operational readiness." Raytheon first developed RAID to meet the military's increasingly critical need for persistent surveillance in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. RAID consists of infrared sensor systems elevated on a stationary platform. This capability enables U.S. and coalition forces to respond rapidly to threatening situations.

defenseworld

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Honeywell awarded $65 million contract for M119 howitzer by U.S. Army

Honeywell announced today that its high-performance, shock-tolerant artillery Tactical Advanced Land Inertial Navigator (aTALIN) has been selected by the U.S. Army for the M119 howitzer under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with potential value of up to $65 million.

Unlike other systems which require external shock isolation, the aTALIN design incorporates internal shock isolation, reducing setup and calibration time and increasing system reliability to improve mission effectiveness.

"Without external shock isolation, Honeywell's aTALIN is capable of meeting better than 1 milliradian accuracy, which is equivalent to targeting a truck from five miles away," said Paul Vidano, vice president of Militaries and Operators, Honeywell Aerospace. "Honeywell provides a self-contained solution that streamlines the set-up, calibration, maintenance and logistics support typically required by systems that incorporate secondary isolation to sustain associated shock and performance." Honeywell's TALIN family of products, used for various combat vehicle applications, provides continuous, self-contained, accurate location and pointing information for enhanced situational awareness, far target location, target acquisition, weapon and sensor pointing. The aTALIN utilizes the latest ring laser gyro and accelerometer technology in conjunction with an embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) and internal shock isolation system.

defenseworld

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The UH-72A Lakota makes first flight with U.S. Army Security and Support Battalion Mission Equipment Package



Major milestone underscores EADS North America’s ability to develop, integrate and deliver complex mission systems for U.S. warfighters
The first flight of the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) equipped with the Security and Support Battalion (S&S Battalion) Mission Equipment Package (MEP) occurred in June at the company’s American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss.
The S&S Battalion MEP will greatly expand the Lakota’s use for reconnaissance, command and control and air movement operations in support of U.S. homeland defense and security missions with the U.S. Army National Guard.
The maiden flight with this mission package on a UH-72A version represents another milestone in the Lakota’s highly successful development for the U.S. Army and also demonstrates EADS North America’s ability to evolve complex systems to meet warfighters’ mission needs.
“This is a very significant milestone in the maturation of the UH-72A Lakota for the U.S. Army and National Guard user,” said EADS North America COO David R. Oliver. “The fleet of Lakota aircraft is approaching 40,000 flight hours and as the Army continues to fly Lakotas they’re realizing the versatility and reliability of the aircraft. The S&S Battalion first flight illustrates the continued expansion and validation of the Lakota’s capabilities.”
When it enters service this MEP will be operated by U.S. Army National Guard Security and Support (S&S) Battalions, the new UH-72A version integrates a mission equipment package that includes a nose-mounted center line payload with infrared and electro-optical sensors and laser pointer, moving map and touch-screen displays, a video management system, digital video recorder and data downlink system, plus additional avionics and communications equipment. The helicopter will carry a 30 million candlepower searchlight and an external hoist.
U.S. Army National Guard S&S Battalions are located throughout the United States and provide a dispersed, readily available, light aviation capability for military missions and operations in support of civil authorities. These units currently operate aging Vietnam-era rotary-wing aircraft, which will be replaced by the UH-72A.
The UH-72A is produced in Columbus, Miss., by EADS North America’s operating unit, American Eurocopter, which built a dedicated assembly line for the Light Utility Helicopter. A systems integration facility was created at this site to manage the development of UH-72A’s mission equipment package for the Army National Guard S&S Battalion configuration.
A total of 345 UH-72As are planned to be acquired by the U.S. Army through 2015, approximately 200 will be assigned to the Army National Guard. Initially, 100 Lakotas are expected to be equipped with the mission equipment package for operation by the S&S Battalions.
EADS North America has delivered 125 UH-72As, all provided on time and within budget. These aircraft are being used in missions across the U.S and Puerto Rico that include medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), search and rescue, drug interdiction, VIP transport and general aviation support.
UH-72As also have been deployed overseas, with aircraft now located with the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany for training and support operations, and on the Pacific Ocean’s Kwajalein Atoll for transport and support missions at the Army’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.
Additionally, five H-72A versions are utilized by the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., for the training of test pilots from the U.S. military and allied countries.
The UH-72A is a Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) I major defense acquisition program for the U.S. Defense Department, and it has marked one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history. Deliveries of the aircraft to National Guard units allow aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while UH-72As assigned to the active component of the U.S. Army free up UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to warfighting missions.
Source and photo: EADS

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Lockheed Martin receives $260 million contract for AH-64D attack helicopter by U.S

The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $260 million follow-on production contract for the combat-proven Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS), also known as Arrowhead, for the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter.
The Lot 7 contract includes M-TADS/PNVS systems as well as Arrowhead kits, plus spares, for delivery to U.S. Army and several international customers. More than 1,000 kits will be delivered with the completion of the Lot 7 contract, which extends production through April 2013.
"Demand by commanders for the Arrowhead-equipped LONGBOW Apache to support current operations remains high," said U.S. Army Apache Sensors Product Manager Lt. Col. John Vannoy. "LONGBOW Apaches are deployed everywhere our ground forces are to ensure they remain safe and decisive in combat 24/7, worldwide." The Arrowhead kit modernizes the U.S. Army's TADS/PNVS, known as the "eyes of the Apache," by upgrading the infrared sensors and associated electronics. Arrowhead provides Apache pilots the most advanced long-range, electro-optical precision engagement and pilotage capabilities, ensuring safe flight during day, night and adverse-weather missions.
"Field Commanders describe Arrowhead as a game-changing system in combat," said Bob Gunning, vice president of Apache Fire Control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Maintenance time is down and operational time is up; reports from users are that performance has been terrific. We have a great team working the program for us as the Army prepares to modernize the remaining legacy components of the original TADS/PNVS system."

defenseworld

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The race to build the world's first flying military jeep just moved a step closer to the finish line.

The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected two companies to proceed with the next stage of its Transformer, known as TX—a fully automated four-person vehicle that can drive like a car and then take off and fly like an aircraft to avoid roadside bombs.

Lockheed Martin and AAI Corp., a unit of Textron Systems, are currently in negotiations with DARPA for the first stage of the Transformer project, several industry sources told Popular Mechanics at a robotics conference here in Denver. DARPA has not announced the official winners yet.

t's unclear how many companies competed for the DARPA project, but the competition brought together an unusual mix of large defense companies with smaller aviation firms vying to build the vertical takeoff and landing craft. Perhaps most surprising—and for some competitors galling— is that DARPA selected a rotor-based aircraft for one of the two winning submissions. At an industry day held earlier this year, DARPA officials had initially said they weren't interested in a traditional rotary-wing aircraft, though they might consider a vehicle if the rotor was shrouded

AAI's winning concept does not have a shrouded rotor, but it is also far from being a traditional helicopter. The company, which produces the Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle, is basing its proposal in part on the slowed-rotor/compound concept, a technology that uses rotor blades heavily weighted in the tips, or high inertia. The rotor provides lift on takeoff, and then as it gains speed, the rotor slows down and the wings provide lift.

Lockheed Martin has declined to detail any aspect of its submission, but those familiar with the Phantom Works project speculated that it might combine aspects of the company's Joint Tactical Light Vehicle, a follow-on to the Humvee, with a ducted fan propulsion system that it would use to fly.

The two companies are still a ways away from building flying Humvees; the first stage of the DARPA project is merely working on conceptual designs. The total funding available for Transformer is about $40 million.

Officials from both companies declined to comment on the record about the negotiations, and DARPA did not respond to request to comment.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/30/pentagon-chooses-companies-build-flying-humvee/

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Raytheon's SLAMRAAM Completes First FMTV Launcher Test Firing



08:11 GMT, September 10, 2010 TEWKSBURY, Mass. | Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) SLAMRAAM (Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) system successfully participated in a ballistic test vehicle (BTV) firing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The test included the firing of multiple AMRAAM missiles from the new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) platform.

The FMTV was chosen as the new platform for the SLAMRAAM system to increase survivability. The new platform provides additional armored capability and is more ruggedized to support the SLAMRAAM mission.

"We continue to partner with the U.S. Army to develop a SLAMRAAM system that is affordable, adaptable and responsive to today's evolving threats," said Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president, National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The firing of an AMRAAM missile from the new FMTV platform culminates the successful efforts of our government-industry team to transition this critical air and missile defense capability to a more survivable platform for our warfighters."

The primary objective of the BTV firing was to characterize missile dynamic launch effects on the new platform. Raytheon Missile Systems, developer and producer of the AMRAAM missile, successfully collected initial launch condition data, which will reduce risk on future potential FMTV missile integration efforts, such as the AIM-9X. Additional BTV missile firings are planned later this month to support Army safety assessments required for manning by soldiers.

SLAMRAAM is a tailorable, state-of-the-art air defense system that can defeat current and emerging cruise missile threats and a wide range of air breathing threats. This affordable adaptation of the AMRAAM to meet emerging needs provides the warfighter with a system of highly mobile battlefield elements networked and geographically distributed to provide integrated fire control capability against airborne threats.

http://defpro.com/news/details/18169/

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Oshkosh wins orders to deliver 2,000 FMTV trucks to the U.S. Army

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, will supply more than 2,000 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers to the U.S. Army under a new order from the Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC). The vehicles will be used to enhance Army unit mobility, transport soldiers and haul equipment weighing up to 5 tons in support of a wide range of tactical operations.
“Military testing of the Oshkosh-produced FMTVs is going well and provides confidence in our product quality,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Our successful work for the FMTV program is a testament to our unyielding commitment to supplying reliable, world-class systems without sacrificing the timely delivery our customer has come to expect from us.” The FMTV is a series of 17 models ranging from 2.5-ton to 10-ton payloads. Vehicles feature a parts commonality of more than 80 percent, resulting in streamlined maintenance, training, sustainment and overall cost efficiency for the U.S. Army. FMTV trucks and trailers are vital to U.S. military operations both domestically and internationally, supporting combat operations, relief efforts, unit resupply and other functions.

The award, valued at more than $259 million, extends truck and trailer production deliveries until June 2012. The order includes more than 1,300 trucks, including eight different variants, and nearly 700 trailers.

The five-year FMTV contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense is for the production of up to 23,000 trucks and trailers, as well as support services and training through fiscal 2014.

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Last Round Down Range



Posted 9/19/2010
Spc. Jacob Johns, Wallace, Ind., native, with the 2-150 Field Artillery pulls the lanyard firing the M198 howitzer during a retirement ceremony for the M198 howitzer at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., Sept. 18. The M198 howitzer is being replaced by the M777 howitzer, which is smaller and approximately 40 percent lighter. Photo by Sgt. William Hill

mettez le sur mon compte EDA svp

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U.S. State Department accepts modernized S-61 aircraft for Afghanistan



ERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) on Wednesday announced that the U.S. State Department has accepted the first two modernized S-61 aircraft that will support missions for the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan.
The U.S. State Department has entered into a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) purchase agreement for up to 110 modernized S-61 aircraft for passenger and cargo transport missions in support of its worldwide operations. The accepted aircraft will now undergo completion by SAS, which is based in Stratford, Connecticut, with specialized mission equipment to meet U.S. State Department requirements before being deployed this fall.
The modernized S-61T helicopter will incorporate key upgrades that include composite main rotor blades, modular wiring harness, and an optional state-of-the-art glass cockpit – all of which dramatically improve aircraft supportability. The S-61T helicopter modernization will also add lift capability as well as enhance speed. Additional features will be incorporated to reduce pilot fatigue and reduced maintenance requirements for increased safety.
“The U.S. State Department’s acceptance of these first two modernized S-61 aircraft marks a major milestone in the launch of the S-61T modernization program. The S-61T helicopter will meet the needs of customers worldwide, and we are excited about how much interest this aircraft has generated,” David Adler, President of Sikorsky Aerospace Services, said. “As the State Department pursues worldwide aviation missions, we remain fully committed to supporting their helicopter requirements.

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Firing Back



Posted 9/21/2010
U.S. Army Spc. William B. James shoots at the enemy during a firefight that lasted more than three hours at an Afghan National Police Checkpoint in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 18, 2010. James is assigned to the 327th Infantry Regiment's Company D, 1st Battalion, Task Force Bulldog. An estimated two dozen insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms at the post. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte

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Lockheed Martin Delivers 1,000th PAC-3 Missile to the U.S. Army






DALLAS,TX, September 21st, 2010 — Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered the 1,000^th Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile to the U.S. Army last week during a ceremony at its state-of-the-art PAC-3 Missile production facility in Camden, AR. PAC-3 Missiles are combat-proven and deployed globally.
In addition to the United States, five U.S. allies have included the PAC-3 Missile in their air and missile defense arsenals. Last year, Taiwan became the fifth international customer for the PAC-3 Missile, joining The Netherlands, Germany, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
“The PAC-3 system provides hit-to-kill accuracy, and for me in the field to have four times the capability and 16 missiles on a launcher means I have the ability to call this system up against very formidable threats,” said Brig. Gen. Roger Mathews, commandant – Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK.
“We proudly celebrate this accomplishment, along with our customers and the 225 suppliers across 25 states that remain focused on delivering the PAC-3 Missile on time and on budget,” said Richard McDaniel, director of PAC-3 Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This production milestone reaffirms our commitment to providing the world’s most advanced terminal air defense missile that serves our Warfighters and our allies around the world in their defining moments.”
Lockheed Martin achieved the first-ever hit-to-kill intercept in 1984 with the Homing Overlay Experiment, using force of impact alone to destroy a mock warhead outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. Further testing produced today’s PAC-3 Missile, which won a competition in 1993 to become the first hit-to-kill interceptor produced by the U.S. government.
The ‘hit-to-kill’ PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most advanced, capable and powerful terminal air defense missile. It defeats the entire threat: tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) carrying weapons of mass destruction, advanced cruise missiles and aircraft.
Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system. It also has considerable experience in missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company makes significant contributions to all major U.S. missile defense systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.
Source and photo: Lockheed Martin

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EADS North America receives the first phase of a $152m Army contract to equip UH-72A Lakotas for Security and Support Battalion missions

The U.S. Army has awarded EADS North America a $67 million contract for the supply of Mission Equipment Packages (MEP) on UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters to be operated by Army National Guard Security and Support Battalions (S&S Battalions). This contract award is the first phase of a total contract value estimated to be approximately $152 million.

Built at the company’s American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss., these system improvements will be outfitted on UH-72As deployed throughout the United States where the Army National Guard Lakota aircraft are stationed. The packages expand the Lakota’s use in reconnaissance, border protection, command and control and air movement operations that support U.S. homeland defense and security missions.

“This contract underscores EADS North America’s ability to integrate complex mission systems that meet our warfighters’ needs,” said EADS North America Chairman Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. “It also marks a new milestone in the evolution of the UH-72A, as this capable helicopter is given increasingly diverse operational duties with the U.S. Army. Supporting the S&S mission is further evidence of our industry team’s commitment to delivering state-of-the art products that enable the Army to meet today’s demanding missions.”

Deliveries of UH-72As with the S&S Battalion Mission Equipment Package are scheduled to begin in 2011. The contract announced today covers EADS North America’s supply of an initial 36 MEPs, with the U.S. Army expected to ultimately acquire systems to outfit a total of 99 Lakota helicopters.

The UH-72A S&S Battalion configuration includes a forward centerline-mounted camera system with electro-optical and infrared sensors and laser pointer, a 30 million candlepower searchlight, operator console, cockpit and cabin touch-screen displays with moving map, a video management system, a digital video recorder and data downlink system, plus an external hoist and additional avionics and communications equipment.

Located throughout the United States, the U.S. Army National Guard S&S Battalions provide a dispersed, readily available, light aviation capability for military missions and operations in support of civil authorities. These units currently operate aging Vietnam-era rotary-wing aircraft, which will be replaced by the UH-72A.

The UH-72A is produced in Columbus, Miss., by the American Eurocopter operating unit of EADS North America, which built a dedicated assembly line for the Light Utility Helicopter. A systems integration facility was created at this site to manage the development of UH-72A’s Mission Equipment Package for the Army National Guard S&S Battalion configuration.

A total of 345 UH-72As are planned for acquisition by the U.S. Army through 2015, which includes the versions outfitted for operation by the S&S Battalions.

To date, EADS North America has delivered a total of 134 UH-72As, all delivered on time and within budget. These aircraft are being used in missions across the U.S and Puerto Rico that include medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), search and rescue, drug interdiction, VIP transport and general aviation support.

UH-72As have been deployed overseas as well, with aircraft now assigned to the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany for training and support operations, and based on the Pacific Ocean’s Kwajalein Atoll for transport and support missions at the Army’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

In another application for the Lakota, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., operates five H-72A versions for the training of test pilots from the U.S. military and allied countries.

The UH-72A is a Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) I major defense acquisition program for the U.S. Defense Department, and it has marked one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history. Deliveries of the aircraft to National Guard units allow aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while UH-72As assigned to the active component of the U.S. Army free up UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to warfighting missions.

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U.S. Army Orders Next-Generation Heavy Hauler from Oshkosh Defense OSHKOSH, Wis. | Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has been awarded its first production order for the newest configuration of the Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) from the U.S. Army. The Oshkosh HET A1 features design improvements to provide a more powerful vehicle fleet. It is a part of the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV), produced by Oshkosh Defense, which also includes the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4 and the Palletized Load System (PLS) A1. “The production of the HET A1 marks the completion of a series of enhancements made to the Army’s heavy fleet,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “By listening to our customer’s needs, Oshkosh engineers integrated new technologies in the upgraded HEMTT A4, PLS A1 and now the HET A1 that improve their operational capabilities and survivability.” The Oshkosh HET, often paired with the M1000 heavy-duty trailer, is designed to rapidly transport battle tanks, fighting and recovery vehicles, armored vehicles, and construction equipment, as well as their crews, so they arrive in mission-ready condition. The latest Oshkosh HET A1 configuration includes increased horsepower, higher capacity front suspension, electrical upgrades, improved diagnostics and air conditioning standard. This delivery order is for more than 1,000 vehicles and is valued at nearly $440 million. Production will take place in Oshkosh, and is scheduled for completion in June 2012.

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US Army ready to launch common countermeasures battle
By Stephen Trimble

The US Army will soon launch a process that will select two companies to compete for a contract to develop an infrared countermeasure system that will be installed on thousands of helicopters.

A request for proposals is expected by industry observers to be released in October for the common infrared countermeasures (CIRCM) contract, which could be worth billions of dollars as the programme spreads to the US Navy and the foreign market.

The competition is shaping up as a battle between incumbents and newcomers.

BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman have dominated the market for directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) since it emerged in the past decade.

But the army wants a cheaper, lighter and more capable system for helicopters than Northrop's large aircraft system (LAIRCM) for the US Air Force and navy and BAE's advanced threat system (ATIRCM) for the army's Boeing CH-47 Chinooks.

Sensing an opportunity to capture market share with the CIRCM programme, both ITT and Raytheon have entered the IRCM market during the last five years with new technologies.

ITT's approach relies on integrating advanced components developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory over the previous decade. Raytheon, meanwhile, has adapted the seeker from its AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile into a potentially low-cost and lightweight option for CIRCM called Quiet Eyes.

But the companies have faced questions about their decision to replace electrical wiring with fibre-optic cables, which are lighter weight and more powerful but remain unproven as a mature, reliable technology.

"If you're trying to save weight that's the way to go," says Raytheon vice-president of advanced security and directed energy systems Mike Booen. "There has been some unsuccessful attempts. Fortunately we've been more successful than efforts in the past. We've tested the heck out of it. There were concerns out there about the fibre approach. We feel like we've got some data that proves otherwise."

In reliability tests staged last year by the army, ITT acknowledged discovering problems with the fibre-optic technology. Over the past nine months, it believes it has fixed those problems, which involved production glitches rather than the core technology, company officials say.

"We did not lose our confidence in the cable," says Bob Lawler, an ITT business development manager. "We just needed a way to produce that cable in a way that was going to be reliable and that was going to be used in the field and was still going to provide the ability to pass energy."

Both Northrop and BAE, meanwhile, are determined not to lose the market to the newcomers.

BAE plans to unveil an advanced system called Bold Stroke in late October for the army's CIRCM contract. Although ATIRCM has suffered from delays and reliability concerns, BAE believes the system's deployment this year has eliminated doubts about the performance of the company's IRCM technology.

"It's been received very well by all accounts," says Tom Fitzpatrick, a BAE vice-president. "The feedback we've received is very positive."

Northrop has teamed with Selex Galileo, meanwhile, to integrate the Eclipse micro-pointer/tracker with the Viper multifunction laser.

Flight International