Saturday, September 24, 2011

DTN News - UNITED NATIONS NEWS: Palestinians Seek Statehood At U.N.

DTN News - UNITED NATIONS NEWS: Palestinians Seek Statehood At U.N.

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / UNITED NATIONS - September 24, 2011: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hands over a formal letter for Palestine to be admitted as a state to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon during the 66th UN General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York, September 23, 2011

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas formally applied to the U.N. Security Council for Palestinian statehood, defying U.S. pressure to return to direct negotiations with Israel.

Friday, September 23, 2011

DTN News - PAKISTAN NEWS: US Turns Up The Heat On Pakistan’s Spy Agency

DTN News - PAKISTAN NEWS: US Turns Up The Heat On Pakistan’s Spy Agency

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 23, 2011: Washington’s stunning charge that Pakistan’s spy service is backing violence against US targets in Afghanistan has pushed Islamabad into a tight corner: either it cleans up the powerful agency or it faces the wrath of an angry superpower.

There has never been much doubt in Washington that the shadowy Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) plays a “double game”, supporting some militants to extend its influence in Afghanistan and counter India, while targeting others.

But the gloves came off on Thursday when US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen bluntly described the Haqqani militant network as a “veritable arm” of the ISI and accused Pakistan of providing support for the group’s Sept. 13 brazen attack on the US embassy in Kabul.

It was the most serious allegation levelled by Washington against the nuclear-armed South Asian nation since they allied in the war on terror in 2001, and the first time it has held Islamabad responsible for an attack against the United States.

“Mullen has finally put Pakistan on the spot and I don’t think he has left any ambiguity about the feelings of the US about the ISI,” said Rasul Bakhsh Rais, an Islamabad-based academic and political columnist. “Mullen has thrown the ball into Pakistan’s court.”

DTN News - UNREST IN SYRIA: Syrian Security Forces On Red Alert In The City Of Homs During Ramadan

DTN News - UNREST IN SYRIA: Syrian Security Forces On Red Alert In The City Of Homs During Ramadan

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 23, 2011: A Syrian armoured vehicle is pictured outside the sandbagged police headquarters of the central city of Homs, 160 kms northeast of Damascus, on August 30, 2011, as rights activists reported widespread anti-regime protests across Syria on the first day of the feast marking the end of Ramadan with massive security deployments in the flashpoint province of Homs and gunfire near the citadel of the city.

While Syrian authorities have accused the Future Movement of supporting the smuggling of weapons to Syrian opposition groups, the Lebanese Army Intelligence Branch and border police have confirmed only a few of the many incidences of arm smuggling reported by the media.

Lebanese security forces arrested three Lebanese last month on charges of attempting to smuggle automatic rifles from the Beirut coastline by boat.
“Smuggling operations were discussed particularly in light of events taking place in Syria and [smugglers are made up of] different nationalities. There are people taking advantage of the situation and entering Syria from Lebanon,” Mutlaq added.

Syria’s allies in Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah, have also accused the Future Movement of smuggling weapons to Syria and using Lebanon as a launch pad to attack Damascus, but the Future Movement has denied the allegations and security sources have said that Lebanese political parties are not playing any role in the trafficking of arms.

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters Patrolling In A Truck East Of Sirte Libya

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters Patrolling In A Truck East Of Sirte Libya

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 23, 2011: Anti-Gaddafi fighters drive a roofless pick-up truck around 50 km (31 miles) east of Sirte, September 22, 2011. Sirte is Muammar Gaddafi's hometown and one of just a handful of places in Libya still held by fighters loyal to him.

Hundreds of civilians continued to pour out of the city on Thursday in cars and pickups loaded with mattresses and food as the former rebel fighters fired machine guns and incoming rockets crashed on the city's outskirts.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

DTN News - OSHKOSH DEFENSE NEWS: Oshkosh Defense Debuts Heavy Recovery Technology Demonstrator

DTN News - OSHKOSH DEFENSE NEWS: Oshkosh Defense Debuts Heavy Recovery Technology Demonstrator

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 22, 2011: Heavier vehicles and more powerful improvised explosive devices (IED) are placing new mobility and protection demands on the U.S. Armed Forces’ recovery vehicle fleet. To address these challenges, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will unveil the latest in heavy recovery technology at Modern Day Marine 2011 Sept. 27-29 in Quantico, Va.

Oshkosh Defense developed the Heavy Recovery System (HRS) technology demonstrator based on the battle-proven Logistics Vehicle Replacement System (LVSR) platform and cutting-edge wrecker technology from Jerr-Dan, an Oshkosh Corporation company.

“The Oshkosh HRS offers the military unsurpassed recovery abilities from a single vehicle,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Oshkosh independently developed a highly-protected and mobile platform and worked with our sister company, Jerr-Dan, to integrate top commercial wrecker capabilities. We built this mobile platform to lift and retrieve the heavier armored, IED-damaged vehicles, and most importantly, it integrates the levels of troop protection required in current conflicts."

With a Jerr-Dan 50-ton rotating boom, dual 50,000 lb boom winches, and dual 40,000 lb constant pull drag winches, the HRS can retrieve both Class I and Class II MRAPs, and even the largest military wheeled vehicles. The system can rescue overturned vehicles and drag severely damaged vehicles to the recovery vehicle for hook-up and return to base. The HRS offers spading, along with the ability to operate all four winches simultaneously to enable vehicle recovery in a mire or ravine. Four-axle steering capability delivers a tight turning radius, and superior mobility is delivered through the use of Oshkosh’s TAK-4® independent suspension system across all five axles.

These capabilities are delivered on the battle-tested LVSR platform, used by the U.S. Marine Corps for the transportation of heavy payloads, such as munitions, fuel, water and heavy equipment. The HRS features a proven underbody blast protection for improved crew survivability. The system also has the ability to accept add-on armor kits to increase protection for troops in high-tempo operations across expansive and varied terrain.

At Modern Day Marine, Oshkosh Defense will also display a full range of cutting-edge vehicle platforms and technologies to serve the U.S. Marine Corps – light through heavy. Oshkosh will be exhibiting at booth #2404 at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico.

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated September 21, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated September 21, 2011

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - September 21, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued September 21, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

City Light & Power*, Long Beach, Calif., was awarded a fixed-price with prospective price redetermination contract for a maximum $180,501,821 for ownership, operation and maintenance of the electric distribution system at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Another location of performance is Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Using service is Air Force. The date of performance completion is January 2062. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-11-C-8270).

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Palmdale, Calif., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for a maximum $109,635,061 for aft decks applicable to B-2 aircrafts. Another location of performance is St. Augustine, Fla. Using service is Air Force. The date of performance completion is April 19, 2016. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (SPRTA1-11-C-0112).

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

DTN News - SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing-Led Team Delivers 1st Peace Eye AEW&C Aircraft To Republic Of Korea Air Force

DTN News - SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing-Led Team Delivers 1st Peace Eye AEW&C Aircraft To Republic Of Korea Air Force

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / ROKAF BASE GIMHAE, South Korea, September 21, 2011: A team led by Boeing [NYSE: BA] today delivered the first Peace Eye 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF)
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The aircraft was delivered during a ceremony attended by officials from the ROKAF, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the South Korean and U.S. governments, industry partners and Boeing at ROKAF Base Gimhae, the main operating base for the Peace Eye fleet.

"Peace Eye increases South Korea's self-defense capacity with powerful airborne-surveillance and battle-management capabilities that will help enhance the security of the Korean peninsula," said Randy Price, Peace Eye program manager for Boeing. "Working closely with the ROKAF, DAPA, the U.S. government and our Korean industry partners was key to making today's milestone a reality."

Three additional Peace Eye aircraft are being modified by Korean Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, Korea, and will be delivered to the ROKAF in 2012.

The Peace Eye program includes four 737 AEW&C aircraft plus ground support segments for mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance. 737 AEW&C aircraft also are in production for the governments of Australia and Turkey.

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 commercial airplane, the 737 AEW&C aircraft is designed to provide airborne battle-management capability with an advanced multirole electronically scanned radar and 10 state-of-the-art mission crew consoles that are able to track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously. The mission crew can direct offensive and defensive forces while maintaining continuous surveillance of the operational area.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 64,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

DTN News - GERMAN DEFENSE NEWS: German Army Orders 31 MUNGO 2 Multi-Purpose Vehicles

DTN News - GERMAN DEFENSE NEWS: German Army Orders 31 MUNGO 2 Multi-Purpose Vehicles

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 21, 2011: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), Europe´s market leader for highly protected wheeled and tracked vehicles, has received an order from the German Army for the assembly and delivery of 31 further MUNGO 2 Multi-purpose vehicles for the Special Operations Division (DSO). The first three pre-series prototypes were delivered and qualified technically and tactically in an operational test. The delivery of another 31 vehicles will be completed until 2013.

Air-portable and multi-faceted deployment
As all other vehicles of the MUNGO family of air-portable vehicles, with its small size and low overall weight the MUNGO 2 Multi-purpose was specifically developed for transportation on a CH-53 transport helicopter. With its universal hydraulics and transport system this multi-purpose version is particularly suitable for the mission-specific transport of munitions, fuel, maintenance and NBC- decon--tamination equipment. A quick-change system for front mounting implements additionally enables the deployment of engineering systems. With a payload of up to 1.5 tons the MUNGO 2 Multi-purpose can additionally transport supply or armament in trailer operations.

Specifically improved for military missions
Tailored specifically to the requirements of highly-mobile air-portable forces and built on the system criteria of the MUNGO-family, the MUNGO 2 Multi-purpose additionally convinces through a chassis optimized in continuous improvement for special missions, for example in Afghanistan. In addition, the vehicle is perfectly protected against ballistic, mine and IED threats. Fully armoured and separated from the chassis, the floor provides along with a safety cell maximum protection for the two-headed crew.

Until now KMW has delivered more than 400 MUNGO in the three different versions – troop transporters, multi-purpose vehicles and large space cabins – to the German Army.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated September 20, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated September 20, 2011

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - September 20, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued September 20,2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Hensel Phelps Granite Hangar, J.V., Irvine, Calif., is being awarded a $97,222,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of an MV-22 aircraft parking apron/taxiway expansion; an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 4 addition; and Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 7 construction at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The work to be performed provides for the construction and/or renovation of airfield facilities to enable the operation of both the MV-22 (medium lift) aircraft as well as the CH-53 (heavy-lift) helicopter. Specifically, the facilities will accommodate and maintain the MV-22 squadrons; conduct readiness and training operations; and conduct special exercise operations to attain and maintain proficiency in the operational employment of the MV-22. The contract also contains two planned modifications, which, if issued, would increase cumulative contract value to $103,602,000. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2014. Contract funds will not 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-C-0401).

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US Air Force Vows To Spare F-35 From Budget Cuts

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US Air Force Vows To Spare F-35 From Budget Cuts
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 20, 2011: The US Air Force vowed Monday to "protect" costly weapons programs despite budget pressures, saying the country needed the F-35 fighter jet, a long-range bomber and other aircraft.

While acknowledging the need for reductions to the defense budget, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley proceeded to list several big ticket programs that were not up for negotiation.

"There are certain capabilities we will protect. We will apply best military judgment to oppose reductions that would cause irreparable harm," Donley told retired members of the Air Force in a speech.

The firm line taken by Donley comes as the Pentagon seeks to fend off possible deep budget reductions by lawmakers. Congress has to find a way to trim the country's deficit by a November 23 deadline or else automatic cuts will be triggered that could derail the Pentagon's budget plans.

With an aging fleet of fighter planes, it was crucial to build the next generation combat aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to ensure US air superiority, Donley said.

"With a fighter fleet now averaging 22 years old and with two decades of declining fighter force structure, modernizing our aging and smaller fighter force depends on the fifth generation capabilities of the Joint Strike Fighter," Donley said.

"Simply put, there is no alternative to the F-35 program. It must succeed," he said of the aircraft, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays.

The F-35 has come under growing scrutiny amid speculation that the Pentagon may be forced to downsize the program, including possibly eliminating a version of the plane designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings.

The civilian head of the Air Force also argued for maintaining funds for a planned long-range bomber, space satellites, nuclear forces, unmanned robotic aircraft and benefits promised to service members when they joined.

Donley said that budget reductions would require the Air Force to accept "greater risk in some areas, terminate some lower priority programs, streamline others," but did not provide details.

In his speech to the Air Force Association, Donley also said that within 10 years the force could be "potentially smaller than in previous decades" but did not offer an estimate.

DTN News - UAE DEFENSE NEWS: Dassault Close To UAE Deal On Rafale Jets - Paper

DTN News - UAE DEFENSE NEWS: Dassault Close To UAE Deal On Rafale Jets - Paper

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 20, 2011: Dassault Aviation is expected to put an offer to sell about 60 Rafale fighterjets to the United Arab Emirates this month, in a sign that negotiations are progressing, Les Echos newspaper reported on Thursday.

Last month another French newspaper said an agreement could be reached between September and the end of the year.

No one at Dassault was immediately available to comment

The UAE has been in talks with Dassault since 2008 over the purchase of 60 Rafale jets, estimated at 10 billion dollars, to replace the fleet of Mirage 2000s they bought in 1983.

DTN News - CHINA NEWS: China To Launch Space Station's First Module

DTN News - CHINA NEWS: China To Launch Space Station's First Module

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 20, 2011: China said Tuesday it will launch its Tiangong-1 space module later this month, marking its first step towards building a Chinese space station.

The Asian giant sees its space programme as a symbol of its global stature, growing technical expertise, and the Communist Party's success in turning around the fortunes of the formerly poverty-stricken nation.

It had originally planned to place the unmanned Tiangong-1, or "Heavenly Palace", in orbit last year, but was forced to delay the move for "technical reasons".

A spokesman for the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern province of Gansu, who refused to be named, told AFP the module will be launched some time between September 27 and 30, just ahead of China's National Day on October 1.

According to the official Xinhua news agency, both Tiangong-1 and the Long March 2-F rocket that will take the module into space are already in place on a launch platform at the centre.

Weighing eight tonnes, the module is due to stay in orbit around earth for two years.

In April, Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut, told reporters China would attempt its first space docking between Tiangong-1 and another unmanned vehicle called Shenzhou 8 in the second half of the year.

If this succeeds, the module will then dock with two other rockets -- Shenzhou 9 and 10 -- in 2012, both of which will have astronauts on board.

Before 2016, China will launch a space laboratory and, Yang said, "around 2020, we plan to realise the construction of a space station in orbit for long-term stays in space".

China's space station will be made up of the module, two laboratories, a cargo ship and a manned rocket, with a total weight of 60 tonnes, compared to 137 tonnes for the Russian station Mir and 419 tonnes for the International Space Station (ISS), state media has said.

China became the world's third nation to put a man in space independently -- after the United States and Russia -- when Yang piloted the one-man Shenzhou-5 space mission in 2003.

In September 2008, the Shenzhou-7, piloted by three astronauts, carried out China's first space walk.

Monday, September 19, 2011

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters Firing Mortars At Gadhafi Loyalist Positions In Sirte Libya

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters Firing Mortars At Gadhafi Loyalist Positions In Sirte Libya

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 19, 2011: Revolutionary fighters react after firing mortars at Gadhafi loyalist positions at a compound in Sirte, Libya, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011.

Revolutionary fighters fired rockets at Moammar Gadhafi's hometown and traded gunfire with loyalist forces, as forces of Libya's new rulers struggle to seize control of strongholds that remain loyal to the fugitive leader.


DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated September 19, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated September 19, 2011

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - September 19, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued September 19, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

ARMY

Compton Construction, Bumpus Mills, Tenn. (W9126G-11-D-0064); Au Authum Ki, Chandler, Ariz. (W9126G-11-D-0063); Small Business Group, Inc., Summerville, S.C. (W9126G-11-D-0062); and GSC Construction, Augusta, Ga. (W9126G-11-D-0061), were awarded a $263,000,000 firm-fixed-price multiple-award-task-order contract. The award will provide for the construction of warehouses in states west of the Mississippi River. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 41 bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity

AIR FORCE

DynCorp International, L.L.C., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $36,041,734 firm-fixed-price contract for aircraft maintenance and related services in support of Euro-NATO joint jet pilot training; maintaining T-38 undergraduate pilot training, T-38 introduction to fighter fundamentals, and T-6A aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The 82nd Contracting Squadron/LGCA, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA-3002-09-C-0024, Modification Number A00026).

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters On The Road To Bani Walid One Of Last Strong Hold Of Pro-Gaddafi's Forces

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters On The Road To Bani Walid One Of Last Strong Hold Of Pro-Gaddafi's Forces

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 19, 2011: Former rebel fighters put a pre-Gadhafi flag at the northern gate of Bani Walid, as smokes raise from the town, Libya, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. Libyan fighters are streaming into Bani Walid, one of the remaining bastions of ousted leader Moammar Gadhafi, in a new fierce push.

The revolutionary forces, in dozens of pickup trucks mounted with heavy weapons, are making their way from the north into the town center. (Photo - AP)

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters Celebrate As Smoke Rises From Bani Walid One Of Last Strong Hold Of Pro-Gaddafi's Forces

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters Celebrate As Smoke Rises From Bani Walid One Of Last Strong Hold Of Pro-Gaddafi's Forces

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 19, 2011: Former rebel fighters celebrate as smoke rises from Bani Walid, Libya, at the northern gate of the town, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. Libyan fighters are streaming into Bani Walid, one of the remaining bastions of ousted leader Moammar Gadhafi, in a new fierce push.

The revolutionary forces, in dozens of pickup trucks mounted with heavy weapons, are making their way from the north into the town center. (Photo - AP)

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters On The Offensive Towards Bani Walid One Of Last Strong Hold Of Pro-Gaddafi's Forces

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Libyan NTC Fighters On The Offensive Towards Bani Walid One Of Last Strong Hold Of Pro-Gaddafi's Forces

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 19, 2011: Libyan National Transition Council (NTC) fighters stand on the road leading into the Bani Walid Kadhafi hold-out, southeast of Tripoli on September 18, 2011, as progress in crushing the last pockets of resistance in bastions of Libya's ousted leader Moamer Kadhafi appeared stalemated, with the fugitive's loyalists in his hometown of Sirte and the oasis of Bani Walid refusing to yield. (Photo - AP)

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Nicolas Sarkozy And David Cameron With NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil In Tripoli Libya

DTN News - SEARCH FOR GADDAFI: Nicolas Sarkozy And David Cameron With NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil In Tripoli Libya

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 19, 2011: French President Nicolas Sarkozy (C), Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (R) and National Transitional Council leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil (2R) visits injured people at the Tripoli Medical center on September 15, 2011 in Tripoli.

Britain's David Cameron and France's Nicolas Sarkozy, whose forces spearheaded the NATO campaign that helped topple Moamer Kadhafi, vowed more support as they became the first foreign leaders to visit the new Libya. (Photo - AP)

Sunday, September 18, 2011

DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: Elbit Systems To Supply The Israeli Ministry Of Defense With Cardom Systems For Approximately $40 Million


DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: Elbit Systems To Supply The Israeli Ministry Of Defense With Cardom Systems For Approximately $40 Million

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 18, 2011: Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT) ("Elbit Systems"), announced today that it was awarded a contract by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) in the amount of approximately $40 million to supply Cardom systems to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Manufactured by Elbit Systems' subsidiary Soltam Systems Ltd., Cardom systems were initially supplied to the IDF in 2007 and are considered among the most advanced of their kind in the world. The systems are to be supplied over a period of four years.