A general view shows hundreds of thousands of Egyptians gathered at Cairo's central Tahrir Square on February 18, 2011 during celebrations marking one week after Egypt's long-time president Hosni Mubarak was forced out of office by an unprecedented wave of protests in the Arab world's most populous country.
Egyptians hold a picture of a man killed during the uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak at Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 18, 2011 during celebrations marking one week after Mubarak was forced out of office by an unprecedented wave of protests in the Arab world's most populous country.
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources ReutersLocal human rights activists reported at least 15 deaths on Thursday during protests in the nearby town of Al Bayda, an Amnesty International spokeswoman said.
"This alarming rise in the death toll, and the reported nature of the victims' injuries, strongly suggests that security forces are permitted use lethal force against unarmed protesters calling for political change," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa.
"The Libyan authorities must immediately rein in their security forces. Those responsible for unlawful killings and excessive force -- both the direct perpetrators and those who gave the orders -- must be identified and brought to justice," he said in the statement.
Amnesty said the sources at al-Jala hospital in Benghazi had told it the most common injuries were bullet wounds to the head, chest and neck.
Thousands of people protested in Benghazi, Libya's second city, on Friday over a security crackdown in which dozens of people were killed but which failed to halt the worst unrest of Muammar Gaddafi's four decades in power.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-libya-unrest-amnesty-says-46.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Economic Times
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Ong Hong Tat - Ministry of Defence SingaporeTroops from the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) and Delta Company, 2nd Battalion RBLF conducted integrated urban operations (UO) drills at the Murai Urban Training Facility (MUTF), as part of the exercise.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-defense-news-singapore-and.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources OshkoshLMI, the leading manufacturer of concrete mixer trucks in London, Ontario, provides local advanced manufacturing capabilities and a highly skilled workforce to the Oshkosh Defense and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada team’s bids for the TAPV and Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) programs.
“Our team has thoughtfully reviewed draft RFPs for the TAPV and MSVS programs, and we are aligning our operations to DND requirements for highly-protected vehicles and long-term maintenance and support for the vehicles,” said Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Oshkosh Defense. “Our plans will deliver significant value to DND by leveraging proven technology and support capabilities while providing industrial and regional benefits to contribute to the Canadian economy.”
LMI, an Oshkosh Corporation subsidiary, is set to provide in-country manufacturing capabilities for both the TAPV and MSVS programs. The 140,000 square-foot LMI facility applies the latest manufacturing methods and quality processes to produce concrete mixer trucks for customers throughout North and South America. The LMI operation was designed with capacity for future programs and fosters an experienced workforce to support the TAPV and MSVS programs as well as a broad range of commercial and specialty vehicle programs.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-defense-news-oshkosh-defense_17.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin“The M-TADS/PNVS is a game-changer on the battlefield and has ensured Longbow Apaches remain dominant in support of our ground soldiers,” said Col. Shane Openshaw, U.S. Army project manager for Apache Attack Helicopter. “This combat-tested system has shown, through over five years of continuous combat operations since the first unit was fielded, that an Apache equipped with M-TADS/PNVS is the most lethal and survivable attack helicopter in the world.”
M-TADS/PNVS provides Apache pilots with the most advanced long-range, electro-optical precision engagement and pilotage capabilities to ensure mission success and flight safety in day, night and adverse weather missions. It employs state-of-the-art forward-looking infrared sensors to provide Apache pilots with enhanced image resolution, giving them the complementary benefits of significant standoff range and unrivaled targeting capabilities. M-TADS/PNVS improves performance and reliability over legacy TADS/PNVS systems by more than 150 percent, reduces maintenance actions by nearly 60 percent, and will save the U.S. Army nearly $1 billion in operation and support costs over its 20-year system life.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-defense-news-us-army-lockheed.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Afghanistannews.net & The New York Times
Pakistan has been excluded from the high-level Afghan-Pak-US trilateral meeting, as the United States and Afghanistan have decided to hold bilateral talks on the same scheduled dates.
US and Afghan officials were to go ahead with bilateral talks later this month after Washington postponed a planned trilateral meeting with Pakistan, an official said Tuesday.
Seven people including two Americans have been charged by the United States for conspiring to aid the Taliban, ccording to US officials, two Americans, identified as Alwar Pouryan and Oded Orbach were arrested in Romania for conspiring to sell missiles to protect Taliban-run heroin laboratories in Afghanistan.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-afghanistan-top-stories.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By NEIL MacFARQUHAR Published: February 15, 2011 - The New York TimesBut while the government has tried and convicted many opposition members since large street protests in 2009, it has so far shied away from putting the two men on trial, perhaps fearing that would lead to further unrest.
The government on Tuesday continued to try to squelch reports about the demonstrations on Monday, arresting or sequestering critics and revoking the working credentials of about a dozen foreign correspondents who had been ordered not to cover the protests.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-iran-today-irans-leader.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Daily TechThe U.S.
Many of the setbacks have come at the hands of lawmakers and budget cuts. The House is set to vote on a critical funding bill that has serious implications on the future of the F-35 program. The budget has a provision in it for the continued development and deployment of an alternative engine for the F-35 to go along side the Pratt & Whitney F135 jet engine. The alternative engine is from GE and Rolls Royce and will be built in Ohio, and Indiana. The F135 engine is constructed in Florida and Texas. The engine vote is under pressure because many lawmakers in the House feel that adding a second engine to the program wastes taxpayer money and the House is looking to pare all it can from the budget for the year.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-defense-news-house-to-vote-on.html
DTN News: Two Israeli Chief of Staff Meeting At Ceremony In Tel Aviv....NSI News Source Info # 1583
US Marines refuel a CH-53 helicopter at camp Dwyer, Gamser in Helmand Province on February 16, 2011. There are around 140,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban, who were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in 2001 following the September 11 attacks.
DTN News: U.S. Air Force C-17 In Action Resupplying Fuel To Special Task Force In Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 1581
DTN News: U.S. Army Soldiers And Afghan Police Are On Search & Security Operations in Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 1580
DTN News: U.S. and Thai Marines Storm Beachhead Participating In Cobra Gold 2011 On Feb. 10, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1579
DTN News: Royal Thai and U.S. Marines Participating In Cobra Gold 2011 On Feb. 11, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1578
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By NEIL MacFARQUHAR and ALAN COWELL Published: February 15, 2011 - The New York TimesIn Tehran, a spokesman for Mir Hussein Moussavi, a leading opponent of the government, said the protests had shown that the so-called Green Movement, formed to challenge the disputed election in 2009, had scored a “great victory“ and was “alive and well“ despite a huge government crackdown
But, breaking an official silence on the demonstrations, the Fars news agency, a semiofficial service linked to the powerfulRevolutionary Guard Corps, said the demonstrations had been conducted by “hypocrites, monarchists, hooligans and seditionists“ whose leaders were puppets of Britain and the United States. It ridiculed them for not chanting slogans about Egypt, the nominal reason for the protests, and said an unspecified number of people had been arrested.
Iranian human rights activists and police said on person was killed and several injured in protests that continued until close to midnight. The authorities had refused to issue a permit for the demonstration but Amir Arjomand, the spokesman for Mr. Moussavi said: “If the government had issued a permit and guaranteed the safety of the people there would certainly have been millions of people out in Tehran and other cities.“
The size of the protests in Iran was unclear. Witness accounts and news reports from inside the country suggested that perhaps 20,000 to 30,000 demonstrators in several cities defied strong warnings and took to the streets.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-iran-today-iran-uses-force.html
"An earthquake is shaking the whole Arab world and a large part of the Muslim world and we don't yet know how these things will turn out," the premier said at a swearing-in ceremony for new army chief Major General Benny Gantz.
"We are ready for all eventualities because we know that the foundation of our existence, and our capacity to convince our neighbours to live in peace with us, is based on the Israeli army," he said during a ceremony at his Jerusalem office.
Gantz takes over the post as Israel's strategic stance in the Middle East undergoes a shakeup in the wake of a popular revolt in Egypt which ousted president Hosni Mubarak after three decades in power.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-egypt-news-israel-today.html
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing dated Feb. 13, 2011Approximately 10,000 guests, including customers, Boeing employees, government officials, partners and suppliers, gathered in the factory in Everett, Wash., to witness the premiere of the Intercontinental at an event themed "Incredible, Again." Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Albaugh said the newest 747 incorporates technological advancements that make it an extremely productive airplane for customers.
"The new 747-8 Intercontinental features the latest in innovative technologies — applying many of the breakthroughs also found on the 787 Dreamliner," said Albaugh. "We think our customers will value the low operating costs and passengers will enjoy the comfort of the striking new interior."
"The 747-8 Intercontinental will be a great complement to our fleet, fitting nicely into the 400-seat category, improving our fleet's eco-efficiency even further," said Nico Buchholz, executive vice president, Lufthansa Group Fleet Management. "As launch customer, we are looking forward to welcoming this new aircraft to our fleet next year as it adds to our ongoing fleet modernization and environmental efforts."
Korean Air and VIP customers have joined launch customer Lufthansa in ordering a total of 33 747-8 Intercontinentals. First delivery of the 747-8 Intercontinental is scheduled for the fourth quarter.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-airlines-news-boeing.html
Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 118-11 February 14, 2011CONTRACTS
ARMY
Raytheon-BBN Technologies, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., was awarded a $54,340,021 firm-fixed-price contract Feb. 9, 2011. The award will provide for the purchase of 300 Boomerang III Perimeter Defense Systems in support of the Army's mission in Operation Enduring Freedom. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Mass., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 10, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (W909MY-11-C-0028).
NAVY
Lockheed Martin, Syracuse, N.Y. is being awarded a $13,445,304 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5202) for engineering services in support of the Navy's AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Undersea Warfare System. The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is a surface ship combat system with the capabilities to search, detect, classify, localize and track undersea contacts; and to engage and evade submarines, mine-like small objects, and torpedo threats. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y. (80% percent), Newport, R.I. (16 percent), and Manassas, Va. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $130,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Company, Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Mass., is being awarded a $7,913,491 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-5126) to exercise options for engineering, integration, and production services for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program. The contractor will perform test and evaluation, design solution, and integrated logistics support class services. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, R.I. (65.0 percent), Dulles, Va. (25.0 percent), Largo, Fla. (8.0 percent), Tewksbury, Mass. (1.0 percent) and Washington, D.C. (1.0 percent). Work is expected to be completed by November 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $1,904,468 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/02/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_14.html
In this frame from video , officials remove a portrait of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the main Cabinet building in Cairo, on Sunday, Feb. 13 2011. Egyptians are removing portraits of ousted President Hosni Mubarak which have hung in public and private institutions throughout his three decades in power.
