NATO About to Lease Troop Helis for Afghanistan?

by Joe Katzman | Nov 6, 2007 | Alliances, Americas - Other, Australia & S. Pacific, Britain/U.K., Europe - Other, France, Issues - Political, Policy - Procurement, Rumours, Security Contractor, USA, Warfare - Lessons

Afghan Army Mi-17s(click to view full) An Oct 24/07 report in Canada’s Globe & Mail claims that: “NATO plans to rent helicopters to resupply front lines and remote bases in southern Afghanistan – an unprecedented move that could reduce ground...

GDEB Receives $148M as Virginia Class Lead Yard

by Joe Katzman | Nov 6, 2007 | Contracts - Modifications, General Dynamics, Submarines, Support Functions - Other, USA

future SSN 777(click to view full) General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation in Groton, CT received a $148 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification with performance incentives, under previously awarded contract N00024-05-C-2103, to exercise an option for continuation...

VIVACE

by Joe Katzman | Nov 6, 2007 | Airbus, Aircraft, BAE, Corporate Innovations, European Union (EU), Finmeccanica, IT - Software & Integration, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, R&D - Contracted, Rolls Royce, Thales, University-related

VIVACE Logo VIVACE(Value Improvement through a Virtual Aeronautical Collaborative Enterprise) is a very large research & technology project funded by the European Commission that was launched in January 2004, grouping 63 companies and research institutions from...

UPI & The JASSM Debate

by Joe Katzman | Nov 5, 2007 | Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Policy - Procurement, R&D - Contracted, R&D - Private, Testing & Evaluation, Transformation, USA

(click to view full) DID has covered the stealthy AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) cruise missile’s key characteristics and development troubles. The February 2006 article “Breakup, Interrupted: JASSM Missile Back on Track”...

Airbus A400M Program Delayed 6-12 Months

by Joe Katzman | Nov 5, 2007 | Airbus, Engines - Aircraft, Europe - Other, France, IT - Software & Integration, Transport & Utility

A400M concept(click to view full) EADS recently put out a release informing all of its Airbus A400M military transport customers that deliveries of the aircraft are now expected to start 6 months later than initially planned, with a risk of a further slippage of up to...