Is
America Losing its Strategic Hold on Central Asia?
Over the past two years, US relations with former Soviet Central
Asia nations have collapsed. For the United States be able
to rapidly deploy troops or have theater strike capability
in the future, America will need new Central Asian allies
soon.
The U.S. Army and BAE Systems today unveiled the first Future
Combat Systems (FCS) Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Mortar Firing
Platform. The NLOS Mortar is being designed by BAE Systems to
transform the traditional role of the mortar on the battlefield
by providing greater crew survivability and enhanced fire support
for infantry forces. NLOS Mortar is designed for breech loading,
to allow firing the weapon under the protection of the vehicle's
armor, rather than having an open firing platform as is common
on today's self-propelled mortar platforms.
A team developing the led Distributed Common Ground System
- Army (DCGS-A) has developed and demonstrated technology for
users of the U.S. Army's battlefield networks that allows access
to actionable intelligence from virtually anywhere in the field.
HMS Talent, the recently upgraded Royal Navy attack submarine
has rejoined the active fleet. The nuclear powered submarine
went through a £386 million upgrade, which included enhancement
of its combat system with the introduction of the new Sonar
2076 systems and fresh reactor core.
Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today it is stopping procurement
of parts for any new C-17s not under contract or firmly committed.
This move is expected to cause significant workforce reductions
beginning in early 2008, leading to complete shutdown of the
production line in mid-2009, should no further orders be received
for the aircraft.
Sikorsky unveiled yesterday at Heli-Expo the first S-92 helicopter
dedicated to Search and Rescue at the world's largest helicopter
gathering. The new aircraft is entering service for the United
Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2007. The SAR configuration
includes two internal auxiliary fuel tanks of 210 gallons each.
The EU decided to reduce its forces based in Bosnia-Herzegovina
and change their deployment to more centralized structure. In
December, EU foreign ministers agreed, in principle, to transition
EUFOR from a large dispersed force structure to a smaller, centralized
structure, in light of the continually improving security situation
in the region. The resulting reduction in force levels, from
approximately 6000 troops to 2500, will allow Bosnia-Herzegovina
to take more control of its own affairs. The UK announced its
battle group in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be withdrawn at the
end of April 2007
Armor Holdings
to Supply Armored Cabs for Medium Trucks
Armor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AH) will produce Low Signature Armored
Cabs (LSAC) for the US Army's received a contract modification
valued at up to $50.3 million for production of Family of Medium
Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) under a US$50.4 million contract. Work
will be performed in 2007 to address urgent requirements for
heavy armored
vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jeffery Pino Sikorsky Aircraft President considers this new
technology is one the major pillars for the company's future
growth. Sikorsky's X2 Technology demonstrator conducted a successful
ground test in November 2006. The X2 Demonstrator is scheduled
to take flight in 2007.
