• US Army Launches a Mobile High Energy Laser Weapon Demonstrator
• International Receives Orders for 755 more MRAPs
• ScanEagle Deployment in Iraq Could Earn Boeing $381 Million
• PVI Introduces a New Armor Protecting Against EFPs
• FCS Team Gets Green Light To Prepare for Production
• US Navy Receives Short-Range Ballistic Missile Interceptor
• Industry Team Introduce an All-Composite HMMWV
• US-German Cooperation Focus on Advanced Radar Killer
• Predator Combat UAV Patrols to Nearly Double by 2010
• Initial Combat Experience Yields Positive Feedback for Land Warrior

Stumble It!

Recent News Analysis:

• Turkey's Democracy Put to Crucial Test
  Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has won a convincing victory in the July 2007 elections, but despite the opposition's claims, it plans to allow only few Islamic values in future government institutions. Turkey is concerned with the fundamentalist rise sponsored by neighboring Iran's radical regime. Therefore, as Erdogan's moderate leadership maintains its wise and balanced political leadership, Turkey could be on the right track.
• The Jordanian Badr Brigade - Can it Save Abu Mazen's West Bank?
  The Palestinian Fatah movement is eager to project a new image - no longer brutal terrorists - meet the new Fatah - ordinary cops with polished boots and well-pressed uniforms, assisting in the splendidly routine business of maintaining law and order among their own people. They May be able to sell this image abroad but can they hold against their own millitants, from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad?

To receive Defense Update newsbrief by Email please enter your Email: Powered by FeedBlitz Subscribe to get our upcoming features first Upcoming Events (July - August2007): NEW! 2008 Plan is now online AUVSI 2006 - 7-9 August, Washington, DC USA FPED 2007 - 14 - 18 August - Stafford, Virginia USA TADTE 2007 - 16-19 August - Taipei, Taiwan MAKS 2007 - 21 - 26 August, Moscow, Russia
	Army Launches a Mobile High Energy Laser Weapon Demonstrator Boeing [NYSE: BA] won a $7 million US Army contract to design key elements for a truck mounted High Energy Laser (HEL) that will demonstrate the capability to destroy rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds. The Army US Army Space and Missile Defense Command has yet to announce its selection of the Solid State Laser provider for the program. Boeing's share of the program could increase up to $50 million if both phase I and II options are exercised. The Army US Army Space and Missile Defense Command has yet to announce its selection of the Solid State Laser provider for the program.
	International Receives Orders for 755 more MRAPs International Military and Government LLC, of Warrenville, Illinois received a fourth production order for 755 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I vehicles. The current $414 million contract brings the total orders awarded to IMG to over $1.045 billion, placing it the first place among all MRAP suppliers. The Pentagon expects to receive all vehicles produced by IMG, including 1,955 Category I and 16 heavier (Category II), before February 2008.
	ScanEagle Deployment in Iraq Could Earn Boeing $381 Million The Pentagon has awarded Boeing with a framework for UAV reconnaissance and surveillance services in support of the US Marine Corps' I and II Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEFs) deployed in Iraq . The framework order is worth $10 million for services provided till the year's end. This contract includes options for continued services until 2010, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative orders value up to $381.5million. Boeing is providing these services with the ScanEagle tactical UAV system.
	FCS Team Gets Green Light To Prepare for Production Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, today announced that the US Army has authorized planning for FCS low-rate initial production, including long-lead items for the first FCS capability Spin Out and Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) early production units which will carry the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) planned for fielding in 2010, according to a Congressional mandate.
	PVI Introduces a New Armor Protecting Against EFPs Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) cause 70 percent of the casualties in Iraqi and use of the weapon is spreading in Afghanistan. Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFP) are among the most lethal types of IEDs and historically the most difficult to stop. PVI’s MRAP vehicle, the Golan, already stops many EFP threats and the new types of armor will soon offer additional capabilities to protect other military vehicles stand up to EFPs - a new armor type developed by RAFAEL, which is already operational, and the new ShieldAll, developed by PVI.
	Predator Combat UAV Patrols to Nearly Double by 2010 The Air Force is seeking the acceleration in fielding of Combat Air Patrols (CAP) maintained by MQ-1 armed Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, from 12 orbits currently operating in Iraq and Southwest Asia to 21 Predator combat air patrols by December 2009. Three additional CAPs will be deployed soon to Iraq, boosting full motion video and rapid strike capability to the Joint Force Commander. Two of these CAPs are expected to be active this summer or by early fall.
	US-German Cooperation Focus on Advanced Radar Killer Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK) and German defense contractor MBDA LFK-Lenkflugkorpersysteme GmbH will jointly pursue potential international sales of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). The cooperation focuses particularly on the interest of the German Ministry of Defense in product improvement of the AARGM and additional derivatives of the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). Italy has already partnered with ATK on the AARGM two years ago. The AARGM program plans a series of additional launches during the SD&D phase and expects to begin Low Rate Initial Production in FY08.