EADS is keen to make “reasonable” acquisitions in the field of defense security and services in the U.S. over the next few years, Chief Executive Louis Gallois said over the weekend.
The U.S. has the largest defense budget in the world and EADS has been trying for years to win a bigger share of that market. [...]
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EADS is keen to make defense acquisitions in the U.S.
Border Drones Plagued by Mishaps, Pilot Shortage
Despite high-profile support for flying unmanned aircraft along the U.S. border with Mexico, the camera-equipped drones are far from a technological magic bullet for fighting illegal immigration. Testimony presented to the House Homeland Security Committee highlights a number of problems facing Customs and Border Patrol’s drone fleet, including a high accident rate and a pilot [...]
3,000 Laptops Stolen From Mil Contractor
Thieves allegedly took an estimated 3,000 laptop computers from the Florida warehouse of a military contractor, police said.
The thieves arrived by car at iGov Technologies in Tampa, a contractor for the top secret U.S. Special Operations Command, and broke in through the roof, the St. Petersburg Times reported Monday.
The heist took place during a 9-hour [...]
Turkish minister reveals purchase of 27 attack helicopters
Today’s Zaman (Turkey)
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül has said that, in addition to an earlier decision to buy nine Italian AgustaWestland-made A129 attack helicopters, Turkey has also decided to lease nine A129s to meet the urgent needs of the Turkish military.
A Turkish request for the purchase of nine US-made Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters is also [...]
White House To Streamline Arms Export License Process
U.S. President Barack Obama plans to send Congress legislation this year to create a single agency to issue arms export licenses, the chief of the National Security Council said June 30.
The new agency would take over licensing tasks from the Departments of State, Commerce and Treasury, said James Jones, Obama’s national security adviser.
The move is [...]
New agency will house export rules
National Security Adviser James Jones on Wednesday announced the creation of a new and independent agency that will merge all export licensing activities under a board of directors reporting to the president.
The move, backed by some of the nation’s most powerful trade associations and companies, is part of the Obama administration’s sweeping effort to overhaul [...]
Pentagon: high-tech intelligence tools more than big guns and heavy armor
Boeing has agreed to acquire Argon ST for USD775 million in a deal value that exceeds previous estimates for the C4ISR specialist, reflecting strong rival bidding from Boeing’s peers. This acquisition reflect a shift by defense contractors seeking to accommodate a Pentagon that now wants high-tech intelligence tools as much or more than big guns [...]
U.S. Signs 2nd-Stage U.S.-EU Aviation Agreement
Cynthia Stroum, the US Ambassador to Luxembourg and Susan Kurland, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, along with representatives of the European Union (EU) and its 27 member nations, today formally signed an aviation agreement that continues the expansion of air services set in place by the 2007 U.S.-EU [...]
EU SeaBILLA (Sea Border Surveillance) program unveiled
SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica company, has launched the European research and development project SeaBILLA (Sea Border Surveillance).
SeaBILLA, proposed to the European Union as a research and development project on maritime and boarders surveillance, has recently obtained a funding of about 15,5 million Euros within the 7° Framework Programme “Security Research Call2”.
The Finmeccanica company is [...]
U.S. and EU Sign Deal to Boost Cooperation on Air Traffic
The U.S. and the European Union expect to sign as soon as Friday an agreement that will increase cooperation on their new-generation systems for highly efficient air-traffic management, people close to the talks say.
Authorities from both sides of the Atlantic have been working for years to develop satellite-based navigation equipment that will enable pilots to [...]
EU nations decide on airport body scanners
European Union nations should decide on their own whether to use body scanners at airports, but the technology employed must be up to EU standards.
“It is for each member state to decide to authorise the use of scanners in national airports. That will not change,” Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said in a statement.
“But where this [...]
EDA Study on Integration of UAS Into General Air Traffic
Thales announced that it has reached the end of a decisive year-long European technical design study, called SIGAT – (Study on military frequency spectrum allocations for the Insertion into General Air Traffic of UAS).
Kicking off in early 2009, SIGAT was aimed at defining and promoting a common European position on the appropriate command and control [...]
Italy Navy Launches EU Operations Command Center
The Italian Navy has launched a new land-based command facility that will be offered for use controlling European Union naval operations.
Established at the Navy’s fleet command center at Santa Rosa, north of Rome, the new center has reached initial operating capability and will be fully operational in the first half of 2011, officials said.
The first [...]
Adoption of a U.S.- EU and EU Member States Declaration on Counterterrorism
The Council of Ministers of Interior and Justice of the European Union adopted a U.S.- EU and EU Member States Declaration on Counterterrorism.
Attorney General Eric Holder, who attended the EU/G6 Conference of Interior Ministers declared: “The Council’s adoption of this Declaration is a crucial step forward in our mutual fight against terrorism. I attended the [...]
Two Men Arrested for Terrorism at Kennedy Aiport
Two New Jersey men who were bound for Somalia to join an Islamic extremist group and to kill American troops were arrested at Kennedy International Airport on 6/6. The men, Mohamed Haoud Alessa, 20, and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, 24, were to join Al Shabaab, which claims ideological kinship with Al Qaeda and which was thought [...]
Obama Administration Unveils Security Strategy
The Obama administration Thursday unveiled its new national security strategy, recognizing the need for military force but as a last resort and stressing the need to increase international diplomatic cooperation.
President Barack Obama said in the 52-page document the military should be used but not overextended. And taking a wider view of national security, Mr. Obama [...]
BAE TSS: 95 M$ for security systems to control access to Army bases
BAE Systems has received a U.S. Army contract worth up to $95 million to install and maintain automated security systems to control access to Army bases and other installations. This award expands the company’s work in supporting physical security at government sites.
The automated installation entry systems use software and hardware to verify information on individuals [...]
Papp Takes Helm of Coast Guard
The Coast Guard’s quintessential ship captain, Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., took charge of the service Tuesday.
The Coast Guard has been going through a transformational period, under the header of “modernization.” Everything from how the leadership is organized to how the missions are supported will be different.
It’s an effort to prepare for future challenges, including [...]
US CBP and China Sign MOU to Enhance Supply Chain Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Supply Chain Security and Facilitation. The CBP-China Customs Memorandum of Understanding will serve as a key component of a cooperative security and trade relationship between the two nation’s [...]
G8/G20 security bill to hit $833 million
CTV News has learned that Ottawa expects to spend $833 million on security for next month’s G8 and G20 summits.
[montreal.ctv.ca] In March, the federal government had allocated $179 million for its security budget. But under new estimates that will be introduced in the House of Commons later Tuesday, these costs should increase by $654 million [...]
New UK National Security Council Established
The inaugural meeting of a National Security Council, which will discuss the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron today, Wednesday 12 May 2010.The National Security Council (NSC) being established by the Prime Minister will oversee all aspects of Britain’s security and the council will also be reviewing the [...]
AgustaWestland Will Bid on New Marine One
AgustaWestland (AW) told that the company is still in the hunt for the U.S. VXX Presidential helicopter replacement program, commonly known as Marine One. Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, the chairman and CEO of AW parent company Finmeccanica, suggested that AW could partner with Boeing and L-3 for the contract.
The original program was canceled last year amid [...]
Terrorism cell used to fund Islamic network dismantled
Five people were arrested in Italy, Britain and France as part of an investigation into the funding of a network of Islamic terrorism.
This was announced in The Hague, Eurojust, the European body for judicial cooperation.
In Italy two people have been arrested in Milan and Rome as part of an investigation conducted by Italian police since [...]
DCNS to Self-Fund Construction of Highly Innovative OPV
DCNS, a leading player on the world market for capital warships, also aims to win new business in the corvette/OPV sector. In line with this policy, the Group has decided to self-fund the construction of a Gowind offshore patrol vessel. The new ship is designed for a wide range of government missions at sea. Shipbuilding [...]
NY plans 24M$ for new Security Programs
The Police Department has been planning a high-tech security network for Midtown Manhattan involving surveillance cameras, license plate readers and chemical sensors, although it was not clear whether it could have prevented the attempted car bombing in Times Square on Saturday night.
The network, patterned after one under development in Lower Manhattan, would eventually use public [...]
Finmeccanica warms to UK alliances
The head of Italy’s largest defence group says his country should co-operate with the UK on a new generation of unmanned aircraft, helicopters and warships.
Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, chief executive and chairman of Finmeccanica, argues the two countries are the best fit in Europe given their similar foreign policies and common defence equipment programmes.
“All the focus [...]
Cobham to upgrade and support Air Defence and Air Traffic Services for UK MoD
Cobham will upgrade and support key air traffic control systems and operations for the UK Ministry of Defence through to at least 2015, after being awarded three contracts totalling GBP12 million. The contracts include the Watchman Radar Viewing Unit and Airfield Radar Integration projects, where Cobham will continue to support existing installed equipment and the [...]
About the need for increased rail security
Report of the hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, chaired by senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), to examine the security of our nation’s railroads and other surface transportation networks. In light of a bombing on a commuter train in Russia that left 40 dead last month, Lautenberg called the hearing to [...]
French navy (EU NAVAL FORCE) captures six pirates
Six pirates have been arrested after they launched an attack on a French military supply ship by mistake off the coast of Somalia, the EU’s naval force said Wednesday.
Pirates in two skiffs attacked the Somme ship overnight on Monday, about 300 kilometres off the coast of Somalia.
The French fired back and the speedboats fled.
No one [...]
Sikorsky, Lockheed team to bid for US presidential helicopter
Lockheed sees possible US Navy award in 2011 or 2012
Lockheed still negotiating termination of VH-71 (AgustaWestland/Finmeccanica) with Navy
Former rivals Sikorsky Aircraft and Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said they would join forces in a follow-on U.S. Navy presidential helicopter competition even as Lockheed continued to negotiate a settlement over termination of the previous program.
Under the teaming agreement, [...]