SeaWaves Naval News November 23, 2006

MTC Wins $8.4 Million to Modify Coast Guard Aircraft

Dayton OH November 21, 2006 - MTC Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries, a significant provider of engineering, information technology, and other technical solutions to the Department of Defense and national security agencies, announced today that the Company has been awarded an $8.4 million potential value contract to modify United States Coast Guard (USCG) HC-130H and HU-25 aircraft by installing a Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU) and integrating it with a Crash Survivable Data Recorder.

MTC will perform the overall program management and integration engineering. Subcontractor, Teledyne Control Systems of Los Angeles, California will provide the FDAU systems. A total of 47 FDAU systems may be installed to provide state-of-the-art data collection capabilities.

The five-year contract, including a basic year and four-option years, was awarded by the USCG Aircraft Repair and Supply Center at Elizabeth City, North Carolina. MTC will manage the work from the Engineering Solutions Division in Warner Robins, Georgia.

We are particularly proud to have been selected to provide this enhancement to strengthen the Coast Guard's operational posture," stated Jim Clark, MTC Executive Vice President and Director, Air Forces Group. "This award furthers our strategic vision of being a major supplier of systems modernization and sustainment solutions. We are very excited by this effort that supports our strategic initiative to capture work in the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security modernization market."

MTC, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, delivers Warfighter solutions involving systems engineering, information technology, intelligence, and program management services primarily to the Department of Defense. Cited by Forbes as #54 of "America's 200 Best Small Companies 2006", by Washington Technology as 34th in revenue growth among the "Top 100" of IT Federal Prime Contractors, and ranked 2nd by Aviation Week & Space Technology as the "Top Performing Small Company," MTC, with its subsidiaries, employs approximately 2,900 people in more than 40 locations. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio.

Lockheed Martin-Built DSCS Satellites Mark 175 Years on Orbit

Sunnyvale CA November 21, 2006 - A US Air Force/Lockheed Martin team announced today that the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III constellation, which provides vital communications capabilities to America's military forces worldwide, has surpassed 175-years of on-orbit service.

The DSCS constellation, which includes nine active satellites in geostationary orbit, provides uninterrupted secure voice and high-data rate communications to Department of Defense and other government users, essential tools in monitoring events and deploying and sustaining forces anywhere in the world.

Each DSCS III satellite has a design life of 10-years, although several of the DSCS satellites on-orbit today have far exceeded their design life and continue to perform with outstanding results. The DSCS team was recently named a winner of the 2006 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award by the US Air Force for developing innovative methods for estimating and maximizing the fuel on board the DSCS satellite constellation.

"We are very proud of the DSCS program's impressive record of performance and longevity," said Leonard F. Kwiatkowski, vice president and general manager of Military Space Programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "DSCS has served as the backbone of military communications capabilities and will continue to play a pivotal role on our national security for many years to come."

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor for the DSCS III program. The company designed and built 14 DSCS spacecraft for the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles, Calif. The final four spacecraft featured Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades designed to provide users with improved and uninterrupted secure voice and high data rate communications. The last satellite was successfully launched on August 29, 2003.

Lockheed Martin is also progressing on the Department of Defense's highly secure communications satellite system known as the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system, with development of the first AEHF satellite proceeding on schedule towards an April 2008 launch. AEHF is the successor to the Lockheed Martin-built Milstar secure communications system, which has reached 36 years of combined successful operations on-orbit.

The company is leveraging its proven record of building advanced military communications systems for the next-generation Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT), which will ultimately replace the DSCS, Milstar and Advanced EHF programs. The Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman TSAT Space Segment team is currently working under a Risk Reduction and System Definition phase, with the Air Force expected to award a multi-billion dollar development contract to a single contractor in 2008.

Apopka FL November 21, 2006 - Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a contract from the US Navy to supply lightweight, laser target designators for use by US forces in conflicts around the world. The target designators determine the distance to a target and place precision guided munitions on an exact position.

Northrop Grumman's Laser Systems business unit will immediately begin providing the AN/PEQ-1B Laser Target Designator and associated items to the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane, Ind., with final deliveries expected to be complete by Sept. 2009.

Used extensively by US forces, the AN/PEQ-1B has proven effective on the battlefield and in urban combat where precision targeting is key to avoiding collateral damage.

"This contract is significant because it allows US forces a quick and effective means for obtaining laser target designators," said Gregory Williams, general manager of the company's Laser Systems business unit. "Not only does the contract streamline the procurement process, but it also reinforces our customer's satisfaction with what we have delivered so far and emphasizes their confidence in our ability to continue giving them exactly what they need on the battlefield."

Lockheed Martin-Built DSCS Satellites Mark 175 Years

Sunnyvale CA November 21, 2006 - A US Air Force/Lockheed Martin team announced today that the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III constellation, which provides vital communications capabilities to America's military forces worldwide, has surpassed 175-years of on-orbit service.

The DSCS constellation, which includes nine active satellites in geostationary orbit, provides uninterrupted secure voice and high-data rate communications to Department of Defense and other government users, essential tools in monitoring events and deploying and sustaining forces anywhere in the world.

Each DSCS III satellite has a design life of 10-years, although several of the DSCS satellites on-orbit today have far exceeded their design life and continue to perform with outstanding results. The DSCS team was recently named a winner of the 2006 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award by the US Air Force for developing innovative methods for estimating and maximizing the fuel on board the DSCS satellite constellation.

"We are very proud of the DSCS program's impressive record of performance and longevity," said Leonard F. Kwiatkowski, vice president and general manager of Military Space Programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "DSCS has served as the backbone of military communications capabilities and will continue to play a pivotal role on our national security for many years to come."

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor for the DSCS III program. The company designed and built 14 DSCS spacecraft for the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles, Calif. The final four spacecraft featured Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades designed to provide users with improved and uninterrupted secure voice and high data rate communications. The last satellite was successfully launched on August 29, 2003.

Lockheed Martin is also progressing on the Department of Defense's highly secure communications satellite system known as the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system, with development of the first AEHF satellite proceeding on schedule towards an April 2008 launch. AEHF is the successor to the Lockheed Martin-built Milstar secure communications system that has reached 36 years of combined successful operations on-orbit.

The company is leveraging its proven record of building advanced military communications systems for the next-generation Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT), which will ultimately replace the DSCS, Milstar and Advanced EHF programs. The Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman TSAT Space Segment team is currently working under a Risk Reduction and System Definition phase, with the Air Force expected to award a multi-billion dollar development contract to a single contractor in 2008.

Munich November 21, 2006 - Boeing today announced the completion of a major mission system production upgrade for the first NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft under the $1.32 billion Mid-Term Modernization Program.

Boeing delivered the aircraft to NATO during a ceremony at the European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) facility in Manching, Germany. EADS, as an industry partner and subcontractor to Boeing, completed the modification on schedule.

The entire fleet of 17 AWACS aircraft, based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, is on track to be upgraded in 2008. Boeing also is modifying two NATO AWACS mission simulators into the Mid-Term configuration.

"Achieving this milestone represents the culmination of a true international effort by many talented people from across North America and Europe, including NATO, the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program Management Agency, Force Command, the U.S Air Force and more than 15 key subcontractors from 12 nations," said Lee Strom, Boeing NATO AWACS Mid-Term Program production and retrofit program manager.

"This has been, and will continue to be, a prime example of how great companies and their customers can work together on a global scale to field a world-class product," he continued. "NATO AWACS is now the premier airborne surveillance aircraft."

The enhancements provide a superior view of the battlespace by integrating data from various AWACS sensors, as well as from other sources, and an increased capacity in the number of targets it can manage.

This highly capable mission system provides NATO AWACS aircraft with the ability to receive mission orders from remote locations and updates via satellite data links and electronically integrate them via the mission computing system.

The system offers increased interoperability with other AWACS platforms as well as with fighter aircraft, ground stations, ships and satellites.

The enhancements include:

• New situation display consoles with flat-panel displays offering a Windows-like environment;
• A mission computing system with an open architecture allowing cost-effective future upgrades to the hardware and software;
• Multi-sensor integration that improves the reliability and accuracy of target tracks and identification and eases operator workload;
• Digital communications systems to improve crew access and use of radio links including improved over-the-horizon communication via satellite links;
• Broad-spectrum VHF radios that will support increased operations with Eastern European nations' air and ground forces. An improved identification friend or foe system compatible with emerging international air traffic control systems requirements; and
• Upgraded aircraft navigation that takes advantage of the new Global Positioning System.

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London November 21, 2006 - Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday visited elements of the UK Task Force at Camp Bastion, the largest British base in Helmand province.

The Prime Minister visited UK and Coalition Troops at Camp Bastion in Southern Afghanistan. He arrived a little after dawn at the dirt airstrip in an RAF C130 aircraft. He was met by the Chief of the Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and the Commander of UK Forces, Brigadier Jerry Thomas.

A cross section from all three services, detachments from the Estonian and Danish military and staff from the FCO and DfiD were present as the Prime Minister met over 800 service personnel not on essential operational duty. He toured a number of displays of equipment currently in use in the province and spent almost an hour chatting with troops just back in from up to 5 weeks on patrol.

As well as meeting UK forces the Prime Minister also met armored infantry from Estonia and Denmark who are operating alongside UK forces throughout the province. He also met local Afghan translators and took the opportunity to thank them for their support.

Washington November 22, 2006 - Today is John Wood’s last day as my Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security. John has ably served at my side since my earliest days at the department. He is a trusted friend and colleague, on whom I have counted on for wise counsel on the most critical issues that we face and for his leadership in managing the day-to-day business of the department.

John is a very talented attorney and leader who has served the President since the beginning of the Administration, including at the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and twice at the Department of Justice. John began his service in the Administration in 2001 at the Department of Justice as Deputy Associate Attorney General and Counsel to the Associate Attorney General, where he helped oversee the department’s five civil litigating divisions. John also served at the White House as Deputy General Counsel for the Office of Management and Budget, where he worked on the Administration’s major legislative, regulatory, management, and appropriations initiatives. John then returned to the Department of Justice to serve as Counselor to the Attorney General, where he advised the Attorney General on a broad range of issues. Since joining the Department of Homeland Security in February 2005, he has helped integrate the department’s components and has improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the department in ways that will help make the American people safer for years to come.

I am grateful for John’s service and dedication to the American people, and thank him for his lasting contributions to our security, both during his time at the Department of Homeland Security and in his previous tenures at the Department of Justice. I will miss John personally and professionally, and wish him well in his future endeavors. I look forward to continuing our friendship.

Washington November 21, 2006 - The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Department of State announced today the official requirement for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere beginning January 23, 2007.

"The ability to misuse travel documents to enter this country opens the door for a terrorist to carry out an attack. We can not continue to allow loopholes that could facilitate access to the United States through false claims of citizenship or fake identities," said DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. "This initiative strengthens our border security by designating verifiable secure documents that may be used at our air ports of entry."

The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

Limiting the types of documents presented will result in a more efficient border. There are more than 8,000 different state and local entities in the United States that issue birth certificates and driver’s licenses. Currently, a CBP officer needs to assess the authenticity of each birth certificate and license, regardless of when or where it was issued. The challenge at the borders is how to assess individual travelers, based on the documents they present, without significantly slowing the processing time for admission into the United States.

CBP officers intercepted more than 75,000 fraudulent documents in fiscal year 2005 and apprehended more than 84,000 individuals at the ports of entry trying to cross the border with fraudulent claims of citizenship or documents.

The only acceptable alternative documents to a passport for air travel will be the Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) and the NEXUS Air card. The MMD or "z-card" is issued by the US Coast Guard to US merchant mariners and the NEXUS Air card is issued to citizens of Canada and the United States, lawful permanent residents of the United States and permanent residents of Canada who meet certain eligibility requirements. The NEXUS Air card may only be accepted when used in conjunction with the NEXUS Air program. The MMD card may only be accepted when used on official business by US Citizen Merchant Mariners. Members of the United States military, when traveling on official orders may continue to present their military ID and orders for entry.

A separate proposed rule addressing land and sea travel will be published at a later date with specific requirements for travelers entering the United States through land and sea border crossings. As early as January 1, 2008, US citizens traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea will be required to present a valid US passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain acceptable documents for land and sea entries.

Olympia WA November 21, 2006 - The Governor's Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) is accepting proposals for veterans' memorials in Washington state. The deadline for accepting proposals is Jan.1, 2007.

Funding for accepted proposals comes from the Veterans Remembrance Emblem Fund. The fund - established in 1990 - is administered by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Licensing.

The Emblem Fund permits eligible veterans to purchase and display approved decals on their vehicle license plates through the Department of Licensing, with net fees being deposited in a special account held by the state treasurer

RCW 46.16.332 allows disbursement of these funds by the VAAC, for direct costs of contracting, contract administration and project administration related to: projects that pay tribute to living and deceased veterans; upkeep and operations of existing memorials and; land acquisition and construction of new memorials.

The VAAC - under the leadership of Chair William Schrier - is composed of 17 members and advises the governor and the director of the Department of Veterans Affairs on issues and programs concerning veterans.

New York November 21, 2006 - Expressing shock after learning of today's assassination of Lebanon's Minister of Industry Pierre Gemayel, Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all parties in the troubled country to "maintain national unity at this critical moment."

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Annan condemned the murder of Mr. Gemayel, "who believed strongly in an independent, democratic and united Lebanon," and offered his deepest sympathies to the late minister's family and to the Lebanese Government.

Mr. Gemayel died after being shot in his car while travelling through the capital, Beirut.

Noting that the killing took place a day after the Security Council considered his report on the establishment of a special tribunal to deal with last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Mr. Annan said in his statement that "such acts of terrorism undermine Lebanon's stability, are unacceptable and have no place in a democratic and open society."

He added "the perpetrators and instigators of today's attack must be brought to justice to ensure an end to impunity."

The Security Council set up the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) in April 2005 after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon's own investigation into the Hariri assassination was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the assassination. Its mandate runs until next June.

Serge Brammertz, the head of the IIIC, told the Council in September that evidence obtained so far suggests that a young, male suicide bomber, probably non-Lebanese, detonated up to 1,800 kilograms of explosives inside a van to assassinate Mr. Hariri. The bombing in Beirut also killed 22 others.

The IIIC has been tasked with probing 14 other bombings that have occurred in Lebanon since October 2004, and Mr. Brammertz said evidence points towards his earlier conclusion that many of them were connected.

Pearl Harbor November 21, 2006 - USS Ohio (SSGN 726) moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor Nov. 20 marking the first time the newly-converted guided-missile submarine, or SSGN, has visited the historic port.

"Our motto, ‘Always First’ truly describes it. Ohio’s first at everything we’ve done; it’s great to be first at this," said Command Master Chief (SS) Larry Hamon, Ohio’s chief of the boat.

Commissioned in 1981, Ohio was the lead ship of its class designed to carry Trident missiles for strategic deterrence, and was the first ship of its class to have those missiles removed as part of its conversion to SSGN.

The SSGN’s primary mission is to clandestinely insert and support special operations forces ashore. It also has the ability to launch precision strikes ashore with Tomahawk missiles.

Both capabilities are increasingly important in the global war on terrororism, said Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, during a return to service ceremony last February.

"This platform has truly been a case study in transforming our military capabilities to meet the future needs of our joint forces," said Giambastiani. "In doing so, the Ohio has proven our concepts are validated as the SSGN prepares for our uncertain future by being on station and providing a forward deployed presence, adaptability and modularity."

Ohio, homeported in Bangor, Wash., is conducting training exercises and work-ups in the Hawaiian Islands in preparation for its maiden deployment as an SSGN next year. Dual crews will allow the ship to deploy for extended periods, conducting crew swaps in forward locations. Ohio can carry as many as 154 Tomahawk or Tactical Tomahawk land attack missiles, and can insert, extract and support as many as 102 special operations forces personnel, utilizing either dual dry-deck shelters or the Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS). Its onboard command center and state-of-the-art communications systems give it the ability to direct joint operations ashore.

Hamon said it was fitting that Pearl Harbor is Ohio’s first port visit as an SSGN.

"This is where submarine history was made," said Hamon. "It’s very good for them to see the various landmarks on the old submarine area of the base. This is really where the modern era of submarines began."

Ohio completed its SSGN conversion in February, and USS Florida (SSGN 726) completed its conversion in May. USS Georgia (SSGN 729) and USS Michigan (SSGN 727) are also in the conversion process and are scheduled to return to the fleet over the next two years. After conversion, each submarine is expected to remain in service for 20 years.

London November 21, 2006 - Being a ship's chaplain these days can be a challenging job. Not just there for spiritual and pastoral guidance Royal Navy chaplains undertake a wide variety of tasks, from the traditional chaplain's role, to providing advice on education and resettlement, and even to being asked what the winning lottery numbers are going to be.

Chaplain Ned Kelly is the resident chaplain on HMS Albion. Albion is currently involved in the VELA Deployment, a large-scale exercise that has been taking place off the coast of Sierra Leone.

Here Ned talks about his pastoral role in the Royal Navy, the mickey taking he gets as the 'voice of God' onboard a modern Royal Navy ship along with his penchant for real ale and his love of Birmingham City Football Club.

"My role traditionally has always been described as a friend and pastor to all on board but that's a very broad canvas to paint on," he explained. "In modern, I suppose 'managerial speak', that's actually thinned down and defined quite specifically now. In essence though we're still very much the friend and pastor to all on board.

"That means of any tradition of faith, background and of course from no faith, tradition and background. I don't spend a great deal of my time talking about overtly religious issues with people but I spend a vast amount of my time talking about issues that impinge on those sort of areas. For example, I would never speak about the resurrection, or rising from the dead or the Easter story to a variety of sailors.

"But it's very common for me to have a conversation with people just going about their normal lives, about the impact of the death of a friend, or the death of a grandparent, or a view such as that which may have a slight edge or a way of coming across in the same sort of spiritual dimension.

"I have several other roles on board which help me go about my job as the chaplain. Things like facilitating and liasing with the education department in HMS Drake, our homeport, and also resettlement for people who are leaving the Navy.

"They are very much tools that I can draw close to people to help them. These don't necessarily have to be done by the chaplain or the minister figure but it's certainly a useful tool to help me to get to know the ship's company."

Chaplain Kelly has kept himself quite busy while HMS Albion has been taking part in Exercise Green Eagle, the main thrust of the VELA Deployment:

"I've been getting to know a lot of our embarked staff," he explained. "I've been on HMS Albion for over a year now so I feel as though I know the ship's company and they know me. But getting to know the embarked staff, who have just come on board for the exercise, is less easy to do but still an important part.

"In some cases people may have a particular crisis – problems at home, a problem with the wider family, in which case we may involve our support facilities shoreside in whichever home port they may live. Other problems may be less serious.

"There's a certain amount of providing for worship which goes on, that's an important part of my job. I do morning and evening prayer each day and, of course, I do the regular Sunday Service.

"Sunday services don't take that much of my time to organize actually. Whereas a civilian vicar would be spending a great deal of his time around Sunday activity I tend to do more of mine around the Monday to Saturday, the Sunday Service, although a very important part, doesn't demand that much of my time.

"Of course it's not all problems and worries that people go and see 'The Bish' about! There are often happier occasions to call at the chaplain's cabin. Planning weddings and the baptism of the newborn being two classic reasons. And indeed as I oversee the Education and Resettlement programs on board there is often a call at the door about something that is not overtly about faith issues."

Being on a ship does, though, mean privacy is harder to find, according to Ned:

"Private life? Sometimes I don't think I have one! The role and task of being a chaplain in the navy often means that you are never 'off duty' when in a sea-going appointment as you are watch on-stop on!

"But that's not meant to sound heroic or like a complaint as this is a way of life that I have chosen and I would see it very much as a response to the vocational call by Christ to serve him.

"And who would have thought that my vocation would have led me to spend some time in the jungle with the Royal Marines, as I have during the recent VELA deployment.

"I suppose that many people feel as though a chaplain has a direct line to God: and this often is the source of much humor and mickey taking. From asking us what the lottery numbers are going to be, to seeing if we can control the weather – all chaplains are used to those tongue in cheek requests.

"I recall in ALBION, during Exercise Neptune Warrior, being piped to the Ops Room. Apparently a broken bit of electronic communications kit was not working and resisting all attempts at repair. The Command thought that if all else fails to work....try prayer: and so I was called for. They expected me to take the teasing in good part – what they didn't expect was for the equipment to spring into life as soon as I said a prayer! Now what was that about a direct line?

"Living on the ship all the time is a way of life that I have chosen and a particular style of Naval Chaplaincy which I think fits in well with my talents and strengths in ministry. I don't think of myself as a 'Naval Orphan', but just as a modern day disciple living an exciting life of mission and ministry at sea.

"Of course, I do get some time off. And if I get a half a chance I like to keep up my keen interests in Real Ale and football....in fact the perfect Saturday afternoon away from the ship would be having a few pints of Hobgoblin whilst watching Birmingham City win – but life's not perfect is it?"