Cash-Strapped Armscor Set for Shake-Up

Johannesburg March 14, 2007 (AA) - Government's cash-strapped arms acquisition giant Armscor is to be dismembered and is set to lose its research, evaluation, acquisition and procurement functions to standalone agencies yet to be established.

Armscor was at the heart of the R53bn arms deal and some of the allegations of corruption surrounding the strategic arms package still involve the defense company and officials who worked for it. One of Armscor's functions in the deal was to manage, evaluate and adjudicate the tenders.

Defense analyst Helmoed Romer Heitman said yesterday he understood that in restructuring arms acquisition in the interests of streamlining and cost reduction, Armscor would be "wound down" and two new organizations would be created.

One of these will be the Defense Evaluation and Research Institute, known by the acronym Deri.

Heitman said it was not yet clear whether or not the second body, the Defense Acquisition Support Agency, would complement or replace the current acquisition process.

In Parliament's defense committee yesterday, Armscor CEO Sipho Thomo said he would have preferred the evaluation and research functions to be "consolidated" within Armscor but accepted that the decision had been taken to create Deri as a standalone institution. He said that there was nothing wrong with this and "the model is good".

Heitman said Deri would belong to the defense department, but two other key state departments, public enterprises and science and technology, would be represented on Deri's board.

The public enterprises department controls state armaments manufacturer Denel and science and technology controls the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

He said Deri would take over some of the functions from Denel and the CSIR. The restructuring was intended for next month but has been put off until next year.

Thomo and his Armscor team painted a bleak picture of the situation at the organization. He said the right sort of people for Armscor's core functions, most notably engineers with military knowledge, were not readily available on the job market.

The mainframe computer at Armscor was also outdated and there was little or no support for the computer language and management systems that it used, Thomo said.

Armscor has also been warned that its human resources system can no longer be supported from the end of April this year.

Skype Goes Beyond Voice and Introduces SkypeFind and Beta Version of Skype Prime

Luxembourg March 14, 2007 - Skype today announced Skype™ 3.1 for Windows, introducing SkypeFindTM and Skype PrimeTM (Beta), giving people new ways to share knowledge with one another. These new additions take Skype beyond simple voice and video calls into new markets where access to expertise and knowledge are essential commodities.

In less than four years, Skype has become a vibrant community of over 171 million registered users worldwide. SkypeFind is the latest in a series of features that give people more to do and share online. It marks a new wave in Internet communications that goes far beyond just talking or chatting.

Designed to be a community-generated guide, SkypeFind lets users rate, review and log their favorite businesses no matter where they live. Since launching in Beta three weeks ago, SkypeFind has attracted more than 4500 listings in over 124 countries and expects these listings to increase to over a million by the end of the year.

According to a recent report from Forrester Research, more than one quarter of online consumers have submitted a rating or review of a product or service or contributed to a discussion board ("Leveraging User-Generated Content," Brian Haven, January 25, 2007).

Sten Tamkivi, general manager of eCommerce for Skype says, "SkypeFind brings the global community to your doorstep. Skype users love sharing knowledge with one another because it is so liberating and empowering. SkypeFind is also so easy to use – even if you’re abroad. If you’re traveling in France and you want to find a great restaurant, just log onto Skype, click on SkypeFind and you have recommendations you can trust, direct from the Skype community."

Also launched today is the Beta release of Skype Prime – a new marketplace which brings together those people who have expertise or knowledge to sell with others who are seeking advice and happy to pay for it. Skype was built from the ground up and Skype Prime is no exception and is in the very early stages of its lifecycle.

Currently in its beta test phase, Skype Prime is reliant on how people and small businesses sell and share their expertise and knowledge on Skype. User feedback has always been a fundamental part of how Skype has evolved as a product and equally, a part of its popularity.

Giving millions of people and small businesses the opportunity to charge for their expertise, Skype Prime is a new direction for the company. Skype Prime offers Skype users the chance to make money and reach potential customers all over the world provided they are using Skype 3.1 for Windows. It is easy to set up and you can determine your own per minute or one-off fees.

Skype Prime fees are paid using PayPal and subject to a 30% charge by Skype for using the Skype Prime service.

Tamkivi adds that Skype Prime "is all about making the world a smaller place. If you are a financial advisor or astrologer, a sports coach or a tutor and you want to sell your expertise online, Skype Prime opens up a whole new market by letting you sell your knowledge to Skype’s global community."

Skype’s popularity originates in letting people make free Skype calls over the Internet. As the world’s largest Internet communications community, Skype is committed to giving its users the ability to set their conversations free at home, at work and on the move.

Skype is focused on further developing its ecosystem of more than 50 hardware partners and more than 160 Skype Certified™ devices to broaden the appeal of Skype to a wider base of users who want to use Skype away from the PC, no matter where they happen to be. This is especially true for Skype users who want to take advantage of the mobile Skype experience, which is already accessible to more than 5 million Skype users on over 120 different Windows Mobile® Smartphones and Pocket PC devices.

Ultralife Batteries Awarded Contract Worth Approximately $7M By UK Ministry of Defense

Newark March 14, 2007 - Ultralife Batteries, Inc. has received a contract valued at approximately $7 million to supply BA-5590 lithium-sulfur dioxide batteries to the U.K. Ministry of Defense. Ultralife will provide the MoD with batteries manufactured by EaglePicher Technologies, LLC through a supply agreement. Deliveries are expected to begin this quarter and be completed in the fourth quarter.

"This very significant contract offers clear evidence of the depth of Ultralife’s international selling capabilities," said John D. Kavazanjian, Ultralife’s president and chief executive officer. "While we already supply our industry-leading lithium-manganese dioxide BA-5390 batteries to the MoD, we recognize that our customers sometimes require alternatives. In this case our ability to win this contract by sourcing through EaglePicher represents a major achievement in unseating an incumbent supplier and demonstrates our flexibility in supplying our customers with the products they require."

"All of us at EaglePicher Technologies are thrilled that Ultralife has selected our 5590 battery as part of this significant win," said Steve Westfall, President, EaglePicher Technologies, LLC. "It is an example of how we are growing our business. As a supplier, our goal is to make this relationship seamless and transparent with quality products delivered on schedule."

Joining Ceremony for First Malaysian Scorpene

Cherbourg March 14, 2007 - The Chief of Staff of the Malaysian Navy, Admiral Ramlan, and the Chief of Staff of the French Navy, Admiral Oudot de Dainville, were present at the ceremony commemorating the joining of the fore- and aft-sections of the first Scorpene submarine being built for the Malaysian Navy. Also in attendance was the Chief executive officer of DCN, Jean-Marie Poimbœuf, along with representatives of DCN, Armaris and Navantia.

The contract was originally signed in June 2002 between the Malaysian government, DCN and the Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia. It concerns the building of two Scorpene-class submarines, and also covers a contract for training Malaysian crews in submarine handling and operations. These two contracts will allow the Royal Malaysian Navy to acquire a first-class submarine force.

The resistant and highly elastic hulls of the two submarines were each built in two sections by DCN in Cherbourg (thus four sections overall for the two vessels). This concept allowed for modular, parallel construction. While Navantia undertook the manufacturing and installation of vital equipment and furnishings in the two aft-sections of the vessels in Cartagena, Spain, DCN Cherbourg did the same on the two fore-sections, which included, among other things, the combat system. The finished aft-section of the first submarine was recently transferred from Cartagena to Cherbourg for the joining of the two sections; later the aft-section of the second submarine will be transferred from Cherbourg to Cartagena for its final assembly.

Armaris, a joint venture of DCN and Thales, is the overall prime contractor for the Malaysian submarine program. DCN shares industrial prime contracting and design responsibilities of the Scorpene-class submarine with its Spanish partner, Navantia.

Capable of operating in both brown and blue waters, the Scorpene is armed with Blackshark wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM 39 sub-launched, anti-surface-ship missiles. It can undertake a wide range of missions: dissuasion, superiority on the high seas, naval blockades, information gathering, landing or retrieval of Special Forces, etc. It can operate alone or in combination with air and sea forces. Ten submarines have been sold around the world: Chile (two vessels), Malaysia (two vessels) and India (six vessels). The Scorpene is already a benchmark on the world conventional submarine market.

ST Engineering's Marine Arm Awarded Submarine Rescue Contract by Singapore Navy Worth About $400m

Singapore March 14, 2007 - Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) today announced that its marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine), has been awarded a contract of about $400m to provide a ship and submarine rescue system and maintenance services to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The contract will be shared 60:40 between ST Marine and its partner, James Fisher Defense Limited (JFD).

The contract comprises two parts. The first is to design and build a fully integrated ship and submarine rescue system and the second is to operate and maintain the system over 20 years. ST Marine and JFD will set up a 50:50 joint venture company for the sole purpose of this contract.

This contract is not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year.

The ship and submarine rescue system comprises a Submarine Support and Rescue Vessel (SSRV) which can transport a Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) and its handling systems out to sea. The SSRV then lowers the SRV into the water to reach a submarine in distress.

Design of the SSRV will begin immediately, with construction expected to start in 3Q2007. The 20-year service contract will begin from 2Q2009, when the SSRV and SRV have been completed and integrated into a submarine rescue system.

"This is the first Private Public Partnership (PPP) project from the RSN. We are grateful to the RSN for entrusting ST Marine and James Fisher Defense with this very important program. James Fisher Defense is world renowned for its submarine rescue operations and we are delighted to have them as our partner in this program," said See Leong Teck, President, ST Marine.

JFD is a wholly owned subsidiary of James Fisher and Sons plc, UK's leading provider of marine services. It provides submarine rescue equipment and operating services to naval forces, including UK's Royal Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy.

ST Marine, ST Engineering's marine arm, provides turnkey building, repair and conversion services for a wide spectrum of naval and commercial vessels. In shipbuilding, it has the proven capabilities to provide turnkey solutions from concept definition to detailed design, construction, on-board system installation and integration, testing, commissioning to through-life support. It has also established a track record in providing high engineering content ship repair and ship conversion services for a worldwide clientele.

ST Engineering is an integrated engineering group providing solutions and services in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. Headquartered in Singapore, the Group reported revenues of $4.49b in FY2006. ST Engineering has more than 17,000 employees worldwide, and over 100 subsidiaries in 20 countries and 35 cities.

USCG Dedicates Lockheed Martin-Equipped Deepwater Shipboard Operations Training Facility

Petaluma CA March 14, 2007 - The US Coast Guard today formally opened its new Deepwater shipboard operations training facility at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma. Lockheed Martin equipped the $26 million facility with state-of-the-art simulators, radars and electronics equipment to train Coast Guard crews assigned to the new Legend- class of National Security Cutters.

In addition to National Security Cutter crews, the facility will train US Navy crews to operate and maintain the TRS-3D air search radar. In exchange, the Navy will train Coast Guard crews to operate the 57mm medium caliber deck gun.

"This state-of-the-art training facility will provide our Coast Guard and Navy crews the skills and expertise they need to sail our newest, most capable ships into the 21st Century," said Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, US Coast Guard Vice Commandant.

The new Deepwater training facility was dedicated in honor of the Coast Guard's first senior enlisted advisor to the commandant, the late Master Chief Petty Officer Charles L. Calhoun.

"We're proud to add advanced shipboard operations training to our already acclaimed technical and support schools," said Capt. Brian Marvin, commanding officer of Training Center Petaluma. "We'll soon be training Coast Guard and Navy crews on the very latest equipment using cutting edge techniques."

Crewmembers assigned to the first National Security Cutter, USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750), attended the Calhoun Building dedication and will begin training next week at the facility.

"The Coast Guard is long overdue for new equipment and capabilities," said Leo Mackay, Lockheed Martin Coast Guard Systems vice president and general manager. "As the Deepwater program continues to deliver new and upgraded tools to the fleet, it is heartening to know that the men and women at the Coast Guard's training centers are also being equipped to prepare those operators who will go in harm's way."

Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, was awarded the Deepwater contract in June 2002 and has been renewed through January 2011.

Raytheon Pays Homage to Pi and to the Importance of Math Education

Waltham MA March 14, 2007 - How many middle schoolers does it take to make a human Pi symbol? And, what irrational number is equal to a circle's circumference divided by its diameter? If you answered 90 to the first question, you'd be right. That's the number of middle school students who formed an enormous "Pi" at the Maurice J. Tobin School in Roxbury. The answer to the second question is the numerical constant Pi, celebrated today (3.14) in math departments, universities and organizations across the country. Raytheon Company with its 80,000 employees — 50,000 of whom are engineers — is paying homage to Pi with a visit to a local middle school, and through feature programming on its MathMovesU website, the company's middle school math initiative.

To celebrate Pi and show middle schoolers that math can be fun and engaging, Tobin students from grade six to grade eight enjoyed an "everything Pi" party featuring pizza, pie and ice cream, donned their MathMovesU T-shirts and formed a human Pi symbol in the playground adjoining the school. Before returning to class, students also received application forms for Raytheon's MathMovesU scholarship program, part of a $1 million initiative to reward teachers, schools and students who make math more engaging.

"MathMovesU has been designed to show middle schoolers that fun and math actually do go together," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, vice president of Engineering, Technology and Mission Assurance for Raytheon. "For example, if a student excels at video games, he or she could have what it takes to have an exciting future in science or engineering. As corporate citizens, we want to encourage them to keep an open mind about what's possible."

In addition to the festivities in Roxbury, on-line visitors to the MathMovesU website (www.mathmovesu.com) can celebrate Pi by testing their Pi IQ and participating in the weekly math challenge, answering Pi trivia questions or trying their hand at a customized Pi Sudoku puzzle.

Electronic Sensor Technology Appoints Gary Watson as Interim Chief Scientist

Newbury Park CA March 14, 2007 - Electronic Sensor Technology (EST) has just announced that it has accepted the resignation of Edward J. Staples as Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the company. Gary Watson, Vice President of Engineering, is appointed as the interim Chief Scientist. Mr. Watson has been with the company since its inception and is the co-inventor of the company's main product, the zNose(R).

Keep Additional Money for Veterans in War Supplemental

Washington March 14, 2007 - The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has applauded efforts to add $1.7 billion for veterans health care and services as part of the $100 billion military supplemental spending bill funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Including this much-needed additional money for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the emergency funding measure is an acknowledgement that caring for our nation's veterans is part of the continuing cost of war," said DAV National Commander Bradley S. Barton.

Barton noted that the supplemental bill is still in the draft stage, but he urged lawmakers to ensure that the additional money for the VA remains in the final version that goes to the President for signature.

"We as a nation owe these brave men and women all we can give them to make sure that their lives and sacrifices are not ignored or undervalued," Barton said. "But given the strains already placed on the VA, I am concerned about our veterans' ability to get quality health care and benefits in a timely manner. If our government continues to under fund VA programs, it will fail to honor America's commitment to our sick and disabled veterans."

Democrats Ignore Small Business Contracting Scandal: American Small Business League

Petaluma CA March 14, 2007 - Since the Democrats took control of Congress in January, more than $10 billion in small business set-aside contracts have been diverted to some of the largest firms in the US and not one piece of legislation has been passed to stop it.

There have been over 400 stories in the media and 14 federal investigations over the last four years on large businesses are receiving small business procurement awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards, what the Small Business Administration Inspector General called "one of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today."

Lloyd Chapman, president of the American Small Business League said that although the Democrats pledged to clean up fraud, corruption and abuses in government while campaigning for Congress, they have since given nothing but lip service to this issue.

"The Democrats have blamed the Republicans for years for the loopholes and abuse in federal small business contracting and yet, now that they are in power, have done nothing to change it," Chapman said. "If you look at the House and Senate Small Business Committee Web sites, you will find no mention of the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 1000 companies."

Sen. John Kerry, current head of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, who has been a proclaimed advocate for small businesses for nearly two decades, has publicly stated that the current policies are inefficient.

"Politicians love to say they want to help small businesses," Kerry said in the Marin Independent Journal. "But how can any politician make that claim with a straight face when contracts that should be going to these hard-working small businesses are being turned into giveaways to large multinational companies?"

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, the head of the House Small Business Committee, has also challenged current SBA policies in investigative reports on CBS, ABC, and CNN and in the New York Times.

"The fact that large businesses are being awarded with small-business contracts, and that there is no system in place with penalties or consequences for this, is extremely concerning," Velazquez said in a New York Times article in December 2006.

Chapman said that despite all the statements Velasquez and Kerry have given regarding the magnitude of this problem, no legislation has been passed and they continue to be "all show and no go." He added, "I hope we get more than just talk from the Democrats like we got from the Republicans."

ASBL research concluded that approximately half of all funds reported as going to small businesses actually went to some of the largest firms in the US, totaling nearly $65 billion a year. Chapman said this problem could be easily resolved with passing an annual recertification policy, but instead, the SBA passed a five-year plan that will allow large businesses to continue collecting small business awards until 2012.

"Five-year recertification is just like repealing the Small Business Act for the next five years," Chapman said. "I can't believe we're even talking about how many more years Fortune 1000 firms will get small business contracts."

QinetiQ North America Closes Acquisition of Analex Corporation

McLean VA March 14, 2007 - QinetiQ North America Operations LLC (QNA) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Analex Corporation, pursuant to the terms of an agreement and plan of merger which was signed on January 20, 2007. QNA has successfully completed a tender offer for Analex's shares at a price of $3.70 per share.

Analex now joins the other QNA subsidiaries which include: Apogen Technologies, Foster-Miller, Planning Systems, and Westar Aerospace & Defense Group in providing world-class technology and responsive solutions to the US Government.

"Analex brings an incredible depth of experience in the intelligence market as well as a sharp focus on solutions for mission systems," commented Duane Andrews, CEO, QinetiQ North America. "With the completion of this deal, we look forward to bringing Analex's capabilities into the solutions we are providing to our customers."

Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with 11 locations around the United States, Analex specializes in providing innovative information technology, aerospace engineering and security and intelligence support services for defense, intelligence, and space programs. Analex broadens QNA's footprint in the government with long term relationships with US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), US Army, US Navy, DARPA, and NASA among others. Analex also has over 20 years of experience in the intelligence community.

"The Analex team is excited about the new markets and opportunity for growth that our alignment with QinetiQ North America brings," said Sterling Phillips, Analex's Chairman and CEO. "We are focused on continuing to provide our customers with the level of service they have come to expect while working with QNA to provide additional capabilities to help solve mission critical challenges."

SAIC to Provide Electronic Warfare Technical Services at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division

San Diego March 14, 2007 - Science Applications International Corporation today announced it won a single award, cost-plus- award-fee task order from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, Crane, Ind.

The task order has a two-year base term and three one-year option periods, and a total value of over $122 million if all options are exercised. SAIC will provide engineering, technical, and programmatic support services for information operations including, but not limited to, surface and airborne electronic warfare.

"We are proud to continue our long relationship with NSWC Crane with this new area of work," said Deb Alderson, president of SAIC's System and Network Solutions Group. "Crane's work and our support of that effort will provide real-time, practical solutions to the warfighter."

Keep Additional Money for Veterans in War Supplemental

Washington March 14, 2007 - The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has applauded efforts to add $1.7 billion for veterans health care and services as part of the $100 billion military supplemental spending bill funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Including this much-needed additional money for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the emergency funding measure is an acknowledgement that caring for our nation's veterans is part of the continuing cost of war," said DAV National Commander Bradley S. Barton.

Barton noted that the supplemental bill is still in the draft stage, but he urged lawmakers to ensure that the additional money for the VA remains in the final version that goes to the President for signature.

"We as a nation owe these brave men and women all we can give them to make sure that their lives and sacrifices are not ignored or undervalued," Barton said. "But given the strains already placed on the VA, I am concerned about our veterans' ability to get quality health care and benefits in a timely manner. If our government continues to under fund VA programs, it will fail to honor America's commitment to our sick and disabled veterans."

Valentec Systems Announces Changes to Its Board of Directors

Minden LA March 14, 2007 - Valentec Systems, Inc., a supplier of mission-critical conventional ammunition, pyrotechnic and related defense products, announced today the appointments of (ret.) Colonel W. Glenn Yarborough, Jr. and (ret.) Lieutenant General Gus Cianciolo to its Board of Directors. Concurrent with today's announcement, the Company has elected to change the number of board seats from three to five.

Robert Zummo, Valentec's CEO and Chairman of the Board stated, "We are excited to have added two professionals with strong credentials, skill sets and relationships within our core markets and believe their additions to our Board will further strengthen Valentec's market position and open up new avenues for growth. Both Gus and Glenn are proven leaders with business, financial and military experience that will serve our Company well in the years ahead and improve our ability to enhance shareholder returns."

W. Glenn Yarborough, Jr. retired from the US Army as Colonel, after a distinguished 27 years of service. He is currently the Founder of Chief Executive Officer of WGY & Associates, LLC, a high technology defense, management and government relations consulting practice. Before founding the firm in 2001, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Allied Research Corporation; a publicly traded diversified defense and commercial electronic security firm (now Allied Defense Group). While with Allied, he helped the Company grow via acquisition and strengthen its global operations and, he successfully led a financial turnaround, making Allied one of the industry's fastest growing companies.

Before joining Allied, Mr. Yarborough was Director of Marketing of the Grumman Corporation, overseeing three business programs in the areas of test equipment, vehicular intercom systems and advanced radars. Earlier in his career, he served as the Washington Manager with Ford Aerospace / BDM Corporation, where he was responsible for contract generation with government agencies and as Director of Operations with Italian Advanced Industries, where he helped launch the Company's US operations with a key focus on the US military. Throughout his career, Glenn has worked closely with many detailed segments of the Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force, Army, Navy, DARPA, FBI, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, NSA, the CIA and the Authorization and Appropriation Committees of the House and Senate. Before retiring from the US Armed Forces, he served as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition.

Mr. Yarborough serves on the Board of Directors of Carleton Technology, EADA North America Defense Company, Easter Seals, So Others Might Eat (SOME), Friends of the McLean Community Center, the Patton Museum of Armor and Cavalry, the US Cavalry Association and the Board of the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. He holds a B.A. and MBA from the University of South Carolina and is a graduate of the Executive Program, University of Virginia, the Naval War College and the Army's Command & General Staff College.

(Ret.) Lieutenant General Gus Cianciolo has held a wide variety of important command and staff positions during his 33-year Army career, culminating as the Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition. He also served as the Director of the Army Acquisition Corps. General Cianciolo's diverse background in research, development, and acquisition included service as the Deputy Commanding General for Research, Development, and Acquisition, Army Material Command, and as Commanding General, US Army Missile Command. He was also Project Manager for two major Army Weapon systems programs, one involving international participation by four NATO countries.

After retiring from the US Armed Forces, Mr. Cianciolo served as Senior Vice President of Cypress International, a global business development organization that assists clients in the marketing of their defense products and relations services worldwide. He later joined the SPECTRUM Group as an Associate, and was named President in January 2007. The SPECTRUM Group is a privately held corporation that provides consulting services to corporations that primarily conduct business with the US government and related agencies. Its membership consists of more than 65 distinguished professionals with experience, expertise and relationships at the highest levels of government and business.

In addition to his Board role with Valentec, Mr. Cianciolo sits on the Board of Directors of Nammo, Inc., a privately held supplier of electronics and aviation munitions. He also sits on the Advisory Boards of Fabrique National Manufacturing Inc., CPU Technologies and Combined Systems, Inc. He holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Xavier University and a M.S. degree from the University of Southern California.

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Dismissals Decline to Record Low

Washington March 13, 2007 - The Department of Defense dismissed 612 service members under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel, Pentagon officials confirmed late Tuesday evening. The number of troops dismissed last year is less than half the total number of discharges in the fiscal year preceding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Pentagon officials released the data today following remarks by General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, supporting the ban and referring to lesbian and gay personnel as 'immoral.'

"The Pentagon's data shines a bright light on the hypocrisy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "When military leaders need the talent, skills and qualifications of gay personnel, dismissals decline. Then, during peacetime, the dismissal rate climbs again. The Pentagon's own data shows that, during times of war, when unit cohesion is most important, fewer gay troops are dismissed. In fact, lesbian and gay Americans are making important contributions to our national security. The ban on their service, and not their service itself, is what erodes cohesion most."

During fiscal year 2005, the Pentagon dismissed 742 service members. The 612 men and women dismissed this past year represent the fewest annual discharges since the law's enactment. The Pentagon provided no comment on the data upon its release. Pentagon officials did not make a service-specific breakdown of dismissals available, nor was a breakdown of specialists dismissed under the law made public.

"Especially today, when the military faces well-documented recruiting and retention woes, the loss of even one skilled service member is one too many," said Osburn. "The 612 men and women fired certainly include troops with valuable skills. The loss of those personnel is disgraceful, and Congress should repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' once and for all."

Kongsberg Installs Echo Sounders on Argentine Navy Survey Ships

Kongsberg, Norway March 9, 2007 - Kongsberg Maritime has recently completed the installation and commissioning of the bathymetric systems onboard the 'ARA Comodoro Rivadavia', and the 'ARA Puerto Deseado', two Argentine Navy owned and operated Hydrographic vessels.

The upgrades were sponsored by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programs): The first through the Environmental Secretary of the Ministry of Health, and the second through COPLA (Argentine Commission to determine the Continental Platform Limits), of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ARA Comodoro Rivadavia

The system installed on the ARA Comodoro Rivadavia is intended for shallow waters, and will be used for research and chart production of coastal waters and internal rivers. It consists of a two head EM 3000 multibeam, operating at 300Khz with a transducer hoisting system, an EA400 single beam operating at 38 and 200Khz, and an EA400P on the same frequencies. The system, which also benefits from having a Kongsberg Seatex MRU and DGPS positioning unit, was first used on South America’s southern channel, the Beagle channel, with great success.

ARA Puerto Deseado

The ARA Puerto Deseado is equipped with two redundant Kongsberg Maritime single beam EA600s, each with two frequencies: 200Khz for shallow waters and 12 kHz for depths down to 11000metres. The ship is now specified to fulfil COPLA´s needs.

The installation of the bathymetric equipment onboard ARA Puerto Deseado was particularly challenging. An initial installation period of 18 weeks was slashed to just 8 weeks due to the vessel being required to sail to the Antarctic during a good weather window. The vessel has a very important bulb bow and a thruster tube in front of the transducers location, making installation more complex than normal and COPLA requires a far more stringent checklist, covering third party sensors, than that usually encountered by Kongsberg Maritime's installation team.

"Despite several unique challenges, the systems were installed and ready to go on time. After leaving the shipyard, all trials showed the high quality of the systems. The first surprise was getting marks up to 700 meters with 200Kz operation, in not too cold waters and with not very hard bottom. The other surprise was the lack of noise in the picture up to 6000 meters, especially with the difficult conditions found in the hull," comments Torbjorn Kjaer, head of single beam maintenance department at Kongsberg Maritime.

EM 3002 Multibeam Echo Sounder Finds Wreck

Kongsberg, Norway March 12, 2007 - These data were collected by Knut Lyngberg of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) on a KONGSBERG EM 3002 multibeam sounder mounted on board the Canadian Coast Guard Launch "Otter Bay". This previously unknown wreck was discovered during a routine multibeam charting survey of the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.

The survey was funded by the CHS and Natural Resources Canada and the image created using CARIS 6.0 in 3D subset mode. As the wreck is unknown the Registrar of Wrecks has been notified and steps are underway to confirm it's identity. Water column data was collected at the time but has not yet been processed. However, from the EM 3002 data, we can calculate the following: The wreck is in 85 meters of water. The approximate size of the vessel is 61m in length, 11.6m

Department of Defense Selects Northrop Grumman to Combat Enlistment Fraud

McLean VA March 14, 2007 - Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a task order by the General Services Administration's Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (GSA FEDSIM) to reduce fraudulent enlistments in the military through the use of an electronic security (e-Security) program. GSA FEDSIM awarded the task order on behalf of the US Department of Defense's US Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM).

Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector will provide biometrics technology to positively identify an applicant during each step of the enlistment process. The biometrics technology will also be used in support of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a testing program used by USMEPCOM to measure the abilities of applicants. The e-Security program will use digital image and fingerprint readers to verify the identity of applicants through biometrics technology. The program will also enable enlistees to digitally sign enlistment documents, eliminating the need for wet ink signatures.

"The e-Security program will allow USMEPCOM to track and authenticate each applicant's identity, further reducing fraudulent enlistments," said Jill Kale, vice president of Enterprise Applications and Systems Integration for Northrop Grumman IT's Defense group. "Northrop Grumman's solution will also minimize the need for manual signatures during enlistment, while adding a layer of security."

USMEPCOM is a Defense Department field activity responsible for ensuring all US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard applicants for enlistment meet Defense Department and service aptitude, medical and moral standards. In fiscal year 2006, USMEPCOM administered nearly 550,000 ASVAB tests, 355,000 physical exams, and initiated 293,000 background screening checks at its 65 military entrance processing stations located throughout the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. This effort resulted in the services gaining 262,000 new recruits in fiscal year 2006.

Work on the contract will be conducted in Chicago, Williamsburg, Va., and Jersey City, NJ Northrop Grumman's teammate on the contract is Identix, Minnetonka, Minn.

$10,000 Apiece to be Awarded to One Student From Each of 23 Maryland Counties and Baltimore City

Baltimore March 14, 2007 - Through March 31, Northrop Grumman Corporation will continue to accept applications for its fifth annual Engineering Scholars program, and interested students from across the state of Maryland are urged to submit their applications.

The company's Baltimore-based Electronic Systems sector is again providing college scholarships, totaling $240,000 in this school year, to promising high school seniors throughout Maryland who are interested in studying engineering.

A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded this spring to one student in every Maryland county and Baltimore City. Informational brochures describing the scholarship program have been sent to all high schools within the state. However, to apply for the Engineering Scholars program, students must download and complete the application available on the Internet at:http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/engscholars

Candidates must plan to attend an accredited college or university as a full-time student in an approved engineering program. The funds can be used for tuition, books, lodging and meals.

To be eligible, applicants must be a resident of Maryland and a graduating senior from a public or accredited private high school in the state. Applicants must also meet minimum SAT and GPA requirements.

One of Maryland's largest private employers, Northrop Grumman is a significant financial and in-kind contributor to educational outreach programs aimed at encouraging young people throughout Maryland to consider engineering and science-related career fields. Northrop Grumman is also a major sponsor of the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition.

Northrop Grumman Names Philip A. Marquez Vice President and Sector Counsel

Los Angeles March 14, 2007 - Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed Philip A. Marquez as vice president, assistant general counsel and sector counsel. In this role, Marquez is responsible for all legal advice to the company's Space Technology sector. He reports to W. Burks Terry, corporate vice president and general counsel.

Marquez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Loyola University at Los Angeles, a Master of Science degree in mathematics from The Ohio State University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He is a native of Los Angeles.

Harris Corporation Delivers 10,000th Anti-Jam Electronics Module to Boeing; Maintains 100 Percent On-Time Delivery Record

Melbourne FL March 14, 2007 - Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has successfully delivered 10,000 anti-jam Antenna Electronics Modules for the Global Positioning System of The Boeing Company's Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) weapon maintaining a 100 percent on-time delivery record for the program. Boeing awarded Harris the program in 2003, and has contract options that could increase the value to as much as $50 million by 2008.

JDAM is a tail kit that converts existing, free-fall bombs into highly accurate "smart" weapons. The kit, developed and produced by Boeing, consists of a new tail section that contains a GPS-based Inertial Navigation System. An integral part of the JDAM tail kit, Harris Corporation's advanced Antenna Electronics Module (AEM) enhances the weapon's resistance to both intentional/unintentional RF interference and jamming of the GPS satellite's signal.

"Boeing relies on its suppliers to deliver quality products on time and on cost in order to meet our customers' requirements and bring value to them," said John Harnagel, Boeing's JDAM program manager.

"Delivery of the 10,000th AEM unit is a significant milestone in the JDAM program, which is providing a more affordable approach to ensuring precise delivery of weapons, thereby minimizing casualties to noncombatants and collateral damage to vital infrastructures," said Sheldon Fox, vice president and general manager of Department of Defense Programs, Harris Government Communications Systems Division. "The ongoing success of this program validates our leadership position in weapon system data links and anti-jam technologies for precision munitions."

In addition to its contributions to the JDAM program, Harris has supplied Boeing with anti-jam technology under the Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM) program and the Component Advanced Development (CAD) phase of Boeing's Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) program. Harris also has been supplying Boeing with weapon data links for the US Navy's Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and SLAM Expanded Response (SLAM ER) programs, earning the company distinction as one of only about a dozen of Boeing's estimated 30,000 suppliers to attain Gold Level Preferred Supplier Certification status.

Bone Chilling Arctic Adventure Shoot Aboard US Navy Submarine at North Pole for MGM's New 'Stargate: Continuum'

Los Angeles March 14, 2007 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) is teaming with the US Navy to capture a series of bone chilling adventure scenes for the Studio's upcoming "Stargate SG-1" direct-to-video, "Stargate: Continuum." Cast members, including Ben Browder ("Stargate SG1's" Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell) and Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) will travel to the sub-zero climate of the Arctic to shoot at the Navy's Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS) for the week of March 23 through 29. Martin Wood, Director of over 70 "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis" episodes, is confirmed to direct "Stargate: Continuum."

"Stargate: Continuum," which is being co-financed by MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, will shoot a variety of scenes on location in the Arctic ice, located approximately 200 nautical miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. In addition to the frigid outdoor environments, the filming will also involve US Navy submarine USS Alexandria (SSN-757). Among the most visually stunning and dramatic scenes to be filmed at the location involves the submarine as it bursts through the ice and into the cold Arctic air with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees below zero.

In making the announcement, Charles Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President Finance and Corporate Development, MGM said: "We are excited to be working with the US Navy on filming these epic scenes in the arduous conditions of the arctic. 'SG-1' fans will certainly enjoy these action packed sequences as the 'Stargate' franchise has a rich history of unique and compelling action adventures."

Lt. Erik Reynolds, the Department of Defense project officer assigned to the movie added: "We look forward to hosting MGM and the 'Stargate' team at APLIS, and showcasing our sailors and the United States Submarine Force's capabilities in the Arctic Ocean.

"With the extreme environmental conditions at the camp, and factors such as shooting on a moving sheet of ice and the occasional polar bear, it certainly will be a challenge, but one that our sailors and the 'SG-1' crew look forward to taking on."

In January of this year, MGM gave the green light to two (2) direct-to-video movies based on "Stargate SG-1," the longest-running science-fiction series in US TV history. The first movie, "Stargate: The Arc of Truth," which is also being co-financed by MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, begins production on April 15. The second movie, "Stargate: Continuum" which will feature the epic ice camp scenes, will resume filming on May 22. Written and produced by Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, the new movies will include the following "Stargate SG-1" cast members: Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Chris Judge, Claudia Black, with Beau Bridges and Michael Shanks.

The APLIS is operated by the University of Washington and was formed in 1943 at the request of the US Navy to bring university resources to bear on urgent WWII defense problems. From a wartime beginning focused on effective torpedo exploders, APL-UW initiated acoustic studies and oceanographic research programs to understand how variations in the ocean environment affected the performance of Navy systems.

Rolls-Royce Board Visits Singapore

London March 14, 2007 - Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services, has this week underlined its commitment to Singapore by holding meetings of the Rolls-Royce Board and the newly-created International Advisory Board on the island. The meetings took place on 13 and 14 March at historic locations such as The Art House - the former Parliament House - and the Asian Civilization Museum.

Delegates include Rolls-Royce Chairman, Simon Robertson, and Chief Executive, Sir John Rose, together with the Rolls-Royce directors. The newly-formed International Advisory Board is also holding its inaugural meeting in Singapore under the chairmanship of Lord Powell of Bayswater.

Simon Robertson said: "The decision to hold these important meetings here underlines the significance which Rolls-Royce attaches to Singapore as a place to do business. The company has increased its commitment to Singapore, where we now employ nearly 1000 highly skilled people.

"All four of our business sectors – civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy – are well established in Singapore and continue to look for opportunities to increase our investment in this important business center."

During its two-day stay in Singapore, the Board and IAB attended a presentation by the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB), which last November presented the company with its Distinguished Partner in Progress (DPIP) Award. The Chairman and Board members also visited Singapore Aero Engines Services Limited (SAESL), Rolls-Royce’s major aero-engine maintenance, repair and overhaul joint venture with SIA Engineering Company, and Singapore Airlines, where they were welcomed by CEO, Chew Choon Seng.

Lim Siong Guan, Chairman of the EDB said: "I am delighted that Singapore is the chosen location for this visit by the Rolls-Royce Boards. It is a validation of our success in distinguishing Singapore as an international hub ideal for business and investments.

"Rolls-Royce is a long-term partner of Singapore, contributing significantly to Singapore’s economic development, an achievement marked by the Distinguished Partners in Progress Award last year."

APA Advocates for Soldiers' Mental Health Amid New Reports on Impact of War

Arlington VA March 14, 2007 - The youngest of veterans (ages 18-24 years) returning from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health or posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD). This compares with veterans 40 years or older according to the March 12, 2007, edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine (Vol.167, No. 5).

This week, amidst growing reports on the impact of war on soldiers' mental health, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) made public the recommendations of its Ad Hoc Work Group on Veterans Affairs and Military Initiatives. Highlights of the report of the Ad Hoc Work Group, consisting of APA Board of Trustees members and military psychiatrists, advocates for:

• Improved access to continuum of mental health and substance abuse services for returning military personnel and their families and funding to support professional positions to staff the continuum;

• Increased funding for:

• research on evidence-based treatment of PTSD, other war related health consequences and traumatic brain injuries and their long-term effects on health;

• mental health needs of women in the military;

• programs that help reduce the stigma of seeking mental health and substance use services.

"Our work group has found the consequences of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to be a national public health crisis," said Mary Helen Davis, M.D., APA Board of Trustees member and work group chairperson. "It is essential that efforts be made by the federal government and the medical/ mental health and patient advocacy communities to work together to expand our knowledge of war- related trauma and to ensure that military families have timely access to quality services."

The Ad Hoc Work Group on Veterans Affairs and Military Initiatives is one of the APA's numerous efforts to address the mental health needs of veterans and military families. The APA is working with patient advocacy groups and seeks to work with primary care physician groups to develop and disseminate resources on PTSD and other war-related psychiatric illnesses.

NATO Ship Conducts Successful Rescue Operation in the Eastern Mediterranean

Naples March 14, 2007 - Early this morning, the UK warship HMS Monmouth, under NATO command, carried out an operation in the Eastern Aegean Sea to rescue the crew of the Jamaican-flagged merchant ship AFRODITE S.

The merchant vessel's cargo had shifted overnight in bad weather, causing it to list to port and take on water. HMS Monmouth, who is patrolling the eastern Mediterranean as part of the ongoing NATO Operation Active Endeavour, immediately intervened upon receipt of the distress signal. The master of the stricken ship requested to be evacuated by the NATO warship for the safety of the crew. As a result HMS Monmouth scrambled her Merlin helicopter to begin removing the crewmembers from the sinking vessel. Shortly afterwards a Greek search and rescue (SAR) helicopter joined the rescue operation to assist in removing the remaining personnel. Once all crewmembers were accounted for, the Greek SAR helicopter safely transferred all the rescued personnel from HMS Monmouth to shore. Greek authorities are dealing with the stricken vessel.

NATO ships often take part in rescue missions in addition to their primary role of providing a continued presence in countering terrorism as part of Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean.

HMCS Ottawa Returns From Persian Gulf Operations

Esquimalt March 14, 2007 - Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Ottawa will return to her home port of Esquimalt at 9 a.m. Saturday after a six-month, 48,000-nautical mile journey to the Persian Gulf for Operation Altair. With a CH-124 Sea King detachment from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron (Pat Bay), the ship left Esquimalt September 10 to join a US Navy Expeditionary Strike Group and work with other naval forces in the campaign against terrorism.

Ottawa’s return will feature the winners of the ship-wide "first kiss" lottery, in which crew members and their partners ashore competed for the honor of being the first to reunite on the jetty when the ship returns. While there were only two contest "winners" (Master Seaman Darren Funston and Danielle Billings), the Ship’s Family Trust Account was the true beneficiary of this initiative, having had $800.00 added to its coffers thanks to the contest.

During her deployment in the Persian Gulf, Ottawa contacted nearly 750 ships and the ship’s boarding team visited 200 of them, four of which carried suspect documentation that triggered further inspection of cargo. The ship also represented Canada in 11 foreign ports including Goa, India, while participating in a multi-national exercise involving the Indian Navy.

Ottawa’s deployment to the Persian Gulf region is the 33rd by Canadian warships since the first Gulf War. The deployment underscores Canada’s enduring interest in the region and furthers Canada’s relationships with the coastal states of the region with the aim of enhancing maritime security cooperation with our coalition partners.

Trident Debate

London March 14, 2007 - There is extensive media speculation ahead of today's debate on the future of Trident in the House of Commons. One report claims that Trident is already being secretly upgraded to increase its accuracy and ability to hit a wider range of targets. This program is completely irrelevant to the debate taking place this afternoon. We are simply replacing one non-nuclear component in our existing warhead. This is required to manage obsolescence and ensure we can keep the existing warhead in-service into the 2020s.

We made clear to the Defense Committee in November 2005 that some minor upgrading and refurbishment of the existing warhead would be required to enable it to last into the 2020s. It is false to claim this will involve any increase in the accuracy or yield in our deterrent. We are clear our nuclear capabilities are not designed for warfighting but purely to deter nuclear threats against our vital interests.

MINDEF Awards Submarine Rescue Services Contract to St Marine/James Fisher Defense Limited

Singapore March 14, 2007 - MINDEF has awarded a contract to Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine) / James Fisher Defense Limited (STM/JFR) to provide submarine rescue services to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The 20-year contract is expected to commence in 2009.

This Public- Private Partnership project will benefit MINDEF in two ways. First, it allows MINDEF to tap on the specialized expertise and best practices available in the industry when dealing with contingencies which require submarine rescue services. Secondly, it provides a cost-effective and reliable submarine rescue service to the RSN.

Under the Public-Private Partnership agreement, STM/JFR will design, build, operate and maintain the fully integrated Submarine Support and Rescue Vessel and Submarine Rescue Vehicle. The Submarine Support and Rescue Vessel will be built locally by ST-Marine, while James Fisher Defense Limited will build the rescue vehicle in the UK.

Korea Pushing for Increased Exports of Defense Items

Seoul March 6, 2007 - Korea is stepping up efforts to boost exports of defense items, including a supersonic trainer jet, in a bid to nurture an export-oriented defense industry, officials said Tuesday (March 6).

The country expects its defense exports to surge 36 percent to $3.4 billion this year from $2.5 billion last year. The efforts come as other countries have started to take notice of locally made defense items and many countries are trying to upgrade their military hardware.

According to the officials at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, the government is focusing on the sale of the T-50 supersonic trainer jet to the United Arab Emirates.

The Golden Eagle, which is being delivered to the South Korean Air Force, has been picked along with Italy's Aermacchi M-346 and British Aerospace Hawk 128 as candidates for the Middle East country's next-generation advanced trainer. A decision is expected to be reached in October that could entail the sale of 40 to 60 jets worth $2 billion to $3 billion.

Ministry officials said if the sale takes place it will open new horizons for the country's aerospace industry.

"The T-50 exploits a market left vacant by industry leaders such as the United States that focuses on top-notch fighters and attack aircraft like the F-22," said Lee Seung-jae, head of the ministry's international cooperation division.

He said Greece, Turkey, Qatar and Singapore have all expressed interest in the T-50, which can be converted into a light attack aircraft.

Korea Aerospace Industries built the aircraft in cooperation with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. and hopes to sell 3,000 of the jets.

In addition, Korea is vying to win contracts to sell submarines and light destroyers to Jakarta. Indonesia is looking to buy two submarines for about $750 million and two destroyers for $150 million, the ministry said.

Korean shipyards Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. and Hanjin heavy Industries and Construction Co. have built most types of warships for the navy, including submarines, frigates, destroyers and landing ships embarking helicopters.

The ministry also said there may be a market for the next-generation tank that was unveiled last week.

The Commerce Ministry said Turkey has expressed interest in the XK2 tank, nicknamed "Black Panther," that will reach frontline units from 2011 and complement the K-1 tanks currently operated by the Korean Army.

Turkey already imports K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers made by Samsung Techwin Co.

HMS Chatham Gives Channel Islanders VIP Treatment

London March 14, 2007 - HMS Chatham recently visited Jersey and Guernsey to give winners of a local TV competition a VIP tour of the ship and lunch with the Captain.

Arriving at Jersey first, HMS Chatham made an impressive sight moored offshore because she was too big to enter the port.

Channel Islands TV ran a competition for 4 people from each Island to visit the ship. The Jersey winners were Mr Jack Batterick, his brother Wally and his 2 cousins Brian and James Batterick. Guernsey’s were William and Janet Ellison and Janet’s parents Eric and Maureen Marquis who got a tour of the ship. While on board, Chatham sailed around each island giving the winners a unique view of their home turf.

HMS Chatham actually stepped in at the last moment for HMS Albion, who had originally been due to make the visit but was re-tasked at the 11th hour for operational reasons. Commander Martin Connell, Commanding Officer of HMS Chatham said:

"From our view out at sea, both islands and their surroundings are beautiful. We are very lucky to have been asked to come here.

"I am extremely proud of my crew for having put together a plan at short notice that has left our Channel Island prize-winners with such fond memories of the Royal Navy."

The rough swell around Jersey meant that the local support boat couldn't safely approach the ship to disembark the Jersey prize winners after the tour, via the standard rope ladder. As the support boat bounced and tossed in the heavy swell, the Battericks were winched down in a safety harness controlled by the crew and under the guidance of the ship's Bosun's Mate, Petty Officer Chris Portman.

For the embarkation off St Peter Port Guernsey, the weather was better and the ship was welcomed in by a school of dolphins.

All of the prizewinners agreed that they were extremely lucky to have had the chance to visit an operational warship and how wonderful the day had been.

HMS Chatham became operational in 1990. Based in Devonport, Plymouth, she is 150m long, has a crew of 250 and displaces 4,600 tonnes.

While officially designated a frigate, in reality she has the firepower of a cruiser and is capable of engaging targets above, on or below the sea surface. She carries anti-air and anti-missile SeaWolf missiles, anti-ship Harpoon missiles, anti-submarine Stingray torpedoes, a variety of guns up to 4½" bore and advanced radars, sonars, computer systems and communications equipment to carry out her tasking.

She can carry 2 Lynx or 1 Merlin helicopter and, being powered by gas turbine engines, can sprint to speeds of 30 knots. She is the 7th major Royal Navy ship to bear the name 'Chatham'; one of her predecessors had the sad, but great honor of transporting the body of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson from HMS Victory to Greenwich where he lay in state.

After the visit, HMS Chatham sailed away from Guernsey to conduct Maritime Security Operations before she visits her 'home' port of Chatham in Kent. A group of 30 Sea Cadets will be on board for some of that time. Thereafter, the ship will be conducting five weeks of specialized war fighting and humanitarian relief training before standing ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice – fulfilling her motto of the 'Up and at 'em, Chatham'.

SUBLANT Statement Regarding USS San Juan and Missing Submarine Procedures

Norfolk March 14, 2007 - During the early evening of March 13, units of the USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) received a series of indications that USS San Juan (SSN 751), a Los Angeles class submarine conducting pre-deployment training with the Enterprise CSG, was in distress.

Fortunately, the submarine established communications in the early morning hours of March 14, and indicated that there were no problems; hence, units were able to stand down from the search and rescue that was already well underway.

Losses of communications, followed by the reported sighting of a red flare, are distress indicators. These indicators, combined with establishing communications with only two of the three submarines operating with the Enterprise CSG, was sufficient information to activate missing submarine procedures.

Ships and aircraft from the Enterprise Strike group immediately commenced a search of the area where San Juan had been operating.

The International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) in Norfolk, Va., was alerted to assist with the search and rescue effort. ISMERLO, an international organization, serves to facilitate the rapid call out of international rescue systems in the event of a submarine accident. The immediate response from various international entities was superb. In addition, San Juan family members were notified of the situation at hand.

Although this was a false alarm, the primary concern was the safety of our submariners and the support of family members. Procedures demonstrated that the submarine escape and rescue program is able to quickly respond to an event such as this – when every second counts.

The Submarine Force is concerned about how this event initiated from what would appear to be false indicators. The Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic will conduct a thorough review of the matter to determine any lessons learned.

Defense Science and Technology Challenge opens for entries

London March 14, 2007 - Today Defense Minister Lord Drayson officially opened the MoD Grand Challenge, a groundbreaking science and technology competition to discover new ideas for a system to improve the detection of threats - from roadside bombs to rooftop gunmen - faced by soldiers patrolling in urban areas.

The Grand Challenge invites innovators to compete for the chance to create a system that will deliver benefit for our Armed Forces on the front line. Entrants have a year to work up their prototypes, which will need to combine the latest technologies, before a competitive trial at the MoD's urban training area at Copehill Down, Wiltshire, to find the winner.

The launch event coincides with National Science and Engineering Week, which aims to celebrate science, engineering and technology and its importance in our lives. In keeping with this, the Grand Challenge will engage a wider range of scientists and innovators than normal in the exciting technological challenges thrown up by defense issues.

Lord Drayson said:

"The MoD is already one of this country's largest investors in research and development, spending around £2.5 billion a year. The Grand Challenge is about encouraging a fresh approach, introducing new ideas from new players in the game, and energizing a willingness from industry to invest in ideas that are radical and exciting.

"We seek to provide our Armed Forces with the best equipment and technology available. I was in Iraq last week and talked to some of the troops there about their kit. I heard how important the latest technologies are to them; keeping them safe and helping them operate more effectively. That's what this challenge is about - looking for new ways of getting innovative systems to the front line that will really give them an edge."

New Russian Defense Minister Praises Navy's Good Conduct

Moscow March 14, 2007 (RIAN) - Russia's new defense minister attended the Navy's headquarters and raised the Navy for good conduct in 2006, the ministry's press service said Wednesday.

Anatoly Serdyukov said the Navy is facing the important tasks of preventing sea threats and increasing the combat potential of battleships and naval units, the press service said.

It also said in 2006 Russian ships were involved in multinational and bilateral exercises.

"Last year's the Russian navy as part of its naval duty carried out over 30 cruises," the press service said.

Russia's Defense Firms to Provide 40% of Industry Reform Funding

Moscow March 14, 2007 (RIAN) - Russian defense companies will provide 201 billion rubles ($7.7 bln) or 40% of the finance required to reform the country's defense industry, the first deputy prime minister said Wednesday.

The federal program for the reform of Russia's defense industry was adopted in 2006 to build additional industrial capacity to meet growing demand of the state defense procurement order for 2007-2015 and to ensure the progress of military-technical cooperation with foreign countries.

"When we adopted the federal program, we assumed that a significant part of the financing would originate from non-budgetary sources, or, specifically, from defense enterprises," Sergei Ivanov said at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission.

"This sum totals 201 billion rubles, or 40% of the funding intended for the program," he said.

Ivanov, who has been recently entrusted with the important task of supervising the country's defense industry, said that the federal program is also intended to create a more efficient structure of the national defense industry that would focus on integration within shipbuilding, aerospace and aircraft-manufacturing sectors.

He also said that Russia's defense companies could become profitable by 2010 when they consolidated profits from fulfilling the current state defense orders.

"That is why to ensure a sustainable development of [Russia's] defense industry we must expand state support of the industry and implement a system of state guarantees," Ivanov said.

Ivanov, who heads the Military-Industrial Commission, earlier said that the defense industry had demonstrated an average production growth rate of 7% in the last five years, while overall industrial production grew by only 4.5% during the same period.

In addition, the defense industry accounts for 70% of all scientific and research output in the country, and employs more than 50% of all researchers, he said.

USS Comstock Crew Makes New Friends

Legaspi, Philippines March 14, 2007 - Sailors from the USS Comstock (LSD 45) arrived in Legaspi, Philippines, March 13 in support of Operation Goodwill III, the San Diego-based ship carried Marines and Navy Seabees from the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

Operation Goodwill is a program created by the Marines of Okinawa in 2003 to show appreciation to the children and families of the Philippines for welcoming them during annual bilateral exercises, according the Embassy of the United States in Manila Web site.

When the Sailors and Marines arrived at Rawis Elementary School to get to work, they were welcomed by hundreds of smiling faces and curious children. Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Mitchell Egan said he was shocked by the reception.

"There were swarms of little elementary school kids from every direction crowding us questions," he said. "It was crazy!"

Their duties included moving fallen trees and other debris, digging trenches and fire pits, and building barriers. The Sailors also helped Marines and Seabees move materials to aid in the replacement of damaged rooftops caused by a typhoon in 2006.

The crewmembers also found plenty of time to play and interact with the children, who watched the crews every move.

"The kids were having finals this week but they kept sticking their arms out the windows calling our names. They were so cute," said Seaman Jennifer Ekstrom. One of the favorites with the children was Seaman Benjamin Mogusu. Ekstrom recalled watching Mogusu with the children. "He was so into them. He bought them bags of candy. They were following him everywhere."

Mogusu said Ekstrom hit it right on the head. "I loved the kids! I think that was the best part. The experience was good, because I got to play with the kids. I told them stories of fairy tales and they sang songs for me. They taught me a Filipino song," he said.

The ship sent lunch to the site, but most of the Sailors didn't eat, saying they preferred to spend time with the kids. Members of the crew went out and bought snacks for their newly made friends as well.

"I went and bought candy and crackers to give to the kids. As soon as they saw me open the bags they went crazy," said Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman Chris Butler. "It was a lot of fun!"

When the day was over and it was time to return to the ship, many of the Sailors didn't want to leave. "It was a great experience," said Mogusu. "It meant a lot to the kids that we were there helping them. It felt good to see so many Marines and Sailors coming together to help the people of the Philippines."

USS Comstock is currently serving under Commander, US 7th Fleet on a routine Western Pacific deployment.

Navy Seeks 6 Aegis Destroyers

Seoul March 14, 2007 (KT) - The Navy plans to develop three more 7,000 ton Aegis-class destroyers by 2020 as part of programs to build a "strategic mobile fleet,'' a local daily reported Wednesday, quoting unidentified defense sources.

The strategic fleet, in general, consists of six Aegis-class destroyers, twelve 5,000 ton destroyers and two through-deck landing vessels similar to light aircraft carriers.

Under the KDX-III program, the Navy has pushed ahead with plans to build three 7,000-ton warships with the US Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System by 2012. The first KDX-III Aegis destroyer is slated to set sail in June.

According to the report, the Navy also plans to double the number of 5,000-ton KDX-II destroyers equipped with radar-evading "stealth'' technology to twelve and advance the timing for the development of a large-deck landing ship called the Landing Platform Experimental (LPX) from 2018 to 2014 as well.

The Navy now has three 3,000-ton KDX-I destroyers and six 5,000-to KDX-II stealth destroyers. A 14,000 ton-class large-deck landing ship, "Dokdo Ham,'' will be operational with the Navy beginning 2009.

The move came amid growing concern about the rapid and extensive growth of the Chinese Navy with its burgeoning defense budget. Beijing is reportedly expediting efforts to secure 6,000 or 7,000-ton warships, high-end nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.

Securing six Aegis-equipped destroyers is expected to make the South Korean Navy one of the most modernized in the world after those of the U.S and Japan.

Aegis, which means shield, is the US Navy's latest surface combat system that can track and engage ballistic missiles. An Aegis warship is able to track 300 missiles and aircraft 500 kilometers away and hit 24 targets simultaneously.

The weapon system is currently deployed on 81 ships around the globe. In addition to the United States with more than 70 Aegis-equipped vessels, Japan, Norway and Spain are using the system.

Japan has a total of six Aegis destroyers, including four 7,250-ton Kongo-class ships.

The Navy will propose related plans to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as early as the end of this month; the sources were quoted as saying.

The naval-power boosting measure will require about six trillion won and the Navy is considering to reduce or delay the construction of other warship programs such as the six-ship FFX frigate project, they said.

The Navy denied the report.

"The Navy has not made any decision on plans to increase the number of Aegis destroyers or made any reports to the Defense Ministry or JCS,'' Navy spokesman Capt. Kim Man-soo said.

Skelton & Ortiz Request Military Readiness Studies

Washington March 14, 2007 - House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) and Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Solomon P. Ortiz (D-TX) have asked the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the impact of continued US troop deployments and the current condition of military equipment on military readiness.

"Readiness is an issue our committee has been closely monitoring for some time, and with growing concern. We must have a military that is prepared to protect and defend the American people and our national interests. But when readiness levels fall, our level of strategic risk goes up. Improving the state of our military's readiness, particularly that of the United States Army is essential to ensuring they are prepared to respond when necessary. Our adversaries are unlikely to warn us in advance," said Skelton.

"Many of us have said for the past year that the readiness shortfall is on slow burn, and that is where it remains. We have to move carefully, but with great speed and focus, to try to fix the damage to readiness caused by the Iraq war. This crisis is evolving, and will not be solved by only throwing more money at the services. We have to fix it at all levels," said Ortiz.

The letter to CBO asks that the analysis include considerations for: sustained operations in Iraq and elsewhere; the number of troops needed for current operations, as well as variations above and below current operations; options for addressing identified readiness issues and the budgetary implications of implementing those recommendations; and a determination of the time frame required to completely address any recognized readiness shortfalls, both for the current rate of operations and the rate assumed under CBO scenarios.

The letter to GAO deals more specifically with concerns over prepositioned military stocks that ensure that the military has materiel and equipment for rapid deployment. GAO previously spoke to concerns and management challenges with regard to prepositioned Army stocks. The request asks GAO to study: DoD's reasoning to off-load Army afloat stocks and its plan to mitigate the risks of not having those stocks if a new conflict emerges; the specific plan to re-supply prepositioned stocks around the world and how that fits with broader Army and DoD strategies; how these changes are reflected in DoD budget and supplemental requests; and an estimated cost to restore the prepositioned stocks that fits current DoD strategy.

Military Service Time Will be Reduced Again by Next Year, Says MND

Taipei March 14, 2007 - Defense Minister Lee Jye affirmed at the Legislature on Tuesday that his agency's original plan to reduce mandatory military service from the current one year and four months to one year sometime next year will definitely be carried out, saying the measure was "a check that will surely be cashed."

Lee said his ministry was still discussing when to phase in this year a mandatory service period of one year and two months, an intermediate step before the one-year service period takes effect in 2008.

Whether the one-year stint begins next January or June depends on how successful the military's recruitment of volunteer servicemen is, Lee said.

The defense ministry said that its gradual reduction of mandatory military service time is part of the ministry's goal to push for a staffing system that emphasizes voluntary recruitment and "moderate" conscription.

The motivation for the plan, Lee said, was to put more people into the job market and reduce the impact of military service on those who intend to study abroad.

In addition, the ministry will study how to improve the Substitute Services and the Defense Industry Reserve Duty System, Lee said. The DIRDS is a system that involves the private sector in the defense industry to improve the sector's self-sufficiency and spur economic development in the country. Lee also said that the age at which reserved military servicemen will be discharged has been lowered to 36.

In line with government policies to encourage employment, the military will also conscript earlier those who have no plans of receiving further schooling so that their idle time before performing their military service is reduced, Lee said.

He added that the defense ministry will also consider factors like combat and training missions, the training capacity for new soldiers and the results of the voluntary recruitment to gradually implement the dual recruitment and conscription system.