Fort Belvoir VA November 29, 2005 - As if he had a crystal ball, retired Chief Deputy Ivy Cutrer of the West Feliciana, La., police department said last summer the Law Enforcement Support Office "helps save lives." This statement rang even more true after Hurricane Katrina when his former department received additional equipment through the LESO program.

Over the past 10 years LESO has provided equipment and supplies to police departments around the country. Fred Baillie, executive director of distribution and reutilization policy for the Defense Logistics Agency, explained that LESO was created in 1995 "when the National Defense Authorization Act under the 1033 section set up the ability for local law enforcement agencies to have access to Department of Defense excess property." The program, headed up by Army Lt. Col. Harvey Robinson, is part of DLA.

In fiscal 2004, LESO provided more than $124 million in equipment to local law enforcement agencies around the country. Baillie said the program "benefits both DLA and local law enforcement agencies" because DLA's "goal with excess property is to reutilize it to the maximum extent."

Hurricane Katrina left police departments across the Southeast low on supplies and personnel. LESO took the situation as an opportunity to provide even better support using the network and resources it had already developed.

Following Hurricane Katrina, LESO immediately began assistance to police departments in the effected area. After two days of trying to reach state coordinators throughout the Southeast, Thomas Presley, LESO regional team chief for the East, managed to reach Eddie Guidry, Louisiana LESO coordinator.

"He needed anything we could provide," Presley said. "So, we sent out a call to all 50 states and four territories asking if they had any excess equipment for support."

North Carolina State Coordinator Neil Woodcock was the first to respond and immediately began identifying resources to send to the affected area. North Carolina provided $425,000 worth of equipment sent in three semi-trucks.

"Sleeping bags, duffle bags, cots, blankets, boots, you name it, he sent it down," Presley said of the North Carolina coordinator's dedication.

Like North Carolina, Georgia's state coordinator also gathered supplies for the affected areas totaling more than $60,000.

As recovery from Katrina began, LESO continued to coordinate efforts to meet the needs of police departments in the affected area. When several police departments requested computer equipment, Ken Dover of North Carolina found equipment including monitors and printers. Presley said, "He gets the computer equipment and fixes it so it is operational." More than 150 computer units were sent to the affected area.

The contributions from LESO strengthen the program's relationship with the police departments it supports. Prior to the hurricane, Guidry had discussed the program's contributions to the state.

"LESO has benefited our law enforcement community quite a bit with aircraft and needed supplies and equipment," he said. "We love being a part of the program, and we love contributing to law enforcement agencies all over the state."

The West Feliciana Police Department, which will receive many of the supplies, is considered a model program for the conversion of military equipment into functional civilian supplies. West Feliciana keeps "some of the best maintained equipment we issue through the program," Presley said. For instance, when the department received a military helicopter, "they put on the search light, they painted it. It [now] looks civilianized."

When Cutrer made his statement about LESO's impact on his community last summer, he had no idea the ultimate impact the program would have on the community in its moment of need. Fortunately, the relationship and infrastructure had been developed, and LESO was able to help the community when disaster struck.

Purchase of Defense Aircraft

New Delhi November 30, 2005 - The government constantly reviews the security environment and accordingly decides to induct appropriate equipment and to make other arrangements for adequate defense preparedness. The purchase of defense aircraft and helicopters would be made in accordance with the established defense procurement procedure. This procedure envisages a time frame of two or three years for conclusion of contracts in such major purchases. The defense procurement procedure aims to achieve the highest degree of probity and public accountability, transparency in operations, free competition and impartiality.

This information was given by the Defense Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in a written reply to Shri P K Maheshwari and others in Rajya Sabha today.

HMCS Windsor Returns From First Major Fleet Operational Exercise

Halifax November 30, 2005 - Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Windsor returns to Halifax on Thursday, December 1st after successfully participating in its first major task group exercise with the rest of the fleet. While operating with the Canadian Task Group, comprised of HMC Ships Montreal, Ville De Quebec, Fredericton, Glace Bay, Shawinigan, and Moncton, the submarine participated in a number of operationally demanding exercises designed to develop, challenge and qualify sailors on all of the ships in several areas of warfare.

The deployment provided much-needed real-time training for the surface fleet, resulting in the qualification of twelve Operations Room Officers and twelve Information Management Directors. The crews of Maritime Coastal Defense Vessels (MCDV) Glace Bay, Shawinigan, and Moncton also received valuable Mine Countermeasure training, and a number of new submariners received their coveted "dolphins" pin aboard Windsor.

Montreal remains at sea continuing additional training and duties. Fredericton and Moncton returned to Halifax this past weekend while Ville de Quebec, Glace Bay and Shawinigan return home today.

Armament: EU Adopts a "Code of Conduct"

Paris November 30, 2005 - European Ministers of Defense, gathered within the managing committee of the European Defense Agency (EDA), on 21 November 2005 in Brussels, have adopted a "code of conduct" in the field of armament. It aims at a further opening of the competition in the market of the procurement of defense equipment and thus enable to enhance European industry in that field. This "code" provides for that the member States, via EDA, will inform their partners of the invitations to tender made and the markets allocated. The 24 Member States of the Agency (except Denmark, exempt from defense) must subscribe to this "code" before spring 2006. The code should come into force on 1 July 2006.

Spending on Defense Sector Contracts to Rise in 2006 – Fradkov

Moscow November 30, 2005 (Interfax) - Spending on contracts between the Russian government and the defense sector is to increase by 31.3% in 2006, Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said at a session of the commission for defense sector issues on Wednesday.

The army's budget will grow by 36.6% and funding for the construction of military facilities will rise by 52.5%, Fradkov said.

"The 2006 increase in spending on contracts between the state and the defense sector is a considerable one when compared with the figure for 2005, " the Prime Minister said.

"This is the highest rate of growth seen over the past three years," he said.

Export of Russian Armaments will Top $5B in 2005

Moscow November 30, 2005 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Defense and Industry Complex’s export of military hardware will top five billion U.S. dollars in 2005, First Deputy Director of the Federal Committee on Technical and Military Cooperation Alexander Denisov told reporters here on Wednesday.

"We are sure that the Russian president’s assignment to export 5.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of armaments and materiel will be fulfilled with only a few slight amendments," he stressed.

"The correlation of export deliveries of Russian armaments and other military hardware has changed in recent years," Denisov noted. Naval armaments accounted this year for 50-60 per cent of Russia’s total military exports. Deliveries of aviation materiel went down from seventy to thirty per cent. Means of anti-aircraft defense account for the rest.

"There are big problems with the sale abroad of weaponry for the ground forces," Denisov said. Small arms, he noted, "will account for several per cent of the total amount of export deliveries". "We believe this is short of our target in this domain", stressed.

He hopes "the proportions, regarding means of aircraft defense, will alter next year thanks to the signing of new contracts".

"The Russian defense and industry complex will usher in the new year with an export figure of 5 billion U.S. dollars and one billion dollars of this sum will be earned from deliveries of spares and completing parts for the already marketed armaments and hardware".

F-14 Program Builds Business Bridge to Poland

Washington November 30, 2005 - For a people who first heard of it while they lived under Soviet influence, this U.S. Navy fighter aircraft is a cause celebre.

Polish citizens invariably know it by name. Employees of PZL-Swidnik even refer to it with a hint of ownership – the F-14 Tomcat.

A business bridge between the U.S. Navy’s F-14 program and a Polish aerospace company is in many ways a first.

PZL’s construction of the transmitter bay access panel on the Tomcat’s fuselage is the first time a foreign company has contributed to the aircraft’s structure. It is also the first time the U.S. Navy has acquired a major aircraft part from a former East Block country.

The historic initiative is keeping the world’s most recognized fighter flying safely as it embarks on its last hurrah.

Early in September, F-14 squadrons VF-213 and VF-31 of Oceana Naval Air Station, Va. landed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt for what will be their last Tomcat deployment before transitioning to the Super Hornet next year. On many of these combat-proven aircraft -which average 15 years in service – wind-tossed refueling drogues have worn the panel during in-flight refueling.

"It was important that we had a plan to replace these panels before they reached the end of their service life. We had repaired them enough," said Cmdr. Dino Ferrari, F-14 deputy program manager at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md.

As the deadline for closing down shop on the Tomcat crept closer, dwindling resources forced program planners to seek unconventional options.

They found answers in an unlikely place. Swidnik is a town of gray, communist-era apartment buildings not far from Poland’s eastern border with the Ukraine. The town grew up around the PZL factory, which now employs about 3,300 workers. PZL began in 1954 building helicopters mostly for Russia and other nations under Soviet influence.

PZL now builds or upgrades helicopter and aircraft parts for a growing list of recognized global defense industry players; Italy’s Agusta, France’s Latecoere and Dassault Aviation, Eurocopter Deutschland, Airbus and Bell.

Czes Covington manages the Navy’s effort with PZL. He is a 25-year veteran with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River where he normally serves as integrated product team lead for F-14 structures and mechanical sub-systems. He sealed the deal with PZL and raised eyebrows on both sides of the Atlantic.

Evaluations of the panels received from PZL since mid-July indicate the hardware exceeds the Navy’s quality standards, according to Navy engineers assigned to the Tomcat Fleet Support Team at Jacksonville, Fla. All panels are expected to be delivered by the end of February 2006.

"The panels are complete and all-encompassing. When they are delivered, they can be taken out of the box and installed. The accessories such as the formation light and multiple fasteners are included and pre-installed," said Covington. The panels go directly from the shop floor to the fleet, where aircraft maintainers have been able to swiftly attach the panels in their prominent position near the cockpit.

"Top Gun!" said Christian Rutkowski jerking a thumb into the air as he inspected a panel he recently painted. He is a 30-year veteran at PZL who has witnessed the country’s dramatic transformation from state-controlled economy to free-market. He’s seen multiple times the 1986 film "Top Gun" which made the Tomcat into a global celebrity.

Machines on the PZL shop floor have been re-fitted with custom tooling derived from the original tools used by Grumman. When production on the F-14 halted in 1992, the Navy took custody of the aircraft’s manufacturing specifications. This has allowed NAVAIR to work directly with PZL. Using the modified tools, PZL demonstrated that it could produce parts that meet the original equipment manufacturer’s specifications.

Three American companies manufacture at least 50 percent of the panel hardware under terms of the contract. Pryer Tool and Machine Co. of Tulsa, Okla. manufactures the panel skins. Alcore of Edgewood, Md. produces its one-piece honeycomb core. Aurora Flight Science of Bridgeport, W.Va. packages the various parts into kits for shipment to Poland.

Covington first considered purchasing from a former East Block country in 1996. His team conducted a market survey that included Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The decision fell on Poland, then on PZL. Contract discussions began in 2001 with approval from the Defense and State departments.

The willingness of the Navy, State and Defense department to work with Poland isn’t solely a question of cost savings. Poland has proved a reliable U.S. ally since the end of the Cold War, and has been among the US’s staunchest allies in Iraq. U.S. officials have been eager to establish ties with Poland that both reward and solidify the relationship.

"I think the cooperation between the Navy and the factory is right in line with our mission. It is one more tie in a robust military relationship and robust commercial relationship," said James B. Bond, press attaché for the American embassy in Warsaw.

"We have fully realized not only the purely military and commercial benefits but also the political advantages of bilateral cooperation and this U.S.-Poland ... program in particular," said Col. Stan Prusinski, chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the embassy. "A project that brings about savings to U.S. taxpayers, creates jobs in both countries, and generates favorable publicity in Poland is a dream come true."

Although the contract with the Navy is small compared to the company’s other business ventures, PZL officials see it as an important nod to the future.

"It is a kind of test to see if professional cooperation is possible. We will try to prove it is a good idea for both sides to take another step. We are open to that," said Ryszard Cukierman, PZL’s commercial director and vice president.

Covington also views cooperation on the Tomcat panel as a hint of future possibilities.

"The recent agreement paves the way for the eventual creation of long-term technical and economic benefits that will produce dividends for both the U.S. and Poland," said Covington.

His administrative team was recently successful in establishing an agreement between Poland’s Military Institute of Armament Technology in Zielonka, PZL and NAVAIR that would qualify a light-weight, Polish-designed armor protection package that can be integrated into a helicopter’s structure. The agreement again extends to U.S.-based small businesses to help with the qualification and manufacturing program.

Curt Carey, NAVAIR’S AH-1W Class Desk, would like to see Covington’s team integrating the protection into the Marine Corps Cobra helicopter. He believes their objective could be achieved quickly enough to make a difference in Iraq. The team hopes to perform gunfire testing of two materials by the end of the year, so that follow-on, full-scale qualification testing of the completed project can occur in early 2006.

"Within the next year, we could produce a low-cost, high-quality component for a U.S. military helicopter which will provide the protection that our troops need in Iraq," said Covington.

"This success is part of our team’s continuing contribution to the Navy-wide goal of delivering the right force, with the right readiness, and at the right cost," said Rear Adm. David Venlet, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Venlet oversees the efforts of PMA 241. "You’ll see much more of this as the Naval Aviation Enterprise continues to streamline development and procurement of the systems we send forward to our fleet warfighters."

The Naval Aviation Enterprise is a partnership among naval leadership to optimize processes that maintain current readiness while investing in future readiness.

The enterprise concept focuses naval aviation on the single fleet-driven metric of producing aircraft ready for tasking at reduced cost.

Flight 93 National Memorial Moves Closer to Development

Somerset PA November 30, 2005 - The Families of Flight 93 and its partners announced today progress toward full development of the design for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The national memorial honors the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who thwarted a planned attack on the Nation's Capital on September 11, 2001.

"I am extremely pleased with the progress made and applaud the design team for their work to forever honor the passengers and crew of Flight 93," said Gordie Felt, whose brother, Edward Felt, was a passenger on Flight 93. "We look forward to the day when this memorial will be completed so the world will be reminded of the courageous acts of these forty men and women."

In the latest issue of its official newsletter, released today and available on-line at www.flight93memorialproject.org, the memorial partner organizations formally introduced the memorial design. The memorial partners are the Families of Flight 93, Flight 93 Advisory Commission, Flight 93 Memorial Task Force and the National Park Service. The design, chosen at the end of a yearlong open, international design competition, was created by Paul Murdoch Architects of Los Angeles.

"Since its initial announcement in September, the memorial's design has evolved as a result of conversations between the design team and the partner organizations, as well as comments from the public," said John Reynolds, Flight 93 Federal Advisory Commission Chairman, adding the design's updates also respond to the design competition's Stage II jury report, as well as issues related to the memorial's General Management Plan.

Lead architect of the Flight 93 National Memorial, Paul Murdoch, said the memorial's design now enriches the experience of visitors around the circular edge of the existing landform known as 'The Bowl.' "The focus of the memorial remains the 'Sacred Ground,' which is the final resting place of Flight 93's passengers and crew," said Murdoch.

Visitors entering the Bowl will travel through the Entry Portal for their first glimpse of the Sacred Ground along the path of Flight 93. Visitors may then pass the visitor center to descend around the Bowl on a curving, mile- long walkway to the Sacred Ground. Along the way, they will encounter 40 Memorial Groves of red and sugar maple trees. A plaza at the Sacred Ground will allow visitors to closely view the crash site. The Bowl's Western Overlook is sited where trees will be added to the area family members first viewed the crash site after September 11, 2001.

On September 24, 2002 Congress passed the Flight 93 National Memorial Act. The Act created a new national park unit to "commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's Capital." The memorial will be developed near Shanksville, PA where Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001.

When completed, Flight 93 National Memorial will encompass 2,200 acres, of which, almost 1,300 acres will be dedicated to the design features, and 900 acres will be protected through partnerships with local residents and groups.

The Flight 93 National Memorial project is making history as the first national park designed entirely through an open, public competition. The yearlong, international competition received more than 1,000 submissions created by professionals and members of the general public. The National Park Service is the steward of the Flight 93 National Memorial.

The final design selection for the Flight 93 National Memorial, announced September 7, 2005 was created by Paul Murdoch Architects, a Los-Angeles based firm. A diverse jury comprised of family members, community representatives and design professionals chose the winning design because it most completely exemplifies the mission statement for the memorial. This mission statement grew out of hundreds of responses to a public survey and countless hours of discussion by families of the passengers and crew, community residents, national experts, and National Park Service staff.

The Flight 93 National Memorial's mission statement is: "A Common Field One Day, A Field of Honor Forever. May all who visit this place remember the collective acts of courage and sacrifice of the passengers and crew, revere this hallowed ground as the final resting place of those heroes, and reflect on the power of individuals who choose to make a difference."

Cyclone Alert Sounded; Army, Navy Kept Ready

Hyderabad November 30, 2005 (PTI) - High alert has been sounded in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh in view of the threat of a cyclonic storm with Army and Navy asked to be ready for any emergency.

The high alert has been sounded in coastal districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari and Chittoor and all precautionary measures taken by the district administration in view of the threat, official sources said.

The fishermen have been advised not to venture to the sea and railway authorities have been asked to be in contact with the district collectors for monitoring the movement of rail traffic, they said.

State Chief Secretary T K Dewan reviewed the situation with the Commissioner, Disaster Management and concerned senior secretaries of various departments, the sources said.

Yesterday's cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal practically remained stationary and lay centered this morning about 450 km east-southeast of Chennai, the weather office said here.

The system is likely to intensify further and move in a west-northwesterly direction and cross north Tamil Nadu- south Andhra Pradesh coast between Chennai and Machilipatnam by tomorrow afternoon, the weather office added.

Under the influence of the system, isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts of coastal region and Chittoor and Cuddapah of Rayalaseema. Strong winds with a speed of 80 to 90 km/h are likely to lash the coast tonight.

Barents Sea Shipyard Begins Victor III Scrapping

St Petersburg November 30, 2005 (RIA Novosti) - Workers at a shipyard in the town of Severodvinsk on the Barents Sea have begun the process of decommissioning the Volgograd nuclear submarine, the enterprise said Wednesday.

This is the fourth Viktor-3 class submarine whose decommissioning has been funded by Canada under the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction program, which was approved by the Group of Eight industrialized nations at the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, and, among other problems, addresses nuclear security issues.

Under the program, the Zvezdochka shipyard is expected to decommission 12 more multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarines.

The decommissioning of the Volgograd sub, which is currently in the docks, will be completed in about six months, according to the enterprise.

The Volgograd was phased out of Russia's Northern Fleet after 25 years in service.

Russia Mulls Storing Military Spare Parts Overseas

Moscow November 30, 2005 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is conducting negotiations on building facilities to store military spare parts overseas, a government official said Wednesday.

"We are conducting such negotiations, but nothing has yet materialized because many issues remain unresolved," Alexander Denisov, first deputy head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, told a RIA Novosti news conference.

The official said certain Russian manufacturers of spare parts for the military would like to store their products overseas, citing the example of an enterprise that had plans to build a storage facility in China.

According to Denisov, Russia has agreements on military-technical cooperation with 82 countries.

Joint Pakistani-Saudi Naval Exercise

Islamabad November 30, 2005 - A Joint Pakistani-Saudi naval exercise, Naseem Al Bahr-VIII, has started in the north Arabian Sea.

The exercise, in which a task group of seven Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Ships is taking part, will continue until 15 December in various phases.

The RSNF contingent is being led by Commander Task Force Rear Admiral Sami bin Mansoor Al-Rufa'i.

The aim of this exercise is to enhance levels of inter-operability between two fraternal navies.

During the exercises, a large number of RSNF and Pakistani Navy units, including most modern destroyers, frigates, missile corvettes, tankers, mine hunters, naval aviation units and special services group will participate in multi-dimensional activities.

The sea-phase of the exercise will begin in the first week of December. De-briefing sessions will be held to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses.

'Green' Legislators Try to Extricate Lee from Lafayette Case

Taipei November 30, 2005 (TIS) - In a bid to "clarify" former President Lee Teng-hui’s involvement in scandals over Taiwan's purchases of weapons from France, the pan-green alliance of the Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union pointed to former Premier Hau Pei-tsun on Tuesday as the "mastermind" behind the purchase of Lafayette-class frigates from France in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The ruling DPP caucus in the Legislature showed a telegram sent by Hau in his capacity as military chief of the general staff from Paris on May 8, 1989 to demonstrate its point. They said that message to the Taiwan Navy headquarters "effectively vetoed" Lee's decision in May 1988 to buy South Korea's Ulsan-class frigates, said the caucus secretary-general, William CT Lai.

In another message to then-President Lee, dated May 9, 1989, Hau did not mention that he had put off the negotiations over purchasing the South Korean frigates, according to Lai. Hau also allegedly kept Lee in the dark about his sending a team of navy officers to Saudi Arabia and France to take a closer look at the Lafayette frigates in September that year.

Hau approved the deal to purchase the Lafayette frigates from France the next month; however, France announced in January 1990 that it was suspending exports of all warships. At that time, South Korea offered to quote a new price for its Ulsan-class frigates to Taipei, but the navy headquarters did not think it necessary, Lai said.

Lai made the remark after opposition People First Party Legislator Lin Yu-fang said that former President Lee was the one who made final decisions to buy Lafayette-class frigates and Mirage-2000 fighters that involved huge sums of kickbacks from the French authorities.

Countering the DPP's attempts to link the opposition KMT with the arms scandal, Lin alleged that the former president's secret envoys had sent part of the Lafayette kickback money into senior Chinese officials' bank accounts in exchange for their tacit agreement with the deal.

DPP Secretary-General Lee Yi-yang said the Lafayette frigate kickback scandal is a huge corruption case that has claimed eight lives, seven of whom were foreigners.

"Rather than reflecting on itself, the chairman of the KMT, Ma Ying-jeou, has instead made it plain that he hopes the prosecution's investigation into this case can be halted. The KMT's attempts to shift responsibility over the scandal underscore the fact that it was a corrupt party and that nothing has changed up to the present," Lee Yi-yang said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Wang, who is on Taiwan's most-wanted list for his alleged role in the Lafayette frigates kickback scandal, cited a French newspaper report to prove his innocence when he shared its report with Taiwan's media late Monday.

Le Monde mentioned in a report appearing on November 18 that "several relatively small remittances" from Wang's Swiss accounts, including US$17 million sent between 1991 and 1993 to former Taiwan Navy Captain Kuo Li-heng. The report said the Swiss information sent to the French prosecution shows no evidence of any Taiwan or French officials having taken any kickback money from him.

Claiming that he is a "patriotic businessman" who secured a good arms deal for the country when it was almost impossible to get one elsewhere in the world, he said, "What's wrong with a businessman getting his due after completing a deal?"

Wang also expressed his disgruntlement about some lawmakers using their privilege of immunity and unauthorized "secret files" to make false accusations against him, claiming that he reserves the right to sue anyone who makes untrue statements or reports about him.

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Northrop Grumman Recognized for Composite-to-Steel Manufacturing on DD(X)

Orlando November 30, 2005 - Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded the 2005 Defense Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Achievement Award by the U.S. Office of Naval Research for extraordinary accomplishments on the U.S. Navy's next-generation destroyer program, DD(X).

Northrop Grumman was recognized for its composite-to-steel joint development for DD(X), the U.S. Navy's next-generation destroyer. The ship features an all-composite deckhouse joined to a steel hull.

A photo accompanying this release is available at:<http://media.primezone.com/noc/>

Established in 1999, this award distinguishes teams dedicated to advancing the nation's defense with innovative and affordable technology. The award was presented to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' DD(X) ManTech project team at the Defense Manufacturing Conference.

"The DD(X) program has revolutionized shipbuilding by perfecting composite-to-steel integration for future surface-ship platforms," said Paul Robinson, vice president and general manager of surface combatants for Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. "As the recipients of this prestigious award, we are committed to providing the 21st century warfighter with unparalleled capability."

The ManTech Achievement Award specifically recognizes the composite-to-steel joint development for DD(X). This exceptional ship features an all-composite deckhouse joined to a steel hull. The revolutionary adhesive technology designed for the DD(X) significantly improves performance and increases survivability while reducing in-service maintenance expense. The joint is 40 percent lighter in weight and 50 percent less expensive to produce than existing configurations.

"Not only has this DD(X) team employed the most cost-effective manufacturing techniques," says Brian Cuccias, vice president and DD(X) program manager for Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, "they have laid the foundation for the future of composite ship design."

In partnership with the Navy, the DD(X) ManTech project team includes employees of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems; General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works; the Composite Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence, South Carolina Research Authority; Pennsylvania State University's Applied Research Lab; The Boeing Company; and the Edison Welding Institute.

Implant Sciences Receives Navy Contract for Advanced Portable Explosives Detector

Wakefield MA November 30, 2005 - Implant Sciences Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of products for national security, medicine and industry, today announced the award of a $338,000 contract from the U.S. Navy to design a portable explosives detector which will integrate features of the Company's Quantum Sniffer(TM) handheld and desktop detectors into a combined handheld and backpack device. This design will provide the Navy with a more portable explosives detector which can be used in more confined areas while providing the operator/inspector increased mobility and use of hands. Delivery of this newly designed portable explosives detector is scheduled within the next eight (8) months.

The proprietary Quantum Sniffer technology and products are differentiated from that of the competitors. The Company's products detect a wide array of explosives, including PETN, which is the difficult to detect active component of Semtex, using a proprietary non-contact sampling system. The equipment does not require radioactive sources or consumables, as is required by competitive products.

Dr. Anthony J. Armini, PhD., CEO of Implant Sciences, commented, "The U.S. Navy and Implant Sciences have been working cooperatively over the past several years to take our Quantum Sniffer technology from a concept to a commercial product. This new contract should enable us to configure our currently available products into a new device that should meet the Navy's design requirements for explosives detection. We believe the Quantum Sniffer technology, which has been clearly differentiated from competitive technologies and products, is well suited for the applications requested by the Navy and should result in a device that provides the operator greater flexibility and efficiency in carrying out the task of inspecting vessels, vehicles and military installations for the presence of explosive materials. We are pleased with the Navy's decision to have us design equipment which specifically fits their special needs using Implant's Quantum Sniffer technology."

Raytheon Appoints Jones President, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems

Waltham MA November 30, 2005 - Jon C. Jones, 51, has assumed responsibilities as president, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) effective immediately. He replaces Jack R. Kelble, 62, who will assist in the transition and retire from the company in Feb. 2006.

Jon Jones' distinguished career, his program management expertise and his passion for the customer makes him the right person for the position," said William H. Swanson, Raytheon Chairman and CEO. "Jon's leadership and experience will serve our customers well as we continue to grow our Space and Airborne Systems Business."

Jones has been with the Company for 28 years and has had a variety of leadership roles in Tucson, including vice president and deputy general manager of Raytheon Missile Systems, and vice president of the Missile Systems' Strike product line, with responsibility for the Tomahawk cruise missile, Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) and the Paveway Laser Guided Bomb. He has been vice president and general manager of SAS since May 2005.

"Jack Kelble's many awards and industry recognition are a testament to the respect and regard in which he is held by us all," Swanson said. "We wish him well in retirement."

Kelble culminates a distinguished 40-year career in the defense and electronics industry. He joined Raytheon in 1979 as a program manager in the Equipment Division. He went on to serve in increasingly responsible leadership positions with the Engineering Development Laboratories and Business Management Organization, Data Acquisition Systems, Command, Control and Communications unit, and our Electronic Systems' Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems business segments before becoming president of SAS in 2002.

Columbus OH November 30, 2005 - EWI announced today that its Navy Joining Center (NJC) received the Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award. This annual award is given to project teams from the government and/or private sector most responsible for a specific innovative manufacturing technology achievement.

NJC received the award for leading a project that addresses a design challenge using composite-to-steel adhesive joints for the DD(X), the U.S. Navy's next generation multi-role surface combatant. Project team members included participants from industry, academia, and other Navy centers.

"This ManTech project has developed innovative, cost-effective adhesive joining technology for the DD(X)," said Larry Brown, project manager for NJC. "The adhesive bonded joint has been demonstrated to be 40 percent lighter and 50 percent less expensive to produce than the existing bolted joint configuration and also improves the ship signature and requires less in- service maintenance."

Preparations are underway for implementation of the technology by several Navy shipbuilders. Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems have been active team members and participants in all aspects of the project since its inception. To ensure that manufacturability and implementation is fully within the capability of manufacturing personnel, full scale test articles were built at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems under normal operating conditions.

"This project provides a new manufacturing capability that will have a profound impact on future surface ship platforms," said Henry Cialone, CEO of EWI. "We are proud that the technology developed through this ManTech project will be the cornerstone for composite ship design for future generations of Navy ships."

In addition to EWI, the project team includes Bath Iron Works, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, the Composites Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence (South Carolina Research Authority), Penn State University Applied Research Lab, Boeing, and Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock.

Pratt & Whitney Logs 4,000 SDD Test Hours on F135 Engine for Joint Strike Fighter

West Palm Beach FL November 30, 2005 - Pratt & Whitney F135 ground test engines have logged more than 4,000 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) ground test hours as the company nears completion of the engine that will power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's (JSF) first flight next year. Pratt & Whitney is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

The 4,000 SDD hours, combined with more than 3,500 hours accumulated during the Concept Demonstration Aircraft (CDA) phase of the F-35 development program, demonstrate an unprecedented level of maturity and experience as the lead propulsion system on the JSF development program.

The milestone, achieved during engine runs at the company's advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., represents the combined total test hours of F135 SDD development engines including both Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)/Carrier Variant (CV) and Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) configuration engines.

"This achievement demonstrates a maturity in design that is truly unique for a development engine program," said Bill Gostic, vice president of F135 engine programs for Pratt & Whitney. "The experience we are gaining during ground tests, combined with the lessons learned from being an evolution of the production F119 for the F/A-22 Raptor, is being built into the first flight test F135 engine, which will be delivered next month."

The Pratt & Whitney F135 propulsion team has delivered five CTOL/CV configuration and four STOVL configuration F135 engines to test for a total of nine engines for the SDD program.

In August, Pratt & Whitney began assembly of the first flight test engine in support of the F-35's first flight. The first flight test engine will be delivered to Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, plant in December of this year, with the F135 program achieving Initial Flight Release in January 2006. The F135 will power the first flight of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in the third quarter of 2006.

The technologically advanced F135 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F/A-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 will have logged more than 1 million flight hours before the F-35's introduction into operational service in 2012.

The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce, providing lift components for the STOVL F-35B; and Hamilton Sundstrand, also a UTC company providing the F135's control system, external accessories and gearbox.