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Neurotechnology launches MegaMatcher
Published: May 9, 2008 at 12:12 PM
VILNIUS, Lithuania, May 9 (UPI) -- Lithuania-based Neurotechnology announced the launch of its new MegaMatcher 2.1 multi-biometric face and fingerprint identification system. -
British select first FRES vehicle design
Published: May 9, 2008 at 12:10 PM
LONDON, May 9 (UPI) -- The British Ministry of Defense says it has selected General Dynamics UK's Piranha 5 design for its new future rapid effect system utility vehicle. -
Defense funds awarded for blood research
Published: May 9, 2008 at 12:09 PM
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department says it has awarded funding for the Naval Medical Research Center to continue researching a combat casualty blood substitute.
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Outside View: Vietnam weapons -- Part 1
Published: May 9, 2008 at 11:34 AM
By ILYA KRAMNIK
UPI Outside View Commentator
MOSCOW, May 9 (UPI) -- A red flag was raised over the Palace of Independence in Saigon at 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, signaling the official end of the second Indochinese war, which broke out in the late 1950s. -
Military Matters: Armor lessons -- Part 2
Published: May 8, 2008 at 2:02 PM
By WILLIAM S. LIND
WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has designed its tanks, especially the M-1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, for tactical utility with little thought for operational mobility. -
Defense Focus: Numbers count -- Part 1
Published: May 8, 2008 at 1:58 PM
By MARTIN SIEFF
UPI Senior News Analyst
WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- In weapons procurement, demanding only the best is usually a recipe for disastrous defeat. -
Military Matters: Armor lessons -- Part 1
Published: May 7, 2008 at 2:50 PM
By WILLIAM S. LIND
WASHINGTON, May 7 (UPI) -- Bruce Gudmundsson, author of "Stormtroop Tactics," has a new book out: "On Armor." -
Defense Focus: High-tech limits -- Part 3
Published: May 7, 2008 at 11:59 AM
By MARTIN SIEFF
UPI Senior News Analyst
WASHINGTON, May 7 (UPI) -- The United States, Russia, China, France and Britain have all found that pushing their high-tech capabilities too far has sometimes given them weapons systems that are turkeys instead of eagles. -
Thompson Files: Delay U.S. defense review
Published: May 6, 2008 at 10:40 AM
By LOREN B. THOMPSON
ARLINGTON, Va., May 6 (UPI) -- There is no overwhelming threat around which to organize our defense preparations, despite U.S. attempts to make the global war on terrorism that crusade.
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Analysis: European defense contracts
Published: Feb. 25, 2008 at 1:54 PM
By LEANDER SCHAERLAECKENS
UPI Correspondent
BRUSSELS, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Sarkozy eyes elite EU defense force
Once the European Union's Lisbon Treaty has been ratified by all countries, French President Nicolas Sarkozy would like to use a clause in it to create a 60,000-strong, high-level intervention force with the EU's five other biggest nations, according to European Voice.
The participating nations -- France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom -- would have to adhere to a minimum defense spending level of 2 percent of their respective gross domestic products. The money would be spent through a common procurement program.
However, at the moment, only France and Britain meet the 2 percent requirement. Spain is the furthest from the target -- it spent approximately 1.18 percent of its GDP on defense in 2006.
Sarkozy envisions the countries sharing their foreign military bases and the new force becoming the "European pillar" of NATO. Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will discuss the idea during a summit between their countries at the end of March.
Russia breaks national post-Soviet defense sales record
Russia has announced that its total arms exports in 2007 amounted to more than $7 billion, setting a post-Soviet Union record, Defense News reports.
Of that $7 billion, about $6.2 billion was earned by government-controlled Rosoboronexport. Reports estimate Rosoboronexport's order backlog between $25 billion and $32 billion.
Sixty-one percent of the income was generated by aircraft and helicopters. Weapons and land equipment brought in 21 percent. The additional income was made by air defense systems (10 percent) and navy sales (8 percent), according to the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
Algeria returns inferior Russian fighter jets
Fifteen MiG-29 fighter jets, purchased by Algeria in 2006 in return for a cancellation of Soviet-era debt to Russia, are being returned to Russia because of their poor quality, according to Kommersant.
Russia agreed to take them back on the condition Algeria replace the fighter jets with the MiG 29M2 or MiG-35.
BAE enters Indian artillery contract race
BAE will be joining the race for a $2.5 billion ultralight artillery guns contract with the Indian army, according to the Pakistani Daily Times.
Others believed to be in the race for the highly coveted contract are several Russian companies and the Israeli Soltam Systems. The race is said to be wide-open with no leaning from the Indian military yet apparent.
The tender for 140 guns was opened in January. A second tender for 155 heavy guns is expected to be announced in March.
India is in the process of opening tenders for some $30 billion worth of modern equipment for its aging army inventory. The process is expected to be complete by 2012.
BAE teams with DSME for six fleet tankers for U.K. RFA
BAE and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea have entered a joint bid for the $1.57 billion contract to supply Britain's Royal Fleet Auxiliary with six Fleet Tankers, according to Jane's.
The tender is part of a larger Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability program that will open another $3.34 billion in tenders for two new fleet support ships and three joint sea-based logistics vessels.
Under the agreement, BAE would be the lead contractor and manager, BMT would handle design and DSME would build the ships in South Korea.
So far, the BAE-DSME combo is the only one to apply for the contract, but another dozen or so applications are expected. Deliveries are expected to start in 2012.
UPI Correspondent
BRUSSELS, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Sarkozy eyes elite EU defense force
Once the European Union's Lisbon Treaty has been ratified by all countries, French President Nicolas Sarkozy would like to use a clause in it to create a 60,000-strong, high-level intervention force with the EU's five other biggest nations, according to European Voice.
The participating nations -- France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom -- would have to adhere to a minimum defense spending level of 2 percent of their respective gross domestic products. The money would be spent through a common procurement program.
However, at the moment, only France and Britain meet the 2 percent requirement. Spain is the furthest from the target -- it spent approximately 1.18 percent of its GDP on defense in 2006.
Sarkozy envisions the countries sharing their foreign military bases and the new force becoming the "European pillar" of NATO. Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will discuss the idea during a summit between their countries at the end of March.
Russia breaks national post-Soviet defense sales record
Russia has announced that its total arms exports in 2007 amounted to more than $7 billion, setting a post-Soviet Union record, Defense News reports.
Of that $7 billion, about $6.2 billion was earned by government-controlled Rosoboronexport. Reports estimate Rosoboronexport's order backlog between $25 billion and $32 billion.
Sixty-one percent of the income was generated by aircraft and helicopters. Weapons and land equipment brought in 21 percent. The additional income was made by air defense systems (10 percent) and navy sales (8 percent), according to the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
Algeria returns inferior Russian fighter jets
Fifteen MiG-29 fighter jets, purchased by Algeria in 2006 in return for a cancellation of Soviet-era debt to Russia, are being returned to Russia because of their poor quality, according to Kommersant.
Russia agreed to take them back on the condition Algeria replace the fighter jets with the MiG 29M2 or MiG-35.
BAE enters Indian artillery contract race
BAE will be joining the race for a $2.5 billion ultralight artillery guns contract with the Indian army, according to the Pakistani Daily Times.
Others believed to be in the race for the highly coveted contract are several Russian companies and the Israeli Soltam Systems. The race is said to be wide-open with no leaning from the Indian military yet apparent.
The tender for 140 guns was opened in January. A second tender for 155 heavy guns is expected to be announced in March.
India is in the process of opening tenders for some $30 billion worth of modern equipment for its aging army inventory. The process is expected to be complete by 2012.
BAE teams with DSME for six fleet tankers for U.K. RFA
BAE and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea have entered a joint bid for the $1.57 billion contract to supply Britain's Royal Fleet Auxiliary with six Fleet Tankers, according to Jane's.
The tender is part of a larger Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability program that will open another $3.34 billion in tenders for two new fleet support ships and three joint sea-based logistics vessels.
Under the agreement, BAE would be the lead contractor and manager, BMT would handle design and DSME would build the ships in South Korea.
So far, the BAE-DSME combo is the only one to apply for the contract, but another dozen or so applications are expected. Deliveries are expected to start in 2012.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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