Military Satellite News (November & December 2008)Visit
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December 29, 2008
IAI + Elbit Produce IMINTs For Turkey
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) and Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) have announced that their respective subsidiaries, ELTA Systems Ltd. (ELTA) and Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd. (Elbit Systems Electro-Optics) have been awarded a $141 million contract ($54 million awarded to ELTA and $87 million awarded to Elbit Systems Electro-Optics) to supply the Turkish Air Force with combined airborne IMINT (Imagery Intelligence) systems.
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This Bus Is Definitely On Schedule — SBIRS Subsystems Next Stop
The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led team developing the U.S. Air Force's Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) has achieved major milestones on the second geosynchronous orbit (GEO-2) spacecraft with the completion and delivery of the remaining major spacecraft bus subsystems.
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UAVs To Take To The Air To Defeat IED Attacks
The Pentagon is testing prototypes of a helicopter UAV that can automatically look for enemy bomb-layers or follow their vehicles on the ground.
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December 23, 2008
Ravens Receive OK For Flights In Italy
Italy has certified the U.S. Raven UAV (RQ-11B) for use by military and civilian operators in Italian air space.
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There's Real Depth and SatCom With Deep Siren
The U.S. Navy has developed a system for nuclear subs to communicate with the rest of the world that formerly required the boat to navigate close to the surface in order to raise a radio antenna. The new system is called Deep Siren.
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Terrorist Trend Results In Indian Subsurface Alarm With UAV/SatCom Dependancy
Underwater terrorism is the new worry for the Indian Navy even as it struggles to wriggle out of the Mumbai embarrassment.
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A Honeywell Of A Contract For T-Hawk UAV/MAV
Honeywell has received a US$65 million production contract for its Micro Air Vehicle, known as the T-Hawk.
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Skylark UAV Elevates To Top Spot For Israeli Army
After four years of evaluation and further development, the Israeli Army has adopted the Elbit Systems manufactured Skylark 1 LE UAV as standard equipment for its combat battalions.
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December 20, 2008
Brit Soldiers Using BGAN For Holiday Home Hugs
BGAN is helping the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan keep in touch with loved ones back home this Christmas.
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December 18, 2008
Heron Hunters To Aid Canadian Forces In Afghanistan
Canada is set to ramp up surveillance of insurgent activity and boost safety for its troops in Afghanistan with the arrival this week of the first in a fleet of new long-range aerial drones.
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Acquisition Accomplishment — Boeing + Digital Receiver Technology
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has completed its acquisition of Digital Receiver Technology Inc. (DRT), a Germantown, Md.-based company that develops wireless surveillance products for government customers.
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Boeing Relishes Rotor Reveal For Hummingbirds
Boeing's A160 Turbine (A160T) Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft has achieved two key milestones: using its two-speed transmission to change gears in flight, and passing the 100-flight-hour threshold.
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ARINC's C4I 4 SSC 2 Continue
ARINC Engineering Services, LLC, has won an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity award under the U.S. Navy’s new 5-year contract to provide for integration and implementation of Command and Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) and radio frequency communications systems.
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December 17, 2008
BAE Australia's SatCom Terminals Continue Their Naval Service
The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has signed a contract with BAE Systems Australia Ltd. for the joint supply of five maritime satellite communications terminals.
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UAVs Will Enter In-Theater Ops To ID IED Interlopers
The Pentagon is testing prototypes of a helicopter UAV that can automatically look for enemy bomb-layers or follow their vehicles on the ground.
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Unmanned Combat Aircraft Unveiled By Northrop Grumman For U.S. Navy
Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) has just unveiled the first of the U.S. Navy's new unmanned combat aircraft at a ceremony in Palmdale, California, attended by Navy officials, state, and local government representatives, suppliers, and Northrop Grumman employees.
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Lockheed Martin Signed On With U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems
Nice contract for Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], which has been selected to develop capabilities in support of the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Situation Awareness mission. The contract is valued at $20 million over two years.
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December 16, 2008
IDF Makes Their UAV Selection
The Israel Defense Forces has selected an enhanced version of Elbit System's Skylark mini-UAV for operation at the battalion level.
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SatTracking Logistic Assets Contract Awarded To ARINC + Impeva
ARINC Incorporated and Impeva Labs, Inc. has announced the U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA) has awarded the companies a contract to install and demonstrate their satellite-based Next Generation Wireless Communications (NGWC) tracking, security, and monitoring capability on containerized shipments of Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives (AA&E).
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A Predator Wish + Heron Height Hassle For Turkey
As speculation mounted that Turkey might opt for an Israeli armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to meet its needs, the Turkish Land Forces Command made its official request to the country's procurement agency to launch a bid for a US General Atomics Aeronautical Systems made Predator UAV.
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Raven UAVs To Do More In Italy
AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) has announced the General Directorate for Aircraft Weapon Systems (MoD - Italy) has issued a Military Aircraft Type-Classification Certificate for the Raven B unmanned aircraft system, the first such certificate issued in Italy in the Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle category.
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SBIRS' Strategic Certification
The first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO-1) payload and ground system, built by a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team, has been certified for operations by U.S. Strategic Command.
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Numerex Has A HERO
Numerex Corp. (Nasdaq: NMRX) has successfully completed the rigorous testing of its SX1 satellite tracking device under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).
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December 15, 2008
A 15-Year Milestone For Lockheed Martin's DSCS
The U.S. Air Force’s Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) B10 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), has achieved 15 years of on-orbit operations, far exceeding its original 10 year design life.
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New UAV Facility For U.S. Army In Germany May Become Reality
The Army may build an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle facility, complete with its own 1,000-foot runway and hangars, in the middle of Grafenw?hr Training Area in Germany.
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DataPath's DKETs Increase Support for Military
DataPath, Inc., once again will do what it takes to ensure that the U.S. military has the communications equipment needed to ensure maximum contact on the battlefield.
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China's New Remote Sensing Sat Launched
China has launched a new remote sensing satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, the fifth satellite in the YaoGan series and developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, was launched by a CZ-4B Chang Zheng-4B rocket at 03:22 UTC yesterday morning.
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December 12, 2008
NATO's Mobile Comm Needs Focus Of SMi Conference
Through a series of exceptional presentations, the Mobile Deployable Communications conference from SMi will provide attendees with a unique insight into NATO's approach towards interoperable mobile and deployable communications.
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Got UAVs, Need Land, Says India Army General
In India, negotiations have started with the state government for the acquisition of land to set up an airstrip in North Bengal, which the army needs close to the Sino-Indian border.
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More Shadows, More Missiles, As U.S. Army Upgrades UAV Wing
The U.S. Army plans to arm its RQ-7 Shadow UAV with Hellfire missiles and add two Shadow units by the end of 2009.
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With Connecticut Incubation Help, Firm To Enter UAV Engine Arena
Governor M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut has announced six more start-up technology companies have received a financial boost through the Connecticut Small Business Incubator Program, including one firm intent of gaining ground in the UAV industry.
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DataPath Resets, Repairs and Upgrades
DataPath, Inc., a worldwide provider of satellite and wireless communications network, received a $3.6 million order to continue resets, repairs and upgrades to DataPath(R) Satellite Transportable Terminals (STTs) used in the U.S. Army's Joint Network Node (JNN)/Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program.
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December 11, 2008
Pac This Star for the Global War on Terrorism
PacStar will announce the availability of the PacStar 4100 Initial Entry Package (IEP) on December 15, but you can learn about it here first. The PacStar 4100 IEP is a highly portable, software-managed communications package designed to provide rapid on-the-ground network support to high-profile individuals and teams of up to 20 users.
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GeoEyes Contract Modification with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
GeoEye, Inc. provider of satellite, aerial and geospatial information, announced the final Service Level Agreement (SLA) modification to the company's existing NextView contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The value of the SLA is $12.5 million per month for a period of one year.
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Hands Off F-16 Lands Using Lockheed Martin Computer Control Technology
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., have demonstrated an autonomous landing of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This is the first time an F-16 has landed entirely under computer control.
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This Hummingbird Will Gain The Power Of Hellfire
The A160T Hummingbird UAV is going to be going through a metamorphous that will position redundant flight controls, strengthen the UAV's skin, and be able to fire mounted Hellfire missiles on the prototype craft for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCom).
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TCS Ties A Big One On With U.S. Government
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) has been awarded orders valued at more than $7.8 million to provide fixed satellite terminal sites and managed bandwidth services using the TCS teleport over 16 months starting in December 2008 to support U.S. government personnel.
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Another JNN/WIN-T Win For DataPath
DataPath, Inc. has received a $3.6 million order to continue resets, repairs, and upgrades to DataPath Satellite Transportable Terminals (STTs) used in the U.S. Army’s Joint Network Node (JNN)/Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program.
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December 10, 2008
UAV-Like Target Drone Trains Royal Navy Squadrons
There are 11 squadrons based at the U.K.'s Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose comprising helicopters, Hawk jets, Jetstream turboprop aircraft and, perhaps less well known, a squadron of radio-controlled target aircraft.
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South African SmallSat Sumbandilasat Shipshape
March of 2009 is the scheduled month for the launch of South Africa's microsatellite, Sumbandilasat.
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December 9, 2008
Pyroshocking Success For SBIRS Sat Solar Array
GEO-1 Spacecraft Solar Array Deployment Pyroshock testing is used to demo the operational deployment of critical satellite components.
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NATO Extends Globecomm's GPS FTS Project
Globecomm Systems Inc. [NASDAQ: GCOM], has received a contract modification from NATO valued at $7.3 million to extend communication services for on site support for the Company’s previously deployed GPS-Based Force Tracking System (FTS).
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Multi-UAVs — Single Commander — Proxy Aviation Systems Technology Funded
Proxy Aviation Systems received $4.4 million in federal funding to advance their unmanned aerial systems and unique cooperative flight technology.
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Stratos To the Defence of the Canadians
Stratos Global Corporation has been selected by the Canadian Federal Government to provide a wide range of Inmarsat mobile satellite systems over a multi-year period.
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December 8, 2008
New Korean UAV To Be Developed By Korean Air
From a Jung Sung-Ki bylined article in the online version of The Korea Times, the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has selected Korean Air as the main developer of an indigenous, medium-altitude, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which will be scheduled to start missions after 2016.
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December 7, 2008
Arrowhead's NexGen SatCom Embraces X-band Solution With XTAR
Arrowhead Global Solutions, the government services division of CapRock Communications, is launching the industry’s first managed network services based on commercial X-band satellites.
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Elbit Systems' Sub's Surveillance Success
Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) announced their 70 percent-owned subsidiary, Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd. (Elisra), was awarded a $60 million contract to supply an Airborne Surveillance System to a European country.
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Refugees Fleeing to Uganda Desperately Call Via TSF
As long as there is conflict, devastation, emergencies and more Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) makes an effort to assist the victims with communications. This last week TSF began humanitarian calling operations in Matanda, a transit camp situated 30 kms from the Congolese border where an estimated 10,000 people are sheltered.
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Introductions — NASA's Welcome Home, Now Let's Go!
One group of NASA astronauts has just safely returned from the International Space Station, and now we're learning of the next NASA crews for space shuttle missions STS-130 and STS-131. The STS-130 mission will deliver a third . . .
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Predator Planned Patrols Now Possible
According to the GrandForksHerald.com online news site, bylined by Ryan Bakken, the Grand Forks Air Force Base planned-for Predator UAV finally touched down last Saturday. Base Commander Colonel John E. Mitchell said, "We have entered an exciting new period, here in Grand Forks."
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December 3, 2008
SPAWAR Spells Success For Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is one of two companies awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific) to provide installation and engineering support to the SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific field activity in Hawaii.
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Russian Spy Satellite that Came In From the Cold
According to the Russian news agency, Itar-Tass, a Molnia-M launch vehicle of the medium class blasted off on Tuesday from the Plesetsk cosmodrome to put into orbit a military spacecraft of the Kosmos series, Itar-Tass learned from chief of the public relations service of the Space Troops Alexei Zolotukhin.
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Goal Achieved — Boeing's Team Upgrade of AWACS for NATO
Stressing the word 'team' — a team led by Boeing [NYSE: BA] completed a major mission-system upgrade for the NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet under the $1.32 billion Mid-Term Modernisation Programme. The system offers . . .
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December 2, 2008
Boeing's Hummingbird Finds Its Way Into SOCOM
Now being deployed by SOCOM (U.S. Special Operations Command) is the new Boeing developed UAV, the A160 Hummingbird.
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French Assign UAV Study To UVS Int'l
The domestic security forces of France have a desire for <=150 kg UAVs to aid them with their missions. A five month study has just been authorized by the French government to examine the legal ramifications of such UAV use.
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Space Environment Replication Testing Environment Contract To ATK
Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has been awarded a $26.1 million contract by the U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) for the design, fabrication, installation, and testing of the Space Threat Assessment Testbed (STAT) System. STAT will create a realistic space environment to perform developmental and early operational testing of space hardware for the Department of Defense, the National Reconnaissance Office and other federal agencies.
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ORS To Get Goodrich Built Sat
Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) has received a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for the first operational satellite system in support of Operationally Responsive Space (ORS).
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Thales Radios In Their Solutions
Thales Communications, Inc., announced the expansion of its tactical communications team. In response to increased battlefield requirements, the company has grown its business development organization to better serve both its domestic and international customer base.
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December 1, 2008
Stryker Brigade Gets gMAV Training To Train Others
The Army's commitment to equipping its total force with Future Combat System (FCS) capabilities continues as the first Army National Guard unit — the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the Pennsylvania National Guard — begins training next month with the FCS-developed gasoline-powered Micro Air Vehicle (gMAV) prior to the unit's deployment to Iraq in January.
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Moving On Up . . .Dr. Guggenbach at RUAG Aerospace
Dr. Peter Guggenbach has been appointed as the new CEO of RUAG Aerospace. The board of directors determined the 46-year-old, with a Swiss engineering degree from ETH Zurich, will assume his new position on April 1, 2009, and will also become a member of RUAG's Executive Board.
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Good Show — Thales Alenia Space Gets the Nod At ESA Meeting
Thales Alenia Space was delighted with the decisions and budget allocations approved by the meeting of European ministers in charge of space activities in The Hague on November 25-26.
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