Monday, June 18, 2007

6/18/07 Drills and Co's of Interest

EADS Unveils Three New Portable Detection Sensors For U.S. Homeland Security Threats
http://www.epicos.com/epicos/portal/media-type/html/user/anon/page/default.psml/js_panename/News+Information+Article+View;jsessionid=079A1FE9020FD59EF323CF983EE1D4BA.tomcat5?articleid=79001&showfull=false


A trio of advanced EADS sensors designed to detect homeland security threats that range from drugs and explosives to chemical, biological and nuclear hazards is being displayed for the first time at this week's Paris Air Show.
These systems utilize EADS technologies that have been adapted to portable detection sensor applications at the initiative of the company's Chief Technical Officer and EADS Innovation Works, along with EADS SODERN in cooperation with EADS North America's new Homeland Security Program Office.
Two of them - the Laser Ion Mobility Spectrometry (LIMS) sensor and the Bio Detection System - were evolved from development activity at EADS Innovation Works, the Group's center for corporate research, while the neutron interrogation sensor is based on defense and industrial systems already fielded by EADS SODERN.
"This is an extremely important step for EADS, as it shows how advanced technology and systems from throughout the company can be identified and tailored for specific applications in the United States," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO of EADS North America. "We are now seeking partners for the marketing and industrialization of these three very capable systems."
(Cont..)

BAE Systems Receives Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070618005811&newsLang=en


NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BAE Systems has received SAFETY Act designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for its JETEYE™ aircraft missile defense system. The system was developed to protect commercial airliners against infrared-guided missiles.
The SAFETY (Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies) Act encourages the development and rapid deployment of anti-terrorism technologies by giving sellers of qualified technologies liability protection from lawsuits.
During the 18-month Phase III program, JETEYE will continue flying on the world’s largest airline, American Airlines, and also will fly on an ABX Air cargo aircraft. The continuing development aims to reduce the potential cost to the airline industry by streamlining system installation, reducing aerodynamic drag, and improving reliability and maintainability.
“This designation is an important milestone for the program and our teammates at American Airlines and ABX Air,” said Steve duMont, BAE Systems’ business development director for infrared countermeasures. “Our goal is to provide the best protection capability for our nation’s airline industry.” (Cont..0

Emergent BioSolutions Announces Expansion of Board of Directors and Appointment of Dr. Sue Bailey to the Company's Board of Directors
http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=451656&categoryid=33%2C34


ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 15, 2007 - Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS), a biopharmaceutical company, announced today that at a regularly scheduled meeting of its board of directors the board passed a resolution authorizing the expansion of the total number of members of the board to eight. The board also unanimously appointed Sue Bailey, M.D., as a Class III director, for a two-year term that will expire at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders.
"I am delighted to welcome Dr. Bailey to the Emergent BioSolutions Board of Directors. Her extensive experience in managing complex organizations and healthcare-related issues for both the federal government and private corporations and her expertise in media relations will contribute greatly to our ability to meet our nation's need for bioterrorism countermeasures and to create shareholder value," said Fuad El-Hibri, Emergent BioSolutions' chairman and chief executive officer.
Dr. Bailey served as a news analyst for NBC Universal from 2001 to 2006, focused on national security, bioterrorism, environmental safety and public health issues. (Cont..)

SAIC Selects Tele Atlas Digital Map Data for New Mission-Critical Government Solutions
http://www.gisuser.com/content/view/11921/


San Diego, CA—ESRI International User Conference, June 18, 2007— Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI), one of the nation’s leading systems integrators in the government market, today announced that its Geospatial Enterprise Architecture Rack (GEAR) products will demo the use of the latest digital map 1. data from Tele Atlas (FSE: TA6, EUNV: TA), a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content for navigation and location based solutions. Tele Atlas will provide customized map data specific to each GEAR application, which will be pre-configured and installed according to the map coverage needs of the agency or department implementing the GEAR solution. The GEAR product line is on display at the ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, both in the SAIC (#1725) and Tele Atlas (#1307) booths.


VA

Naval Academy holds emergency drill

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-06-18-0180.html



“Danube Guard 07"
Three Balkan countries to stage first military exercise on Danube
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-06/19/content_897056.htm


Canada

Exercise Western Sentry: Policing the waters

http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/archive/20070618/index.shtml


Just like a police officer on land intercepting a suspicous vehicle, small boat coxswains are skilled at intercepting crafts in or near an on-water security perimeter or Controlled Access Area (CAA).
During Exercise Western Sentry, intercepts were a regular occurrence. Western Sentry was a joint domestic port security exercise that ran from May 28 to Jun 8 out of HMCS Discovery, Vancouver’s Naval Reserve Division.
For the annual exercise, more than 150 part-time sailors and soldiers came together from across Canada to form a Port Security Unit (PSU), a flexible and responsive unit that can be deployed to domestic ports to augment existing security organizations.
This action-packed two weeks was rich with demonstrations underlining the importance of the Navy’s port security capability (cont..)

Indonesia, India plan joint military exercises
http://english.people.com.cn/200706/18/eng20070618_385370.html


Australia, US launch biggest joint military exercises (update)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181813062120&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull


Australia and the United States launched their biggest joint war games Monday, with 27,500 troops backed by a US aircraft carrier engaging in exercises aimed at consolidating the allies' military dominance in the Asia Pacific region.
The biennial Talisman Sabre exercise pits 20,000 US troops and 7,500 Australian forces against two fictional enemies - the Kamarians and Musorians - in a variety of land and sea-based scenarios designed to test their skills in combat, peacekeeping and humanitarian relief efforts.
The exercise, which runs until July 2, will also include 10 US ships, 20 Australian ships and 125 aircraft operating off the coast of Rockhampton in northeastern Queensland state.
"The United States and Australia have a long-standing relationship ... we share the same values and interests. Foremost among those interests is the stability and security of the Asia-Pacific region," US Vice Admiral Doug Crowder told reporters on board the USS Blue Ridge in Sydney.
"Therefore it is very important that our militaries train together to carry out the types of missions our governments may call upon us to execute to ensure regional security and stability."
The exercise comes as the United States and Japan step up efforts to build a joint missile defense system in Asia, partly as a bulwark against regional threats such as a nuclear-armed North Korea.
Australia, a steadfast US ally that maintains around 2,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is studying whether to participate in the defense shield, Defense Minister Brendan Nelson announced this month.
Canberra is expanding its military personnel to 30,500 troops from 27,500, and ramping up other defense capabilities as part of an overhaul to take greater responsibility for Asian security.
Japan plans to send observers to the Talisman Sabre operation, Crowder said, but would not expand on what role they might play in the exercise. Australia and Japan signed a security agreement in March that will enable Japanese forces to train alongside Australians for disaster relief and peacekeeping missions, and boost cooperation between the two countries in counterterrorism measures and intelligence sharing.
Meanwhile, environmentalists have voiced concern about the possible dangers of submarine-hunting sonar equipment to whales in the region. The International Whaling Commission issued a report this month saying a mid-frequency sonar sometimes used by US and Australian ships can cause hearing loss and tissue damage in whales and can alter their diving habits.
"A huge part of the planning for this exercise has been the environmental concerns. We have many procedures in place," Crowder said. He would not elaborate on the procedures, saying only that the operation "will be conducted in compliance with all the Australian governmental requirements."
About 100 people gathered Monday outside an army barracks in the northeastern city of Rockhampton to protest the exercises. They laid a wreath and hundreds of shoes at the gate of the barracks to symbolize military and civilian casualties from the Iraq war.
"We mourn all loss of life and we feel the shoes are a very powerful symbol," Robin Taubenfeld, of the environmental group Friends of the Earth said.

DARPA scramjet nudges Mach 10
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/18/scramjet_test/

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