Feb 3, 2012 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin inducted the 11th aircraft to the C-5M Super Galaxy production line on Feb. 1, 2012. Based at Dover Air Force Base, Del., this aircraft has supported the warfighter’s operations across the globe. It has delivered cargo in locations such as Iraq, Italy, Germany, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Spain and Turkey. Aircraft 86-0017 has accumulated more than 18,000 flight hours and more than 4,300 full-stop landings.

A USAF F-15E

Feb 2, 2012 By David A. Fulghum AviationWeek.com

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force is proposing to cut 123 fighters and 133 airlifters as it manages spending reductions triggered by a flattening defense budget and declining operational demands. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, at an Air Force Association event in Washington on Feb. 2, previewed more details of the USAF portion of the fiscal 2013 budget request that comes out Feb. 13.

Overall, the Air Force will be reduced by 286 aircraft. Of these, 123 will be fighters, the equivalent of seven squadrons — six tactical, one training — out of 60 squadrons. Of these, 102 will be A-10Cs and 21 will be older model F-16s — a response to the smaller size of the ground forces they will support. There will be 246 A-10s remaining.

The service is retaining multimission aircraft that can address a broad spectrum of threats and those that can be converted to a common configuration such as the C-5M Globemaster III. Service planners also are looking at common, extended-range C-17s. The F-22 also is being modified to a common configuration to ensure operational flexibility.

Programs that are being slowed are having their funding protected. Those include the Long Range Strike family of systems and its new bomber, the KC-46A tanker, advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and the F-16 fleet.

Not all modernization programs will slow, however.

“As we worked through the implications of the delays in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, we have made a commitment to modernize about 350 F-16s with additional capabilities,” Donley says. “We have delayed F-35 full-rate production, but there are no changes in the program of record involving the projected size of the F-35 fleet. Those decisions will be made in the 2020s when production has reached about 1,000-1,600 aircraft.

Air mobility will take a 133-aircraft divestment. The Air Force will retain 222 C-17s, 52 C-5Ms and 300-plus C-130s. Divestments will include 27 C-5As, 65 older C-130s and all 38 existing and planned C-27s.

There will be adjustments to the number of ISR platforms. The remotely piloted aircraft force will be sized to 65 orbits with the ability to surge to 85. There will be no change in the number of manned aircraft among the 55th Wing’s special missions platforms that include the RC-135 Rivet Joint, Cobra Ball and Combat Sent fleets. Regular upgrades of the signals, infrared and measurements and signatures payloads will continue. The fleets’ technology upgrades will remain well funded.

“We will retire the RQ-4 Global Hawk block 30 fleet, which is about 18 aircraft, 11 RC-26s and one battle-damaged E-8C Joint-Stars aircraft,” Donley says. “There was increasing cost [in the Global Hawk] program that passed our level of tolerance. We like the capability, but not at any cost. We had a good alternative with [continued use of the manned] U-2. We still have the Global Hawk Block 20s, which are important to communications, and we intend to buy the Block 40s with ground moving target indicator capabilities.”

Personnel loss will be 9,900 in the Air Force — 3,900 active duty, 5,100 Air National Guard and 900 reserves. The active and reserve components will be more integrated. Associate units will go up to 115 units from 100. Every state will be affected by either equipment or manpower adjustments. The Air Force is mitigating manpower reductions by re-missioning Air National Guard units to remotely piloted aircraft and ISR.

Beyond budget reductions that stem from last August’s deficit-cutting and debt-ceiling law, the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Air Force secretary noted changes to operational tempo that are helping to drive these changes. “Dec. 17 was the first day in over 20 years that the U.S. did not fly a sortie over Iraq,” Donely noted. On the other hand, the Libyan campaign forced the Air Force to respond to a military emergency “in a matter of hours,” which means a demand for flexibility from that smaller force.

source Boeing

February 2, 2012 defense-aerospace.com
(Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued February 1, 2012)

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $226,999,940 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-04-C-3146) for services in support of the P-8A System Development and Demonstration Program for the T-1 and T-3 aircraft.

This modification will support interim flight clearance for the P-8A aircraft in the special mission configuration.

Work will be performed in Seattle, Wash. (59 percent); Baltimore, Md. (32 percent); and St. Louis, Mo. (9 percent). Work is expected to be completed in August 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

01.02.2012 par Frédéric Lert (FOB)

C’est la presse canadienne qui le rapporte : en déplacement au Canada, Philippe Burtin aurait affirmé que la victoire du VBCI dans l’appel d’offre en cours pour la fourniture de 108 « Close Combat Vehicle » (plus 30 options) permettrait de créer environ 1600 emplois parmi les entreprises canadiennes, via les transferts de production. Une centaine de personnes représentant des PME, TPE ainsi que plusieurs grands groupes industriels canadiens étaient venues rencontrer les équipes de Nexter au cours d’une convention fournisseurs organisée à Ottawa. Le PDG de Nexter aurait également déclaré à cette occasion que 80 à 90 PME et TPE canadiennes pourraient être associées au programme. Dans le cadre de son offre actuelle, Nexter propose de confier l’assemblage des VBCI à Bombardier et le soutien technique à Raytheon Canada.

February 2, 2012 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / AFNS- defpro.com

WASHINGTON | Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz released the 'Air Force Priorities for a New Strategy with Constrained Budgets' white paper Feb 1.

"The Air Force has made the hard choices to closely align with the new strategic guidance in our FY13 budget submission by trading size for quality," the leaders stated. "We will be a smaller but superb force that maintains the agility, flexibility, and readiness to engage a full range of contingencies and threats."

The Air Force strategy document provides an overview of the way forward for the present and future Air Force. The Following areas are outlined in the document: The Air Force new strategy; force structure; readiness; modernization; more disciplined use of Defense dollars; and taking care of people.

"It is our intent, indeed our obligation, to the American people and our Airmen to remain the world's finest Air Force in the years and decades to come," Donley and Schwartz penned. "Innovative and adaptable, America's Air Force will continue to meet emerging challenges and ensure the security of the Nation and its bright future."

To read the 'Air Force Priorities for a New Strategy with Constrained Budgets' go to http://goo.gl/5boC8 (PDF 158KB, 5 pages).

source washingtonpost.com

February 2, 2012: STRATEGY PAGE

For the third time in the last decade, the U.S. is using one of its Austin class amphibious ships (the LPD USS Ponce) as a commando base. Normally, these LPDs carry a reinforced battalion of marines, plus helicopters and landing craft. The Ponce is a 17,000 ton ship with a crew of 420, plus space for 900 marines. Normally it carries six CH-46 helicopters, plus 39 landing craft (24 of them AAV infantry fighting vehicles).

This time around, modifications would be made to the USS Ponce, to make it more effective as a commando support ship. The modified ship would also support smaller mine clearing ships and helicopters, in addition to having more communications gear and special equipment like UAVs and UUVs (unmanned submarines the size of torpedoes).

Six years ago, the U.S. Navy sent another Austin class amphibious ship, and its escorts, to the Indian Ocean, without the normal complement of marines. The ship was used as a floating base for UAVs and SOF (special operations forces). A similar task was assigned a navy carrier in 2002, to support SOF operations in Afghanistan. In 2006, it was believed that the amphibious ship was also supporting SOF operations ashore in Somalia, or Iran.

The Austin class ships are being replaced by the new San Antonio class LPDs. These 25,000 ton San Antonios can carry more helicopters and larger landing craft, but have been delayed several years by design and manufacturing problems. Ten of the 12 Austin class LPDs have already been decommissioned. The USS Ponce entered service in 1971 and was the last Austin class ship built.

February 2, 2012 Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service – defpro.com

WASHINGTON | Agreements signed last week in the Canadian capital of Ottawa set up a roadmap for U.S. and Canadian officials to work together in the event of a natural disaster or attack, the director of strategy, policy and plans at the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command said this week.

Army Maj. Gen. Fran Mahon said the agreements allow the two countries’ militaries to work more closely together and to plan for support to civilian agencies.

U.S. Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., commander of NORAD and Northcom, and Lt. Gen. Walter Semianiw of the Canadian army, commander of Canada Command, signed the documents Jan. 25.

One is a combined defense plan that lays down a planning framework for defense cooperation following a natural or man-made disaster or attack. The military leaders also signed a continuation of the civil assistance plan that allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Canada,” Mahon said in an interview. “We’ve been partners for more than 70 years in a very close sense. The agreements really enhance our relationship and improve the process of coordinating our combined military resources in a time of crisis or emergency.”

While the civil assistance plan provides a framework for the military forces of each nation to support those of another nation, the general said, it’s really about providing military assistance to civilian authorities. This will facilitate cooperation on man-made or natural disasters or the response to large-scale planned events, he explained.

“The initial civil assistance program was approved in February 2008, and since then, Canada Command and Northern Command have worked together to provide support for each other in short-notice events and planning for major events,” Mahon said. “It really recognizes the role of each nation’s lead federal agency for emergency preparedness. In the United States, that is the Department of Homeland Security, and in Canada, it is the Department of Public Safety.”

The civil defense plan looks at the combined defense of Canada and the United States, Mahon said. “It facilitates our planning and operations for bilateral defense effort and provides guidance leading to interoperability, and thus [promotes] better integration at the operational level,” he added.

The operations under the plan could occur in multiple domains and could be executed when there is a common perceived threat or when one or both nations come under attack.

The United States and Canada cooperated on the Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010 and during hurricane season, Mahon noted.

“We’ve captured some of the lessons learned from the Games and from other experiences and put it in the plan,” Mahon said. “Now for the next event, whether it be a crisis or a planned event, we’ll have a bit smoother execution.”

Sharing information between the United States and Canada should be even easier than in the past, the general said, and both sides understand how to work within each other’s bureaucracies.

Northern Command and Canada Command will exercise through the year to “roll these new documents into play,” Mahon said. “We will undoubtedly learn more from these exercises, and again, we will work on smoothing the rough spots.”

source brahmand.com

February 1, 2012 By Skyler Frink - militaryaerospace.com

DALLAS, Texas, Feb. 1, 2012. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received contracts totaling $921 million from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for hardware and services associated with the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment program.  

The contract includes Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12) missile and command launch system production for the U.S. Army and a follow-on sale of the PAC-3 Missile Segment to Taiwan.  In 2009, Taiwan became the fifth international customer for the PAC-3 Missile Segment.

The contract includes production of hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missiles, launcher modification kits, spares and other equipment, as well as program management and services.  Production of all equipment will take place at Lockheed Martin manufacturing facilities in Dallas and Lufkin, Texas; Chelmsford, Mass.; and Ocala, Fla., as well as the PAC-3 All-Up Round facility in Camden, Ark.  Deliveries will begin in the first half of 2013.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system.  The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the PAC-3 Missile, a hit-to-kill interceptor, the PAC-3 Missile canisters (each of which hold four PAC-3 Missiles, with four canisters per launcher), a fire solution computer and a launcher electronics system and launcher support hardware.

fév 1, 2012 Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (BRUXELLES2)

La retraite est sonnée… Les agenciers d’Associated Press n’ont pas attendu l’atterrissage à Bruxelles pour balancer la nouvelle. Dans l’avion qui amène à la réunion ministérielle de l’OTAN, le secrétaire d’Etat américain à la Défense, Leon Panetta, a expliqué que la mission de combat en Afghanistan cesserait en 2013. « La phase finale de transition des parties du pays entre l’OTAN et le gouvernement afghan doit être commencée à la mi-2013 ». Ce qui permettra de transformer la mission de combat en mission de formation « entre la mi-2013 et la fin de l’année », a-t-il expliqué. Cela ne signifie pas cependant que toutes les troupes Us quitteront le sol afghan en 2014. Au contraire, il restera « une forte présence », pour assister l’armée afghane, et assurer la formation.

Quelques divergences avec les frenchies

C’est d’ailleurs un des points de divergence entre Français et Américains : entre une présidence modeste après 2013 – « quelques centaines d’hommes » a précisé le président Sarkozy -, et une présence « forte » pour les seconds qui ne donnent pas de chiffre  - mais on peut sans doute parler de plusieurs milliers, voire quelques dizaines de milliers, il y a de la marge. Les Etats-Unis ont actuellement 91.000 soldats dans l’ISAF, la force de l’OTAN, un chiffre qui devrait être ramené à 68.000 d’ici septembre. Et ce n’est pas le seul apparemment. Et Panetta a bien l’intention de s’en expliquer, a-t-il précisé à nos collègues américains, « avec la délégation française » dès son arrivée. Les Américains semblent avoir ainsi peu apprécié que le président français leur ait grillé la politesse de l’annonce de la date fatidique de 2013.

Celui qui a tiré le premier

Le 27 janvier, après un entretien avec le président afghan, Hamid Karzai, Nicolas Sarkozy avait, en effet, annoncé vouloir « demander à l’OTAN une réflexion sur une totale prise en charge des missions de combat de l’OTAN par l’armée afghane au cours de l’année 2013 ». Dans la foulée, sans même attendre le résultat de cette demande d’ailleurs, il avait déclaré avoir « planifier le retour de la totalité de nos forces combattantes dès la fin de l’année 2013 ». Ce qui signifie une (petite) accélération du calendrier de retour des soldats. 400 sont déjà rentrés en France en 2011. Et, en 2012, 1000 soldats supplémentaires quitteront l’Afghanistan (au lieu de 600 comme prévus). Et la Kapisa – région tenue par les Français – basculera sous commandement afghan en mars prochain.

Commentaire : la fin d’un dogme

 Même si au siège de l’OTAN, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, le secrétaire général de l’Alliance se targue de démontrer que rien n’a changé, que « la feuille de route établie au sommet de Lisbonne était maintenue » et que tout cela était déjà largement prévu… la déclaration américaine est un signal fort après celui donné par les Français. Un dogme vient de sauter. Inutile de jouer sur les mots, de réinterpréter les paragraphes, de finasser…. La date de 2014, retenue par tous comme date ultime pour le retrait, n’est plus 2014, c’est 2013, voire mi-2013. On avance le calendrier d’un an. Italiens, Allemands voire Britanniques vont ainsi pouvoir plier les « gaules », plus vite que prévu, au grand bonheur des chefs de défense, et de leurs argentiers, dont les portes-monnaies sont vides. Mais attention ! Qui dit « troupes non combattantes » ne dit pas « risque zéro » — du fait des engins explosifs artisanaux télécommandés (IED) ou des attentats suicides —, et ne dit pas « zéro budget ». Il y a fort à parier que nombre de pays rechignent à apporter une contribution « forte » en troupes non combattantes au guichet « 2014″ comme le demandent les Américains.

February 1st, 2012 By Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – DEFENCE TALK

The United States has temporarily waived a ban on providing military assistance to Uzbekistan because of the country's crucial role in transiting supplies to forces in Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials.

Washington banned military aid to Tashkent in 2003 amid concern over human rights abuses.

The ban was officially lifted on January 18, according to State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, who said supplying the Uzbek government with nonlethal items such as night vision goggles and GPS systems will support its ability to secure routes to Afghanistan.

"Nobody is shying away from having the tough conversation," Nuland said. "That said, we also have other interests and things that we need to protect in our relationship with Uzbekistan."

In a recent report, the U.S.-based rights watchdog Human Rights Watch called the human rights situation in Uzbekistan "appalling."

The waiver will expire in September 2013.

The move comes as Pakistan continues to keep its border with Afghanistan closed to NATO supply trucks following NATO attacks that killed two dozen Pakistani border guards in late November.

U.S. troops are due to leave Afghanistan in 2014.

February 1st, 2012 By Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – DEFENCE TALK

U.S. President Barack Obama made a rare admission on January 30 when he acknowledged that the United States’ has used unmanned aircraft -- known as "drones" -- to attack high-value terrorist targets on Pakistan’s territory.

Now that President Obama had confirmed such attacks take place, RFE/RL present this quick explainer to cast some more light on these mysterious planes.

What is a drone, exactly?

A drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is a pilotless plane which can be guided by remote control, or can navigate automatically based on pre-programmed software.

What are drones used for?

Drones, which come in numerous shapes and sizes, have a wide range of potential civilian and scientific uses, including law-enforcement and industrial monitoring. But they are overwhelmingly used for military purposes, mainly for reconnaissance and combat operations.

Why have drones been in the news so much in recent years?

Drones have been developed for decades by various countries. They came to their recent military prominence due to two factors: (1) technological advances allowing unmanned flying objects to be accurately guided over large distances and (2) better intelligence gathering on the ground, which makes it possible to pinpoint and strike high-value military targets while keeping civilian casualties and other collateral damage as low as possible.

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama began using them on a large scale against militants and Al-Qaeda terrorists in the tribal regions along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

Based on unofficial accounts, 45 suspected U.S. drone strikes were reported in Pakistan's tribal belt in 2009, 101 in 2010 and 64 in 2011.

Which countries manufacture, use, and export drones and how much do they cost?

Many countries are attempting to manufacture drones, but most of them are either technologically unsophisticated or are being used strictly for civilian purposes.

The United States and Israel are the two most important manufacturers of military drones.

The United States is both the largest producer and the most frequent user of the aircraft.

The U.S.-made Predator (which costs $4.5 million-$11 million per unit) or the larger, more expensive and more advanced Reaper ($30 million per unit) are the best-known UAVs.

The American military now has some 7,000 aerial drones, compared with fewer than 50 some 10 years ago. The Pentagon has asked Congress for nearly $5 billion for drones in the 2012 budget.

Israel was the first country which developed military drone technology after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, during which its air force sustained large losses.

It manufactures a wide array of drones, including one of the largest and most advanced models in the world -- the Heron TP Eitan, which costs an estimated $35 million.

With a wingspan of 26 meters it is the size of a Boeing 737 passenger jet and can reach an altitude of 12,000 meters.

It can also stay in the air for more than 20 consecutive hours -- making it possible for Israel to fly surveillance missions above Iran.

Israel is also a top drone exporter. Despite a recent deterioration in diplomatic relations with Israel, Turkey is reported to use Israeli-made drones in surveillance operations in northern Iraq.

Israel has reportedly sold components and technology for as many as 60 of its Orbiter 2M and Aerostar drones to Azerbaijan, one of Israel’s closest Muslim allies.

What operations have drones been used in recently?

Intelligence gathered by surveillance drones is reported to have played a crucial role in the success of the special forces’ killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

U.S. drones have been employed successfully against Islamic militants in Somalia, and Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen.

In two spectacular attacks, U.S. drones killed militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and his son, Abdulrahman, with two successive strikes in Yemen in September and October 2011.

Most recently U.S. officials have revealed that unarmed drones have been used to protect American diplomats, including those in Iraq.

In December 2011, Iran claimed to have brought down and captured a U.S. drone and rejected America’s request to return it.

However, it is not clear if and how Iran actually brought it down or if they are truly in possession of the wreckage.

What other countries are developing drones?

Iran claims to have successfully tested a long-range combat drone called the Karrar in 2010. According to Tehran, the aircraft is four meters long, and has a range of 1,000 kilometers -- which puts it within striking range of Israel.

Nuclear archrivals Pakistan and India also say they are in possession of combat-capable drones, although it is unclear how developed or how efficient their UAVs are.

Many other countries, including world powers Russia and China, have been trying to manufacture deployable drones for a long time. But technological difficulties and a lack of accurate intelligence gathering capabilities imposes limits on the effectiveness of their use.

It is not just nation states that have shown an interest in drones. There have been unconfirmed reports that Hizballah used a drone in the 2006 war in Lebanon. Al-Qaeda was also once reportedly looking into the possibility of using UAVs.

RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service contributed to this report

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 1, 2012 Boeing

Boeing today announced that it has started production of the new Distributed Targeting System (DTS) for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter.

DTS provides enhanced targeting capability for the Super Hornet. It is part of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Network Centric Warfare Upgrades program and the F/A-18E/F Flight Plan, which will ensure that the Super Hornet remains ahead of emerging threats in coming decades.

The Navy granted approval for Low Rate Initial Production of DTS following successful completion of initial operational assessment flight testing at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., between September 2010 and March 2011. Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons VX-31 and VX-23 conducted the tests.

“Distributed targeting is going to be a real game-changer for Super Hornet aircrews,” said Kevin Fogarty, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G Mission Systems director. “DTS increases pilot and aircrew situational awareness and precision targeting when engaging air-to-ground targets, in part by using geo-registration technology.”

Geo-registration technology compares images taken from tactical sensors with an onboard imagery database to produce highly accurate target coordinates.

DTS is on schedule to achieve Initial Operational Capability in January 2013.

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 480 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered ahead of schedule and on budget.

Feb. 1, 2012 defense-aerospace.com
(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued January 31, 2012)

Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Team to Provide SEWIP Electronic Attack Capability for U.S. Navy Anti-ship Missile Defense

WASHINGTON --- Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Company are teaming to compete for a U.S. Navy contract that will upgrade the fleet's capability to electronically attack anti-ship missiles.

Through its Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 upgrade, the Navy seeks to cost effectively enhance the electronic attack (EA) capability of its AN/SLQ-32 V(3) and V(4) electronic warfare (EW) systems to counter threat technology advances. All U.S. aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other warships use the AN/SLQ-32 EW system.

SEWIP Block 3 is the latest upgrade in an evolutionary succession the Navy is pursuing for its EW system. Each upgrade incrementally adds new defensive technologies and functional capabilities. The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon team intends to offer a SEWIP Block 3 solution derived from more than 80 years of combined, proven experience in developing systems to defend the fleet. A formal Navy request for proposals is anticipated later this year.

Under a $167 million contract awarded by the Navy in November 2009, Lockheed Martin is developing SEWIP Block 2, which includes passive detection capabilities for advanced threats and establishes a framework to easily integrate future upgrades. The Navy approved the Block 2 solution during a Critical Design Review in February 2011, and two engineering development models are undergoing integration and testing at Lockheed Martin's new EW systems test facility in Syracuse, N.Y.

"Technology is rapidly advancing around the world and we understand the threats our Navy faces are not simplified by today's fiscal challenges," said Carl Bannar, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Integrated Warfare and Surveillance Systems business. "By teaming with Raytheon, the original developer of the legacy AN/SLQ-32 program, we will provide the Navy with a solution for SEWIP Block 3 that addresses today's and tomorrow's evolving threats."

Developed by Raytheon in the 1970s, the original AN/SLQ-32 systems employed passive radar technology for early warning, identification and tracking of enemy threats. Subsequent upgrades provided an additional active capability for simultaneous jamming of multiple threats.

"Lockheed Martin's experience on the current SEWIP Block 2 system combined with Raytheon's expertise in shipboard EW will give U.S. Navy fleet commanders a critical advantage on the seas," said Mark Kula, vice president, Tactical Airborne Systems, for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon partnership provides the low-cost, high-reliability solution the Navy needs to meet current and future sea-surface threat environment."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 71,000 people worldwide