Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense

July 08, 2016

'Suwalki Gap' key to NATO's eastern flank security
Warsaw (AFP) July 7, 2016
Lakes, forest and villages dot the rolling hills along Poland's 65-kilometre (40-mile) stretch of border with Lithuania, but for NATO's top brass, this bucolic landscape gives cause for sleepless nights. Sandwiched between Russia's highly militarised Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, strategists dub the idyllic stretch of countryside the Suwalki Gap. They warn it is the Achilles' heel of NATO's eastern flank: its capture would amputate the alliance's three Baltic members and so shatter its credi ... read more

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Lithuania leader marks 'breakthrough' German troop deployment Germany's decision to deploy a battalion of troops to Lithuania under a NATO initiative marks a "mindset breakthrough" for Berlin towards taking a leading role in European defence, the Lithuanian president said Thursday. ... more		Russian actions caused 'loss of trust' with NATO: Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that Russia's actions in Ukraine had eroded mutual trust with the West, speaking on the eve of a major NATO summit in Poland. ... more		Brazil's Casador drone takes first flight Brazil's Casador drone took its first demonstration flight last week in Sao Paulo, manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries announced Thursday. ... more
				Raytheon's air and missile defense radar to be tested Raytheon has delivered the first AN/SPY-6(V) air and missile defense radar early to the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, the company announced Thursday. ... more		IAI successfully tests MRSAM defense system Israel Aerospace Industries has reported a successful test firing of its medium-range surface-to-air missile defense system, or MRSAM, the company said Thursday. ... more

Transition from Operations to Decommissioning by Preparing a Safe, Cost-Effective Shut Down and Waste Management Strategy

China announces success in technology to refuel satellites in orbit China has successfully completed the in-space refuel of orbital satellites following last week's launch of a new generation carrier rocket, the National University of Defense Technology announced on ... more		Low uptake of space technology science slows Africa's growth: experts Failure to fully adopt space technology education is to blame for Africa's slow development, a university don has said. Dr. Faith Karanja, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi's Department ... more		CACI Wins 231 Million Dollar Task Order for Tactical Satellite Communications to US Special Operations Command Starfighters Space and Blackstar Orbital Broaden F-104 SpaceDrone Integration Program PlanetiQ Wins 15 Million Dollar Air Force STRATFI Deal for Next-Gen Space Weather Data		State Dept. approves $300 million parts sale to Israel The U.S. State Department has approved a proposed $300 million sale of excess SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter equipment and support to Israel. ... more
				Kalashnikov delivers boats to Russian military Kalashnikov has begun delivery of high-speed transport and amphibious assault boats to the Russian military, the company announced Wednesday. ... more		Textron's Shadow UAS passes 1 million flight hours Textron's Shadow drone has surpassed 1 million total flight hours, becoming the only drone of its size to hit the milestone, the company announced Thursday. ... more

2nd Integrated Air and Missile Defense - Securing the Complex Air Domain: Requirements for Sustainable, Global, and Reliable Solutions to Next Generation Air & Missile Threats - 28-30 September, 2016 | Washington D.C.

The World's Largest Commercial Drone Conference and Expo - Sept 7-9 - Las Vegas

Spain drops first GBU-48 from Eurofighter Typhoon Spain successfully dropped a GBU-48 Paveway bomb from one of its Tranche-2 C-16 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for the first time last month, the air force announced Friday. ... more		MicroTech selected for Navy command-and-control systems and support MicroTech has won a place on a five-year, $750 million U.S. Navy multiple award contract to provide command-and-control systems and related support services, the company said Tuesday. ... more		Solar-driven ionosphere charges may nudge stressed faults toward rupture Stable black carbon in mangrove soils boosts coastal climate role Low crystallinity iron minerals show promise for chromium cleanup and carbon storage		Austal reports $115 million in extra LCS costs Austal has announced a $115 million downward adjustment to revenue and work in progress for Fiscal 2016 due to higher-than-expected U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship costs. ... more
Lockheed gets $93 million for F-35 electronic components Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has received a $93 million U.S. Navy contract modification for Lot 14 and Lot 15 F-35 Lightning II aircraft production. ... more		IMF sets $5.3 billion program for Iraq The IMF announced a $5.34 billion program for Iraq on Thursday to help strengthen the country's finances, hit by the crash in oil prices and the fight against the Islamic State group. ... more		NATO countries willing to 'do more' in Afghanistan: Pentagon chief NATO members have indicated they will boost contributions to the Afghanistan security mission, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Thursday, a day after Washington announced thousands of US troops would remain in the war-ravaged country. ... more		UK press condemn Blair' 'arrogance' over Iraq war Tony Blair pleaded with his critics to stop questioning his intentions over Britain's disastrous war in Iraq, after a blistering verdict by the Chilcot inquiry - but commentators Thursday showed scant sympathy. ... more

	Baghdad blast killed 292, many burned alive A Baghdad bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed 292 people, according to a new toll issued Thursday, many of whom were trapped in blazing buildings and burned alive. ... more		Philippine army: 10 dead in clashes with Islamic militants Philippine government forces fought hundreds of Islamic militants on two remote islands Thursday, with the military aircraft-backed campaign leaving up to 10 people dead, the army said. ... more

AALTO plans Zephyr stratospheric hub in northern Australia and seeks local payload partners

Ancient guano drove Chincha coastal power

UAH lands first DARPA award for biological sciences department

Electronic nose smells pesticides and nerve gas		With an eye on Russia, US and Georgia ink defence pact		NATO to hold new talks with Russia July 13: Stoltenberg		Kim Jong-Un: North Korea's young leader accused of cruelty		Blair defends Iraq war after damning inquiry report
Northrop receives $103M counter-IED contract mod		Electric Boat gets $116 million for Virginia-class sub work		Sri Lanka aims to demilitarise island by 2018		Finland in talks to buy used S. Korea howitzers		For Iraqis, British war inquiry changes little

Thousands gather to mourn victims of Baghdad blast

Lockheed Martin gets Canadian submarine contract

Syrian army announces 72-hour nationwide ceasefire

Obama slows Afghanistan pullout, 8,400 troops to stay

Poland moves towards multi-billion-euro Patriot missile deal

China must ready for military conflict in South China Sea

Air Force awards two $1 billion contracts for next-gen engine

Why Brexit is bad for NATO, Europe's defence

Philippines' Duterte to China: Let's talk

NATO-Russia talks must tackle Ukraine 'withdrawal': Poland

A NATO summit surrounded by Warsaw's communist ghosts

Chinese, Japanese warplanes in close encounter

S. Korea to ramp up border propaganda broadcasts to North: report

US-led forces destroy own combat drone after Syria crash

NATO-Russia talks after Warsaw summit: Stoltenberg

Ingalls Shipbuilding gets $272 million LHA-8 contract

US reveals death tolls from drone and air strikes

Raytheon given U.S. Army projectile contract mod

China's Midea moves step closer to acquiring German robotics firm Kuka

Turtle power: How hatching together avoids capture

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