Friday, October 29, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated October 29, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated October 29, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 996-10 October 29, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - October 30, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued October 29,
2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc., Monroeville, Pa., is being awarded a $303,472,860 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-2102) for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pa. (72.3 percent), and Schenectady, N.Y. (27.7 percent). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. No completion date or additional information is provided on contracts supporting the naval nuclear propulsion program. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $174,486,588 cost-plus-fixed fee contract modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-2118) to exercise an option for lead yard services and development studies and design efforts related to Virginia-class submarines. The contract provides lead yard services for Virginia-class submarines that will maintain, update, and support the Virginia-class design and related drawings and data for each Virginia-class submarine, including technology insertion, throughout its construction and post shakedown availability period. The contractor will also provide all engineering and related lead yard services necessary for direct maintenance and support of Virginia-class ship specifications. This contract option brings the cumulative value of the contract to $346,340,280. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn. (91.1 percent); Newport News, Va. (4.0 percent); Quonset, R.I (3.5 percent); and Newport, R.I. (1.4 percent). Work is expected to be completed by October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Airborne Tactical Advantage Co., LLC, Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $45,183,480 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-09-D-0021) for services in support of the commercial air services program, which provides contractor owned and operated Type III high subsonic and Type IV supersonic aircraft to Navy fleet customers for a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities. This provides for training shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators and aircrew how to counter potential enemy electronic warfare and electronic attack operations in today’s electronic combat environment. Work will be performed in Newport News, Va. (45 percent), Pt. Mugu, Calif. (35 percent), and various locations outside the continental United States (20 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2011. 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.

Kaman Aerospace Corp., Bloomfield, Conn., is being awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed value of $18,125,727 for engineering technical services in support of the Egyptian Air Force’s H-2 program under the Foreign Military Sales program. Services to be provided include in-country support for operational mission requirements. Work will be performed in Bloomfield, Conn. (90 percent), and Alexandria, Egypt (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-4. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-11-C-0008).

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $17,655,028 fixed-price contract for two refurbished and upgraded rolling airframe missile (RAM) MK 49 Mod 3 guided missile launch systems (GMLS) with associated hardware for LPD-26 and one new Mod 3 GMLS for Egyptian fast missile craft. The RAM MK 31 guided missile weapon system (GMWS) is a NATO cooperative development and production program between the participating governments (PGs) of the United States and Germany, developed in response to the need for an anti-ship missile (ASM) defense system. The MK 31 GMWS is comprised of the MK 44 guided missile round pack and the MK 49 GMLS. The PGs operate under a memorandum of understanding which establishes business principles for program execution along with contracting and financial agreements for the RAM Program. The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $32,831,780. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (37.1 percent) and the government of Egypt (62.9 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by January 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-11-C-2404).

IAP World Services, Inc., Cape Canaveral, Fla., is being awarded a $17,426,215 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N40080-07-D-0470) to exercise Option 4 for base operating support services at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Webster Outlying Field, and Solomons Recreation Center. The work to be performed provides for base operating support services including all labor, supervision, management, tools, materials, equipment, facilities, transportation, and other items necessary to provide facility, refuse collection, swimming pools, wastewater, water and environmental maintenance services. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $72,591,424. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md.; St. Inigoes, Md.; Solomons, Md.; and Point Lookout, Md. Work is expected to be completed by October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineer Command, Washington, Public Works Department, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $7,122,028 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the procurement of long-lead-time materials in support of LPD 26 integrated shipboard electronics. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-11-C-2404).

General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $6,507,857 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-4301) for ship forces duties aboard medium auxiliary repair dry dock (non self-propelled) (ARDM-4) shipping port during the vessel’s service craft overhaul and recertification; protection and operation of the Navy’s floating dry dock ARDM-4; and organizational level repairs and preservation of ARDM-4 at Naval Submarine Support Facility, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn., and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Va. (50 percent), and New London, Conn. (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $1,626,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

ITT Industries, Inc., Systems Division, Cape Canaveral, Fla., was awarded a maximum $74,628,309 contract modification which will provide a space life range systems contract extension for one base year which is Nov. 1, 2010 through Oct. 31, 2011; two six-month options (Nov. 1. 2011 through April 30, 2012; or May 1 through Oct. 31, 2012). At this time, $23,295,379 has been obligated. SMC SLG/PK, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (F04701-01-C-0001; P00693).

Boeing Co., Wichita, Kan., was awarded a $35,593,778 contract to provide heavy maintenance for the 2011 VC-25 aircraft 9000, a special mission aircraft that provides air transportation to the President, Vice President, cabinet members and other dignitaries on a worldwide basis, and is stationed at the 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. At this time, $35,593,778 has been obligated. 727 ACSG/PKB, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-09-C-0005; P00019).

L3 Communication Integrated Systems, Greeneville, Texas, was awarded an estimated $24,055,224 contract modification which will provide airborne information management system Phase III installation. At this time, an estimated $24,055,224 has been obligated. 727 ACSG/PKB, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-08-C-0005; P00047).

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Newtown, Penn., was awarded a $10,709,047 contract modification which will provide on-orbit operations and sustainment for the PGS IIR satellites, for one year beginning Nov. 1, 2010 through Oct. 31, 2011. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. SMC/GPSW/PK, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8823-10-C-0002; PO0001).

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, Madison, Miss., was awarded an $8,648,945 contract which will acquire aircraft maintenance support services for wing and site training devices, ground instructional training aircraft, historical/static display aircraft, and maintenance of the 80th Flying Training Wing. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. AETC CONS/LGCK, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3002-1-C-0001).

L3 Communications Integrated Systems, Greenville, Texas, was awarded an $8,250,535 contract which will acquire prime mission equipment programmed depot maintenance in support of the Peace Pioneer program. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. ASC/WINK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-G-3000; 0020).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $7,926,738 contract modification which will procure the installation of a retrofit to add additional capability to the F-22 weapons and tactics trainers. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. ASC/WWUK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.(FA8611-08-C-2897; PO0045).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

FirstEnergy Solutions Corp., Akron, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $19,773,635 firm-fixed-price contract for electricity. Other locations of performance are Catoctin Mountain Park and Fort Detrick. Using services are Army and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 91 proposals solicited with 16 responses. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-11-D-8006).

Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., Appleton, Wis., is being awarded a maximum $13,319,696 firm-fixed-price contract for aerial firefighting vehicles. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were originally three proposals solicited with two responses. The date of performance completion is June 25, 2011. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-01-D-0062-0082).

DTN News: Yemen Terror Alert ~ Obama Says Explosives Found

DTN News: Yemen Terror Alert ~ Obama Says Explosives Found
S0urce: BBC News 30 October 2010 Last updated at 00:02 GMT
(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 30, 2010: President Barack Obama has said initial examinations of two suspicious packages bound for the US show they appeared to have contained explosive materials.
Authorities on three continents thwarted multiple terrorist attacks aimed at the United States from Yemen on Friday, seizing two explosive packages addressed to Chicago-area synagogues and packed aboard cargo jets. The plot triggered worldwide fears that al-Qaida was launching a major new terror campaign.

President Barack Obama called the coordinated attacks a "credible terrorist threat," and U.S. officials said they were increasingly confident that al-Qaida's Yemen branch, the group responsible for the failed Detroit airliner bombing last Christmas, was responsible.

taking this threat very seriously"

He said the packages, found in the UK and Dubai on two overnight cargo planes from Yemen, were destined for Jewish places of worship in Chicago.

Security alerts are under way in the US, UK and Middle East.

The White House later said Saudi Arabia had provided information that helped identify the threat.

The two packages found in Britain's East Midlands airport and in Dubai have now been made inert, US officials say.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May later said that the device found in Britain "did contain explosive material".

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"But it is not yet clear that it was a viable explosive device. The forensic work continues," she added.

The security alert saw two other cargo planes owned by the freight company UPS searched in Newark and Philadelphia.

UPS said it had suspended its shipments out of Yemen.

Another suspect package from Yemen was examined on a delivery lorry in New York, and later declared safe.

In other developments:

  • New aviation security measures are being taken in light of the alert,the US Homeland Security Department announces
  • The US says that if a terror link is confirmed, the main suspects will be al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen - al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • US fighter jets escorted Emirates flight 201 from Dubai into New York, with officials saying the action was being taken "out of an abundance of caution" because cargo from Yemen was on board
  • Cobra, the UK government's emergency planning committee, met on Friday and was to meet again on Saturday as discussions continue about how to tighten UK security further
Saudis thanked

Mr Obama said the discovery represented a credible terrorist threat against the US.

Analysis

Yemen has risen rapidly towards the top of the list of countries of concern for Western counter-terrorism officials in the past year. The group al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - which has found a sanctuary in Yemen's ungoverned spaces - has shown increasing ambition and sophistication in its attempts to target the United States and others.

But while the origin of this plot seems clear, its exact form does not. The presence of explosives in the devices suggests this was no dry run or simply an attempt to cause panic through a hoax.

But forensic experts in the UK have been continuing to study the substances found in the parts for a printer to try to understand exactly what they were and how they were to be used. There appears to be a strong conviction these were parts for a bomb but whether they were complete and how they were to be detonated and against which target remains uncertain.

"Although we are still pursuing all the facts, we do know that the packages originated in Yemen," he told a White House press conference.

"We also know that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - a terrorist group based in Yemen - continues to plan attacks against our homeland, our citizens and our friends and allies."

Mr Obama said he was first informed about the packages late on Thursday and that President Ali Abdallah Saleh of Yemen had pledged his country's full support in investigating the threat.

However, the Yemeni government later expressed astonishment at reports linking the country to the two packages, according to the Associated Press news agency.

It quoted a Yemeni statement as saying that no UPS cargo planes had taken off from Yemen and there had been no direct or indirect flights to British or US airports.

Mr Obama said the US would continue to work to destroy al-Qaeda and its affiliates, and to root out violent extremism in all its forms.

US Homeland Security adviser John Brennan thanked the Saudi Arabians for their help.

"Their assistance, along with the hard work of the US counter-terrorism community, the United Kingdom, the UAE, and other friends and partners helped make it possible to increase our vigilance and identify the suspicious packages," he said.

Al-Qaeda and Jewish targets

  • April 2002: Suicide bombing at synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia kills 19. Al-Qaeda claims the attack
  • Nov 2002: 16 people killed in suicide bombing al-Qaeda claims to have carried out of Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya
  • May 2003: 45 killed in bomb attacks in Casablanca, Morocco, on targets including Jewish cultural centre. Group linked to al-Qaeda blamed.
  • Nov 2003: Two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, bombed, killing 23. Al-Qaeda claims responsibility
  • Oct 2005: Germany sentences four Arab men accused of links to al-Qaeda of planning attacks on Jewish targets

A spokeswoman for the Jewish Federation in Chicago said the community had been warned to be on the alert in the wake of the discoveries.

"We were notified this morning that synagogues should be on the alert," the spokeswoman, Linda Haase, told Reuters news agency. "We are taking appropriate precautions and are advising local synagogues to do likewise."

The suspicious package in the UK was reportedly an ink toner cartridge that had been modified.

US officials told Associated Press they believed the Dubai and East Midlands packages contained the same explosive used in the failed bombing of a US-bound airliner last Christmas Day.

It quoted the officials as saying that full testing had not been completed but initial indications were that the packages contained PETN, a chemical that was also a component of shoe bomber Richard Reid's explosive in 2001.

The cargo planes in the US were taken to remote locations to be searched.

"Out of an abundance of caution the planes were moved to a remote location where they are being met by law enforcement officials," said the Transportation Security Administration.

Emergency services were called to the UK airport in Donington, Leicestershire, overnight and evacuated a distribution centre, while the suspicious package was examined.

US security services remain on a high level of vigilance in the wake of the attempted Times Square bombing in May and the alleged attempted Christmas Day attack.

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*THIS ARTICLE IS BEING POSTED FROM TORONTO, CANADA BY DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS, CONTACT:DTNNEWS@YMAIL.COM
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WHILST EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED HEREIN, DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR OF THE PAGE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE CORPORATE VIEWS OF DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS.

DTN News: US Money For Afghanistan Falls Into “Black Hole”

DTN News: US Money For Afghanistan Falls Into “Black Hole”
Source: Boris Volkhonsky Oct 29, 2010 16:11 Moscow Time - The Voice of Russia
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - October 30, 2010: The US Special Inspector General’s Office for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has published a comprehensive audit report of US spending in Afghanistan since the beginning of the war against the Taliban in 2001.

The report states that over that period about $55 billion have been spent on rebuilding Afghanistan, but tracking how the money was spent is extremely difficult. During the 2001-2009 period some $17.7 bn were given to 7,000 contractors. But since the three main agencies in charge of the process – the Department of Defense, the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – do not coordinate their efforts with each other, and even then the coordination within the three agencies is very poor, it is almost impossible to say where exactly the money went.

What is even more difficult is to track spending prior to 2007, because the data available for analysis was too poor.

In an accompanying statement released on Wednesday Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Arnold Fields said, "Navigating the confusing labyrinth of government contracting is difficult, at best," and added, “If we don't even know who we're giving money to, it is nearly impossible to conduct systemwide oversight.”

In fact, there is nothing new in the report that money in Afghanistan is falling into a ‘black hole’. A similar statement was made recently by US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Hallbrooke who talked of an "ununified" effort by the US, the UN and hundreds of other countries and aid agencies in Afghanistan.

In the recent Transparency International report released earlier this week, Afghanistan tops the list of most corrupt nations, together with Myanmar, being second only to Somali.

So, there is no wonder that the money of US taxpayers is spent in such a way that the spending cannot be tracked. But the real question is “Cui prodest?” (“To whose benefit?”).

Not going into concrete figures and names of particular contractors, it is enough to mention several houses built for the military, but unused ever since they were built. Or, the money spent on the anti-drug trafficking with an effect of drug production and drug trafficking sky-rocketing after the fall of the Taliban.

This, and not the speculation of the terrorist threat from the undefeated Taliban, makes it virtually impossible to start the withdrawal of US-led NATO coalition troops from Afghanistan in 2011, as Barack Obama has promised. And this explains why the US military are so eager to stay in Afghanistan as long as they can, despite all the military and political losses. The ‘black hole’ is turning into a ‘gold mine’.

But what seems much more dangerous is not only the way of extracting additional money from US taxpayers, but also some indications that the US and NATO feel like involving other states more closely in their activities in Afghanistan. Recently NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed a hope that Russia will take a more active part in the military operation there.

Some British newspapers published their commentaries saying that this might mean a direct Russian military involvement in Afghanistan, despite the ‘Afghan syndrome’ still strong among Russians after the infamous Soviet invasion.

A close analysis of what Russia did promise to NATO shows that Russian involvement will be limited to personnel training, expanding supplies over the transit route as an alternative to the Pakistani route which is becoming more and more volatile, and probably supply of some helicopters and other equipment.

As Russia’s Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin has said, “Maybe someone would like Russia to be “cannon fodder” for Afghanistan, but I think that those people should limit their appetites. Russian soldiers will stay where they should be, that is in Russia.”

It seems that the advice ‘to limit appetites’ acquires a broader meaning in view of the Special Inspector’s audit. And it makes Russian military involvement in Afghanistan even less likely.

*THIS ARTICLE IS BEING POSTED FROM TORONTO, CANADA BY DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS, CONTACT:DTNNEWS@YMAIL.COM
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
WHILST EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED HEREIN, DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR OF THE PAGE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE CORPORATE VIEWS OF DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS.

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DTN News: Russia Won't Supply Iran "Banned" Arms

DTN News: Russia Won't Supply Iran "Banned" Arms
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - October 30, 2010: Moscow, Russian Federation (AHN) - Russia has confirmed it will not supply arms to Iran that have been prohibited under United Nations’ sanctions.
However, the head of the state-owned defense industry corporation, Rosoboronexport, has not ruled out any possible negotiations with Iranian officials that fall outside the U.N. Security Council’s military sanctions.

"If Iran orders equipment that does not fall under the sanctions, we will negotiate. Supply of the arms from this list is out of the question," chief executive Anatoli Isaikin said.

He also disclosed that Rosoboronexport supplies arms to several Latin American countries, as it is the only Russian company allowed to export weapons, dual-use products and military-related services.

Diplomats see Rosoboronexport’s announcement as an effort to mend relations with Tehran, which has come under attack after Moscow scrapped a defense deal to deliver S-300 defense systems to the Islamic Republic.

The scrapping of the deal last month in the wake of U.N. Security Council sanctions sparked Iranian ire over the matter. Later, Moscow said it would repay $166.8 million that it had taken from Iran for the deal.

Isaikin further said that his company had been supplying arms and other services to more than 70 countries and supervises 700 Russian arms producers along with it. Its net worth is more than $60 billion.

He went on to say that Russia would export a total of $10 billion of arms this year.

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Thursday it was ready to discuss the delivery to Iran of arms that fall outside UN sanctions.

"Rosoboronexport strictly complies with the UN Security Council's resolutions and the Russian President's decree on sanctions against Iran," Rosoboronexport head Anatoly Isaykin said. "But if we receive orders for arms that are not included in the list of sanctions, we will hold discussions on the matter."

"There is no an absolute taboo on this," he added.

In September, Moscow banned the sale of S-300 air defense systems and other arms to Tehranfollowing a fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

The contract to supply Iran with the missile system, one of most effective in existence, was signed at the end of 2007. Russia was to supply five battalions of S-300PMU-1 to Tehran, worth $800 million.

Russia is currently in talks with Tehran over compensation payments for the cancellation of the contract.

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DTN News: Russian Navy To Procure 10 New Frigates Next Decade

DTN News: Russian Navy To Procure 10 New Frigates Next Decade
Source: DTN News / Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - October 30, 2010: The Russian Navy will receive up to 10 new ocean-going frigates in the next 10 years, a Defense Ministry source said on Friday.

Later on Friday the first Admiral Gorshkov-class Project 22350 frigate will be floated out at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg. The ship will be able to execute long-range strike, anti-submarine and escort missions in remote areas.

The next Gorshkov-class frigate, the Admiral Kasatonov, is under construction and expected to be launched in 2012.

"In the next 10 years the Russian Navy may receive up to 10 frigates of this project [22350]. There is no doubt that Severnaya Verf has sufficient capacity for this," the source said.

The Russian Navy needs between 20 and 30 such frigates, which will be the 21st century's main ocean-going surface ship.

The Admiral Gorshkov has a displacement of 4,500 tons, a speed of 29 knots, a range of 4000 nm at 14 knots, and endurance of 15 days.

DTN News: USA Today October 30, 2010 - Intelligence Spending At Record $80.1 Billion Overall

DTN News: USA Today October 30, 2010 - Intelligence Spending At Record $80.1 Billion Overall
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - October 30, 2010: The government announced Thursday that it had spent $80.1 billion on intelligence activities over the past 12 months, disclosing for the first time not only the amount spent by civilian intelligence agencies but also by the military.
The National Intelligence Program, run by the CIA and other agencies that report to the Director of National Intelligence, cost $53.1 billion in fiscal 2010, which ended Sept. 30, while the Military Intelligence Program cost an additional $27 billion.
Spending on intelligence for 2010 far exceeded the $42.6 billion spent on the Department of Homeland Security and the $48.9 billion spent on the State Department and foreign operations.
The cost of the Military Intelligence Program has always remained classified. But as undersecretary of defense for intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr., now the director of national intelligence, secured approval to release the figure.
"I pushed through and got Secretary [Robert M.] Gates to approve revelation of the Military Intelligence Program budget," Clapper told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in July.
In disclosing the military intelligence figure, which includes more than $3.5 billion spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, Defense Department officials said no program details will be released.

Although an overall intelligence budget was not released last year, then-Director Dennis C. Blair told reporters in a teleconference that the overall budget was $75 billion. At that time, the officially released National Intelligence Program budget was $49.5 billion.

The disclosure Thursday that intelligence spending had risen to $80.1 billion, an increase of nearly 7 percent over the year before and a record high, led to immediate calls for fiscal restraint on Capitol Hill.

The new total is more than double what was spent in 2001, noted Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. However, that was before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, prompted major shifts by the intelligence community.

"I intend to identify and remove any waste and unnecessary duplication in the intelligence budget and to reduce funding for lower-priority activities," Feinstein said in a statement. She added: "It is clear that the overall spending on intelligence has blossomed to an unacceptable level in the past decade."

Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Feinstein in calling for fiscal restraint on the part of the intelligence community. He said that, along with Feinstein and her vice chairman, Sen. Christopher S. Bond (R-Mo.), he had put cost controls on major systems, such as intelligence satellites, and looked forward to helping to "eliminate the waste, fraud and irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars."

The Washington Post series "Top Secret America" described the growth and spread of the U.S. intelligence community since 2001. In an interview for the series, Gates said he didn't think the intelligence bureaucracy and its contractors had grown too large to manage. But he added: "Nine years after 9/11, it makes sense to sort of take a look at this and say, 'Okay, we've built tremendous capability, but do we have more than we need?' "

Gates has commissioned a major review of the Pentagon budget, with a goal of finding $100 billion in excess spending over five years, thus reducing the growth of the Defense Department budget to about 2 percent annually excluding the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

CIA Director Leon Panetta told The Post that he knew intelligence spending faced reductions and that he was working on a five-year plan for his agency.

Steven Aftergood, who publishes the Secrecy News blog for the Federation of American Scientists, has pushed for disclosure of the top line intelligence budget for years. He said Thursday that the release of the new figure permits the government "to speak realistically about the level of intelligence spending."

He also said it took 30 years to get to this point, after convincing skeptics that the release of the figure would not harm national security. "I don't see now an avalanche of intelligence disclosures," he said.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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