UPI | International Security Industry Headlines - November 17, 2009

Portuguese contract for locator beacons

SO. ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The Portuguese air force has contracted Digital Angel to deliver its personal beacon technologies to support emergency location requirements.

Shaw selected for Defense Dept. IDIQ

BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department has contracted Shaw Group Inc. to compete for construction task orders at naval facilities in six states.

New head appointed for Textron Systems

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. defense contractor Textron Inc. announced the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer of its Textron Systems unit.

Army contracts Alion for UAS R&D support

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has awarded Alion Science and Technology a contract to support manned and unmanned ground vehicles' lifecycle engineering requirements.

BAE to deliver armor bar kits for MRAPs

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted BAE Systems for its bar armor kits for integration with mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to increase troop survivability.

Navy contracts for avionic IFF systems

CARLSTADT, N.J., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has contracted Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp. to deliver its avionics test identification friend-or-foe technologies.

VirTra contracted for simulator tech

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Police authorities in Georgia and Tennessee have selected VirTra Systems to deliver its firearms simulator technologies to support realistic training.

MCC releases next-gen Rambo computer

HOUSTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Houston-based MCC Computer Co. announced the launch of its next-generation ruggedized handheld modular computer technology.

Stark opens new facility in Mississippi

COLUMBUS, Miss., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Unmanned aircraft systems developer Stark Aerospace announced the opening of its new Columbus-based facility in Mississippi.

XTec to support DHS logistical access

RESTON, Va., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Homeland Security Department has awarded XTec Inc. a task order to provide logical access support for internal agency networks.

Brazil, China build military industry ties

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Brazil and China have agreed to build military cooperation that will include development of joint defense industries, collaboration in science and technology, and personnel training.

Israeli UAVs on an uproll

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Israel Aerospace Industries has signed a $350 million deal with Brazil to supply Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the South American nation's borders and provide security for the 2014 World Cup tournament and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Iran warns it may produce S-300 system

TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Increasingly irate over a delayed arms deal, Iran has threatened to manufacture an advanced missile system itself if Russia does not deliver it to Tehran soon.

Augusta, Crane partner on detection tech

MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. companies Augusta Systems Inc. and Crane Wireless Monitoring Solutions have established a partnership to integrate remote monitoring technologies.

EF Johnson awarded deal for mobile radios

IRVING, Texas, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Texas-based EF Johnson Technologies Inc. has been selected to deliver its mobile radios to support a state-wide police communication contract.

UPI | International Security Industry News

Israel closer to vital F-35 purchase

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Israel is moving closer to what the Haaretz daily calls "the largest defense deal in Israeli history," buying as many as 75 F-35 Lockheed Martin stealth fighters that will be the country's main weapon to counter the perceived threat from Iran.

Dassault condemns Brazil competitors

BRASILIA, Brazil, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Adding to an already heated contest, France's Dassault has criticized Swedish and U.S. competitors for a lucrative jet fighter deal, saying they weren't playing fair.

Lockheed Martin opens new cyber-solutions center

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. company Lockheed Martin opened its new cyber-solutions facility in Maryland Thursday designed for research and innovation collaboration.

Defense Dept. contracts for wireless tech

IRVING, Texas, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department has contracted EF Johnson Technologies Inc. to deliver wireless sensor network technologies.

ManTech selected for C4I testing support

FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted ManTech International Corp. for command, control, communications, computers and intelligence support.

SAIC to compete for remediation work

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has selected Science Applications International Corp. to compete for task orders supporting restoration and remediation services.

Navy selects Rayheon's LPD 17 electronics integrator

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has selected Raytheon to become the total ship electronics systems integrator on the LPD 17 class of warfare ships.

Lockheed Martin has successful sonar test for S-80 subs

MANASSAS, Va., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin announced a milestone achievement in the development of a cylindrical array sonar system following recent tests at a U.S. Navy facility.

Taser to deliver X26 units to Army

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Aardvark Tactical has contracted Taser International Inc. to deliver its X26 technology and accessories to the U.S. Army.

Navy-BAE team receives PBL award

NASHUA, N.H., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy and BAE Systems team has been honored with the Secretary of Defense Performance-Based Logistics Award for 2009.

BAE's APKWS moves to final phase

CHINA LAKE, Calif., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- BAE Systems announced a milestone achievement for its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System following a recent U.S. Marine Corps test.

Analogic detection tech gets certification

PEABODY, Mass., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Transportation Security Laboratory has certified that an Analogic Corp. explosives detection technology is ready for use at checked-baggage stations.

South Korea buys EADS IFF systems

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- EADS Defense Electronics has been awarded a contract by South Korean company LIG Nex1 to deliver four MSSR 2000 I Identification-Friend-or-Foe systems.

Army contract for Northrop Grumman C-RAM support

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted Northrop Grumman to provide Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortars system support in Iraq.

Northrop Grumman to develop EGI for A-10 Thunderbolts

HERNDON, Va., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to develop a global positioning system and inertial navigation technology for the A-10 Thunderbolt.

UPI Top News | November 6, 2009 8:45pm CDT

Sowell was considered low-risk

CLEVELAND, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Convicted sex offender Anthony Sowell, accused in Cleveland of being a serial killer, fell into a low-risk category for offending again, a report indicates.

Spending vs. jobs a Democratic dilemma

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The White House and the Democratic Congress are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, pressured to cut spending and create more jobs, analysts say.

Fort Hood plagued by suicides

FORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Suicides are a serious problem at the U.S. Army's Fort Hood, the huge Texas military base where an officer went on a deadly shooting spree, records show.

3 in 10 young kids in Egypt malnourished

CAIRO, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Despite an improving economy, nearly three in 10 young Egyptian children are malnourished, a report published by Egyptian and United Nations agencies says.

Teens charged with killing honors student

LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Two 16-year-olds were charged as adults Friday with fatally shooting a female honors student and wounding two men near a school in Long Beach, Calif.

Radical Muslims target N.Y. mosque

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Muslims attending a New York mosque hear a message of peace inside while two radical converts outside preach hate for the United States.

Tsvangirai ends boycott of government

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has ended his boycott of the coalition government in Zimbabwe.

Dems scramble for 218 healthcare votes

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- House Democratic leaders worked furiously to nail down final votes before a scheduled weekend vote on its plan to reform the U.S. healthcare system.

Aussie state to get new firefighting jet

MELBOURNE, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Australia plans to add a multimillion-dollar water-bomber jet to its firefighting fleet to prepare for the summer fire season, authorities announced.

Proclamation honors Fort Hood victims

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A proclamation honoring the victims of the massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, was signed Friday by President Barack Obama.

Paroled murderer faces rape charge

BRISTOL, England, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A convicted British murderer out on parole after serving 16 years of a life sentence is on trial for allegedly raping a woman, authorities said.

Holocaust survivors at risk for cancer

HAIFA, Israel, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Holocaust survivors have a risk of cancer two to three times that of European Jews who arrived in Israel before or during the war, Israeli researchers say.

Mom dies after saving son from fire

BODMIN, England, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- An English mother died after pushing her son out of a window of their home to escape a fire that may have been started by a firework pushed into the mail slot.

NYC giving H1N1 vaccine to employers

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Only a small percentage of the available swine flu vaccine has been distributed to private companies, New York City health officials said Friday.

Former top soldier blasts Afghan policy

LONDON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The former head of the British Defense Staff blasted the government's Afghanistan policy Friday in a debate in the House of Lords.

UPI Asian.com | Top Headlines - October 22, 2009 12:10am CDT

• Iran blasts U.S. claims on Jundallah
• Brijot announces demo for Japan market
• FSU receives grant for spintronics study
• Pakistan's nukes safe, prime minister says
• Gulf islands reignite Iran-U.A.E. row
• TNK-BP sinks money in north Russia
• Bahrain said to court Iran on gas
• Pakistan courting LNG suppliers
• China sets year for amphibious flight
• Gates: U.S. will go to mat for South Korea

UPI | International Security Industry News - October 20, 2009

NATO calls in Verizon to secure networks in $5 million deal

ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has called in Verizon Business to strengthen the security of its sprawling international networks amid rising concerns throughout the Western Hemisphere over cybercrime and amateur and organized hacking of sensitive computer systems.

Northrup Grumman awarded two TRANSCOM deals

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has received two contracts from the U.S. Defense Department to support the Transportation Command.

Appistry, NJVC partner on computing tech

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. companies Appistry and NJVC announced a partnership to deliver a cloud computer solution addressing intelligence and defense market requirements.

Navy awards Northrop Grumman multiple task orders

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman to provide planning services among other requirements under four task orders for several naval programs.

Oshkosh delivers first Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) to Marines

OSHKOSH, Wis., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has received its first heavy payload Logistics Vehicle System Replacement in Afghanistan following the delivery by Oshkosh Defense.

U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) selects TriQuint for NEXT program

HILLSBORO, Ore., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has contracted TriQuint Semiconductor to develop high dynamic range circuit technologies.

VT Group to support Army CH-47 helicopters

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted VT Group to support the Program Management Office for CH-47 Cargo Helicopters with logistics services.

Alion to conduct modeling and simulation (M&S) training for Army

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has awarded Alion Science and Technology a contract for the company to provide training services for ongoing modeling and simulation needs.

Lieberman receives CoN certification

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Lieberman Software Corp. has been notified by the U.S. Army that its identity management technology has received a compliance certification.

UNDT gets New York H.I.R.E. approval

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The New York State Office of General Services has approved Universal Detection Technology for a Hazardous Incident Response Equipment contract.

DynCorp completes Phoenix purchase

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. company DynCorp International announced it has finalized an acquisition of training and services provider Phoenix Consulting Group Inc.

Libya fuels North African 'arms race'

TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Libya's reported intention to buy 20 Sukhoi attack jets in a $1 billion weapons deal with Russia underlines a pattern of sizable military acquisitions by North African states that some analysts view as a regional arms race.

Libya eyes new Russian jet fighters

TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Russia's Interfax news agency says Libya is considering a deal to purchase at least 20 Russian fighter jets as part of a $1 billion weapons contract.

Cybersecurity risks seen in taking work home

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Government officials who mix business and pleasure at home risk compromising cybersecurity as viruses picked up on entertainment sites can easily infiltrate secure workplace environments, a Pentagon official warned.

Army TARDEC awards deal to Waltonen

WARREN, Mich., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted Waltonen Engineering Inc. to provide manned and unmanned ground combat systems with engineering solutions.

UPI | Top News - October 19, 2009

Cuban spies in U.S. disinformation plot

MIAMI, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Cuban spies waged a "disinformation" campaign against the United States in the months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, a Miami newspaper says.

Afghanistan: Karzai vote at 48.3 percent

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- An investigation of electoral fraud has reduced Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's vote total to 48.3 percent, election observers said Monday.

Ban: Sudan, Chad hostilities impede help

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Tensions between Chad and Sudan have stalled efforts to bring peace to the area and help refugees, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.

Clinton: U.S. feels 'urgency' on Sudan

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Obama administration is moving with a "sense of urgency" in addressing its issues with Sudan.

Kicker Reed charged with resisting arrest

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was arrested after threatening an officer who was giving a citation to teammate Matt Spaeth, police said.

Morgue worker admits sex with bodies

WESTWOOD, Ohio, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A morgue worker in Ohio, already convicted of having had sex with corpses, pleaded guilty to a repeat offense, admitting he had sex with two more bodies.

Khamenei talks unity after health rumors

TEHRAN, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described unity for the Islamic world as a priority for Iran, discrediting some of the rumors regarding his health.

Pentagon calls off Iraq troop deployment

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. defense officials say the improving security situation in Iraq has prompted the cancellation of a planned deployment of 3,500 soldiers.

Maliki in D.C. to court U.S. investors

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with senior officials in Washington on Monday ahead of a two-day investment conference for the U.S. business sector.

Two officers killed in Guatemala attack

GUATEMALA CITY, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Gunmen attacked a national police patrol in Guatemala, killing two police officers and wounding a third, authorities said.

Obama, school children discuss reading

WHEATON, Md., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama visited a Maryland school Monday where he discussed reading with students.

Sources: ETA political suspect arrested

MADRID, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Anti-terrorism sources say the suspected head of the policy-making branch of Spain's ETA separatist group was arrested in France, CNN reported Monday.

Trial begins in '77 death of Missouri teen

CLAYTON, Mo., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Prosecutors say convicted killer Gregory Bowman was responsible for the strangulation death of a 16-year-old Missouri girl in 1977.

Sex-abuse cases force diocese bankruptcy

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Del., said the diocese filed for bankruptcy in advance of sex-abuse cases involving priests.

N.Y. nightclub facing bias lawsuit

NEW YORK, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Plaintiffs in a bias lawsuit against a New York nightclub allege they were not allowed to attend a book-release party because of "the color of our skin."

UPI | International Security News Headlines - October 13, 2009

Scandal-hit BAE wins Saudi contract

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- British defense giant BAE Systems, locked in a legal battle with Britain's Serious Fraud Office over arms sales to Africa, has won a contract with Saudi Arabia to service 72 Typhoon strike jets it is buying from Eurofighter.

C/B fabric protects for 16 hours

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. military chose a coverall for combat vehicle crewman that protects personnel from chemical and biological warfare agents for up to 16 hours.

Boeing: Bomb to transform the battlefield

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A weapons team with defense contractor Boeing announced the successful test of its GBU-4 small diameter bomb, which it says will transform the battlefield.

Thales Coastwatcher radar enters service

NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, France, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- French defense company Thales Group announced its Coastwatcher 10 radar system was selected as an advanced sensor for terminals at the Port of Marseille.

Oshkosh proposes M-ATV to Australia

OSHKOSH, Wis., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Oshkosh Defense and its partners proposed its M-ATV and SandCat combat vehicles as part of procurement program for the Australian Defense Department.

Textron tests Scorpion munitions system

WILMINGTON, Mass., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Textron Defense Systems announced the completion of test series to examine the capability of the XM1100 Scorpion sensor and munitions in an urban environment.

More armor kits for M-ATV

BENNINGTON, Vt., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Oshkosh Defense subcontractor Plasan announced a contract to supply the U.S. Army with 923 armor kits for its all-terrain combat vehicle.

SAE forms standard for aerospace

WARRENDALE, Pa., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- SAE International said it completed a design standard meant to deter the risks of receiving and installing counterfeits in the aerospace electronics industry.

British forces rotate in Helmand

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The 11 Light Brigade assumed responsibility over Task Force Helmand in order to sustain British operations in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defense said.

Periscopes for M1A2 ordered

RICHARDSON, Texas, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- General Dynamics Land Systems contracted Optex Systems Holdings Inc. for periscopes for the weapons station on the M1A2 Abrams Tank.

Iraqi pilots fly solo on Cessna 172

BAGHDAD, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Roughly 100 Iraqi pilots have completed the training necessary to graduate to solo flights on the Cessna 172 in the past two years, the U.S. military said.

Airlines' merger challenges Chilean aviation group

BOGOTA, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The merger of Colombia's Avianca airline and TACA of El Salvador has in one stroke heated up the aviation industry in Latin America, with major operators in Chile, Brazil and other countries most likely to be challenged for a share of the market.

Israel mulls cutting arms sales to Turkey

TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Israeli defense officials say the Jewish state is reviewing the sale of advanced weapons systems to longtime ally Turkey after Ankara's Islamic government, its eyes on the Muslim world, canceled joint military exercises scheduled for later this month.

Review complete for Canadian defense radar

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Sensors and information technology company Sensis Corp. said it completed a critical design review for the Canadian National Defense Department's radar system.

Harris Corp. lands USAF network contract

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force contracted communications company Harris Corp. for technical and support services for their command and control systems.

UPI | Top News - Headlines October 9, 2009

Taliban seen firmly established

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's advisers say the Afghan Taliban are so firmly entrenched, it is unrealistic to believe they can be eliminated, officials said.

Administration officials participating in the policy review meetings on Afghanistan this week told The Washington Post the conclusion is that however many U.S. troops are put one the ground, the Taliban cannot be uprooted as a political or military force in that country.

No clues in millionaire's disappearance

PLACENTIA, Calif., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Two months after Robert Harrod disappeared, California authorities still have no clue what happened to the rich octogenarian newlywed, police say.

Details of major art theft under scrutiny

SALINAS, Calif., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Monterey County, Calif., say they suspect victims of a reported art theft may not be telling the entire truth about the missing artworks.

Peace prize a call to action, Obama says

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday he would accept the 2009 Nobel Pace Prize as a call to action to seek greater global engagement on issues.

Infant death sends Calif. mother to prison

SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A judge in Orange County, Calif., sentenced a woman to one year in jail for the accidental drowning death of her 13-month-old son.

Driver convicted in crash that killed 11

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Jurors in California deliberated for three hours before finding a Stockton bus driver responsible for a crash that killed 11 people, court records indicate.

Controversial Zimbabwe bank chief remains

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The controversial governor of Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank says he will not resign despite his role in the collapse of the nation's economy.

New EU post needs definition

BRUSSELS, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The president of the European Commission says he doesn't want to see a "president of Europe" under the still-to-be-ratified Lisbon Treaty.

Airport alert issued for missing toddler

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Airports in New Zealand have been placed on alert in case the abductor of 2-year-old Aisling Symes tries to take her out of the country, police say.

U.N. climate talks end with split

BANGKOK, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- U.N. climate talks in Bangkok ended with developing countries wanting the Kyoto Protocol extended and developed nations wanting something new, attendees said.

Berlusconi urged to apologize

ROME, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi should apologize for a remark he made to a female politician on a late-night talk show, opponents say.

House panel seeks quieter TV ads

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. House lawmakers want the Federal Communications Commission to help put the hush on noisy television commercials.

Car bomb kills driver in Ingushetia

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A driver for a local medical center was killed in Ingushetia Friday when his vehicle exploded as he drove out of the capital of Magas, police say.

Palin absent from hot gubernatorial races

TRENTON, N.J., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Two Republicans locked in competitive gubernatorial races so far haven't taken former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's offer to stump for them, their campaigns said.

Suu Kyi, diplomats meet

YANGON, Myanmar, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Myanmar's military junta let pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi meet Friday with three diplomats, Suu Kyi's spokesman and a government official said.

UPI | Security Industry News - October 8, 2009

Desert Hawk UAS gets 360-degree eyes

EAGAN, Minn., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin announced the successful test of the first 360-degree infrared sensor turret for the Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft system.

USAF tests new ICBM motor

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force and Aerojet announced the successful full-scale, full-duration static test of an advanced second-stage motor for the ICBM program.

Sub order: Israel to ask for German cash

BERLIN, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Germany has been asked to help fund yet another submarine for the Israeli navy.

LaBarge lands Blackhawk assembly contract

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. awarded a $1.8 billion contract to LaBarge Inc. to produce electronic assemblies for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.

Boeing delivers third C-17 for ISAF

LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The Boeing Co. delivered its third C-17 Globemaster III to NATO forces in support of a consortium of 12 nations in a strategic airlift initiative.

U.S. Army orders more recon blimps

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $133 million contract to supply eight tethered aerostat surveillance vehicles for long-term operations.

U.S. airmen train with Japanese

MITO, Japan, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Air Force personnel worked alongside their Japanese counterparts to conduct bilateral training in aerospace ground equipment for relocation.

Raytheon explores 360-degree sensors

MCKINNEY, Texas, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Raytheon Co. received a $13 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop sensor prototypes to give helicopter pilots 360 degrees of situational awareness.

Boeing tests AH-6i attack helicopter

MESA, Ariz., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Aerospace and defense corporation Boeing announced the successful first test flight of its AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance helicopter.

Future weapons should be cheap weapons

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. military arsenal of the future needs to be adaptable, relevant and more importantly, affordable, said a top U.S. military official.

Iraq contractor charged with bribery

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A federal grand jury in Oklahoma charged a former U.S. Defense Department contractor doing business in Iraq with bribery, the Justice Department said.

Australia to lighten soldier body armor

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Body armor worn by Australian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan is to get a makeover, according to the country's defense procurement organization.

UPI | Top News - October 7, 2009 5:45am CDT

Pakistan seeks U.S. reassurance

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The United States needs to reassure Pakistan and Afghanistan on its "long-term vision" for the entire region, the Pakistani Foreign Minister said.

Mother of kidnapped baby gets kids back

NASHVILLE, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A Tennessee mother who was suspected of trying to sell her kidnapped baby was cleared Tuesday and reunited with all her children, officials said.

Cocaine vaccine developed

HOUSTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Researchers in Texas say the next weapon in the fight against illegal drugs could be a vaccine.

Firefighters complain of dispatch system

NEW YORK, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Firefighters in New York blame a new dispatching system for a debacle in which they were sent to the wrong neighborhood in the Bronx.

No clues yet on WFP attack

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Pakistani investigators haven't found any clue yet in the suicide blast at the World Food Program office that killed five people, sources told the Daily Times.

Lawyer refuses to sit near masked client

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A judge in Washington state postponed sentencing for a jail inmate after the inmate's lawyer refused to go near him because he was wearing a surgical mask.

Ensign: No plans to quit U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., denied Tuesday that he violated ethics rules on behalf of a former aide who had learned the senator had an affair with his wife.

Target settles with Chicago woman for $7M

CHICAGO, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- An elderly Chicago woman settled for $7 million with Target Corp. for brain injuries she sustained from a store's malfunctioning door, her lawyer said.

Ill. man shoots in-laws, self

COULTERVILLE, Ill., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- An Illinois man shot and killed his mother- and father-in-law after a dispute with his wife, and then took his own life, police said.

U.S. outpost attacks were fierce

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Weekend attacks on two U.S. outposts in eastern Afghanistan in which eight U.S. soldiers died were fierce, a military official said.

Burned man says he was helping neighbors

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A man who survived the Station fire near Los Angeles by sheltering in a hot tub says he got caught because he stayed behind to warn neighbors to get out.

U.S.: Guinea violence 'criminality'

CONAKRY, Guinea, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A top U.S. diplomat says he told the leader of Guinea, Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, that Camara is responsible for mass killings and rapes in Guinea last week.

Healthcare reform draws some GOP support

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The White House Tuesday touted qualified support for U.S. healthcare reform from several current and retired Republican leaders.

N.J. fugitive caught 10 yrs later in Ghana

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- A former Atlantic City, N.J., poker dealer who jumped bail after being charged with armed robbery 10 years ago has been arrested in Ghana, FBI officials said.

Low temps, calm winds help firefighters

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Firefighters got help Tuesday from sub-freezing temperatures as they battled the Sheep fire in California's San Bernardino National Forest, officials said.

UPI | Security Industry Headlines

Turkey contracted for F-35 ducts

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman contracted Turkish Aerospace Industries to produce composite air inlet ducts for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

Operations center tasked for Kandahar

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded Global Strategies Group with task orders for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

C-130 setting new standards

MARIETTA, Ga., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin began final assembly on the HC/MC-130J Hercules fleet to replace the aging HC-130 fleet serving in operations with the U.S. Air Force.

Air Force tests new technology in space

HOUSTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Air Force officers at the Johnson Space Center are examining technology used in space to apply lessons learned for developments on the battlefield.

BAE works on prototype Paladin vehicles

YORK, Pa., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army contracted BAE Systems for prototypes of self-propelled M109A6 Paladin howitzer vehicles and two prototype M992A2 support vehicles.

Army orders chemical detectors for Stryker

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army ordered chemical agent detectors for its Stryker reconnaissance vehicles from General Dynamics' Armament and Technical Products division.

M-ATV not end for MRAP

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Conventional mine-deterrent vehicles deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan should see continued use despite plans for next-generation vehicles, a review says.

Iran looms over Turkish role in missiles

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- There is little indication that Ankara may take part in the plans for a U.S. defense shield to deter an Iranian missile threat, observers say.

Bolivia defends Chinese aircraft purchases

LA PAZA, Bolivia, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Bolivia is defending its light attack aircraft purchases from China and an open line of credit for military hardware imports from Russia, arguing that its weapons acquisitions are less significant than those by other South American countries.

Bahrain joins global tracking system

MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- In line with its bid to take on a leading role in international shipping, Bahrain has become the first Arab state to tap into a global ship-tracking system.

Russia launches new Mideast arms push

TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Russia's state arms exporter is launching a big drive at the Tripoli air show to sell combat jets, missiles and air-defense systems to Middle Eastern states, including the state-of-the-art S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile that Iran and Syria desperately want to acquire.

Raytheon contracted for U.S. Army training

RESTON, Va., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army awarded Raytheon Co. a $44 million contract to maintain an advanced combat training program for U.S. and international forces in Kuwait.

Army orders more Apache ammunition

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army awarded Alliant Techsystems a contract to provide lightweight tactical ammunition for the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter.

U.S. Navy tackles cyber threats

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy announced it will merge its communications, intelligence and technology operations into one unit to address challenges in the information age.

Northrop Grumman supports KC-10

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force contracted Northrop Grumman Corp. to provide logistics support for the fleet of the KC-10 Extender refueling tanker aircraft.

UPI | Top News - October 4, 2009

Miami law firm eyed in Stanford scandal

MIAMI, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A Miami law firm allegedly helped jailed financier R. Allen Stanford establish an unregulated money pipeline to Antigua, The Miami Herald reported Sunday.

Annan to discuss Kenya reforms

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was set Sunday to meet Kenyan military and political leaders to discuss progress on reforms, officials said.

Zinni: Afghan decisions must be made soon

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The deliberations over whether to send up to 40,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan need to be wrapped up soon, a retired senior military officer says.

Greenspan sees 10 percent unemployment

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The United States is likely to see 10-percent unemployment levels "for a while," former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Sunday.

Two Nigeria rebel leaders take amnesty

ABUJA, Nigeria, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Two field commanders for a Nigerian rebel movement say they have accepted a government amnesty offer in exchange for disarming.

3,500 acres burned in SoCal wildfire

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Wildfires burned 3,500 acres, destroyed three homes and threatened hundreds more in Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains Sunday, authorities said.

Tyrannosaurus rex fails to sell at auction

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A partial, fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at a Las Vegas hotel was not sold at auction because bids were too low, an auction house official says.

House fire kills three in North Carolina

MONROE, N.C., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Investigators said three people killed in a house fire in Union County, N.C., could have lived if a working smoke detector had been in the home.

Misconceptions plague inoculation effort

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Suspicion of government and public unease about vaccines has resulted in a flood of misconceptions about the U.S. swine flu program, experts say.

Baghdad clash leaves five dead, six hurt

BAGHDAD, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- An official with Iraq's Interior Ministry said five people, including two civilians, were killed Sunday during gunfights in Baghdad.

Detainees may face harsh U.S. prison life

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Terror detainees now being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would face vastly harsher conditions if they are moved to U.S. federal prisons, experts say.

E. coli's path exposes safety lapses

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A virulent strain of E. coli bacteria known as O157:H7 still sickens thousands of Americans each year despite regulations, The New York Times reported Sunday.

UPI | Top News Headlines - October 3, 2009

Suit seeks $199M from Madoff relatives

NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- A court-appointed trustee has sued four relatives of Bernard Madoff, seeking $199 million the suit said they received as a result of his Ponzi scheme.

Number of immigrants in U.S. declines

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- After 40 years of increases, the number of immigrants living in the United States declined between 2007 and 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

Thousands evacuated in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Thousands of Filipinos rushed to higher ground as Typhoon Parma approached, and the president declared a "state of calamity" in the storm-ravaged Philippines.

Palin's husband quits job

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Todd Palin, husband of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has quit his job with BP in Alaska, the oil company says.

Canadian terrorist gets 7-year prison term

BRAMPTON, Ontario, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A member of the so-called Toronto 18 was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for his role in plotting terrorist attacks.

Handshake deal led to $4.5M pension

CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A $4.5 million pension outgoing University of Calgary President Harvey Weingarten is to receive came about through a handshake agreement, an auditor found.

Cultural practices to be assisted by U.N.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The United Nations launched an initiative in the United Arab Emirates to prevent the death of age-old cultural practices, a press release reported.

Russia's Arctic Circle claims worry NATO

LONDON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- NATO's new European commander expressed concerns Friday about potential disputes over Russia's claims to resources in the Arctic Circle.

Czech building collapses, 4 missing

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A search for survivors in a collapsed Prague building was halted Friday night due to the threat of further collapse, a spokesman for the rescue team said.

Police arrest alleged drug ring members

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Thirty-seven alleged members of the powerful Angel Ayala Vazquez drug trafficking organization were arrested Friday in Puerto Rico, U.S. officials said.

Japan to train former Taliban soldiers

TOKYO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Japan is highlighting its contribution to the international community by providing training to former Taliban soldiers, its foreign ministry announced Friday.

U.N. unit shelves Gaza report

GENEVA, Switzerland, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The U.N. Human Rights Council shelved its report on last winter's Gaza war, avoiding a likely block to restarting Israeli-Palestinian talks, officials said.

Police release sketch of kidnap suspect

NASHVILLE, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Nashville police said they released a sketch Friday of a woman suspected of stabbing a woman and abducting her newborn baby.

Obama: Report shows bumps in recovery road
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The September jobs report was a "sobering reminder" that the U.S. economic recovery won't be smooth, President Barack Obama said Friday.