* Northrop-Grumman reports second quarter 2011 sales of $6.56 billion compared with $7.26B for the previous year’s period. Lower US Department of Defense (DoD) outlays among the factors identified as contributing to reduced quarter sales.
* Meanwhile, General Dynamics’ Second Quarter 2011 Results saw revenues totaling $7.9 billion, a decline from 2010’s figure of $8.1 billion. Orders for defense materiel contributed to a total backlog of $57.1 billion across all the company’s products.
* Following Beijing’s recent confirmation of its aircraft carrier program, a number of Asian countries reiterate their concerns over China’s naval buildup. Australia’s Minister of Defence uses his visit to the United States to re-emphasize the importance of India to the wider region.
* Lockheed Martin announces the launch of its High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator (HALE-D) airship from the Airdock in Akron, Ohio. Despite a successful launch, a technical anomaly eventually forced the flight to be abandoned.
* Rolls-Royce’s Half-Yearly 2011 Results reveal that underlying profit before tax is up by 28% to £595 million ($973 million). The engine-maker also benefited from one-off contract termination settlements resulting from the UK’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
* BAE Systems is also confident that it has delivered a robust set of half year results in the face of challenging market conditions. The company reports headline sales of £9.2 billion ($15 billion), down from £10.6 billion ($17 billion) in 2010, and underlying earnings of £968 million ($1.6 billion).
* Thales’ 2011 first half results show a 48% increase in underlying earnings in comparison with last year’s figures. However, defense and security orders declined by 3% over the same time period.
* Russia test fires a RSM-54 Sineva submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in the Barents Sea. The SLBM was launched from the Yekaterinburg nuclear powered submarine.
* A Filipino man is expected to plead guilty to trying to sell a US Government-owned RQ11-A/B Raven UAV for $13,000 on eBay.
* As the UK announces its recognition of Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) as the ‘legitimate governing authority’, pictures show the ‘Free Libyan Air Force’s’ MiG-21 fighters seemingly contravening the NATO no-fly zone.