$258.8M for M1117 Guardian ASVs

M1117 Guardian ASVs
(click to enlarge)

Textron’s M1117 Guardian ASV was discussed in a 2005 DID feature covering procurement issues for up-armored Vehicles headed to Iraq. It has performed well and proven popular with Military Police in limited Iraq deployments, but failed MRAP-I testing at Aberdeen and was disqualified from orders under that program. Nevertheless, it continues to be purchased as a better-protected, higher-firepower armored car alternative to the HMMWV.

In July 2005, there were 130 ASVs deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; by June 2007, there were over 950, with more on order. In between, Textron’s sole production facility was hit hard when Class 5 Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, and the company had to undertake heroic efforts just to keep production alive. We’ve all met venomous snakes in corporate conference rooms, but few of us have been given permission to kill them.

USA: Some Recent Illegal Arms Export Investigations

Miami ICE

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations (ASTI) division is responsible for investigating illegal exports of military products and sensitive technologies. Last year, ICE’s ASTI division opened approximately 3,000 new criminal investigations. Through an industry outreach program called “Project Shield America,” ICE’s ASTI division is visiting US manufacturers of arms and sensitive technology to educate them about export laws and to solicit their assistance in preventing illegal foreign acquisition of their products. A recent article by Jim Kouri of CPP offered a series of wrap-up summaries regarding some of the recent ICE investigations.

Northrup Wins U.K. Biometric System Contract

Northrup Grumman won a U.K. contract to provide biometric devices to be deployed in Britain for its criminal identification system. The eight-year contract for the Ident1 system will replace the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which currently allows police to search only their own local databases. The system will also include elements of mobile fingerprint checking and identification from facial images and video. The system will be similar to the U.S.’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, run by the FBI, and the Homeland Security Department’s Automated Biometric Identification System. -FCW.com: UK hires Northrop for fingerprint system

Northrup Grumman won a U.K. contract to provide biometric devices to be deployed in Britain for its criminal identification system. The eight-year contract for the Ident1 system will replace the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which currently allows police to search only their own local databases. The system will also include elements of mobile fingerprint checking and identification from facial images and video. The system will be similar to the U.S.’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, run by the FBI, and the Homeland Security Department’s Automated Biometric Identification System. -FCW.com: UK hires Northrop for fingerprint system

Northrup Grumman won a U.K. contract to provide biometric devices to be deployed in Britain for its criminal identification system. The eight-year contract for the Ident1 system will replace the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which currently allows police to search only their own local databases. The system will also include elements of mobile fingerprint checking and identification from facial images and video. The system will be similar to the U.S.’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, run by the FBI, and the Homeland Security Department’s Automated Biometric Identification System. -FCW.com: UK hires Northrop for fingerprint system

Northrup Grumman won a U.K. contract to provide biometric devices to be deployed in Britain for its criminal identification system. The eight-year contract for the Ident1 system will replace the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which currently allows police to search only their own local databases. The system will also include elements of mobile fingerprint checking and identification from facial images and video. The system will be similar to the U.S.’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, run by the FBI, and the Homeland Security Department’s Automated Biometric Identification System. -FCW.com: UK hires Northrop for fingerprint system