Land Mines: Assessing the Threat, Extending a Hand

As the New Year approaches, DID thought we’d end on a different kind of note.

A recent report from the United States Department of State notes that the USA has spent more than $1 billion over the past dozen years on humanitarian land mine removal efforts around the world. That money has removed land mines, paid for educational messages on the risks posed by mines, helped victims of mine injuries, and funded R&D to improve existing humanitarian mine removal programs. It has also helped establish mine action programs in a number of nations.

Drawing on data collected by the US departments of State and Defense, the US Agency for International Development, the Leahy War Victims Fund and the Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University in Virginia, the accompanying fact sheet traces key actions related to mines and unexploded ordnance beginning in the US Civil War in 1862 and extending through the end of 2005, with a strong focus on the 1998-2005 period and a solid chronology of successes throughout the year.

Meanwhile, the Landmine Monitor Report 2005 is the seventh annual report from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), as it seeks to monitor and report on implementation of and compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. It also seeks to assess international responses to mine-related humanitarian issues. (Hat Tip: ReliefWeb)

DID entered “full rate publication” in 2005, and we appreciate each and every one of our readers for entrusting us with their time and attention this year. See you all again in the New Year!

NAVAIR Issues V-22 Osprey Contracts Worth $1.17B

V-22 Osprey

The USA’s Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD has issued a series of contracts over the last week or so related to the twin-engine V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft. The V-22 Osprey remains controversial given its $100 million per plane cost, and performance questions over the course of the program. Cuts may also be forthcoming in 2007.

These contracts cover both the US Marines’ planned MV-22 machines which are approved for full-rate production, and Special Operations Command’s CV-22 which is still being modified and has yet to enter Operational Evaluation (OpEval). The total value of these six contracts, options, and delivery orders is approximately $1.17 billion.

$112.3M for 38 ATFLIR Pods, Plus Spares

ATFLIR on USMC F/A-18C

DID has covered the ATFLIR’s success in theater over Iraq, and how it has changed the roles of the F/A-18 aircraft fitted with it. Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) combines three pods into one: a targeting FLIR, a laser spot tracker, and a navigation FLIR. It also sharply improves performance and reliability over existing pods.

The US Navy has recently issued a pair of ATFLIR-related orders for its F/A-18 fleet. Both pertain to contract N00019-06-C-0310, and together they total $112.3 million…