Six years ago, the attacks of 9/11 ushered in a new global conflict, and began an accelerated series of changes to militaries and defense industries around the world that are not even close to running their full course. The US Department of Defense has put up a site with a wide variety of resources to remember the 6th anniversary of the attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Centers. Remembering Sept 11: Six Years Later….
As “France & Spain Order New Eurocopter Tiger HAD (updated)” noted, the Eurocopter Tiger is something of an odd duck whose two initial versions (French HAP, German HAC-UHT) each seemed to each be missing a vital piece that was present on the other version. Export orders to Spain (Tiger HAD) and Australia (Tiger ARH) both move to correct some of those deficiencies, and Spain has a few Tiger HAP helicopters from initial deliveries that will be converted to the HAD variant.
Spain’s helicopters will have air-air missile capability, and the short-range MBDA Mistral missile is the helicopter’s default anti-air armament. Spanish Army, airborne, and Marines units already deploy Mistral missiles in a man-portable air defense (MANPAD) role, so it makes a great deal of sense to add a proposed EUR 27.7 million order, spread over 5 years (2007-2011), in order to equip Spain’s Tiger Helicoptero de Apoyo y Destruccion craft with Mistral ATAM missiles and launchers. Another contract will complement the Mistrals with Israeli Spike-LR anti-armor missiles, which also have some anti-helicopter capability. Spanish Council of Ministers release – translation help via reader Pedro Lucio.
Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp., Seattle Division in Seattle WA received a $26.7 million modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-4152), exercise an option for performance of the Dry Docking Ship Planned Incremental Availability of the Nimitz Class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis [CVN 74], which was commissioned in 1995. During an American Nimitz Class carrier’s 50 year life span, it has 12 Planned incremental availabilities, 4 Drydocking Planned Incremental Availabilities (PIA+D), and 1 multi-year reactor refueling and complex overhaul. The PIA+D procedure can involve substantial modifications of its own, including improved radars, combat systems, etc. In June 2007, for instance, USS George Washington [CVN 73] even received a new mast as part of this process.
Work will be performed in Bremerton, Wash., and is expected to be complete in March 2008. All contract funding will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Wash. issued the contract.
