20 Sep 10. The Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting is the largest land warfare exposition and forum in North America. Leaders from the U.S. Army and Defense Industry will be in attendance for this three day event. Join over 33,000 people from around the world and view more than 500 displays representing the latest defense technology and services. The 2010 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition will be held from October 25-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. This year’s theme, “America’s Army: The Strength of the Nation,” will set the tone for what will no doubt be the premier defense forum of the year. Get the latest on the U.S. Army and its plans for the future by taking part in presentations that will include an impressive list of guest speakers. Among those invited to speak are:
*Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
*HON John McHugh, Secretary of the Army
*GEN George Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army
*GEN Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
*GEN Walter Sharp, Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea
*GEN Ray Odierno, Commander, United States Forces-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq
*GEN Ann Dunwoody, Commanding General, United States Army Materiel Command
*GEN Martin Dempsey, Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
15 Sep 10. Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR): Defence Committee Report. The Defence Committee published (15 Sep 10) a Report on The Strategic Defence and Security Review. The Report sets out, in summary, the Committee’s understanding of the SDSR process and its relationship with the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), which is being run in parallel.
Comment: There is a bad-tempered thread running through the Report, particularly at “the rapid pace at
which the SDSR is being undertaken”. The Report is available from TSO and The Parliamentary Bookshop, as HC 345, for £11:00. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/36, 20 Sep 10)
20 Sep 10. Forecast International projects the worldwide expendable launch vehicle (ELV) market to be worth $47bn over the 2010-2019 time-period. The “Market for Expendable Launch Vehicles” study projects 621 individual launch vehicles will be produced during that time. The study notes that many of the large communications satellite companies are in the midst of major buying programs to modify and expand their fleets of satellites. This will benefit launch service providers, who will deliver those satellites into orbit. While this will create a short-term boom for launch providers, the industry is still recovering from a downturn in the market. For many years, competition and lack of business put profits at razor-thin margins. According to William Ostrove, Aerospace Systems analyst and author of the study, “The downturn in launch service requirements forced many programs to be restructured.” These programs include the U.S. Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program and the European Ariane 5 program. In addition, Sea Launch, a launch service provider using Zenit launch vehicles from a modified deep-sea oil platform, was forced to declare bankruptcy. Challenges remain for the launch industry through the next 10 years. Sea Launch is expected to emerge from bankruptcy protection and begin operations. New launch providers, such as Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), are also expected to enter the market over the next 10 years. Along with the increased competition, once major buying programs are completed at the major satellite operators, launch opportunities may be diminished. However, the study points out areas of promise for the launch industry. The study also adds that demand for launch services will continue, even after major buying programs are completed, as companies upgrade their satellite networks and replace aging satellites. Governments will also be a source of steady