Jan 07. March 29-30, Red Lion Hanalei Hotel, 2270 Hotel Circle North • San Diego, CA 92108ComDef West 2007, the 28th conference in the Common Defense series, addresses the issues of “Joint and Coalition Cooperation in the Littorals” relative to transformation, budgets, force structure, operations, equipment, production, modernization, and inter-operability. US Conference Co-Chair is Bruce Bade, Director, Pacific Armaments Cooperation, Office of Defense Cooperation, OUSD (AT&L). For more information: IDEEA, Inc., 6233 Nelway Drive, McLean, VA 22101 USA Tel: (703) 760 0762, Fax: (703) 760 0764 Email: Web: http://www.ideea.com/comdefwest07/
25 Jan 07. Defence Secretary: The UK’s Nuclear Deterrent in the 21st Century Before an audience of academics at King’s College in London (25 Jan 07), the Defence Secretary reiterated the Government’s reasons for deciding that the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent should be maintained. A vote is due to be taken by the House of Commons during March 2007.
Comment: Further assurances were given that “the investment required will not come at the expense of our conventional capabilities”. During questions, however, the Defence Secretary gave no indication of how this might be guaranteed, stating that: “There has been no decision on how to handle costs”. Levels of future investment are due to be clarified by the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review, which will probably be presented in July 2007.
The Government’s decision to maintain the UK’s nuclear deterrent was set out in the White Paper ‘The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent’ published on 4 Dec 06, as Command Paper 6994, for £13:50. The subject was also debated in the House of Lords on 24 Jan 07 (Hansard, Column 1104 et seq). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0705, 29 Jan 07)
Jan 07. AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems Asia-Pacific 2007, 15-16 March 2007. Rydges Carlton Hotel Melbourne, Australia. The Official Unmanned Systems Event of the Australian International Airshow 2007 (http://www.airshow.net.au/). Returning to Australia, 15-16 March 2007, AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems Asia-Pacific 2007 will focus on the continued importance being given to the full spectrum of autonomous technologies in the Australian and Southeast Asian environment and will explore the intterrelated efforts of the defence, scientific and industrial communities. For a full conference program and more information, you may visit our website to download the registration brochure or register to attend at http://www.auvsi.org/usap/usapindex.cfm.