05 Mar 09. AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has unveiled the DA VINCI helicopter to Swiss air-rescue operator REGA during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate plant on March 4th. The DA VINCI is a modern top-of-the-range light twin specifically developed from the highly successful AgustaWestland Grand to meet REGA’s DA VINCI project requirements for a mountain rescue and air-ambulance helicopter. The DA VINCI project was aimed at selecting a light twin aircraft capable to perform high altitude rescue missions as well as the rapid hospital-to-hospital transfer of severely injured patients and providing them with specialised medical treatment in flight. The customer selected the specifically developed DA VINCI project helicopter in late 2006 following an extensive evaluation process and subsequently placed an order for eleven aircraft plus four options.
02 Mar 09. Elbit Security Systems ELSEC, was awarded two Airport defense contracts. The first project calls for the upgrade of the security system in a European international airport. The international airport project includes the upgrade of the existing electronic systems, a new control room and the training of the technical and security teams. The Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PID) will include an active fence technology, long- and medium-range day and night surveillance systems, checkpoints and Command & Control systems. The second contract calls for the supply of Perimeter Intrusion Detection systems for three central airports in another country. The systems base on active fence technology, day and night surveillance systems, and Command & Control systems.
Both contracts are valued at several million dollars.
02 Mar 09. President Barack Obama wants $355 million for the Homeland Security Department’s cybersecurity efforts in fiscal 2010, according to an overview of his budget proposal. The document states that Obama wants the $355m to support DHS’ National Cybersecurity Division and the department’s role in the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI). The money would be “targeted to make private- and public-sector cyber infrastructure more resilient and secure,” the document states.
The division received $313.5m in the fiscal 2009 budget, which includes $254.9m for the department’s share of CNCI. DHS’ role in the government’s
overall cybersecurity effort has been the subject of debate among experts, and the Obama administration is reviewing the government’s cybersecurity programs. Although no dollar amount was provided for the classified National Intelligence Program that funds intelligence agencies, the budget document promised increased funding for an integrated cybersecurity strategy that includes homeland security, intelligence, law enforcement, military and diplomatic components. (Source: GCN)