20 Nov 06. Lockheed Martin announced the establishment of a new organization to provide integrated real-time information solutions and services for securing and managing global supply chains. The Savi Group aligns Lockheed Martin’s decision support system expertise for large government In-Transit Visibility (ITV), cargo security and asset management efforts with Savi Technology’s real-time, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based data collection and management capabilities for supply chains. “This unique combination of capabilities under our Savi Group will accelerate the development of turn-key solutions for our government and commercial customers to make their supply chains more efficient, dynamically responsive and secure,” said Stan Sloane, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Systems & Solutions (IS&S) business area. The Savi Group will be led by Vic Verma, who was previously chief executive officer of Savi Technology, acquired by Lockheed Martin in June. Verma explained that the newly formed Savi Group will leverage its expertise to address the development and delivery of integrated ITV, Cargo Security and Mobile Asset Management solutions for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense (including the U.S. Transportation Command and the Defense Logistics Agency), as well as other government agencies, port and terminal operators, and commercial customers.
21 Nov 06. India, Italy To Cement Defense Ties With Joint Developments. Italy, a limited supplier of military equipment to India, has proposed the two countries join forces to develop defense products. During a Nov. 15-16 visit here, Lorenzo Forceri, Italian deputy defense minister, said the two governments have decided to turn their 2003 memorandum of understanding on transfer of defense equipment, technical assistance and defense industrial cooperation into a formal agreement, which is likely to be signed shortly. “Italy has proposed [to] the Indian government to finalize government-to-government agreements to cooperate with India on specific [defense] programs,” Forceri said following talks with M.M. Pallam Raju, Indian deputy defense minister. One such program could be the joint development of combat systems for the Air Defence Ship (ADS), India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, which is being built with technical help from Italy. Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, besides building the ship’s propulsion system, is helping the Indian Navy design the ADS and acting as a consultant. “If India comes up with its specific additional submarine requirements,” Forceri said, “Italy will always be ready to offer to work as a partner in designing, developing and producing the submarines.” Another area where the two countries can work together is the joint production of 127/64mm canons for Indian Navy warships and other small frigates, Forceri said. India’s state-owned Bharat Heavy Electrical is currently manufacturing 76/62 naval guns for Navy vessels under technology transferred from Italy’s Oto Melara. Italy and India also are cooperating on a number of other defense programs, including an oceanographic survey vessel, maritime patrol aircraft, heavyweight torpedoes for submarines, anti-submarine helicopters for the Indian Navy, and advanced warships and frigates, Forceri said. (Source: Defense News)
Nov 06. EADS CASA and PTDI have signed today a licensing agreement for the production and assembly of the EADS CASA C-212-400 light military transport aircraft by PTDI. Final assembly of the aircraft will be performed both at the facilities of PTDI in Bandung and the facilities of EADS CASA in San Pablo, Seville. The agreement is a boost for the local aerospace industry in Indonesia that will be supported by EADS CASA. This agreement makes the C-212-400 much more cost-competitive and will enable this aircraft to revive sales in the light turboprop segment market in the region. The agreement will allow PTDI to commercialize the