LOCATIONS
29 May 07. Navy Secretary Names New Combat Logistics Ship. Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter has announced his decision to name the Navy’s newest underway replenishment vessel, the USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6).The name honors Amelia Mary Earhart for her courage, vision, and groundbreaking achievements, both in aviation and for women. Amelia Earhart’s name became a household word in 1932 when she became the first woman–and second person–to fly solo across the Atlantic, on the fifth anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s feat, flying a Lockheed Vega from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland to Londonderry, Ireland. That year, she received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the Congress, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French government, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society from President Herbert Hoover.
30 May 07. The Australian Government will commit $268.2m for the delivery of facilities and infrastructure to support the new C-17 Heavy Air Lift capability. The C-17 Infrastructure project will deliver the necessary permanent facilities and airfield pavements to support C-17 operations at its home base, RAAF Base Amberley, and expanded infrastructure at deployment bases RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Darwin, Pearce and Townsville to allow the large aircraft to operate effectively. The proposed project budget is $268.2m. This project will allow the C-17 aircraft to provide a new responsive global air-lift capability that will significantly enhance the Australian Defence Force’s ability to support national and international operations as well as major disaster relief and rescue efforts. (Source: ASD Network)
29 May 07. General Electric Company (GE) will break ground this summer on a new jet engine component factory near Batesville in northwest Mississippi. GE Aviation, a GE division and world-leading producer of jet engines, is creating a 200,000 square-foot facility to specialize in advanced composite engine components. Groundbreaking is planned in August; the plant is expected to become operational by early 2009. Based on current demand for its jet engines, GE anticipates hiring to begin in 2008, with the workforce expected to exceed 100 people within the first 18 months of operation. GE worked closely with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to secure the Batesville area location. The MDA, the city of Batesville, and the Tennessee Valley Authority have provided technical support and incentives to ensure a smooth and successful startup. (Source: ASD Network)
30 May 07. Ukrainian ship joins NATO counter-terrorist operation in
Mediterranean. A Ukrainian frigate, the URS Ternopil, is now actively supporting Operation Active Endeavour, NATO’s maritime counter-terrorist operation in the
Mediterranean, through till the end of June. The North Atlantic Council – NATO’s principal decision-making body – authorised the Ukrainian ship’s participation on 25 May, after it had successfully completed a couple of weeks of “force integration training” with NATO. To prepare for the operation, the URS Ternopil also underwent “mission-oriented training” in the Mediterranean in November
2006. Ukraine’s active support for Operation Active Endeavour is a demonstration of its determination to cooperate with the Allies in the fight against terrorism. The deployment of a second corvette, the URS Lutsk, is expected in autumn. A third vessel, the frigate URS Sagaidachnyi, is expected to be deployed in 2008. An exchange of letters between NATO and Ukraine in April 2005 paved the way for preparations for Ukraine’s support for the operation. Experts from Allied military commands visited the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters at Sevastopol several times this year to assess progress in the training of Ukrainian personnel in NATO standard procedures and communications. Operation Active Endeavour is part of NATO’s maritime contribution to the fight against terrorism. Launched in October 2001, it continues to cond