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15 Feb 10. DRS Technologies, Inc. is progressing on schedule in the 134,000 sq. ft. expansion of its existing 142,000 sq. ft. facility on Babcock Street in Melbourne, Florida. The new addition includes space for expanded manufacturing, research and development, administration, business development and human resources. The expanded facility will allow the company to consolidate its manufacturing and engineering capabilities under one roof. Currently, the Company’s
Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (“RSTA”) operations in Florida are conducted out of both the Melbourne facility on Babcock Street and a facility in Palm Bay. “Our Melbourne facility has become the cornerstone of our thermal imaging business,” said Terry Murphy, president of DRS’ RSTA Group. “The expansion of our research and development capabilities will foster increased innovation that will directly benefit our customers, the men and women in uniform.”
DRS Technologies has a long standing relationship with the Melbourne facility property owners, Sutton Properties, which has supported this expansion through investment and collaboration. In addition, the project benefited from the full support of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, Brevard County, City of Melbourne, City of Palm Bay, Enterprise Florida and the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast. (Source: Yahoo!)
11 Feb 10. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is to upgrade two of its fighter bases on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that will expand its reach in South Asia by 1,200km. The air force will turn its airstrips at Shibpur in the Andaman Islands and at Campbell Bay in the Nicobar Islands into all-weather bases, to support fighter operations, according to indianexpress.com. Commander-in-chief of Andaman Nicobar Command Vice-Admiral DK Joshi said the two airstrips would be upgraded to 12,000ft from the existing 3,200ft. The upgraded airbases will increase India’s presence in the region and provide the tri-services command at Andaman Nicobar with more options to deploy aircraft. Upgrade work has already begun on the airstrips. The upgrades will enhance the air force’s night operations capability. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
11 Feb 10. The Iranian Defence Minister has unveiled two new missile production plants capable of developing ground-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles. The two missile production plants will produce the Qaem (rising) ground-to-air missile and a surface-to-surface missile named Toofan 5 (storm). Iran defence minister Ahmad Vahidi said Qaem was designed to target assault helicopters at low and medium altitudes while Toofan 5 will have two warheads that can destroy tanks and other armoured vehicles, according to Fars news agency. Iran recently launched a capsule carrying turtles, rats and worms aboard a Kavoshgar 3 (explorer) rocket as part of the country’s first attempt to send living creatures into space. In December 2009, Iran tested the Sejil 2 (lethal stone) missile, describing it as a faster version of a medium-range missile that could allow it to strike enemies such as Israel. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Feb 10. Medical Rehabilitation: Extra Facilities. In a Written Statement (10 Feb 10), the Junior Defence Minister announced that the number of ward beds in the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court is to be increased by 30 during 2010.
Comment: There are 66 ward beds and 120 other beds for patients at Headley Court. Existing clinical facilities at the Centre are also to be expanded in due course. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/07, 15 Feb 10)
17 Feb 10. EADS has established a military R&D facility at Bangalore to take forward the group’s existing projects and work on new programmes. “We have just started. Within two years, we hope to employ 200 engineers at the centre. If you consider that we employ 2,000 R&D engineers, this means that within two