LOCATIONS
LAND
26 Aug 10. Schutt Industries, the leading manufacturer of trailers for the US Military, including the Light Tactical Trailer (LTT) has almost completed the latest expansion of their main office and manufacturing building. With over 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Schutt
Industries must expand again to meet the demands of both their international and domestic markets. The 14,000 sq. ft. addition will house a new quality assurance facility, four new receiving docks and additional manufacturing space. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR BASES
26 Aug 10. Air Force Announces Changes to Headquarters Air Force Space Management and Organization. The Air Force today announced the realignment of some Headquarters Air Force space functions, following the recent completion of a review of Headquarters Air Force space management and responsibilities, which was directed by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley in December 2009. In a memorandum signed today, Donley reinforced some existing alignments and directed several changes to Air Force Headquarters space organization. This would include the identification of the under secretary of the Air Force as the focal point for space within the Headquarters Air Force, with responsibility for coordination of functions and activities across the Air Force space enterprise, and the realignment of space acquisition from the under secretary of the Air Force’s office to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. The review was focused on Headquarters Air Force, so it did not address any changes within field organizations such as Air Force Space Command or the Space and Missile Systems Center. Richard W. McKinney, who was recently named deputy under secretary for space programs, led the review that involved more than 70 interviews with key individuals and organizations from the Air Force, DoD, Congress, and other space related government, commercial, and international organizations.
23 Aug 10. Three $100m air base expansions in southern and northern Afghanistan illustrate Pentagon plans to continue building multimillion-dollar facilities in that country to support increased U.S. military operations well into the future. Despite growing public unhappiness with the Afghan war — and President Obama’s pledge that he will begin withdrawing troops in July 2011 — many of the installations being built in Afghanistan have extended time horizons. None of the three projects in southern and northern Afghanistan is expected to be completed until the latter half of 2011. All of them are for use by U.S. forces rather than by their Afghan counterparts. (Source: Washington Post)
17 Aug 10. RAF Brize Norton: Improved Facilities. The MoD announced (17 Aug 10) that improvements to the air passenger terminal at Brize Norton have been completed, at a cost of £186,000. Furniture and recreational facilities have been replaced in order “to make the passenger’s experience of travelling through Brize Norton as pleasant as possible….”.
Comment: The terminal operates for 24 hours a day, for every day of the year. In 2009, over 267,000 passengers were ‘processed’ to locations world-wide. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/33, 23 Aug 10)
MARITIME
20 Aug 10. HMS GLOUCESTER: Destined for the South Atlantic. HMS GLOUCESTER (the ‘Fighting G’) set sail for the South Atlantic on 20 Aug 10. The Type 42 destroyer is to take over from the Type 23 frigate HMS PORTLAND, spending most of her seven-month deployment patrolling around the British South Atlantic Islands. During November, HMS GLOUCESTER will represent the UK at the Expo Naval Defence Technology Exhibition to be held in Chile.
Comment: When HMS GLOUCESTER returns to Portsmouth in March 2011 she will be prepared (on current plans) for decommissioning. Sister-ship HMS MANCHESTER is also due to be decommissioned in 2011. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/33, 23 Aug 10)
24 Aug 10. Northrop Grum