people sleep peacably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.-Geroge Orwell

Boeing unveils Phantom Ray Unmanned Airborne System (UAS)

ST. LOUIS, – The Boeing Company today unveiled the fighter-sized Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system, a test bed for advanced technologies.

“We are on a fast track, and first flight is in sight,” said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works. “Phantom Ray is on schedule to fly in December, about two years after this project began. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Boeing and the Phantom Ray team.”

Phantom Ray is scheduled to begin taxi tests this summer. The first flight in December will be followed by up to nine additional flights over approximately six months.

Phantom Ray is designed to support potential missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack; strike; and autonomous aerial refueling.

“The initial flights will take Phantom Ray through its paces for the flight test profile. Beyond that, the missions and systems tested will be determined by future warfighter needs,” said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager for Boeing.

Phantom Ray, which evolved from the X-45C program, is one of several programs in the Phantom Works division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Phantom Works uses rapid prototyping initiatives to design, develop and build advanced aircraft and then demonstrate their capabilities.

Key Phantom Ray suppliers include General Electric-Aviation (propulsion and power distribution), Honeywell (brake system), Woodward-HRT (flight control actuation system), Crane Hydro-Aire (brake controls) and Heroux-Devtek (landing gear). (Boeing)

Japan build first overseas military base

Japan is building its first overseas military base in Africa’s Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden in an attempt to probe what waters its military can legally reach farthest, analysts say.

In the name of better combating notorious Somali pirates, Japan is busy setting up a 40-million-U.S.-dollar military base, which is expected to be completed early next year.

Currently, some 150 Japanese soldiers battling piracy are stationed in a U.S. base in Djibouti, which is at the southern end of the Red Sea.

The Japanese authorities say some 2,000 Japanese vessels, accounting for 10 percent of the world total, sail through the Gulf of Aden each year. Some 90 percent of Japanese exports rely on the crucial sea lane, which has been overrun by rampant piracy.

On occasion, Japanese vessels have been hijacked by pirates.

The Japanese base, undeniably, would add momentum to the country’s anti-piracy efforts in the region.

But observers say that by establishing the base, the Japanese government is also exploring how far it can go in increasing its military clout in the world.

According to the Peace Constitution ratified in 1947 after World War II, Japan, to abstain from waging war, couldn’t have a standing army and its warships couldn’t operate overseas.

But in October 2001, soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Japanese lawmakers approved the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, which allowed the dispatch of Japanese warships and soldiers overseas.

Moreover, in July 2009, Japanese lawmakers passed the Anti-Piracy Law, which provided Japanese self-defense forces with more mobility to use military power. It also stipulated that the Japanese prime minister could send troops overseas to conduct “anti-piracy” operations without approval of the parliament.

The base in Djibouti is Japan’s latest effort to increase its military influence in the world, analysts say.

Many countries are watching closely, and hope the base can play a constructive role in cracking down on Somali pirates and contribute to regional peace and stability. (Xinhua)

Lockheed Martin delivers 10,000th Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket to the U.S. Army

CAMDEN, ARKANSAS,– Lockheed Martin marked the delivery of the 10,000th Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket during a ceremony held at its Camden, AR, facility today.

GMLRS is an all-weather, precision strike, artillery rocket system that achieves greater range and precision accuracy requiring fewer rockets to defeat targets and limiting collateral damage.

“The delivery of the 10,000th GMLRS marks a significant milestone in the program,” said Col. David J. Rice, U.S. Army program manager for Precision Fires, Rocket and Missile Systems. “This is a superior system that provides responsive, precision fires enabled by unsurpassed system reliability and maintainability. The team, led by Lockheed Martin, consisting of both government and industry partners, has worked diligently to ensure mission success through this technology.”

The system is produced at the company’s facilities in Camden, AR, and Dallas, TX.

“The success of this system speaks for the quality work that our team is doing every day,” said Col. Tony Daskevich, Army capability manager for Field Artillery Rocket and Missiles. “We are a constant in this fight, always mission ready and on target. Precision is the name of the game when it comes to our missions, and that is why our soldiers and leaders so appreciate this system.”

GMLRS provides the Joint Warfighter with persistent, responsive, long-range precision strike capability against traditional and hybrid threats. GMLRS’ reliability rate exceeds 98 percent and, to date, more than 1,500 rockets have been successfully fired in combat.

“This production milestone was made possible through the commitment of our hardworking employees here in Camden who are proud to provide this combat proven capability to the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, and our allied forces,” said Scott Arnold, vice president for Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Guided Unitary is the newest variant of MLRS rockets which integrates a unitary warhead with a multi-mode fuze to expand the MLRS target set to include point targets within urban and complex environments, significantly minimizing collateral damage. In January 2005, the U.S. Army issued an Urgent Needs Statement for acceleration of Guided Unitary deliveries in support of ongoing operations.

Lockheed Martin delivered the first 72 GMLRS Unitary rockets in June 2005 satisfying the requirements of the Urgent Needs Statement. The first 900-plus rockets were delivered to the U.S. in 2005 and 2006.

Camden Operations produces the combat-proven High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher and a family of munitions, which includes the Guided MLRS Rocket. (Lockheed Martin)

BUSHMASTER ACR

ACR (ADAPTIVE COMBAT RIFLE)

The first of its kind, and the only rifle you need to master the infinite number of extreme scenarios you'll face in the worlds of law enforcement and personal defense. Our new Bushmaster ACR redefines the term "modular" with the extraordinary ability to change calibers, barrel lengths and stock configurations in minutes – without the use of tools. Truly the most versatile and adaptive rifle ever conceived, it was born of a collaborative effort between Bushmaster, Magpul® and Remington® to create the ultimate military combat weapons system. We're proud to unveil the evolution you see here – built specifically for our law-enforcement and commercial markets. It's tested and proven reliable in the most brutal conditions on earth, truly ambidextrous and the uncompromising choice when you demand a rifle as mission-adaptable as you are. The Bushmaster ACR

Basic Configuration ACR SS 16m B msrp-$2,685

•16 ½" cold hammer-forged barrel with innovative coating for extreme long life (1x7" and 1x9" twist available)
•A2 "birdcage-type" hider to control muzzle flash
•Adjustable, two-position gas-piston-driven system, for firing suppressed or unsuppressed
•Tool-less quick-change barrel system available in 10.5", 14.5", 16.5" and 18" and in multiple calibers
•Multi-caliber bolt carrier assembly quickly and easily changes from 223/5.56mm NATO to 6.8mm Rem SPC
•Free-floating MIL-STD 1913 monolithic top rail for optic mounting
•Fully ambidextrous controls include magazine release, bolt catch and release, fire selector and non-reciprocating charging handle
•High-impact composite hand guard with heat shield – accepts rail inserts
•High-impact composite lower receiver with textured magazine well and modular grip storage
•Fixed high-impact composite A-frame stock with rubber butt pad and sling mounts
•Magpul MBUS front/rear flip sights
•Ships in oversized hard case for accessory storage, includes 30-round PMAG

Enhanched Configuration ACR FR 16m B msrp-$3,061

•16 ½" cold hammer-forged barrel with innovative coating for extreme long life (1x7" and 1x9" twist available)
•AAC Blackout flash hider with exceptional signature reduction
•Adjustable, two-position gas-piston-driven system, for firing suppressed or unsuppressed
•Tool-less quick-change barrel system available in 10.5", 14.5", 16.5" and 18" and in multiple calibers
•Multi-caliber bolt carrier assembly quickly and easily changes from 223/5.56mm NATO to 6.8mm Rem SPC
•Free-floating MIL-STD 1913 monolithic top rail for optic mounting
•Fully ambidextrous controls include magazine release, bolt catch and release, fire selector and non-reciprocating charging handle
•High-impact composite hand guard with heat shield – accepts rail inserts
•High-impact composite lower receiver with textured magazine well and modular grip storage
•Folding and six-position telescoping high-impact polymer stock with rubber butt pad and sling mounts
•Magpul MBUS front/rear flip sights
•Ships in oversized hard case for accessory storage, includes 30-round PMAG
•Three-sided aluminum hand guard with integral MIL-STD 1913 rail for accessory mounting
•2-point push button sling

Basic Configuration ACR SS 16m C msrp-$2,685

•16 ½" cold hammer-forged barrel with innovative coating for extreme long life (1x7" and 1x9" twist available)
•A2 "birdcage-type" hider to control muzzle flash
•Adjustable, two-position gas-piston-driven system, for firing suppressed or unsuppressed
•Tool-less quick-change barrel system available in 10.5", 14.5", 16.5" and 18" and in multiple calibers
•Multi-caliber bolt carrier assembly quickly and easily changes from 223/5.56mm NATO to 6.8mm Rem SPC
•Free-floating MIL-STD 1913 monolithic top rail for optic mounting
•Fully ambidextrous controls include magazine release, bolt catch and release, fire selector and non-reciprocating charging handle
•High-impact composite hand guard with heat shield – accepts rail inserts
•High-impact composite lower receiver with textured magazine well and modular grip storage
•Fixed high-impact composite A-frame stock with rubber butt pad and sling mounts
•Magpul MBUS front/rear flip sights
•Ships in oversized hard case for accessory storage, includes 30-round PMAG

Enhanced Configuration ACR FR 16m C msrp-$3,061

•16 ½" cold hammer-forged barrel with innovative coating for extreme long life (1x7" and 1x9" twist available)
•AAC Blackout flash hider with exceptional signature reduction
•Adjustable, two-position gas-piston-driven system, for firing suppressed or unsuppressed
•Tool-less quick-change barrel system available in 10.5", 14.5", 16.5" and 18" and in multiple calibers
•Multi-caliber bolt carrier assembly quickly and easily changes from 223/5.56mm NATO to 6.8mm Rem SPC
•Free-floating MIL-STD 1913 monolithic top rail for optic mounting
•Fully ambidextrous controls include magazine release, bolt catch and release, fire selector and non-reciprocating charging handle
•High-impact composite hand guard with heat shield – accepts rail inserts
•High-impact composite lower receiver with textured magazine well and modular grip storage
•Folding and six-position telescoping high-impact polymer stock with rubber butt pad and sling mounts
•Magpul MBUS front/rear flip sights
•Ships in oversized hard case for accessory storage, includes 30-round PMAG
•Three-sided aluminum hand guard with integral MIL-STD 1913 rail for accessory mounting
•2-point push button sling