Iranian Army Commander General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan announced that his forces are scheduled to stage a series of massive military drills in the country's southwestern provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam next September. General Pourdastan further pointed out that five divisions and seven sovereign units would showcase innovative military strategies and skills during the exercises. He also said that Iran's latest achievements in weapons production will be tested in the maneuvers, and added, "The wargames are also aimed at practicing new military skills in a combat theater with rough terrain." The Iranian commander noted that some of the weaponry planned for use and testing during the drills includes refurbished and upgraded tanks utilizing laser systems, helicopters and Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs)Iranian Army Commander General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan announced that his forces are scheduled to stage a series of massive military drills in the country's southwestern provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam next September.

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Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation announced this 03 June 2010 that the company received an undefinitized award valued at more than $67 million to incorporate configuration changes to more than 420 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle M-ATV variants for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The SOCOM-specific vehicle configuration changes will be cut in on Oshkosh manufacturing lines in August 2010. M-ATV SOCOM variants with these configuration changes are scheduled to be delivered between September and November 2010. The SOCOM variant is the latest in the M-ATV family of vehicles and joins utility and ambulance variants recently developed by Oshkosh. Utility and ambulance M-ATVs were developed to help military operations provide resupply services and critical casualty care in unforgiving landscapes where tactical missions must operate.Oshkosh Defense, this 03 June 2010 that the company received an undefinitized award valued at more than $67 million to incorporate configuration changes to more than 420 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle M-ATV variants for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

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Navistar Defense, LLC and Tatra, a.s. today announced that they will team for the upcoming Canadian Department of National Defence Standard Military Pattern (SMP) vehicle program. As part of the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) program, SMP will replace Canada’s Medium Logistics truck fleet. The Navistar-Tatra team also plans to utilize Navistar’s global parts and support network for vehicle support. The team is also focused on creating local sustainment of its vehicles and will meet all requirements under Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefits policy.Navistar Defense, LLC and Tatra, a.s. today announced that they will team for the upcoming Canadian Department of National Defence Standard Military Pattern (SMP) vehicle program.

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The South Korean K11 combination 20 mm grenade launcher and 5.56 mm carbine is now entering service and is expected to be deployed in Afghanistan when South Korean troops re-enter theatre in 2011. The South Korean K11 combination 20 mm grenade launcher and 5.56 mm carbine is now entering service and is expected to be deployed in Afghanistan when South Korean troops re-enter theatre in 2011.

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Thales Canada is pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive teaming agreement with DEW Engineering and Development ULC on the assembly of the Bushmaster for the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) Program in Canada. This agreement forms a strategic alliance between two Canadian-based companies for the provision of the best solution for the TAPV program, a program that will supply the Canadian Army with up to 600 armoured patrol vehicles. With over 680 Bushmaster vehicles already in-service with the forces of Australia, the Netherlands and other NATO Allies, Thales has a fully developed, independently tested and combat proven vehicle that is ideal for the Canadian TAPV program. Thales Canada is pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive teaming agreement with DEW Engineering and Development ULC on the assembly of the Bushmaster for the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) Program in Canada.

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Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced it has been engaged to build 80 armored military vehicles for the Iraqi Ministry of Interior for use by the Iraqi Federal Police, to be contracted through the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. The total value of the procurement is approximately $94 million. Of the 80 vehicles, 72 will be configured as Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), while the remaining eight will be in the standard U. S. Army M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) configuration employed as Command and Control vehicles. All of the vehicles to be delivered under this contract will be equipped with the Textron Marine & Land Systems 40/50 turret armed with an MK-19 40mm grenade launcher and .50 caliber machine gun. A total of 184 vehicles (122 ASV and 62 APC) built by Textron Marine & Land Systems have already been delivered to Iraq under previous procurements.Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced it has been engaged to build 80 armored military vehicles for the Iraqi Ministry of Interior .....

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Algeria and Libya are ready to buy Russian Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense systems, deputy head of the Russian Military-Technical Cooperation Service Vyacheslav Dzirkaln said on Wednesday. "The new system has shown high efficiency. Algeria and Libya have shown interest. Syria has already bought these systems in the past," Dzirkaln said, adding that other potential customers were likely to appear. Earlier in March the Russian press said Algeria was planning to buy 40 Pantsir-S1s for $500 million. Several Russian papers also reported that Russia had signed a $734-million contract with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2000 on purchasing 50 Pantsir-S1s. Dzirkaln confirmed the reports and said Russia would finish delivering the Pantsir-S1's to the UAE this year.Algeria and Libya are ready to buy Russian Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense systems, deputy head of the Russian Military-Technical Cooperation Service Vyacheslav Dzirkaln said on Wednesday. ( 02 June 2010).

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Russia and the United Arab Emirates are holding negotiations on modernizing a large number of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, a defense industry official said on Wednesday. Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, is heading the Russian delegation at a meeting of the Russia-UAE intergovernmental committee for military and technical cooperation. The talks in Abu Dhabi are to focus on the "full modernization of a large number of BMP-3s in an effort to seriously increase their combat capability," the Russian official said. "We have succeeded in this direction," Dzirkaln said. The infantry fighting vehicles had been earlier supplied to the UAE by Kurganmashzavod, a Russian machine building company based in Kurgan, western Siberia. The official said that the military officials in the United Arab Emirates have "a good attitude for cooperating with Russia." "Therefore I make the conclusion that our cooperation has a future." Dzirkaln also confirmed that Russia will finish delivering Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense systems to the United Arab Emirates by late 2010. "This year the delivery will be completed. Two more shipments of these vehicles will be delivered and the contract on the delivery will be fulfilled," he said. Russian media reports said Moscow had signed a $734-million contract with the United Arab Emirates in 2000 on purchasing 50 Pantsir-S1s. Pantsir-S1 is a short-to-medium range combined surface-to-air missile and antiaircraft artillery system manufactured by the Tula-based Instrument Making Design Bureau (KPB). It is designed to protect point and area targets and carries up to 12 two-stage solid-fuel surface-to-air missiles in sealed ready-to-launch containers. The system also has two dual 30 mm automatic cannons that can engage targets at a range of up to 4 km. The Russian official said it was too early to speak about the prospects of further delivery of Pantsir-S1s to the UAE. "Further development will consist of providing service maintenance and continuing training UAE specialists in the aspects of operation, repair and service maintenance," he said. Russia and the United Arab Emirates are holding negotiations on modernizing a large number of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, a defense industry official said on Wednesday ( 02 June 2010).

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Two armed terrorists infiltrated into Israel and exchanged fire with IDF soldiers. On Tuesday morning (June 1), two Palestinian terrorists were identified infiltrating into Israel from the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF soldiers on the scene exchanged fire with the gunmen, during which both were killed. No injuries or damage were caused to IDF soldiers. The GOC of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, and the Commander of the Gaza Division, Brig. Gen. Eyal Eisenberg, arrived on the scene in order to understand the circumstances surrounding the infiltration. It should be noted that in the vicinity there are a number of communities containing thousands of Israelis, such as Kissufim, Ein HaShlosha, Nirim and Nir Oz. The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. Israel holds Hamas solely responsible for terror originating from the Gaza Strip.Two armed terrorists infiltrated into Israel and exchanged fire with IDF soldiers. On Tuesday morning (June 1), two Palestinian terrorists were identified infiltrating into Israel from the southern Gaza Strip.

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The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the Government has given second pass approval for the upgrade of the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) under project LAND 112 Phase 4 – ASLAV Enhancement. The ASLAV has been deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations since 2004, and is now in use in Afghanistan. The ASLAV provides our forces in Afghanistan with mobility, firepower and protection, enabling our troops to conduct search and escort operations and provide support to close combat operation. The enhancements will provide increased protection against a wider range of threats - including Improvised Explosive Devices - by improving ballistic, fragmentation and blast protection. The project will also see improvements to the vehicle’s suspension, driveline and engine, ensuring the ASLAV remains a highly capable and versatile light armoured vehicle for the duration of its service with the ADF. The project plans to deliver 113 upgraded vehicles, commencing by April 2012. Defence is also investigating options for significantly expediting the schedule for the upgrade. There will be a range of opportunities for Australian Industry to be involved in the installation and support of the upgrade. These include pre-modification and refurbishment work, suspension and drivetrain upgrades, installation of upgrade kits, and the redesign and manufacturing of mine blast belly plates, to be carried out by General Dynamics Land Systems – Australia, located in Pooraka, South Australia.The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the Government has given second pass approval for the upgrade of the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) under project LAND 112 Phase 4 – ASLAV Enhancement.

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An amphibious assault landing ship, the Kaliningrad, will take part in the BALTOPS-2010 naval exercises in the Baltic Sea on June 7-18, Russia's Baltic Fleet spokesman said on Tuesday. The BALTOPS exercise has been held annually since 1994 within the framework of the NATO Partnership for Peace Program. It is aimed to promote a mutual understanding of maritime interoperability between U.S. Navy, NATO, and non-NATO participants. "The [Kaliningrad] amphibious assault landing ship will carry out a range of training tasks, including joint maneuvering in a large ship formation, patrol missions and a simulated assault landing," the official said. The vessel is currently heading to the port of Gdansk in Poland, where several dozen warships from 14 NATO countries will team up for the upcoming exercises. The Russian warship visited the Belgian port of Zeebrugge in the North Sea on its way to Poland. The Kaliningrad entered service with the Baltic Fleet in December 1984, and has carried out training missions in the Baltic, North and Mediterranean seas, as well as more than 10 times in the Atlantic Ocean. Kaliningrad class ships are capable of carrying up to 500 tons of cargo, 13 tanks and more than 200 naval infantry. The warship represented Russia at the BALTOPS drills five times since 2003.An amphibious assault landing ship, the Kaliningrad, will take part in the BALTOPS-2010 naval exercises in the Baltic Sea on June 7-18, Russia's Baltic Fleet spokesman said on Tuesday ( 01 June 2010)..

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