Industry News
General Dynamics Awarded $189 Million for Light Armored Vehicles for U.S. Marine Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, a contract for $189 million for 151 new eight-wheeled Light Armored Vehicles (LAV-A2) in various configurations. This award, which includes a $50 million option for 394 LAV-A2 electric turret drives, modifies a contract awarded in February 2006 and brings the total value of the contract to $317 million.
The LAV-A2 variants are improved versions of the Marines’ Light Armored Vehicle series, which entered service in the 1980s and continues operational employment today. General Dynamics will deliver armored personnel, anti-tank, command and control, logistics and mortar variants beginning in July 2007. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich.; Woodbridge, Va.; and London, Ontario, Canada, by existing General Dynamics Land Systems personnel. Work is expected to be completed by December 2008.
The Light Armored Vehicle A2 provides the Marine Corps’ Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion a mobile, agile and survivable system for conducting offensive and defensive operations in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The eight-wheeled amphibious armored vehicle is equipped with an improved suspension, fitted for enhanced armor protection, and features an automatic fire-suppression system for crew protection. Power is provided by a Detroit Diesel 6V53T diesel engine, developing 275 horsepower, coupled to an Allison MT653, six-speed (five forward, one reverse) automatic transmission. The four rear wheels drive the vehicle on a full-time basis, while eight-wheel-drive is selectable.
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Lockheed Martin Receives $47 Million for Production of Unitary Army Tactical Missiles
Lockheed Martin has received a $47 million contract from the U.S. Army for the purchase of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Block 1A Unitary missiles in order to replenish the use of this system in recent activities in theaters of operation.
Work on the contract will be conducted at the company’s facilities in Dallas and Horizon City, TX. Delivery of the missiles is scheduled for second quarter 2008.
The ATACMS Block 1A Unitary Missile is combat proven in joint operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is the latest addition to the current ATACMS family of munitions. The ATACMS Unitary variant provides for precision attack with limited collateral damage out to 300 kilometers for high-payoff, time-sensitive targets.
The ATACMS Block IA Unitary also has vertical impact capability, which translates in limited collateral damage. The system has a much more efficient logistical footprint, while expanding the traditional target-set for Army TACMS.
The Army TACMS Unitary missile is a responsive, all weather, long-range missile, with a high explosive, single burst warhead fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) family of launchers, including the MLRS M270A1 launcher and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.
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Rao to Lead EDS India Operations; Named MphasiS Chairman
Representatives of MphasiS, a provider of IT services and BPO solutions, and EDS announced that effective November 1, 2006 Jerry Rao will join the global leadership team of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as Vice President and General Manager of EDS operations in India. EDS acquired a majority ownership stake in MphasiS earlier this year. In his new role, Mr. Rao will spearhead EDS’ business efforts in India and become the non-executive chairman of MphasiS. Rao will report directly to the EDS Office of the Chairman.
In July, EDS and MphasiS announced their intention, subject to regulatory approval, to merge the operations of EDS-India, a wholly owned subsidiary of EDS, into MphasiS. That integration, which is expected to enhance the capabilities of both companies to better serve their clients worldwide, is projected to be completed by the first quarter of 2007.
Rao’s appointment becomes effective on the completion of his five-year term as the managing director of MphasiS on October 31, 2006. Rao will replace Stephen Heidt as chairman of MphasiS, who will remain a director on the MphasiS Board.
Jeroen Tas, co-founder of MphasiS, has rejoined the MphasiS Board and will continue to serve the company as its vice-chairman.
As a part of the MphasiS succession plan, Deepak Patel, who was recently appointed as the chief operating officer of the group, has joined the MphasiS Board and will become the new managing director of MphasiS BFL Limited, effective on November 1, 2006. His appointment will be subject to shareholders and regulatory approvals. Mr. Patel, who until recently worked in the US, has already relocated to the company’s headquarters in Bangalore.
Patel has 20 years of experience in the information technology sector. Previously he was vice president – Best Shore Strategic Investments and Business Development for EDS. Mr. Patel also held other key management positions at EDS, including senior systems engineer and chief technologist for the Manufacturing Technology Group.
Ron Vargo, who was recently elevated to the position of Chief Financial Officer of EDS, has stepped down from MphasiS Board.
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SAP Names Tim Cooper as Vice President of Sales for Higher Education Market
Representatives of SAP Public Services, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP America, Inc., announced Tuesday the appointment of Timothy Cooper as vice president of its Higher Education & Research (HE&R) organization. Cooper’s appointment will help SAP better service higher education institutions located in the United States and expand SAP’s footprint in the HE&R market. As vice president of HE&R, Cooper will be responsible for managing and growing sales of the SAP for Higher Education & Research (SAP for HE&R) portfolio of solutions, providing universities and research institutions with integrated software tools to facilitate research, teaching and study, as well as to manage core processes of campus administration. Cooper will report directly to Rand Blazer, president, SAP Public Services, Inc. The announcement was made at EDUCAUSE 2006, being held in Dallas, Tex., October 9 – 12.
Prior to joining SAP, Cooper spent 15 years at Oracle Corporation, where he most recently served as vice president of sales in the higher education and healthcare markets. He also successfully managed Oracle’s East Coast enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology sales and marketing programs for more than four years as East Coast regional manager. Cooper has also held positions at Systems and Computer Technology, Boudreaux and Associates and Shared Medical Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information science from the University of Pittsburgh.
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Ericsson, GSMA and MTN to Use Biofuels to Expand Mobile Coverage
The GSM Association, Ericsson and multinational telecommunications group MTN have teamed up to establish biofuels as an alternative source of power for wireless networks in the developing world. The three organizations have set up a pioneering project in Nigeria to demonstrate the potential of biofuels to replace diesel as a source of power for mobile base stations located beyond the reach of the electricity grid.
Biodiesel has several important advantages over conventional diesel as a power source for base stations. Biodiesel can be produced locally, creating employment in rural areas, while reducing the need for transportation, related logistics and security. Biodiesel has a much lower impact on the environment than conventional diesel. The cleaner burning fuel results in fewer site visits and also extends the life of the base station generator, reducing operators' costs.
In a pilot project, supported by expertise and funding from the GSMA's Development Fund, Ericsson and MTN are setting up a pilot biodiesel-powered base station solution in Lagos and will later deploy biodiesel-fueled base stations in rural regions of south eastern and south western Nigeria. The three organizations are setting up a supply chain designed to benefit the local population by sourcing a variety of locally-produced crops and processing them into biofuel. Groundnuts, pumpkin seeds, jatropha, and palm oil will be used in the initial pilot tests.
The GSMA and Ericsson will draw on the findings of the pilot to help operators across the developing world determine whether they can use biodiesel to power their networks in rural areas.
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Dell Officially Opens State-of-the-Art Customer Contact Center in Edmonton Research Park
Dell executives, employees, community and government leaders today celebrated the official opening of the company’s new 155,000 square-foot customer contact center.
The new facility, at 151 Karl Clark Rd. in the Edmonton Research Park is home to 1,000 employees – double the company’s original employment projection due to the quality of employees in Edmonton– and replaces a downtown facility used since 2004 to support Dell customers throughout North America. The new state-of-the-art facility is equipped for Dell’s most sophisticated customer service programs, includes the latest Dell training and demonstration labs and allows agents the ability to serve customers with a vast array of hardware or software issues.
It also features advanced tools for delivering superior customer service, such as DellConnect. DellConnect, piloted in Edmonton and now being deployed across the company’s support network, is a Web-based tool. With customer permission, it allows agents to remotely connect to the customer’s computer via a broadband connection to troubleshoot and quickly help solve issues.
Dell is investing an incremental $150 million U.S. ($164.4 million CDN) this fiscal year to enhance customer service worldwide. The move includes a new customer support model that increases the number of agents, expands agent training and provides new tools to resolve customer issues faster.
Dell also donated $20,000 to Junior Achievement in Edmonton to help students at four local schools in the Mill Woods area become more competitive in a global economy. Junior Achievement programs include Introductory Economics, Stay in School, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship for students in grades 3 through 12.
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New Raytheon Mississippi Plant to Support Sophisticated Defense Programs
A 90,000-square-foot plant under construction for Raytheon Company will support several extremely sophisticated defense programs, including a revolutionary active electronically scanned array radar for the U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F/G aircraft and airborne early warning radar for the U.S. Air Force.
Joining Raytheon officials for the announcement and ceremony were Sen. Trent Lott and Rep. Charles Pickering, R-Miss., and Gray Swoope, deputy director and chief operating officer of the Mississippi Development Authority. Lott praised Raytheon as a "world-class company, with world-class employees" and applauded the company's commitment to Mississippi.
With the expansion, Raytheon is increasing its Forest employee base by 18 percent, bringing 110 new jobs to the area.
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Nortel to Provide Communications for First International High-Speed Railway Line in Spain
TP Ferro, a Spanish and French railway consortium, will use railway communications technology from Nortel for the new 44 km high-speed Figueres - Perpignan line currently being built between Spain and France.
The GSM-R network will also support vital uninterrupted communications throughout a sophisticated eight kilometer tunnel across the Pyrenees, providing a new rail alternative for passengers and merchandise.
Expected to open in early 2009, the new Figueres-Perpignan line will be part of the trans-European transport network initiative promoted by the European Union. It will be integrated into the Southwest Europe High-Speed Train Axis. As part of its common transport policy, the EU has adopted legislation to pave the way for gradual establishment of an integrated European railway area, both legally and technically. This involves the development and implementation of Technical Specifications for Interoperability including communications for which GSM-R plays an important role.
TP FERRO is a company created by the Spanish ACS and the French Eiffage, both leaders in the infrastructures area in Europe, for the construction, operation and maintenance of this new high speed railroad line mixed traffic between Figueres and Perpignan. IFP is the consortium integrated by construction contractors Spanish Cobra and French Forclum responsible for the construction and engineering work. Nortel is providing the GSM-R network and engineering, installation, integration, project and consultancy services for IFP.
