ELDIG’s Chairmanship Passes From Leonardo to Rheinmetall

Paris,  11  June  2018  –  Leonardo’s  Defence  Systems  Division  Managing  Director  Gianpiero  Lorandi has  passed  the  Chairmanship  of  the  European  Land  Defence  Industry  Group  (ELDIG),  to  Thomas Weise,  Rheinmetall  Group’s  Head  of  EU  and  NATO  Affairs.  The  handover  took  place  during Eurosatory  on  Leonardo’s  stand.  ELDIG’s  Chairmanship  rotates  within  the  Group  member companies  every  two  years.   

ELDIG  serves  as  a  sectorial  group  for  the  land  defence  industry  under  the  Aerospace  and  Defence Industries  Association  of  Europe  (ASD),  which  represents  more  than  3,000  companies  in  19 nations  with  847,700  employees.  ELDIG  represents  over  100,000  employees  and  it  aims  to strengthen  the  land  industries’  position  in  Europe  and  support  the  relationship  and  dialogue  with EU  authorities  and  institutions. 

“These  last  two  years  have  been  quite  intense  and  productive,  which  allowed  us  to  accomplish  our goals  satisfactorily  regardless  of  this  period  of  significant  change  in  the  European  defence  and security  industry.  Following  the  launch  in  June  2017  of  a  European  defence  Fund,  ELDIG succesfully  supported  cooperation  of  the  initiatives  funded  by  the  European  Union  and implemented  by  the  European  Defence  Agency”,  said  Gianpiero  Lorandi,  former  Chairman  of ELDIG.  “We  have  worked  to  transform  ELDIG,  in  order  to  improve  the  integration  of  our  Sectorial Group  into  the  wider  ASD  dynamics.  Now  I  am  happy  to  handover  the  lead  of  ELDIG  to  Dr.Thomas Weise  of  Rheinmetall  and  wish  him  well  with  the  challenges  ahead.  I  also  want  to  express  my deepest  gratitude  and  appreciation  to  the  members  of  ELDIG  for  their  professionalism,  for  their friendly  cooperation  and  for  the  impressive  results  achieved  during  Leonardo’s  presidency”.   

ASD  Secretary  General,  Jan  Pie,  commented:  “Cooperation  is  the  core  of  our  Association  and  its industry  representatives  are  essential  in  this  effort.  Therefore,  I  would  like  to  warmly  thank  Mr Lorandi  for  the  excellent  work  he  has  done  during  his  chairmanship.  It  was  fortunate  for  us  to  rely on  his  leadership  in  our  discussion  related  to  European  Defence,  especially  to  European  Land Defence  Industry.  I  would  also  like  to  congratulate  Dr.  Thomas  Weise  of  his  assumption  of  the chair  of  the  ELDIG.  I  am  confident  that  under  Mr  Weise’s  guidance,  we  will  continue  to  strengthen ASD’s  development  as  a  driving  force  for  our  sector”. 

QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE AWARDS LOCKHEED MARTIN SNIPER ADVANCED TARGETING POD CONTRACT

PARIS, June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) selected Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod(ATP) for its Rafale aircraft, marking continued growth and platform expansion for the precision targeting capability.

Under this contract announced during the Eurosatory exhibition, Lockheed Martin will provide the QEAF with pods, spares and deployment support for the Rafale – the 10th platform to fly with Sniper ATP. Integration efforts are ongoing, with flight tests currently in progress.

"Platform expansion on the Rafale aircraft is a testament to Sniper ATP's proven performance, ease of integration and open architecture," said Kenen Nelson, director of Fixed Wing programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We continuously invest to ensure that Sniper ATP is the most capable targeting pod available for our allies worldwide."

Pod deliveries to the QEAF will begin in 2019.

Sniper ATP detects, identifies, automatically tracks and laser-designates small tactical targets at long ranges. It also supports employment of all laser- and GPS-guided weapons against multiple fixed and moving targets.

Sniper ATP has been integrated across multiple platforms, including U.S. Air Force and multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1, B-52, Harrier and Typhoon aircraft. 

Coast Guard dolphin crew rescues 6 people from sinking vessel

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class DaVonte Marrow

A crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station San Francisco's Forward Operating Base Point Mugu lands at Point FOB Mugu after hoisting six passengers from a sinking 36-foot recreational vessel near Channel Islands Harbor, California, June 10, 2018. Along with the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, a 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew assisted with the rescue of the six passengers. 

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Coast Guard helicopter and boat crews rescued six people from a sinking vessel 12 miles southeast of Channel Islands Harbor, Sunday morning. 

Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a mayday call at approximately 9:00 a.m. via VHF channel 16 from a 36-foot recreational boat taking on water.

Shortly after hearing the mayday call, a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco’s Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew diverted from another operation to respond.

Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach quickly launched a Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor 45-foot Response Boat crew to respond as well.

The Dolphin crew arrived on scene and hoisted three people and transported them to Forward Operating Base Point Mugu. The RB-M crew arrived on scene at 9:30 a.m. and pulled the remaining three people from the water and transported them to Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor.

There were no reported injuries and all six boaters were reunited at Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor.

”We were encouraged to see that the mariners were prepared to abandon ship with life jackets on,” said Lt. Cmdr Jack Smith, Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator. “Wearing your life jacket greatly improves your chance of survival in the deceptively cold water off the California coast.”

The Coast Guard reminds all mariners to ensure that they have the proper emergency equipment aboard their vessel to aid in timely rescue if a problem is encountered at sea.

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class DaVonte Marrow

-USCG-