X-47 Pegasus UCAV

DARPA is the central research and development organization for the U.S. Department of Defense. DARPA’s mission is to maintain the technological superiority of the U.S. military and prevent technological surprise from harming our national security. We fund researchers in industry, universities, government laboratories and elsewhere to conduct high-risk, high-reward research and development projects that will benefit U.S. national security.

DARPA research runs the gamut from conducting basic, fundamental scientific investigations in a laboratory setting to building full-scale prototypes of military systems. We fund research in a wide variety of scientific disciplines — biology, medicine, computer science, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics, material sciences, social sciences, neuroscience, and more.

Our contracted researchers build information systems, aircraft, robots, spacecraft, microcircuits, lasers, sensors, rifles, advanced networks, medical devices, and much, much more. When a DARPA research program is completed, the technology is available to the Military Services and defense contractors for use in military systems.

Boeing Rolls Out the New Phantom Eye HALE Drone

Four months after beginning the construction of the first Phantom Eye technology demonstrator, the company rolled out the completed aircraft from the Phantom Works workshops at St. Louis.

The unmanned, high altitude, long endurance (HALE) platform powered by two liquid-hydrogen engines. The twin-engine Phantom Eye demonstrator will have a 150-foot wingspan and be capable of flying for more than four days at altitudes up to 65,000 feet while carrying a payload of up to 450 pounds. Phantom Eye is designed to maintain a persistent presence in the stratosphere over a specific area, while performing missions that could include intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and communication.

China's J-15 carrier-based fighter in flight test

The Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark is a carrier-based fighter aircraft that is in development by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and the 601 Institute for the PLAN's future aircraft carriers. Rumors initially claimed that the aircraft was to be a semi-stealth variant

India: Missile defence system to be test fired in August

The indigenously developed ballistic missile defence system will be test fired in August this year, a top defence official said today.

"Now the (ballistic missile defence system) test is going to be conducted in the month of August during which we will try to intercept a missile at altitudes of 15-20 kilometres," DRDO chief V K Saraswat told reporters here.

The ballistic missile defence system is being developed by the premier Defence Research and Development Organisation to thwart an enemy missile attack.

Referring to the failed test of the system on March 15, he said, "The anti-missile system is a two-tiered system where you first launch the target missile and then you launch the hit missile. Since the target was not launched as planned, the anti ballistic missile system did not trigger."

Saraswat said that the DRDO was taking precautions to prevent any failure in the August test.

"Whenever there is a deviation, we will always take precautions. This is part of our development process," he said.

India plans to deploy the first phase of the missile shield by 2012 after completing a series of trials and evaluating its target range.

Two different missiles have been developed as part of the system for endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric interception of an incoming ballistic missiles.

Replying to a query on the Indo-Israeli joint venture to develop a medium range surface-to-air missile, the DRDO chief said, "More than 70 per cent of the content in the missile being developed with Israel would be indigenous."

Noting that the programme was going ahead smoothly, Saraswat said that agencies such as the BDL, the BEL and the DRDO have been designated for the project.

Bahrain: Asry's ship repair sales top $59m

Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) said its ship repair sales reached $59.423 million for the first five months of the year with 82 vessels repaired.

At the 120th board meeting of the company on Wednesday, the directors were updated on progress on the $188m expansion programme, which, among other things, will see a new 1,380-metre repair quay wall as well as a large new offshore fabrication area.

Out of the 1,380m quay wall, 400m will be ready by the end of this year and a further 800m along with a 180m return will be available by the end of next year.

"I am pleased with the progress of the construction work on the quay wall project," said Asry chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa.

"We also look forward to the completion of work on a new modern administration building by August this year.

"The new building should lead to better efficiency and more conducive working environment," he said.

"When the ongoing expansion programme is completed, it will significantly enhance Asry's capacity and further strengthen its position as a major ship repair yard in the region.

"This will position the company well to withstand the increasing competition in the market and to take advantage of the opportunities that will arise from the anticipated recovery in the global economy, especially in the shipping industry," he added.

Board members signed documents in compliance with disclosure and other requirements of the Corporate Governance Policy already adopted by the company in a step to ensure transparency in all company dealings and activities and to set an example that cascades throughout the organisation.