The permission granted by Kazakstan means that U.S. planes en route to Afghanistan can now use the polar route instead of flying along the indirect route through Europe, which would save precious time and fuel for moving supplies to forward locations in the war-ravaged country.

The meeting, the first between the two leaders, took place on the eve of the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) hosted by Obama and attended by leaders from 47 nations that opens on Monday.

“This will save money, it will save time, in terms of moving our troops and the supplies needed into the theater,” informed Mike McFaul, one of Obama’s security advisors told reporters.

According to McFul, Obama hailed Nazarbayev as “one of the model leaders in the world and stressed his role in drumming up support for the Nuclear Security Summit.”

The Kazakh leader reportedly proposed the setting up of an International Nuclear Fuel Bank in his country which would complement global monitoring of nuclear materials.

Besides, Obama and Nazarbayev discussed the current turmoil in Kazakhstan’s neighboring country of Kyrgyzstan and it was announced that U.S. industry major General Electric will be awarded a contract for building 150 diesel locomotives for use in Kazakhstan and other countries in the region.

An agreement on U.S.-Kazakh cooperation in the fields of science and technology was revealed at the summit-level meeting.

Following the disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1991, Kazakhstan had closed down its nuclear test site and taken steps to remove all nuclear material from its territory, including nuclear weapons.

Northrop Grumman EADS won the initial contract, but that win was later overturned by auditors citing improper conduct in the award process. The Pentagon reworked the RFP for the project and released the requirements again to possible bidders. The new RFP was quickly condemned by Northrop Grumman for allegedly clearly favoring a smaller and less capable aircraft. Northrop Grumman threatened to pull out of the bidding process if the RFP wasn’t significantly altered.

The Pentagon made no alterations to the RFP and in early March Northrop pulled out of the bidding contest claiming the aircraft it proposed was no longer financially viable for the company. Boeing informed the same month that it would be submitting a NewGen aircraft based on the 767.

Friday, EADS informed that it was considering a bid for the tanker program without Northrop Grumman and the company is looking for a new U.S. partner in the bid process. Guy Hicks, an EADS spokesman informed, “DoD has welcomed our participation in the tanker competition. EADS North America has demonstrated its ability to be a prime contractor and we feel a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the U.S. warfighter, to the taxpayer and the communities where we do business in the United States. We have the most capable system. We have never lost to Boeing in a tanker competition.”

EADS is the parent company of Airbus, the maker of the Northrop Grumman/EADS Airbus-based tanker that Northrop decided to pull from the bidding competition. EADS says that it will need a “significant extension” to the time allowed to submit bids for the contract before it will participate.

DefenseNews reported last week that a Russian state aircraft company called United Aircraft Corp (UAC) has signaled that it intended to offer an aircraft in the bidding process. An attorney named John Kirkland informed, “They’re [UAC] going to announce Monday [March 22] a joint venture with an American company to bid on the tanker program.”

According to Kirkland, the UAC would be offering an aircraft based on the IIyushin II-96 four-engine airliner. The airliner is widely considered inferior to the airliners offered by western companies according to sources.

DoD spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin informed, “We welcome all qualified bidders” when asked about the Russian UAC entering the bid process. Irwin said she did not know if the UAC was qualified. However, Reuters reports today that the UAC has no plans to enter the bidding process for the tanker aircraft against Boeing and that any such speculation is “from the realms of pure fantasy.”

A UAC official staunchly denied the claims made by Kirkland saying, “We have not been holding, are not holding and are not planning to hold such talks.”

UAV vice president Alexander Tulyakov informed attorney John Kirkland “is not a UAC representative and we have had no communications with him (about the tender).”

The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been in meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week, but Puntin informed, “It [the tanker bid] was not a topic at the talks.”

An Italian aerospace company’s campaign to sell 48 trainer jets and light attack aircraft to the UAE is under pressure after a high-level delegation visited South Korean defense companies last month, including the offices of its arch-rival.

Alenia Aermacchi, part of the Finmeccanica group, was selected in February last year to provide its M-346 trainer to the UAE Air Force, edging out Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and its T-50 Golden Eagle.

The UAE needs trainers to prepare pilots for its advanced fighter jets, such as the Dassault Mirage and the F-16. But after a year of negotiations the two sides have still not signed a contract, fuelling speculation that the deal is in jeopardy.

“The deal was not signed as it was supposed to be during the Dubai Air Show last November, and therefore there is trouble,” informed Riad Kahwaji, the chief executive of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis in Dubai. Korea’s chances appear to have strengthened following the high-profile visit to the defence companies late last month by Lt Gen Hamad Mohammed Thani al Rumaithi, the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces.

The visit came after a South Korean consortium won a US$20 billion (Dh73.45bn) nuclear energy deal in the UAE last December, as well as other contracts totalling at least $15bn. The military delegation focused on promoting defence industry collaboration as well as military exchanges, training and education, according to reports. Lt Gen al Rumaithi is believed to have spent a day at the offices of KAI, which developed the T-50 Golden Eagle in partnership with Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is loosely derived from the F-16. Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, the president and chief executive of Finmeccanica, has dismissed speculation that his company might lose the deal after the Korea visit.

“We are still discussing on the M-346 with the United Arab Emirates and we are confident to obtain the contract within 2010,” he informed.

Industry officials informed if the UAE planned to open negotiations with the Koreans it would, according to custom, announce that it had terminated discussions with Alenia and state its intention to work with KAI. Craig Caffrey, an analyst with the military aircraft programme at UK-based Jane’s Defence Forecasts, said Alenia was still favoured to win the deal. “It seems that the UAE still plans to acquire the M-346 and that this recent talk of a potential re-opening of negotiations for the purchase of the T-50 may simply be aimed at putting pressure on the contract negotiations with Aermacchi,” he informed.

“A spokesman from South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration told Jane’s in late January that it had received ‘no formal request’ from the UAE about renewed efforts to acquire the T-50, so it seems the option was certainly not being pursued seriously at that point. I expect that a contract will eventually be finalised for the M-346.” Officials from KAI were unavailable for comment.

Negotiations with the Italians are believed to have reached an impasse over the transfer of technology to UAE industry, Mr Kahwaji informed. “The snag was over the UAE being able to carry out part of the programme inside the UAE, such as giving licence to some UAE companies to do some parts for the planes, maintenance and these kinds of things. It might not be the whole story, but this is a part of it.”

The UAE needs to replace its ageing Hawk trainers from BAE Systems, which are due to be phased out by 2015. BAE’s latest version of the Hawk was eliminated from the selection process in 2007, leaving only the Italian and Korean entries. The Golden Eagle reportedly costs between $13.5 million and $17m each, compared with the M-346 at between $12.5m and $13.5m.

Negotiations for the trainer come amid a wave of military spending to upgrade the UAE’s defence capabilities, with contracts signed in the past two years for marine patrol planes, heavy lift cargo aircraft and aerial reconnaissance planes.

Five years ago EADS partnered with Northrop Grumman, as prime, to pursue the U.S. Air Force KC-135 modernization program. Two years ago our team was selected and awarded the contract. Today Northrop Grumman has decided not to submit a bid to the Department of Defense for the KC-X program.

As a team, our serious concerns were expressed to the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force that the acquisition methodology outlined in the request for proposal (RFP) would heavily weigh the competition in favor of the smaller, less capable Boeing tanker. Northrop Grumman’s analysis of the RFP reaffirmed those concerns and prompted the decision not to bid.

The source selection methodology clearly signals a preference for a smaller aircraft. This is particularly disappointing given that the Air Force previously selected the A330-based KC-45 because of its added capability, lower risk and best value for both the warfighter and U.S. taxpayer. The Defense Department’s RFP ignores the added combat capability that could be provided to our military and, for the first time, ensures that our allies will operate with superior capability in this vital mission area.

The A330 multi-role tanker transport is the most capable, low risk tanker in the world today — having been flown, tested and proven. The A330 MRTT has been selected over the Boeing tanker in the last five consecutive competitions and will shortly enter service with several U.S. allies.

This decision does not diminish our commitment to the U.S., or to its service men and women. The enduring strength of our commitment is reflected in the success of the Army’s Light Utility Helicopter of which we are prime contractor and that just celebrated its 100th on-schedule delivery. And it also can be seen in the many EADS systems and capabilities that operate with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

EADS is the largest international consumer for U.S. aerospace and defense products, contributing over $11 billion dollars annually to the American economy and supporting more than 200,000 high technology jobs. We remain committed to our U.S. customers, suppliers and the American workforce.

We express our appreciation to the states and communities in which we do business, and particularly to their elected officials who have been unwavering in their determination to deliver the best available capability to the American warfighter.

We also must acknowledge the support from the leadership of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain in promoting transatlantic defense cooperation as a two-way street and the interoperability that the KC-45 would offer.

About EADS

North America EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its consumers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

Officials from the Northrop Grumman-EADS team, the only other possible bidder, have informed they won’t bid without changes to criteria they see as favoring Boeing’s smaller 767-based tanker over their Airbus A330-based offering. Air Force and Pentagon officials have said they don’t plan such changes for the final request, which is set for release as soon as Tuesday.

“We are not walking blindly into a situation where we just have one potential offerer,” Lieutenant General Mark Shackelford, military deputy in charge of acquisition for the Air Force, informed a defense conference hosted by Aviation Week.

If Boeing is the only bidder, the Air Force could avoid overcharging because it would have access to detailed information on which to judge costs, particularly since tankers are derived from commercial aircraft, Shackelford said. “So this is by no means a ‘sky is falling’ scenario if we wind up with one offerer.”

Launched from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 20, 2000, the B8 satellite is one of 14 DSCS III spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for the MILSATCOM Systems Wing at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

The satellite is also the first of four DSCS III satellites to feature Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades that enabled a 200-percent increase in communication capacity over original DSCS III spacecraft with its 50-watt Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers.

“The high performance and longevity of the DSCS III constellation is direct testimony to a joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team dedicated to providing the warfighter with secure and reliable satellite communications,” informed Kevin Bilger, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of Global Communications Systems. “The DSCS III constellation has provided the Department of Defense with its core communications capability for over two decades and will continue to make a significant contribution to our national security well into the future.”

The system delivers uninterrupted secure voice and high-data rate communications to Department of Defense users; essential tools in monitoring events and deploying and sustaining forces anywhere in the world. In 2009, the overall DSCS III constellation surpassed 200 years of on-orbit operations, the longest total operational experience of any U.S. military communications satellite constellation.

Lockheed Martin is also progressing on the Department of Defense’s highly secure communications satellite system, the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program. As the successor to Milstar, AEHF will increase data rates by a factor of five, permitting transmission of more tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. The first AEHF spacecraft has completed final testing and is planned for delivery to the Air Force in second quarter 2010.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, production, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

Antoinette’s outlook on investment is encouraging. He feels we’ve reached an economic plateau and that investor confidence is back. What is more, investors want to invest in New Hampshire, particularly in manufacturing to stop the hemorrhaging and develop a 21st century producing economy region-by-region across America. This means we could see job creation in our state for the well trained manufacturing-types, not just the Ph.Ds.

His advice to entrepreneurs is to “ultimately be persistent.” When investment dollars are tight, research government grants through SIBR and the U.S. Department of Energy. Figure out from the beginning what the vision is for the product, but more importantly, how investors can make money. Also, figure out how your customers can make money with your product to enhance their gross margin, increase sales, and enter new markets. If you are able to find how to serve niche markets with a quality product, then stay focused.

Finally, with true integrity, he encourages entrepreneurs to be respectful of other people’s money and be good stewards. Be rigorous about every dime you spend because “cash is your most precious commodity.” And, it’s all about execution. Now you have all the nuggets you need to spin your idea into gold!

Catherine Blake is president of Sales Protocol International of Durham and media chairwoman of the New Hampshire High Technology Council’s Entrepreneur Forum.

“We have been producing both low velocity and high velocity parachutes for the past several months and are delivering well ahead of schedule on the high velocity program. Such a sizeable increase to the delivery rate, coming relatively soon after our first run, is indicative of the trust and confidence the Army has in our quality and throughput abilities,” informed Dave Blanchard, BRS Aerospace Chief Operating Officer.

“We expected increases in government spending on parachutes,” according to Larry E. Williams, BRS Aerospace Chief Executive Officer. “As demonstrated by these contract awards from the Department of Defense, we are very proud of our ability to provide quality defense articles in a timely manner. This is something we have been planning and executing for some time now. We anticipate this increase in our defense business to significantly and positively affect the growth of BRS Aerospace. BRS is an industry leader in parachute technology and we are especially proud to be supporting our troops in this unique way.”

“While the general aviation market continues to struggle, the strategic plan we embarked upon to diversify our product lines has proven itself, as military contracts now make up a majority of our total revenues,” informed BRS Aerospace founder and director of public affairs, Boris Popov. “This diversification is making us more stable, predictable, and better able to position BRS Aerospace for the future. We are currently in the process of recapitalizing our debt structure. This, in conjunction with an infusion of additional financing, will both stabilize our financial situation and realize the opportunity these contracts present,” Mr. Popov concluded.

About BRS Aerospace

Based in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, BRS Aerospace consists of three divisions: BRS Aviation which designs, producers, and distributes whole-aircraft emergency parachute systems for general aviation and recreational aircraft; BRS Defense which designs and manufactures a variety of parachute systems for US Department of Defense and foreign military consumers; and BRS Safety which designs and manufactures reflective and load-bearing safety vests, and other apparel. Since 1981, BRS Aerospace has provided more than 30,000 parachute systems to aircraft owners worldwide, including over 3,500 systems on FAA-certificated aircraft such as the Cirrus Design SR20 and SR22 manufactured in Duluth, Minnesota and a variety of Cessna aircraft including the C-172/182 and new C-162 Skycatcher. To date, BRS Aerospace parachute recovery systems have been credited with saving the lives of 243 pilots and passengers.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “believes,” “intends,” and other similar words or phrases. These statements are only predictions, and are based on current information and expectations. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including market fluctuations, pricing, procurement, manufacturing efficiencies, operating risks, and other risks that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected. For more information, review the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and BRS undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

The RQ-170 Sentinel, believed to be a tailless flying wing design with sensor pods faired into the upper surface of each wing, was developed by Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), better known as Skunk Works.

An Air Force official revealed on December 4th that the service is “developing a stealthy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to deliver reconnaissance and surveillance support to forward deployed combat forces.” The UAV had been discussed on the Ares technology blog, as well as elsewhere online, but the USAF statement to Aviation Week was the first to detail the aircraft.

The RQ-170 is flown by the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron at Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, home of the F-117 stealth fighter when the program’s existence was secret — and falls under Air Combat Command’s 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. At Kandahar, the Sentinel was seen operating out of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ hangar. The RQ-170 designation is similar to that of the F-117 — a correct prefix, but out of sequence to avoid obvious guesses of a program’s existence. Technically, the RQ designation denotes an unarmed aircraft rather than the MQ prefix applied to the armed Predator and Reaper UAVs. The USAF phrase, “Support to forward deployed combat forces,” when combined with observed details, suggest a moderate degree of stealth (including a blunt leading edge, simple nozzle and overwing sensor pods) and that the Sentinel is a tactical, operations-oriented platform and not a strategic intelligence-gathering design.

About Lockheed Martin.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

The AWC process verifies an aircraft design has met performance requirements within the mission profile to safely fly in national airspace and assures operators and mission managers that the production articles conform to the design. In granting the certification to RQ-4, the next generation of Block 20 and 30 Global Hawk UAS, the U.S. Air Force has recognized the aircraft’s ability to routinely fly safely within design parameters. The certification process evaluated more than 600 airworthiness criteria.

“This was a more rigorous and more complete evaluation than that of any other unmanned system,” informed George Guerra, vice president of HALE systems for Northrop Grumman. “With this historic accomplishment and more than 35,000 total flight hours, most of that time in combat support over the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan, Global Hawk continues to be a trailblazer in UAS certifications and a pathfinder supporting our men and women overseas in combat.”

Just as commercial aircraft are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), military aircraft are evaluated against certain criteria including durability, capability to adjust to sudden changes in aerodynamic forces, and redundancies of systems and subsystems. Without this Air Force certification, the FAA cannot grant permission to fly within the United States, which is the next step in the on-going process to accept the routine flight of unmanned aircraft in the national airspace.

“This certification resulted from a large collaborative effort between the government and the contractor, agreeing on standards and verification methods and ultimately coming together on the assessment of the system. With its Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration legacy design and early push to support Overseas Contingency Operations and U-2 retirement, this was the first comprehensive assessment of the aircraft to ensure it is ready to fly in national airspace and ready for the user to train with at Beale AFB,” informed Yvette Weber, chief engineer at the 303d Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

The certification is the latest example of success for the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk program. In 2006, the Block 10 version, or RQ-4A, made history when it became the first UAS to earn both a military airworthiness certification and a national certificate of authorization to operate in the national airspace. This airworthiness certification covers all Block 20 and Block 30 Global Hawks delivered to the U.S. Air Force thus far.

Global Hawk flies autonomously at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet, above inclement weather and prevailing winds, for more than 32 hours at a time. The first-generation experimental Global Hawks deployed overseas to the Persian Gulf less than two months after Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, Block 10 Global Hawks have been flying nearly continuously, supporting combat operations in the region. The Block 20 and 30 systems, capable of carrying 50 percent more payload with improved sensors, are scheduled to begin operations with the U.S. Air Force at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and at several overseas locations, next year.

Recently, the Block 20 aircraft system was chosen to be modified with special communications relay equipment to support coalition combat forces in Afghanistan. The Block 30 Global Hawk carries sophisticated imaging and electronic signals sensors on missions that can exceed 30 hours. A similar certification will be granted in the near future for the Block 40 system, which is based on the same aircraft design of Block 20 and 30 but carries an advanced radar imaging and ground moving target tracking system used to track enemy movement, regardless of weather conditions on the ground.