Military Tech in Action

<b>Feb. 17: </b>France can "reasonably expect" a deal next week between seven countries and European defense giant EADS to resolve a financial dispute over the A400M military transport plane, a Defense Ministry spokesman said. Here, the new military Airbus A400M transport plane lands after its exhibition flight at Seville, Spain.  (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti)

<b>Feb. 7: </b>Airmen from the 124th Fighter Wing's Air Support Operations Squadron go through night weapons proficiency near Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. All are assigned to the Idaho Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Robert Barney)

<b>Feb. 2: </b>Waiting for the chocks to be pulled, an F-15 Eagle pilot prepares to depart the flightline for a night training mission, during Red Flag --an aerial combat training exercise -- at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The aircraft is assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force /Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)

<b>Feb. 12: </b>The amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) conducts operations off the coast of Haiti. Fort McHenry is conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations as part of Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage in Haiti. (U.S. Navy / Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Edward Kessler)

<b>Feb. 11: </b>Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion build a makeshift bridge over a canal in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Alpha Company built numerous makeshift bridges in order for Marines and vehicles to have a route into the Taliban stronghold of Marjah. (U.S. Marines / Lance Cpl. Walter Marino)

<b>Feb. 11:</b> An improvised explosive device detonated after Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, built a makeshift bridge across a canal in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. The IED did not injure any Marines. Bridges built by Alpha Co. provided a route for vehicles and Marines to take into the Taliban stronghold of Marjah. (U.S. Marines / Lance Cpl. Walter Marino)

<b>Feb. 18: </b>The Army's newest and most advanced Unmanned Aircraft System, the Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) UAS, has successfully completed a series of tests with the HELLFIRE II UAS --- a missile specially engineered to fire from a UAV with a 360-degree targeting ability. (U.S. Army)

<b>Feb. 18: </b>The soldiers of the 98 Paratroopers division of the Russian Army, in action during training near the town of Ivanovo some 199 miles east of Moscow. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

<b>Feb. 9: </b>BAE Systems' laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) is visible just to the left and below the white "plus" mark on a stationary target, a lightly armored tracked vehicle. The 2.75-inch rocket with precision guidance struck the vehicle just above the track, a successful test of the system. (U.S. Navy)

<b>Feb. 15: </b>The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin, the guided-missile destroyers USS Sampson and USS Pinkney, and the guided-missile frigate USS Rentz operate in formation in the South China Sea. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is conducting operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil)

<b>Feb. 11: </b>An F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron 81 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Carl Vinson is taking part in Southern Seas 2010 as part of a scheduled homeport shift. (U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White)

<b>Jan. 26: </b>Maj. Mark Popov, right, from Petawawa, Ontario of The Royal Canadian Dragoons watches a Light Armored Vehicle driven by Canadian soldiers from Task Force 3-09 Battle Group drive through farm land at the start of operation Tazi, a village search and security operation in the Dand area of Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

<b>Feb. 9: </b>A landing craft utility departs the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry is conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations as part of Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage in and around Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rachael L. Leslie)

<b>Feb. 18:</b> U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment read and pack their gear under red light head lamps at a forward operating campsite in Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province. From right to left are Staff Sgt. Matthew Campbell, Staff Sgt. Eric Brown, and an unidentified Marine. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

<b>Feb. 17:</b> Carrying some 5,000 sailors, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and four other ships dock for a port call in Hong Kong in a sign that recent tensions between China and the U.S. may be easing, after flare-ups over an arms sale to Taiwan and the Dalai Lama. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

<b>Feb. 11:</b> A C-21 taxis in front of a KC-10 Extender on the parking ramp of an air base in Southwest Asia. Both aircraft are part of Air Mobility Command which provides mobility functions in support of overseas contingency operations around the world. (U.S. Air Force / Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

<b>Feb. 4: </b>Capt. Joseph W. Kuzmick, from Bremerton, Wash., commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, launches from the ship in a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft assigned to Training Wing 1. John C. Stennis is underway off the coast of Southern California supporting pilot carrier qualifications for naval air training command. (U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josue L. Escobosa)

The Indian Agni III missile is displayed during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. Paramilitary soldiers and police set up road blocks and snipers took positions atop government buildings as hundreds of thousands of people turned out to celebrate India's national day Tuesday. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)

A Black Hawk chase helicopter provides security for a medical evacuation helicopter, both with with Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A U-2 assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing taxis down the runway at an air base in Southwest Asia Dec. 30, 2009, after completing a mission. The U-2 provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night, in direct support of U.S. and allied forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jenifer H. Calhoun)

Capt. David Snodgrass checks his night vision goggles before a mission Jan. 4, 2010, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Captain Snodgrass is assigned to the 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram and is deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross)

Iraqi army soldiers examine a rocket they discovered during recent operations in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib suburb, Iraq, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. The rocket was likely buried by Saddam Hussein's army before the invasion in 2003. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

U.S. Army medical evacuation Black Hawk helicopters used by Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, sit idle on the flight line during a sand and wind storm, at a forward operating base in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A U.S. Army medical evacuation Black Hawk helicopter used by Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, sits on the flight line at night, illuminated by the distant lights at a forward operating base in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Specialist Kayla Moore covers her sector in a UH-60 Black Hawk while traveling from Forward Operating Base Lightning to Contingency Operating Base Ajiristan Afghanistan January 20, 2010. SPC Moore is a Black Hawk Crew Chief assigned to the A Company 2-3 Aviation Regiment in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame)

An MQ-9 Reaper taxis at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 27, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez)

Airmen from McChord Air Force Base, Wash, conduct an Operation Deep Freeze mission at Pegasus ice runway near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Through this operation, Defense Department servicemembers provide logistical support to research activities in Antarctica. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Robert Tingle)

Feb. 6, 2010: The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits into the St. Johns River to Naval Station Mayport. Carl Vinson is taking part in Southern Seas 2010 as part of a scheduled homeport shift from Norfolk to San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Gay)

Feb. 4, 2010: Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) wash a vehicle in the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard is supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Antonio D. Ramos)

Feb. 7, 2010: An SA-330J Puma helicopter picks up cargo from the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) during a vertical replenishment with the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard is the command platform for the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sarah E. Bitter)

A U.S. Predator drone flies over the moon above Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010. The Pakistani army said Sunday that it was investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud died from injuries sustained in a U.S. drone missile strike in mid-January. (AP)

Taiwan Air Force crew set up Tien Chien I missiles during a media tour at Taichung airport, central Taiwan, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. China criticized the U.S. Tuesday ahead of the expected announcement of new arms sales to Taiwan, the latest in a series of disputes raising tensions between Washington and Beijing. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

BAE Systems just unveiled its upgraded PIM (Paladin Integrated Management) vehicle at a ceremony held at its York facility. "The modernization of the Paladin is a critical step in providing the Army with a sustainable and supportable fleet of upgraded vehicles," said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of the Heavy Brigade Combat Team systems for BAE Systems. The Paladin is the first vehicle equipped with the company's enhanced on-board power management capability. (BAE Systems)

Oshkosh Corp. will install armor kits on 300 vehicles and manufacture more than 90 new vehicles -- primarily the cargo variant of the MTVR vehicle as well as a few tractors, wreckers and dump variants -- for the U.S. Marine Corps.  The MTVR is an all-terrain, multipurpose logistics vehicle used by the Marines and Navy Seabees. It uses the Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension system, which has undergone more than 500,000 miles of government testing. (OshKosh Corp.)

(Northrop Grumman Corp.)

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division Center, swiftly departs the flight line at dusk. The 1st ACB conducts aviation operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in support of U.S. and Iraqi forces. (U.S. Army / Sgt. Travis Zielinski)

BAE Systems' Astute submarine arrives at the U.K.'s Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane. Some 25 miles north west of Glasgow, the base is home to the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent and the headquarters of the Royal Navy in Scotland. (BAE Systems)

Northrop Grumman's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft program can provides wide area surveillance covering more than 50,000 square kilometers and detect objects moving at a wide variety of speeds.  The system's expanded capabilities were recently demonstrated in a major coalition exercise in Korea. Its aircrews received their sixth consecutive battle management award. "These are significant examples of the system's battle management capabilities, and illustrates its ability to adapt to the needs of the warfighter," said Dale Burton, vice president for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and battle management command and control for Northrop. (Northrop Grumann)

Oshkosh will work with the Defense Logistics Agency to supply spare parts for the company's ultra heavy duty vehicles, including engines, transmissions, transfer cases and alternators. Work under the orders is expected to be completed by October 2010.  A 13-ton payload and off-road capabilities make the Oshkosh HEMTT (shown here) part of the backbone of the U.S. Army's logistics fleet. (Oshkosh Corp.)

Boeing receives a military truck from Oshkosh that will carry a Boeing-built laser beam control system for the U.S. Army's High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) program. "This demonstration program has successfully transitioned from the design phase to the fabrication phase," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems' Directed Energy Systems unit. " This solid-state laser weapon capability will provide speed-of-light, ultra-precision capability that will dramatically improve warfighters' ability to counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles." The eight-wheel, 500-horsepower HEMTT A4, a widely used military tactical vehicle, will be shipped to Boeing's facility in Huntsville this spring for integration with the laser's rugged beam control system. (Boeing Corp.)

An MQ-1C Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft system from sits dormant in a hangar. The Sky Warrior aircraft has the ability to remain airborne for up to 24 hours straight to conduct continuous missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army / Sgt. Travis Zielinski)

A conceptual drawing of what a laser weapon being developed by Boeing and Oshkosh will look like. This solid-state laser weapon capability will provide speed-of-light, ultra-precision capability that will dramatically improve warfighters' ability to counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles." The eight-wheel, 500-horsepower HEMTT A4, a widely used military tactical vehicle, will be shipped to Boeing's facility in Huntsville this spring for integration with the laser's rugged beam control system. (Boeing)

Boeing, Honeywell and several other companies are working together to research, cultivate and commercialize sustainable biomass sources for aviation biofuels using existing resources and arid, unusable land.  The team has established the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project in Abu Dhabi and is taking an evolutionary approach that combines saltwater farming, mangrove forests and the cultivation of <i>salicornia</i> (a species of halophytes) as potential sources for sustainable jet fuel. Shown here are biomass samples at laboratory facilities in Abu Dhabi. (Boeing)

Boeing has completed initial airworthiness testing on the 787 Dreamliner. This milestone will enable more crew members to take part in flights and will allow more airplanes to join the flight test program.  "This is an important step forward," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are very pleased with the results we have achieved so far." Since the first flight in mid-December, pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 feet and a speed of Mach 0.65. (Boeing)

The NASA Global Hawk unmanned aircraft has completed 10.4 hours for pilot training and flight characterization in preparation for the Global Hawk Pacific (GloPac) Campaign set to start this spring. Five flights have been completed since the first flight of Air Vehicle Six (AV-6) in October.  Currently, AV-6 is being modified to carry eleven different earth science sensors in preparation for the GloPac Campaign. Missions will be based from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base and be conducted over remote areas of the Pacific and Arctic. Initial flights to test these sensors will begin in March. (NASA/Northrop Grumann)

U.S. Army Spc. Franck Joseph from Savannah, Ga., assigned to Echo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, runs to refuel and rearm an AH-64 Apache helicopter assigned to Task Force Lighthorse at the Camp Wright Forward Armament and Refueling Point.  The FARP soldiers are responsible for fueling and arming helicopters supporting battlespace owners and maneuver elements within Task Force-Mountain Warrior's area of operations. The unit of approximately a dozen soldiers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week refuel all the military and contract helicopters, as well as support the ground elements on Forward Operating Base Wright with fuel for generators and vehicles.  (U.S. Air Force . Tech. Sgt. Brian Boisvert)

A U.S. Soldier and military contractor wait for the scheduled launch of the ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at Forward Operating Base Delta in Iraq. The ScanEagle is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UAV which provides near constant coverage for the area around FOB Delta. (US Army / Flickr)

After completing a 24-hour mission, an MQ-1C Sky Warrior aircraft makes a landing. The Sky Warrior aircraft has the ability to remain airborne for up to 24 hours straight to conduct continuous missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army / Sgt. Travis Zielinski)

Airmen from the 51st Maintenance Squadron load munitions onto an A-10 Thunderbolt II during an exercise at Osan Air Base in South Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo/Stephenie Wade)