Today's headlines

Nexter Official Named To Giat Board
The French Ministry of Defense has appointed Nexter System's deputy managing director Philippe Burtin as board director of Giat Industries, widely seen as a step toward naming him as the new chairman and chief executive at the land armaments group.
Defense News

Officer attacks RAF over UAV use
The MoD and RAF have not invested in "agile" technology that could save lives in Afghanistan, a senior RAF officer has said. New technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, have not been fully embraced by the MoD and their introduction is hurt by processes that are "too bureaucratic and unwieldy," Air Vice Marshall Martin Routledge, the outgoing chief of staff for strategy, policy and plans at RAF HQ Air Command, said.
Defence Management

U.S. pact speeds trials for India's $10.4 billion jet buy

India will begin field trials in August to buy 126 fighter jets, defense officials said on Wednesday, moving forward on the $10.4 billion deal two days after New Delhi agreed a defense pact with the United States

Reuters

Boeing profit up 17 pct; no update on 787 schedule

Boeing Co (BA.N) posted a 17 percent increase in quarterly profit, topping expectations, on growth in defense programs, but the global recession pressured operations, and the company did not say when its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner would fly.

Reuters

Boeing, Lockheed hail US-India defence deal

Two US defence industry giants, each vying for a huge fighter-jet contract with India, Wednesday hailed a bilateral accord promising to open the door to greater military commerce between the countries.

AFP

Minister forced to 'clarify' on helicopters

Gordon Brown yesterday ordered a Foreign Office minister to "clarify" claims that Britain's troops did not have enough helicopters in Afghanistan and insisted that recent deaths on the front line were not due to a lack of air support.

Financial Times