Industry News
Raytheon Upgrades Fighting Vehicles with $121 Million in New Awards
Raytheon Company will improve the Marine Corps' ability to fight 24/7 in all weather conditions by equipping nearly 900 vehicles with detection and targeting systems based on advanced infrared technology. The company recently received US$96 million to produce, install and support 416 Improved Thermal Sight Systems (ITSS) for the Corps' Light Armored Vehicles (LAV 25s) and US$25 million in Firepower Enhancement Program (FEP) funds to outfit another 150 of their 403 M1A1 tanks with equivalent night vision systems.
ITSS and FEP are new, compact sighting systems that boost warfighters' ability to see the battlefield in the day, at night and in adverse conditions such as sand storms, rain, smoke and dust. LAV and tank gunners use the systems to target and shoot enemy platforms at safe distances. Both systems also support long-range reconnaissance missions, including precise location of distant targets.
Each ITSS contains a high-performance 2nd generation forward looking infrared imaging system, a laser rangefinder, an embedded fire control computer and a "far target" location system. These elements form an integrated mission solution that Marines use to execute fire control missions.
Raytheon representatives anticipate that ITSS and FEP contract options, in tandem with sales of ITSS to allied forces, could result in additional new orders valued at US$200 million during the next few years.
[ FYI Index ]
General Dynamics Awarded $24 Million Spare Parts Contract
General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has received a US$24 million contract for spare parts that are unique to the two newest Stryker variants: the Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS) and the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV). This contract funds procurement of initial unique spares for the first-time fielding of the MGS and NBCRV variants. The contract has a total potential value of $50 million if all options are exercised.
The Stryker MGS and NBCRV variants entered low-rate initial production last month. General Dynamics will deliver 17 NBCRV and 72 MGS variants during low-rate initial production. The vehicles will be used for various tests and user evaluations through the fourth quarter of 2007. The Milestone C decision to begin full-rate production of both variants is slated for the fourth quarter of 2007 as well.
The Stryker MGS variant is a direct-fire infantry assault vehicle with a 105mm cannon mounted in a low-profile, fully stabilized, “shoot-on-the-move” turret. It is designed to provide firepower support for Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, including an ability to engage hardened positions with its bunker-busting and wall-breaching capabilities. The NBCRV provides the U.S. Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Teams with the Department of Defense’s newest nuclear, biological and chemical detection equipment coupled with the mobility and protection of the Stryker chassis.
Work will be performed in London, Ontario, Canada; Scranton, Pa.; Sterling Heights, Mich.; and Tallahassee, Fla., by existing General Dynamics employees, and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2007.
Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles that can travel at speeds up to 62 mph on highways, with a range of 312 miles. It operates with the latest C4ISR equipment as well as detectors for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. In addition to the MGS and NBCRV, Stryker vehicle configurations include anti-tank guided missile and medical evacuation vehicles and carriers for mortars, engineer squads, command groups and fire-support teams. The MGS and NBCRV have a high percentage of commonality with the rest of the 310 Strykers that comprise a brigade combat team, easing the unit’s training and logistics burden.
The Army will have six Stryker Brigade Combat Teams by 2008. Stryker is the Army’s highest-priority production combat vehicle program and the centerpiece of the ongoing Army Transformation. Significantly lighter and more transportable than existing tanks and armored vehicles, Stryker fulfills an immediate requirement to equip a strategically deployable (C-17/C-5) and operationally deployable (C-130) brigade capable of rapid movement anywhere on the globe in a combat-ready configuration. Stryker Brigade Combat Teams have operated with “historically high” mission availability rates in Iraq since October 2003, demonstrating the value of a force that can move rapidly as a cohesive and networked combined-arms combat team.
[ FYI Index ]
IBM Acquires CIMS Lab, Inc.
Representatives of IBM announced Tuesday it has acquired CIMS Lab, Inc., a privately held software company based in Roseville, California. Financial details were not disclosed.
CIMS Lab is a leading provider of software that helps businesses track the usage of computing resources across virtualized technology environments -- such as servers, storage, email, networks, databases, applications and operating systems. The software gathers raw data about information technology (IT) resource usage and converts it into organized financial information that can help companies more easily understand how their technology resources are being consumed across a virtualized infrastructure consisting of many platforms and systems.
An accurate view of software and hardware usage helps organizations determine how computing virtualized resources are being used, what that usage costs, and how much departments should be charged. For example, a bank may have several different businesses -- commercial loans, mortgage branch, retail banking -- that share software applications and storage devices. CIMS Lab's software provides information that helps the bank to determine how much usage should be billed back to each department, which helps to better allocate future IT spending.
Also, companies deploying a Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) can use CIMS Lab software to track and bill for IT usage as services travel across a vast and open IT infrastructure.
The acquisition of CIMS Lab complements IBM's portfolio of management software for virtualized technology. Virtualization helps make it simpler and less expensive for companies to integrate and improve the performance of hardware, software, storage and networks in open and heterogeneous environments. It enables governments, banks, retailers and other organizations to view and manage their many virtual IT resources as one, and dynamically change and adjust them across their IT infrastructures accordingly.
According to a recent survey by IT market research firm IDC, spending on virtualization will grow to nearly $15 billion worldwide by 2009, with more than three-quarters of all companies with 500+ employees deploying virtual servers. The companies surveyed also expect that 45 percent of new servers purchased in 2007 will be virtualized.*
Resource accounting with CIMS Lab software extends IBM's IT service management portfolio to financial management. With IT service management, companies can reduce technology complexity through automation and process integration and more easily comply with business policies and regulatory mandates.
CIMS Lab has more than 170 customers worldwide in industries such as financial services, government, healthcare and manufacturing.
[ FYI Index ]
Rockwell Automation to Acquire Caribbean Integration Engineers, Inc.
Representatives of Rockwell Automation, Inc. announced it will acquire substantially all of the assets and business of Caribbean Integration Engineers, Inc. CIE, a privately held company, is a leading engineering firm in Puerto Rico offering services in control systems integration, process automation, computer system validation and IT solutions with emphasis in life science. Located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, CIE currently serves major customers in the life science manufacturing industries, and has a strong reputation for helping companies comply with regulatory standards.
CIE's management team and its employees will join the Rockwell Automation Latin America organization and continue to serve customers in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. is a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information systems and services that help manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage in their businesses. The company brings together leading brands in industrial automation, including Allen-Bradley controls and services, Dodge mechanical power transmission products, Reliance Electric motors and drives, and Rockwell Software factory management software.
[ FYI Index ]
Ericsson's Acquisition of Marconi Assets Completed
All conditions for Ericsson to acquire key assets of Marconi Corporation plc's telecommunications business have been fulfilled and the transaction was completed on January 23, 2006.
On October 25, 2005 Ericsson representatives announced that it had reached an agreement with Marconi to acquire parts of Marconi's telecommunications business that are strategically important to Ericsson. The acquisition strengthens Ericsson's position in the accelerating transmission segments and expands Ericsson's platform for leadership in next generation converging networks.
The acquisition is effective as per January 1, 2006 and the acquired businesses are to be consolidated into Ericsson's accounts starting with the first quarter of 2006.
[ FYI Index ]
Lockheed Martin Completes Aspen System Acquisition
Lockheed Martin Corporation has completed its acquisition of Aspen Systems Corporation. Lockheed Martin Information Technology, based in Seabrook, Md., will manage the provider of business process and technology solutions.
The acquisition was originally announced Dec. 16, 2005. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The announcement of the completion was made on Thursday.
[ FYI Index ]
J. S. Simon, Samul Palmisano Elected Directors of Exxon Mobil Corporation Board
Exxon Mobil Corporation representatives announced Tuesday that its board of directors has elected J. Stephen Simon a director of the corporation. He will continue to serve as a senior vice president of the corporation.
With the addition of Mr. Simon, along with Samuel Palmisano of IBM (also elected to the board Tuesday), the ExxonMobil board now stands at twelve directors, ten of whom are non-employees.
ExxonMobil's other directors include Dr. Michael J. Boskin, T.M. Friedman professor of Economics and senior fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; William W. George, professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School; James R. Houghton, chairman of the board, Corning Incorporated; William R. Howell, chairman emeritus, J.C. Penney Company, Inc.; Dr. Reatha Clark King, former chairman, board of trustees, General Mills Foundation; Philip E. Lippincott, retired chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Scott Paper Company, retired chairman of the board, Campbell Soup Company; Dr. Henry A. McKinnell, Jr., chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Pfizer Inc.; Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Carlson Companies; Samuel J. Palmisano, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of IBM Corporation; Walter V. Shipley, retired chairman of the board, The Chase Manhattan Corporation and The Chase Manhattan Bank; and Rex W. Tillerson, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Exxon Mobil Corporation.
J. Stephen Simon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Duke University and an MBA from Northwestern University. He joined Exxon Company, U.S.A. in July 1967. Samuel Palmisano is chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of IBM Corporation.
[ FYI Index ]
Nortel Appoints New Corporate Operations Leader
Nortel President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Zafirovski announced the appointment of Dennis Carey as executive vice president, Corporate Operations.
In this role, Carey will report directly to the President and CEO and will be responsible for Human Resources, the Business Transformation Office, Ethics, and Information Services, as well as the Company's Environment, Safety and Business Continuity programs, and Diversity focus.
Building on a 25-year career with GE, Carey brings to Nortel an extensive background in general management, business development, corporate operations, strategy, finance, information systems, mergers and acquisitions, auditing, supply chain management and Six Sigma. He also has served as vice president and general manager for Corporate Productivity and M&A for AT&T, and more recently as executive vice president for Business Development, Strategy and Corporate Operations for The Home Depot. In his most recent assignment, Carey was executive vice president, president and CEO, Integrated Electronic Systems for Motorola.
