09-Mar-2010

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™.

Dyneema® is an ultra-reliable polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight, and is finding an ever-increasing array of uses in the high-performance demanding life protection sector.

Dyneema® has been available to the market for many years in UniDirectional sheet (UD) form for use against ballistic threats. DSM Dyneema has been progressively developing and innovating this UD technology for different threats and applications. In June 2008, DSM Dyneema extended their product capability for vehicle protection of the future with the introduction of a new technology platform that provides further material options to customers. This technology platform is anticipated to provide the material of choice for future light to medium weight tactical and utility vehicles that have a highly challenging balance to make between mobility and protection.

In the life protection sector, key applications for Dyneema® are highly diverse and range from bullet-resistant vests and inserts to helmets and anti-ballistic protection for military and police vehicles.

All personal and vehicle protection applications using Dyneema® benefit from its unique combination of light weight and high protective ability.

Dyneema® UD used in personal protective equipment and clothing provides increased comfort due to its lower weight, and is therefore comfortable to wear in extreme circumstances and over long periods of time. In particular, for bullet-resistant vests, the use of Dyneema® Soft Ballistic material enables full freedom of movement.

Additionally armor plates made with Dyneema® Hard Ballistic material can be molded to fit the shape and size of the body which can then be inserted into garments. Using Dyneema® UD enables a light weight insert without compromising stopping power, which provides an opportunity to enlarge the protective area covered by an insert. This allows for products to be made that enhance both confidence and wearing comfort for those in the line of fire.

Furthermore Dyneema® UD is used to make helmets. This enables a helmet manufacturer to go beyond the protection level conventional helmets provide to include even rifle threats. Dyneema® Hard Ballistic material can also help to provide optimal protection against fragments at substantially lower weight, allowing the latest developments in communication equipment to be carried without weight increase for the helmet.

Currently, Dyneema® Hard Ballistic material is being used by the US, UK and other NATO forces to up-armor those vehicles that are exposed to the most difficult and emerging threats in theatre. Dyneema® has proven to be one of the very few ingredients with the capability to offer effective protection with low additional weight.
Panel armoring with Dyneema® UD for vehicles offers improved design flexibility, as panels can be custom-shaped. Dyneema® UD is a light weight, cost effective alternative to metal armoring to protect occupants from direct fire, landmine and improvised explosive device (IED) threats. The lower weight of solutions based on Dyneema® improve the vehicle's performance and payload, and facilitates easier installation of the armor.

DSM Dyneema has its own well-equipped testing facilities and is continuously looking at material improvements and application developments in collaboration with different institutes, customers and end users.

About DSM Dyneema
DSM Dyneema is part of the DSM Performance Materials activities of the DSM group and is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiberTM. Dyneema® is a super-strong fiber based on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, on a weight per weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited.

- Markets and End-applications made with Dyneema®: DSM Dyneema is organized around five business segments:
- Commercial Marine: mooring and towing lines, ropes, slings, cables and nets.
- Life Protection: bullet resistant armor (vests, inserts, helmets) and ballistic protection of vehicles
- Cut resistance: safety gloves and garments
- Medical: surgical cables and orthopaedic sutures
- Sports: fishing lines, cordages (yachting, rigging, parapenting & kite lines') and sails

- Product: Dyneema® is available both as continuous filament yarn and unidirectional sheet for use against ballistic threats. Dyneema Purity® is the highly purified grade dedicated to medical applications.

- History: The invention of Dyneema® fibers dates back to the late 1960s. After the decision was made to move forward towards commercialization, many applications for the fiber were developed almost in parallel and in close cooperation with our customers. DSM Dyneema has been commercially operational for more than 15 years and experiencing major growth since 1999/2000.

- Global presence: DSM Dyneema is a truly global company with headquarters in Urmond, the Netherlands, an office in Shanghai, China, a presence in Australia and Africa and American representation in Stanley, NC.

- Production: Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) , Flaach (Switzerland) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. It is company policy not to provide details on production capacities; however, DSM Dyneema is growing very fast. By the end of 2007, manufacturing capacity for Dyneema® was more than three times the capacity in 2000.

Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com and www.dyneemamatters.com.

DSM - the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company
Royal DSM N.V. ranks among the global leaders in many of its two clusters: Life and Materials Sciences. The company develops, manufactures and markets innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life.

- End-markets: DSM's products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, housing, life protection and electrics & electronics (E&E).
- Global presence: The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations on five continents.
- Founded: in 1902 by the Dutch government as the nationalized coal company 'De Nederlandse Staatsmijnen' (Dutch State Mines), later DSM. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
- Group annual sales: EUR 9.3 billion
- Number of employees: some 23,500 people worldwide

Further information on DSM is available at www.dsm.com

Dyneema® and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™ are trademark(s) (applications) owned by Royal DSM N.V.

08-Mar-2010

As per the reports from Forecast International, "The Market for Electronic Warfare Systems" is projected at an estimated $28.4 billion that will be spent over the next 10 years on the development and production of the major EW systems. Some 44,807 units of leading electronic countermeasures (ECM), radar warning receivers (RWRs), electronic support measures (ESM), and other EW systems that make up this analysis will be produced.

The top-ranked EW producers cited in the analysis (out of a total of 22 companies considered) are Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Raytheon, ITT, and Lockheed Martin. While production of leading missile countermeasures systems has helped position some of these companies at the top of the ranking, others are leading the development of all-important, next-generation technology.

It is important to add here that today's EW market leaders are firmly established because of their ability to provide much-needed EW systems for immediate deployment to the battlefield. To cite just one example, despite some defense budget tightening, the Pentagon is expected to spend over $560 million through FY13 on procurement of Northrop Grumman's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system for various Air Force aircraft. The service has declared that its long-range desire is to equip a total of 444 aircraft with the system.

According to Forecast International senior analyst Andrew Dardine, "While production of critical EW systems like counter-IED and IR-guided missile jammers will be high over the next few years, several R&D programs are in a competition phase that will eventually result in billions of dollars in revenue for the companies chosen to supply technologies for them."

Within the next two years, winners are expected to be selected for the coveted Next-Generation Jammer (NGJ) program. The U.S. Navy, in early 2009, awarded NGJ research contracts to teams led by BAE Systems, ITT, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. By late 2012, the Navy plans to award an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract to a single supplier. The total value of the NGJ program once it gets up and running will be nearly $1 billion.

The market for systems to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) will also warrant close monitoring in the years ahead. With the recent surge of U.S. troops into Afghanistan, there has also been an increase in the occurrence of IED attacks. To counter these attacks, a competition is currently under way for development of a Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) 3.3 system of systems. The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command in October 2009 awarded firm-fixed-price contracts to two companies for CREW 3.3 System of Systems development. ITT Force Protection Systems was awarded $16 million, while Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems, Network Communication Systems was awarded $24.3 million.

International ventures will also have a significant impact on the EW market through the new decade. The primary platform for ITT's ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) system is the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Through its association with the jet fighter, a potentially growing export market for the ALQ-214 has begun to emerge. For example, the system will equip the F/A-18Fs purchased by Australia a stopgap measure until its F-35 fleet is ready for service. Deliveries of the F/A-18F to Australia are currently under way.

08-Mar-2010

Naval aviation is planned for growth in the Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan. To facilitate an orderly growth, a master plan for naval aviation assets has been drawn.

A contract was signed on January 20, 2004 with M/s RAC MiG, Russia for supply of MiG-29K/KUB aircraft. Some of these aircraft have been delivered in December 2009. Further, a contract for procurement of maritime reconnaissance aircraft was signed with M/s Boeing, USA on 1.1.2009.

This information was given by Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony in Indian Parliament today.

08-Mar-2010

Upgradation and development of 73 Sino - Indian border roads is under progress. In addition development of road infrastructure in Northern & Eastern sector is carried out in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

Indian Government has prioritized and is expediting roads and infrastructure development along borders of Northern and Eastern sector for strategic requirements as well as speedy development of this area. It is planned to complete about 18000 kms of road length by 2022.

There are total 93 Forest clearance cases on 61 roads with Border Roads Organisation (out of 73 roads). Government has obtained Forest clearance for 48 cases and in addition Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) has accorded Approval -in-Principle for 21 cases. MoEF and State Forest Departments are being regularly pursued for finalization of balance 24 cases. All these roads are targeted for completion by 2013.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) adheres to all the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment & Forest, e.g adequate amount is paid for compensatory afforestation, alternative alignment is taken to avoid dense forest/wildlife, muck is not dumped in river etc.
This information was given by Indian Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony in Indian Parliament today.

08-Mar-2010

A contract for the procurement of 20 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration was signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on March 31, 2006. The total contract cost is Rs. 2701.70 crore. Delay in LCA production is primarily due to refinements carried out in the development phase. A total of Rs. 1712.11 crore has been paid to HAL till December 31, 2009 for the LCA Programme. There was a delay in the development of LCA due to certain technical complexities and denial of critical technologies. Rs. 3301.78 crore was sanctioned for the development of LCA, which includes manufacture of eight numbers of Limited Series Production aircraft. Additional Rs. 2475.78 crore has been approved by the Government for LCA Phase-II programme.

A high level review is being conducted by the Chief of Air Staff once in every quarter and by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff once in every month. LCA is likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by March 2011.
This information was given by Indian Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony in Indian Parliament today.

08-Mar-2010

As per the information given by Indian Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony in Indian parliament, contracts have been signed for the procurement of Advanced Light Helicopter from M/s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Medium Lift Helicopters from M/s Rosoboronexport, Russia, and Helicopters for VVIP transportation from M/s Augusta Westland, UK. In addition, cases for procurement of additional Medium Lift Helicopters, Attack Helicopters, Light Utility Helicopters, Heavy Lift Helicopters and Recce and Surveillance Helicopters from various vendors are being processed. All these procurements are based on operational requirements framed by the Indian Air Force. The expenditure on the procurements will be known only after the commercial proposals are opened.

All capital acquisitions are processed as per the Defence Procurement Procedure. The Defence Procurement Procedure - 2008 envisages a timeframe of 20-34 months for finalization of such major capital procurements.