[014] ~ Special Factors

see also Laws and UAVs

$$$ U.S war in Iraq & Afganistan against terrorism:
~ In june,2005 the House debated a bill that would provide an additional $45 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
~ Since Sept. 11, 2001, Congress has given President Bush $350 billion
~ for combat and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan and fighting terrorism worldwide.
~ $82 billion was approved in May,2005 of which the most for Iraq
~ An estimation of cost to USA in June 2005: 1,700 deaths, over 12,000 wounded and $200 billion spent

$$$ Military investments and budgets:
~ FY2006 Department of Defense Budget - $419.3 billion, increase from 2005: 5 percent
~ In 2003, military spending rose 6% worldwide - double the growth rate seen in 2002
~ with the Pentagon accounting for three quarters of the rise,
~ according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).
~ In 2004, the growth rate remained strong at 6%,
~ with global military expenditure rising to more than $1 trillion,
~ a level not seen since the Cold War.
~ The US, with its "war on terror" in Afghanistan and Iraq, accounts for almost half the total
~ The Pentagon expects to invest $10 billion minimum in UAVs through 2010.

$$$ Revenues from the Base Station compared to those of FC Helicopter:
~ Freedom base is the one generating profit: see FC4M helicopter price and compare it to FB4M base price
~ See Sales and Revenue Forecast for the first year and Profit and Loss Forecast 12 first years
~ Although Freedom Sensors are cheap devices compared to FBs and FCs the processing of sensor data is expected to be profitable.
~ Example: Afghan Ops Bolster UAV Market:
~ The unmanned air vehicle (UAV) market, with production over the next ten years expected to be worth $7.5 billion,
~ More than half of this market's total value, about $4.5 billion, will be generated by procurement of payloads and ground control stations

$$$ Iraq:
~ The public's gloomy mood about the Iraq war is forcing President Bush to take a more assertive and
~ public role to reassure nervous Americans and Republican lawmakers about the White House plan for victory.
~ Bush aides have concluded that recent events in Iraq have contributed to an erosion in support for the president
~ As part of the new focus, Bush will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari
~ at the White House for the first and dedicate several speeches to the war,
~ including a major address on the first anniversary of Iraq's sovereignty this month.
~ Bush is to defend his economic record and war policies in the face of growing uneasiness
~ among the public and Republicans in Congress.
~ His poll numbers on his handling of Iraq have dropped to all-time lows, as numerous lawmakers,
~ including some Republicans, have accused him of not offering honest assessments about
~ the strength of the insurgency and the slow pace of training battle-ready Iraqi forces.
~ The public's sour mood is said to infect some GOP senators, especially those facing reelection in 18 months.
~ Nearly six in 10 Americans in a Gallup poll released said they support withdrawing some or all U.S. troops from Iraq
~ Some military leaders in Iraq have commented that the United States is at least two years away
~ from training an Iraqi army that can stand on its own. Some military experts say it will take even longer.

$$$ Freedom Bases with FC helicopters and FS sensors could be used as a part of the strategy for Iraq.

$$$ Nuclear Power:
~ The U.S. Senate is considering an energy bill that includes financial incentives for construction of nuclear plants.
~ Nearly three decades after a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor core at Three Mile Island, nuclear energy is regaining support.
~ Sen. Pete Domenici a New Mexico Republican is the chief architect of the bill being debated.
~ President Bush will repeat his call for boosting nuclear power when he visits the Calvert Cliffs plant in Lusby, Md.
~ Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada has given nuclear power a second look.
~ Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. plans nuclear power incentives to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
~ The Senate is considering legislation that would provide incentives to restart the nation’s nuclear power industry.
~ There are more than 100 reactors in 31 states, providing 20% of the nation’s electric supply
~ No nuclear power plant has been licensed in the USA since 1978, the year before the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania.
~ But interest is growing due to the following reasons:
  • rising prices for oil and natural gas
  • concerns that fossil fuel emissions are harming the climate
  • an increasing desire to make the nation less dependent on energy supplies from the Middle East.

    ~ There are 103 nuclear plants operating in 31 states, which generate 20% of the nation's electricity.
    ~ Now, three companies have told the Energy Department that they plan to file for nuclear power plant licenses.
    ~ The Senate energy bill and a version passed by the House contain incentives to encourage investment in nuclear power.
    ~ Both bills renew federally backed insurance for the nuclear industry, which Bush also supports.
    ~ Under the Senate bill, new nuclear plants could qualify for federally backed loan guarantees for "innovative technologies."
    ~ The Senate energy bill provides tax credits for companies that develop new nuclear reactors.
    ~ There will be 52,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel in U.S. storage by the end 2005, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    ~ Safety and security are key issues, especially amid concerns of possible terrorism.

    $$$ Freedom Bases with FC helicopters and FS sensors can be used to protect nuclear power stations.

    $$$ Military business programs and activities in Europe
    ~ The British Army’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme
    ~ The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) chassis Technical Demonstrator Programme (TDP)
    ~ The Integrated Marines Communications and Information System (NIMCIS) in UK
    ~ The UK MoD Light Gun Capability Enhancement Programme (CEP)
    ~ Helicopter mission displays from Skyquest Aviation, a UK designer and manufacturer of specialist airborne equipment
    ~ are intended to complement the new-technology stabilised cameras entering the surveillance market,
    ~ Skyquest’s video distribution system is claimed to be unique in taking inputs from airborne camera systems in its highest resolution
    ~ including digital video and high-definition video if available from the sensors

    $$$ Military business activities in the Middle East
    ~ The Australian-designed Seeker aerial surveillance platform is to begin series production next year
    ~ when a manufacturing facility opens at Queen Alia Airport, Amman, Jordan.
    ~ This follows the sale of a significant portion of the equity held by the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB)
    ~ to the Dabin Group of Erbil, Iraq.


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