Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage Will Keynote Air & Missile Defense Summit

Lieutenant General Mike Hostage (pictured, right), Commander, United States Air Force Central Command, will share the long-term role of the U.S. Air Force in the Middle East in creating an integrated air defence umbrella at the 2nd Air & Missile Defence Summit, which is taking place from 30 May to 2 June 2010, Armed Forces Officers Club, in Abu Dhabi.

He will be joined on the agenda by top defence industry experts from Raytheon Company, a proven global integrator of air and missile defense technologies and systems, delivering innovative and reliable solutions that protect lives and critical infrastructures against current and evolving threats. Raytheon presenters include John Urias - Vice President of Raytheon's Programs & UAE SL-AMRAAM Capture Lead, and Dan Kirby - Director of Raytheon's Systems of Systems. They will present on developing a comprehensive approach for integrated air and missile defence from a theater strategic vision to implementation.

In addition, industry experts from Lockheed Martin Company, The Boeing Company, Thales Raytheon Systems and Rheinmetall Air Defence AG will present on the advanced technologies which are being implemented to achieve improved interconnectivity and interoperability between military and industry players for a blanket protection of the region's air space.

Other presenters include Brigadier General (P) Genaro Dellarocco, Program Executive Officer, United States Army Missiles and Space; Major General Peter Vangjel, Deputy Commanding General, Third Army/U.S. Army Central; Air Vice Marshall Harsha Abeywickrama, Deputy Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Air Force; Colonel Laurens Jobse, Commander, Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) Air Defence Command, Lieutenant Colonel Paolo Nuvoloni, Air & Missile Defence Section Chief, Italian Air Force General Staff and Brigadier General Hani Odeh Awad Al-Hajaj, Director, Royal Jordanian Air Defence Field.

FMI: www.airmissiledefence.com