Raytheon discussing pilot training with Pakistan


The US defence major Raytheon has just won a competition for a $42.8 million contract to train the Afghan airforce pilots in the Middle East. This is the first contract of this type in the region.

According to Vice President of Raytheon, Kevin Massengill, the company is also negotiating for the training of Pakistan pilots as well. Massengill said that the contract has been signed and the training will take place in an Arab Gulf country. However, he declined naming the country where the training programme will be performed. The entire programme is expected to last a couple of months by the end of which, the Afghanistan army will have a batch of well-trained pilots.
Wednesday, February 23 10:26 PM Posted by asian defence at asian defence by asian defence of Pakistan, China, India and Afghanistan , 0 Comments
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Delivery of Gripen Fighter Aircraft to Thailand


At a ceremony in Thailand on February 22, FMV handed over six Gripen fighter aircraft of the latest C- and D-version to the Royal Thai Air Force.
Just before Christmas, FMV delivered the first parts of the air defense systems that Sweden and Thailand agreed on in 2008. And today FMV completed its commitment by delivering the six Gripen aircraft. They arrived in Thailand after having flown from Sweden via Hungary, Crete, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and India.
“We have now successfully delivered a complete air defense system. Swedish pilots and technicians will now help Thailand to start using the system”, said Arne Héden, head of Gripen Thailand at FMV.
The agreement of 2008 between FMV, as a representative of Sweden and Thailand, covers six Gripen aircraft (four Jas 39D and two Jas 39C) with associated equipment and services, a Saab 340 aircraft with airborne radar surveillance system, a Saab 340 for transport and education and an integrated Command and Control system with data links.
The agreement contains, in addition, an extensive logistical support, training for Thai pilots and technicians as well as simulators. Sweden will also help as advisors in Thailand during the introduction of the Gripen and the Erieye system in the Royal Thai Air Force.



The equipment, together with the commitment to train pilots and technicians as well as bilateral agreements for the development of advanced data link and transfer of technology, form a comprehensive solution.
In November 2010 FMV signed a new agreement with Thailand, which covers additional six Gripen fighters of the latest C version, along with a Saab 340 with Erieye radar and the Swedish missile RB 15F. Delivery of the components will take place during 2012 and 2013.
As part of the contract, Sweden will transfer the latest technology in advanced military aircraft to Thailand. The purpose of this is through long-term partnership develop the aerospace and defense skills in Thailand. This will also serve as a base for industry in Thailand in terms of future development.
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Second Prototype Of the Russian PAK FA T-50 Stealth Fighter made its First Flight


The second prototype of a promising fifth-generation fighter T-50 (PAK FA) made its maiden flight, according to Interfax . The plane took off from the runway of Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association. The flight was successful. Fighter piloted by distinguished test pilot Sergei Bogdan Russia, in early 2010 flew the first prototype of the T-50.
According to Bogdan, all on-board aircraft systems worked normally. "Stability and controllability of the aircraft in the air got a good grade. All systems and aircraft engine worked flawlessly," - said an unnamed source agency in the military-industrial complex. Previously, the second prototype T-50 passed ground tests. Parallel tests were carried out and the first prototype of the T-50, which to date has made 40 flights.



As expected, the test airframe PAK FA will be completed in 2011-2012 and in 2013 the Russian Defense Ministry will conclude with the "Dry" contract for the supply of ten aircraft to test the weapons. The first phase of testing T-50 finish before the end of 2013. Continuous buying fighter jets will begin in 2016 and will be implemented under the state program of armaments for 2011-2020. Apart from an experimental batch of ten aircraft in 2016 is planned to buy 60 more such vehicles. On further procurement of aircraft while it is not known.
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Chinese Army to Develop New Missile By 2015


A new type of conventional missile being researched by the Chinese Army is set to be weaponised for entry into active service within five years, military sources revealed.

The China News Service has reported that China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) will complete research, production and delivery of the new missile by 2015.

A military source revealed that the mew missile is a medium and long-range conventional missile with a travelling distance of 4,000km.

Used in both defence and attack, the new missile will be capable of dealing with threats from land, sea, air, space and cybernetic attacks.
"The project will also entail a three-year evaluation period. It extends the range of China's missiles and will therefore greatly enhance the national defence capabilities," the source added.
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Made In Germany For Russia’s Army


Germany is joining a scramble among West-European producers of military equipment for Russian orders. NATO and the United States are silent bystanders to this growing trend, which challenges the Alliance’s defense posture and planning, as well as the US’s hitherto trend-setting role in the Alliance.

On February 9 in Moscow, the Chairman of Dusseldorf-based Rheinmetall Defense, Klaus Eberhardt, signed with Russian Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, an agreement whereby Rheinmetall will plan and equip a troop training center in Russia. The center is to be co-located with Russia’s main artillery training range at Mulino near Nizhniy Novgorod on the Volga. It will enable Russian brigade-sized units to test combat readiness for combined-arms operations, using Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art equipment to simulate realistic battlefield conditions and assess troop and staff performance.


In addition, Russia’s defense ministry and Rheinmetall agreed to negotiate the establishment of a joint enterprise on Russian territory for “maintenance, servicing, and modernization of armaments and military vehicles (‘tekhnika’)” (Interfax, RIA Novosti, February 9; www.rheinmetall.de).



Rheinmetall becomes the first Western company to endow Russia with a modern center for troop training. According to Igor Korotchenko, chief editor of the Natsionalnaya Oborona [National Defense] journal and member of the advisory Public Council of Russia’s Defense Ministry, Russian forces will gain access to best-practice German training methods thanks to the Rheinmetall-equipped center (RIA Novosti, February 14).



Rheinmetall, one of Germany’s largest producers of military equipment, was also approached by Russia’s defense ministry in 2010 for the possible sale of a manufacturing license for armor plate. This may have some connection with the February 9 decision (see above) to negotiate toward a joint enterprise in Russia for modernizing military vehicles (the Russian military term “tekhnika” customarily denotes armored vehicles).
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Russia’s Renewed Arms Sale to China


Tensions in the arms sales relationship between Russia and China have been visibly on the rise in recent years. Yet, in November 2010, Moscow and Beijing announced a large new package of arms sales that appear to have turned a new leaf in this relationship. Much of the tension stemmed from the Chinese defense industry's practice of reverse engineering Russian weapons technology, indigenizing it and then reselling it in third party markets in competition with Moscow. In negotiations, China has long demanded that Russia sell it advanced technologies in its defense platforms or advanced weapons, something that Moscow has been loath to do regarding both the weapons and their components . Russia has also always been concerned that China might ultimately employ these advanced technologies and systems against it or its friends in Asia.


For example, in 2006 it refused to sell certain sensitive space technologies to China (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, December 27, 2006). Nevertheless the restoration of arms sales appears to be connected with a new turn in Sino-Russian relations in China’s favor. The fifth round of Sino-Russian strategic talks took place form January 23-25 and Russia’s arms sales organization, Rosoboroneksport, has announced that it sees China as Russia’s chief partner in Asia (Interfax, January 19).
This turn in Sino-Russian ties, probably dictated form the highest levels of both governments, appears to have overridden Russia’s mounting concerns about Chinese military developments.
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Tejas fleet to be raised in Bangalore

Photo By = Top Headlines Today
The first squadron of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be raised in Bangalore.

The Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) will conduct a series of tests before the aircraft is inducted into the Indian Air Force.

Commandant of the ASTE, Air Commodore BR Krishna said that two pilots have been identified by the Bangalore-based flight testing establishment for carrying out extensive tests.

The first unit of LCA will be named No.45 Squadron. The squadron comprising 20 aircraft will be known as 'Flying Daggers' and will later be moved to the Sulur Air Base near Coimbatore.
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Russia's second S-400 Missile Unit To Enter In Operational Service


The strategic command of Russia's space defense forces took delivery of its second unit of S-400 Triumf missile systems on Wednesday, which will be based in the Moscow Region, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said.

Until now, the Russian forces have had only one unit of S-400s, based at Electrostal, near Moscow.

"The handover ceremony for the second S-400 will take place at the state firing range in Kapustin Yar from February 16-19," Drik said.

The unit will consist of two regiments, each consisting of eight launch points, each with four missiles.

The S-400 has a maximum range of up to 400 km at an altitude of 40,000-50,000 meters. The system uses a range of missiles, optimized for engaging ballistic and cruise missiles and hypersonic vehicles, Drik said.
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India's Nirbhay Subsonic Cruise Missile Will Make Its First Flight During 2012


India's Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile will make its first flight during 2012,
with systems integration work under way, says Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V K Saraswat.

To be fired eventually from a variety of land, naval and air platforms, the
Nirbhay is planned as a supplement to the larger Indian/Russian BrahMos
supersonic cruise missile.

With a planned launch weight of around 1,000kg (2,200lb), the Nirbhay will use aterrain-following navigation system to reach its
target at distances up to 1,000km (540nm).

Theweapon will carry multiple warheads, according to
the DRDO.
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US Doubts HAL's Capability For MRCA


Washington has expressed serious doubts on the ability of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to handle projects like the MMRCA, dubbing it "untested and suspect". This drew a sharp response from a defence ministry official, who pointed out the defence PSU was already engaged in producing a frontline "air dominance" fighter like Sukhoi-30MKI with Russia's help.

As per the MMRCA contract, which India hopes to ink this year, 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf from the foreign vendor finally selected, while the rest will be manufactured by HAL in India after transfer of technology.

Two American fighters, F/A-18 'Super Hornet' ( Boeing) and F-16 'Falcon' ( Lockheed Martin), are in the race to bag the project, which is the largest fighter deal going around the world at this time. The other jets, which have undergone the gruelling field trials by IAF, are the Swedish Gripen (Saab), French Rafale (Dassault), Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation) and Eurofighter Typhoon (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies).



The Financial Times on Friday reported that US ambassador to India Timothy Roemer, in a confidential cable last year, had held India's aviation industry as "two to three decades behind the US and other western nations" despite some advances.


"The potential for HAL to successfully partner with US firms on a truly advanced aircraft remains untested and suspect," said Roemer, in the cable now leaked by WikiLeaks and "seen" by the British newspaper.

After a trip to HAL facilities in Bangalore in February 2010, Roemer also expressed surprise at the lack of automation and safety precautions at the HAL plant. US companies need to "approach partnerships carefully to understand the management and technological experience of Indian firms", he said.
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India Aims To Start Making Its Own Commercial Aircraft


India said Thursday it aims to start making its own commercial aircraft in a bid to cash on a boom in the domestic civil aviation sector.

Officials from the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) told reporters the state-owned firm will present a detailed report to the government within three months seeking clearance to manufacture a 90-seater passenger aircraft.

"There is potential for short-distance, low-cost carriers as operators are looking for cost-effective and right-sized aircraft, while passengers want lower air fares," NAL director A.R. Upadhaya said.

"The proposed 90-seat civil aircraft can make this happen," he said at Aero India in Bangalore, South Asia's largest airshow, where global aviation firms are vying for a slice of India's burgeoning civil and military market.


The planned aircraft would be ready for commercial operation by 2017 if cleared for production. India has in the past made a 16-seater aeroplane but it was intended for governmental rather than commercial use.

Upadhaya said various international aerospace companies were interested in becoming partners in the 50-billion-rupee ($1 billion) project, the first attempt by India to develop a civil aeroplane of that size.

Citing a government assessment, he said India would require about 1,000 aircraft by 2025 in the 90-seater segment.

Europe's Airbus expects India will need more than 1,000 aircraft over the next 20 years at a cost of $138 billion.

India's passenger numbers will expand by 15 percent annually over the next five years, making it the fastest-growing market in the world, Dinesh Keskar, president of Boeing's India subsidiary, forecast earlier in the week.

The expansion of India's middle class, spurred by the country's growing economy, has fuelled air travel.
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Bahrain army clamps down after protests Crushed


Bahrain's army has deployed across Manama vowing "strict measures" to restore order after a police raid on anti-regime protesters killed three, wounded nearly 200 and enraged the opposition.
Protesters gathered outside a hospital where the wounded were being treated to chant anti-regime slogans, while the largest Shiite opposition bloc said it was quitting parliament and called on the government to resign.
Concerned that events in Bahrain could destabilize the entire region, Gulf foreign ministers met in Manama later on Thursday and expressed their "total support for Bahrain in the areas of politics, economy, security and defense."
In Washington, US President Barack Obama expressed opposition to the use of force, while Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said those who did use it should be held accountable.
Witnesses said riot police stormed through Pearl Square, the epicenter of pro-democracy protests that have shaken the Gulf island state, in the early hours of Thursday firing hollow-point bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas, sending hundreds of protesters fleeing.
"The health ministry has counted three dead and around 195 wounded," Health Minister Faisal al-Hamr was quoted by the official BNA news agency as saying.
Hamr said most of those injured had returned home, but that 43 people were still being treated, including one whom doctors were trying to resuscitate.
Opposition members and witnesses said the police raid was launched without warning at around 3:00 am (midnight GMT).
"They attacked the square, where hundreds of people were spending the night in tents," said one witness, 37-year-old Fadel Ahmad.
Relatives of the victims gathered outside the hospital, angry and weeping. In the course of the day, hundreds of people joined them, chanting "Death to Al-Khalifa" -- referring to the royal family.
Others queued to donate blood.
Thursday's deaths brought the total to five since Monday, when authorities began cracking down on protesters demanding political and social reform.
Security forces deployed across Manama, with armed police blocking roads leading to the square and setting up checkpoints in other streets, causing heavy traffic congestion.
Witnesses said dozens of armored military vehicles were parked near Pearl Square as the military warned of "strict measures" to restore security in Bahrain, where clashes this week have left a total of six people dead.
Bahrain's defense forces will "take all strict and preventive measures to restore security and public order," a defense ministry spokesman said in a statement.
The ministry also urged people to "refrain from gathering in vital areas."
Interior ministry spokesman General Tarek al-Hassan said in an earlier statement that police had had no option but to raid the square.
"The security forces evacuated Pearl Square ... after having exhausted all chance of dialogue," Hassan said, as quoted by the official news agency BNA.
"Some left the place of their own accord, while others refused to submit to the law, which required an intervention to disperse them," he said.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed al-Thani told a press conference on Thursday evening that the police intervention was justified to prevenet "a sectarian conflict and an economic crisis."
Thousands of demonstrators, inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, had been occupying the square since Tuesday, after police killed two young Shiite demonstrators during anti-government protests.
Bahrain's opposition demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa's government in the wake of the raid, a Shiite opposition bloc said.
"The opposition groups, including Al-Wefaq, have issued a statement demanding the government resign and calling for the formation of a new government to investigate this crime," said Al-Wefaq bloc's leader, Ali Salman.
"We have decided to completely pull out from parliament," added Salman, whose bloc holds 18 seats in the country's 40-member elected house.
A US official said in Washington that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had spoken to Sheikh Khaled on Thursday, urging Bahrain to show restraint over protests.
"She expressed deep concern about recent events and urged restraint moving forward. They discussed political and economic reform efforts to respond to the citizens of Bahrain," the State Department official told AFP.
She also said Bahrain must "hold accountable" those who use excessive force.
And Obama's spokesman Jay Carney said the president's view is that "we oppose the use of violence by the government of Bahrain."
At the same time, the Pentagon said US Defense Secretary Robert Gates discussed with the deputy commander of the Bahraini military by telephone the "current security situation."
Bahrain is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague also called on Bahrain to exercise restraint, and Alistair Burt, a junior foreign minister with responsibility for the Middle East said London was reviewing decisions to export arms to the country.
And Iran, an overwhelmingly Shiite country, called on Bahrain to exercise restraint and heed the demands of its people.
For their part, the GCC foreign ministers statement also said that "our security is a collective responsibility and there is no question of accepting foreign interference."
The GCC groups Bahrain with Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
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New 3G Communications System Demonstrates Ability to Stream Video


Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated the integration of the MONAX 3G wireless communications system with an aerostat platform demonstrating the ability to deliver real-time video and data directly to soldiers on the ground.
The MONAX communications system connects a commercial off the shelf (COTS) smartphone to a ground or airborne MONAX XG Base Station through a small, portable, battery powered MONAX Lynx user device, enabling the warfighter's use of a single, convenient, touch screen COTS smartphone for mission success at "the first tactical mile."
The system is frequency flexible, connects hundreds of users to a single base station, and delivers superior range and link performance in voice, video and data transmission. The network uses a secure RF link, protected through exportable encryption for joint and coalition operations.
The integration demonstrated MONAX's ability to provide coverage over a substantial network area of more than 3,800 kilometers2 (70-kilometer cell diameter) with just one base station. During the testing, MONAX streamed real time video from the aerostat camera to COTS smartphones within the coverage area.
"The successful integration of these systems is a major step in the field readiness of MONAX to begin providing essential mission information and situational awareness to warfighters," said Macy Summers, Vice President of Advanced Programs and Ventures, for Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions-Defense.
"Dismounted solders at the platoon and squad levels can now have access to an affordable private network that delivers the wide capabilities of smartphone technology."
"We were able to keep the system footprint small in terms of size, weight and power," Summers said.
"The MONAX equipment aboard the aerostat, which includes an antennae and radio frequency to fiber converter, weighs approximately 90 pounds and is connected to the base station on the ground through fiber optic cable embedded in the aerostat's tether."
MONAX products are available on the General Services Administration schedule purchasing vehicle and directly from Lockheed Martin.
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Defence cooperation under a cloud


A visiting delegation of U.S. House Armed Services Committee conveyed a hidden threat that the joint defense cooperation between the Pakistan and US may be under a cloud if the standoff persisted on the issue of Raymond Davis – American citizen who was accused of murdering two men in Lahore.

A late-night press statement informed that a bipartisan US congressional delegation protested the continued illegal detention of Raymond Davis in Lahore. This happened during a meeting with Prime Minister Gilani.

Foreign missions are prohibited to officially revealing diplomatic norms, protestations or differences in the times of high-level interactions.

The statement of the delegation stated that the Pakistan government must recognize the diplomatic immunity of the American citizen and release him as soon as possible. The delegation is of three members and is led by the Chairman of the House Committee – Buck McKeon.

According to witnesses the delegation’s protest was strongly worded and could be easily seen as a warning that the bilateral defense cooperation will face problems unless Davis was not granted his immunity and immediately released.

Mr Gilani responded to the worries of the US congressmen’s about the welfare of Davis, According to his words he had been extended due facilities and security by the Punjab government. A US embassy spokesperson evaded a question regarding the nature of the protest.

So far, the government is doing all it can to stay away from taking a clear position on the issue of immunity, because of diplomatic and political considerations.

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee is responsible for the funding and oversight of defense spending, would soon debate about the promised $2 billion security and military aid for Pakistan.
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PNS Shahjahan meets HMS Cornwall


The Pakistani warship PNS Shahjahan met with the HMS Cornwall in the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea. The HMS Cornwall is involved in the security operations throughout the middle-east and both of the warship’s crews exchanged skills during the meeting.

The Pakistan warship has a big history as it was once a member of the Royal Navy and was a part of the Falklands war. According to HMS Cornwall’s Commanding Officer Commander David Wilkinson their connections with the Pakistan Navy have always been strong and will be strengthened even more in the future.


Samuel Cassidy is one of the engineering technician’s on HMS Cornwall. His father was once part of the team which handed a couple of Royal Navy warships to the Pakistan Navy. His words were that it was amazing to be able to be on a ship that his father knew so well and this visit brought back a lot of memories. He seemed very happy for seeing the PNS Shahjahan in such a good

shape and at the center of Pakistan Navy operations.
Thursday, February 17 11:06 AM Posted by asian defence at asian defence by asian defence of Pakistan, China, India and Afghanistan , 0 Comments
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Pakistan Army to transfer control to the law-enforcement



Thousands of Pakistani Army soldiers have begun to leave Swat Valley and return the security to the hands of the law-enforcement agencies operating in the Area which was once a Taliban stronghold.

Officials stated that this soldier withdrawal is influenced by the military’s counter-insurgency strategy to clear, hold and transfer.

A part of the strategy is the joint police and military activities that have been conducted for capacity building and eventually leading to the entire handing over of the control to the law enforcement agencies operating in the region.



However, the complete transfer of soldiers and control may take up to one or two years. According to officials the first part of the strategy is finished and the second phase will envision the military as a monitoring agency on the two districts that were plagued by the militancy.

The third phase will see military units that were left behind only to serve as a deterrent force to repel and eventual threats. These units will rely on intelligence work to track down and hunt militants.

The joint operation of the police and army is still continuing in some parts, but overall the police has been able to send independent patrols throughout the entire Makaland region.



According to the words of the officials, the police will take over the security in Buner district by the mid part of next month. In the mean time the army will hand over the control over the Shangla district to civil law enforcement agencies by April.

Officials stated that they are on the right course to taking over full security responsibility in the region. Currently 10,000 policemen are positioned in the region and 2,500 more are being trained at the moment. It is difficult to predict the final outcome of the operation, but all of the high-ranked officials are confident enough to take full security responsibility.

Future plans include the setting up of new posts and the strengthening of the existing ones. Three military cantonments are going to be constructed in the area. A security official said that everything will be in the hands of the civil law enforcement agencies as they will have the leading role.
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Pakistan rejects Afghan claims on airspace violation


Pakistani officials have refused the report made by the Afghan commanders which claims that the Pakistan Air Force has imposed an attack on a district in Nangarhar thus violating the Afghan airspace.

An anonymous senior official stated that such moves which are focusing on upsetting the understandings between Pakistan and Afghanistan will have serious consequences on the regional developments.

The Pakistani Consul General in Jalalabad, Muhammad Taufeeq also rejected the charges that a Pakistani aircraft has violated Afghan airspace or hit any civilian target. By his words, only one Pakistani helicopter has landed in the Anargi area in order to observe a border post.

A local Afghan commander responded that a couple of houses were damaged by the mysterious attack and that their country is capable of retaliation, however, high-ranking officials have ordered them not to respond to the attack.

According to Afghan commander, Brig. Gen. Aminullah Amarkhel the Pakistani forces have launched an attack on border police posts thus hitting two checkpoints in the Anargi area. On the other hand according to Pakistani officials, NATO-backed troops had attacked Pakistani side and this resulted in the death of one and injuries on three others.

United States has often criticized Pakistan on not doing much, while Pakistan has suffered the most losses in the war on terror.
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Bangladesh Navy has Ordered 3 large Fast Missile Crafts From China


According to BMF, Bangladesh Navy has ordered 3 large missile crafts from China. Currently two are being built in China.

New 3 large missile crafts of 600 ton displacement.

Specs:

1 x Chinese AK-176M 76.2 mm, 4 x 2 C-802A anti-ship missiles, 2 x 6-cell RDC-32 ASW rocket launchers, 2 x CIWS.

Separately 5 of 300 ton displacement are being built in Bangladesh Navy's own dockyard.
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Elbit Unveils New Generational UAV Command And Control Center


Elbit Systems says it has successfully flight-tested its Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles from one ground control station, greatly enhancing the operational flexibility of the long-range drones amid a growing global market for the aircraft.

The tests underlined how Israel's high-tech defense industry is developing a wide range of unmanned robot systems for air, land and sea. These include Nahshson, a remote-controlled land vehicle that can tote 2 tons of cargo.

This is an advanced variant of the Guardium robot vehicle developed by G-NIUS Unmanned Ground Systems, a joint venture by Elbit and state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. The Guardium has been in operated by the Israeli military since 2008.



Elbit said the Hermes tests were conducted from the company's new universal ground control station using a single operator for both UAVs.
"Joint flight control and management of two different unmanned aircraft systems provides users with enhanced operational flexibility, adapting each UAS to a specific mission and enabling management of highly complex missions in diverse arenas," Elbit said.

The Hermes 450 is a tactical long-endurance UAV that is the backbone of the Israeli air force's drone fleet, with more than 200,000 operational flight hours.

It's capable of flying at altitudes up to 20,000 feet. The latest variant is quieter than its predecessors and carries a heavier payload.
The Hermes 900 has longer endurance, a silenced engine, a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet and a larger payload capacity of 770 pounds.
Israel's defense industry has become a major producer of UAVs, along with the United States.

According to Jacques Chemia, chief engineer of IAI's UAV division, "Israel is the world's leading exporter of drones, with more than 1,000 sold in 42 countries."

Under a ground-breaking April 2009 contract with Moscow, worth $53 million, IAI, flagship of Israel's defense industry, sold Russia 12 short-range Bird-Eye 400, I-View MK150 and long-range Searcher II UAVs.

It was Russia's first purchase of a foreign weapons system and emphasized its technology shortfall following the sharp reduction of spending on research and development in the 1990s when the Cold War ended.
That contract led to a $400 million deal between IAI and Russia's Oboronprom OPK Group in October under which the Russians will eventually manufacture the Heron 1, one of Israel's most advanced UAVs capable of strategic missions.

IAI has developed the more advanced Heron TP, dubbed the Eitan which is Hebrew for "Strong."

This long-range UAV weight 4.5 tons, has a wingspan of 86 feet -- about that same as a Boeing 737 airliner -- and can stay aloft for 20 hours at high altitude.

This unique UAV, a major technological breakthrough for the Israelis, has a 1,200 horsepower turbojet, a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and can carry hundreds of pounds of equipment, such as high-resolution cameras, electronic surveillance systems and presumably weapons.

The Heron TP is capable of reaching Iran, although it's not known whether it has done so on surveillance missions, or whether it can be refueled in air.
The Hermes 900 is also reported to be able to reach Iran.
The ground-based robot systems are now widely deployed with the Israeli military. The Guardium has notched up thousands of operational hours since 2008.

The Nahshon, the latest UGV being developed by UGS, is able to operate on its own in combat zones. The Nahshon team believes it is close to producing a completely autonomous guidance system for the cargo vehicle.
Guardium and other UGVs are used to reinforce the remote-controlled gun and sensor towers or patrol areas along Israel's borders with troubled Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Amid the upheaval in Egypt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the construction of a security barrier along a 90-mile stretch of the border with Egypt to be speeded up.
This, originally intended to keep out illegal African immigrants, could have remote-control guard towers as well and be patrolled by UGVs.
Over recent years, the Israeli military has automated much of its security along the Lebanese and Gaza borders.

This includes the Sentry-Tech armored watchtowers, 15 feet high and 6 feet in diameter, that are topped with remote-control machine gun turrets and night-vision video cameras. The latest addition is radar that can penetrate fog.
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Russia Says Foreign Power Behind The Loss Of Country's Most Modern Military Satellite Geo-IK-2



The Russian Space Agency Says On Monday that a Foreign Power behind the space accident that disabled one of the country's most modern military satellites earlier this month.

Russia on February 1 launched a high-tech Geo-IK-2 craft to help the military draw a three-dimensional map of the Earth and locate the precise positions of various targets.

News reports said the satellite was a vital part of Russia's effort to match the United States and NATO's ability to target its missiles from space.



But the craft briefly went missing after its launch only to re-emerge in a wrong orbit that left the craft unable to complete its assigned task.

The Russian military and space agency set up a joint task force to probe the accident but it has presented no official results thus far.

One unnamed space official told Interfax however that initial evidence suggested that the craft went off target after one of its booster rockets inexplicably reversed course.

"The probable cause may involve electromagnetic intrusion on the automatic controls," the unnamed space official said.

The official did not identify the country he suspected of trying to derail the Russian military mission. But Moscow frequently accuses Washington of attempting to "militarise" space.

The space official conceded that there may have been other reasons for the launch failure. These included the wrong operations being programmed into the guidance system and other software mistakes.

But the Russian source stressed that the accident occurred between the first and second burns of the Briz-KM upper-stage booster rocket -- an area in which the craft makes no contact with ground control.
The official suggested that the electromagnetic pulse may have been aimed at the Russian craft "from a land, sea, air or space vehicle."

The Geo-IK-2 mishap came less than five weeks after President Dmitry Medvedev fired two top space officials for a launch failure caused Russia to delay the deployment of its own navigation system.

Investigators said that accident was caused by a basic fuel miscalculation that made the craft too heavy to reach its required height.

The three Glonass satellites would have completed a system whose research had been started by the Soviet Union in 1976.
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Indian Navy Will Issue A Global Tender For Six Next Generation Submarines



The Navy will issue a global tender for procuring six next generation submarines worth over Rs 50,000 crore by the end of this year.
"The government has cleared Project-75 India which is the next lot of six submarines... At the moment we are going with the Request for Information (RFI) process, I hope within this year we would be able to push off the tender," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters on the sidelines of a submarine seminar.

Project-75 India is a follow on of the Scorpene submarine project, six of which are being built by the Mazgaon Dockyards Limited (MDL) under a Rs 20,000 crore deal with French company DCNS.



With a depleted submarine strength, the Navy is planning to induct over 12 submarines in the next 10-12 years. The plans have also suffered a setback in view of the delays in the construction of the Scorpenes in Mumbai.
Talking about the capabilities of future submarines, the Navy chief said, "It will be a different boat in the sense that we are revising its Qualitative Requirements. Along with better sensors it will also have better hiding capability, improved detection range and combat management system."

He said the Navy would go for the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems for the submarines, which would enhance their capability of remaining submerged in water for a longer time period.
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Advanced Version of MBT Arjun Mark-II To Undergo Serial Production in 2014



After more than 90 upgrades, an advanced variant of the indigenous Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun will undergo serial production in 2014.
The tank, Arjun Mark-II, will be equipped with an indigenous engine a year after the start of its serial production to replace its German power plant, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials told PTI.
"The advanced Arjun will be equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour and missile-firing capability from its main gun and better night-vision capabilities," they said.

The officials said that the gear box of the tank too would be upgraded to improve its performance.


Meanwhile, the DRDO has decided to go ahead with the first phase of the tank''s trial in June this year. "The user-Indian Army- would be involved in the trial from the phase one itself. The second phase would take place sometime early next year," said the officials.



124 Arjun Mark-I tanks, comprising two regiments, have already been inducted into the Army after being manufactured in Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi. The regiments are based in the western sector.
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IS IAF plans to buy 260 of MMRCA Aircrafts?

asian defence IS IAF plans to buy 260 of MMRCA Aircrafts?
It is already known as the world’s biggest defence import deal in a long time. Now, it transpires, it is even bigger than that. The Indian Air Force is in the market to buy 126 Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) from one of six foreign vendors bidding for the contract.

Over time, however, the IAF plans to buy 260 of them, Deccan Chronicle has learnt. That means, what has been talked about as a $10-12 billion deal will eventually fetch the winner of the contract close to $25 billion.
While the IAF floated a request for proposal (RFP) for only 126 fighters, sources privy to the armed forces’ Long-Term Integrated Perspective Plan said that that document puts the number of medium fighter jets the IAF needs at is 260. Ministry of defence officials, however, refused to confirm that there was any plan beyond the current RFP.



America’s Lockheed Martin (F-16) and Boeing (F/A-18), the 4-nation Eurofighter consortium (Typhoon), France’s Dassault (Rafale), Sweden's SAAB (Gripen) and Russia’s Mikoyan-Gureyvich (MiG-35) are locked in a high-intensity public relations as well as behind-the-scenes war to win the contract.

Air Chief P.V. Naik had on Thursday said that the Contract Negotiations Committee would achieve key milestones towards evaluating the packages offered by the various vendors in a week or two and that the contract would be ready for signing by September, except if "dissatisfied vendors put a spoke in the wheel".

That, sources said, looked almost inevitable given the size of the contract and what it could do to the fortunes of the winner. It could potentially keep alive assembly lines for some fighters from the 1970s/1980s vintage for another 30 years, ensuring that some 25,000 to 30,000 people would find employment in what are currently stricken economies in the US and Europe.

The sources also said that the eventual number of the frontline air superiority Sukhoi-30 MKIs from Russia in the IAF's fleet would also go up to 280.

The IAF would need these higher numbers of combat jets of different classes considering that it has to plan for threats coming from two fronts.
Tuesday, February 15 12:01 PM Posted by asian defence at asian defence by asian defence of Pakistan, China, India and Afghanistan , 0 Comments
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Chinese WZ551/Type 92 IFV in Southern Sudan





WZ551/Type92 IFV seems to be a common sign in Southern Sudan. In addition to serving with the PLA UN Engineering Battalion as part the UNAMID, it is also serving with the Zambians peacekeepers in the same region.
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Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) To Develop New Indigenous Modernization Kits and Mission Computers For F-16s


Turkey’s military aircraft giant Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is set to develop new indigenous modernization kits and mission computers.
Upgrades will be applicable to all the F-16 Block 40 fighters of the Peace Onyx III and Block 50 fighters of the Peace Onyx IV programs, as well as the Block 30s that were acquired earlier. TAI plans to market the upgrades for export to other countries.

Previous news about TAI and Aselsan’s joint attempts to produce indigenous mission computers have been clarified by TAI insiders. Latest reports indicate that the companies have finalized their technical consultations with the MOD and industrial suppliers as of the end of January and the project has been given green light in order to equip Turkey’s vast fleet of F-16s with newly developed indigenous sensors and weapons such as Aselpod navigation and targeting system, various missiles and high-precision munitions produced and/or currently under development in Turkey.



Project aims to upgrade all of Turkish Air Force (TurAF) F-16s with indigenous mission computers, software and avionics in order to pave the way for the installation of an Aselsan-developed AESA radar by 2015.
Hardware for the avionics upgrade will be exclusively manufactured by Aselsan, while TAI will tackle the development of millions of lines of highly specialized software. Upgrades will be performed by the same team that performed C-130 modernization and software team mostly consists of experienced engineers who have worked on the Anka UAV development program. Upgraded aircraft will look somewhat similar to existing Peace Onyx exterior configurations, except with specific EW-E/O sensor additions and pylons capable of launching ’Made in Turkey’ guided munitions.

Integration of indigenous systems on aircraft of Lockheed Martin origin is known to be a difficult undertaking. TAI and Aselsan’s take on the project and F-16s “nationalization” at the Block 50 level is expected to offer Turkey a wide window of export and ‘transfer of technology’ (TOT) opportunities thanks to the F-16s widespread popularity around the world.
Turkey will be able to sell these countries comprehensive modernization packages like the CCIP, individual sensors and weapon systems like targeting pods and missiles, as well as “nationalization” opportunities with direct TOT.
Turkey’s ‘special status’ with the F-16 comes from its existing place among the world’s top three users of the aircraft, previous manufacturing and export experience with the Falcon (to Egypt), as well as Turkey’s long-standing partnership and commitment in the F-35 JSF program.
Some Turkish defence analysts suggest that Turkey’s newfound ability to nationalize the F-16 is simply a means for compensating the country for not being given F-35 source codes, despite the longstanding NATO member’s commitment for an initial batch of over 100 F-35s.
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JF-17 a Sign of Pak-China Friendship...Now Using Pakistani Indigenous Computer Systems


Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday extended full support for the continuity of JF-17 Thunder aircraft programme, and said the project would prove as a flagship of Pak-China friendship.“This project can truly become as a flagship of our historic cooperation and strengthen our time-tested partnership,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a gathering of Pakistani and Chinese technicians during his visit to the JF-17 production facility at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex here. Gilani lauded the pace of JF-17 Thunder programme which had moved into a serial production stage in a record time.

He also acknowledged the role of Chinese experts for imparting technical know-how to the Pakistani technicians for the transfer of technology.

“The support provided by our Chinese friends in this, and in so many other common projects between Pakistan and China is greatly cherished by every Pakistani,” he said.


The Prime Minister termed the project a reflection of deeper bond between the two governments and the people.
“The success of the project would add another glorious chapter in our long history of cooperation,” he said.
Gilani went around different sections of the facility and expressed satisfaction that the project milestones were being accomplished in an efficient and timely manner.

He said Pakistan Airforce with a initiative like JF-17 program was not only rendering valuable services for strengthening the national defence but also providing a valuable opportunity to the youth.
“It is an opportunity involving a more constructive and positive approach to life that offers education, livelihood and training and leading to a better life,” he said.
Gilani exhorted all the personnel associated with the project to commit all “faculties of body and soul” for its success.
He expressed hope that with Allah’s blessing and commitment, many more laurels shall come in shape of timely completion of projects.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Suleman Qamar said with the support of the government, twenty two JF-17 aircrafts had been inducted into the 26th squadron of the PAF, while eight others were in various stages of tests and trials. He said the aircraft, whose production began on 13 June 2009 and the first made-in-Pakistan rolled out on 23rd Nov 2009, has successfully made its presence felt at the air shows at Farnborough, UK and Zhuhai, China. He said the aircraft also participated in the Highmark and the Azm-e-nau exercises.
He said a number of air forces around the world were eyeing the new entrant into the arena with keen interest.



The Air Chief presented to the Prime Minister a gift of a statue of an Air Force pilot - a symbol of determination to succeed despite all odds. Earlier the Prime Minister was apprised that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra was now providing three major computer systems for the JF-17 aircraft.

These include Weapon Mission Management Computer, Electro-Mechanical Management Computer and Light Warning Computer.
The PAC was currently producing three aircraft a month and with a larger facility will be able to increase production and enable Pakistan earn a handsome foreign exchange.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Khalid Shamim Wyne, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh also accompanied the Prime Minister.
Monday, February 14 8:59 AM Posted by asian defence at asian defence by asian defence of Pakistan, China, India and Afghanistan , 0 Comments
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