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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Indigenous SAM Akash operationalised –Tata Power bags production orders news

Akash missile launcherIndian utility Tata Power Co Ltd said Monday its defence systems unit had secured a contract worth Rs182.46 crore ($36 million) to supply indigenously developed, short range Akash missile launchers.

It was not stated which arm of the services the orders were intended for, though the Indian Air Force is the only service for which the Defence Research and Development Organisation has conducted user trials.

The Indian Army is also an intended customer though reports have indicated it has been dilly-dallying from expressing an interest in the missiles.

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BrahMos ready for induction: Army

PJ-10 Brahmos supersonic cruise missileThe Army on Monday gave the green signal for the induction of the new version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which has been developed to act as a precision-strike weapon in a "clustered urban environment".

Army vice-chief Lt-Gen Noble Thamburaj said the third test of the 290-km-range BrahMos Block-II missile, the first test of which had failed on January 20, at Pokhran on Sunday had been analyzed to be "extremely successful''.

"Accuracy was the watchword. We had wanted them (BrahMos Aerospace) to include a new sensor in the missile.

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Saudi Arabia to Purchase Raytheon AIM-9X Missiles

AIM-9X SidewinderThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to purchase Raytheon Company's AIM-9X missile.

Saudi Arabia is the world's 10th country to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided, air-to-air missile.

"The AIM-9X will provide our Saudi Arabian allies with unparalleled capability, a small logistical footprint and ease of integration onto its existing fighter aircraft," said Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's Air-to-Air Missile program manager.

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Lockheed Martin Prepares Australia's First Aegis Weapon System For Post-Production Testing

Navatia F-100 class frigateFour antennas destined for Australia's first Air Warfare Destroyer were recently installed in Lockheed Martin's Aegis Production Test Center, marking the full system's transition from production to testing.

Testing on the first Air Warfare Destroyer Aegis shipset will begin in early May and complete in November.

When testing concludes, the full Aegis Weapon System will be ready for installation in HMAS Hobart, the first of three Australian Air Warfare Destroyers under contract.

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Australian military not ready for war

F-111 PigBillions of dollars of fighter jets, warships and military equipment cannot be used in their current state because they would be too vulnerable to enemy fire.

A critical lack of upgraded weaponry has left the Australian Defence Force unable to deploy most of its frontline fighters or warships at short notice against any enemy with modern air defence systems or anti-ship missiles.

An investigation by The Australian reveals much of the ADF's most powerful weaponry is awaiting upgrades or promised replacements and is useful only for training purposes or deployment on operations where there is little or no risk of high-level conflict.

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Russia to test launch Topol ballistic missile in April

RS-12M TopolRussia will test launch on April 10 a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia, the Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) said on Monday.

The RS-12M Topol (SS-25 Sickle) is a single-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) approximately the same size and shape as the U.S. Minuteman ICBM. The first Topol missiles were put into service in 1985.

"The goal of the upcoming launch is to confirm the reliability of the technical characteristics [of the missile] during an extended service period," the SMF said in a statement.

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No U.S. Plans to Stop Korea on Missile Test

Defense Secretary Robert M. GatesThe United States has no plans for military action to pre-empt the launching of a long-range missile by North Korea and would act only if the missile or its parts appeared to be headed toward American territory, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Sunday.

South Korea also opposes military any military response to North Korea’s impending rocket launch, the South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, said in an interview published Sunday.

The descriptions by Mr. Gates and Mr. Lee of a calibrated military response were the most definitive to date as the international community, led by the United States, Japan and South Korea, pursues diplomatic action to press North Korea not to proceed with the launching of a Taepodong-2 intercontinental ballistic missile.

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Two Subs Head To Arctic

Los Angeles class submarineAt a time when countries are jockeying for position in the Arctic, the U.S. Navy has sent two submarines there to hone their skills.

The Groton-based USS Annapolis (SSN 760) and the San Diego-based USS Helena (SSN 725) are training for two weeks about 200 miles from the north coast of Alaska, near Prudhoe Bay, for the 2009 “Ice Exercise.”

”We have always thought it was important to operate in the Arctic,” Capt. Gregory Ott, the officer in tactical command of the exercise, said via satellite phone. “Because of the other countries' interest, it is even more important to us now. We have to make sure we are guarding our economic interests up here.”

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Monday, March 30, 2009

Damascus set to receive MiG 31E planes

MiG-31 FoxhoundDamascus will take receipt of advanced MiG 31E fighter jets in the near future, the outgoing head of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency Lt.-Gen. Michael D. Maples told the Senate earlier this month.

Reports of the sale surfaced in 2007 but were quickly denied by Moscow and the official state arms-trading monopoly Rosoboronexport, which issued a statement saying "Russia has no plans to deliver fighter jets to Syria."

In his testimony "annual threat assessment" to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Maples provided the first official confirmation that the advanced fighter jets will be delivered to Damascus soon.

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Medvedev takes off in supersonic fighter-jet


Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has taken a flight in a supersonic Sukhoi fighter-bomber while visiting a military airbase near Moscow.

Dmitry Medvedev has visited the Kubinka military airbase in the Moscow region, inspecting air defence systems, military aircraft and helicopters.

Besides viewing the military forces in use, the President was also shown concepts to be tested.

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MoD admits responsibility for Afghanistan Nimrod explosion deaths

Nimrod MR2The Ministry of Defence has admitted responsibility for the deaths of 14 servicemen in the Nimrod aircraft explosion, after two families brought a landmark legal action using human rights law.

High Court papers submitted by the MoD in response to the claim accept for the first time that the spy plane, which exploded mid-air in Afghanistan, was "not airworthy".

The MoD also admitted that the RAF failed in its duty of care to the victims of what was the biggest single British military loss of life since the Falklands war.

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India test fires BrahMos missile

PJ-10 Brahmos supersonic cruise missileIndia successfully test fired its BrahMos cruise missile, jointly developed with Russia, in Pokhran, said a spokesman for BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.

India’s army and navy plan to deploy the missile two years from now.

The missile has a range of 290km and can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft and land, according to the website of the New Delhi-based maker.

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USS Alaska to be based in Georgia

Ohio class submarineThe USS Alaska will be based at the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia next month after returning to duty following two years in a Norfolk, Va., shipyard.

The Trident nuclear sub will not return to Bangor in Washington state, the vessel's only port home since it was commissioned in 1986.

A Kings Bay spokeswoman, Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, said submarine arrivals are classified, so she cannot say when the 560-foot nuclear submarine will arrive.

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2nd Korean-American Captain of US Aegis Ship Inaugurated

Cmdr. Jeffrey J. KimA Korean-American naval officer was put in command of one of the U.S. Navy's Aegis destroyers amid the growing tension here over North Korea's planned ``rocket'' launch.

Cmdr. Jeffrey J. Kim's inauguration was held March 28 at the South Korean Navy's operations command in Busan. Kim, who was made captain of the USS John S. McCain, is the second Korean-American naval officer to skipper an Aegis-equipped destroyer, after Cmdr. Choi Hee-dong, captain of the USS Chafee.

Choi was made captain of the Chafee earlier this month prior to the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle joint exercises held by the South Korean and U.S. militaries.

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Australian Defence Department facing cutbacks

F/A-18 HornetThe troubled Defence Department is facing big budget cutbacks as the Rudd Government attacks John Howard's spending binge on national security.

In a move that will further strain relations with Defence, the Government is looking to wind back a promised 3 per cent increase in military spending as it seeks billions of dollars in savings.

This could strip about $1 billion from proposed Defence funding over the next few years - the global economic meltdown has forced Canberra to cut deep across all government agencies.

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North Korea may also launch mid-range missile

North Korea is preparing to launch a close- to mid-range ballistic missile separately from the long-range rocket that Pyongyang has said it will launch next month, the Sankei Japanese daily newspaper reported on Sunday.

The report comes as Pyongyang is poised to launch a communications satellite between April 4-8 that regional powers believe will actually be a test of a long-range missile, the Taepodong-2, which is already believed to be on its launch pad.

North Korea has given international agencies notice that the rocket's planned trajectory should take it over Japan, dropping booster stages to its east and west. Any attempt to shoot the rocket itself down would be an act of war, it has said.

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Hitting reset: US, Russia face tough nuclear talks


When Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev meet for the first time on April 1, a big part of "pressing the reset button" will be to rescue the two countries' dying arms control treaty and prevent a return to Cold War nuclear rivalry.

The "reset," Washington's image for redefining future U.S.-Russian relations, covers a tangle of issues.

Critical among them is the replacement of one of the most important Cold War deals limiting the world's two largest nuclear arsenals — the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

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Saturday, March 28, 2009

Project 17-A: French shipyard DCNS set to play role

Direction des Constructions Navales ServicesMajor global warship-makers are carefully watching the Indian Navy’s Project 17-A, potentially India’s biggest-ever naval purchase, a Rs 17,000 crore plan to build seven stealth frigates.

And French shipbuilder DCNS — through a clever “first-mover” strategy — is poised to play a major role in that project.

On February 27 this year, the DCNS board gave the thumbs up for a three-party design consultancy along with Kolkata shipyard, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), and Indian IT engineers Infotech Enterprises.

The JV will design ships for global clients, including back office work for DCNS, one of the world’s biggest warship builders.

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Russia plans to create Arctic military force

Dmitry MedvedevRussia plans to create a new military force to protect its interests in the disputed Arctic region, a Kremlin strategy paper says.

The document outlines Russia's policy for the Arctic, which is believed to contain as much as 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas. The paper was signed by President Dmitry Medvedev in September and released by presidential Security Council, but only reported by Russian media on Friday.

Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway have been trying to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic.

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European NATO members at odds over strategic priorities

As is the case with the EU, NATO is found to be divided over relations with RussiaNATO is increasingly lacking solidarity and unity of vision over future strategic options, such as its relation with Russia and enlargement, a study issued by the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, a Dutch think-tank, shows.

Issued just a week ahead of NATO's 60th anniversary summit, the study, Finding a path away from NATO de-solidarisation is aimed at feeding into the drafting of the alliance's new strategic concept, which dates back to 1999.

The 26 NATO heads of state and government are set to start work on a new concept at the summit.

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New Russian task force for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden

Admiral Panteleyev (Udaloy class)Russia is stepping up anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden by sending a task force from the country's Pacific Fleet.

The task force, consisting of the Admiral Panteleyev destroyer, a salvage tugboat, and a tanker, will leave Vladivostok on Sunday for Somalia, reports quoting a fleet spokesman said on Friday.

The warship is a missile destroyer, armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters.

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Raytheon Standard Missile-2 Demonstrates Sea-Based Terminal, Fleet Protection

Standard Missile-2A Raytheon Company Standard Missile-2 Block IV missile intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile target at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.

The SM-2 Block IV engagement demonstrated a near-term, sea-based capability for destroying short-range ballistic missiles in their terminal or final phase of flight.

During the same test, a Raytheon SM-2 Block IIIA missile intercepted and destroyed a low-altitude, anti-ship cruise missile target.

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RF to build 6 nuclear subs with long-range cruise missiles

Project 885 Yasen-class submarineRussia will build at least six multipurpose nuclear-powered submarines with long-range cruise missiles for the Navy, a source in the Russian Defence Ministry told Itar-Tass on Friday.

“The Sevmash shipyard is building several models of the leading underwater cruiser Severodvinsk. It is planned to build at least six nuclear-powered submarines,” the source said.

“Under the current plans the Severodvinsk will be put into service for the Navy in 2011, other serial submarines should be built by 2017,” the source said.

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Advanced warship programme: Navy says build abroad

The Indian Navy’s Project 17 is nearing completion; three Indian-designed-and-built stealth frigates of the Shivalik class are on track to enter service.

Now, attention has switched to Project 17-A, the country’s biggest-ever naval purchase, a Rs 17,000 crore plan to build seven stealth frigates that are even more advanced than the Shivalik class.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has long cleared the project, but no order has yet been placed by the Ministry of Defence.

Business Standard has learned that the order is held up by a difference of opinion between the shipyards and the navy on where these frigates should be built.

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Indian Naval chopper crashes off Goa

Ka-28 (Helix-A)A routine training sortie ended in disaster after an Indian Navy helicopter crashed into the Arabian sea, 22 nautical miles west of Goa, on Wednesday morning. Navy officials said that all three personnel on the craft at the time of the crash survived.

Navy PRO commander N V Kesari said three naval officers—commander Divesh Khurana, lieutenant commander Prashant and lieutenant Gaurav—were on the Kamov-28 helicopter that plummeted into the sea at around 11.30 am.

The crew had, however, sent an SOS to the air traffic control at Dabolim naval air base and a search and rescue helicopter was immediately dispatched to locate the wreckage site and bring in survivors. “All three officers were picked up and brought to base and they are fine,” Kesari added.

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France Sells 24 Military Helicopters to Iraq

Eurocopter EC635Eurocopter is to sell 24 EC635 light-twins to Iraq under a government-to-government agreement.

Reports from France say that French Defence Minister Herve Morin signed the deal worth 360 million euros ($488 million) for the Eurocopter EC635s during a meeting in Paris with his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Qader Obeidi.

France has reportedly agreed to provide pilot training and provide maintenance as part of the contract.

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India: New Delhi looks at new missile deal with Israel

Barak SAMIndia is believed to have reached a 1.9 billion dollar deal with an Israeli company for the supply and joint development of medium-range surface-to-air missiles.

The defence ministry is yet to officially confirm the deal, but sources in the department of defence research and development (DRDO) said it was likely to go ahead.

The joint development of the 70-kilometre MR-SAM missile project would be carried out by India’s DRDO and the Israeli Aircraft Industries.

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Israel Successfully Tests Rocket Defense System

Iron Dome systemIsrael has successfully tested a rocket defense system capable of seeking and destroying rockets with a range of up to 70 kilometers, said the country's defense ministry on Thursday.

The ministry said in a statement that the system, named 'Iron Dome', would be operational within a year, and added it would set up a special battalion to operate it.

It added that during the tests, the Iron Dome system successfully intercepted rockets that were "of the same type that were fired in recent years at Israel."

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Japan OKs deployment of missile defense system

Patriot PAC-3Japan's military mobilized Friday to protect the country from any threat if North Korea's looming rocket launch fails, ordering two missile-equipped destroyers to the Sea of Japan and sending batteries of Patriot missile interceptors to protect the northern coastline.

Pyongyang plans to launch its Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite April 4-8, a moved that has stoked already heightened tensions in the region.

The U.S., Japan and South Korea suspect the North will use the launch to test the delivery technology for a long-range missile capable of striking Alaska.

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Russia's Presence in African Arms Market on the Decline

MiG-29 FulcrumRussia's presence in the African arms market has declined in recent years, despite Rosoboronexport's high profile activities in Algeria and Sudan.

At various points during the Cold War, Russia was the primary arms supplier to regimes from Libya to Ethiopia to Angola; however, its overall share of the African market has continued to fall.

In 1999, Russia controlled nearly 6 percent of the African market, but by 2006, its share had dropped to just over 3 percent.

More­over, the importance of the African market to the Russian defense industry has waned as Africa's Total share of exports declined from 21 percent in 1999 to 18 percent in 2006 and approximately 15 percent in 2008.

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Boeing Holds 'Major Join' Ceremony for Qatar's 1st C-17

C-17 Globemaster IIIBoeing today celebrated the 'major join' of Qatar's first C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifter in a ceremony at the company's C-17 final assembly facility in Long Beach. Qatar was the first Middle East nation to order the C-17.

During major join, the airlifter's four major fuselage sections -- the forward, center and aft fuselages and wing assembly -- are integrated, and the aircraft looks like a C-17 for the first time.

Qatari officials drove ceremonial rivets into the aircraft's fuselage today as Boeing executives and hundreds of employees looked on.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Embraer delivers Phenom 100 jet to Pakistan's Air Force

Phenom 100Embraer delivered the first Phenom 100 jet, yesterday, at its Headquarters, in São José dos Campos, Brazil, to Pakistan’s Air Force.

The Pakistan government has acquired four of this aircraft model, which will be used to transport government officials of that country.

This transaction is already included in Embraer’s fourth quarter firm order backlog.

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Poland gets 1st of 5 Hercules planes from US

C-130 HerculesPoland's air force has received the first of five used C-130E Hercules transport planes from the U.S. to improve its large-scale transport capabilities.

The Hercules arrived at the Powidz air base in western Poland on Tuesday following an overhaul in the U.S. and a stopover at a U.S. air base in Germany.

All five planes will arrive by the summer of 2010 to improve Poland's capabilities to transport troops, equipment and humanitarian aid domestically as well as to foreign missions such as the one in Afghanistan.

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A400M won't enter service till 2013 -- at least

Airbus A400MThe delay-plagued A400M Airbus heavy military air transport won't be in service for at least another four years -- well into 2013, Defense News reported last week.

The delay could prove to be even worse as the prototype aircraft has not even had its maiden flight yet.

The A400Ms being developed by Airbus, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautics, Defense and Space Co. It has suffered an endless succession of setbacks in its $27 billion development program.

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Missile Set Up in Moosudan

Musudan-ri Missile Test FacilityIt has been widely reported that North Korea has set the Taepodong-2 on the missile launch pad in the town of Moosudan-ri, Hwadae, North Hamkyung-Province, somewhat earlier than anticipated.

The Japanese Kyodo News Agency reported on the 26th that "North Korea has set up what appears to be a long-range missile," quoting an unnamed source.

NBC news reported that "While two stages of the missile can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane" quoting U.S. officials. This means the international community still cannot work out if the projectile carries a warhead or a satellite.

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Pilot dies in rescue

MK-89 StrikemasterA fighter pilot who survived the crash of his training jet has plunged to his death with a rescuer after a cord broke as they were being pulled up to a helicopter, a military official says.

The pilot, identified as Rafael Durango, and an unidentified co-pilot had earlier ejected safely from their MK-89 Strikemaster before it crashed into a heavily jungled area near the Colombian border on Wednesday.

Ecuadoran military officials said two helicopters were sent to recover them.

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F-22A crash claims life of Edwards pilot

F-22 RaptorAn Air Force F-22A crash March 25 near here claimed the life of an Air Force veteran and Lockheed Martin test pilot.

David Cooley, 49, of Palmdale, Calif., died when the F-22A he was piloting crashed northeast of the base here.

Mr. Cooley worked as a test pilot with Lockheed Martin, and was employed at the 411th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, on Edwards.

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US Navy should pick one coastal warship maker- analyst

USS Freedom (LCS-1)Given tightening defense budgets, the U.S. Navy should settle on one of the two different designs for the Littoral Combat Ship being built by Lockheed Martin Corp and General Dynamics Corp, a leading defense analyst said on Wednesday.

Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Virginia-based Lexington Institute, said the Navy faced enormous budget pressures in coming years and the total bill for the ships it hoped to buy would probably cost twice the $11 billion it would have available each year.

"They need to pick one of the two warships if they want to get the savings that were supposed to be part of the plan," said Thompson, who is due to testify on the Navy's future shipbuilding needs before the House Armed Services seapower subcommittte on Thursday.

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DCNS Group Expect India To Seek Bids For 6 Submarines In 2 Yrs

Scorpene class submarineFrench naval shipbuilder DCNS Group expects India's government to seek bids for six submarines within two years, its chairman and chief executive said Wednesday.

DCNS responded to a so-called 'request for information' from India for the six submarines last year and is currently awaiting a response, Patrick Boissier told a news conference to announce the starting of DCNS' India unit.

"Having built the first batch, we intend to continue and complete the project for the Indian Navy but we will have to compete for it," Boissier said.

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DCNS Set for Frigate Talks with Greece

FREMM multimission frigateDCNS is poised to open formal negotiations with Greece for the sale of up to six FREMM multimission frigates, said Alain Fougeron, the sales and marketing executive vice president at the French naval company.

"We are preparing for negotiations, which have not yet started," for four or six ships, including options, he said March 24. "We hope to close the negotiations as soon as possible. That goes for both sides."

Fougeron gave no price details on the 6,000-metric-ton Frégate Européene Multimission (FREMM), co-developed by France and Italy.

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Report: Chinese navy has new sub base in Pacific

Jin-class SSBNThe Chinese navy has a new submarine base on Hainan Island, according to the latest Defense Department report on Chinese military power.

The report comes about two weeks after a Military Sealift Command contract surveillance ship was accosted by five Chinese vessels about 75 miles south of Hainan Island.

"The base appears large enough to accommodate a mix of attack and ballistic missile submarines and advanced surface combatant ships," the report said.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

MNOK 150 contract for Italian submarines

U212A Class submarineKongsberg has signed a contract with a scope of roughly MNOK 150 with the Italian shipyard Fincantieri for command and weapon control systems for two new U212A Class submarines currently under construction in Italy for the Italian Navy.

The contract was won against international competition and it piggybacks on a contract signed with Fincantieri in 1998 for the first two submarines in this class.

"Kongsberg has more than 35 years' experience of delivering command and weapon control systems to Norwegian, German and Italian submarines.

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Germany Urges AWACS Deployment to Afghanistan, Die Welt Says

NATO E-3A AWACSGermany is pushing for NATO airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, surveillance planes to be sent to Afghanistan to help monitor and streamline air traffic, the German newspaper Die Welt reported.

German planes and helicopters comprise a major part of Afghanistan’s air traffic and Germany has a special interest in a speedy decision on the deployment, the newspaper quoted Bernd Siebert, defense policy spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, as saying.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders meeting in Strasbourg, France, next month should use the opportunity to announce the decision, Siebert told the newspaper.

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Aeronautics in Dutch UAV deal

The Royal Dutch Army will use the company's Aerostar tactical UAV in Afghanistan.

Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd. has signed a NIS 200 million contract for its Aerostar Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) with the Dutch Ministry of Defense for use by the Royal Dutch Army in Afghanistan.

Aeronautics president Avi Leumi said that the company will provide operating services through a UK security company. Deliveries will be made later this year.

The Dutch Army is serving as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

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Argentina moves to nationalise Lockheed AT-63 plant

AT-63 PampaArgentinian officials have decided to reassert state control over the country's major aerospace manufacturing hub in Cordoba that was outsourced to Lockheed Martin in 1995.

A bill sent to Argentina's legislature by President Cristina Kirchner would, if approved, take back the factory now operated by Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina (LMAASA).

This maintains the Argentinian air force's AT-63 Pampa jet trainers, manufactures parts for various US and Chilean aircraft, and also provides maintenance services for Bolivia, Colombia and Brazil.

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U.S. Nod To GE To Operationalize Shivalik Warship Engines

General Electric LM2500 Gas TurbineAfter barring U.S. company General Electric (GE) from operationalizing two gas turbine engines it supplied to the Indian Navy for installation on its latest Shivalik-class frigates, the administration has given its nod to the company to resume work on the warship, media reports say.

"The U.S. has given green signal to GE to resume work on the two LM 2500 gas turbines that power the Shivalik-class frigate," Defense Ministry officials said in New Delhi Tuesday.

The permission was granted by the U.S State Department to GE March 12.

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Russia suggests revealing submarines’ routes

Vice Admiral Oleg BurtsevThe Russian Navy has called for an international agreement that would oblige countries to notify each other about their submarines’ routes in the world’s waterways. They claim this would help prevent marine accidents.

Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev, Deputy Head of Russian Navy Headquarters, made the proposal during an interview to the Ria Novosti news agency on Tuesday.

He said that recent incidents in which atomic submarines collided speak of the importance of such an agreement

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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Mass protection system to be mounted on German minehunters


The German Navy has contracted with Rheinmetall Defence to supply Mass naval protection systems for two of its minehunter vessels. Mass stands for "Multi Ammunition Softkill System".

Under an immediate operational requirement order, one MJ 333-class vessel and one HL 352-class vessel are to be equipped with a Mass two-launcher configuration system with integrated detection unit by May 2008. The total order is worth some €10 million.

Following successful sea trials, the German Ministry of Defence turned to Rheinmetall in 2007 to have four of its F123-class frigates immediately equipped with this technology prior to deploying to the Eastern Mediterranean.

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U.S. military to discuss supply of warships to Ukraine in Sevastopol

Oliver Hazard Perry class frigateThe U.S. and Ukrainian military plan to discuss deliveries of American warships to Ukraine during a visit to Sevastopol of the U.S. guided missile frigate Klakring, a military-diplomatic source in Moscow told Interfax on Tuesday.

"The transfer of U.S. warships to Ukraine - missile carrying frigates of the Oliver Perry type - could be discussed," the source said.

The Klakring is one of such frigates, he said, noting that, "the U.S. military will probably inform the Ukrainian side about the frigate's combat capabilities."

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Boeing Laser System Redeploys Quickly, Then Tracks Targets and Fires Laser

RHELSBoeing has successfully demonstrated its Re-Deployable High-Energy Laser System (RHELS) by quickly relocating the prototype weapon system from its Albuquerque development site to a test range, where it tracked ground and airborne targets and fired at a ground target.

RHELS integrates a solid-state, thin-disk laser; an acquisition, pointing and tracking capability; beam control, fire control and thermal management systems; and a weapons operator console into a modified 40-foot-long shipping container transportable on a semitrailer.

Boeing began the two-week-long test Feb. 23 by packing up RHELS at its Albuquerque facility, moving it to a local government facility in Albuquerque and setting it up there, all in only a few hours.

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Russia wants up to 10 submarines in Black Sea Fleet

Project 677 Lada class Diesel-Electric SubmarineRussia's Black Sea Fleet must have 8-10 submarines in active service and the Navy plans to commission new Lada class vessels to meet the requirement, a senior Navy official said on Tuesday.

The Black Sea Fleet, based in Ukraine's Crimea, currently deploys one Project 877 Kilo class diesel-electric submarine, while an outdated Project 641 Foxtrot class sub is undergoing a long-term overhaul.

"We are planning to deploy additional submarines with the Black Sea Fleet, including new Lada class vessels, but our plans are being hampered by Ukraine, which sees this as the deployment of new weaponry rather than an upgrade of the existing fleet," Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev, deputy head of the Navy General Staff, told RIA Novosti.

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Audacious Gets Its Keel

Audacious Gets Its KeelThe Royal Navy's most powerful attack submarine programme reached a milestone today as the traditional 'laying the keel' ceremony was performed by Defence Secretary John Hutton for the fourth Astute class submarine 'Audacious'.

Weighing in at over seven thousand tonnes, Audacious, which is currently under construction by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at Barrow-in-Furness, will join sister boats Astute, Ambush and Artful in becoming a cornerstone of UK defence capability.

Defence Secretary John Hutton said:

"This ceremony marks an important stage in a challenging project. The Astute class will be the most advanced and powerful attack submarines the Royal Navy has ever operated and these boats will play a key part of our defences for decades to come.

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B-2 Bomber Radar Spectrum Accidentally Sold, Adds to Military Bandwidth Woes

B-2 Stealth BomberThe U.S. military originally had a virtual monopoly of certain communications channels. It was one of the few entities to be using internet, and it used many areas of the spectrum untouched by civilian communications.

However, with the digital revolution and the expansion of civilians onto the internet and increasing using of the digital spectrum, the military is finding adapting to the deprivation of these bands difficult.

Last year during the bandwidth auction, the portion of the spectrum used by the B-2 bomber's Raytheon APQ-181 radar was accidentally sold to an obscure multinational organization according to Military.com.

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Brazil’s Embraer Sells 24 Combat Planes to Ecuador

A-29 Super TucanoBrazil’s Embraer aircraft manufacturer confirmed Monday that it signed an agreement to sell 24 Super Tucano combat aircraft to the Ecuadorian air force for use in patrol missions and pilot training.

Embraer did not specify the size of the contract, but by way of comparison, Colombia paid the firm $234.5 million for 25 Super Tucanos.

The Super Tucano is a turbo-prop multi-purpose aircraft that can carry a wide array of both conventional and smart weapons.

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U.S. Navy said due to award Lockheed ship deal

USS Freedom (LCS-1)The U.S. Navy is poised to award Lockheed Martin Corp a contract for a second Littoral Combat Ship after wrapping up tough negotiations with the No. 1 U.S. defense contractor, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Monday.

The Navy is expected to announce the deal this week, possibly as early as Monday, but it does not plan to disclose a final price, since it is still in negotiations with General Dynamics Corp about the second ship it is to build.

Navy acquisition chief Sean Stackley is due to visit the Alabama shipyard where General Dynamics is building its first ship on Tuesday, according to two of the sources.

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First U.S. Marine Pilots Lockheed Martin F-35

U.S. Marine Corps pilot Maj. Joseph T. BachmannMaj. Joseph T. "O.D." Bachmann today became the first U.S. Marine Corps pilot to fly the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, logging the flight-test program’s 90th mission. He is the fifth pilot to fly the stealthy, multi-role fighter.

Bachmann departed the runway at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant at 11:29 a.m. CDT and flew the aircraft to 15,000 feet, checking handling qualities and engine response before landing one hour and 15 minutes later.

“The plane performed wonderfully,” said Bachmann, a member of the F-35 Integrated Test Force and one of the team test pilots who will fly the F-35B Lightning II at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., test site, beginning this summer.

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