Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Australia to Study Mid-Life Upgrades for Hawk Aircraft

Australia has approved the first phase of its lead-in fighter capability assurance programme AIR 5438, establishing a study into potential mid-life upgrades for the Royal Australian Air Force BAE Hawk 127 trainer aircraft.

"The Government has provided first pass approval for Phase 1A of the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program," said minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.

"The Government has approved the funding of A$43 million ($42.7 million) for Defence to develop options and conduct risk mitigation activities prior to Government approval at second pass, which is presently scheduled for 2013-14," Clare added.

The total cost of AIR 5438 is estimated at A$100-300 million. Government approval may be given in 2013-14.

According to the AIR 5438 project overview, the programme will provide a mid-life upgrade to the Hawk to meet the training needs that are associated with the current aircraft, such as the Boeing F/A-18 A/B Hornet and F/A-18 F Super Hornet, and the future Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

"The project will investigate sustainability modifications required to address obsolescence, maintainability and reliability issues, and examine a range of capability enhancement options," the overview showed.

"The precise nature and composition of the ensuing acquisition phase will be determined by the capability definition study to be conducted," it added.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

EMT to Make Drones in Malaysia

GERMAN aviation firm EMT plans to manufacture Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones in Malaysia by June next year via a local partner.

EMT has roped in Drei Sohne Technologies (Deutschland) Sdn Bhd (DST) as its sole Asian region sales and marketing representative.

"We are planning to send the first of a 15-member technical team to Germany for training soon," DST managing director Azmi Mustapha said.

"The principal team from EMT will also be coming here later to assist us," Azmi added.
DST was established in Kuala Lumpur on December 20 last year.

It deals in the sales, servicing and marketing of EMT UAV systems for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes such as military operations, border control, search and rescue, disaster management and specialised missions.

Established in 1978, EMT has over 30 years of experience in the UAV systems industry. This ranges from research and development, manufacturing and continuous system improvements using the latest and state-of-the-art German technologies, to real reconnaissance and surveillance missions in the combat fields of Afghanistan, Macedonia, Kosovo and Pakistan in extremely harsh environments.

EMT's growing family of drones covers the range of micro drones, mini drones and larger tactical drones.

DST is identifying a suitable location for the plantwith an initial investment of RM5 million, said Azmi, who has been living and doing business in Germany for 20 years.

He currently jets between Germany and Malaysia, besides visiting other Asian countries as sole distributor of EMT.

 I choose Malaysia as I want the country to be the first to be exposed with this technology that is now being used all around the world.
" It gives me satisfaction to put the country on the world map as one of the manufacturers of drones for the global market," he said.

DST plans to manufacture FANCOPTER, a micro aerial reconnaissance and surveillance system, and ALADIN, a mini aerial reconnaissance system, here.

"We have also received the nod from EMT for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of their drones," Azmi said.

He said the drones can be used in a variety of situations. They are not only useful for surveillance and piracy control, but also in the event of natural disasters.

"Imagine that you are facing a natural disaster such as flood or landslide. Instead of sending people over there to check out the situation, you can use drones to obtain all the data needed for further action.

"This will cut the time, cost and, at the same time, ensure the safety of rescue workers," he said.

DST had on April 26 this year done an EMT UAV presentation to the Ministry of Defence. In July, it did a presentation at the Brunei International Defence Exhibition.

Next month, DST will participate in11th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition that will run from December 6 to December 10.

Monday, November 28, 2011

The fog of war: Airstrikes on Pakistan border underscore ISR requirements

Following the U.S.-led NATO airstrikes on the Afghan-Pakistan border that killed 24 troops in the early hours of Saturday morning, both sides have been quick to voice their judgments as tension continues to fray between the U.S. and Pakistan.
 
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of the Pakistan Army Staff, said the attacks were “unprovoked” and that he “strongly condemned NATO/ISAF’s blatant and unacceptable act,” in an Army Inter Services press release.
 
The Pakistan government has called for "strong and urgent action" against the unprovoked aggression.
 
In a joint press release Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta offered their condolences to those that lost their lives and were “closely monitoring” the situation.
 
“Both offer their deepest condolences for the loss of life and support fully NATO's intention to investigate immediately,” said Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby.
 
The statement from Clinton and Panetta went on to underscore “the importance of the U.S.-Pakistani partnership, which serves the mutual interests of our people.”
 
Unsurprisingly the Pakistan Foreign Office has hit back with hardy rhetoric. In a statement it described the attacks as "totally unacceptable, constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty, were violative of international law and a serious transgression of the oft conveyed red lines and could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-U.S./NATO/ISAF cooperation."
 
The “serious repercussions” alluded to here are perhaps the clearest cause for concern for the future of U.S.-Pakistan relations since Osama Bin Laden was identified and killed by U.S. special forces inside Pakistan in May.
Pakistan has already countered the attack by cutting off key logistic supply lines for NATO forces in Afghanistan.
 
Airborne ISR: Mission-critical requirements highlighted


The fog of war always clouds the distinction between military intent and operational precision. Reports from some Afghan officials indicate the air strikes were in retaliation to incoming fire from Pakistan, a claim that has been robustly denied by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s government.
 
As the fog begins to clear, more (accurate) details will inevitably surface, but the incident highlights the continued requirement for superior airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies. While the fallout of this politically sensitive airstrike lingers, the military need for absolute operational clarity during missions is critical.
The role of ISR in airborne operations is rapidly evolving and becoming an increasingly mission-critical component for the armed forces as it looks to improve interoperability and situational awareness.
 
Speaking to Defence IQ last week, Saab’s Michael Olofsson, Director, Sales & Marketing for Rapid 3D Mapping, discussed the company’s mapping technology and how it can be beneficial for military ISR applications.
Rapid 3D Mapping, which is accurate to within 30 cm from 3D data captured at an altitude of 600 m, creates “photo-realistic and accurate geo-referenced 3D maps from data collected from airborne sensors such as aircraft, helicopters, UAV's and even satellites,” Olofsson explained in an email interview. Think Google Maps, except it’s interactive, explorable in 3-dimensions, and designed with in-built features to aid the military in live operations.
 
“Our main focus right now is military use … applications are typically simulation and training, situational awareness … mission planning (and) target acquisition”
 
The technology will have “huge benefits for ISR users” as it gives commanders on the ground and in the air an accurate view and understanding of the landscape before any forces are sent in. In one example of the technology’s capabilities, Olofsson said that snipers can be digitally placed into an environment anywhere in the world and the exact line-of-sight from those coordinates can be calculated. Clearly this data would be invaluable for certain military operations as it allows a mission to be accurately planned while also offering significant risk reduction benefits.
 
If tensions in the region continue to escalate the requirement for airborne ISR technology will inevitably intensify as situational awareness becomes an increasingly important factor in warfighting capabilities.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

JF 17 crashes near Attock




A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft on a routine training mission crashed near Mansar, Tehsil Hazro, Attock, on November 14, 2011. Unfortunately, aircraft's pilot Squadron Leader Muhammad Hussain lost his life in this accident as his parachute did not open after ejection from the aircraft.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Russian Air Force to get 90 aircraft in 2012

The Russian Air Force will take delivery of about 90 new or modernized fixed and rotary wing aircraft in 2012, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
The Air Force will receive up to 10 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers, about 10 Su-25SM Frogfoot attack fighters, and an unspecified number of Su-35S Flanker-E multirole fighters, Col. Vladimir Drik said.
The Su-35S is Russia’s advanced “Generation 4++” fighter.
New acquisitions will also include over 20 attack helicopters, such as the Mi-28N Night Hunter and the Ka-52 Alligator, as well as “highly modernized” Mi-35 Hind helicopters.
The Air Force will also receive about 30 Mi-8 transport and five Mi-26T heavy lift helicopters.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Pakistan aims to contain military expenditure


Pakistan hopes to lower its costly military expenditure in the next fiscal year to below the 16 percent it took of the state's budget in the current 2011-2012 fiscal year, the army's spokesman said.
 
The cash-strapped country allocated "around $5 billion to the army's budget" in the current fiscal year, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in the Moroccan city of Tangier.
 
"That's the equivalent of 16 percent of the state's budget," said Athar, Reuters reports.
 
Asked if the percentage figure would increase in the next fiscal year, Athar said: "Hopefully not because  for about five years, the military budget remained at between 13 percent and 14 percent.
 
"It was increased only this year because of the environment of security, and a lot of things that were required by the paramilitary in particular.
 
"I don't see the military expenditure taking in more than $5 billion (in the next fiscal year)," he added.
 
Pakistan government's fiscal year runs from July 1 of the previous calendar year to end-June of the following year.
 
The state increased by close to 12 percent the budget for the military in 2011-2012, in what analysts link to an annual inflation rate that hovers around 13 percent.
 
Pakistan's budget targets a budget deficit of 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2011/12 and an economic growth of 4.2 percent.
 
Funds allocated by the government to the Pakistani army still represent a "very small amount", he said.
 
"There is a lot of scope of enhancing the revenues of the government. If they go up by 70 or 80 percent the military budget will boil down to 10 percent," Athar said.
 
With one of the world's lowest tax-to-GDP ratio, reaching around 10 percent, Pakistan is growingly dependent on foreign funds and loans, even for development projects.

Azerbaijan eyes Pakistan JF-17 Thunder aircraft

Azerbaijan is considering the purchase of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) officials have revealed.

The company held several rounds of discussions with Azerbaijan, but the talks have not yet reached the buy and sale stage.

The size of the initial order, however, has been determined and the exports to Azerbaijan will be realised in the near future, according to the Azeri-Press Agency.

The JF-17 Thunder is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by China's Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC), the PAF and PAC.

The aircraft offers better manoeuvring capabilities than the Azerbaijan Air Force's MiG-29 fighter and will increase the air force's combativeness.

Meanwhile, PAC intends to develop a Block-2 version of the JF-17 with an advanced e-war system and additional weapons.

Friday, November 18, 2011

China seeks military bases in Pakistan to curb activities of Jihadi terrorists training in Pakistan



ISLAMABAD - While Pakistan wants China to build a naval base at its southwestern seaport of Gwadar in Balochistan province, Beijing is more interested in setting up military bases either in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan or in the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) that border Xinjiang province.

The Chinese desire is meant to contain growing terrorist activities of Chinese rebels belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) that is also described as the Turkistani Islamic Party (TIP).

Beijing believes that similar to the United States military presence in Pakistan, a Chinese attendance would enable its military to effectively counter the Muslim separatists who have been operating from the tribal areas of Pakistan for almost a decade, carrying out cross-border terrorist activities in trouble-stricken Xinjiang province.

There have been three high-profile visits from Pakistan to China in recent months; the first by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar; the second by President Asif Ali Zardari and the third by the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

The Pakistani visits were reciprocated by the September 28 visits to Islamabad by Chinese Vice Premier Meng Jianzhu and Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu. This was prompted by two bomb blasts in Kashgar city of Xinjiang province on July 30 and 31 in which 18 people were killed.

The explosions provoked senior government officials in Xinjiang to publicly claim for the first time in recent years that the attackers had been trained in explosives in ETIM/TIP camps run by Chinese separatists in the Waziristan tribal regions of Pakistan.

The Chinese allegation was described by many in the diplomatic circles of Islamabad as a clear sign of the growing impatience of Beijing with Islamabad's failure to control radical groups operating within its borders.

The Chinese charge was made on the basis of a confession by a Uyghur militant arrested by the Chinese authorities. Pakistan swiftly extended all possible cooperation to Beijing against the ETIM/TIP network. "Terrorists, extremists and separatists in Xinjiang province constitute an evil force," said an August 1 statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry after Chinese President Hu Jintao rang Zardari to express his grave concern over the growing activities of "terrorists" belonging to the Pakistan-based ETIM/TIP network.

In a subsequent video released on September 7, ETIM/TIP corroborated earlier Chinese claims that it was involved in attacks in Xinjiang in July.

The ETIM/TIP, run by natives of Xinjiang province, a Muslim-dominated region three times the size of France, is fighting against the settlement of China's majority Han ethnic group in the western province, describing its struggle as a freedom movement.

The ETIM/TIP maintains that the Chinese are a colonial force in Xinjiang province - which it refers to as Turkistan - and emphasizes Islam over ethnicity. Though the ETIM/TIP network on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been much weakened in recent years in the wake of the killing of many of its top leaders in US drone attacks, hardcore Uyghur militants are still shuttling between China and Pakistan, mainly because Xinjiang province shares a border with Pakistan.

The ETIM/TIP presence in Pakistan was first confirmed when one of its founding leaders, Hasan Mahsum alias Abu Muhammad al-Turkistan, was killed by Pakistani security forces in South Waziristan in October 2003.

The next one to be killed by the Americans in a drone attack was Memetiming Memeti alias Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, the ETIM/TIP chief, who was targeted in North Waziristan on February 15, 2010. Abdul Haq was succeeded by Abdul Shakoor Turkistani, a Chinese Uyghur, who is well known for his friendly terms with major Taliban groups in Waziristan.

He has taken control of overall command of Chinese and Uzbek militants in North Waziristan, due to his past association with the late Abdul Haq and late Tahir Yuldashev of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Beijing believes that the Chinese rebels operating from the Pakistani tribal areas are well-connected to al-Qaeda, which not only trains them but also provides funding.

Thus, Pakistan and China, which have cooperated for a long time in the field of counter-terrorism, have intensified their efforts to nip the terrorism in the bud, especially after the Kashgar blasts.

In fact, it was in the aftermath of the May 2 US raid which killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad hideout that Islamabad started playing its China card aggressively, perhaps to caution Washington against pushing it too hard. Shortly after the Abbottabad raid, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani traveled to Beijing.

Accompanying Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar had stated on May 21 that whatever requests for assistance the Pakistani side made, the Chinese government was more than happy to oblige, including agreeing to take over operations of the strategically positioned but underused port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea on expiry of a contract with a Singaporean government company.

He disclosed that Pakistan had asked China to begin building a naval base at Gwadar, where Beijing funded and built the port. "We would be grateful to the Chinese government if a naval base is constructed at the site of Gwadar for Pakistan," he said in a statement. Mukhtar later told a British newspaper in an interview: "We have asked our Chinese brothers to please build a naval base at Gwadar port."

Knowledgeable Defense Ministry sources in Islamabad say that by having a Chinese naval base in the Gwadar area, Pakistan intends to counter-balance Indian naval forces.

However, diplomatic circles in Islamabad say Beijing, which has no military bases outside its territory and has often been vocal in criticizing American moves for operating such bases, first wants to establish military bases in Pakistan, which could be followed by the setting up of the naval base.

Therefore, Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie promptly dismissed (on June 6) suggestions that Beijing was carving out a permanent naval presence in India's neighborhood.

Answering questions at the 10th Asia Security Summit, organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Liang disclaimed moves to build naval bases at Gwadar and at a Sri Lankan port. Emphasizing his credentials as a member of the Chinese State Council and Central Military Commission, he said:

    We will have a very serious and careful study of an issue of such importance to the government and the military like the reported move for establishing naval bases in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Indeed, we will have exact plans and set up a panel to discuss it if the move were for real. However, I haven't heard of it.



Asked by Manish Tewari, the Indian Congress party's spokesman, to spell out China's core interests in South Asia and the Indian Ocean area, Liang said:

    The core interests include anything related to sovereignty, stability and form of government. China is now pursuing socialism. If there is any attempt to reject this path, it will touch upon China's core interests. Or, if there is any attempt to encourage any part of China to secede, that also touches upon China's core interests related to our land, sea or air. Then, anything that is related to China's national economic and social development also touches upon China's core interests.

The Chinese desire to have military bases in Pakistan is not a new one and has been discussed in the past.

An article published on the official website of the Chinese central government (www.gov.cn) on January 28, 2010, signaled that Beijing wanted to go the US way and set up military bases in overseas locations that would possibly include Pakistan. The obvious purpose would be to exert pressure on India as well as counter American influence in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The article stated:

    Setting up overseas military bases is not an idea we have to shun; on the contrary, it is our right. It is baseless to say that we will not set up any military bases in future because we have never sent troops abroad. As for the military aspect, we should be able to conduct a retaliatory attack within the country or at the neighboring area of our potential enemies. We should also be able to put pressure on the overseas interests of potential enemies. With further development, China will be in great demand of military protection.

Analysts say although it might not be politically feasible for the Pakistani government to openly allow China to set up military bases on its soil, Islamabad might allow Beijing the use of its military facilities without any public announcement as a first step.

The Chinese demand to set up military bases in Pakistan has gained momentum at a time when the Indian military leadership is already raising a hue and cry over the alleged presence of People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops in the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir as well as in the FANA, which was earlier called Gilgit and Baltistan.

In August 2009, the Pakistan government passed the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order to grant self-rule to the people of the area and create an elected legislative assembly. Gilgit-Baltistan thus gained de facto province-like status without doing so constitutionally.

Gilgit Baltistan province borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Pakistan-administered Kashmir to the southwest, and Jammu Kashmir to the southeast.

Although the supposed Chinese military presence in Pakistan's northern areas of Gilgit Baltistan has been a matter of intense speculation in India, it was on October 5 that Indian army chief General V K Singh went public for the first time with the Indian establishment's assessment of the kind of Chinese presence in the northern areas of Pakistan. "Around 4,000 Chinese including troops of the People's Liberation Army are present in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," Singh told journalists in New Delhi.

However, senior Foreign Office officials of Xinjiang told this writer during a briefing in Urumqi, the capital of the province, that the Indian army chief's claim was fallacious and must be based on some misunderstanding.

Despite the fact that diplomatic ties between China and India have improved in recent years, they are still at odds over territorial claims from both countries dating back to the India-China border war in 1962.

While India and Pakistan control Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad) and Jammu Kashmir states respectively, China claims part of northeastern Kashmir that it says is a part of Tibet. Therefore, Beijing is highly critical of India's support for the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 and set up a government in exile in the northern Indian hill town of Dharmsala.

The Indian army chief was not the first senior military official to have talked about the alleged Chinese presence in the northern areas of Pakistan.

In April this year, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General K T Parnaik, while addressing a seminar in Jammu and Kashmir, said that the Chinese footprint in Pakistan-administered Kashmir was increasing steadily and its troops were actually present along the line of control (LoC) that divides the disputed Kashmir area.

"The Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and the northern areas of Pakistan is increasing steadily. There are many who are concerned about the fact that if there was to be hostility between India and Pakistan, what would be the complicity of the Chinese. Not only are they in the neighborhood, but the fact is that they are actually present and stationed along the LoC," Parnaik said.

Zhang Xiaodi, the director general of the foreign affairs office in Urumqi, told this writer in a meeting on October 10 that there is no truth in the allegations leveled by Indian military officials. "There are only Chinese construction teams working in the northern areas of Pakistan on certain development projects being carried out by Pakistan and China jointly. The presence of People's Liberation Army troops there is out of question."

At the same time, there are those in the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing who view the Indian army chief's allegation against the backdrop of the Pakistan army's recent decision to include for the first time Chinese troops in military exercises along the border with the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan; the 101 Engineering Regiment of the PLA took part in exercises with their Pakistani counterparts in August this year.

Analysts say China's deepening strategic penetration of Pakistan and the joint plans to set up not only new oil pipelines and railroads but also naval and military bases, are enough to set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi and Washington. The repercussions are particularly stark for India because both Beijing and Islamabad refuse to accept the territorial status quo and lay claim to large tracts of Indian land that could come under Chinese sway once Beijing is allowed to establish military bases in Pakistan.

The fact that Gilgit and Baltistan is located in the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir presents India with a two-front theater in the event of a war with either country. By deploying troops near the LoC and playing the Kashmir card against New Delhi, Beijing is clearly signaling that Kashmir is where the Sino-Pakistan nexus can squeeze India.

Amir Mir is a senior Pakistani journalist and the author of several books on the subject of militant Islam and terrorism, the latest being The Bhutto murder trail: From Waziristan to GHQ.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

India likely to install Israeli systems on Rafale Fighter Jet

The Israeli defense industries are becoming optimistic. An updated assessment says that it is likely that India will purchase Israeli systems for its newly procured fighter aircraft – the French Rafale.

A senior source close to the issue said that while the first eighteen aircrafts will be equipped with French systems, it is possible that the other aircraft will be equipped with Israeli-produced systems.


The new assessment is based on the ongoing discussions between defense industry representatives and senior officials in India.
“India recognizes the operational superiority of several Israeli systems, and it seems that they will ask for them,” said the source. He added that it’s possible India will insist that the systems be locally produced by companies that have cooperated with Israeli defense industries in the past.

India has already expressed its desire to equip its new fighter aircraft with Israeli-produced systems, though it is doubtful that the French government will approve the move. At this time, India is most interested in Rafael’s Litening pod, which is used for navigation and for locating ground targets.


The system, which is undergoing an upgrade to its fourth-generation series, is in use by air forces around the world and is considered the best of its kind.

Mutiny in Bangladesh army


Mutinous Bangladesh border guards opened fire at their headquarters in the capital and seized a nearby shopping mall, injuring several people.


Gunshots and mortar shells boomed at the well-guarded complex of the Bangladesh Rifles, surrounded by busy shopping malls, colleges and residential buildings, private TV stations Bangla Vision and ETV said.
Officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the violence.
An ETV correspondent reporting live from the scene said guards came out of their barracks and seized a conference hall where officers were meeting.
The report said troops of the Bangladesh Rifles, the official name of the country's border guards, chanted slogans for more pay and better facilities.
Several bystanders outside the complex were injured and taken to state-run Dhaka Medical College Hospital, ETV said.
Some of the troops also stormed out of the complex and seized a nearby shopping mall, ETV reported.
The fighting occurred a day after newly elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the headquarters and addressed the troops, urging them to become "more disciplined and remain ever ready to guard the country's frontiers."

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Battle of the Bulge


Pakistan has decided to build nuclear submarine

Pakistan has decided to build nuclear submarine for Pakistan Navy to better meet its defense requirements.

The nuclear submarine would be build in the country.

It would take anywhere from 5 to 8 years to build the nuclear submarine after which Pakistan would join the list of countries that has a nuclear submarine.
Presently Pakistan has a fleet of five regular submarines. 

JF-17 Block III Multirole Fighter Confirmed induction in year 2016

 
JF-17 Block III was first confirmed by CAC official in dubai airshow 2011.
The Development work on Dual Seat version has already started and will be a Block-III production. Look for a significant change in engine and very advanced avionics in the Block-III.
 So far the existance of JF-17 Block III is confirmed and induction is supposed to be in 2016

As the block II is only 6 months far from reality..work on block III is scheduled to start Soon.

Malaysia plans to buy 18 Russian fighter jets Su-30MKM



The Malaysian defense ministry plans to buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters fit to carry Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the Izvestia daily said on Tuesday.
The paper said, citing military sources, that Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi plans on Tuesday to visit the Irkut aviation plant, producing Su-30MKI fighters for India. According to Izvestia, one such aircraft would cost Malaysia about $50 million, future maintenance included.
During the visit, the minister "may sign a contract to buy 18 Su-30MKM multirole fighters," the paper said.
The defense minister also plans to discuss installing new missiles, including BrahMos, on the 18 Su-30MKM fighters that Malaysia received in August 2009 under the $900-million contract signed in 2003.
Malaysia's mixed fighter fleet also includes Russian MiG-29N Fulcrum and the U.S.-made F/A-18D Hornet and F-5 Tiger in service.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Russia demonstrates its best combat aircraft at Dubai airshow

Russia will demonstrate its most advanced combat aircraft and air defense systems at a major airshow in the Middle East, which started on Sunday.
The Dubai Airshow will be held on November 13-17 in the United Arab Emirates. The Airport Expo complex in Dubai is expected to host about 1,000 exhibitors from 50 countries which will showcase their products to more than 55,000 guests and visitors.
Visitors at the show "will be presented advanced products of the Russian aerospace industry, such as the Su-35 and MiG-29M/MiG-29M2 multifunctional fighters, Yak-130 combat trainer, and Be-200 amphibious aircraft," Russian state arms seller Rosoboronexport said in a statement on Friday.
The Russian exhibit will also feature a variety of military helicopters, such as the famed Mi-171 transport helicopters, Ka-52 and Mi-28NE attack helicopters and the Mi-26T - the world's heaviest-lift helicopter.
Air defense equipment will be represented by the S-300VM, Tor-M2E and Buk-M2E air defense missile systems, Tunguska-M1 and Pantsir-S1 air defense gun/missile systems, Igla-S man-portable air defense system, radars, electronic warfare equipment, command, control and communication systems.
Russia has firmly established itself as the world's second largest arms exporter after the United States. Combat aircraft account for almost half of all foreign sales by Rosoboronexport.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Why China is setting up military bases in Pakistan


Controversy characterises the reported presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army troops in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
 
Pakistan Army brigadier Masood Ahmed, chief of staff, earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation authority, coordinates 14 projects in which China has invested more than $6 billion. China’s expanding military footprint in PoK attracts attention as Beijing has virtually taken over the entire disputed region in Kashmir under the guise of reconstruction and rehabilitation after the 2005 earthquake that hit the region.
 
A seminar held at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC, in January highlighted that Chinese construction and telecommunication companies have obtained contracts to expand the Karakoram highway, construct tunnels and mega dams at Diamayar Bhasa, Bunji and Skardu. But from an environmental perspective these Chinese developmental projects have the potential to induce seismic activity and submerge hundreds of villages and historic heritages.
 
Moreover, diversion tunnels are bound to create instabilities from mountain wall under cutting. The recessional moraines (loose debris) and material left by retreating glaciers are inherently unstable and prone to rock wall collapses. Collateral damage across the region will be devastating and therefore the issue also merits attention, according to the seminar proceedings.
 
Reputed Pakistani journalist Amir Mir has revealed that China now seeks to establish military bases in the Af-Pak region, where US troops are deployed. These Chinese military bases are to be established in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas or in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region that borders China and has traditionally been considered part of Jammu & Kashmir.
 
From an Indian security perspective, Chinese military presence in PoK has political as well as military implications, considering J&K is a disputed territory. The Sino-Pakistan collaboration underway through infrastructure development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan clearly challenges India’s sovereignty over those J&K territories under China’s occupation.
 
Logically, therefore, such a Chinese position vis-à-vis PoK complicates any future moves towards settlement of the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. The Sino-Pak relationship also threatens India with a potential two-front theatre in the event of war with either country. Moreover, Beijing also welcomes tensions in the New Delhi-Islamabad relationship so as to confine India to South Asia. In turn, this curtails Indian ability to engage China elsewhere and ensures that New Delhi remains bogged down in the region — unable to extend its footprint globally.
 
Clearly, China’s strategy to establish military presence in PoK goes back to the construction of the Karakoram highway which commenced in 1959 and ended in 1979. The highway, connecting China and Pakistan at an altitude of 4,693 m, is referred to as the ‘Ninth Wonder of the World’.
 
What is the Chinese strategic rationale to establish military bases in Pakistan? Evidently, the Chinese strategy is to get access to the Arabian Sea and similar to US military presence in the Af- Pak region, to curb Islamic fundamentalism that threatens the stability and security of Xinjiang. The PLA aims to effectively counter the Muslim separatists based in FATA who undertake cross-border terrorist operations in Xinjiang. Amir Mir says the Chinese intentions are to contain the growing terrorist activities of the Chinese rebels belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked East Turkestan Islamic Movement. The Chinese Muslim rebels want the creation of an independent Islamic state and are allegedly being trained in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Otherwise, Chinese strategic interests in the region are to eventually extend its economic linkages to West Asia through the Pakistani port of Gwadar in Balochistan province.
 
Today, Chinese involvement in Gilgit-Baltistan transcends diplomatic and military support to Pakistan, and as Beijing gradually entrenches itself in PoK, Pakistan would perhaps allow China to assume a greater role in the Kashmir dispute. Clearly, the Chinese role today in PoK suggests a shift in Beijing’s policy on the Kashmir dispute in favour of Pakistan.
 
Till now, the Sino-Pakistan military relationship was confined to arms transfers or joint development of weapon systems, which implied an indirect Chinese threat posed through Pakistan to India. But now with Chinese military presence in Pakistan, this amounts to a direct potential threat to India. Evidently, a Chinese presence evokes broader security concerns with regional and extra-regional ramifications.
 
Now India not only has to cope with the massive development of Chinese military infrastructure along the 4,057-kilometer long Line of Actual Control — especially in the Tibet Autonomous Region— but also a Chinese military presence along the volatile 778-kilometer-long Line of Control between India and Pakistan that re-aligns the strategic environment in South Asia.
 
The writer teaches a course on strategic studies at Christ University, Bangalore

Malaysia Air Force active duty will be sold 16 MiG-29H aircraft (Figure)

According to Russian
“Aviation News” Web site June 26, 2009 reported that the Malaysian air force is equipped with Russian MiG-29H fighter production will be sold soon , and was replaced by other aircraft.
announced the news of the Malaysian Defense Minister pointed out that the purchase of some foreign companies have shown interest in these planes. In Malaysia at present some problems to be solved, especially the aircraft price.
Malaysian Defense Minister pointed out that the new interceptor will be used to replace the MiG-29H, this initiative is to modernize the armed forces of Malaysia one of the stage.
Malaysian Air Force MiG-29H equipped with 16 fighters, these aircraft are provided by Russia in 1995.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Russian Air Force to receive 65 Yak-130 jet trainers by 2017

The Russian Defense Ministry will sign a contract with aircraft construction company Irkut on the delivery of 65 YakovlevYak-130 advanced jet trainers within the next two weeks, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, said on Tuesday.
The contract is expected to be fulfilled by 2017, he said, without elaborating on the contract price of the jets.
The Yak-130 Mitten jet trainer/light attack aircraft is a subsonic two-seat aircraft developed by the Yakovlev design bureau. The first planes were put into service with the Russian Air Force in 2009.
The Yak-130, with a maximum combat load of 3 tons, is able to replicate the characteristics of several 4+ generation fighters.
Russia has also signed contracts with Algeria and Libya on the delivery of Yak-130 jets, but the Libyan contract has been frozen over the unrest that broke out in the country in February.
The president of the Irkut corporation told journalists on Tuesday the six jets intended for Libya could be reequipped and supplied to the Russian Air Force or another foreign customer.
The Russian Defense Ministry also has plans to purchase 28 Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighters (a specialized version of the thrust-vectoring Su-30MKI Flanker-H for Russian military) from Irkut in 2012.
The first two Su-30SM fighters are expected to be supplied to the Russian Air Force as early as next year, he added.

Third A330 MRTT Handed Over to RAAF

 
The third aircraft in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) expanding fleet of new-generation Airbus Military A330 MRTT multi-role tanker/transports has been formally handed over to the RAAF providing a significant boost to Defence’s in-flight refuelling, air logistics support and air combat capability.

The delivery of the aircraft to RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, today marks another major milestone for the A330 MRTT programme and the world’s most advanced air-to-air tanker aircraft, designated the KC-30A in Australian military service. The first two KC-30As were delivered in June.

Today’s delivery is the third of five MRTTs ordered by the RAAF. As with the first two aircraft delivered in June, this MRTT was also converted from an Airbus A330 commercial passenger jet to a military tanker/transport by Qantas Defence Services at the Australian MRTT Conversion Centre at Brisbane Airport.

With three MRTTs now in RAAF fleet service, a fourth - actually the first to be converted but at Airbus Military’s headquarters in Spain - will be handed over in Madrid in December. The fifth and final aircraft, which arrived in Brisbane for conversion some weeks ago, will be delivered next year.

All five A330 MRTTs were acquired under AIR 5402 to provide the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with what is the world’s only certified and flying new generation tanker/transport aircraft. The type has also been ordered by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, with Saudi Arabia having already placed a repeat order.

In RAAF service, the aircraft are equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker. Powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines, the aircraft are equipped with a comprehensive defensive aids suite (DAS) and fitted with 270 passenger seats.

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