Chinese weapons on board the Zulfiquar class frigate
Monday, January 31, 2011
Taiwan Requests U.S. Fighter Jets
Taiwanese officials acknowledge that the Chinese regime has now tipped the balance in terms of military capability across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is eager to modernise its military and has already been attempting to buy new combat aircraft since 2006.
President Ma addressed the issue at a meeting with Raymond Burghardt, the United States’ top representative to Taiwan. Burghardt was in visiting Taiwan to brief Ma about Hu Jintao’s recent visit to the United States.
"There has been a military imbalance over the strait for a long time—that is our common concern, Taiwan has looked forward to F16 C/D fighters and we also hope to get diesel-electric submarines, not to enlarge our military hardware but to renew it. We have some old fighters and submarines, which are a disadvantage in Taiwanese defence." said Ma Ying-jeou, President of Taiwan.
In the PC Wars, the Asians Have a Clear Advantage
According to Roger K.Lay
As the balance of power in many domains shifts from the U.S. to China, computer makers are also refocusing their strategies to include a larger China component. China is critical as both a market and a supply base. And Asian vendors have become serious rivals to the top U.S. companies, many of which are beset by persistent management dramas and palace intrigue.
For years, the equation was clear: Large PC brands were American, the big makers were Taiwanese, and China was, at best, a low-cost production site. Today several of the former Taiwanese makers have become international brands, and mainland China has risen to become a full player as both customer and supplier. The Chinese leader, Lenovo Group, is the fourth-largest PC vendor in the world. No. 2 is Taiwan's Acer.
So who's winning? My call is that the Asian brands have a long-term advantage. Top-ranked Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and No. 3 Dell (DELL) share characteristics absent in the Asian vendors: Both face various legal troubles and leadership turmoil. Both have seen a string of executive and board departures. Dell has been able to settle most, but not all, of its lawsuits. HP faces yet another regulatory probe over its split with former chief Mark Hurd. Both continuously bleed high-level talent. Meanwhile, Acer, Lenovo, and Asus, another Taiwanese firm, now in the sixth spot, slowly and steadily build their international presence.
The U.S. and China represent big battlegrounds for all these vendors, must-wins in the market share wars.
ACROSS THE STRAIT
As the balance of power in many domains shifts from the U.S. to China, computer makers are also refocusing their strategies to include a larger China component. China is critical as both a market and a supply base. And Asian vendors have become serious rivals to the top U.S. companies, many of which are beset by persistent management dramas and palace intrigue.
For years, the equation was clear: Large PC brands were American, the big makers were Taiwanese, and China was, at best, a low-cost production site. Today several of the former Taiwanese makers have become international brands, and mainland China has risen to become a full player as both customer and supplier. The Chinese leader, Lenovo Group, is the fourth-largest PC vendor in the world. No. 2 is Taiwan's Acer.
So who's winning? My call is that the Asian brands have a long-term advantage. Top-ranked Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and No. 3 Dell (DELL) share characteristics absent in the Asian vendors: Both face various legal troubles and leadership turmoil. Both have seen a string of executive and board departures. Dell has been able to settle most, but not all, of its lawsuits. HP faces yet another regulatory probe over its split with former chief Mark Hurd. Both continuously bleed high-level talent. Meanwhile, Acer, Lenovo, and Asus, another Taiwanese firm, now in the sixth spot, slowly and steadily build their international presence.
The U.S. and China represent big battlegrounds for all these vendors, must-wins in the market share wars.
ACROSS THE STRAIT
In
China, the Taiwanese are striving to overcome an important long-term
handicap: They are identified with what Chinese political leadership
regards as a renegade Chinese province. Recently, however, commercial
relations between Taiwan and the mainland have become so intermingled
that money, people, and technology now flow between the two relatively
freely, characterized by the resumption of direct air service in 2008.
Principal
competitors in China include Lenovo, with a 29 percent share, and HP
and Dell, with about 10 percent each, according to IDC. Acer, Asus, and
domestic players Tongfang (600100:CH)
and Founder Group all have market shares in the single digits. In the
U.S., the picture is quite different: HP and Dell are the clear leaders,
Acer is half as large as either of them, Lenovo is half the size of
Acer, and Asus is half that figure.
The
path the Asians are on does not lead straight to the top, however.
Until about six months ago, they were on a steady march, gaining in
share and making an early mark in a new popular category, netbooks.
These low-cost notebooks added substantially to unit shipment numbers
but little sales or profit. Meanwhile, the U.S. companies, struggling
with management departures, boardroom issues, and federal
investigations, appeared to be losing focus.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
China Rolls out ZDK03 AEW&C Aircrafts for Pakistan Air Force
First of four Pak-Chinese ZDK-03
Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) Karakoram Eagle
for the Pakistan Air Force was displayed in a rollout ceremony was held
at Hanzhong in China. Pakistan Air Force’s chief Air Chief Marshal Rao
Qamar Suleman was the guest of honor for this ceremony at this ceremony.
It was also attended by the Commander of the PLA Air Force and other
military and civil officials from the China.
Pakistan Air Force signed an
agreement for the joint development of four ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft
Karakoram Eagle which were to be configured to meet Pakistan's
specifications in 2008 with China Electronics Technology Group
Corporation.
The ZDK-03 AEW&C is specifically designed to meet the requirements
of the Pakistani airforce. It has very advance AESA radar along with
other sensors and communications equipment. This arrangement is similar
to the one being used by the E-2C/D Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning
Aircraft used by the USN.
This arrangement will allow ZDK-03 AEW&C Karakoram Eagle to provide
360º radar coverage. Air Chief Marshal Suleman has said that this event
as "another milestone in the exemplary history of cooperation between
Pakistan and China”. This AEW&C aircraft will strengthen the PAF's
capabilities to maintain "peace with honour in the region".
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Pakistan Keen To Purchase F-16 Fleet From Norway
Pakistan and Norway
on Monday expressed keenness to further strengthen and broaden
bilateral ties and work together to fight against the war on terror and
promote peace and stability in the region.
At a meeting held between Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, and the visiting Norwegian Defence Minister, Ms. Grete Faremo an agreement was reached to further bilateral ties with the aim to promote peace and stability in the region.
Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar said both countries needed to enhance collaboration in the field of defence production and proposed to undertake joint ventures especially in ship building and sea boats manufacturing sectors. The Minister also conveyed that Pakistan was keen to purchase F-16 aircraft fleet which was reportedly being replaced by Norway with F-35 Lightning-II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
At a meeting held between Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, and the visiting Norwegian Defence Minister, Ms. Grete Faremo an agreement was reached to further bilateral ties with the aim to promote peace and stability in the region.
Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar said both countries needed to enhance collaboration in the field of defence production and proposed to undertake joint ventures especially in ship building and sea boats manufacturing sectors. The Minister also conveyed that Pakistan was keen to purchase F-16 aircraft fleet which was reportedly being replaced by Norway with F-35 Lightning-II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Friday, January 28, 2011
One stop shop for J20 - Nozzle watch - using 2 different engine ??? Huh
Arjun Mk-2
Second
generation of Arjun Mk-2 has been cleared recently by the Ministry of
Defence and funding allocated , while the Army has ordered more 124
Arjun Mk-1 to keep the production line in Avadi busy till the Arjun Mk-2
will start rolling out from 2013-14 onwards .
DRDO rather than starting all over again the Arjun MK-2 will have the
same design of Arjun MK-1, but major changes are planned for the new
generation variant of Arjun Tank to keep up with the new technological
changes which are been incorporated in the MBT’s world over .Arjun MK-2 will have Battle Field Management System (BFMS) which will enable the tank to get feed from UAV‘s and Helicopters, which then enable the Arjun mk-2 tank crew much aware of their surroundings and better understanding of the battle zone, this will lead to improvement in coordinating with other Friendly tanks in the zone and also avoid Friendly kills, it will also give information regarding enemy tank movement along with their troops and help navigate terrain in the battle zone.
Self-diagnostic system (SDS) will also be added to Arjun Mk-2 which is like a health monitoring system. it will not only tell the tank crew if it is having any problem but also point out the trouble area , it is also important when Tank has taken multiple hits from different position and from different ammunition after a self-diagnose Tank crew will know exact damage inflicted on the Tank .
Arjun Mk-2 will get a new efficient 1500bhp engine which has been in development by DRDO in India its self, they are reports that a Indian Private industry is also working with DRDO on the engine development, currently Arjun MK-1 is powered by German supplied 1400bhp engine which is quite old in design and technical parameters but still a powerful and respected engine in the world.
NERA (non-explosive reactive armor) will be added to Arjun Mk-2 this will give the tank additional protection against anti-tank munitions, unlike ERA, NERA will enable tank to take multiple hits anti-tank munitions, but also increase the weight of Arjun MK-2 to 60 tons from its current weight (Arjun MK-1) of 58 tons.
It is much likely that Arjun Mk-2 will also spot Air-conditioning system for the crew, which will be powered from an APU which will draw its power from the Main engine of the Tank; this will enable the tank crew to operate in higher temperature of desert heat without any discomfort to the tank crew, Arjun MK-1 already has hardened electronics that function perfectly even in the Rajasthan summer without requiring any Air-conditioning system.
More changes will take place in Arjun Mk-2, above mentioned are mostly likely changes which will take place in the new variant.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Focus on Alpha Jets of Royal Thai Air Force
Operators Belgium, Belgian Air Component (Alpha Jet E) - 29 based in France
Cameroon,Cameroon Air Force (Alpha Jet MS2) - 6 (5 are in service)
Canada
Côte d'Ivoire, Côte d'Ivoire Air Force (Alpha Jet E) - 7
Egypt, Egypt Air Force (Alpha Jet MS2 and E) - 14 MS2 and 40 E (MS1)
France,French Air Force (Alpha Jet E) - 99
Germany, German Air Force - 93 (Alpha Jet A) - no longer in service
Morocco ,Royal Moroccan Air Force (Alpha Jet E) - 24
Nigeria , Nigerian Air Force (Alpha Jet E) - 24
Portuguese Air Force - 50 (Alpha Jet A - former Luftwaffe aircraft)
Qatar, Qatar Air Force (Alpha Jet E) - 6
Thailand ,Royal Thai Air Force (25 Alpha Jet A - former Luftwaffe aircraft)
Togo , Togo Air Force - 6 (Alpha Jet E)
United Kingdom , QinetiQ - 6 (Alpha Jet A - former Luftwaffe aircraft)
The death of Colonel Imam
There are conflicting reports about the cause of death of Colonel Imam,
about the place where he died, the groups responsible for his death and
even the very manner of his death. A well-known former ISI officer, he
was a strong supporter of the cause of the Taliban, idolised their
six-year rule and felt proud of his contributions in shaping and
organising the Taliban as a force. He openly criticised US intervention in Afghanistan
and believed that withdrawal of foreign forces would guarantee peace in
both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Except for some adverse remarks against
the local Taliban, he praised and supported jihadi activities. A man
with such a background and credentials should not have been kidnapped
and kept captive for almost a year by the forces he supported. What may
have been the possible reasons for his treatment and eventual death?
Both parties, the group responsible for his kidnapping as well as the colonel, clearly miscalculated and misread the situation. Colonel Imam most likely overrated his standing among the militants. Since he had been supporting the cause of the Taliban and was always critical of the US, he was confident that extremists, operating in Tribal areas, would welcome him warmly. He was familiar with some areas in Afghanistan, but knew little about the dynamics of Fata, particularly the security environment that emerged post-9/11.
The kidnappers, most probably from a splinter group of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, misjudged the importance of the colonel. They may have heard stories about him, some true, some based on half-truths and most on glorification and fiction. They must have believed the stories run by the western media about retired ISI officers supporting al Qaeda and the Taliban. The demands his captors made for the release of people arrested for attacks on military installations after his capture would suggest that they believed he still worked for the army/ISI and that these institutions would have accepted such demands for his release.
The release of some terrorists by the army, in exchange for soldiers in the custody of Baitullah Mehsud, was also a precedent known to his abductors. However, like most Pakistanis, they were probably not aware that unless a retired officer is formally re-employed, no agency would task him to undertake any assignment.
Another important aspect highlighted by this incident is that there is no central authority of the terrorists operating in Fata. The likely scenario is that there are different cells, with probably variant goals and objectives, operating there and not interfering in each other’s affairs. Had there been a central authority, it could have exercised influence on the culprits to get the colonel released. The other possibility is that the colonel’s relationship with the Afghan Taliban leadership was perhaps not as close as he had claimed it to be.
Question marks on the Haqqani network’s control over North Waziristan also arise. It is likely that Jalaluddin Haqqani would have made all possible efforts for the colonel’s release, given Imam’s involvement in the Afghan jihad, of which Haqqani was a major player. The fact that he died in captivity, indicates that either Haqqani did not make any serious efforts for his release or he is not in a position to dictate terms to other groups operating in the area. The other possibility is that the release of terrorists involved in attacks on the GHQ and the Parade Lane mosque were considered more important than the life of Colonel Imam.
One may not agree with the vision and conviction of Colonel Imam, but the fact is that he was fully committed and dedicated to the cause which, in his opinion, was good for this country. May his soul rest in peace.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2011.
Both parties, the group responsible for his kidnapping as well as the colonel, clearly miscalculated and misread the situation. Colonel Imam most likely overrated his standing among the militants. Since he had been supporting the cause of the Taliban and was always critical of the US, he was confident that extremists, operating in Tribal areas, would welcome him warmly. He was familiar with some areas in Afghanistan, but knew little about the dynamics of Fata, particularly the security environment that emerged post-9/11.
The kidnappers, most probably from a splinter group of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, misjudged the importance of the colonel. They may have heard stories about him, some true, some based on half-truths and most on glorification and fiction. They must have believed the stories run by the western media about retired ISI officers supporting al Qaeda and the Taliban. The demands his captors made for the release of people arrested for attacks on military installations after his capture would suggest that they believed he still worked for the army/ISI and that these institutions would have accepted such demands for his release.
The release of some terrorists by the army, in exchange for soldiers in the custody of Baitullah Mehsud, was also a precedent known to his abductors. However, like most Pakistanis, they were probably not aware that unless a retired officer is formally re-employed, no agency would task him to undertake any assignment.
Another important aspect highlighted by this incident is that there is no central authority of the terrorists operating in Fata. The likely scenario is that there are different cells, with probably variant goals and objectives, operating there and not interfering in each other’s affairs. Had there been a central authority, it could have exercised influence on the culprits to get the colonel released. The other possibility is that the colonel’s relationship with the Afghan Taliban leadership was perhaps not as close as he had claimed it to be.
Question marks on the Haqqani network’s control over North Waziristan also arise. It is likely that Jalaluddin Haqqani would have made all possible efforts for the colonel’s release, given Imam’s involvement in the Afghan jihad, of which Haqqani was a major player. The fact that he died in captivity, indicates that either Haqqani did not make any serious efforts for his release or he is not in a position to dictate terms to other groups operating in the area. The other possibility is that the release of terrorists involved in attacks on the GHQ and the Parade Lane mosque were considered more important than the life of Colonel Imam.
One may not agree with the vision and conviction of Colonel Imam, but the fact is that he was fully committed and dedicated to the cause which, in his opinion, was good for this country. May his soul rest in peace.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2011.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Lockheed Martin Ramps Up Aegis
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| Add caption |
The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey and destroyers USS Ramage and USS Gonzalez tracked the short-range ballistic missile target launched from NASA’s Wallops (Va.) Flight Facility, the service said Jan. 21.
The missile fell harmlessly into the Atlantic Ocean.
Ukraine reportedly helping China build aircraft carrier
In addition, Ukraine experts are also involved in the restorationof Varyag, an derelict carrier that China bought from Ukraine in1999, Kanwa said.
"The restoration of Varyag has been completed, and the vessel hasbeen equipped with Ukraine developed power systems, " the monthlysaid.
China bought the Kuznetsov-class Varyag, minus any power, radaror battle systems, and towed it via the Black Sea to the northernport of Dalian under the pretext of transforming it into a tourismattraction.
But many military observers believed that China is turning Varyaginto a training ground for its pilots on the soon-to-be establishedfighter fleets on the carrier.
Andri Pinkov, founder and editor-of-chief of the monthly, saidthat Ukraine also helped China's Harbin boiler plant manufacturemilitary boilers and steam machines as part of efforts to adopt the"catapult assisted take off and arrested recovery system" that isused by Russian carrier aircraft.
Besides, China has built two platforms to train its pilots forits carrier fleets,
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Indian Army Get 4 Indigenously Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAV's
Photo: DRDO
After completing successful flight trials in Rajasthan, the Indian Army recently took delivery of four indigenously designed and developed 'Nishant' Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
"Nishant has successfully completed the series of confirmatory trials conducted recently, by the Indian Army at Chandan Range in Pokharan, before taking delivery of a set of four UAVs together with ground systems," DRDO officials said.
To be used for battle-field reconnaissance day and night surveillance, target tracking and correction of artillery fire, the DRDO-developed UAV can also be utilised in anti-insurgency operations.
The Nishant is capable in being launched from a hydro pneumatic launcher, without the need of a runway. The UAV can be controlled by 'Ground Control Systems' mounted on Tatra vehicles, DRDO distinguished scientist Prahlada said.
With an endurance-level of four and a half hours, Nishant is designed for safe recovery from a desired place, with help by parachutes.
China’s New Fighter Prompts Renewed F-16 Plea from Taiwan
Taiwanese president Ma Ying-Jeou renewed Taiwan's plea for more F-16s, citing China’s recent unveiling of the J-20 stealth fighter. The Republic of China Air Force wants 66 F-16C/D versions to re-equip one of its five fighter wings. According to a report in The Washington Times, the U.S. has decided to offer Taiwan an upgrade for its 150-strong fleet of 1980 era F-16A/B models instead, hoping it will be less likely to stir opposition from Beijing.
While the F-16A/B is considered an obsolete platform (in the U.S. these aircraft are converted into flying targets) given the aircraft have enough lifespan, such upgrade could dramatically boost the capabilities and availability of these obsolete fighters, with the replacement of radars into Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA), helmet display sights and more advanced missiles.
