Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Indian Navy - One of Project 11356 class frigates start mooring trials in Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad)

Yantar shipyard started mooring trials of the first Indian frigate

Mooring trials of the first Indian frigate started at Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad). All shipborne systems will be tested during a 2-month stay at the shipyard quay.

The ship announced her birth with a loud siren. First tentatively nodding and then self-confidently bowing barrels of AK-630 rapid-fire gun, the ship complimented her creators. Although mooring trials is not a sortie yet, but almost all workers of assembling shop came to watch the ship's first moves.

Four years of construction have been left behind. There was an array of problems – lack of financing, misunderstanding with equipment suppliers, deficiency of qualified workers. All that things had negative impact on the shipbuilding schedule. But at last the ship is almost completed.

Today the work is humming in all compartments, in pilot room, in commanding officer's battle station.

Representatives of all supplying companies arrived to Yantar from all across Russia to assemble and adjust the equipment. Most of systems have been already put into operation, although pre-start adjustments have not been completed so far.

The ship must be ready for fueling by the end of March; after that, trial runs of diesel generators and main propulsion units will be held. Sea trials are going to start in May; the frigate is planned to be delivered in September.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Pakistani troops start exercise with Turkey and Afghanistan

Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan armies have begun a week-long trilateral joint military exercise at Tuzla, Turkey. The countries decided to execute joint exercises at the conclusion of the 5th Trlateral Summit in December 2010, according to a statement from the Pakistan army’s Inter-Services Public Relations. The joint exercises involve MOUT (Military operations in urban terrain) against terrorists. Basic and battle order training, combat order, fighting in built-up, handmade explosives training and training controls are included in the event also.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Jianggezhuang Submarine Base PLAN North Sea Fleet - China PLAN - Qingdao Naval Base

Location and coordinates on Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36%C2%B006'23%22N+120%C2%B034'54%22E&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=23.761683,56.25&ie=UTF8&z=15

Saturday, March 19, 2011

spike or javelin india still undecided on a billion dollar anti-tank missile deal

Indian Army is planning to equip its ground forces with thousands of anti-tank missiles to be built in India. The Indian military considers two options, both of them exclusive – the FGM-148 Javelin, proposed under a Government-to-Government (G2G) program via U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS), and the Spike MR, proposed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, being the only bidder in an international tender, which specified characteristics and specifications only the Israeli company could meet.

The Indian Army plans to install the missiles on infantry combat vehicles currently carrying locally produced AT-5 or Milan missiles.

The Indian Ministry of Defense plans to order 321 launchers, and 8,356 missiles, plus 15 training simulators in a multi-phase arms package worth over one billion US$. Two options are currently on the table – the U.S. Javelin and the Israeli Spike MR.

The current decision by the Indian authorities clears the way for an official selection of Rafael as a preferred supplier of the missile but does not guarantee winning the order, since as a single supplier a company is most exposed to procedural and bureaucratic objections that are likely to delay the program, enabling competitors to gain pressure in hope for a wind change at the Indian MOD. Overall, a single supplier status is often approved for short term programs, justified by rapidly addressing urgent operational requirements. (An examplem is the recent French acquisition of Javelin missiles, to equip its units in Afghanistan.)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

jf-17 fighter aircraft program in Grow

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani extended the government’s complete support of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft program. PM said this project has proven to be a great positive in the Pak-China relationship.

“This is the project that can become a true flagship of the historic cooperation and strengthen the relationship between our two countries”. These were the words of Gilani as he addressed a gathering of Chinese and Pakistani technicians during his visitation to the JF-17 manufacturing facility at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

He also expressed his satisfaction and pride of the successful progress of the JF-17 program and the fact that it is constantly completing milestones. The JF-17 project is definitely one of the biggest joint project going on between Pakistan and its strategic partner – China. Both governments expect that such cooperation will strengthen their time-tested relationship. Gilani said that every Pakistani is cherishing the help which China provides to the JF-17 program and a couple of other project. PM believes this project will write another glorious chapter in the history of the cooperation between the two countries.

Gilani wasn’t the only official visiting the factory, other names there were General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force were also visitors of the factory. They had the opportunity to witness the amazing progress which the JF=17 aircraft manufacturing program has achieved.

The JF-17 project is one of the most ambitious Pakistani programs and it has successfully complete many milestones. Thanks to this program, Pakistan can now proudly stand amongst the group of countries which manufacture modern combat aircraft.

The JF-17 is one of the most cost-effective, multi-role combat aircraft and it is specifically designed to meet the needs of the Pakistan Air Force.

The first batch is expected to be of 50 JF-17 Thunder aircraft which are to be equipped with the Chinese radar and SD-10 Beyond Visual Range Missile. Later batches are expected to be equipped with a more advanced radar.

The JF-17 military program is not the only program Pakistan-China cooperate on, other programs include F-22p Frigate and ZDK-03, which consists of Chinese AESA radar mounted on the Y-8F600 platform.