WikiLeaks: Russia Gave Israel Codes for Iran’s Missiles

Russia gave Israel codes for breaking Iran’s missile defense system in return for codes of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Israel sold to Georgia, WikiLeaks claims.
The information was among 5 million emails released this week by WikiLeaks, which said it worked in cooperation with the Anonymous hacker group. The leaked information focused on the U.S.-based Stratfor global intelligence company.
A source identified as “A” was quoted in an e-mail from a Stratfor employee as having heard from a “former Mexican cop” and military analysts that "the Georgians are frantically looking for a replacement for the Israeli UAVs that were compromised.”
The Israeli-based Elbit company had sold UAVs to Georgia since 2007, and earlier this month Georgia said it is replacing the Hermes UAVs.
“Met with my Mexican source/friend again today and dude is getting shadier by the day. We followed up on our past discussion on Russia compromising the Israeli-made Georgian UAVs prior to the August war,” said one e-mail.
“I inquired more about the compromised Israeli UAVs,” it continued. “What he explained was that Israel and Russia made a swap -- Israel gave Russia the 'data link' code for those specific UAVs; in return, Russia gave Israel the codes for Iran's Tor-M1s [missile defense system].
“I asked about the S-300 (source tracks a lot of defense deals for Jane's). He doesn't think the Russians will give it to the Iranians. Besides, he said... Israel and Turkey have been collaborating very closely on the S-300s….The gist of what he said is that Turkey has been cracking the S-300 since the Crete sale and has been sharing intel on the S-300 with the Israelis to ensure that they retain an advantage over Iran should Iran get them from the Russians.
“SOURCE DESCRIPTION: MX301 - Former Mexican cop, Latam military analyst, writes for Jane's; SOURCE RELIABILITY: A
“The Russians got the data link for the UAV (there is some suspicion that the Israelis after the war may have given this to them…. So, since the Georgian UAVs were compromised, they then tried to sell them to the Azerbaijanis. I don’t know if that deal went through.”

Drone down

China's J-15 Has Been Spotted On The Deck Of The Varyag

This photograph of China's J-15 Flying Shark jet sitting on the flight deck of the former Varyag aircraft carrier has surfaced on China's Internet.
Alert 5 points out that the jet looks more like a full size replica than the real thing and that a Z-8 helicopter was also aboard.
There are two ways to launch an aircraft from the deck of a carrier: by catapult and through using a "ski jump" or lift at the end of the flight deck to push the plane into the air.

China bought this former Soviet carrier and modeled its new J-15 on the Soviet Su-33 planning to use the Varyag's jump deck to launch its new jets.
The following pictures of the J-15 are also from Alert 5 and show the plane taxiing, while in the background a ski jump is visible on an adjoining runway.
The J-15 is thought to have successfully completed jump takeoffs in 2010 and these new photos arrived last month after a series of low altitude test flights over the Varyag.
Despite its rapid development, the J-15 is not slated for deployment until 2016

India To Probe Helo Contract With Italy

New Delhi – India’s agreement to purchase 12 helicopters from Italy is likely to be investigated in India after reports from Rome suggested irregularities in the contract. The Italian defense firm, however, has denied the allegations.
Reports in Italian daily newspaper la Repubblica suggest prosecutors have started checking into allegations of corruption against state-backed major defense contractor Finmeccanica’s dealings, including the 35.46 billion rupee ($720 million) contract with India.
Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony, concerned over the reports, has ordered an inquiry into whether corruption was involved in the procurement of the helicopters from Finmeccanica subsidiary AgustaWestland, a senior defense ministry official said over the weekend.
India signed the contract with AgustaWestland in February 2010 to buy 12 AW101 helicopters, mainly to be used by the president, prime minister and other top government functionaries. The AW101 was selected over Sikorsky’s S-92 Super Hawk.
Finmeccanica on Feb. 27 declared that “AgustaWestland is not involved in any irregularity concerning the supply of helicopters in India.
“No notice related to the purported investigations has been served to companies and officers of the Finmeccanica Group neither in Italy, nor in India,” the company says in a statement.
La Repubblica reported a senior company official had told prosecutors that slush funds were generated after a sudden escalation of price by €10 million ($13.4 million) in 2010.
But Finmeccanica further declared that “the companies of the group have adopted organizations and ethical codes in line with regulations and best practices, aimed at preventing and banning any conducts not responding to proper management standards.”

Shenyang J-16 Silent Flanker Chinese Intermediate Stealth Fighter

China is developing a heavily modified variant of the J-11B code named J-16 Silent Flanker. It features stealth design like internal weapons bays, stealth-optimized engine intakes, and canted vertical fins. It’s the race of the stealth fighters, the United States, Russia, India, Japan, India, China everyone seems to want to have a bite at it. China is trying hard to modernize and fill in their need for fourth generation fighters, meanwhile working very hard every way possible to develop it’s Fifth generation fighter capability. One such attempt is with a heavily modified and reversed engineered Sukhoi Su-27 code named Flanker by the NATO.

It seems like the Chinese have found a very much liking towards Su-27 or it seems to be a very effective platform for modification and development. Shenyang managed to convert a fourth generation Su-27 (modified into J-11B) into a fifth generation stealth fighter called Shenyang J-16 code named Silent Flanker. This isn’t the first time a fourth generation fighter was developed into a fifth generation stealth, Boeing managed to develop a F-15 Eagle into F-15 Silent Eagle, marketed to countries like Saudi Arabia and South Korea who are far from Fifth Generation fighters capabilities. So this claim of development by the Chinese seems to be very authentic.

Unveiled in 2002, the Shenyang J-11B is a very advanced, multi-role attack fighter with Chinese-made avionics and some degree of reduced radar cross section (stealth) – ideal for trying out new ideas about increased stealth. Since 2006, it has been a testbed for the Chinese FWS-10A ‘TaiHang’ turbofan engine. The FWS-10A is similar to the Russian AL-31F, and is a candidate for next generation stealth aircraft propulsion.

Chinese are already developing Chengdu J-20 a purported fifth-generation, stealth, twin-engine fighter aircraft prototype developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). In late 2010, the J-20 underwent high speed taxiing tests. The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011. General He Weirong, Deputy Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force said in November 2009 that he expected the J-20 to be operational in 2017–2019. For now the Chinese interests are very regional, but development of the aircraft such as Shenyang J-16 and Chengdu J-20 makes one believe that China can change it’s doctrine any time soon.

While J-20 is still in development stage, China desperately needs to fill in the gap for stealth fighter because United States already have actively deployed stealth fighters, the rapid joint development by Russia and India on Sukhoi PAKFA is also no comfort. Neither can they buy Su-PAKFA because India would have the right to veto any sales to China by Russia. So, J-16 looks more of a intermediate stealth fighter developed to fill in that gap and increase the morale of over all Chinese force.

With the kind of economic boom China is enjoying and the current budget China can afford to experiment multiple 5th generation designs and finally choose the best one.

The strategy used by USA and Russia were doing in the past and that is the right way to go. But the problem is that Shenyang Aircraft Corporation is unable to give any tough competition to Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group till now they have to come up with something new to challenge Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group this will bring out the best from Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and will also allow aviation industry to expand. Hope j-16 becomes a success story and a source of confidence for Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.

There is no reason why the Chinese should not be aggressively developing stealth military aircraft. With over $2 trillion they can ride out the global recession in much better shape than the United States, research and development can easily be financed.

If China can approach parity with the USA in numbers and quality of stealth aircraft, nuclear carrier battle groups and nuclear attack submarines, they cam become a ‘superpower’ via projection of their foreign policy and military strength. Billions of dollars spent on the F-35 program. Money spent on stealth aircraft in the United States further weaken the overall economy of the crumbling super power. In that alone, China’s ‘stealth aircraft program’ will have accomplished a great deal. Creating more affordable stealth fighters and emphasis on quantity over quality could be a positive for the race towards being a super power.

In 2005, a former Northrup B2 design engineer was arrested for selling highly classified data about the B-2 and its stealth design to China. Noshir Gowadia has admitted to the charges and so there is no question that the propulsion system and stealth design features of the B-2 have been studied intensively by those designing fighters and bombers for China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

In April 2009, China cyberwar experts attacked the US Department of Defense computers that hold classified data about the F-35 program. Apparently a great deal of data was downloaded, although theft of information in the highest security classification was not acknowledged. This could also give us some insight where J-16 would stand in terms of mission roles and technology.

To understand J-16 we need to understand J-11B, there aren’t many pictures of J-16 released to help us. Following is the specifications of J-11B

- Crew: 1
- Length: 21.9M
- Wingspan: 14.70 M
- Height: 5.92M
- Wing area: 62.04 m²
- Empty weight: 16,380 kg
- Loaded weight: 23,926 kg
- Range: 3,530 km
- Powerplant: 2 × Lyulka AL-31F or Woshan WS-10A “Taihang” turbofans

And these will have to change in J-16 platform since there will be modification to make it stealth like all the weapons will be internal. This results in decrease in the number of weapons that can be carried, fuel capacity decreases hence range decreases. Su-27 appears like a pizza on a RADAR because of it’s huge size so the size would also have to be reduced. The main concern would be the engines, they have to be designed such a way as to evade incoming heat-seaking missiles. But the Chinese probably would solve this problem easily, thanks to Noshir Gowadia who soled the designs of B-2 Spirit bomber. It would be crucial to develop these indigenous engines, mainly to be used in J-20 in the future.

Experts Doubt North Korea’s Rocket Upgrade

North Korea's M-1991 multiple launch rocket system (photo : Korea Times)

Military experts and insiders downplayed Monday media reports that North Korea has succeeded in doubling the range of its 240-millimeter multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in time to celebrate the centennial of the nation’s founder Kim Il-sung’s birth in April.

They said it was nonsense to believe that the impoverished North has made significant progress in the development of a propulsion system that doubles the range of the rockets.

Citing an anonymous government source, media outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, claimed that the communist North recently completed upgrading its model of the 22-round M-1991, a truck-mounted MLRS.

They argued that the South’s entire capital area, home to more than 20 million people, will come under the range of the modified rocket, dubbed “Juche 100 Gun,” as it is capable of travelling more than 120 kilometers.

A senior rocket expert at the Defense Acquisition and Program Administration (DAPA) said the media reports were baseless unless the North has successfully developed a propulsion system that is a quantum leap ahead of advanced countries, including the United States and Russia.

“I’m highly skeptical that the North has technology that even the United States has yet to develop and the world has yet to witness,” he said.

“The range of the South’s 227-millimeter multiple launch rocket system is limited to 45 to 46 kilometers, despite the fact that it has employed the advanced technology of the United States.”

The expert said the range may be doubled if nearly all of the rocket’s explosives are removed to add more fuel. However, then not only the weapon’s accuracy, but its impact too would drop radically.

A senior missile expert at the Ministry of National Defense (MND) also downplayed media reports, saying military intelligence authorities have yet to recognize any noticeable improvement in the North’s 240-millimeter M-1991 rockets.

“If the North has already deployed such a long range rocket as reported, intelligence sources would have spotted it much earlier during the testing of such weapons,” he said.

An intelligence official at the MND concurred with him, saying no intelligence has been received on a major breakthrough in the improvement of the communist nation’s MLRS.

“I’m not sure how the news was generated. It is doubtful that the North has succeeded in doubling the range of a rocket,” he said.

“The North might have intentionally tipped off sources to such misleading information in an attempt to exaggerate its military might without actually having to prove it.”

He said the Pyongyang might have been pressured to do so to dodge criticism of failing to fulfill its pledge of becoming a “powerful and prosperous nation” by 2012.

Officials of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) declined to comment on the matter, saying they are not allowed to provide any explanation to North Korean weapons development.

The North is known to have been operating two types of 240-millimeter rocket launchers, the 12-round M-1985 and the 22-round M-1991.

According to media reports, intelligence officials here believe the Stalinist state will likely unveil an upgraded version of the M-1991 to the public during a massive military parade on April 15 this year, the 100th birthday of the late Kim.

Israel Sells Drones, Missiles To Azerbaijan

Israeli defense officials on February 26 confirmed a deal to sell Azerbaijan drones, antiaircraft, and missile defense systems for some $1.6 billion.

Azerbaijan's contract is with the state-run Israel Aerospace Industries. Israeli defense officials, speaking under condition of anonymity, said the deal had been in the works for some time and was not a response to Iran's nuclear development program or recent attempts, allegedly by Iranian agents, to kill Israeli diplomats in India, Thailand, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Israeli media reported late last year that there was a deal for Israel to sell 60 drones of two types to Azerbaijan and that in September 2011 there were discussions about joint Israeli-Azerbaijani construction of drones with missiles.

Also in September 2011, an Israeli-built drone with Azerbaijani Air Force markings was reportedly shot down over the disputed Nagorno-Karabkah enclave claimed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Iran's Foreign Ministry earlier this month accused Baku of allowing Israel's spy agency Mossad to operate in Azerbaijan, which shares, including the Naxchivan enclave, a border with Iran more than 600 kilometers long.

The news of Israel's sale of the military equipment comes as tensions over Iran's nuclear program are reaching critical levels. A team from the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited Iran on February 20-21 and returned saying Iran had stepped up work on enriching uranium and that there were serious concerns about "possible military dimensions" to Iran's nuclear program.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about those concerns at a February 26 session of the Israeli cabinet. Netanyahu promised he would raise them in meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama when Netanyahu travels to Washington later this week.

Netanyahu said, "There is no doubt that one topic shall be at the center of our discussions: Iran and the continuing strengthening of its nuclear program." Netanyahu said statements from the IAEA team after their visit to Iran "proves Israel's correct assessments, that Iran is continuing to advance in quick steps in its nuclear program, in defiance and blatantly ignoring decisions taken by the world community."

Iran insists its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes but some governments, particularly Western governments, dismiss this and point to Iran's unwillingness to fully cooperate with international inspectors. Western countries have imposed a series of sanctions against Iran due to these concerns.

Army's massive war game to raise a 'desert storm' in Rajasthan

The army is gearing up to hold one of its biggest ever war games - Shoorveer - in Rajasthan between March and June.
The exercise, involving the army's elite 1 Strike Corps and 10 Corps under the Jaipur-based South Western Command, will see the deployment of more than 200 tanks and over 20,000 troops in the border state.
'All formations and units under South Western Command will participate to validate doctrines in a joint service environment,' army spokesperson Col Jagdeep Dahiya said. 
The war game comes soon after the army's exercise Sudarshan Shakti in Pokharan to validate its new battle-fighting concepts developed after the transformation studies carried out under army chief General V.K. Singh.
The exercise, one of the biggest manoeuvres ever based on the Integrated Theatre Battle Concept, will be held in the deserts of Bikaner and Shri Ganganagar.

'It will enable the army to validate its war fighting concepts while working towards a 'capability- based approach', relying on a series of transformational initiatives, concepts, organisational structures and absorption of newage technology,' Dahiya said.
The Western and South Western Commands of the air force are also likely to deploy their frontline aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguars and AWACs, for the war game.
'The joint synergy will be enhanced by the active participation of the IAF with the air assets of the army and the air force being employed in an integrated manner,' Dahiya said.
The South Western Command is being commanded by Lt. Gen. Gyan Bhushan.
Battlefield transparency and operational plans based on realtime situational awareness will be enhanced using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) inputs from unmanned aerial vehicles, radars and satellites.
The troop and equipment mobilisation for the exercise has already begun. This will be followed by training at unit and formation levels and culminate into large scale manoeuvres.

chinese z-10 and z-19 attack helicopter

Decks cleared for first test of 5000-km range Agni-V missile

NEW DELHI: India has begun final preparations for the first test of its most-ambitious strategic missile, the 5,000-km Agni-V, which will prove to be both a technical as well as logistical challenge.

The Agni-V, which will bring the whole of Asia, 70% of Europe and other regions under its strike envelope, will be tested from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast towards end-March to early-April, top defence sources said.

"We are almost ready for the test. There are no technical glitches or problems. It's more of a scheduling and logistical issue now since the missile will travel halfway across the Indian Ocean," said a source.

"Countries like Indonesia and Australia as well as international air and maritime traffic in the test zone will have to be alerted a week or 10 days before the test. Moreover, our warships, with DRDO scientists, tracking and monitoring systems, will have to be positioned midway and near the impact point in southern Indian Ocean," he added.

The nuclear-capable Agni-V, about 50-tonne in weight and 17.5-metre tall, is bound to generate waves. Once the three-stage missile becomes operational by 2014-2015 after "four to five repeatable tests", as promised by DRDO, India will break into the exclusive ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) club that counts just US, Russia, China, France and UK as its members.

India could have gone for a higher strike range but believes the solid-fuelled Agni-V is "more than adequate" to meet current threat perceptions and security concerns. The missile can, after all, even hit the northernmost parts of China.

With a canister-launch system to impart higher road mobility, the missile will give the armed forces much greater operational flexibility than the earlier-generation of Agni missiles. "The accuracy levels of Agni-V and the 3,500-km Agni-IV (first tested in November 2011), with their better guidance and navigation systems, are far higher than Agni-I (700-km), Agni-II (2,000-km) and Agni-III (3,000-km)," said the source.

India, of course, cannot match China in terms of its vast nuclear and missile arsenals, with missiles like the 11,200-km range Dong Feng-31A even unnerving the US. But missiles like Agni-IV and Agni-V will certainly add teeth to its credible minimum nuclear deterrence posture.

The Agni missiles will get deadlier once MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles) payloads for them are developed. An MIRV payload on a missile carries several nuclear warheads, which can be programmed to hit different targets. A flurry of such missiles can hence completely overwhelm BMD (ballistic missile defence) systems.

NATO Running out of Diapers due to Pak Blockade

This might seem unbelievable to you but this is for real — US army uses pampers while fighting Taliban Mujahideen and Muslims )) and now due to the blockade by Pakistan, they have run out of their pampers !! )). Now this is some crisis a mighty “super power” is facing, ISLAMABAD: Technologically well equipped and facility-wise pampered, the US-led Nato forces, which are already eating dust in Afghanistan at the hands of Taliban, are finding it impossible to fight as they don’t have “diapers to wear”.
A diplomatic source said that the Nato supply line cut by Pakistan has hurt the US-led Nato forces in many ways, including the severe shortage of diapers for the US-Nato soldiers. Spokesman for the US Embassy in Islamabad when contacted referred this correspondent to the Isaf spokesman in Afghanistan, arguing that he is neither a soldier nor does know that the US Marines and Nato soldiers wear diapers while fighting their war against Taliban inside Afghanistan.

Although, the Isaf spokesman did not come up with his response, a Google search on the matter revealed that the diaper shortage crisis faced by the US-led Nato forces in Afghanistan was first reported by an Urdu daily early last month. In addition, a lot of discussion in different blogs is going on over the shortage of diapers, tissues and chicken in Afghanistan.

Independent analysts said modified diapers might be useful to US soldiers who can’t leave their tanks or armored vehicles in combat situations.

Singapore Next-Gen Concept Rifle

During the Singapore Air Show 2012 ST Kinetics presented a conceptual model of the new generation rifle. The design is developed in the classical system and bullpup.

Family of weapons called Next-Gen Concept Rifle (NGCR) was shown in Singapore in three models: two in the classical system (including a variant of rifle-grenade launcher) and in the bullpup system. It is not clear whether the weapons are, like the Polish MSBS-5, 56, based on a common chamber, the castle, or whether it be two separate rifles, which will be characterized by a high interchangeability of parts. The differences between the prototypes shown at the exhibition would show the parallel design rather two rifles, which are divided among themselves as much as possible components.

Regardless of the structural system, in addition to the standard version will be available also with a shorter barrel sub carbine and sniper rifle with a barrel of greater length and rifle-grenade launcher with a suspended 40-mm grenade launcher (currently STK 40GL). Addition, the weapon has to be adapted to future soldier systems, including the Singaporean individual combat system Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS).

 Model for Next-Gen Concept Rifle in the bullpup system. For NGCR in the bullpup system as a standard, just as in the SAR-21 is planned for an optical viewfinder with 1.5x magnification with a laser pointer to, and for a variety of classical or holographic sight collimator mounted on the universal mounting rail (photo : ST Kinetics)

Next-Gen Concept Rifle was designed by ST Kinetics, a subsidiary of ST Engineering. Regardless of the structural system is to be supplied with ammunition 5.56 mm x 45 and operate in accordance with the principle of using the energy of powder gases discharged through the side hole in the barrel, with a short gas piston. ST Kinetics promotes NGCR been used as the successor to 5.56-mm rifle butt in the system SAR-21, introduced to arms in 1999.

 

Comparison NGCR without iron and classical. Weight of the latter is expected to be 3.3 kg, and 805 mm length of foot flask in the extended position and 740 mm in the summary. Kolb is not folded to the side and is equipped with buccal pad with adjustable height (photo : ST Kinetics)

In contrast to the older weapons, new construction is to be fully adapted to the shooters right-and left-handed, and all keypads should be equally accessible. Similarly, the SAR-21, Next-Gen Concept will be powered rifle with a 30-cartridge magazine made of transparent plastic (removable with a gun earlier generation), which allows to evaluate the remainder in the middle of the number of munitions or as an option, with the standard M16 magazine. Rate of fire arms to be at the level of 600-900 rds. / Min, slightly higher than the SAR-21, which amounts to 450-650 rds. / Min. Standard switch the type of fire is to be 3-position (described pictographs settings: secure, fire and single fire mode), but the manufacturer is assumed to introduce an optional serial some blasting fire.

Next-Gen without iron Rifle concept is to have smaller dimensions and weight of about 25% smaller than previously used by the army automatic rifle Singaporean SAR-21. Weight of the latter is 3.82 kg in the basic version and a length of 508-mm barrel, 805 mm, and without iron 3 kg, a length of 700 mm (with a barrel measuring 368 mm) (photo : PK Sengupta)

Next-Gen Barrel Rifle concept is to have a length of 368 mm, or 14.5 inches, the same as the American Colt M4 rifle. Jump the grooves is to be - depending on the needs of the client - 178 or 305 mm. This will allow you to use the weapon to the newer, heavier 4.0-g projectile cartridge 5.56 mm x 45 NATO, which is used in the M16A2 and the most modern rifles or lighter 3.56-g bullet cartridge older 5.56 mm x 45 M193 . The latter include powered M16/M16A1, but is also used in a standard army rifle Singapore - SAR-21 in the bullpup system. This follows from the fact that Singapore przezbrajał the new weapon of M16S1 and wanted to maintain the interchangeability of ammunition between the old and new structures.

Japan's Air-to-Air Upgrade Japan's Air-to-Air Upgrade

Japan already has bought Raytheon AIM-120 Amraams, so why is it spending ¥36 billion ($468 million) to upgrade about 60 F-2 fighters with the Mitsubishi Electric Corp. AAM-4B missile?
Although the benefits to Japanese industry are obvious, details of the upgrade and the missile itself suggest that the program is giving an enormous boost to the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries fighter's ability to counter enemy aircraft. The weapon has at least one advanced feature that other such missiles lack: a seeker with an active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
The program will move into high gear in the financial year that begins April 1. The work is progressing in two parallel programs: integration of the AAM-4B missile, and upgrade of the J/APG-1 radar to a more powerful standard called J/APG-2. The improved radar, needed to exploit the new missile, will incidentally raise the capabilities of the aircraft by offering greater detection ranges.
Both systems have been developed by the Japanese defense ministry's Technical Research and Development Institute with considerable help from contractors, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the missile integration and Mitsubishi Electric for the radar. The same companies are contracted to do the installation work. Ministry officials tell Aviation Week that development went smoothly and is now complete.
Early in the development program, in 2001, the ministry gave rough indications of the AAM-4B's capabilities. It could be launched at a 20% greater range than could the then-current AAM-4 and at least as far as an “AIM-120B+,” a standard that was expected to appear around 2004. The crucial claim was that the AAM-4B could switch to autonomous guidance at a 40% greater range than either of the other two missiles and would similarly outperform what was expected to be the 2009 standard of the Russian R-77 (AA-12 Adder). In a 2010 paper, the ministry attributed the seeker's greater performance to the higher transmitting power available from the AESA.
The implication is that an F-2 firing AAM-4Bs can stop tracking the target for missile guidance much sooner than an unmodified F-2 can—and officials tell Aviation Week that the key aim of the project is indeed to increase the range at which an F-2 can turn away.
Referring to this detail, a former high-ranking U.S. Air Force officer says: “In the air-to-air realm, a 40% increase in range is very significant and would provide the [Japan Air Self-Defense Force] a very capable missile.” The same person, highly familiar with the electronic technology of air warfare, does not regard the advances claimed for the upgraded F-2 as improbable; they are to be expected, he says.

Chinese J-911C Fighter Aircraft Project

 J-911C "game birds are" as the author designed a multi-mission land-based fighter aircraft program. It uses standard full-motion no tail x aerodynamic winglets. Head and the edge of the smooth transition back gradually blended wing body with no apparent boundaries of the fuselage and wings.

The wing-body fusion of the body designed to maximize interior space and increase the availability of additional lift. Inlet tanks at the task in front of the nose. This structure can reduce the size of the task of enormous tanks of resistance, but also conducive to high angle of attack when the intake efficiency. Cabin set in a high position, increasing the driver's field of view in favor. Nozzle with all the vector control.

"Game bird person" within the main wing with a motorized fan to provide vertical thrust, and its diameter of 7.6 meters. Vertical takeoff and landing, and maneuvering for the increase in lift. The following are tasks the fan compartment, the large space with 15-21 cubic meters of volume.

Task is two sides of the engine compartment, outside the main landing gear in the engine, placed in the inlet to move away next. Landing gear installed in the inlet before the lower, back away. In the tail with short-range defense / attack systems for close combat and intercept incoming missiles. The following will be introduced one by one "game bird who" of the performance characteristics. 

First, the ultra-mobility.

full motion full pneumatic small wing lifting surface is divided into the wing, stabilizer and control surfaces. Fighter aircraft, including large aircraft, the horizontal tail design for the whole move is to increase the torque control aircraft pitch. The greater the control surfaces that control the aircraft the greater the torque, the aircraft's response is the sooner. So speaking from a position in a certain range of the aircraft control surface center of gravity farther away from the larger control torque.

According to this theory, we separate the role of wing press, the lifting surface design in a separate location near the aircraft center of gravity, and then integrated control surface and the stabilizer, placed as far away from the aircraft center of gravity. A pair of front wing and rear wing arrangement of a pair of the four corners of the aircraft center of gravity, the formation of x-type. This is a small wing X full motion. Obviously, in terms of pitch or roll to do action, X layout can provide maximum torque.

Nozzle to vector the whole "game birds are" full-vector nozzle to provide thrust towards the control of six directions, up and down in about two deflection of four under the deflector, the maximum angle of about 30 each vector degrees, 90 degrees up and down 95 degrees. 95 degrees down to hover in order to control the attitude and design. Do up and down the convergence deflector four movements, for adaptation to the size of the engine jet flow. In connection with the engine nozzle with lead shot into the upper and lower air intake, the role of two points.

First, the argument can be used as nozzle fired into the air intake to increase traffic and reduce the wake temperature.

Followed by four in the upper and lower guide plate is turned off completely when the jet engine exhaust will be forced from the opening two long bar in front of discharge syncline, which is the inverse function.

Second, the low visibility.

Shape only by stealth and radar absorbing coating is not enough to reduce the RCS value. Here the low visibility of the "see" I think the meaning should be found, and should not simply refer to the radar visibility. It should be a factor in all the general term that can be detected.

Non-wing control "game bird who" in the cruise can be more effective in reducing RCS values, because then only the use of vector control aircraft attitude can nozzle. This will avoid the control surface in the shape of turning invisible when the damage.

The concept of stealth combat aircraft, although some can be invisible but only a stealth cruise, in its state into the fighting will temporarily lose stealth. The "game birds were" due to the inlet wall and the wing root to install a plasma generator, it's control surfaces in the large angle rotation can still maintain a low RCS state.

The concept of stealth attack stealth aircraft missiles in combat must be extended so that the guide head lock EVA target, open the bomb bay would increase the RCS values. The "game bird who" have a "cabin launch" capability. Missiles can be projected out from the inlet until the missiles start flying after the collapse EVA Wings re-ignition. In fact, conventional pylons have similar institutions, but it is sent down force, but also smaller forces.

Infrared Infrared Stealth aircraft is the largest local characteristics of the end of nozzle, but it is not impossible infrared feature. "Game bird who" in addition to reduced use of ejector wake temperature, because of its inlet attached to the inner wall of the plasma layer will be inhaled by the engine outer bypass discharge. Plasma is also for reducing the visibility of certain infrared effect. At this point the plasma discharge by the nozzle wake wrapped in the peripheral temperature, without reducing the efficiency of the case of jet greatly reduced infrared signature.

Third, the vertical mobility.

"Game bird who" installed in the main wing through the vertical fan and the downward deflection of nozzle for its ability to provide vertical takeoff and landing. This makes him, in most cases the same, like a helicopter taking off and landing in the field of flat ground.

Fourth, super fighting skills.

The key to the traditional fighting, in the shortest possible time, opponents point to the head and then opened fire. "Game bird who" completely break the pattern, even if do not do the same maneuver can be done any fighting. This depends on the off-axis attack. And this off-axis attack, but also is based on its short-range laser defense / attack systems.

The concept of off-axis attack: "Scorpion" Laser short-range defense / attack system. Off-axis against the axis of the aircraft is outside the attacks. Do in the body posture changes relative to turn their weapons goals. Have this capability, the aircraft will not have the mobility of fighting ability, mobility aircraft even more powerful. In the "game bird who" of the rear fuselage with a laser short-range defense / attack system, back out the caudal is the execution platform. The system has three functions: short-range defense, short-range attacks and view aim. Caudal vertebrae can rotate 90 degrees up or down, and its execution platform does not rotate when the angle of attack is greater than after the hemisphere, so that we can do almost no dead ends.

Fifth, the task module concept.

In the implementation of different tasks, different tasks through the unit to re-mount configuration tasks module. "Game bird person," according to mission requirements, is converted to different purposes. Or focus on a variety of tasks to complete the flight.

Although the "game bird who" in the post-mounted unit can not achieve the task-specific type of combat effectiveness, but it can greatly enhance their battlefield use of the versatility and convenience. "Game bird who" of the task space can be fully opened down, ground personnel to facilitate their internal operations.

Also in the firing anti-ship missiles, because missiles are too large to open the side door, throwing missiles fired after the ignition.

Russia boosts Kaliningrad defences

Russia is to modernise two airfields and deploy extra surface-to-air missiles at military bases within its western exclave of Kaliningrad, it has been announced.

Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, commander of Russia's Baltic fleet, said that the runway at Chkalovsk airfield would be extended to 3,500m in length to allow it to "receive any kind of aircraft, including Boeings and Airbuses".

Construction to extend the airfield is expected to take around two years, and Russia will also look to rebuild a disused airfield on the Baltic Sea coast.

The country has already delivered S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missiles to Kaliningrad, and they are expected to be deployed within a month.

S-400 missiles have only previously been deployed around Moscow, and will be joined in Kaliningrad by an unknown number of Iskander missiles.

Kaliningrad shares borders with Poland, to the south, and Lithuania, and Russian officials have said the weapons deployments are directly related to the country's anger over NATO's planned missile defence shield, which is set to see radar systems and SM-3 interceptor missiles deployed throughout Europe in coming years.

Yury Gorlach, deputy director of the Russian foreign ministry's department of European cooperation, said the country would take a "phased approach" to any deployments.

"If there is no threat to Russian strategic potential, there will be nothing in Kaliningrad region," he is reported to have said.

In November 2011, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that bases in Kaliningrad would be put on combat alert, that he would reinforce protection of Russia's nuclear weapons, and that he was asking the armed forces to draw up plans to disable European missile defence systems.

If the measures proved "insufficient", Medvedev warned, Russia would "deploy modern offensive weapon systems in the west and south of the country, ensuring our ability to take out any part of the US missile defence system in Europe".

Chinese steal the US Apache

israeli derby missile to arm indian lca tejas fighter jets

India’s new Tejas fighter will be armed with Israel’s Derby missile, according to an Indian  website. The Derby is medium-range active-radar seeker air-to-air missile, that can hit targets at about 50 km. away. Missiles that can achieve this range are known by the acronym BVR - beyond visual range.

A contract for supplying the Derby will be signed by March with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Rafael will also fit the missiles on about 200 jets, according to P.S. Subramanya, director of India’s Aeronautical Development Agency, which is developing the light combat aircraft.

 

The Indian Air Force (known, like its Israeli counterpart, as the IAF) has ordered 40 Tejas fighters to be built. The Indian Air Force also wants 100 units of the Mk-II version of the fighter, and the navy wants 60 of the naval versions, Subramanya said.

 

The jet "recently obtained restricted initial operational clearance, with a full clearance targeted for December 2012," LiveMint said. In order to obtain full clearance, the jets need to integrate a BVR missile - therefore, delivery of the missiles is expected in the second half of 2012.

 

India’s Sea Harrier jets carry Derby missiles. Rafael's Python missile, closely related to the Derby, was also an option for the Tejas, Subramanya stated.

 

In the past decade, as the Muslim world grows more religious and bellicose, Israel has been forging ever-closer ties with natural allies that also face a Muslim threat. These include India and may soon include South Sudan.

 

 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

Hongdu K-8 Karakorum Light Attack and Jet Trainer Aircraft, Pakistan

The Karakorum-8 (K-8) is a single-engine, advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured jointly by Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC) of China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) to replace the ageing Cessna T-37 Tweet jet trainers currently in service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
A Chinese version of K-8, the JiaoLian-8 (JL-8), is deployed in the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to replace its obsolete JJ-5 jet trainers. The K-8 was unveiled to the Pakistani public in April 2010. About 500 K-8s have been built since 1993.

Variants

The K-8 has seven variants: the K-8E, K-8P, K-8V, JL-8, L-11, K-8W and K-8VB.
The K-8E is an upgraded version, featuring modified airframe and avionics, built for the Egyptian Air Force (EAF). The K-8P is a Pakistani variant upgraded with a new glass cockpit.
The K-8V is an integrated flight-test simulation aircraft (IFTSA) principally used to examine designs before prototypes are built and tested.
The JL-8 is a Chinese version powered by the Ivchenko AI-25 TLK turbofan and an indigenous avionics suite.
The L-11 is an improved version of JL-8, powered by the WS-11 turbofan engine. The K-8W is an advance version of the K-8 that features a meliorated cockpit and head-up display. The K-8VB is an export version delivered to the Bolivian Air Force.

Orders and deliveries

Recent orders of K-8 include: Egypt (118), Ghana (four), Myanmar (62), Namibia (12), Pakistan (55), China (200), Sri Lanka (six), Sudan (12), Tanzania (six), Zambia (eight) and Zimbabwe (11).
Venezuela ordered 18 K-8 aircraft in 2008. The first six were delivered in March 2010 and the remaining 12 in August 2010. Venezuela ordered 18 additional K-8s worth $82m in June 2010 to bring the total orders to 36.
Bolivia ordered six K-8P aircraft worth $58m in 2009 for anti-drug operations. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in April 2011.

Design

The K-8 was designed to execute pilot training as well as light attack missions in all weather conditions. Its airframe is constructed with aluminium alloys. The aircraft was designed to incorporate a fly-by-wire (FBW) system, elevator, rudder and aileron control system.

Development

"The K-8 features a full-glass cockpit enclosed with a plastic bubble-shaped canopy to accommodate two crew members."

Pakistan and the People's Republic of China unveiled a decision in 1986 to jointly build the K-8 with Pakistan providing 25% funding for the project. Development of the K-8 started in 1987 with initial plan to deploy American technologies including Garrett turbofan engine and Collins avionics, but was cancelled in 1989 due to US political restrictions on China.
Production of four K-8 prototypes (001, 002, 003 and 004) began in January 1989. The K-8-001 took its maiden flight in November 1990, with the K-8-003 following in October 1991. The second and fourth prototypes are used for static and fatigue testing. The flight test programme was completed in 1993. The aircraft entered into service in September 1994.
A total of 15 K-8s were produced between 1992 and 1996. Six were delivered to the PAF in 1994 after which Pakistan decided to procure 75 K-8 aircraft. The first six JL-8s were handed over to the PLAAF in 1998.

Cockpit

The K-8 features a full-glass cockpit enclosed with a plastic bubble-shaped canopy to accommodate two crew members including a student pilot or instructor or an official pilot and weapons system officer. A multi-functional display (MFD) is fitted at the front and rear. The tandem seating configuration provides all-round clear visibility.
An environmental control system (ECS) offers air-conditioning and pressurisation. The emergency cockpit-escape system comprises two Martin-Baker MK-10L rocket-aided ejection seats.

Avionics

The avionics suite installed in the K-8 includes Rockwell Collins EFIS-86, Type 265 radio altimeter, Bendix/King KNR 634A voice-over recorder, UHF radios, automatic direction finder, rate of climb indicator, barometric altimeter, attitude and heading reference system, air data computer, WL-7 radio compass, KTU-709 tactical air-navigation system and marker beacon receiver.

Armaments

The K-8 is armed with a 23mm cannon pod. The aircraft has five hardpoints of which four are located under wing and one beneath the centreline fuselage section. It can carry 1,000kg of payload. The aircraft is equipped with PL-5 and PL-7 air-to-air missiles (AAM), unguided bomb, BL755 cluster bombs weighing 200-250kg, 57mm unguided rocket pods and two fuel drop-tanks.

Engines

The K-8 is powered by a single Garrett TFE731-2A-2A turbofan engine designed and built by Honeywell Aerospace. The engine generates 16.01kN of thrust. It features a single-stage high-pressure turbine, a three-stage low-pressure turbine, annular combustors, digital electronic engine control (DEEC) and a single centrifugal high-pressure compressor stage.
The length and diameter of the engine are 1.27m and 1.0m respectively. The dry weight is 333kg.

Landing gear

The tricycle type landing gear features anti-skid units and oleo-pneumatic shock-absorbers. The nose wheel is used for steering the aircraft while the main gear units retract inwards in the fuselage upon take-off.
The length and width of the main gear tyres are 0.56m and 0.16m respectively.

Performance

The K-8 can climb at a rate of 30m/s. The maximum speed is 800km/h. The range and service ceiling of the aircraft are 2,140km and 13,600m respectively. The maximum endurance is four hours 25 minutes.
The aircraft can operate under ambient temperatures between -40°C and 52°C both on the ground and in the air.

FC-1 Xiaolong / JF-17 Thunder, China / Pakistan

The FC-1 Xiaolong / JF-17 Thunder is a single engine, lightweight, multipurpose combat aircraft that was developed jointly by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) of China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) of Pakistan.
The medium-sized aircraft is built mainly to meet the needs of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and will replace its current ageing fleet of Nanchang A-5, Chengdu F-7P / PG and Dassault Mirage III / V fighter aircraft.
The maiden flight of the FC-1 was completed in August 2003 and entered service in March 2007. The aircraft is designated as Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17 by Pakistan and as Fighter China-1 (FC-1) by China. The FC-1 / JF-17 is expected to cost around $15m-20m.
The No.26 Squadron Black Spiders is the first JF-17 Squadron of the PAF, introduced in February 2010. It has been launched with 14 JF-17 aircraft.
The JF-17 was showcased at the Farnborough Air Show 2010. Two aircraft of the No.26 Black Spiders Squadron were also displayed at the show. Orders and deliveries
PAF ordered eight JF-17 aircraft. The first two were delivered on 12 March 2007 and the remaining six were delivered in 2008.
PAF will procure 42 JF-17 fighters as part of an $800m contract signed in March 2009. It plans to procure 250 aircraft at a cost of $3bn-5bn.
The first two aircraft were delivered in 2009. The first Pakistani-built JF-17 was delivered to PAF in November 2009. Approximately 200 JF-17 aircraft will be procured by 2015.
FC-1 design
China signed an agreement with Pakistan in May 2011 to supply 50 additional JF-17 thunder jets to replace the ageing MiG-21 and Northrop F-5 Tiger fighter aircraft.
Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute designed the FC-1. The airframe is a semi-monocoque structure and is constructed principally of aluminium alloys, steel and titanium. The aircraft comprises lateral air intakes and electronic equipment pod diffuser supersonic inlets.
Development

"The JF-17 was built mainly to meet the needs of the PAF and will replace its ageing fleet."

Development of the JF-17 began with the origination of Super-7 in 1986 under a $500m joint Chengdu-Grumman development project, but the project was cancelled for financial and political reasons.
Chengdu continued the development of Super-7 in 1991 under the brand name FC-1 / JF-17. Pakistan and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 1995 to build the aircraft. In 1998, the countries signed a Letter of Intent and the contract was awarded in June 1999.
To speed up development, the avionics and radar systems design of the aircraft was separated from the airframes. The preliminary design was completed in 2001 and the detailed structure in 2002. Funding for the programme was provided by China Aviation Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and Pakistan, each owning a 50% stake.
Development of the first prototype began in September 2002 and production was completed in May 2003. Design flaws of the JF-17 were identified after its first flight in 2003. After a significant redesign the fourth prototype production was completed in April 2006. The sixth prototype first flew in September 2006.
Sub-assemblies of the JF-17 started in Pakistan on 22 January 2008 and final assembly began in June 2009. PAC is producing 15 aircraft per year and is expected to increase production to 25 per year from 2011.
FC-1 cockpit
The FC-1 is equipped with a glass cockpit and a specially designed canopy. The cockpit features three multifunction displays (MFD), head-up display (HUD), 32-bit weapon and mission management computer (WMMC) and a hands-on throttle and stick.
An up-front control panel (UFCP) is fitted between the MFD and HUD. The Chinese HUD is designed and developed to overwhelm the fog-up error that frequently occurs in humid, sub-tropical and tropical zones.
An acrylic canopy covers the aircraft's cockpit and provides clear all-round visibility.
Avionics
The avionics suite includes electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS), flight control system (FCS), health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), automatic test equipment, UHF / VHF communication radios, simpatico data links, inertial navigation system (INS) and an identification friend-or-foe (IFF) transponder.
Armaments
FC-1 / JF-17 is armed with GSh-23 dual-barrel 23mm cannon or GSh-30 dual-30mm cannon. The aircraft has seven hardpoints of which four are located under the wings, one under the fuselage and two mounted on the wingtips. It can carry up to 3,700kg payload.

"The PAF will procure 42 JF-17 fighters as part of an $800m contract ."

The aircraft is fitted with PL-12 or SD-10 radar homing medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), unguided bombs, satellite guided bombs, gravity bombs, anti-ship missiles, anti-radiation missiles, rocket launchers and a laser designator pod.
The FC-1 / JF-17 is equipped with AIM-9L / M, PL-5E, PL-9C short range air-to-air missiles on its wingtip hardpoints.
Countermeasures
The FC-1 is equipped with a defensive aids system (DAS), which includes a radar warning system (RWS), missile approach and warning system (MAWS), a countermeasure dispensing system and a self-protection radar jamming pod. The RWS collects the direction and proximity of the enemy radar and transmits the data to the pilot.
The MAWS comprises various optical sensors that detect and display the rocket missiles approaching the aircraft on MFDs. The decoy flares and chaff incorporated in the countermeasure dispensing system prevents the enemy's missile from tracking the aircraft by locking the radar system of the enemy aircraft.
Radars
The initial 42 JF-17 aircraft being delivered to PAF are fitted with an NRIET KLJ-7 radar. The KLJ-7 radar can track ten targets located beyond visual range (BVR) through track-while-scan mode.
An Italian Galileo Avionica Grifo S-7 pulse Doppler radar will replace the KLJ-7 radar in PAF's JF-17 aircraft. This radar can operate in 25 working modes for 200 hours continuously. Look-down, shoot-down and ground-strike are further capabilities.
Landing gear
A retractable tricycle-type landing gear is fitted to the JF-17. A steerable nosewheel is located under the cockpit between the air intakes, while the two main wheels are attached under the fuselage section between the wings. It also features hydraulic brakes comprising an automated anti-skid system.

"FC-1 / JF-17 is equipped with a glass cockpit and a specially designed canopy."

FC-1 / JF-17 is powered by a single Klimov RD-93 turbofan engine. Each engine can produce a maximum of 49.4kN dry thrust and its thrust after-burner is 84.4kN.
An advanced WS-13 turbofan engine is currently being developed by Liyang Aero Engine Corporation, Guizhou, to replace the Klimov RD-93. It is expected to produce output thrust of 80 to 86.36 kN with a lifespan of 2,200 hours.
The fuel system, featuring internal fuel tanks carrying 2,330kg of fuel, is fitted to the FC-1. These tanks can be refuelled through a single-point-of-pressure refuelling system. The fuel system is also simpatico with Inflight Refuelling (IFR). The FC-1 being produced for the PAF will be fitted with IFR probes.
FC-1 performance
The FC-1 can fly at a maximum speed of 1,909km per hour. The range and service ceiling of the aircraft are 2,037km and 15,240m, respectively. Its operational radius is 1,352km. The aircraft weighs around 6,411kg and its maximum take-off weight is 12,474kg.

  The JF-17 was showcased at the defence exhibition with six air-to-air missiles incorporated in its wings.

  The JF-17 parked beside the Dassault Mirage 5 ROSE at the Pakistani Air Force base.

RAW active in Indian consulates: Pakistan

Pakistan on Friday reiterated its charge that Indian consulates in two Afghan border provinces were involved in hostile activities, rejecting New Delhi’s complaints about the Pakistan media reports about the affair.

A foreign ministry statement said the Indian consulates in Afghan cities of Jalalabad and Kandahar were being used by New Delhi’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence network for anti-Pakistan activities and called a halt to this practice.

The Indian government conveyed a demarche to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday complaining about the Pakistani media reports that accused the Indian consulates of complicity in acts of terrorism and subversion in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has rejected India’s demarche...,” the foreign ministry statement said

“Pakistan remains concerned over the Indian intelligence agencies’ involvement in acts of terrorism and subversion in Pakistan,” it said, and added: “This pattern of cross-border terrorism by India has shown a rapid rise in recent months.”

“Indian consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar are a veritable base for RAW and its accessories,” the statement said. “There is an increasing evidence of their involvement in anti-Pakistan activities, especially in regions adjoining Pakistan’s western border.”

A foreign ministry spokesman said last Saturday that Pakistan had conveyed its concern to the Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Interior Minister Ali Ahmed Jalali and that this concern must be addressed by Kabul.

Israeli special forces training - Elite World Cops - Israeli YAMAS

Turkey Loses Bid for Indonesia Submarines, but the Cooperation will be Countinued by Aselsan, Rocketsan and FNSS

Turkey loses bid for Indonesia submarines

Indonesia picks up a South Korean offer for three U209 model submarines instead of a Turkish-German joint offer. Still, the two countries may bid for a tender for the more developed U214 models, Jakarta says.

Indonesia has informed a German-Turkish partnership that South Korea has won Jakarta’s competition for U209 submarines and that the duo should instead focus on the sale of more-developed U214 subs to the Southeast Asian giant, a senior Turkish official has said.

The message was conveyed during the visit of Adm. Agus Suhartono, the chief of staff of Indonesia’s military forces, to Turkey last week, the Turkish official said this weekend.

Turkey, led by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, SSM, and Germany, led by ThyssenKrupp’s shipyard, HDW, entered the Indonesian Navy’s competition of more than $1 billion after it came to an end, effectively ensuring Seoul’s victory.

South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering announced on Dec. 22 that it had won the Indonesian deal $1.1 billion for three submarines.

As for Turkey, a $2 billion submarine deal with HDW for the joint manufacture of six U214 platforms formally took effect in July, the German company said. Turkish procurement officials also confirmed the information. “As a longstanding partner and supplier to the Turkish Navy, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems can now begin executing the order. The order will contribute to securing employment at [ThyssenKrupp’s] HDW in Kiel, as well as at many subcontractors in Germany and Turkey, for the next 10 years,” it said.

A major loan deal between German banks and the Turkish Treasury rescued the multibillion-dollar submarine contract between the Turkish state and Howaldswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) on the last day of 2010, Turkish procurement officials said earlier.

“We will try to work hard to meet the requirements for the second competition [for the U214 deal],” said the Turkish procurement official.The Indonesian side also offered a number of consolations to the Turkish side.

The Indonesians will come up with a $100 million Turkish proposal to make military radios produced by Aselsan, the procurement official said.

The Indonesians separately plan to propose a facility to produce Roketsan-made missiles after they sign a contract with the company.

Jakarta will also produce FNSS-made 8x8 vehicles.

Turkey and Indonesia are two of the largest Muslim countries and are keen to develop their defense industries and ties.

China’s SVU200 UAV conducts maiden flight

China's Sunward Tech Star-lite SVU200 vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle has conducted its maiden flight.
The aircraft conducted several short test flights before conducting a 20-minute flight, said Dennis Fetters, the SVU200's designer, in a statement.
"The demonstration included multiple take-offs, landings, turns, sideways manoeuvres, quick-stops, backward flying and forward-cruise flights," said Fetters. "A lifting demonstration of 200kg (441 lbs) was also performed."
The SVU200 has a conventional helicopter layout, with a large main rotor and smaller tail rotor. Following the flights, the president of Sunward Tech, He Qing Hua, approved "full autonomous flight testing"

At the Aviation Expo/China 2011 last September in Beijing, Fetters told Flightglobal the aircraft has a 78hp (58kW) engine, and an endurance of up to 2.6h at its cruising speed of 177kmh. Fetters is a freelance American UAV designer who resides in China.

Fetters said the aircraft was designed to monitor powerlines, but SVU200 promotional material depicts it equipped with 18 rocket tubes and a chin-mounted electro optical/infrared sensor. Sunward said the SVU200 has a "maximum useful load" of 244kg.
Sunward plans to sell two units and a ground control station for yuan (CNY) 10 million ($1.6 million). The aircraft can carry a range of weapons and sensors and has two small internal storage compartments.
At the Beijing show a number of of indigenous VTOL UAVs were displayed, most of them developed by Chinese technical institutions, ostensibly for commercial purposes. One of the UAVs at the show, the YOTAISC X200, was also on static display at the exhibition hall of the Singapore Airshow 2012.
The X200 has a maximum payload of 100kg and two contra-rotating main rotors.
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The New Russian Main Battle Tank Prototype Armata will be Completed by 2013

Russia will complete the first prototype of the new Armata main battle tank by 2013 and begin production and deliveries to the Russian Armed Forces in 2015, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and the CEO of tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod Oleg Sienko told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Lenta.ru news portal reported.

Uralvagonzavod and the military are testing the main components of the new tank. No other details were reported. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry has signed a contract worth six billion rubles with Uralvagonzavod to upgrade 170 T-72 main battle tanks, to be carried out at a specially prepared facility in Omsk, Lenta.ru said.

 

Russian-made Black Eagle main battle tank. According to the Sverdlovsk "Regional Newspaper", the Russian military, so, in fact, refused to purchase T-90 tanks, has been repeatedly criticized by the Commander of Land Forces Alexander Postnikov and Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces Nikolai Makarov. (photo : Army Recognition)

“The Russian armed forces will have a new main tank with fundamentally new characteristics, fully automated loading and separate crew compartment by 2015,” Lieutenant-General Yuri Kovalenko, former First Deputy Head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Automotive Armor Directorate said last April.Kovalenko said work from other projects, including Object 195 and Black Eagle, will be incorporated in Armata's design.

Focus on Indian Army High Altitute Warfare School - HAWS