Russia threatens to bomb Qatar and Saudi Arabia

A senior source in the Russian Air Force told to Moscow website Telegrafist that Russia had plans to bomb Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

He claims that the combat mission can be done by a unit of Su-27s, as well as by modern bombers Su-34s with extra fuel tanks, accompanied by the Su-27s.
 
"Today, the situation is such that even in case if the Su-34s do not have enough fuel to get out of Iran's airspace on return flight, they will be able to land right there", he said - "a combat radius of the Su-27s allows fly to the capital of Qatar and Saudi Arabia and return, the Su-34s do not have such radius".

On the question when and why these plans developed, the Russian Air Force officer replied:
"Saudi Arabia is a key US ally in the region, not Israel, as many suggest, namely the regime of King Abdullah who is willing to get involved where you want to please his masters, so of course the Soviet Union was preparing plans for the destruction of this regime because without it - Saudi Arabia will no longer be an

Agni-V to be tested twice this year, could be inducted by 2015

India's most formidable strategic missile, the over 5,000-km Agni-V, will be tested twice before this year ends to ensure it is ready for full-scale induction in the armed forces towards end-2015.

Interestingly, the latter of the two tests will see the 50-tonne Agni-V being fired from a hermetically-sealed canister mounted on a launcher truck. A canister-launch system will give the forces the requisite operational flexibility to swiftly transport the ballistic missile and launch it from a place of their choosing. Consequently, the highly road-mobile Agni-V will be able to hit even the northernmost part of China if fired from close to the Line of Actual Control.

"We are getting ready for two more tests of the three-stage Agni-V this year, which will include the canister-launch trial. Our aim is to make the missile ready for induction in two years," said new DRDO chief Avinash Chander, talking exclusively to TOI.

Similar plans are underway to make the two-stage Agni-IV, with a 3,500-km strike range, ready for induction by end-2014. The armed forces have already inducted the Pakistan-specific Agni-I (700-km) and Agni-II (over 2,000-km) as well as the 3,000-km Agni-III.

The Agni-IV and Agni-V missiles, however, are in a different class with "much higher accuracy and kill efficiencies" to give teeth to the minimum credible deterrence posture against China. With a massive nuclear arsenal and missiles like the 11,200-km Dong Feng-31A capable of hitting any Indian city, Beijing is leagues ahead of New Delhi.

Harrier For Sale On eBay

A Canadian businessman says he doesn't have the time to enjoy it so he's selling his Sea Harrier jump jet on eBay. Ian Cotton, of Red Deer, Alberta, is hoping to get $1.5 million for the ex-Royal Navy aircraft. He bought the fighter from the British government four years ago and imported it to Canada with an eye to getting it into taxiing condition. To that end he bought another fuselage for spare parts and a flight-worthy Pegasus engine. He said the aircraft is in excellent condition and needs only a few parts to fly but it's being sold as a static display aircraft only. "I can provide an itemized list of the parts needed," he said in an interview with AVweb.

Cotton, who has taken a few lessons but is not a pilot, has five other ex-military jets but he says his natural gas transmission and power generating business keeps him too busy to spend any time with them. He's considering selling off his Hawker Hunters and Lightning fighters but he may keep the Strikemaster trainer/light attack aircraft and get it into flying condition. Cotton said he's so far had a lot of inquiries from

PH plans air, naval bases at Subic with access for US

The Philippine military has revived plans to build new air and naval bases at Subic Bay, a former U.S. naval base that American forces could use to counter China's creeping presence in the disputed South China Sea, senior navy officials said.
The proposed bases in the Philippines, a close U.S. ally, coincides with a resurgence of U.S. warships, planes and personnel in the region as Washington turns its attention to a newly assertive China and shifts its foreign, economic and security policy towards Asia.
The bases would allow the Philippines to station warships and fighter jets just 124 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal, a contentious area of the South China Sea now controlled by China after a tense standoff last year.

View Larger Map The Philippine Navy, whose resources and battle capabilities are no match for China's growing naval might, has yet to formally present its 10-billion-peso ($230 million) base development plan to President Benigno Aquino.
But senior officials say they believe it has a strong chance of winning approval as Aquino seeks to upgrade the country's decrepit forces.
The Philippine Congress last year approved $1.8 billion for military modernization, with the bulk going to acquisition of ships, aircraft and equipment such as radar. The military had raised the plan in the past, but is now pushing it with more urgency following a series of naval stand-offs with China.
"The chances of this plan taking off under President Aquino are high because his administration has been very supportive in terms of equipment upgrade," said a senior military officer who asked not to be identified.
"The people around him understood our needs and more importantly, what our country is facing at this time."
Subic, a deep-water port sheltered by jungle-clad mountains 80 km (50 miles) north of Manila, has been a special economic zone since U.S. forces were evicted in 1992, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Philippines and shutting the largest U.S. military installation in Southeast Asia.
Since then, American warships and planes have been allowed to visit the Philippines for maintenance and refuelling.
U.S. military "rotations" through the Philippines have become more frequent as Beijing grows more assertive in the South China Sea, a vast expanse of mineral-rich waters and vital sea lanes claimed entirely by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and in part by Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines - one of Asia's biggest security flashpoints.
A 30-hectare (74-acre) area has been identified for the bases, which would station fighter jets and the Philippines' biggest warships that patrol the disputed sea, including two Hamilton-class cutter ships it acquired for free from the United States.
The plan has taken on added urgency since a tense two-month standoff last year between Chinese and Philippine ships at the Scarborough Shoal, which is only about 124 nautical miles off the Philippine coast. Chinese ships now control the shoal, often chasing away Filipino fishermen.
U.S. and Philippine navy ships begin war games near the shoal on Thursday.
The South China Sea dispute will again loom large over regional diplomacy next week when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joins his counterparts from Southeast Asian nations and China among other countries for an annual meeting in Brunei.
The Philippines plans to raise the issue of Chinese ships' "encroachment" near another disputed coral reef where Manila recently beefed up its small military presence, diplomatic sources told Reuters. China in turn has accused the Philippines of "illegal occupation" of the reef, which is a strategic gateway to an area believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.
RISE IN U.S. NAVY VISITS

OSI to Support of Royal Malaysian Navy’s LCS Programme

Gowind class Littoral Combat Ship (image : DCNS)

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) has been awarded a contract by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) to deliver integrated navigation and tactical systems (INTS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy's Gowind-class corvettes.

OSI  integrated navigation and tactical systems (all photos : OSI)

BNS was selected by the Royal Malaysian Navy previously to build six Gowind-class corvettes under the littoral combat ship (LCS) programme.

Under the most recent contract, OSI will supply six INTS, in addition to electronic chart precise integrated system (ECPINS) warship (W) and Warship-AIS (W-ASI), which has been designed specifically for naval operations.

The INTS is a fully scalable tactical navigation solution and has been designed to meet the requirements of the most demanding military environments from vessels to large offshore ships.

Malyshev Plant Presented the First Tank Made for Thailand

T-84 Oplot Main Battle Tank (all photos : LBEconomics)

  the state enterprise "Malyshev Plant" presented the first production tank "Oplot", made under a contract with the army of Thailand.

The first production "Oplot" delegation visited the Royal Thai Army, led by the commander of the armored troops Bunsantinom Sansavatom, reports correspondent LB.ua.

General Director of "Ukroboronprom" Sergey Gromov said that "this tank demonstrates that" Ukroboronprom "fulfill its obligations to Thailand in the agreed time frame."

According to him, the contract will be fully implemented by the end of 2014.

Gromov also noted that the Ukrainian-Thai agreement is of fundamental importance for the country and for the GC "Ukroboronprom" because "it loads the production capacity of Ukrainian enterprises and allows Ukraine to develop as a world leading manufacturer and exporter of military equipment."

Raytheon delivers first NASAMS High Mobility Launcher to Norway

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has delivered the first High Mobility Launcher (HML) for Norway's National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to provide Norway with advanced air defense capability. When time is of the essence to protect high-value assets and populations, the HML significantly reduces the time required to transport and ready the system.

"The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the first international NASAMS customer to receive this highly mobile solution that can be easily rolled on and off a C-130," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business. "This is an important milestone for Raytheon and our partner KONGSBERG because of the transportability, safety and security it brings to the maneuvering forces when countering evolving threats."
The new HML has the modern NASAMS electronics that the Norwegian Air Force will soon be installing and upgrading in its existing fleet of canister launchers. The resulting commonality will help reduce maintenance and lifecycle costs. The modern package includes GPS and north-finding instrumentation for quicker system placement and positioning in the battlefield and increased target engagement accuracy. In addition to Norway and an undisclosed customer,

Digital Map Computers for RMAF's F/A-18

Tammac Digital Map Computer (photo, image : Harris)

The TAMMAC DMC (Tactical Aircraft Moving MAp Capability Digital Map Computer) is a system-level solution that offers the highest overall performance. In addition to the feature-rich software and high-performance graphics accelerator, it bundles in mass storage and processing speed to provide the aircrew with an easily assimilated graphical presentation of the aircraft’s present position and the relative positions of targets, threats, terrain features, planned mission flight path, no fly zones, safe bases, and other objects. Its advanced map capabilities that increase mission effectiveness include presentation of contour lines, slope shading, dynamic elevation banding, threat inter-visibility, cultural features, variable scaling, and overlays. (photo : Harris)

Australia Seeks Triton Superdrones for Indian Ocean Overwatch

MQ-4C Triton UAV (photo : USNavy)

(Reuters) - Rising Indian Ocean rivalries as China seeks to safeguard key energy lifelines loom behind an Australian push for a $3 billion fleet of maritime superdrones, which will likely boost intelligence sharing with the United States.

With elections looming and pressure for budget savings, the purchase of up to seven MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft has emerged as rare point of bipartisan agreement between Australia's Labor government and conservative opponents, but both sides are reluctant to discuss their wider strategic aims.

"There's not a lot of new money in our policy, (but) we are going into Broad Area Maritime Surveillance, the Triton," said conservative defense spokesman David Johnston, who is likely to become defense minister following the September 14 elections.

The Triton, under development by Northrop Grumman, is the size of a small airliner with a 40-metre wingspan. It can cruise at 20,000 meters for up to 30 hours, sweeping a distance greater than Sydney to London with 360-degree radar and sensors including infra-red and optical cameras.

Both the government and opposition say the world's most expensive and advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) will be used mainly to combat asylum seekers arriving in fishing boats from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and which have become a hot political issue in Australia.

"But it is not about detecting leaky boats. You don't need to spend billions of dollars to do that. This is about maritime security and surveillance in the Indian Ocean," a senior Labor insider with close knowledge of defense planning said.

T-62 Tanks of the Vietnam People's Army

T-62 tank of the VPA (photo : TienPhong, Baomoi)

T-54/55 is the "backbone" of the rising forces - armored, but the new T-62 is the most modern tanks.

Tank T-62 by the Department of OKB-520 design innovative design from T-54/55 tanks. 1961, T-62 was officially put on the site and soon became the standard line of tanks in the Soviet Army. During the period from 1961-1975, there were 22,700 T-62 production and provide many countries around the world, including Vietnam.

According to data of the Institute for International Peace Studies Stockholm (SIPRI), in the late 1970s Vietnam has received a small amount of aid the main battle tank T-62. At that time, this was considered the most modern tank force increased - armored Vietnam.

The T-62 weighs 40 tons, 9.34 m long, 3.30 m wide and 2.40 m high. Armor vehicle is considered T-54/55 but thicker than regular cast steel so vulnerable before anti-tank ammunition.

The most heavily armored focus in front of the turret and hull numbers 203mm and 102mm respectively. On either side of the turret around 153mm thick, 79mm thick frames, about 20mm thick chassis.

About firepower, T-62 equipped with smooth-bore cannon 2A20 115mm size capable of firing anti-tank missile control (ATGM). Fireworks on the T-62 is not loaded, the device supports automatic rate of fire but can also play at 3-5 / min.

Iran needless of foreign aid for repairing copters: Cmdr

The commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces says the country’s air force has achieved self-sufficiency in repairing helicopters.

“The [Islamic Republic of Iran] Army Aviation has reached a level of progress where it can repair its helicopters without any need for [assistance from] other countries,” Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said on Tuesday.

Pourdastan, who was visiting the Army Aviation’s base in Abyek, Qazvin Province, also praised the Iranian aerospace experts for their accomplishments

Over the past years, Iran has made important breakthroughs in its defense sector and unveiled a variety of domestically produced military equipment and systems, including tanks, sophisticated destroyers, submarines, unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced missile and radar systems.

MMEA Receives 10 Patrol Boats To Strengthen Control In ESSCOM Area

10 patrol boats to control Eastern Sabah (photo : Malaysia Flying Herald)

KOTA KINABALU (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has received 10 patrol boats to help intensify and strengthen national maritime security control at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base jetty here.

Its Regional Operation Director, Capt (M) Adam Aziz, received the boats on behalf of the agency in a simple ceremony on board RMN's auxiliary ship, Bunga Mas Enam, from its Commander Kuharaj Jayaraj yesterday.

MMEA in a statement said that the boats would help strengthen the security at MMEA control posts in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) area, namely in Tanjung Labian, Indarasabah, Beluran, Felda Sahabat and Kunak.

Freire Shipyard Build a Sailing Tall Ship for Indonesia

OLIVER DESIGN is developing the Architectural Design and Turnkey accommodation of the new Sailing Tall Ship for the Indonesian Navy to be built by Astilleros Freire in Vigo (photo : Oliver Design)

The Freire shipyard  from Vigo, Spain has finally awarded the construction of a navy sailing tall ship (schooner) Indonesia, with an investment of 70 million dollars (52 million euros), after submitted to a public competition in which he had been a finalist, along with Polish shipyard, as confirmed to Europa Press reported sources close to the operation.

Thus, the company is finalizing the paperwork to close the deal, and that it has completed the period for comment and no complaints were filed regarding the outcome of the contest. In any case, the sources caution that no work would begin this ship until early next year.

The construction of the training ship, awarded on a competitive bidding process of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, is workload for two years and would employ 63 workers Freire template and hundreds of industry workers Auxiliary.

This is a schooner of 110 meters in length, with rig type Bricbarca and 3350 meters square sail. It will have capacity to accommodate 200 people on board, of which 120 are cadets in training, as explained by the shipyard.

Chinese Air Force Gets More H-6K Strategic Bombers

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) recently received 15 Xian H-6K bombers with nuclear capabilities, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly.
The H-6K, an updated version of the H-6 bomber (originally, a locally built version of the 1960s vintage Russian Tupolev Tu-16 bomber), is a medium-sized craft designed for long-range attacks, stand-off attacks and large-area air patrol. Unlike its predecessor, the H-6K can carry cruise missiles under its wings. The H6-K also
maneuvers more deftly than the H-6 and requires a smaller crew to operate. H-6K reportedly has a combat radius of 3,500 km. It can carry weapons in the internal weapon bay and on four underwing pylons. The nuclear-capable Changjian-10 (long sword) CJ-10A cruise missiles it carries have a range of 1,500-2,000 km, effectively extending the bomber’s combat range to 4,000-5,000 km – long enough to reach Okinawa, Guam and even Hawaii from China’s mainland.
Analysts stipulated that PLAAF missiles be able to reach Taiwan, southwestern Japan and Guam, a range of control that requires a 3,000 km combat

BTR-3RK Successfully Shot Out

June 20 Goncharovskiy landfill has passed the next phase of testing fire BTR-3RK. 
This modification of the BTR-3 is a mobile anti-tank complex, armed with four launchers ATGM "Barrier" with Ammunition stock rockets and 12.7 mm machine gun NSVT. 
When checking out the APC trial was "attacked" with inattentive driver behind the wheel - in Armor fresh paint scratched. During the tests carried launches two missiles.
Target at a distance of 3600 m impressed with the deviation of the point of impact within 0.5 m from the center of the target. Normally worked queues and machine gun NSVT. 

The SAF Newcomer Will Make its Public Debut at NDP 2013

Modern force set to thrill in traditional Parade & Ceremony
Zooming at the speed of 110km per hour and capable of high cross-country manoeuvrability, the Mk II Light Strike Vehicle is highly mobile and versatile as it can be equipped with different weapon systems such as the Automatic Grenade Launcher and the Spike Anti-Tank Missile System.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) newcomer will make its public debut at this year's National Day Parade (NDP) Dynamic Defence Display (D3), along with two other new assets: the Singapore Police Force's (SPF's) Armoured Personnel Carrier and the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF's) Compressed Air Foam Fire Engine.
Themed Surprise and Awe, this year's display will involve the largest number of military and Home Team hardware, as well as 350 participants, the greatest number of personnel involved.
Last seen in 2011, the D3 looks set to thrill and excite the audience with dazzling multimedia effects and pyrotechnics. The NDP audience will also get to experience "live" point-of-view shots, which are only seen by the asset operators, to have a sense of how the operators feel when they go through tight turns at high speeds.
"There will be plenty of high-speed manoeuvres, in terms of operational manoeuvres that are conducted by the SPF, SCDF and the military, as well as combat manoeuvres such as those performed by the Apache helicopter," said D3 Chairman Colonel (COL) Dinesh Vasu Dash, on the high-adrenaline action that the audience can expect from the display.

Russia Offers Upgrade Package for RMAF's MiG-29Ns

RUSSIA'S official arms sales agency has offered an upgrade package for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's 18-year-old MiG-29N Fulcrum jet-fighters.
Rosoboronexport's upgrade package will extend the aircraft's lifespan by 40 years.
Sources said Rosoboronexport believed this to be a better option than the Malaysian government's plan to replace the Fulcrums in its multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) replacement programme due to lower costs involved in an upgrade package compared with purchasing new aircraft.
However, the sources said cost was not the only factor which needed to be evaluated.
"There are a number of other things which need to be factored in. For instance, there are many things which need to be upgraded on the MiG-29s to ensure that the aircraft are on par, or at least as close as possible, with newer aircraft.
"Maintenance costs will also have to be factored in. So, yes, while an upgrade will allow us to keep an aircraft which is loved by the pilots who fly them, there are still many factors which need to be considered," said the source.
But Rosoboronexport deputy chief Victor Komardin told Paris Airshow News, published by AIN Publications, that if the upgrade package is rejected, Russia would want to be involved in RMAF's MRCA replacement programme.
To this end, Russia would offer additional Sukhoi SU-30MKM Flanker aircraft, currently the most advanced jets that RMAF operates.
Komardin also said Russia would also consider a request for a fifth-generation fighter, should the Malaysian government be interested in one.
This would mean that the Sukhoi PAK FA or the more advanced version of the Flanker, the SU-35. Although the PAK FA is generally considered by the world as the only fifth-generation fighter in Russia, Sukhoi also considers the SU-35 a fifth-generation jet-fighter.

Indonesia will Receive T-50 Golden Eagle Start in September 2013

Indonesia gears up for T-50
Indonesia will receive its full complement of 16 Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer aircraft between September 2013 and February 2014.
The disclosure was made by a company spokesman at the company's chalet.
Jakarta ordered 16 T-50s in May 2011, marking the first export sale for the type, which is powered by a single General Electric F404 engine.
Indonesian pilots and maintenance crews are in South Korea familiarising themselves with the type.
In addition, KAI is confident of closing a deal with the Manila for 12 FA-50s, an armed variant of the T-50. Manila will use the type both for training and as a light fighter/attack aircraft.
The company, in co-operation with Lockheed Martin, is also competing against the Alenia/Aermacchi M-346 and BAE Systems Hawk for an eight aircraft requirement in Poland.

Thailand Seeks Six UH-72A Lakota Helicopters

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress June 7 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of 6 UH-72A Lakota Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $77 million.
The Government of Thailand has requested a possible sale of 6 UH-72A Lakota Helicopters, spare and repair parts, support equipment, communication equipment, publications and technical documentation, Aviation Mission Planning Station, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $77 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States, by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in Southeast Asia.
This proposed sale will contribute to Thailand's goal to upgrade and modernize its military forces with a new light utility helicopter capable of meeting requirements for rotary-wing transportation, while further enhancing greater interoperability between Thailand the U.S., and among other allies. Thailand will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Myanmar Navy Starts Submarine Training in Pakistan

A small contingent of Myanmar Navy (MN) personnel has begun submarine warfare training in Pakistan, a move that suggests Myanmar is finally taking concrete steps towards developing a subsurface capability.
Around 20 officers and ratings arrived in Karachi in late April/early May to begin basic familiarisation training with the Pakistan Navy (PN), according to diplomatic sources. It is likely the contingent is based at the PN's Submarine Training Centre at PNS Bahadur, an onshore facility in Karachi that offers simulator training in diving, propulsion, and sonar tape listening and analysis.

Dassault - Rafale on the starting blocks in Malaysia

Dassault Aviation said Friday ready to install an assembly line Rafale Malaysia and strengthen its industrial partnerships in the country to win the hotly contested for 18 combat aircraft contract, estimated by industry sources to several billion dollars.

The tricolor manufacturer already hopes to complete by the end of the year a contract for 126 aircraft in India and 63 potential options, valued at approximately $ 15 billion.

Malaysia, which wants to replace its fleet by 2015 Russian MIG-29, a pre-selected three European competitors - the Rafale, Eurofighter, built by EADS, BAE Systems and Finmeccanica) and the Swedish Saab Gripen) - as well as the F18 Boeing and the Russian Sukhoi.

"We are very active in Malaysia, we sent our Rafale repeatedly to assessments by pilots," said Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, in which EADS holds 46%, at a press conference in the occasion of the Paris Air Show will open its doors Monday.

"If they want to pay for an assembly line, they will," said the one who succeeded in January in Edelstenne head of Dassault Aviation, in which EADS holds 46%.

Eric Trappier: the Rafale could be sold to India "late 2013"

The CEO of Dassault Aviation, was the guest of BFM Business, Friday, June 14 He said he was "confident" about the outcome of negotiations with India to sell 126 Rafales.

The Paris Air Show, which opens Monday, June 17, is a crucial event for the aviation industry. And this is not Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, who say otherwise.

Guest BFM Business, Friday, June 14, the leader stressed the importance of this area, "a party" giving "the opportunity to meet professionals and the general public."

Then go to the sore subject: the Rafale, which is still struggling to find a buyer. But Eric Trappier said he was "very confident" about the outcome of negotiations with India.

"The Indian authorities are determined to buy the Rafale, we are committed to the sale, it is a long and difficult contract. Confidence is built on the details of these contracts," he said.

Dassault discusses "industrial clauses" with its Indian partners

In particular, certain provisions relating to the manufacture of the device: "We will manufacture 18 aircraft in France, and then, little by little, we'll make it in India are all these industrial clauses we are discussing with industry. Indian. "

India will "probably" signed the contract for the Rafale by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier

Eric Trappier is very confident. According to the head of the advocacy group, the contract could be signed in late 2013.

 

Dassault Aviation was convinced Friday, June 14 to sign the contract of sale of the Rafale fighter with India, both parties wish to conclude this year according to him.

The CEO of Dassault, Eric Trappier, also revealed that he discussed for several months with the European group EADS and Italy's Finmeccanica on what could be a surveillance drone European type MALE (medium altitude, long endurance).

"India was the first export customer of Dassault in the 50s, it will surely also the first to sign the (contract) Rafale," said the CEO of Dassault, Eric Trappier at a press conference in Paris.

"We hope to go as soon as possible. If we listen to our Indian friends and if we listen to ourselves, we would like to finish in 2013, is finally sign a contract," said the new boss who took control the manufacturer at the beginning of the year.

Discussions on the implementation of production

India has chosen the Rafale in January 2012 after a call for tenders for 126 units and an optional additional 63 aircraft. "Discussions are underway on this option," said Eric Trappier.

Refusing to enter detailed negotiations, Eric Trappier simply said they were going "in a very good mood", including the division of responsibilities between France and India on the one hand and industrial and French India on the other. "There has never been a lock," he said.

Indonesia to build infrastructure for submarine production

View Larger Map 
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Indonesia will soon build infrastructure for the production of submarines.

The infrastructure will be built by state shipbuilding company PT PAL in Surabaya, Purnomo said after a session of the Committee for the Defense Industry Policy here on Tuesday.

He said the country is expected to have the infrastructure ready in the next two to three years.

The session of the Committee, which is chaired by Purnomo, also discusses a plan to produce jet fighter planes in the country.

Purnomo said legal umbrella would be needed before any step taken to build the war plane and submarine infrastructure.

"Support from the House of Representatives would be needed to provide a legal basis for the project," he said.

Indonesia as the world`s largest archipelago, would need strong navy and air force to protect its thousands of islands.

Indonesia has agreed with South Korea to cooperate in building the infrastructure for the production of submarines. The cooperation will include in license, engineering manufacturing and production of prototype.

Cooperation is already implemented in design technology and in the next two years cooperation is expected to be implemented in engineering manufacturing and prototype.

Indonesia and South Korea also agreed on transfer of technology in the construction of submarines.

Earlier, the government said development of modern factory to produce submarine would be implemented in 2016-2017.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz Test Fire Cannon at Florida

BRP Ramon Alcaraz test-fire successful
The BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the country’s second Hamilton-class cutter acquired from the US, has successfully test-fired its main weapons system “with a high degree of accuracy,” authorities said.
“We have successfully test-fired our Oto Melara gun with a high degree of accuracy,” Capt. Ernesto Baldovino said, as quoted by the Philippine Embassy to the United States.
On its website, the Embassy said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz had conducted the test-fire on Tuesday in Atlantic Ocean, three and a half hours after leaving Mayport, Florida, where it arrived early Tuesday to load ammunition.
“This weapons system is very reliable,” Capt. Baldovino said, referring to BRP Alcaraz's rapid-fire cannon which can shoot as many as 80 rounds per minute.
Capt. Elson Aguilar, Defense and Naval Attache at the Embassy, said the BRP Alcaraz is now proceeding to the Panama Canal, its next stop. The ship’s two-month voyage started on Monday on its way to its new home, the Philippines.

Upgraded Nuclear Cruiser to Rejoin Russian Navy in 2018

The Admiral Nakhimov, a nuclear-powered missile cruiser currently being overhauled and modernized, will rejoin the Russian Navy in 2018 with the most advanced weapons systems for its vessel type, the Sevmash shipyard said Thursday.
The Kirov-class cruiser, known as the Kalinin until 1992, was commissioned in 1989 and mothballed in 1999. It has since been docked for upgrades at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk, on the White Sea.
Sevmash deputy head Sergei Marichev said in a statement that the Admiral Nakhimov would become the most advanced heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser in the Russian Navy.

Unmanned Marine helo crashes in Afghanistan

A K-MAX unmanned helicopter crashed June 5 in Afghanistan while resupplying Marines.
The crash occurred at a landing zone just northeast of Camp Leatherneck while in the final stages of delivering cargo, according to Marine officials in Afghanistan.
An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the crash, but no injuries occurred as a result of the mishap, said Capt. Matthew Beers, a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) public affairs officer.
While Marine officials did not release a cause for the crash, Beers ruled out pilot error, saying the aircraft was in autonomous mode at the time it went down. It was delivering cargo to a predetermined location without the input of a UAV pilot.
The K-MAX is capable of being flown by a pilot aboard or remotely, or it can execute entire missions autonomously if given a predetermined destination. The Marine Corps, which has been using the helicopter in Afghanistan since November 2011, has used it exclusively as an unmanned platform for resupply missions. It has been operated in theater by Lockheed Martin contractors and Marines.
The helicopter, originally produced as a manned aircraft for logging in the northwestern United States by Kaman Aerospace, was retrofitted for unmanned use under a joint effort with Lockheed Martin. The helicopter uses a unique counter rotating rotar design that negates the need for a tail rotor.

'Shield' of Vietnam Navy

4k44B Redut-M a mobile coastal defence system with P-35 missiles  (NATO : SS-N-3 Shaddock) with rocket launchers ZIL-135 and placed on BAZ-135MB 8x8 truck vehicle. (all photos : TienPhong, ttvnol)

TPO-owned weapons, powerful ammunition, 679 battalion is considered 'shield' of Vietnam Navy in defenses, protect maritime sovereignty, national continental shelf.

To strengthen defense capabilities, protect maritime sovereignty, islands, national continental shelf, 6/1979, the Ministry of Defense decision 679 Battalion established under Navy (now Union missiles 679 coast of Navy Region 1). Currently, 679 teams have 8 of attached units, detachments and 26 equivalent.

679 teams currently manage, use missile defense system cell bank, used to destroy enemy targets, such as the type of surface combat ships, cargo ships, amphibious ships, maritime works both on the ground and ...

Vietnam Starts Construction of the Third Project 12418 Missile Boat

The Vietnamese segment of Facebook appeared made in May 2013 Photo by delivery Vietnamese shipyard Ba Son Limited (a joint venture with the Norwegian group Ulrik Qvale & Partners AS) in Ho Chi Minh third hull sections being built there with Russian participation Project 12418 missile boat (code "Molniya"/Lightning). Body sections were apparently made of Rybinsk "Vympel" Shipyard and delivered to Vietnam by sea.
A contract for the construction of the Vietnam Project 12418 missile boats, equipped with antiship missile system 3K24E "Uran-E", was awarded the "Rosoboronexport" in 2006. The contract included the supply Vietnam with two boats of the project 12418 is fully ready, and construction in Vietnam with Russian assistance has six such boats (with an option for four more boats). 

Vietnam PM inspects first Russian-built submarine

The Vietnamese prime minister on Sunday arrived at the Russian seaport city of Kaliningrad to inspect the testing progress of a Kilo-class submarine which Vietnam contracted to buy from Russia in a step seen as an effort to counterbalance China’s expanding maritime influence in the region.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung was leading a high-ranking delegation in an official visit to Russia scheduled from May 12 to 15.
The delegation boarded the submarine named Hanoi, which was built by Russia’s Admiralteiskie Verfi shipyard in in St. Petersburg and is being tested near Svetly port in Kaliningrad, according to the government website.
The submarine has undergone 23 successful dives.
During Dung's visit to Moscow in December 2009, Vietnam signed a US$2 billion deal to buy six submarines from Russia.
Russia has promised to deliver all of them by 2016. 
“We are very grateful to our Russian friends, who will build and deliver to Vietnam until 2016, according to the agreement, six submarines of the kind,” Russian news agency ITAR-TASS quoted Dung as saying Sunday.
He said the order is not only of a commercial character, it is also an expression of friendship and trust between the two countries.
According to Itar-Tass, Dung continued saying Vietnam has a big sea border and stressed the country’s policy is aimed at defense and “we are buying armament for defense of the sovereignty of our territories.”
Dung said the military-technical cooperation with Russia “is not limited with the six submarines, we are also expecting other kinds of armament and equipment.”

Lockheed Offers to Upgrade T-50 with Air Refueling Technology

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Thursday that it is in talks with Lockheed Martin for the transfer of in-flight refueling technology for the T-50 Golden Eagle.
KAI, which developed the supersonic trainer with the U.S. defense firm, said the move is aimed at winning a U.S. Air Force contract to replace the long-serving Northrop T-38C Talon with new trainers.
“To win the $10 billion U.S. Air Force deal, we need to meet its requirements for a next-generation trainer. That means that upgrades are necessary for the T-50,” a KAI official said.
“The most important of these is in-flight refueling. We are discussing the issue plus the sharing of the $10 million cost with Lockheed Martin.”
The U.S. Air Force released a set of requirements for its prospective jet trainer project, procurement of which will commence next year and finish in 2016.
It might need as many as 350 aircraft to replace the T-38s, which is used for pilot training and an introduction to basic fighter techniques.

Turkey Looks Into Fifth-Gen Complement To JSF

Turkey's aviation industry has come a long way since it began building F-16 Fighting Falcons in the 1980s. Now it is confident that it can produce an aircraft in-country that will not only replace the F-16 but complement the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in years to come.
Turkish Aviation Industries (TAI) has been working quietly on ideas for a fifth-generation fighter, dubbed the F-X, for several years, but 2013 represents a critical year in the decision-making process for the project. A $20 million two-year concept phase, started in August 2011, will end this September, and a meeting of Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee, which takes place at year-end, will define how the program will begin to take shape.
At the IDEF defense show in Istanbul last month, TAI displayed three potential single-seat design concepts for the aircraft: two conventional monoplane layouts, one with a single engine, not dissimilar to the F-35, and one with two engines, while the third featured canard foreplanes and a large delta wing. Each of the concepts features elements of design associated with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, such as faceted fuselages to reduce radar cross-section, internal weapons bays, super-cruise capability as well as advanced avionics and an active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. Engineers have received input from Saab, which was drafted to consult on the program.
TAI officials suggest that the two single-engine concepts will have maximum takeoff weights (MTOW) of 50,000-60,000 lb., while the twin-engine version will have an MTOW of 60,000-70,000 lb. Diagrammatic drawings of the twin-engine aircraft show two weapons bays, one located between the air intakes that can house a pair of small short-range air-to-air missiles, and the other in front of the engines housing four larger missiles around the size of the AIM-120 Amraam.

NDM Secures Contract with ST Marine in Singapore

Stern slip Launch and Recovery System for the RSN Littoral Mission Vessels (photo : who)
NDM (Norwegian Deck Machinery) is proud to announce that we have signed a contract with ST Marine in Singapore for the supply of equipment for eight (8) vessels beeing built for the Siingapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The image above shows the slipway design for navy vessels. (image : NDM)


The vessels will be built at ST Marine’s Singapore Benoi Yard and are expected to be delivered from 2016 onwards.

The equipment is a stern slip Launch and Recovery System which will deploy and recover crafts from the ship.

Qnective Rolls out Secure Mobile Communications for Defence to Indonesia

Qnective Rolls out Secure Mobile Communications Solution to Indonesia
The Swiss company Qnective  (http://www.qnective.com) has received a major order for its software solution Qtalk Defense for 120,000 users. This will incorporate the building of a secure communications network for various military and governmental organisations in Indonesia by using the public mobile networks. Members of each of these organisations will be able to exchange encrypted voice and data with one another confidentially and without the risk of third parties eavesdropping. Qtalk Defense is set up on standard smartphones (Android, Blackberry, iOS, Windows). Investing in additional digital networks has been avoided by using the existing public mobile networks.
The geographical situation of Indonesia, a country with more than 17,000 islands, made it essential for the Indonesian government that the secure communications solution is using the existing GSM networks. Like this, little additional customer costs for new hardware or infrastructure were generated. These challenges were mastered by the design and implementation of Qnective's mobile software solution, Qtalk Defense. Qtalk Defense is running on commonly held Android, Blackberry and iOS devices.

Combined Arms Training at Townsville

An M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from 1st Armoured Regiment prepares to move into a firing position along side an M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier and an Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) during a Live Fire Exercise. (all photos : Aus DoD)

Over the period of 9 May to 1 June 2013 Townsville based 3rd Brigade (3BDE) conducted a Combined Arms Training Activity (CATA) in the Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA) in order to prepare for Exercise TALISMAN SABRE in July and the progression towards the Brigade’s ‘Ready’ status in November.

The CATA focused on the conduct of high end mid-intensity Foundation War Fighting with a number of Battle Group manoeuvre activities and Live Fire Exercises, including a brigade level live fire as the final activity. The scenario within the activity allowed for Battle Groups to move through two different missions with the second providing an opportunity for live fire.

M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks from 1st Armoured Regiment move into a firing position during a Live Fire Exercise.

An M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier from the Armoured Cavalry Regiment transits to a new location.

Soldiers of 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) prepare to be air lifted by aircraft from the 5th Aviation Regiment at the conclusion of Exercise CATA. The aircraft involved are three MRH 90 Tapains, eight S70 Blackhawks and one CH-47 Chinook.

The Smallest Man Portable Missile Made By Rafael

The smallest man portable missile made by Rafael gives special unit’s capabilities they never had before. “Our Mini Spike missile attracts attention from many armies and special units that need that kind of firepower”  says Oron Oriol, Rafael’s executive VP marketing .

The mini-Spike missile system, the smallest member of Rafael’s electro-optically guided missiles, is the first implementation of an anti-personnel precision attack, wireless guided missile, designed for operation at the company and platoon level.

This man-portable missile system weighs about 12 kg, and comprises of a command and launch units facilitating target acquisition and wireless control for the missile, weighing 4 kg and missiles stored in a canister-launcher, weighing 4 kg each. Typically a soldier will carry the CLU and two missiles with other members of the unit carrying spare missiles.

The imaging sensor is located in the transparent bubble in the forward section , ahead of the electronics section, guidance systems and servos, warhead and rocket motor all packed into the

Israel Introduces 72m Mini-Corvette Design

The military version of SAAR S-72 mini corvette will be able to carry the latest weaponry required for a modern navy (image : Defense Update)

Israel Shipyards Introduces the SAAR 72 Mini-Corvette Design

Israel Shipyards is expanding the SAAR class of missile boats, extending the range from missile boats into ‘Mini Corvette’ class vessels. The new class is addressing the growing requirements of Israel and other nations in extending maritime control and sovereignty far from their territorial waters. Defense-Update reports from IMDEX 2013.

The Israel Navy is required to expand the security and responsibility over much larger area while doing that with an ageing  fleet of Saar 4, 4.5 missile boats and 5 corvettes. If only to maintain the numbers of boats in service, the Israel Navy will require several new vessels in the coming years. Many of these vessels are becoming obsolete – some of the oldest missile boats in service – INS Atzmaut (Independence) and INS Nitzahon (Victory) are reaching 35 years in service – an age considered the end of service life for such boats. Therefore, new platforms will be required in the near future. Through the years the Navy acquired 20 Saar 4/4.5 vessels, but the cash-strapped service could not afford to buy larger vessels, and, therefore limited the procurement of the larger Saar 5 corvettes to the three vessels built in the U.S. funded by Washington’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

DND Finalizing TOR for Acquisition of 12 Fighter Jets

To beef up the security capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense (DND) is finalizing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the acquisition of 12 fighter jets from South Korea. 

DND Undersecretary Fernando said that the acquisition of fighter jets remains a priority. He also said that the TOR for the acquisition of 12 FA-50 fighter jets may be completed in a month. 

The TOR provides the details of acquisition to include the fighter jets technical features, price, payment scheme, and the time frame for the delivery of said equipment. 

Security officials are currently going through the details of acquisition, and likewise the government is hoping that negotiations with South Korea will begin soon. 

The government has allocated P18 billion for the acquisition of said fighter jets to beef up the capability of the Philippine Air Force. 

Meanwhile, DND chief Voltaire Gazmin also ordered to fast track the acquisition of 21 UH-I Huey helicopters which costs P1.26 billion.