U.S., Gulf countries seek to advance missile defense plan

The United States and its Gulf partners are looking to deepen cooperation on missile defense as tensions rise with Iran, and announcements could come soon on new purchases, U.S. officials said on Friday.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials in New York as Washington seeks to boost regional defenses against perceived Iranian threats.
"Our aim is to help our Gulf partners with their defense needs ... there is a missile threat that they face, we want to help them face that threat as best they can," one senior U.S. official said, previewing the meeting for reporters.
"We've had expressions of interest from our partners in the Gulf in additional missile defense capabilities," the official said. "We hope that we will be having announcements in the near future regarding those expressions of interest."
The official declined to provide specifics on the plans with the GCC, a political and economic alliance linking Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
But Lockheed Martin Corp, the Pentagon's top supplier by sales, received an initial $1.96 billion contract in December for two of its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon systems for the United Arab Emirates, the first foreign sale of the system.
Lockheed has said other GCC members, including Saudi Arabia, have expressed interest. Other leading missile-defense contractors include Boeing Co, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman Corp.
Friday's talks reflect the increased tempo of U.S. efforts to put pressure on Tehran, which the United States and its allies say is seeking nuclear weapons capability under the cover of a civil program. Iran denies this, but has been hit with a series of international sanctions over its nuclear work.
SECURITY UMBRELLA

Bahrain, UAE Probe Shipments Headed To Iran

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have confiscated a number of items Iran may have sought for its nuclear program, a development that diplomats said showed how enforcement of U.N. sanctions against Tehran is steadily improving.

The diplomats told Reuters that one of the items heading to Iran, but confiscated by Bahrain, was carbon fiber, a dual-use material that U.N. experts have said would be crucial if Iran was to develop more-advanced nuclear enrichment centrifuge technology.

Bahrain's and the UAE's confidential reports to the U.N. Security Council's Iran sanctions committee are politically significant, envoys said, because they highlight how more and more states are enforcing the sanctions.

Transporting 4 Minehunters To The Middle East On A Ship

MANAMA, Bahrain — Four U.S. Navy mine countermeasures (MCM) ships arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations aboard M/V Tern, June 23.

USS Sentry (MCM 3), USS Devastator (MCM 6), USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Warrior (MCM 10) were transported from San Diego aboard M/V Tern to support a U.S. Central Command request for additional MCM assets in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

MCM ships conduct operations with coalition forces in order to ensure the continued, safe flow of maritime traffic in international waterways.

The arrival of the MCMs, and the additional capability and capacity they provide, offer greater opportunities for cooperation with regional partners.

The MCM ships are scheduled for a seven-month deployment with rotational crews from San Diego to provide continuous manning.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 20 countries, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

Cutting-edge Navy warship - USS Zumwalt- being built in Maine

USS Zumwalt Photo

An enormous, expensive and technology-laden warship that some Navy leaders once tried to kill because of its cost is now viewed as an important part of the Obama administration's Asia-Pacific strategy, with advanced capabilities that the Navy's top officer says represent the Navy's future.
The stealthy, guided-missile Zumwalt that's taking shape at Bath Iron Works is the biggest destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy.
The low-to-the-water warship will feature a wave-piercing hull, composite deckhouse, electric drive propulsion, advanced sonar, missiles, and powerful guns that fire rocket-propelled warheads as far as 100 miles. It's also longer and heavier than existing destroyers -- but will have half the crew because of automated systems.

Bahrain army clamps down after protests Crushed

Bahrain's army has deployed across Manama vowing "strict measures" to restore order after a police raid on anti-regime protesters killed three, wounded nearly 200 and enraged the opposition.
Protesters gathered outside a hospital where the wounded were being treated to chant anti-regime slogans, while the largest Shiite opposition bloc said it was quitting parliament and called on the government to resign.
Concerned that events in Bahrain could destabilize the entire region, Gulf foreign ministers met in Manama later on Thursday and expressed their "total support for Bahrain in the areas of politics, economy, security and defense."
In Washington, US President Barack Obama expressed opposition to the use of force, while Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said those who did use it should be held accountable.
Witnesses said riot police stormed through Pearl Square, the epicenter of pro-democracy protests that have shaken the Gulf island state, in the early hours of Thursday firing hollow-point bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas, sending hundreds of protesters fleeing.
"The health ministry has counted three dead and around 195 wounded," Health Minister Faisal al-Hamr was quoted by the official BNA news agency as saying.
Hamr said most of those injured had returned home, but that 43 people were still being treated, including one whom doctors were trying to resuscitate.
Opposition members and witnesses said the police raid was launched without warning at around 3:00 am (midnight GMT).
"They attacked the square, where hundreds of people were spending the night in tents," said one witness, 37-year-old Fadel Ahmad.
Relatives of the victims gathered outside the hospital, angry and weeping. In the course of the day, hundreds of people joined them, chanting "Death to Al-Khalifa" -- referring to the royal family.
Others queued to donate blood.
Thursday's deaths brought the total to five since Monday, when authorities began cracking down on protesters demanding political and social reform.
Security forces deployed across Manama, with armed police blocking roads leading to the square and setting up checkpoints in other streets, causing heavy traffic congestion.
Witnesses said dozens of armored military vehicles were parked near Pearl Square as the military warned of "strict measures" to restore security in Bahrain, where clashes this week have left a total of six people dead.
Bahrain's defense forces will "take all strict and preventive measures to restore security and public order," a defense ministry spokesman said in a statement.
The ministry also urged people to "refrain from gathering in vital areas."
Interior ministry spokesman General Tarek al-Hassan said in an earlier statement that police had had no option but to raid the square.
"The security forces evacuated Pearl Square ... after having exhausted all chance of dialogue," Hassan said, as quoted by the official news agency BNA.
"Some left the place of their own accord, while others refused to submit to the law, which required an intervention to disperse them," he said.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed al-Thani told a press conference on Thursday evening that the police intervention was justified to prevenet "a sectarian conflict and an economic crisis."
Thousands of demonstrators, inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, had been occupying the square since Tuesday, after police killed two young Shiite demonstrators during anti-government protests.
Bahrain's opposition demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa's government in the wake of the raid, a Shiite opposition bloc said.
"The opposition groups, including Al-Wefaq, have issued a statement demanding the government resign and calling for the formation of a new government to investigate this crime," said Al-Wefaq bloc's leader, Ali Salman.
"We have decided to completely pull out from parliament," added Salman, whose bloc holds 18 seats in the country's 40-member elected house.
A US official said in Washington that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had spoken to Sheikh Khaled on Thursday, urging Bahrain to show restraint over protests.
"She expressed deep concern about recent events and urged restraint moving forward. They discussed political and economic reform efforts to respond to the citizens of Bahrain," the State Department official told AFP.
She also said Bahrain must "hold accountable" those who use excessive force.
And Obama's spokesman Jay Carney said the president's view is that "we oppose the use of violence by the government of Bahrain."
At the same time, the Pentagon said US Defense Secretary Robert Gates discussed with the deputy commander of the Bahraini military by telephone the "current security situation."
Bahrain is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague also called on Bahrain to exercise restraint, and Alistair Burt, a junior foreign minister with responsibility for the Middle East said London was reviewing decisions to export arms to the country.
And Iran, an overwhelmingly Shiite country, called on Bahrain to exercise restraint and heed the demands of its people.
For their part, the GCC foreign ministers statement also said that "our security is a collective responsibility and there is no question of accepting foreign interference."
The GCC groups Bahrain with Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Bahrain – AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM Missiles

Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the Government of Bahrain of 25 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and associated equipment, parts and services at an estimated cost of $74 million. The Government of Bahrain has requested a possible sale of 25 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAMs, missile containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $74 million.

Bangladesh Navy orders two AgustaWestland AW109 Powers

AgustaWestland has announced the award of a contract by the Bangladesh Navy for two AW109 Power maritime helicopters. The helicopters will be used for a wide range of naval missions including search and rescue, economic zone protection, surface surveillance and maritime security. The aircraft will be delivered in 2011 and will be capable of being operated from the frigate BNS Bangabandhu.

      The contract also includes a comprehensive training package including VFR/IFR conversion for aircrew, initial operational maritime training using an AW109 Power Level-D flight simulator and training for maintenance engineers.

      Graham Cole, Managing Director, AgustaWestland said “We are delighted that the Bangladesh Navy has selected the AW109 Power to meet its maritime helicopter requirements after a thorough evaluation of all available platforms. We look forward to delivering the helicopters and the comprehensive training and support solution we have tailored specifically to meet the requirements of the Bangladesh Navy.” The AW109 Power is a 3 ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW206C engines with FADEC. The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles. The aircraft’s safety features include a fully separated fuel system, dual hydraulic boost system, dual electrical systems and redundant lubrication and cooling systems for the main transmission and engines.

      The AW109 Power has established itself as the world’s best selling light-twin helicopter for maritime missions. The AW109 Power’s superior speed, capacity and productivity combined with reliability and ease of maintenance make it the most cost effective maritime helicopter in its class. For shipboard operations the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures. The ability to operate from small ships in high sea state enables the AW109 Power to perform its mission when many others helicopters would be confined to the ship’s hangar.

      Over 550 AW109 Power and AW109 LUH helicopters have been ordered for commercial, parapublic and military applications by customers in almost 50 countries.