ASIAN DEFENCE

Monday, September 20, 2010

Sino-Pak Cooperation in Building Submarines, Bigger Ships Identified

2:19 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

After successful completion of construction of three F-22 P Frigates in China, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir said that Pakistan has identified to China the cooperation in the field of construction of submarine, bigger war ships, acquiring modern weapons and equipments.“ We will not stop here and this cooperation will continue”, said Admiral Noman Bashir while replying to a question.He said that during his meetings with Chinese side, he had identified areas including building of submarines, as so far we had not entered into joint construction of submarines.

This is one of areas Pakistan would now like to explore, he noted.He said that Pakistan also like to go for construction of bigger ships with cooperation of China.These ships would be bigger than the current F-22 P Frigates, he added.There is lot of discussion that are taking place, he said adding “obviously we will have the ships and submarines which will be according to our requirements and specifications”.Also, the CNS said that in the areas of weapons and sensors we are going beyond what we had.

US Charges Five Soldiers of murdering Afghans for Sport

2:15 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

India Will Not Rush Into Shortlisting Indian Air Force M-MRCA Deal Options

2:13 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Defence Ministry Will Not Rush Into Shortlisting Indian Air Force M-MRCA Deal Options Daily News & Updates Dated 17/9/2010 Printer Friendly Subscribe Despite getting gentle nudges from the government, the defence establishment does not seem to be ready for an early down-listing of the $10-billion 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract in which companies from the US, France and Russia are in the race. Sources told FE, "The field trial report of the six contenders has been sent to the director-general acquisition's office, who is expected to make recommendations and send it to the defence acquisition council (DAC) of the ministry of defence (MoD)."

Israel Failed to Block Russian P-800 Yakhont Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Sale to Syria

1:54 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Israel's prime minister said Sunday that he failed to block Russian plans to sell Syria anti-ship cruise missiles that his country fears could fall into the hands of Hezbollah guerrillas.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the deal to sell Syria P-800 missiles would be "very problematic" for the Jewish state.Russia's defense minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, announced in Washington last week that his government would go ahead with the deal, signed in 2007. Both Israel and the U.S. had voiced objections.The agency said the P-800s have a range of 200 miles (300 kilometers), carry a 440-pound (200-kilogram) warhead and cruise just yards above the surface, making them difficult to detect and intercept.

Eurojet Bid $666 Million for 99 EJ200 Engines for Tejas

1:49 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Europe has an edge over the US in the tightly-fought contest to sell India a next-generation engine for the homegrown Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA). Informed sources have told Business Standard that when the bids were opened last week, European consortium Eurojet bid $666 million for 99 EJ200 engines, against US rival General Electric, which quoted $822 million.

Both engines had been earlier adjudged technically suitable to power the Tejas Mark-II. Eurofighter has twin EJ-200 engines, while GE F-414 engines power the US-built F/A-18 and Sweden’s Gripen NG fighters.Furthermore, the order for 99 engines for the Tejas Mark-II is just a foot in the door to the Indian market. Given that each fighter goes through two to three engines during its operational lifetime, the four to five planned squadrons (84-105 fighters) of the Tejas Mark-II would actually need 200-300 new engines.Sources in the Aeronautical Development Agency confirm that both GE and Eurojet engines fully met the technical requirements to power the Tejas Mark-II. The EJ200 — which IAF favours — is the more modern, lighter and flexible engine with greater potential for growth. The GE F-414 is heavier, but provides a little more power.

Helicopter Crash in Harbin

1:45 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A helicopter crashed in Harbin, the capital of northeastern Heilongjiang province, on Saturday, causing two injuries and no fatalities, Beijing News reported on Sunday.The cause of the crash is currently still under investigation.

China’s High Risk India Gamble

2:51 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

By Sujit Dutta

Chinaloves to keep the pot boiling with countries it perceives as potential rivals, a fact no more evident than it is with its dealings with India in recent years. China’s recent decision to deny a visa to Indian Lt. General B. S. Jaswal, head of the Northern Command, is therefore just another example of its determination to find new issues to further complicate the already complex web of India-China differences.

The game is being played at multiple levels with Jammu and Kashmir, which is seen by China as an area of ‘international dispute’ in the same way as Arunachal Pradesh. At first glance, it seems a relatively recent diplomatic gambit. But it’s one that was first introduced some years ago, when the planned visit to Ladakh by the People’s Liberation Army Commander of the Lanzhou Military Region that covers Xinjiang (which sits opposite Jammu and Kashmir) was cancelled at the last moment by China on the grounds that Pakistan had protested that the territory is disputed. This move was soon followed by a visa denial to an official from the state on similar grounds, while last year, the Chinese embassy followed up by inventing a new method of giving stapled visas.

Why China’s Navy is a Threat

2:39 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

By James R. Holmes and Toshi Yoshihara

Civilian academics who study military affairs like to hold forth on tactical matters. But this can lead to misguided advice. First of all, Loo deprecates 'an alleged aircraft carrier-killing cruise missile,' suggesting a sea-skimming anti-ship missile with a range of a few score miles. But the anti-ship missile that vexes China-watchers is an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), a weapon whose range, speed and hitting power dwarf that of any cruise missile. Estimates vary, but should the PLA perfect its ASBM, Chinese racketeers could pound away at ships underway up to 2,000 miles away.

Moreover, Loo seems to think the US Pacific Fleet can easily mass overwhelming strength in the South China Sea to beat back a Chinese naval offensive. At first glance this appears reasonable. But at 287 vessels, the US Navy is now smaller in raw numbers than before World War I, and it is dispersed across the globe discharging countless missions.This declining fleet must contend with a PLA Navy that has spent the last 15 years devising capabilities—of which the ASBM represents only one—aimed at exploiting US weaknesses in antisubmarine warfare, mine countermeasures and other niche areas. The result? Chinese mariners can now impose steep costs on the US Pacific Fleet, contesting its ability even to reach a theater of combat like the South China Sea—much less to wage war effectively once there.

http://the-diplomat.com/2010/09/17/why-chinas-navy-is-a-threat/

Japan's Foreign Minister Voices Concern On China Defense Spending

2:02 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Japan's new Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara on Sept. 17 voiced concern over the level of China's defense spending, speaking hours after he was appointed and amid a tense territorial fight with China."It is important to further promote strategic mutually beneficial Japan-China relations," Maehara, considered a security affairs specialist and a hawk on China, said at his first press conference in the post.Japan, along with the United States and Australia, has voiced concern over China's military spending, which has grown in double digits for many years and by 7.5 percent most recently, according to figures Beijing released in March.

US Gives Go-Ahead for Australia to Buy the EA-18G "Growler"

12:35 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

WASHINGTON has given the go-ahead for Australia to buy the EA-18G "Growler" electronic warfare aircraft. It is the most advanced warplane of its type in the world, defence industry sources said yesterday.The Australian understands the decision was made about a fortnight ago by the US Technology, Transfer, Security Assistance, Review Board (TTSARB), a decision that could pave the way for the first foreign military sale of the Growler, defence sources said.

Russia will not Halt Delivery of P-800 Yakhont Anti-Ship Missiles to Syria

12:20 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Anatoly Serdyukov, the Russian foreign minister, brushed aside pleas to halt the delivery of a consignment of P-800 Yakhont cruise missiles, arguing that Moscow had supplied Syria with an older version of the missile and had not encountered problems. With a range of nearly 200 miles, the Yakhont is known for its accuracy and its ability to avoid detection because of its speed and low trajectory. It is also far more sophisticated that any of the anti-ship missiles presently in Syria's arsenal. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, urged Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, to abandon the missile sale last month. Similar appeals have been made in recent weeks by the Israeli and US defence ministers.

Israeli cabinet approves $2.75b JSF deal

12:07 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

The Israeli cabinet has formally approved the purchase of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the nation’s air force. The value of the deal will be around $2.75 billion.The decision was made after a series of talks between US and Israeli officials. These focused on issues including the extent to which Israel will be allowed to instal its own electronic warfare equipment, and the level of industrial involvement that its defence industry will be granted in return for the order.

Abu Dhabi Firm Gains Control of Greek Shipyard

4:49 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Greece has finalized a deal to transfer a majority stake in the country's main shipyard from German to Arab control, the Greek defense ministry said Sept. 16.ThyssenKrupp will yield 75 percent of its stake in Skaramanga, also known as Hellenic Shipyards, to Abu Dhabi Mar. The deal had been delayed by wrangling over the delivery of a German-built submarine to the Greek navy.

Europe Remains Torn On Lifting China Arms Embargo

4:43 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Europe remains divided on whether to lift an arms embargo clamped on China in 1989 following events in Tiananmen Square, EU foreign ministers said Sept. 11."We discussed delivering arms to China but did not advance at all towards a solution or joint position", French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said at the close of two days of informal talks with his 26 EU counterparts."France has long been favorable" to ending the embargo, he said. "But we need a joint stand."

Indian Navy Foils Piracy Bids

3:49 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

China to build Another Port in SriLanka

3:46 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Indonesia to buy six more Sukhoi fighters from Russia

2:59 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Indonesia's Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Friday his country planned to buy six more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, the Jakarta Post reported.He said the purchase would be on the Defense Ministry's long-term agenda, but was not sure when the plan would be implemented."The existing squadron of Sukhois remains insufficient to give a deterrent effect given our vast territory," Imam told the Antara news agency.

India's Kaveri Engine to be Installed in 2018

8:59 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Indian-built engine for the country’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) may be ready for installation in 2018, a senior official of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has said.“The gas turbine engine Kaveri will replace the GE-404 engines which are now being put in the LCA,” DRDO’s chief controller of research and development Prahlada told reporters here.The Kaveri engine, a Rs.2,000 crore project, is being developed by one of the DRDO labs based in Bangalore, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).Test runs of the first complete prototype Kaveri began in 1996.

India World's Second Top Arms Buyer

8:35 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indian Naval Chief on US Visit

8:32 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Sukhoi to send three new supervisors to Indonesia

8:22 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Russian Sukhoi fighter jet manufacturer will send more personnel to Makassar to replace the three warranty team technicians who allegedly died from alcohol poisoning.The Sukhoi warranty team will stay in Makassar for a year to ensure that the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets are ready for operations.

China Delivers Third F-22P Sword Class Frigate "PNS SAIF"

8:18 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

China has delivered the third F-22P frigates class frigate to the Pakistan Navy on Wednesday. This ship which belongs to the Sword Class series is named PNS SAIF. These frigates were constructed at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard Shanghai. Pakistan Navy has also started the construction of the fourth F-22P at the Karachi Shipyard. Construction is so far progressing satisfactorily as per schedule as per sources in Pakistan Navy.Sword Class F-22P Frigates are equipped with medium to advance weapons and sensors. These ships will also carry Z9EC helicopters.

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Counterfeit Computer Microchips from China Sold to U.S. Navy

8:17 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Federal prosecutors in Washington unsealed charges Tuesday accusing a Florida pair of selling more than 59,000 counterfeit computer microchips from China to the U.S. Navy and other clients for military use aboard American warships, fighter planes, missile and antimissile systems.

Another Indian soldier's body found in Skardu

1:46 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

An Indian soldier’s body was retrieved on Tuesday from a river in Skardu, the second such incident in a month.According to sources, the body was found in the Sheok River by residents of the Siari sector in Ghanche district. “Clad in the Indian army’s uniform, the body was floating in the river when some people spotted it and pulled it out of the water,” sources from Skardu told.

Indian Navy Allocates Kamov-25 Helicopter for Study to Amrita University

1:44 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at Amrita's Coimbatore campus recently acquired an anti-submarine, ship-board helicopter from the Indian Navy."We acquired this purely for educational purposes," stated Dr. V. Sivakumar, Associate Professor at the Department. With this, we will be able to demonstrate the role, function and working of various subsystems of an aircraft to students.""Students will gain first-hand experience by working on subsystems of a real aircraft. They will do this as part of their Aircraft Design Laboratory class."A Russian model named Kamov-25 aka KA-25, the helicopter can fly at a maximum speed of 220 km/hr and at an altitude of 3.5 km. It has a range of 450 km, which means that it can complete a flight of that distance without having to refuel.