Indian Army opts for Nag ATGM as it enters final trials

In Rajasthan, this May, the indigenously developed Nag (Cobra) missile will undergo a final round of trials before entering service in the Indian Army’s arsenal. Developed by the Defence R&D Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, the army is delighted with how the Nag has performed in a series of earlier trials. A senior army officer calls it “the world’s deadliest anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)”.Indian infantry formations urgently want a potent ATGM to handle Pakistani tank forces that now bristle with capable Ukrainian T-80 and Chinese T-85 tanks.So confident is the army about the Nag that, even before trails are completed, it has budgeted Rs 335 crores for buying 443 Nag missiles, which will be manufactured at the public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited. The missiles will equip Reconnaissance and Support Battalions, mechanised units that locate and destroy enemy tanks.................................Business-standard

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Pak-US joint air exercises planned

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the US Air Force (USAF) will conduct joint exercises in the US towards the end of this year and the F-16 aircraft of the PAF will participate in the manoeuvres, defence and diplomatic sources told.“The joint exercises have been planned in the wake of the quality performance of the PAF in air raids in the tribal areas as part of the war on terror as well as the recognition of its air power in South Asia,” said the source, requesting anonymity.“The F-16 fighter jets, which are already part of the PAF fleet, will be flown to the United States for participation in the manoeuvres,” they said. The sources said a meeting would soon be held in Washington to not only finalise the schedule but also other modalities for the exercises, including the US where the exercises would be held, duration of exercises and technical details. They said 12-15 F-16 aircraft of the PAF would be flown to the US by the Pakistani pilots...................The News

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Egypt in talks with Pakistan for joint production of JF-17 Thunder

Cairo is in talks with Pakistan to begin joint production of JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft, Jane's understands from Egyptian defence industry sources.Even as the talks continued regarding JF-17 assembly in Egypt, however, the US Department of Defense announced on 2 March that an initial contract worth some USD213 million had been finalised with Lockheed Martin for Egypt's procurement of additional F-16C/D multirole fighters.If the deal for the single-engine JF-17 is approved, Egypt would become the first export client for the aircraft. The Pakistan Air Force formally inducted the type into service in February. While the number of aircraft Egypt plans to acquire has not been revealed, the inclusion of local assembly in the deal suggests that the contract would be for at least 48 JF-17s........................................Jane's Defence Weekly

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US and PAF Conduct Information Exchange On Air Refueling Operations

Pilots and aircrews from the Pakistan Air Force and U.S. Air Force participated in a joint aerial refueling information exchange yesterday at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala as part of an on-going effort to enhance cooperation and develop the air refueling capabilities of both nations.

U.S. Air Force pilots and aircrews from the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, forward deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, arrived at PAF Chaklala yesterday to conduct the information exchange with their Pakistan Air Force hosts. Upon arrival, the U.S. airmen invited PAF pilots and aircrews aboard their KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft to familiarize them with U.S. Air Force air refueling equipment and procedures. U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Michael LeFever, the senior U.S. Defense Representative to Pakistan, hosted Pakistan Air Commodore Tahir Ranjha, PAF Air Transportation Director; and Air Commodore Khalil Ahmed, PAF Chaklala commander, aboard the KC-135 aircraft.

"Events like these promote understanding and enhance our military-to-military relationships while also boosting capability and expertise," said Vice Adm. LeFever. "In addition, with the planned arrival of more F-16s to Pakistan later this year, developing PAF air refueling expertise is critical to increasing their airborne endurance and enhancing their ability to counter the violent extremist threat in their country."

Over the last three years, U.S. civilian and security assistance to Pakistan totaled more than $4 billion. U.S. assistance has included support for medical aid, school refurbishment, bridge and well reconstruction, food distribution, agricultural and education projects, 14 F-16 fighter aircraft, 5 Fast Patrol Boats, 115 self-propelled Howitzer field artillery cannons, more than 450 vehicles for Pakistan's Frontier Corps, hundreds of night vision goggles, day/night scopes, radios, and thousands of protective vests and first-aid items for Pakistan's security forces. In addition, the U.S. funded and provided training for more than 370 Pakistani military officers in a wide range of leadership and development programs covering topics such as counterterrorism, intelligence, logistics, medical, flight safety, and military law.

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Lockheed Receives Contract for 20 Block 52 F-16s for Egypt

The U.S. government has awarded an initial $213 million to Lockheed Martin for long-lead tasks for the production of 20 new Advanced Block 52 F-16 aircraft for Egypt. "This is a great day for Lockheed Martin and a testament to the enduring partnership and commitment we have made to the government of Egypt. We remain committed to providing our customer with a proven, advanced 4th Generation multirole fighter," said John Larson, vice president, Lockheed Martin F-16 programs. "This marks the 53rd follow-on buy of F-16s by 14 repeat customers. The aircraft we will deliver to Egypt will join the fleet of more than 4,400 F-16s representing 25 nations." The new aircraft order includes 16 F-16Cs and 4 F-16Ds, and will supplement the Egyptian Air Force's (EAF) existing fleet of F-16s and contribute to the modernization of the EAF. The final Egyptian F-16 under this contract will be delivered in 2013............................Full Story

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Crashed Kiran Mk-II Aircraft Mainstay of Military Pilot Training in India

The Kiran Mk-II aircraft of the Navy’s Sagar Pawan Aerobatic Team that crashed in Hyderabad on Wednesday is the mainstay of India’s military pilot training programme but is overdue for replacement after more than three decades in service. The aircraft, also used by the Air Force’s Suryakiran Aerobatic Team to perform extreme maneuvers, has neared the end of its service life. The Mk- II version of Kiran entered service in mid-1980s. Had things gone as per schedule, Kirans would have been replaced by the Indigenous Jet Trainer (IJT) in 2006-07. But the IJT, being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is running more than five years behind schedule due to snags in developmental phase and is not likely to join service before 2013. IJT has already suffered two crashes. Besides aerobatics, Kiran is mainly used to train military pilots..................................indianexpress

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USS McInerney Frigate to Sail for Karachi by the End of This Year

Pakistan will be paying the United States atleast $78 million to acquire a 30 year old Oliver Perry class frigate.The first 30 year old frigate is expected to sail for Karachi by the end of this year as Pakistan continues to negotiate for acquiring five more Oliver Perry class frigates from the US.Sources in Pakistan Navy told DawnNews that the 30 year old frigate, USS McInerney, was put on the US Navy’s inactivation list September last year. It will fly the Pakistani flag after retirement in September this year...........................................Dawn

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ISRO Successful Launches ATV-D01 New Generation Sounding Rocket

Indian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted the flight testing of its new generation high performance sounding rocket today (March 3, 2010) at 08.30 Hrs, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR.Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV-D01), weighing 3 tonnes at lift-off is the heaviest sounding rocket ever developed by ISRO. It carried a passive scramjet engine combustor module as a test bed for demonstration of Air- Breathing propulsion technology.

During the flight, the vehicle successfully dwelled for 7 seconds in the desired conditions of Mach number (6 + 0.5) and dynamic pressure (80 + 35 kPa). These conditions are required for a stable ignition of active scramjet engine combustor module planned in the next flight of ATV.The successful flight testing of ATV-D01 is a step ahead towards the advanced technology initiative taken up by ISRO in the area of Air- Breathing propulsion.

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China Shifts Gears with Smaller Defense Increase

China's government proposed its smallest increase in defense spending in two decades Thursday - a symbolic down payment on efforts to lift public spending, boost consumers and even out a persisting rich-poor gap that's stoking social tensions.Premier Wen Jiabao will further flesh out the government's shift in priorities in a speech Friday that is China's equivalent of the State of the Union. Social programs are expected to benefit as the government moves to re-gear the economy toward domestic consumption and away from the binge on easy credit and state investment that warded off the global recession.In a preview, a spokesman for the national legislature said Thursday that the Cabinet plans to raise spending on its increasingly formidable military 7.5 percent to $77.9 billion (532.1 billion yuan). Though experts say China's true military budget is higher, the rate of increase is the lowest since the 1980s, and analysts said that was directly tied to the new fiscal priorities."China has not fully recovered from the sluggish foreign trade and employment, and to some extent the government has financial difficulties," said Ni Lexiong of Shanghai University of Politics and Law. "The situation requires that the defense budget not have a big rise."........................................washingtonpost

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Russia, India to Sign $4 billion Military Contracts

Russia and India are expected to sign three contracts in military technical cooperation totaling $4 billion, including retrofitting the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to India, Vedomosti Russian daily reported.A $2.35-billion contract between Russia's state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Indian Defense Ministry on refitting the INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) and the $1.2-billion contract on delivery of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters will be signed during Putin's visit to India on March 11-12.

The Vikramaditya is currently undergoing repairs and refit at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia.The initial refit agreement of $970 million went up to additional $1.5 billion India is expected to allocate to Sevmash shipyard which already expended the money that was allocated for the Vikramaditya's refit.DNA India said that the countries might also sign an agreement on nuclear reactors in Kudankulam and in Haripur, a new nuclear park in West Bengal.

Further agreements will include fifth generation fighter aircraft project developed jointly by both countries, and work on a multi-role transport aircraft.India has a long history of defense relations with Moscow. The current cooperation program until 2010 comprises about 200 joint projects, including the modernization of the Vikramaditya for the Indian Navy, the transfer of technology for the licensed assembly of T-90 tanks in India, the production of BrahMos missiles and the purchase of Smerch MLRS by India.

RIA Novosti

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As drones multiply in Iraq and Afghanistan, so do their uses

The Air Force will expand the number of unmanned drone aircraft flying over the skies of Afghanistan and Iraq in the next three years, as a result of commanders' demand for digital images useful in hunting down enemy forces.By 2011, the Air Force will be flying as many as 50 drones, or combat air patrols in the war zones, and by 2013 that number will jump to 65, say Air Force officials. Currently there are 40.The appetite for drone aircraft stems not only from the planes' ability to conduct airstrikes on terrorist targets and provide surveillance imagery for intelligence experts to hunt insurgents or those who plant roadside bombs, but also from unexpected uses. Drone aircraft, also known as “unmanned aerial vehicles,” are popular among commanders who want to know more about a specific area in Afghanistan or Iraq in which they are operating. By capturing images, the drones help soldiers determine how many houses there have power, for example, or where roads are, and other “quality of life” data...................................................Read More

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China selling MA60s to Myanmar and Sri Lanka

The China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) has ordered nine MA60 transports on behalf of two Asian customers, according to a Xian Aircraft official.Sri Lanka will be buying six of the turboprop-powered aircraft from CATIC, while the remaining three will go to Myanmar, says the official. The countries are acquiring the aircraft with the help of a Chinese government preferred loan scheme, the source adds.Sri Lanka is to receive two of its MA60s this year, with the remainder to be delivered in 2011, says the Xian official, with Myanmar's three to be handed over in September. Both countries want the aircraft in a 56-seat configuration, the official adds......................................................Full Story

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India is Negotiating for 42 Su-30MKI fighter jets

India and Russia are negotiating a new contract on the delivery of 42 Su-30MKI to the Indian Air Force, an Indian newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing military sources.According to the Daily News and Analysis newspaper, the new deal, which is reportedly worth more than $3 billion, has been in the works for several months.The new air-superiority fighters will come on top of the 230 already contracted from Russia in three deals worth a total of $8.5 billion.

"The [new] order is being placed due to the insufficient number of fighter squadrons in the Indian Air Force and would allow us to eliminate potential threats," a source in the Indian Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti.India originally ordered 50 Su-30MKI aircraft from Russia in 1996-98 and an additional 40 planes in 2007. Hindustani Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017 under a licensed production agreement.

The Indian Air Force currently has about 100 Su-30MKIs, mainly deployed at airbases close to the borders with China and Pakistan.Analysts believe that India will remain the main purchaser of Russian-made combat aircraft for the next 15 years under existing and future contracts, as the country desperately needs to upgrade its fighter fleet, which includes Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, but mainly consists of obsolete Soviet MiG-21 models.

RIA Novosti

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GoI to finalise the price tag on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov

The long-pending deal to finalise the price tag on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) could soon be taken up by the government as the Defence Ministry prepares to take the case to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).With Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin scheduled to visit India early this month, the Defence Ministry has forwarded relevant papers for clearance by the Finance Ministry.“Once the Finance Ministry gives the go-ahead, we will place the issue before the Cabinet Committee on Security,” Defence Ministry officials told The Hindu............................................Hindu

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Royal Australian Air Force wants old F-111 strike bombers destroyed

THE Royal Australian Air Force is looking for someone to do what the Soviet Union could only dream of during the Cold War -- destroy its F-111 strike bombers. The Defence Department has issued a tender to turn half its F-111 fleet -- the pride of the RAAF for a generation -- into what will surely be the nation's most expensive scrap metal.Thirteen of the bombers and their engines will be destroyed after they are retired at the end of this year.It is unclear what will be done with the remainder of the F-111 fleet. There are 15 F-111Cs in operation and 12 F-111Gs in storage, plus two used for spares.................................................TheAustralian

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Azerbaijani air force jet crashes

An Azerbaijani air force Su-25 jet has crashed during a training flight, killing the pilot.The fighter jet crashed in Shamkir District in western Azerbaijan at about 17.00 local time on 3 March, the Defence Ministry press service reported.Pilot Famil Mammadli died in the crash.The causes and circumstances of the incident are being investigated by a joint commission of the Defence Ministry and Military Prosecutor's Office.

1 news.az

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Aussie military defends new helicopter

The Australian Defence Force says the new transport helicopters it is buying have excellent potential despite a German report outlining a range of defects.A defence spokesman said Australia was seeking an English translation of the German Army trial report on its NH-90 helicopters.He said all matters of operational effectiveness and airworthiness were taken seriously and the German report would be reviewed in detail."Australia is working with other nations and industry to address any issues arising as the NH-90 is introduced into service," he said."The aircraft, which has excellent potential, is relatively early in its developmental cycle. It is essential that any issues are identified and appropriately rectified so that the full combat potential of the aircraft can be realised."......................news.ninemsn

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Two Korean Air Force F-5 jets crash in drill, 3 pilots presumed dea

Two Korean Air Force F-5 fighter jets crashed into a mountain yesterday 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) west of the city of Gangneung, Gangwon. Body parts that were presumed to belong to the dead pilots were found near Daegwallyeong in Gangwon’s Pyeongchang County.“In the middle of a search and rescue mission, investigators collected some body parts, clothes and boots,” said a defense official who requested anonymity. “We are assuming that all the pilots died from the accident. It will take some time to confirm the identity of the dead pilots since bodies are damaged in jet crashes.”...............................joongangdaily

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US to send Pakistan 1000 laser-guided bomb kits

The United States will deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month and is considering additional arms sales to help the Pakistani air force crack down on insurgents in the Afghan border region.tan is also expected to receive new F-16 fighters made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) this spring or summer, Donley said, noting that the fighter jets would give Pakistan's air force greatly expanded capabilities in its fight against "radical elements" in the border region...........................Reuters

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PAK FA to make 2,000 flights before production starts

Russia's fifth-generation jet fighter, the T-50, is to undergo more than 2,000 flight tests before full-scale production starts, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday."Before the jet goes into production, it should complete over 2,000 test flights," Putin said.He also said now that Russia had a fifth-generation prototype fighter, it should start working on a new-generation long-range strategic bomber that he described as "an airborne missile-carrier."A source at the Sukhoi aircraft maker said earlier in the day the T-50 would start on a standard flight test program in April, adding it would take "several years" to complete the testing program.A prototype of the fighter made a 47-minute maiden flight in Russia's Far East on January 29.....................................Full Story

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FinMin looks to Empower Indian Defence Minister A K Antony on Defence Deals

Perturbed at the delays in defence acquisition that cause the surrender of large sums of money every year, the finance ministry has mooted a change in policy that will empower Defence Minister A K Antony to clear defence projects up to Rs 1,000 crore, bypassing the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).A note from the finance ministry to this effect is likely to be sent for Cabinet clearance in a few days.Currently, the defence minister is allowed by the Cabinet to clear projects up to Rs 200 crore without having to bring it to the Cabinet or CCS. For orders up to Rs 500 crore, the concurrence of the finance ministry is sufficient. Now, the finance ministry wants to raise the limit to Rs 1,000 crore to speed up the acquisition process by financially empowering the defence minister and giving him a larger measure of autonomy, in consultation with it.........................business-standard

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The cost of Antony's halo

Sarojini Naidu famously observed that it cost India millions to keep Gandhi in poverty. It is harder to determine what this country pays to perpetuate Defence Minister AK Antony’s reputation for honesty, but the monetary penalty alone is thousands of crores per year.With arms inflation at 15 per cent per annum, a five-year delay means that India pays twice what it should have. And when that equipment is obtained through government-to-government purchases and other single-vendor contracts, the cost is about 25 per cent more than it would have been in competitive bidding. Conservatively estimating that delays afflict just half of the defence ministry’s Rs 50,000 crore procurement budget, India buys Rs 25,000 crore worth of weaponry for 125 per cent more than what it should have paid................................business-standard

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Russia to Design New Nuclear-Capable Strategic Bomber

Once it has completed work on its own fifth-generation fighter, Russia must proceed with designing a brand-new nuclear-capable strategic bomber, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said. "Certainly, we should not confine ourselves to developing just one new model. After the fifth-generation fighter jet, we must think and get down to work on a next-generation, long-range aviation complex -- our new strategic missile carrier," Putin told a cabinet meeting on Russia's military-industrial complex. After the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia inherited a fleet of the still formidable but fast-aging Tupolev Tu-95MS turbo-prop strategic bombers and missile platforms codenamed "Bears" by NATO.It also has a much smaller fleet of the more modern, supersonic Tupolev Tu-160 "Blackjack" jet bombers, the world's biggest warplanes built so far............................Reuters

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Iran to Test Fire e Qassed-2 Guided-Bomb

ran's air force will soon test a new version of a 2000-pound guided-bomb, a top Iranian military commander said."The 2000-pound Qassed-1 guided-bomb has been mass produced and given to the Air Force ... its new version will be test fired soon," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Air Force commander-in-chief Hassan Shahsafi as saying."The Qassed-2 has a longer range, more accuracy and enjoys more explosive power than its older version," Shahsafi said.The Qassed (Herald) bomb was first test-fired in 2006 during a large-scale military exercise in Iran.........................................Reuters

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Indian Air Force military display

The Indian Air Force demonstrated its military aircraft during a training exercise in Rajasthan. The exercise included more than 100 combat, reconnaissance and transport aircraft, with fighter jets firing rockets and bombing enemy targets during the two hour display. The aerobatic display teams performed manoeuvres in formations and aerial stunts watched by army commanders and foreign diplomats. The dusk and night phase display was the first ever by the Indian Air Force................................BBC

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