March 2010 ~ ASIAN DEFENCE

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Pakistan Air Force's Exercise High Mark 2010

7:36 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 2 comments

The PAF’s five yearly ‘Exercise High Mark 2010’ has commenced to test its professional skills, capabilities and combat readiness. The countrywide exercise, which will last for nearly 60 days, will also be dovetailed with the Pakistan army’s exercise named Azm-e-Nau III and Naval operations to make it a tri-service test of mettle under realistic conditions. ‘High Mark 2010’ comes in the backdrop of a clear threat to Pakistan, both externally and internally.Combined with the threat from extremists, our eastern neighbour has evolved a Pakistan...

Kunsan Airmen train with South Korean fighter pilots

7:26 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Kunsan Air Base officials hosted an exercise with South Korean airmen March 15 through 17 here to operate effectively together for possible joint combat actions. South Korean air force F-16s from the 21st Fighting Squadron out of Seosan Air Base and F-15E Strike Eagles from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron played part in several realistic aerial exercises to become familiar with each other's tactics and procedures. "(Exercise) Buddy Wing is a way for us to gain experience flying with the...

Turkey's B-737-700 AEW&C Program Back on Track

6:46 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

After facing delays of more than three years, a $1.6 billion program headed by Boeing to construct four specialized planes for Turkey’s military is now back on track, a Turkish defense industry specialist said Monday."We are close to agreeing with Boeing to a revised timetable for the program," Murad Bayar, head of the undersecretariat for Defense Industries, or SSM, Turkey's procurement agency, told the Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review."We hope to receive the first aircraft before the end of next year," he said.Boeing officials also confirmed...

Polish F-16 pilots get set for possible Afghanistan mission

6:44 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Poland has 48 F-16 jet fighter planes. Most of them rarely take to the skies outside of routine training.But in two years, the planes could be heading to Afghanistan, reports Rzeczpospolita.The paper cites an unnamed soldier as a source that says the matter is already settled, just has not yet been announced publicly by Polish army authorities.Pilots at a large Polish Air Force base admit they have already started rigorous training and preparation for the 2012 departure to the war-torn middle-eastern nation, but Polish Air Force officials have...

India's Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Takes 1st Flight

6:21 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 2 comments

India's indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has flown for the first time. The helicopter, which was test-flown on Monday, successfully hovered for 15 minutes. The LCH is based on technologies developed for India's Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter. The LCH will be equipped with missiles in addition to its nose-mounted cannon. It will be able to take out tanks and other armoured vehicles in addition to giving battlefield support to Indian military formatio...

India to Buy 15 Fast-Interception Boats from French Shipyard

11:11 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

India has signed a deal to buy 15 fast-interception boats (FIBs) from the French shipyard Chantier Naval Couach.The boats are meant for use by the new Sagar Prahari Bal (Sea Patrol Force in Hindi) being raised by Navy.Indian media quoting defence ministry sources said the deal could be worth an estimated $500 million and was concluded on March 27. However, there was no official word on this from the Indian MoD...............................Read M...

India inked Rs 11,600-crore Agreement for Induction of Brahmos into IAF

11:08 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 4 comments

Aiming to provide the country’s defence with an extra edge, the government last week inked a Rs 11,600-crore agreement that will pave the way for formal induction of the Brahmos missile into the Indian Air Force (IAF), besides giving two more regiments of the supersonic land attack system to the Army.While the missile is already in service with the Navy and Army, this is the first time that a surface-to-surface version of the missile will be inducted into the IAF. This will give the IAF a cutting edge over adversaries in the region and will arm...

Indian Navy launched three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts

11:05 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

The Indian Navy today launched three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts ''INS Kabra'', ''INS Koswari'' and ''INS Karuva'' to be deployed around the peninsula to keep a strict vigil, Rear Admiral K N Sekhar, CMD Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited said today.At the launch of the warships from Raja Bagan Dockyard(RBD), Mr Sekhar said, ''For the second time in succession, three water jet fast attack crafts are being launched simultaneously from here.'' The warships were lauched by Ms Letha Sushil, wife of Vice-Admiral K N Sushil. The...

U.S. hopes to give Pakistan drones within a year

10:49 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 11 comments

The Pentagon aims to deliver a fleet of surveillance drones to Pakistan within a year, but weaponized versions of the unmanned aircraft are still off-limits, a U.S. military official said on Monday.U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans in January to provide Islamabad with what aides said at the time were 12 Shadow drones, aiming to boost its ability to track insurgents.But a senior U.S. military official, briefing reporters at the Pentagon on the condition of anonymity, said Islamabad was still weighing whether Shadow drones were...

F-16 Block 52 with AMRAAM BVR Missiles to Start Joining PAF by June: PAF Air Chie

10:42 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 11 comments

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman on Saturday said PAF would start getting the lot of 18 latest version of F-16 fighting falcon aircraft fitted with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system by June this year.Briefing newsmen on the on-going High Mark-2010 Exercise by PAF in collusion with Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy, the Chief of Air Staff said the delivery of aircraft to Pakistan would complete by the end of current year. He, however, did not disclose the number of BVR systems being acquired from the US, but said in...

China is Testing DF-21 Anti-ship Ballistic Missile to Target US Aircraft Carriers: US Adm. Willard

10:29 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The commander of U.S. military forces in the Pacific said Thursday that the buildup of Chinese armed forces is continuing "unabated" and Beijing's goal appears to be power projection beyond Asia."China's rapid and comprehensive transformation of its armed forces is affecting regional military balances and holds implications beyond the Asia-Pacific region," said Adm. Robert F. Willard, the Pacific Command leader. "Of particular concern is that elements of China's military modernization appear designed to challenge our freedom of action in the region."The...

Taiwan Plans to Develop Ballistic and Cruise Missiles

10:24 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

It was right for Taiwan’s military to be moving toward the development of a mid-range ground-to-ground missile, Vice Defense Minister Andrew Yang said Monday, though he failed to confirm reports of tests.Ruling Kuomintang lawmaker Ting Shou-chung asked Yang at the Legislative Yuan whether he had visited the United States to explain planned tests in June at the Chiupeng military base in Pingtung County.Yang denied he had traveled to the U.S. and failed to give a direct answer to the question about the missile test, only saying it was right for the...

China to Establishment Two Nuclear Power Plants in Pakistan

10:02 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 7 comments

Pakistan has entered a civil nuclear deal with China for the establishment of two nuclear power projects of 640 megawatts in Chashma. The breakthrough deal – under which Pakistan would be provided a loan, technology and installation facilities – was finalised ahead of the latest round of the Pak-US strategic dialogue, as the federal cabinet granted financial approval at a meeting on March 24. Sources privy to the deal said the federal cabinet had approved an inter-government framework agreement on the financing of ‘Chashma Nuclear Power Project...

IndiaTtest-Fires Nuke-Capable Agni-I Ballistic Missile

7:01 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 8 comments

India on sunday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable, short range ballistic missile (SRBM) Agni-1 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here off the Orissa coast. "It was a fantastic mission carried out by the Indian Army. The test-fire of the Agni-I missile met all parameters," director of ITR S P Dash told a news agency. Blasted off from a rail mobile launcher, the surface-to-surface, single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, roared into the sky trailing behind a column...

Pakistan to get 14 more F-16 jets from US

6:56 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 4 comments

The US has agreed to give 14 more F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said on Saturday. Briefing the media at the air headquarters, Suleman said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was ready to thwart any internal or external threat. He said an air exercise now under way would continue till May 10. "Its sole purpose is to ensure the country's security," the Online news agency quoted him as saying. He said the US had agreed to give 14 F-16 jets in addition to the 18 it was committed to. Pakistan will also participate in a...

Joint India, Singapore Military Exercise Ends

6:50 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A two-day-long joint military exercise by Indian and Singaporean armies - code-named Bold Kurukshetra - aimed at validating inter-operability between the two forces concluded here on Saturday.Singapore Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee and its High Commissioner to India Calvin Eu, along with a delegation of ten dignitaries witnessed the bilateral exercise. The visit underscored the warm defence relations between both countries. "To what I have seen today, I'm pleased to say that what we have achieved here eventually is what we had asked...

Arms Open At Desi War Mart

6:48 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 3 comments

With a defence budget of around $32 billion, India is one of the biggest arms importers among emerging economies. But this vast sum is mostly spent without any real planning. As foreign armament manufacturers eye our impressive shopping list, the question is: Will we get enough bang for our buck? There is simply no business like the arms business. No trade is as deadly and as lucrative. Just about every nation is amassing the latest arms and defence technology to fight off or vanquish its real or imagined enemies. Global annual military expenditure...

Indian Navy on Aggressive Acquisition; Plans to have Fighter Planes

10:57 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 9 comments

ndian Navy plans to take up aggressive acquisition programmes in aviation including induction of fighter planes and multi-role India's fighter jets helicopters for its fleet, its Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma has said."We are acquiring our ships, aircraft and submarines in accordance with the Navy's current Maritime Capability Perspective Plan. There are presently 40 ships and submarines on order," Verma said.He said in addition, Navy has aggressive acquisition programmes in aviation including induction of Mig 29K, the acquisition of Boeing P8I MPA...

Indian Navy Outlines Plan for Nuclear Submarine INS Chakra

10:54 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 7 comments

The Indian Navy is hoping to have individual say in running the nuclear submarine INS Chakra, which will be under the strategic forces command.The strategic forces command is jointly run by the army, air force and the navy.The Akula class nuclear sub, to be acquired from Russia on a 10- year lease, is expected to be delivered to India in six to eight months.Sources say the submarine will be based on a coast that has the best logistical infrastructure such as maintenance facilities for a sea-based nuclear asset. Besides, the waters near the coast...

U.S. and Pakistan Agree to Reinforce Strategic Ties

10:49 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 11 comments

Pakistan and the United States wrapped up two days of high-level talks on Thursday, with a raft of economic development initiatives, an agreement to hasten deliveries of military hardware and a promise to put their often mistrustful relationship on a new footing. In a communiqué issued after the talks, the countries said they would “redouble their efforts to deal effectively with terrorism” and would work together for “peace and stability in Afghanistan.” Administration officials said Pakistan was likely to get swifter delivery of F-16 fighter...

Fire Broke Out at Panagarh Indian Army Depot in West Bengal

10:44 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A major fire broke out early today in one of the largest ammunition depots of Indian Army at Panagarh in Burdwan district of West Bengal, gutting a store house containing a large number of small arms and ammunition. "The fire broke out in shed number 16 (store house) of the depot at 1.30 am. Within five minutes, the entire fire fighting machinery of the Army was activated to battle the blaze," Wing Commander M Upasani of Eastern Command told PTI. The fire was brought under control at around 3.30 am but the shed was totally destroyed, he said....

India Tests N-capable Prithvi II, Dhanush Ballistic Missiles

10:41 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

India today successfully test-fired indigenously developed ballistic missiles 'Prithvi II' and 'Dhanush' from different locations off the Orissa coast, adding more firepower to the armed forces. "The tests were successful. Both the missiles test-fired early today met all the parameters," the director of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, S P Dash, told PTI. While the 'Prithvi II' was test-fired from complex-3 of ITR Chandipur, 15 km from here, from a mobile launcher at around 0548 hours, the 'Dhanush' was fired from INS-Subhadra in the...

India Received 2nd Israeli-made Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control System

10:37 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

India today(Mar 25) received the second of the three contracted Israeli-made Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control System at the Jamnagar air base, giving it the second 'eye in the sky' for enhanced surveillance capabilities.The second AWACS arrived in Gujarat from Israel in the evening and will be deployed in Agra, IAF officials said here.With the arrival of the second AWACS, officials said the IAF can keep an eye on both the eastern and western front at the same time and with the induction...

South Korea Says Not Clear North Korea Involved In Ship Sinking

10:27 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A South Korean naval ship was sinking on Friday night with more than 100 people on board, but officials played down earlier suggestions that it may have been the result of an attack by North Korea."It is not clear whether North Korea was involved," Presidential Blue House spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye told Reuters.The Joint Chiefs of Staff also said it could not conclude that the reclusive North was behind the attack.......................Reut...

Russia delivers first 3 helicopter gunships to Brazil

10:19 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Russia has delivered the first batch of Mi-35M Hind E attack helicopters to Brazil, a Russian state arms exporter said on Thursday.Rosoboronexport spokesman Sergei Svechnikov said a total of 12 helicopters are to be delivered under a 2008 contract, worth $150 million.The Mi-35M is an export version of the Mi-24 Hind that was used extensively in Afghanistan. The Mi-24/35 is unique among dedicated attack helicopters insofar as it can carry a load of troops, in addition to performing its offensive role......................Full St...

Malaysia to order CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft from Indonesia

10:18 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Malaysia is planning to sign a letter of intent in April for four Indonesian Aerospace CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft.Air force officials, including chief of staff Rodzali bin Daud, have been negotiating with Indonesia's state-owned aircraft-maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia for the purchase, say industry sources...............................Full St...

Leaders not impressed by new Russian PAK-FA fighter

10:15 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The flying debut of Russia’s answer to the F-22 Raptor isn’t wowing Air Force leaders.Dubbed the T-50 or PAK-FA, the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet made its maiden flight Jan. 29 — 47 minutes over eastern Russia — and has flown at least twice since then. The twin-engine jet will replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker, both fourth-generation front-line fighters.The first operational T-50s should be delivered in 2015, the same year the Air Force expects its first F-35 Lightning II. Also a fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 has a single...

Israel Delivers 6 Heron UAV To Turkey

10:12 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Israel Military Industries (IMI) has delivered six drones to Turkey, media reported March 25.Public radio and YNet news said the Turkish military would receive the remaining four Heron drones on order by the end of April.............................................Full St...

Royal Australian Air Force's F/A-18 Super Hornets Arrive in Australia

10:10 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The first five of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force have arrived in Australia at its largest air force base, Amberley in Queensland. The F/A-18Fs are Canberra's first new combat aircraft in 25 years. ................................Full St...

Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Pilatus PC-7 MK II Aircraft Crashes

10:06 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

More than 1,000 Universiti Utara Malaysia students and their parents watched in horror as a Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Pilatus PC-7 MK II aircraft exploded in mid-air, killing the pilot during an air show.Mejar Zulrihan Yusoh’s body was found some 10m from his aircraft which had crashed into the university’s forest research area at 10.15am. He was still strapped to his seat.It was believed that the 33-year-old pilot had managed to eject from the plane but could not save himself as the aircraft was flying too low.........................................................Full...

Pak Navy to Consider French Marlin class and Chinese Yuan for its Next-Generation Submarines

9:58 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 3 comments

Pakistan Navy is in discussions with China and France to acquire seven latest conventional submarines, negotiations with Germany to purchase three U-214 is also on cards.Chinese version offers economical price of around $230 million for each boat.To negotiate with French DCN Company for Marline Submarines, a high level naval delegation will visit France on April 27. Reliable sources from Pakistan Navy told DawnNews that after three years of continuous negotiations with Germany PN has decided to avail some other options as well for acquiring next-generation...

Pakistan and Czech Republic Signed MoU to Increase Defence Cooperation

9:49 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Pakistan and Czech Republic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase military and defence cooperation between the two countries.Minister for Defence Production, Abdul Qayyum Jatoi and the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Czech Republic Martin Bartak put signatures on the MoU on behalf of their countries here in the Ministry of Defence.The MoU envisages to increase cooperation in the area of military training, exchange of military delegations and collaboration in the filed of defence production.Earlier,...

Pakistan Army Ready to Forgo Military Hardware: Kayani

9:46 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 2 comments

Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Thursday that the military was willing to forgo its requests for hardware to ensure that Pakistan’s energy and economic needs were met.At a briefing at the Pakistan Embassy, Gen Kayani also said that there had been a marked change in the US attitude towards Pakistan because of the army’s success in South Waziristan and Swat.“I told Senator John Kerry and Senator Richard Lugar that in order to make sure that Pakistan’s economy and energy needs are met, we are willing to forgo the military equipment that...

Pakistan May Be Operating Second Khushab Reactor

9:36 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

GoogleEarth recently posted satellite imagery from GeoEye featuring the Khushab nuclear site in Pakistan. Imagery dated December 31, 2009 shows what appears to be steam distorting the view of some of the cooling tower fan blades for the second plutonium production Khushab reactor. This would indicate that the second Khushab reactor is at least at some state of initial operation. On April 23, 2009, ISIS determined from DigitalGlobe satellite imagery that major construction of the second Khushab reactor was likely finished, and that it could soon...

President grants awards to personnel of Air Force, Army, Navy on Pakistan Day

8:12 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 3 comments

President Asif Ali Zardari has granted military awards to officers and men of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force in recognition to their gallantry contributions,an ISPR press release said here Monday. Detail of Pakistan Army personnel who are nominated for awards are as under: SITARA-I-BASALAT. Following officers have been conferred with Sitara-i-Basalat: Major General Bilal Omer Khan (Shaheed), HI (M), AC, Brigadier Syed Hussain Abbas Shah (Shaheed), Punjab , Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Umer, FF and Major Mudassar Razzaq, Avn. TAMGHA-I-BASALAT. Following...

Pakistan Air Force in Anti-Terror War

8:10 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 4 comments

By Air Marshal Ayaz A Khan (R) The high professional excellence of Pakistan Air Force has been put to test by the war on terror. This is a different kind of war, because the enemy cannot be seen. The terrorists are engaged in a hit and run guerrilla war. Their tactics are secrecy, suicide bombings and ambush. Yet their greatest fear is that of air attacks. This is because of the surprise, speed, shock and devastation of air attacks. Missiles and bombs hit the terrorists, before they see the fighter jets, releasing and firing their lethal ordnance....

Pakistan Air Force successfully employs air-to-air refueling skill

8:08 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 3 comments

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday employed air-to-air refuelling skill successfully thus attaining another milestone to prove itself ‘second to none’ as envisioned by Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The attainment of the capability was a part of the on-going High-Mark-10 exercises kicked off a week ago.The first Air-to-Air Re-Fuller aircraft of Pakistan Air Force which had joined PAF in the mid of December-2009, today took active part in the exercises and ably re-fulled two fighter aircraft in the PAF’s inventory, a senior officer of...

NATO helicopter crashes in Afghanistan

8:04 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A NATO helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan Tuesday with Turkish soldiers on board, but the military alliance denied that anyone had been killed.The military chopper came down on the outskirts of Wardak town, capital of the province of the same name south of Kabul, at around 10.30 am (0600 GMT), provincial spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told AFP.He said one of the Turkish soldiers on board was killed and three others injured but NATO denied there were any deaths..............................Full St...

Decision looms for US on Middle East arms supply

8:02 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The US is grappling with a dilemma over how to arm its Arab allies, delaying by months a request from the United Arab Emirates for information about possibly buying the showpiece Joint Strike Fighter.The UAE’s interest in the JSF – along with its acquisition of US missile defence technology – highlights the Gulf states’ concern about Iran and its determination to build military capacity.Diplomats say the UAE first requested a classified Pentagon briefing on the JSF last June – but the US said it must first conclude a review of possible arms sales...

Australia orders 7 CH-47F Chinook helicopters

8:00 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Greg Combet, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has signed a contract with the US Army Security Assistance Command to acquire seven CH-47F Chinook helicopters, two Simulators and associated spares. “The aircraft will replace the existing fleet of six CH-47D Chinooks operated by C Squadron of the 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville, and the first two aircraft are planned to enter service in 2014, with all seven in service by 2017,” Mr Combet said. “The CH-47D fleet...

New Israel Air Force Training Unit to Reach Skies Without Leaving Ground

10:54 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 2 comments

The Israel Air Force is set to launch a new squadron to conduct complex training missions without a single airman or jet leaving the ground. The new unit will run all of the IAF's flight simulators, and in two years will inaugurate a tactical simulator allowing eight fighter pilots - and two others posing as enemy pilots - to run training drills simultaneously.The IAF has operated flight simulators for over 30 years, mostly to train aircraft squadrons on procedures to be taken in the event of emergency or inclement weather. Once every few months,...

Russia’s United Aircraft Chief Fyodorov Denies U.S. Tanker Bid

10:51 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. isn’t planning to bid for the Pentagon’s $35 billion Air Force aerial-refueling tanker program, Chief Executive Officer Alexei Fyodorov said, contradicting U.S. media reports.The Wall Street Journal reported March 19 that United Aircraft, the maker of Ilyushin transport planes, was preparing a bid to be announced as early as today. The Washington Post also wrote about the plan on March 20.“This is utter nonsense,” Fyodorov said in a subsequent telephone interview with Bloomberg News. “UAC is not planning to take part...

Vertical launch of BrahMos missile successful

10:42 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 3 comments

BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile, lifted off vertically from Naval destroyer INS Ranvir and punched a hole in a decommissioned vessel 290 km away in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast on Sunday.The missile, which was fired at 11.30 a.m. from INS Ranvir, climbed 200 metres vertically, then manoeuvred at supersonic speeds to cruise horizontally before smashing into the vessel INS Meen.This is the 22nd launch of BrahMos, which has already been inducted into the Army and the Navy. It has been jointly developed by India and Russia...........

Russia Navy Needs Minimum 50 Nuclear Subs for Fleet

7:13 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Russian Navy ideally needs to have at least 50 nuclear-powered submarines, a high-ranking Navy officer said during a live interview with Ekho Moskvy radio station.The Russian Navy has some 60 strategic, multi-functional and diesel-powered submarines in its fleet that are combat ready.The number of nuclear submarines in Russia's Navy should be no less than 40-50," First Deputy of the Naval General Staff Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev said.He said that France, Britain and the United States have at least nine combat ready nuclear subs at sea at all...

Fate of Russia's Bulava missile must be decided this summer

7:11 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The upcoming tests of Russia's troubled Bulava ballistic missile will determine whether it will be put in service with the Russian Navy or scrapped, a senior Navy commander said.The Russian Navy is planning to conduct at least four test launches of the Bulava ballistic missile at the end of June."I believe that this summer will be decisive in terms of adopting Bulava for the service with the Navy," First Deputy of the Naval General Staff Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev said in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio station on Saturday."We will continue...

Australian Submarines 'Poor Value for Money'

7:04 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Australia's insistence on maintaining a strong defence industry means it pays vastly more than other nations for its equipment, a study has found.Conducted in the United States by McKinsey consultants, the study raises further concerns about the Rudd government's plans to acquire 12 submarines to replace the trouble-plagued Collins class vessels.The report ranked the US and Australia equal last out of 33 countries on a measure of defence equipment output versus expenditure. Brazil, Poland and Russia headed the table.''In general, countries that...

Turkey moves ahead with LPD acquisition plan

7:03 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (Savunma Sanayii Müstesarligi - SSM) has issued a request for proposals (RfP) to seven local shipyards for the construction of a landing platform dock (LPD) vessel for the Turkish Naval Forces.ADIK, Çelik Tekne, Dearsan Shipyard, Desan Shipyard, Istanbul Shipyard, RMK Marine and SEDEF received the RfP in February and have been given nine months to develop their tender responses.The LPD requirement calls for a logistically self-sustaining amphibious vessel able to transport, sustain and land a battalion-size...

PAF Mirage Fighter jet Refueled in Air By IL-78 in "HighMark-2010"

7:02 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 4 comments

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IAF Pilots Wear Diapers on Bombing Missions

6:45 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 4 comments

Fighter pilots wore diapers and flew non-stop for more than nine hours to carry out the Indian Air Force's farthest and longest bombing exercise recently - symbolising the IAF's extended reach.They flew Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters to destroy mock targets in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.A senior IAF officer told HT, "The fighters dropped air-to-ground ordnance for the first time on an uninhabited island in the Andamans. We want to exploit the location of these islands to train fighter pilots for extreme missions."Six fighter planes were launched from...

Hindustan Aeronautics to go it alone on observation helicopter

6:43 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Hindustan Aeronautics has decided against seeking an international partner for its light observation helicopter programme, and will undertake the development by itself."We have gained a lot of experience and learnt a lot over the years manufacturing the Cheetah and Chetak, and then developing the Dhruv [advanced light helicopter]," says a senior official at the state-owned firm. "There will be some degree of commonality in terms of systems with Dhruv and the LCH [light combat helicopter], but this will otherwise be a new helicopter.".............

US offers Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) to India

6:41 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

After a range of top fighter aircraft and other weapon systems, the US has now offered another sophisticated system to India, the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR), whose capability has been described as "unmatched" by a former US navy official. According to Admiral Walter F Doran, president Asia for Raytheon, Indian officials had already been briefed on "this latest radar, for highly effective 24-hour surveillance and target acquisition capability", India Strategic magazine reported in its latest issue. The system is being operated now by the British...

Long-term plan to indigenously manufacture all major defence equipment'

6:35 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

CHENNAI: Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lt General P C Bharadwaj on Saturday said India had a long-term plan to indigenously manufacture all major defence equipment used in combat zones as part of its modernisation programme. "Modernisation is a very high priority matter. We are looking up to 2027. All the services (Army, Navy and Airforce) have drawn up their plans," Bharadwaj told reporters on the sidelines of the passing out parade at Officers Training Academy. He said India has progressed in a big way in making indigenous defence equipment like Brahmos...

Indian Army to Hunt for Heavy Machine Guns

6:34 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 2 comments

NEW DELHI: The Army has launched a hunt for heavy machine guns (HMGs), which can fire high-explosive, incendiary and armour-piercing rounds at a rapid clip, to further boost the high-volume firepower of its infantry battalions. Floating a global RFI (request for information) for armament majors, the Army wants the tripod-mounted 12.7mm HMGs to have an effective range of over 2,000-metre and be capable of firing over 450 rounds per minute. At present, while the over 350 infantry battalions (each with 800-1,000 soldiers) in the 1.13-million strong...

Taiwan Compensated For Flaws In Mirage 2000-5 Fighter Jets

6:23 PM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Taiwan's air force said March 21 that it had received more than $3 million worth of parts and maintenance service because of a flaw in the island's French-made Mirage fighter fleet.The Air Force had been effectively compensated in November over cracks in the blades of several Mirage engines, which had prompted the Air Force to reduce the time of training and various flight missions for the fleet."Since then, the combat readiness rate of the Mirage fleet has rebounded to reach the standards targeted by the defense ministry," the air force said.Dassault...

Kuwaiti MPs oppose deal for French warplanes

6:22 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

An Islamist parliamentary bloc in Kuwait on Sunday warned the government against the planned purchase of French-made Rafale warplanes, saying the deal was "suspicious"."The bloc reiterates its firm rejection of this suspicious deal, especially following information that the latest technical reports have recommended the rejection of the deal," said a statement by the Reform and Development Bloc.The written statement did not say why the deal was deemed suspicious, and there has been no official word that Kuwait was reconsidering the purchase...........................................Full...

Nuclear Power Plants to Figure in US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue:US Ambassador Patterson

6:20 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Pakistan’s request for nuclear power plants may come up for discussion during the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue, which begins in Washington on March 24.The indications came from two senior US officials, ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Anne W. Patterson.Ambassador Patterson, the US envoy in Islamabad, told a Los Angeles-based Pakistani newspaper: “We are beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan government” on the country’s desire to tap nuclear energy. “We are going to have working level...