Bullet-proof jackets scam: Babu endangered jawans

Press Trust of India, Thursday April 29, 2010, New Delhi A Delhi court on Thursday allowed CBI to quiz in custody a senior Home Ministry official and two others for two days for allegedly accepting Rs 10 lakh as bribe in the purchase of bullet-proof jackets for Central Police Forces. "Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, I deem it proper that the accused are remanded to police custody in the interest of investigation," Additional Sessions Judge O P Saini said while sending the accused to CBI custody till May 1. Radhey Shyam Sharma,...

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India rolls out first indigenous stealth warship

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Mumbai , April 29 India has effected a generational shift in its warship-building capability by commissioning INS Shivalik — the first indigenously built stealth frigate that is the biggest in its class in the world. The ship, which is 143 metres long, can tactically fire weapons even before the enemy detects it. The hard-to-detect warship will form a crucial component of the Indian Navy. It is equipped with a mix of Indian, Russian, Israeli and western weapons...

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Revival of Abandoned Air Fields by IAF

There are 29 abandoned airfields of the Indian Air Force (IAF) spread across eleven states in the country. Review of abandoned airfields for revival is a continuous, ongoing process and is based on the operational assessment / requirement of the IAF.No funds have been allocated nor utilized during 2008-09 and 2009-10 for maintenance and revival of abandoned airfields....

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Scorpene Submarines Project hit by 3-year delay

The government on Monday admitted that the mammoth Rs 18,798 crore project to construct six French Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Docks Ltd in Mumbai had been hit by massive slippages, which in turn would adversely impact Navy's underwater combat capabilities. TOI was the first to report that the project, under which the six submarines were to roll out one per year from December 2012 onwar...

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India to deploy indigenous coastal surveillance system

An indigenously built coastal surveillance system would be deployed in 46 strategic western and eastern locations in the country from this November to check intrusions from sea and counter such threats, officials said today.Being developed by the Bangalore-based defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), the system includes radars and electro- optic and meteorological sensors and would be mounted on light- houses or towers at these locations, company officials said. "It will give complete operational picture of the sea up to 20 km deep into the...

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Prince Harry gets ticket to fly Apache helicopters in Afghanistan

Prince Harry could fly Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan, it emerged yesterday, after it was announced that he had passed his army pilot’s course.Lieutenant Wales, as he is known in the Army Air Corps, has been told that he is good enough to fly either the Apache or the Lynx, a battlefield utility helicopter. He has until next week to decide which he prefers.The Apache, one of the most fearsomely armed helicopters in the world, was designed to hunt and destroy tanks. In Afghanistan its ability to take out targets up to two miles away has...

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Russian S-400 missiles to go into serial production

Russian long range ballistic missiles for S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems will go into serial production in the autumn, a leading missile manufacturer said on Friday.Earlier media reports said the S-400 missile system was incomplete as long range ballistic missiles, among others, had not been adopted for it."On December 26, 2009 the preliminary tests were finished and the missile was put forward for state tes...

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Russia requests Israeli UAV joint venture

Israel's Ministry of Defence is evaluating a Russian government request for a joint venture production facility in Russia for Israeli developed unmanned air vehicles.Last year Russia purchased Israel Aerospace Industries BirdEye-400 systems. Now Russia wants to buy more Israeli UAVs, such as the IAI Searcher-3 and its Her...

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United States to Hand over 2 Upgraded P-3C Orion Aircrafts to Pakistan

The United States will hand over two upgraded P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft to Pakistan on Friday to help boost maritime security capability of the key member of the multinational task force.Pakistan will receive the surveillance maritime aircraft in Jacksonville, Florida, at a ceremony, to be attended by Vice Admiral.Shahid Iqbal HI (M), chief of staff Pakistan Navy, Islamabad’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani and senior US Naval officer...

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Pakistan Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is alive

Exclusive: Setback for CIA after Pakistan intelligence official admits drone attack failed to kill the Pakistan Taliban commanderThe Taliban leader in Pakistan, Hakimullah Mehsud, survived an American drone strike in January and is alive and well, a senior official with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency told the Guardian today.Mehsud was reported to have died in a CIA drone strike in South Waziristan in Janua...

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BAE has edge in dogfight over £1bn Iraq order

The Iraqi Government is in talks to buy 24 Hawk trainer jets for up to £1 billion in a deal that would be the country’s first large arms purchase from the UK for more than 20 years.Military insiders have told The Times that officials from the Iraqi Air Force will be in Britain in May and June to test the Hawk, which is used by the Royal Air Force to train fast-jet pilots.The BAE Systems Hawk is being considered alongside jets from Korea and Italy as Iraq starts to rebuild an air force that was destroyed by coalition forces during the Gulf War.The...

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Second Pakistani Agosta 90B SSK to be retrofitted with MESMA AIP System from 2011

A second Khalid-class (Agosta 90B) submarine of the Pakistan Navy is to be retrofitted with a MESMA (Module d'Energie Sous-Marine Autonome) air independent propulsion (AIP) system from 2011, according to French shipbuilder and systems specialist DCNS.A DCNS spokeswoman told Jane's on 20 April that the MESMA unit would be installed in the 1,760-ton boat during its first long overhaul period in Pakistan.Two of Pakistan's three Khalid-class submarines - PNS Khalid (S 137) and PNS Saad (S 138) - do...

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CIA is Using New, Smaller Missiles in Pakistan's Tribal Areas

The CIA is using new, smaller missiles and advanced surveillance techniques to minimize civilian casualties in its targeted killings of suspected insurgents in Pakistan's tribal areas, according to current and former officials in the United States and Pakistan.The technological improvements have resulted in more accurate operations that have provoked relatively little public outrage, the officials said. Pakistan's government has tolerated the airstrikes, which have killed hundreds of suspected insurgents since early 2009, but that support has always...

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India Delays MRCA

India will miss a deadline tomorrow to complete the world’s biggest fighter-jet purchase in 15 years, risking a possible $1 billion price increase as Boeing Co. and five rival manufacturers resubmit bids.India’s Air Force is still conducting flight trials for competing jets from Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp. and four European companies, two years after accepting price quotes for 126 warplanes that the government said should cost about $10 billion. The bids expire April 28 and the Defense Ministry has asked manufacturers to submit offers for an...

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Delivery of three additional HELLAS systems to the Royal Thai Air Force

EADS Defence & Security (DS) has been ordered to equip three additional helicopters of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) with its obstacle warning system. This device, which is known as “HELLAS” (Helicopter Laser Radar), ensures the detection of obstacles that are virtually invisible for pilots, such as high-voltage power lines, thus enabling missions to be carried out even under difficult visibility conditions.Before this, in 2005, Defence Electronics, an integrated activity of DS, already delivered...

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French Companies Offer to Make Rafale fighter jets in UAE

A consortium of French aerospace companies hoping to sell as many as 60 Rafale fighter jets to the UAE is offering to set up facilities to make the aircraft in Abu Dhabi.The plane maker Dassault, the aerospace company Thales, the engine maker Snecma, the missile builder MBDA and the avionics maker Sagem make up the French consortium.The companies have issued a proposal to train UAE nationals in aerospace manufacturing and production to handle local production of the jet, according to Major Gen Khalid al Buainnain, the former Commander of the UAE...

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Iranian navy plane flies near USS Eisenhower in Gulf of Oman

An Iranian navy plane that approached a U.S. aircraft carrier last week was flying as low as 300 feet as it neared the USS Eisenhower, U.S. military officials said Wednesday.The incident, first reported by CNN on Tuesday, came as Iran was beginning a series of military exercises last week meant to show off their military prowess.The Eisenhower was on duty in the Gulf of Oman in the northern Arabian Sea, in support of the Afghanistan war efforts, when the Iranian maritime patrol aircraft flew within 1,000 yards of the vessel, according to military...

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Rivals Join For Next Stage Of PAK FA Engine

Russia’s two engine manufacturers are to collaborate on the next stage of engine development for the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter after years of going head-to-head as rivals.The Moscow-based Salut and United Engine Corp. (UEC) have agreed to work jointly on the so-called second-stage engine for the T-50 being developed to meet the air force’s PAK FA requiremen...

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Second Saab-2000 ERIEYE AEW&C Arrived in Pakistan

The Saab-2000 ERIEYE AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) aircraft, purchased by Pakistan, finally arrived in the country on Saturday.The first such aircraft of the originally four contracted by Pakistan was acquired in December last year, while the second aircraft landed safely at an Operational Base of the PAF.PAF sources have informed that this new entry would soon be inducted formally in PAF squadron, while remaining two would also be handed over to Pakistan so...

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Royal Malaysian Navy plans to expand fleet

The grounding and training provided for our submariners are of such high quality that Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) crew were invited to serve with the French navy.RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the exposure given to its submariners was so thorough that the French navy was willing to have them aboard their submarines."This shows the level of competency our crew have attained, and the credibility they have achieved during their stint in France...

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Moscow to consult Kiev on upgrading Russian fleet in Crimea

Russia will seek Ukraine's opinion on any moves to modernize its navy in Crimea, Russian Navy chief Vladimir Vysotsky said on Tuesday.The Ukrainian and Russian parliaments on Tuesday ratified a deal to extend the lease on a Russian naval base in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017. In return, Ukraine will receive a 30% discount on Russian natural gas..........................l...

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Picture of woman officer accused of spying for Pak

Gilani, Singh likely to meet in Bhutan Gilani, Singh likely to meet in Bhutan NEW DELHI: A female diplomat working in the Indian embassy in Islamabad has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, police and the foreign ministry said Tuesday.“We have reason to believe that an official in the High Commission of India in Islamabad had been passing information to the Pakistani intelligence agencies,” foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporter...

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Pakistan Navy Clarifies News about Prchase of USS Mclnerney

The Naval Headquarters has clarified a news item published on 21 April, 2010, in The News pertaining to transfer of guided missile frigate from the US to the Pakistan Navy.Denying that Pakistan will have to pay $78 million for the purchase of 30 years old frigate, the headquarters, in a press release on Monday, said that as a matter of fact the guided missile frigate USS Mclnerney would be transferred from the US to Pakistan Navy under Foreign Military Funding (FMF). The FMF is allocated to all the three services of Armed Forces through Joint Services...

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Qatari Navy Buys Block-3 Exocets

The Qatari Navy is to equip its Vita-class patrol boats with MBDA's latest version of the Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile. No value has been given for the deal.The four 56-meter patrol vessels, built by the British in the 1990s, already carry an earlier version of the weapon....

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South Korean Navy Suspends its fleet of Lynx helicopters

The South Korean Navy has suspended its fleet of Lynx anti-submarine helicopters following the back-to-back crashes of two of them last week.The service ordered emergency safety inspections of the British helicopters, a Navy official said April 19. Investigators are looking into the cause of the crashes at the same time, he said.The Navy had operated 25 Lynx helicopters modified for anti-submarine and surface warfare....

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Taiwan Exercise Focuses on Possible China Assault

 Taiwan's military has lifted the veil on how it would respond to a massive Chinese air attack, showing that the island still takes the risk of war very seriously despite improving ties.On April 27, journalists were invited for the first time to a drill simulating aerial assaults on Taiwan's major air bases and testing the military's ability to recover quickly from such a shock.The maneuvers, staged at a military air base near Hualien city in eastern Taiwan, played out a scenario in which runways were bombed by waves of bombers or missiles...

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India To Buy 50 Utility Copters for Navy

The Indian Navy has issued a request for information (RfI) to four companies to purchase 50 light utility helicopters.The RfI was sent to France's Eurocopter, Italy's AgustaWestland, the United States' Bell Helicopter and Russia's Kamov Co. The helicopters are intended to replace aging Chetak helicopters bought 30 years ago.The planned naval purchase is in addition to the procurement, initiated last year, of 384 light utility helicopters for the Air Force and Army................l...

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Mahindra intends to add bigger wings to aviation biz

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the automobile manufacturer which has recently also entered the aviation sector, has ideas of replicating the global success of Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer.The company acquired a stake of more than two-thirds in two Australian aerospace companies last month, to expand its aircraft and aerospace component manufacturing business.Speaking on the sidelines of a truck launch made by M&M at the Delhi Auto Expo, vice-chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra said: “We have our feet firmly planted on the...

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Mahindra acquires 2 Australian Aerospace companies

India’s Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.said Tuesday it has acquired a 75.1% stake each in two Australian aerospace companies for INR1.75 billion (US$37.4 million) to expand its aircraft and aerospace-component manufacturing business.Mahindra & Mahindra has bought two small Australian firms to build its aerospace capacity so it can compete for large orders from airline manufacturers modernising Indian defence forces.The company on Tuesday said it and India’s Kotak Private Equity had bought majority stakes in component firm Aerostaff Australia and...

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IAe, Bell offer 412EP to Indonesian army

Indonesia's army plans to add 24 utility helicopters, with Indonesian Aerospace and Bell Helicopter teaming for the pitch.The army wants to have two squadrons of utility helicopters, totalling 24 aircraft, plus 18 attack helicopters, say industry sources.For the utility helicopter requirement, state-owned aircraft-maker IAe is putting forward the Bell 412EP.Indonesia's army has 31 412HP/SPs already in use, as listed in Flightglobal's HeliCAS database. IAe manufactured the airframes, which the army took delivery of between the late 1980s and the...

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HAL and BEL have jointly won a bid to design and build Rustom UAV

State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) have jointly won a bid to design and build Rustom, an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, for India’s defence research agency.HAL and BEL edged out private firms in the race for the project—the first Indian military aircraft programme to invite the private sector to design and build a plane. Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T), Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd were the other contenders.Rustom would be a medium-altitude, long-endurance...

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Pakistan links defence export drive with private sector growth

Pakistan is aiming to increase defence exports as part of a campaign to drive the expansion of its private sector and provide much-needed support to state-owned enterprises under increasing pressure from the demands of the 'war on terror', the head of Pakistan's Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) has told Jane's . Major General Muhammad Ijaz Hussain Awan, director general of DEPO, said at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition and Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 19 April that defence exports of Pakistan-made equipment had...

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The French dis-connection

The Nuclear Security Conference ended in Washington on April 13 with a final communique comprising 12 points to ensure security of nuclear material and prevention of nuclear proliferation. Australia and France tried to influence the Summit by their respective suspensions of contracted material that was to be provided to Pakistan. In the time leading to the Nuclear Security Summit, the Australian Defence Minister John Faulkner employed a rarely used anti-WMD law, last used 14 years ago, that prevented GBC, an Australian manufacturer of scientific...

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Short supply of fleet haunts Navy

Just after the 1962 war with China, the centre zeroed in on the optimal level of naval fleet strength for securing India. Nearly half a century down the line, the navy still has not been able to achieve that level. The emergency committee of the Union Cabinet had accepted a force level of 138 ships for navy in 1964. The current strength level is 129 ships including vintage submarines, which in any case are being phased out. The navy currently has 37 major war vessels (carrier, destroyers, frigates), 16 submarines, 59 minor war vessels and 17 auxiliary...

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Navy to procure new Light Utility Helicopters

The Navy has initiated the process for procurement of new Light Utility Helicopters(LUHs) to replace its ageing fleet of Chetak choppers."We are on the look out for a twin-engined helicopter of modern airframe design and fully integrated advanced avionics to replace our existing fleet of Chetak helicopters, which were inducted about 30-35 years ago," Navy officials said here. The Navy recently issued a global Request For Information (RFI) for an unspecified number of new LUHs, asking the vendors to reply within next three weeks with details of...

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Indo-US naval wargames begin in Arabian Sea

 The ten-day long Indo-US wargames began on Friday in the Arabian Sea, strengthening the relationships between the two navies to maintain peace and stability.The thrust of the Malabar CY 10 exercise this year would be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Firings, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and Submarine Operations.Malabar CY 10, conducted from April 23 to May 2, is the fourteenth series of the Malabar round of exercise. The US Navy's frontline units of 7th fleet and Indian Navy's Western...

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Indian C-130Js Under Build At Lockheed's Marietta Hercules Factory

Photos Courtesy Lockheed-Martin...

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Thales to upgrade IAF's MiG-29s with IFF system

French defence major Thales will provide the sensors complaint with NATO standards for Identifying Friend or Foe (IFF) on MiG-29 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force to be upgraded in Russia."Russian Aircraft Corporation, MiG (RSK-MiG), has chosen Thales to provide the IFF-1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) and Cryptographic National Secure Mode (NSM) as part of the retrofit for the Indian Air Force's MiG-29 multi-role fighter aircraft," a press release from the French firm said here Thursday. The IAF has three squadrons of MiG-29,...

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Defence goods worth Rs. 20,000 crore made in the last three years

Amidst the discussions on the further investments in the upgradation of machineries as far as Indian defence industry was concerned and also hiking the limit for the FDI in the industry, the Government has recently confirmed the fact that Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has produced defence goods worth over a whopping Rs. 20,560 crore in the past three years for the Indian defence personnel. Minister of State for Defence, M M Pallam Raju has recently shared the fact that the OFB has made goods worth...

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Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Trainees For Stint In Pakistan

The Air Force Training College (KTU) in Kepala Batas will send four trainee pilots for training at Pakistan's air force college of flying in Risalpur. Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud said the trainees would be leaving for the one year Pakistan training stint next month."Trainees who pass will be deployed to fly our fleet including Hawk jet trainer aircraft," he told reporters after presenting wings at a passing out parade in Kepala Batas near here on Saturday.Rodzali said the trainees picked for the Pakistan stint...

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China is about to buy Russian air cushion ships

Rosoboronexport holds consultations with China at defense show DSA 2010 about possible buying of Russian Zubr- and Murena-type air cushion landing ships, reported Monday RIA Novosti referring to Alexei Kozlov, representative of Rosoboronexport's Department for the Navy. "Speaking of air cushion ships, we've negotiated with China. Although this talks had no results yet, consultations with Chinese party are in progress", pointed out Kozlov. Russia had previously delivered four Project 12322 Zubr air...

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Chinese Military Seeks to Extend Its Naval Power

The Chinese military is seeking to project naval power well beyond the Chinese coast, from the oil ports of the Middle East to the shipping lanes of the Pacific, where the United States Navy has long reigned as the dominant force, military officials and analysts say.China calls the new strategy “far sea defense,” and the speed with which it is building long-range capabilities has surprised foreign military officials.The strategy is a sharp break from the traditional, narrower doctrine of preparing for war over the self-governing island of Taiwan...

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Former Royal Navy Falklands’ Patrols Sold to Bangladesh

Two former Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels built by Hall Russell in Aberdeen and which for years were on Falkland Islands service have been sold to Bangladesh's navy.HMS Leeds Castle and HMS Dumbarton Castle entered service in 1982 and protected the fishing fleets and oil and gas fields in the North Sea before long-term duty guarding the Falkland Islands after the war. Ship repair yard A&P Tyne will overhaul the vessels and will train 66 Bangladeshi sailors to operate them.The ships, fitted with flight decks capable of supporting Sea King...

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Iran Shows Off Its Weapons

Pentagon officials judge Iran’s Army Day parade to be part posturing and part concept demonstration. But they also contend that Tehran is making progress in its weapon programs that have armed the country with a force of 1,000 ballistic missiles with ranges of 90-1,200 mi.“Both the surface-to-air missile equipment and stealth aircraft mockups [in the April 18 display] are judged to be bogus,” says a senior Pentagon official. “During the parade they displayed two stealth aircraft mockups, one manned and one remotely piloted aircraft. They are likely...

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US Congress notified on C-17 aircraft sale to India

The US plans to sell 10 Boeing C-17 transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at an estimated cost of 5.8 billion dollars and has notified its Congress for commencing negotiations. The notification by the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency on the sale was submitted to the US Congress on April 22, according to an official release here today. "This is an important step forward in the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process and is a necessary pre-requisite to negotiations on the deal," the release from the US embassy said. After hearing...

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Russian military wages war on Siberian ice

Russian military helicopters dropped ten bombs in Siberia in their annual offensive against ice-choked rivers, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Monday. Massive blocks of ice often form dams in narrow areas of Russian rivers in spring, sometimes causing some of Russia's vast rivers to swell beyond their banks. Two Mi-8 helicopters were dispatched over the weekend to deal with an ice dam under a highway bridge some 180 from the West Siberian city of Novosibirsk.................l...

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India says to have fifth-generation jets in 2018

India will introduce an advanced fighter jet it is building with Russia in 2018, a move that will bring sophistication to its air power but could also spark unease among neighbours China and Pakistan. New Delhi has watched warily as China has made rapid strides in defence, worried that Beijing's long-term strategy for the region could involve encircling India. Indian military commanders have stressed greater firepower as a counter-measure, particularly for the air force. The fifth generation fighter aircraft joint project with Russia is part of...

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RNZAF UH-1 crashed

Three people are dead after an Air Force Iroquois helicopter crashed north of Wellington and a fourth is in hospital with serious injuries. The helicopter came down early this morning at Pukerua Bay, near the Paekakariki Hill Road. It was travelling from the RNZAF's base at Ohakea to Anzac Day commemorations in Wellington......................l...

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Iran Guards to deploy 'Attack drone' by next March

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that by March next year it will deploy a domestically manufactured drone capable of carrying out air strikes. "The super advanced bomber drone, manufactured by the Revolutionary Guards, will be operational in the second half of this year," Guards Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said referring to the Iranian year ending on March 20, 2011...............l...

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Pakistan to receive first of eight US decommissioned frigates in August news

Pakistan is due to receive a refurbished American frigate USS McInerney by 31 August this year. The transfer is part of a $65 million deal signed with the United States government in October 2008. The contract for the "hot transfer" of the USS McInerney, a Perry-class guided missile frigate, was signed by senior officials of the two countries here on Tuesday. As part of the agreement the Pakistan Navy takes over the vessel on 31 August and subsequently commissions it as PNS Alamgir sometime next year.''Hot transfers'' take place immediately after...

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Abu Dhai MAR and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Establish Strategic Partnership

Abu Dhabi MAR, the international shipbuilding group based in Abu Dhabi, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have signed a contract for the sale of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi MAR. The contract includes the acquisition of Blohm + Voss Shipyards in Hamburg and the civil shipbuilding facilities of the former HDW Gaarden including employees in Kiel. Abu Dhabi MAR will also acquire an 80% stake in each of Blohm + Voss Repair and Blohm + Voss Industries, both of Hamburg. The parties also agreed on the formation of a 50:50 strategic partnership for the design...

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Chinese Submarines, Destroyers Spotted in High Seas near Okinawa

Two Chinese submarines and eight destroyers were spotted by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force on Saturday in the high seas between the main island of Okinawa and Miyako Island in the southernmost prefecture, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Tuesday. The defense chief said the Chinese submarines and destroyers were navigating southeastward, adding that Tokyo has never before confirmed such a large number of Chinese vessels near Japan. "We will investigate whether (China) has any intention...

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Russia delays launch of new nuclear submarine

Russia will not float out a new nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine as planned on May 7 due to technical reasons, a source in the shipbuilding industry said on Tuesday.Construction of the Severodvinsk, the first Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, began in 1993 at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk but has since been dogged by financial setbacks. Russia planned to float out the submarine on May 7 to mark the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945.........................l...

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Taiwan Displays Plans For Missile-Carrying Corvette

Taiwan has unveiled the first images of a high-tech missile corvette specifically designed to counter the threat of China acquiring an aircraft carrier, officials and media said April 12. A computerized graphic of the 1,000-ton "carrier killer," which has so far been kept secret from the public, has gone on display at Taipei's military museum, run by the defense ministry. The vessel will be capable of cruising at speeds of up to 34 miles (55 kilometers) per hour and boast technologies helping it to evade radar detection, the Taipei-based Apple...

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Turkish indigenous Patrol Boat P1200 launched

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Gujarat police to procure 4000 INSAS rifles

In a bid to equip its police force with modern weapons, Gujarat police would be acquiring 4000 Indian Small Arms System (INSAS)rifles in October this year. "We procured 2,000 INSAS rifles in 2008-09 and will be getting 4,000 more in coming October. INSAS rifles are mostly used by BSF, CRPF and para military forces," a state home department official said. He also said that the state's pending demand for 12 more marine police stations is likely to be approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs....

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In defence, take your time but hurry

On the art of gun fighting, American Old West cowboy Wild Bill Hickock said, “Take your time in a hurry.” India’s defence procurement authorities would also do well to heed the legendary gunfighter’s advice. While defence bids need to be carefully scrutinised, decisions need to be made fast and contracts signed quickly, lest we lose out to other countries. With global annual military expenditure topping $1,500 billion, and even though every fiscal India’s defence ministry returns big amounts of the budget allocation back to the government, India...

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BHEL units to up biz from Defence

The two major units of country’s largest power and transmission equipment manufacturer, state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) are planning to re-enter defence business. The units — Tiruchirappalli (Tiruchy) and Ranipet — are planning to produce battle tanks, missile launchers and water desalination facilities for submarines. It may be noted that the Ranipet unit also supplies fuel tankers for space exploration projects. Recently B P Rao, chairman and managing director of BHEL said, “Talks are on for supplying certain type of equipment for...

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Programs, Finance, new MD for Bangalore Complex, Rolls Royce JV

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has announced a 10% growth in sales for the year 2009-10 at Rs. 11,415 cr (~US$2.6b) and 12% growth in Profit before Tax at Rs 2,617 cr. The order book has increased by over Rs 12,000cr during the year with new orders for domestic and export projects.One of the major achievements for the Company during the year has been the maiden flight on the Technology Demonstrator of the indigenously designed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) took place on 29 Mar 2010. A new military variant, ALH Mk III, was introduced during...

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India wants fleet of Israeli Harop killer UAVs

India is seeking to acquire Israeli killer drones for use against insurgents but possibly against terrorist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan as well. Now New Delhi wants to muster at least 25-30 of the armed unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel, one of its key arms suppliers and a global leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology. Until now, most of India's UAV acquisitions have been surveillance and reconnaissance variants such as Heron drones built by Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems. But, Asia Times Online says, "Israeli arms...

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India moves to expand strategic Karwar naval base

India is finally going in for a major expansion of its newest naval base at Karwar in coastal Karnataka, which provides it "strategic depth" on the western seaboard and will house aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines in the future. This comes after a long delay since the ambitious `Project Seabird' to build the futuristic Karwar naval base was first approved by the government way back in 1985 at an initial cost of Rs 350 crore. Budgetary constraints derailed the project for a decade before a truncated Phase-I was approved in 1995, with the...

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Steel and Dust - 46 SAR Exercises in India

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Peru postpones purchase of MBT-2000 tanks

Defense Minister, Rafael Rey Rey, announced it will recommend to the Council of National Defense delaying the purchase of tanks MBT-2000, arguing that they give priority to the acquisition of equipment for counterinsurgency operations in the Valley of the Apurimac and Ene Rivers (VRAE), where remnants of the Shining Path operates, and border surveillance in the region of Putumayo. In the medium term plans to purchase, among others, at least four helicopters Mi-17 Hip H and 18 EMB-314 aircraft (A-29) Super Tucano, and an undisclosed number of transport...

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Indian Army to purchase more Arjun tanks

The success of the indigenous Arjun main battle tank (MBT) in desert trials last month is generating additional army orders for a tank that is emerging as a notable research and development (R&D) success. Meanwhile, the Arjun is becoming more capable; the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which designed the Arjun, says that all future Arjuns will incorporate major improvements, including the ability to fire missiles. Business Standard had reported (Arjun tank outruns, outguns T-90, March 25, 2010) that the Arjun tank had...

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Indian Army orders Akash Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile

The Army has finally agreed to acquire the indigenous two-stage ramjet ‘Akash’ missile. The ‘in-principle’ agreement came at a meeting in the Defence Ministry last week. While the Army has given its nod, induction will depend on the delivery schedule Bharat Dynamics Limited, which makes the missile, is able to maintain. For, the public sector undertaking is already processing orders for six additional squadrons from the Indian Air Force.Top sources in the Ministry said Army Chief General V.K. Singh gave his ‘in-principle’ agreement at a meeting...

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Kuwaiti MPs warn of grilling over French Rafale jets

KUWAIT CITY — An Islamist bloc in Kuwait's parliament opposed to a planned purchase of French-made Rafale warplanes on Sunday warned it will grill senior officials if the deal is signed."Signing the purchase agreement means we will grill whoever is responsible for authorising the deal," spokesman for the Reform and Development Bloc Faisal al-Muslim told a press conference. He would not say, however, whether the prime minister or defence minister are among the officials the bloc plans to call to account if the multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase...

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IAF to Upgrade Mirages-2000H

Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said that upgrading old Mirage fighter aircraft is a better option than buying new fighter planes. When asked why Air Force was spending millions of dollars in upgrading old Mirages as the money could well be used in buying new Sukhois, Naik said, "When you buy an (fighter) aircraft it is not only the aircraft that you buy, you spend money in training people, erecting infrastructure, logistics, spares supply and life time support." "The residual life of the 50 odd Mirages that are left is another 20 years. If I throw...

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India Developing Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile 'Nirbhay': DRDO

BANGALORE: India is developing a sub-sonic 1,000-km range cruise missile "Nirbhay" which can be used for a "variety of applications", a top military scientist said today.The 1000-kg "missile is getting into some shape", Dr V K Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and Chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation said.He also said the flight-trial of air-to-air missile 'Astra', having a range of 45 to 100 km, is on the cards.Saraswat was delivering the keynote address at a national convention on 'The Frontiers of Aeronautical...

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India Working on Anti-Satellite Sstem

With the focus of the Indian military is increasingly shifting towards space-based technologies, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has already put in place the building blocks of an anti-satellite system that can put the country on par with China, DRDO chief VK Saraswat said on Sunday.Speaking at the national conference on frontiers of aeronautical technologies in Bangalore, he said “We have a few building blocks of space-based technologies and some more will be ready in the coming years,” said Saraswat who is also the scientific...

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India to Re-Test Ballistic Missile Defence Shield

India will conduct afresh the trial of its tactical ballistic missile in June to build a credible defence shield for intercepting and destroying incoming missiles, a top defence scientist said."We will conduct a flight test of the anti-missile system again in June to build the ballistic missile defence shield against incoming medium- or long-range missiles," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) director-general VK Saraswat said here.Admitting that the earlier test conducted on March 15 at the integrated test facility on Wheeler...

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Iran Says Starts Making New Anti-Aircraft Missile

Iran has started production of a new ground-to-air missile system, Iranian media have reported, amid persistent speculation that Israel might attack the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities."The range of this defense system [missile] is more than 40 kilometers and it is able to pursue and hit the enemy's airplanes and helicopters on a smart basis and at supersonic speed," Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, without specifying how the missile compared to previous such weapons.Najjar was...

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Tejas to be stationed at new IAF base in Rajasthan

Ajay Banerjee/TNS New Delhi, April 10 India’s self-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be based at the IAF’s brand new forward-operating base at Phalodi in Rajasthan. Medium-lift choppers, Mi-17s will also be stationed at the base which will be 102 km from the India-Pakistan border, said sources. Uniquely, the new air base that was inaugurated four days ago is the first forward-operating airbase to be commissioned by the IAF in more than two decades. The first lot of the LCA -- a squadron of 20 aircraft -- is scheduled to be handed...

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Indian air force orders Harop loitering munitions

The Indian air force is to purchase Israel Aerospace Industries' Harop loitering munition system, with deliveries next year.Suitable for launch from a variety of platforms, the long-endurance Harop has tactical unmanned air vehicle-type capabilities, including an electro-optical/infrared seeker providing 360° coverage. The aircraft can search for, detect and attack high-value mobile, time-critical and moving targets at land or sea, and with pinpoint accuracy from long range, IAI says.Each Harop...

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IAF vice-chief prefers reverse engg to build defence systems

IAF Vice-Chief Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora today suggested India should go the Chinese way by gathering technical data to produce defence equipment through reverse engineering.Addressing a gathering at a convention of The Frontiers of Aeronautical Technologies and 61st AGM in Bangalore, Air Marshal Babora said, “Do reverse engineering. Don't be scared. Our neighbours are already doing it. If someone does not give you, and you want it, do reverse engineering.”His comments, however, might not go down well with Americans and Europeans, who are...

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Ukraine offers to co-develop transport aircraft with India

New Delhi: In a bid to strengthen their military ties, Ukraine has offered to jointly develop a medium weight transport aircraft with India."Ukraine has offered to jointly produce a 10-12 tonne class weight aircraft with us based on their already existing Antonov-148 commercial aircraft and the proposal is being considered by the government," defence ministry officials told PTI.The payload carrying capacity of the proposed aircraft -- An-178, offered by the Ukrainians to the Indian Air Force, will be between that of the C-130J and the force's workhorse...

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