Iran builds unmanned reconnaissance hand-launched drone

Iranian researchers have built an unmanned reconnaissance drone which needs no runway and is able to be launched with hand."Parts of the light drone can be carried in a backpack by military and assembled in the minimum time, "said the Director General of the Iranian company which has built the aircraft, Saeed Shadravanan."The hand-launched drone can be assembled at most in two minutes, it is radar-evasive, composite and carries minimum metal."It is charged with batteries making it possible for the plane to fly for 45 minutes.Read M...

Read More

Indian Navy to buy depth charges for fixed-wing aircraft.

To strengthen its anti-submarine warfare capability, the Navy will soon buy bombs that can be air-dropped to hit enemy vessels lurking in the dark underwaters. The Defence Ministry has issued a request to original equipment manufacturers and vendors for information on such bombs, which could be USED by Navy's fixed-wing aircraft. The Navy is searching for bombs that are effective in sinking submarines in tropical conditions that prevail in the Indian Ocean region in depths up to 1,000 metres. Read M...

Read More

Deadlines Loom as Afghans Struggle to Build Air Force

Building an air force almost from scratch would be tough for any country; for Afghanistan, where the clock is ticking on U.S. support, it's even more daunting.Many observers are focusing on 2011, the year when U.S. troops are expected to begin drawing down. But just as important is 2016, when the Afghan air force, a key part of the country's armed forces, is expected to operate independent of U.S. support and assistance.The Afghan air force operates a mix of Russian and Western aircraft that includes Russian-built Mi-17 troop transport aircraft,...

Read More

Swedish defence giant SAAB seeks more share in India

Swedish defence equipment maker, SAAB, is looking to have a key role in supply of equipment for the three services - the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The company that is the one of the six contenders for the $11-billion deal for fighter aircrafts for the IAF, is already having tie-up for 'Carl Gustav' rocket launchers for the Indian Army and the stealth technology radars for the Navy. CEO of SAAB Håkan Buskhe told reporters that he was looking for further tie-ups and was in talks with Mahindra and Mahindra in the aviation sector....

Read More

U.S and Australian Military Participate in 'Land Down Under' Exercise

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses supporting U.S. Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence in the Asia-Pacific region flew from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to the "Land Down Under' to demonstrate the capability and flexibility of the Stratofortress to Australian military partners, as part of Exercise Hamel Oct. 8 through 18. Participation in Hamel and similar exercises provide an opportunity for Airmen to engage with allies and regional partners, and ultimately contribute toward interoperability, regional stability and security. "It's...

Read More

India's Look East policy shouldn't mean 'encircle China': People's Daily

Ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Hanoi, state-run Peoples Daily on Thursday suggested that India was trying to "encircle China" with its "Look East" policy of befriending Japan and ASEAN countries. India's " Look East policy" should not mean a policy to "encircle China" and India should "listen" to Beijing's "expression" before joining any anti- China alliance with Japan, said a write-up in the newspaper. Read M...

Read More

Naval bases for Indian Navy to come up at Thoothukudi & Paradip

n an apparent bid to counter China’s growing presence in the Bay of Bengal, especially its new forays in Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Indian Government has okayed two new naval bases on the Eastern sea board - Paradip and Tuticorin in Orissa and Tamil Nadu, respectively.These will be the first major naval bases other that Vizag on the eastern coast. The Navy has smaller stations but no big bases that typically provide all logistics support like supplies, replenishment, repair and maintenance.Paradip has a commercial port. Though the east coast as...

Read More

Indian Navy to Acquire Three Aircraft Carriers : Indian Defence Minister

The Indian Navy has been acquiring sea-based assets for littoral warfare, including purchase of landing platform docks and long-range maritime surveillance aircraft, and plans to acquire at least three aircraft carriers in the next five to seven years, in addition to other assets.An Indian Defence Ministry news release said quoting Defence Minister A.K. Antony who asked the Navy to increase Navy-to-Navy contact with the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean. This move comes five years after the service incorporated preparation for littoral warfare...

Read More

Indian Navy To Boost Contact With Littoral Countries

Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony has asked the Navy to increase Navy-to-Navy contact with the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean. This move comes five years after the service incorporated preparation for littoral warfare as part of Navy doctrine.The Indian Navy has been acquiring sea-based assets for littoral warfare, including purchase of landing platform docks and long-range maritime surveillance aircraft, and plans to acquire at least three aircraft carriers in the next five to seven years, in addition to other assets.Read M...

Read More

GPS-guided Excalibur's Use Rises In Afghanistan

By Colin Clark Since the GPS-guided Excalibur artillery round first made it to Iraq and Afghanistan, roughly 200 rounds have been fired. In the last week or so, use of that round has pulsed. Army artillerymen have fired 20 rounds or 10 percent of the total in Afghanistan, according to James Riley, Raytheon Missile System’s vice president for land systems. We don’t have similar numbers for the Marines, who have been using the shell as well. Excalibur has been at the center of debate in the Army as the service grapples with the tradeoffs of cost,...

Read More

Airmen Train Iraqi Pilots to become T-6 Texan II Instructor Pilots

For the past six months, Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force air advisers with the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron have been training Iraqi pilots to become T-6 Texan II instructor pilots to rebuild the Iraqi air force. "The 52nd (EFTS) stood up this year for T-6 flight operations," said Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, the ITAM-AF director and 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "It's an expeditionary flying training squadron teaching the Iraqi instructor-pilot candidates who are going through pilot-instructor training. Our concept...

Read More

Egypt orders three Airbus Military C295 aircraft

The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of three C295 aircraft.The aircraft are to be delivered from 2011 and will be used to increase the Egyptian Air Force’s capacity in tactical and logistic transport. The Egyptian Air Force herewith becomes a new Airbus Military customer.The Egyptian Air Force selected the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven operational capabilities, especially in desert areas.Read M...

Read More

Russia carries out another successful test launch of Bulava missile

A test warhead from a Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile successfully hit its target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.The missile was fired from underwater from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear-powered submarine in the White Sea at 5:10 Moscow time (1:10 GMT).The Bulava (SS-NX-30) SLBM carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage ballistic missile is designed for deployment on Borey-class nuclear-powered submarines.Read...

Read More

Russia conducts routine test of Topol ballistic missile

Russia successfully launched a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday to test its operational capability, a spokesman for Russia's Space Forces said.The RS-12M Topol missile was launched from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia and hit its designated target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, Lt. Col. Alexei Zolotukhin said.Zolotukhin said this test launch had allowed Russia to extend the service life of Topol missiles to 23 years (initially they were only projected to last for 10 years.)The...

Read More

Russia carries out successful tests of two SLBMs

Russia successfully tested two ballistic missiles in separate launches from nuclear submarines in the Barents Sea and the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, a Defense Ministry source said.The official said a Sineva ballistic missile was launched at 2:30 p.m. Moscow time (10:30 GMT) from the Bryansk (Delta IV class) strategic submarine in the Barents Sea and hit its designated target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region.A SS-N-18 Stingray ballistic missile was launched at the same time from the Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets (Delta...

Read More

Joint Japan-U.S. Missile Defense Flight Test Successful

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced the successful completion of an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) intercept flight test, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii. The event marked the fourth time that a JMSDF ship has engaged a ballistic missile target, including three successful intercepts, with the sea-based midcourse engagement capability provided by Aegis BMD. The JFTM-4 test event verified the newest engagement capability of the Japan...

Read More

Lockheed Touts Engine Advantage In Indian MMRCA Bid

As President Barack Obama’s visit to India draws closer, Lockheed Martin is talking up its offering for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition.Lockheed Martin’s F-16IN is powered by the GE F-110-132A engine. GE recently won a contract to provide F-414 engines for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Michael Griswold, Lockheed’s director of advanced development programs, says the LCA win is a good sign that the U.S. can meet its export control requirements. “GE brought the best engine on the table at the lowest cost,” he says....

Read More

Expansion of fleet to Safeguard China's Sea Rights

The surveillance fleet will be expanded to better protect the country's maritime rights, China's ocean watchdog said on Wednesday.An inspection ship joined the fleet under the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) on Tuesday and 36 more will join it later, an official said. The 36 are comprised of seven vessels at 1,500 tons, 15 1,000-ton vessels with the remainder in the 600-ton category.China Marine Surveillance 75 joined the fleet on Tuesday and will patrol the South China Sea. Zhong Dusen, captain...

Read More

Chinese Marine Officers Arrive in Thailand for Joint Military Drill "Blue Strike 2010"

A Chinese special contingent made up of 115 marine officers arrived here Tuesday to join a joint military drill code-named "Blue Strike 2010" with Thai troops.It is the first time that Chinese marines go abroad to conduct joint exercises with foreign forces.Soldiers of the first division of the Thai Marines held a welcome ceremony for the visiting Chinese marines at the airport and presented them with traditional Thai floral garlands. Gao Dong, a commanding officer of the Chinese side, said that the participating Chinese troops have brought with...

Read More

Russia to Sign Agreement with India in December on Design of Joint Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft

Russia is planning to sign in December an agreement with India on the preliminary design of a joint fifth-generation fighter aircraft, a senior Russian aircraft industry official said.Russian Sukhoi holding and Indian Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) agreed in early 2010 to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter jet, tentatively dubbed PAK FA.Russia has been developing its fifth-generation fighter since the 1990s. The current prototype, known as the T-50, was designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at a plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur...

Read More

US to Build £8bn Super Base to Contain China's Military Build-Up

he expansion will include a dock for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a missile defence system, live-fire training sites and the expansion of the island's airbase. It will be the largest investment in a military base in the western Pacific since the Second World War, and the biggest spend on naval infrastructure in decades.Estimates suggest that the island's population will rise by almost 50 per cent from its current 173,000 at the peak of construction. It will eventually house 19,000 Marines who will be relocated from the Japanese island of...

Read More

Indian Navy’s Air arm to highlight neglect at naval conference

The Indian navy’s air arm will make a presentation, a copy of which is with DNA, at the ongoing biannual four-day naval commanders’ conference in New Delhi, to draw the attention of the top brass to its neglect.It will seek midlife upgrades, computerisation, additional air stations and acquisitions for sustenance. The naval commanders will talk new acquisitions, better and upgraded infrastructure for aircraft maintenance, repair, new naval air stations and enclaves.The navy has also proposed an auto air traffic management system, much like Indian...

Read More

The Indian Air Force C-130J Stripped of key Advance Gadgets

In just over four weeks from now, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will take delivery of its first American-built C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft at a facility in Georgia, US. Part of a 2008 deal worth $ 964 million for six aircraft, the IAF C-130J will be the first US military aircraft India has procured in over four decades since it flew the American Douglas Dakota and Fairchild Packet in the 1960s. But there is something amiss. The contract document, a copy of which is with Headlines Today, reveals five specific pieces of high-end...

Read More

Indian Air Force Presses HAL to Meet Timelines

The Air Force today pressed for public sector aerospace major HAL maintaining high quality standards of aircraft and helicopters it supplies to the IAF and to meet delivery timelines. On the second day of the IAF's Commanders Conference, the Air Force leadership met with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) top brass, when the two sides thrashed out issues of quality of products and projects' deadlines of Sukhoi fighter jets and Hawks trainer aircraft. IAF sources told PTI here today that the IAF leadership, including Air Chief Marshal P V Naik,...

Read More

By Tolga Ozbek The Turkish air force will begin replacing its Cessna T-37 jet trainers with Korea Aerospace Industries' KT-1 next month, with the new type now undergoing flight testing.Ankara is to receive 40 KT-1s under a deal signed in June 2007, with the first five to be completed by KAI. The remainder will be produced under licence at Turkish Aerospace Industries' Akinci facility.Meanwhile, TAI will roll out its first flight test example of Turkey's indigenous "Hurkus" basic trainer in January....

Read More

Eurocopter Signs Two Strategic Agreements with Kazakhstan

The first accord is a framework agreement between Eurocopter and Kazakhstan Engineering to create a 50/50 joint venture to assemble and customise EC145s in Kazakhstan. The agreement also includes the development of local maintenance and training activities to support EC145 operations throughout the new customs union zone created this summer by Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus and the entire Central Asian region. The second accord is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) – signed with Eurocopter, its...

Read More

Russia Modernizes fleet of A-50M Mainstay AWACS Aaircraft

Russia has started official testing of its modernized A-50M Mainstay AWACS aircraft for the country's Air Force, a Russian electronics company said Wednesday.The A-50 Mainstay is a Russian airborne warning and control system aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane. Russia adopted the aircraft in 1984, and the Air Force currently has 16-20 A-50 planes, according to various reports."The A-50M is the most complex aircraft and we have successfully modernized it," said Vladimir Verba, general...

Read More

Boom of guns and business battle

Somewhere in Sikkim this week, the hills are echoing with the thunder of American "flying cannons" firing volley after volley of Indian ammunition — not to start a war with China, but in the hope of winning a Rs 2,900-crore ($650 million) order. In the Indian Army's high-altitude firing range, artillery officers are supervising what they call "confirmatory trials" of the BAE Land Systems 155mm/39cal M777 ultra-light howitzers even as the foreign and defence ministries in New Delhi look for a big idea — such as a multi-million-dollar cheque — to...

Read More

When will India get the Admiral Gorshkov?

India's buying spree has run into some serious hurdles. It had planned to  spending $2.5 Billion on an  bsolete Aircraft Career that even the mighty Russian Empire could not afford to operate. Moscow has jacked up the price several times and now it is around $3 Billion. It would be worthwhile in this context to narrate Indo-Russian defence relations briefly. The relations dated back to the heydays of the cold war when the economic and defence capability of India, surrounded by hostile powers, was at a poor shape. The then Soviet assistance...

Read More

Two naval bases okayed in Orissa

In an apparent bid to counter China's growing presence in the Bay of Bengal, especially its new forays in Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Indian Government has okayed two new naval bases on the Eastern sea board - Paradip and Tuticorin in Orissa and Tamil Nadu, respectively. These will be the first major naval bases other that Vizag on the eastern coast. The Navy has smaller stations but no big bases that typically provide all logistics support like supplies, replenishment, repair and maintenance. Paradip has a commercial port. Though the east coast...

Read More

China holds first live-fire joint drills in Tibet

China's military on Wednesday said it held its first live-fire joint ground and air drills on the Tibetan plateau, likely setting off alarm bells in nervous neighbor India.The exercises were held at an altitude above 15,420 feet (4,700 meters) and involved fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, artillery, tanks and electronic warfare units, the official People's Liberation Army Daily newspaper said.No exact locations for the exercises or other details such as numbers of troops involved were given in keeping with usual military secrecy. Almost all...

Read More

Boeing to Sign Contract with Jordan for 18 to 24 AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter

By John Reed Boeing officials revealed today that they expect to sign a contract with Jordan for 18 to 24 of its new AH-6 light attack choppers by the end of the year while another 36 of the birds are set to go to Saudi Arabia as apart of the $60 billion arms deal recently penned with the United States. Jordan has been testing the new chopper for nearly a year now, both in the desert Kingdom and in the Southwestern U.S., and in May it signed a letter of intent to buy the aircraft,Mike Burke, Boeing’s chief of business development for Army rotorcraft...

Read More

IAF Meet Analyses Readiness For War

...

Read More

China rebuffs India, says it policy on J&K visas unchanged

China has been issuing stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir since 2008. The policy had its biggest fall out when China recently declined to grant visa to Lt.Gen. B S Jaswal, the Chief of Indian Army's northern command for official talks here on the ground that he headed troops of a disputed area.The move prompted India to put on hold all defence exchanges with China, even though Beijing played down the move saying that defence ties are intact.Earlier China stapled visa policy coupled with references of Gilgit and Baltistan which are...

Read More

Better relations with Russia Emerging global challenges as the catalyst

A few days back India and Russia finalised joint fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and multirole transport aircraft (MTA) projects to be completed over the next decade as part of which India will acquire about 250-300 FGFAs and 45 MTAs. The Indian Defence Minister underlined that these would be the flagship Indo-Russian joint projects as the joint development of Brahmos cruise missiles has been a positive experiment that would serve as a model for FGFA and MTA projects. India also raised the issue of inordinate delays in the delivery of...

Read More

India, USA to sign key pacts

India and the USA are expected to ink at least seven agreements in defence, trade, climate change, education, clean energy, market access and hi-tech exports during President Barack Obama's visit to India early next month. Highly placed sources said the two sides were in constant touch finalising the pacts to be signed after talks between President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 8. It is learnt that trade-related issues and defence cooperation would top the agenda of the two countries during bilateral talks. Some of the key...

Read More

Russia announces tender for purchase of helicopter carriers

he Russian Defense Ministry has announced a tender for the purchase of amphibious assault ships for the Russian Navy, a deputy defense minister said on Tuesday."We have just announced a tender on the purchase of two vessels and on the transfer of technology for future deliveries," Vladimir Popovkin said at the Euronaval 2010 exhibition, which opened on Monday in Paris."But we have sent proposals to all countries capable of building ships of this class," he said, adding that the deal, based on the results of the tender, would be completed by the...

Read More

Why is Indian Navy mum on use of junk US choppers?

Navy has refused to disclose any details about procurement of six phased-out helicopters from the US worth Rs 182 crore for which it recently received a rap from the Comptroller and Auditor General.The Navy had acquired six decommissioned UH3H helicopters under the Foreign Military Supply (FMS) programme of the United States in November 2006, along with training and support facilities at an approximate cost of Rs 182.14 crore.The 35-40 year-old helicopters "were on the verge of completing their air frame life and are on extended life", noted CAG...

Read More

Indian Chopper Race

...

Read More

Taiwan outlines plans for indigenous UAV

By Greg Waldron Taiwan will not seek to acquire the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk from the USA, but will instead develop its own indigenous unmanned air vehicle."We have no plans to buy the Global Hawk right now," says a source in Taiwan's military. "Taiwan still plans to develop its own UAV."The source says the Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology, whose focus is military research, will develop the new air vehicle. Read M...

Read More

Ration scam Lt Gen moves AFT for bail

Lt Gen SK Sahni, the first officer of the rank of lieutenant general to face court martial proceedings for alleged professional impropriety, has moved the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) challenging his trial and seeking release from close arrest on bail. Taking up his petition, the AFT's Chandigarh Bench, comprising of Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen HS Panag issued notices to the Union of India for November 1 to hear arguments on his application for bail. The Tribunal has fixed December 15 for hearing of the case challenging his court martial....

Read More

Indian Navy to shop for 6-8 Medium-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and UAVs

With terror as well as conventional threats emanating from sea remaining a clear and present danger, India wants to keep hawk-eyed tabs on the entire Indian Ocean Region (IOR). And, if required, "kill" any threat before it approaches Indian shores. After finalizing the acquisition of 12 P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft for $3.1 billion, the Navy has now re-launched the hunt for six to eight new medium-range surveillance (MRMR) planes and additional spy drones. The defence ministry floated global RFIs (request for...

Read More

UK renews Hermes 450 contract for Afghanistan

By Arie Egozi The British Army is to receive continued intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance services in Afghanistan using leased Hermes 450 unmanned air vehicles, while it moves closer to fielding its own Watchkeeper system.Elbit Systems/Thales UK joint venture UAS Tactical Systems (U-TacS) - prime contractor for the Watchkeeper deal - has been awarded a follow-on contract under an urgent operational requirement deal worth about £44.5 million ($70 million), Elbit says.The...

Read More

Russia Defends Delays in Defence Projects with India

Russia today defended the delays in joint defence projects with India, including the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, saying it should be "excused" if sophisticated and modern weapons systems was what New Delhi wanted.Though time overruns were "unfortunate," Russian Federation Ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin said it was the experience in both countries when it came to latest technology defence equipment projects. "As far as Admiral Gorshkov is concerned, Indians asked us for a state-of-the-art warship and for such a warship, there is...

Read More

Australia's CH-47 Chinooks Returning Home From Afghanistan

After 737 flying hours and having moved in excess of 691,000 kilograms of supplies and equipment over the last eight months, Australia's Rotary Wing Group rotation is returning home for a well-earned break and mandatory maintenance on their aircraft. The task group and their two CH-47 Chinooks will return to Afghanistan early in the new year to recommence flight operations in support of ISAF efforts – a deployment they have undertaken since rotations began in 2006.The Chinooks are unable to fly during Afghanistan's harsh winter months. The two...

Read More

India-Russia Joint Exercise Indra-2010 Underway

With terrorism spreading its tentacles globally, India and Russia are getting ready to wage battles as "allies" against future threats, even as their armies concluded a major joint military exercise in Uttarakhand's Chaubattia on Saturday. Exercise Indra-2010 - held in a counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency operations backdrop in a mountainous terrain - witnessed participation from 250-strong Russian infantry troops and an equal number from an Indian battalion, who practiced 'cordon, search and destroy' operations and elimination of terror groups...

Read More

Indian Air Force could soon get Brahmos missile

Chief Executive and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, has said that the development and induction of BrahMos, India''s supersonic cruise missile for the Indian Air Force will be completed soon. Talking toreporters here on Saturday, Pillai said: "Recently the missile was tested for ''steep dive attack'' capability, as demanded by the Army. "The recent attempt was to see that it gives higher performance. On that ground we thought that we should prove the attack mode as well. That is how we did steep-dive mission, which also went very successfully....

Read More

Selex Galileo's RWR for Royal Malaysian Air Force's Hawk advanced Jet Trainer Fleet

By Craig Hoyle Selex Galileo expects to receive a contract to equip the Royal Malaysian Air Force's BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft with a new radar warning receiver (RWR) system.Named Seer, the self-protection equipment has been designed as a drop-in replacement for BAE's Sky Guardian 200 RWR system, previously installed on platforms including the Hawk.Selex supported recent flight trials of the new equipment with a Malaysian Hawk. "The RWR met all of the jointly agreed objectives, with Seer being able to detect...

Read More

South Korea rules out joining U.S. regional missile defense

South Korea has no plan to join the U.S. regional missile defense system but it will continue to strengthen cooperation with Washington to counter North Korea's missile threat, the defense ministry said Saturday.The ministry issued a statement to clarify comments made by its minister, Kim Tae-young, during a parliamentary audit a day earlier that were interpreted by some as suggesting that South Korea was considering joining the U.S. regional missile defense system.South Korea and the United States "will discuss ways to share information and to...

Read More

Understanding Asia-Pacific Sea Power

Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) boasts the world's largest fleet. For example, in August, The Economist published a story titled ‘Naval Gazing’, noting that the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies said China now has more warships than the United States. And sure enough, accompanying the story was a graphic showing that the PLAN has. For example, he noted that the US Navy ‘operates 11 large carriers…In terms of size and striking power, no other country has even one comparable ship.’ It ‘has 57 nuclear-powered attack...

Read More

South Korea to Boost Naval Defenses

South Korea and the U.S. will stage joint anti-submarine exercises twice a year from next year, one each in the East and West Seas. The number of 214-class 1,800-ton subs will be increased from the current three to nine by 2018, and about nine 3,000-ton next-generation subs are to be procured after 2020. Some 20 2,300-ton future frigates will replace superannuated frigates and corvettes of the same type as the Cheonan, which was sunk by North Korea in March, after 2012.He added a 14,500-ton landing ship the same size as the Dokdo amphibious assault...

Read More

Kockums launches second submarine for Singapore Navy

RSS Swordsman was launched today with pomp and circumstance. The submarine is the second in the Northern Light project under which two Västergötland class submarines, previously owned by the Swedish Navy, have been rebuilt, life-extended and modernised. The Singapore Navy is therefore receiving the very latest in submarine technology, including world-class stealth technology. Training of the crew is co-ordinated with the Swedish Navy at the naval base in Karlskrona. "The importance of the submarine...

Read More

Russia to produce 150 Bulava missiles before 2020

Russia will need to build more than 150 Bulava ballistic missiles in the next decade, an expert on the Russian arms industry said on Friday.Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, told RIA Novosti that at least 124 missiles would be required for the eight Borey class nuclear-powered submarines that will enter service over the next decade, and a further 30 or 40 will have to be set aside for test launches.The Bulava (SS-NX-30), a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), has...

Read More

Indonesia set to continue buying arms from Russia

Indonesia will continue its military-technical cooperation with Russia, the country's defense minister said.Purnomo Yusgiantoro spoke after an official transfer of three Russian-made Mi-35P combat helicopters to Indonesia."We will continue our military-technical cooperation with Russia," the minister said, noting the high quality and reliability of Russian-made military equipment.With the addition of the three Mi-35s, the fleet of Russian-made helicopters in service with the Indonesian Armed Forces now comprises five Mi-35 attack helicopters and...

Read More

Russian, Indian troops complete military exercises in Himalayas

Russian and Indian troops completed a drill to kill a fictional terrorist leader in the Indian Himalayas as part of the Indra-2010 joint military exercises, which finished on Saturday."The experience we gained from the exercises is useful. We learned a lot from our Russian colleagues," Commander of the Indian contingent Brigadier-General Gopal said.The INDRA-2010 exercises were launched on October 16 at Chaubattia, in Uttarakhand, a mountainous area near India's border with China and Nepal.Read M...

Read More

Eurojet Agent Asked to Leave India

...

Read More

Noise: IAF planes on radar

In the first ever move of its kind in India to mitigate noise pollution around an airport, the aviation ministry and DGCA have asked the defence ministry to avoid flying their old and extremely noisy military aircraft in and out of Delhi airport. At the same time realising the security requirements, the aviation authorities have suggested a practical alternate also by suggesting the movement of such aircraft be limited to runway 27.Highly placed sources said this move is a direct fallout of residents living in colonies near IGI approaching the...

Read More

RAAF's F/A-18F Super Hornet first AGM-154C JSOW

...

Read More

Su-30MKI and Eurofighter Typhoons in Formation during Ex Indradhanush Exercise

Sukhoi SU-30MKI aircraft (2nd R and R) and British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons fly in formation during the Ex Indradhanush military exercise after taking off from Air Force Station Kalaikunda in West Midinapur district, India's West Bengal state. The Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force are taking part in the exercise which runs October 8 till November 3. AFP PHOTOSou...

Read More

$2 Billion Security Assistance Package For Pakistan but No AH-1Z Vipers or AH-64 Apaches

At last week's U.S-Pakistan strategic dialogue, officials discussed American military aid, counterinsurgency strategy and flood relief for Pakistan. It was, however, the mention of a $2 billion security assistance package that caught analysts' attention.Defense officials at the U.S. embassy have discounted the possibility of acquiring AH-1Z Vipers to replace Pakistan's well-worn AH-1F Cobras until the initial order for the U.S. Marine Corps is fulfilled in 2015. The U.S. State Department's "Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report," published last December,...

Read More

China strategist gets red carpet

Forgets visa denial to Army general China strategist gets red carpet. The UPA Government has dropped in less than two months the ban it had slapped on visits by the Chinese defence officials and strategists, after Beijing refused visa to one of India's top Army generals on account of his Kashmir connection as the northern army commander. Ignoring the strongly worded demarche ( protest letter) with threat of retaliation issued to Beijing on August 27 for heaping insult on Lt Gen. B S Jaswal, the National Defence College has extended a red carpet...

Read More

Airbus Military looks to India for A400M Grizzly airlifter

European aerospace major EADS is on the verge of bringing into markets its new A400M Grizzly to compete in Indian military proposals for inducting giant airlifters to boost its strategic reach. Didier Vernet, Head of A400M Market Development, Airbus Military, said the European consortium is looking to increase sales of the multi-national four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft outside Europe, particularly to "the lucrative Indian defence market". Click here to visit SME Buzz Also Read Related Stories News Now - Letters: Craft of defence...

Read More

Russian naval aviation is in critical condition

Russian naval aviation is in critical condition, particularly the aviation units of the Black Sea Fleet, which may lose most of their fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters in the next five to six years.There have been no public reports or official statements regarding the purchase of new aircraft for the navy citing specific figured or parameters, except for the announcement of the purchase of 26 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum carrier-borne fighters.Off-the-record comments and articles by experts indicate that Soviet-era Ilyushin Il-38 May and Tupolev...

Read More

Iran has No Plans to Buy S-300 Air Defense from China, Venezuela

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi dismissed media reports that Tehran has tried to buy Russia's sophisticated anti-aircraft S-300 missile system from third parties."We don't have any plan to buy S-300 from other countries," Vahidi told reporters on the sidelines of a national congress here in Tehran on Wednesday. Also in response to reporters' repeated questions about Tehran's possible plans for purchasing the S-300 missile shield from China, he underlined, "We don't have any such plan at present." He also rejected media reports...

Read More

Dutch Apache helicopters refused to help Australian SAS in firefight in Afghanistan: Digger

AUSTRALIAN special forces were abandoned by Dutch allies during a firefight in Afghanistan, reports say.News Limited papers reported that Dutch pilots refused to drop below their "safe" height of 5000m to rescue Australian SAS and US forces caught in an ambush in September 2008.Former SAS sniper Rob Maylor, wounded during the battle, said the Australians had pleaded with the Dutch: "We're in an absolute doozy of a shitfight. We need your assistance as we're taking casualties."But the Dutch helicopter pilots refused to offer covering fire for the...

Read More

Pakistan Army Wins in Cambrian Patrol Exercise

Exercise Cambrian Patrol is a prestigious British Army exercise which is organized annually in United Kingdom in Wales. Apart from teams from British Army, teams from military establishments all over the world are also invited to participate. It is a three days exercise in which the teams, comprising eight members, are required to infiltrate into simulated enemy lines and perform multiple tasks including obstacle crossing, close target reconnaissance and exfiltrate successfully in real time environments. For Year - 2010, a total of 86 teams participated...

Read More

Delhi-based Samtel Display Systems to Build MFD for Sukhoi-30MKI fighters

Delhi-based Samtel Display Systems has vaulted a giant hurdle on the way to its declared goal of becoming a major supplier to the armed forces. After a year of rigorous flight trials in the Indian Air Force’s frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, Samtel’s home-built cockpit displays have been certified as suitable for introduction into frontline service.Multi-Function Displays (MFD), as these cockpit displays are termed, are ranged in front of the Su-30MKI pilots. They get digital signals from dozens of sensors on various aircraft systems and display...

Read More

Delhi-based Samtel Display Systems to Build Cockpit Displays for Sukhoi-30MKI fighters

Delhi-based Samtel Display Systems has vaulted a giant hurdle on the way to its declared goal of becoming a major supplier to the armed forces. After a year of rigorous flight trials in the Indian Air Force’s frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, Samtel’s home-built cockpit displays have been certified as suitable for introduction into frontline service.Multi-Function Displays (MFD), as these cockpit displays are termed, are ranged in front of the Su-30MKI pilots. They get digital signals from dozens of sensors on various aircraft systems and display...

Read More

US to Unveil Security Assistance Package Totalling $2 billion Over Five Years

The United States hopes to mend its relations with Pakistan badly damaged by the American military’s tough new stance in the region during their high-level talks beginning Thursday at which it plans to unveil a security assistance package totalling $2 billion over five years.“Pakistan has taken aggressive action within its own borders. But clearly, this is an ongoing threat and more needs to be done,” the State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley, said Monday. “That will be among the issues talked about.” Last week, Adm. Mike Mullen, the Chairman...

Read More

India have Chalked out Combat Exercises with Foreign Forces for Coming Months

Indian armed forces have chalked out a stunning round of combat exercises with foreign forces in the coming several months to use "defence diplomacy" as a tool to bolster national security as well as promote strategic cooperation. Defence ministry officials say the 1.13-million Army alone has planned 14 to 18 exercises with countries ranging from the US, UK and Russia to Bangladesh, Mongolia, Thailand and Tajiskistan, both at home and abroad. For instance, the armies of Seychelles and Singapore will be in Belgaum and Deolali in January for joint...

Read More