ASIAN DEFENCE

Friday, October 8, 2010

China Recently Conducted Flight Test of Long-Range Missile

10:18 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

China recently conducted a long-range missile flight test that remains shrouded in secrecy.The Sept. 25 test highlights what China military specialists say is the growing threat posed by Beijing's development of long- and short-range ballistic and cruise missiles, and its new missile defense interceptors.A U.S. official confirmed that China's military fired a missile from the Taiyuan missile center, about 320 miles southwest of Beijing, to Korla, a city in western China some 1,800 miles away.Officials declined to provide details, saying the test data are classified.

Japan to keep closer watch over its skies

10:16 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The government is considering deploying early warning aircraft to monitor a blind spot in its far southwestern perimeter that includes the Senkaku Islands, which were the subject of a bitter territorial dispute with China last month.E2-C early warning aircraft are currently based at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, but Defense Ministry officials are considering rotating some of them to Naha Air Base on a temporary basis to conduct surveillance over the long chain of islands extending south of Kyushu toward Taiwan.The air space above Japan is observed around the clock by a national network of 28 ground-based radar sites, as well as E2-C propeller aircraft and larger E-767 airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Indian Air Force to Conduct Field Evaluation Trials of Beechcraft T-6C Trainer

10:14 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced its Beechcraft T-6C military trainer is scheduled for evaluation by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in field evaluation trials beginning Oct. 11 at the Air Force Station Jamnagar in India. HBC is vying for a contract that specifies an initial purchase of 75 aircraft and options for follow-on orders that could eventually exceed 100 aircraft. A decision on the contract is anticipated in the coming months.

“The T-6C offers the Indian Air Force the world’s most proven and cost-effective training system available,” said Jim Maslowski, HBC president, U.S. and International Government Business. “It accommodates instruction in instrument flight procedures and basic aerial maneuvers and, including its predecessors the T-6A and T-6B, has accounted for more than 640 deliveries worldwide.”

The T-6C is being considered as a replacement for the IAF’s HPT-32 Deepak 2 trainer. The evaluations will be conducted over five days and consist of flights by IAF test and instructor pilots. HBC will also demonstrate the T-6C’s maintainability as part of the evaluation.

The T-6C aircraft features an integrated glass cockpit and advanced avionics suite that greatly expands advanced training opportunities, including a Head-Up Display, Up Front Control Panel, three Multifunction Displays and Hands-On Throttle and Stick. With its hard point wing, it can accommodate external fuel tanks and the systems and capabilities of today’s front-line strike fighter aircraft, while retaining all the inherent training and flying characteristics that have made the T-6 the most successful primary trainer in the world.

The Beechcraft T-6 delivers an outstanding training capability that is appropriate for most basicBeechcraft T-6C Trainer to Demonstrate Proven Capabilities during Indian Air Force Evaluation introductory flight training through more challenging and complex advanced training missions. To date, it has been used to train pilots from approximately 20 different countries.

Deliveries of the T-6 began in 2000 after the aircraft was initially selected to fill the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System role for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Since then, additional military programs worldwide, including NATO Flying Training in Canada, the Hellenic Air Force of Greece, the Israeli Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force and the Royal Moroccan Air Force, have chosen the T-6 as their primary trainers.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers

Russia, India create joint venture to produce transport aircraft

10:09 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Russia and India have signed an agreement on the creation of a joint venture to develop and manufacture a multifunctional transport aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.The deal was signed in New Delhi on Thursday during the 10th meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, spokeswoman Irina Kovalchyuk said.Russia and India signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development and production of a medium transport aircraft (MTA) in 2007.The first MTA is expected to make its maiden flight in 2016-18.

Pakistan Deploys Anti-Aircraft Missiles System in FATA

4:58 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

To prevent the NATO forces attacking inside Pakistani air space, Pakistan has deployed an air defense system along its border with the troubled Afghanistan. This was news was revealed by Member National Assembly Munir Orakzai while he was speaking to the SAMAA TV in a program, 'Mohaaz'.

Pakistan as decided to deploy anti-aircraft missiles system in its tribal regions of FATA that are near Afghanistan to stop the NATO attack which resulted in deaths of Pakistani soldiers. Officials have said “Now no helicopter will be able to escape after entering into Pakistani territory.”

People’s Liberation Army Makes Big Investments In Artillery

2:24 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance 2010 report places China third in the number of artillery systems it fields, after Russia and North Korea. But China doubtless exceeds both in resource commitment and breadth of artillery investments. Credited with an estimated 17,700-plus towed, self-propelled and rocket systems, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has at least 56 artillery systems in use, development or available for export. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps, by contrast, have 8,137-plus artillery pieces of roughly 10 types.In July, a unit based in the Nanjing military region fired missiles from 300-mm. PHL-03 multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) into the Yellow Sea to show China’s anger at U.S. naval exercises with South Korea. PLA artillery units increasingly include fire-finding counter-battery radar such as the 50-km.-range (31-mi.) SLC-2 and Type 704, and use sophisticated electronic warfare systems such as the Russian SPR-2 radio fuse jammer, a possible Chinese facsimile and possibly a recently revealed artillery radar jammer.

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier’s nucleus ready

2:18 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The nucleus of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), India’s first ship being built using the modular construction (block-building) method, is ready. The engine and diesel generator rooms and two of the 21 blocks of the 40,000-tonne vessel, designed by the navy’s directorate of naval design, have been completed.

The 260-metre-long and 60-metre-broad gas turbine ship will be powered by four American GE LM 2500 aviation engines which generate 80 MW, enough to attain speed in excess of 28 knots. The vessel, which is expected to be ready by 2013, will have six generators of three mega Watts each.The vessel will have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires. It will have the capacity to carry a maximum of 30 aircraft with sufficient hangars to house them.

Iran says still discussing missile system deal with Russia

1:48 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Tehran is still negotiating the purchase of S-300 air defense missile systems with Moscow, the Iranian defense minster said on Wednesday."Russia's refusal to hand over the missile system goes against the agreement signed by the two countries," Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

Russia to Test Launch Bulava Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile

1:45 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Test launches of Russia's troubled Bulava ballistic missile will be held in the White Sea by the end of the week, a source in the administration of the northern Russian town of Severodvinsk said."The launch of the missile is expected at the end of the week, most likely on Thursday," the source said.The Bulava (SS-NX-30), a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), has officially suffered seven failures in 12 tests.

28 killed in Tajikistan MI-8 Helicopter Crash

1:39 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A Tajik military helicopter carrying members of an elite unit has crashed in eastern Tajikistan, killing 28 soldiers.A military source said 21 soldiers from the state national security committee, Alfa special task force, and seven army soldiers died.Tajik armed forces have been engaged in combat in the area after an assault on a military convoy on September 19 that killed 28 soldiers and wounded 12.

Australian Tigers Will Not be Fully Operational Until December 2012

1:37 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Dan Oakes

Attack helicopters the opposition says should be sent to Afghanistan to support Australian troops will not be fully operational for at least two years.Defence Department told the Herald yesterday the Tigers were not expected to be fully operational until December 2012. Eighteen of the 22 armed reconnaissance helicopters have been delivered by their maker, Australian Aerospace, and are being introduced into service with the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin.

Push to axe Collins-Class Submarines Immediately , Buy German Type 214 or French Scorpenes

1:34 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A RADICAL plan is being pushed by a group of senior Australian submariners.It is to retire two Collins-class submarines immediately and fast-track the purchase of four ready-made submarines from Europe.The proposal, which has been sent to both the federal government and the opposition, reflects growing concern among some former senior naval officers that the government's plan to build 12 of the world's most sophisticated conventional submarines is flawed and unrealistic.The Rudd government's defence white paper committed to building 12 large, sophisticated submarines in Australia to replace the six Collins-class boats from the mid-2020s.

Mr Patrick argues it would be cheaper and easier for Australia to purchase proven off-the-shelf submarines from Europe, such as the German Type 214 or French Scorpenes, rather than try to build a new generation of unique, homegrown submarines like the Collins.

Russian Navy Base in the Vietnamese Port in Cam Rahn Bay May be Restored

1:31 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Russian Navy Command has suggested re-launching a marine logistics base for Russian warships in the Vietnamese deep-water port in Cam Rahn Bay, formerly the largest Soviet base outside the country.The Navy Command has accomplished work on a report substantiating the necessity of restoring the facility “and provided a relevant estimate,” writes Interfax agency citing a source at the body’s headquarters.

US agrees to Upgrade the Taiwan's 146 F-16A/Bs

1:28 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Taiwan is allocating money for possible U.S. help to ugrade its fleet of F-16 fighter jets, a military spokesman said Wednesday, two days after a senior Taiwanese official warned that China's threat against the island is growing.The comments from air force spokesman Pan Kung-hsiao came amid Taiwanese media reports that the Obama administration has agreed to upgrade the island's fleet of American-made 146 F-16A/Bs, which it received more than a decade ago.Pan said that acquisition of an entirely new version of the F-16, the more advanced C/Ds, remains the military's top priority because that aircraft suits Taiwan's defense needs better than the A/Bs."Our primary interest remains the procurement of F-16 C/Ds rather than the upgrade of F-16 A/Bs," Pan said.

Turkish Utility Helicopter Program

1:25 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

U.S. helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, in competition with an Italian-British rival for a $4 billion Turkish contract for utility helicopters, announced Oct. 5 that it plans to offer Ankara a major benefits plan if the company wins the contest.The Turkish utility helicopter program calls for the joint production of 109 platforms, 94 of which will go to the Turkish military.Sikorsky is offering the T-70, a Turkish version of the S-70 Black Hawk International. In competition, AgustaWestland is offering its TUHP 149, a new generation, multirole helicopter designed for the Turkish requirement.

Indian Navy to Purchase 4 Warships

11:02 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Going obsolete IAF modernisation is imperative

10:59 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

It has been pointed out by numerous defence analysts also in the past, but when the chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, himself admits that 50 per cent of the equipment — including fighters, radars, transport aircraft and air defence weapons — was either obsolete or obsolescent (becoming obsolete), it is a matter of grave concern. This is an unfortunate consequence of the ill-advised policy followed by the political leadership in the wake of the Bofors scandal in 1990s to put a virtual ban on all acquisitions. Later also, enough money was not earmarked for purchases and this caused inevitable delays. Such equipment cannot be procured off the shelf. As such, it will be several years before the shortfall can be met. The IAF chief is optimistic that the obsolescence level will come down to 20 per cent by 2014-15.

Lockheed Flies C-130J Super Hercules Built for India

10:52 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

By Craig Hoyle

India's first US-built military transport has made its debut flight, with the Lockheed Martin C-130J having taken to the air from Marietta, Georgia on 4 October.The first of six stretched-fuselage Hercules on order for the Indian air force, aircraft KC-3801 will be followed by two more examples getting airborne "within the next few weeks", Lockheed says.

India and Russia to hold talks for up to 250 PAK-FA fighter jets

10:47 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

India and Russia will hold talks this week on a multi-billion-dollar deal to supply up to 250 advanced stealth fighter jets to the technology-starved Indian Air Force, officials said on Tuesday.Experts say the deal could be worth 25 billion dollars, making it the biggest in India's military history.A defence ministry official who did not want to be named said the contract would be the focus of talks on Saturday during a visit to India by Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Sukhoi Starts Trials of Su-33 Flanker-D Carrier-Based Fighter

10:03 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Russia's Sukhoi aircraft holding revealed on Tuesday it has begun ground and flight trials of the modernized fourth generation Su-33 naval fighter.The Su-33 Flanker-D is a carrier-based warplane, originally known as the Su-27K Flanker, which first rolled off the production line in the late 1980s.Modernization works and trials are being carried out in the Russian Far Eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a statement from Sukhoi said.

RIA Novosti

510th Fighter Squadron Employed GBU-54 for the First Time in Afghanistan

10:47 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Airmen from the 510th Fighter Squadron here employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition for the first time in the Afghan area of operations recently.

The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting system that uses a combination of Global Positioning System and laser guidance to accurately engage and destroy moving targets.

"The fielding of the new bomb allows Air Force assets to deliver precise effects against both moving and stationary targets when requested by ground force commanders, said Capt. Nick Ilchena, a fighter pilot with the 510th FS.

Air Force jets were previously using a combination of two different weapons, the captain said.

One was the GBU-38, a standard 500-pound JDAM that used a GPS guidance control unit to guide it to the target and the GBU-12, a 500-pound laser guided bomb.

"So what this (the GBU-54) does is combine the benefits of both of those into one weapon," Captain Ilchena said.

Identified as an urgent operational need in early 2007, the Air Force completed the GBU-54's development and testing cycle in less than 17 months, fielding it for the first time in combat in Iraq in 2008, Captain Ilchena said.

Another benefit of the Air Force's newest weapon is that it actually uses a majority of the same parts to build as the previous JDAMs.

For weapons loaders and maintainers that means the learning curve to become proficient at their building and loading isn't quite as steep.

The same can be said for the pilots who employ them.

"One of the biggest benefits is we (pilots) don't have to learn a whole new weapon. You can use it exactly like the old one or you can use the laser," Captain Ilchena said.

"Since (Airmen from the 510th FS) first-employed the GBU-54, the bomb has become part of the standard load out for Air Force assets providing close air support," Captain Ilchena said. "It allows the ground commander more flexibility to attack a variety of targets in a variety of environments and situations."

Lockheed to Demonstrate its Designs to Defend Against Anti-Ship and Ballistic Missile Threats

10:45 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $119 million contract to demonstrate its conceptual designs for the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) intended to upgrade the Navy’s future capability against advanced anti-ship and ballistic missile threats.

Lockheed Martin was one of three industry teams competitively selected to advance its designs for the AMDR S-band radar and the radar suite controller under a 24-month technology demonstration phase contract.

“Lockheed Martin's AMDR design provides a high performance radar suite capable of supporting simultaneous multi-mission operations in stressing environments, balanced with affordable lifecycle costs,” said Carl Bannar, vice president of Radar Systems. “Our team has developed an open-architecture and modular design that has matured technologies through significant investment by our company and the Navy.”

The AMDR suite is scalable and can accommodate current and future mission requirements for multiple platforms. The AMDR S-band radar will provide volume search, tracking, ballistic missile defense discrimination and missile communications. The AMDR X-band radar, part of a separate procurement, will provide horizon search, precision tracking, missile communication and terminal illumination. Both radars will be integrated by the radar suite controller, which will provide the appropriate interfaces between the two radar bands and the ship's combat system.

A leader in S-band radar development and production, Lockheed Martin has more than 40 years of experience in the design, production and sustainment of naval radars for surface combatants. The company’s SPY-1 family of radars – with proven anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense multi-mission capability – is fielded on nearly 100 surface combatant ships worldwide. The SPY-1solution delivers the desired capability with minimal development costs.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.5 billion.

Russian army to go Wi-Fi

10:40 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A wireless network based on the Wi-Fi and WiMAX technologies will soon appear within the Russian Army, Chief-of-Staff Lt. General Sergei Skokov said on Saturday."A corporate network... performing communication, planning and alert functions is being created," Skokov said

Afghan Air Force's Quick Reaction Force (QRF)

10:35 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

For eight days, nine Afghan Air Force Security Kandak members assigned to the Quick Reaction Force received flyaway security team training in Kabul, graduating Oct 4, 2010.The Quick Reaction Force (QRF) trained in basic Military Police and Air Base Defense. The training adds trained AAF security members who focus on security of Afghan Air Forces aircraft and crew during high threat missions.Three teams comprised of a non-commissioned officer and two soldiers, completed 75 hours of physical fitness, classroom instruction, aircraft orientation and familiarization, practical evaluations, security scenarios, and a fixed/rotary wing mission for each Fly-Away Security Team.

Indian Air Force Plans to Induct 200-250 PAK-FA Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft

10:34 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

India today said it was looking to induct around 200-250 fight generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), which are being co-developed with Russia."We are looking for around 200-250 aircraft," Air Chief Marshal PV Naik told reporters at a press conference for the 78th anniversary of the IAF to be celebrated on the Air Force Day on October 8.He said the aircraft weighing over 30 tonnes are expected to start joining the force by 2017.