South Asia Pak will be world's 4th largest N-arsenal state?

(Zeenews) : New York: Pakistan, which is on track to become the world's fourth-largest nuclear arsenal state by the end of the decade, must be stopped from building up nuke weapons in the wake of fears of “continued nuclear proliferation”, a former senior International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official has warned.

“The world's five original nuclear weapons countries have all suspended production of fissile materials for new weapons and are negotiating cuts in their nuclear arsenals. But one nuclear-armed nation is heading in the opposite direction. Pakistan is steadily building more nuclear weapons, adding production capacity to produce plutonium and enrich uranium, and building new missiles to deliver nuclear warheads,” Olli Heinonen wrote in a newspaper.
“The nuclear risks in Pakistan are three-fold: its non-proliferation record is poor, there are concerns about the security of sensitive nuclear materials, and there is no sign of a slowdown in its nuclear weapons drive. A global response needs to be calibrated to address all three of these potential threats,” he added.

He noted that an International Panel of Fissile Materials report said that Pakistan now has 70 to 90 nuclear warheads- more than its archrival India- which puts Pakistan on track to command the world's fourth-largest nuclear weapons arsenal by the end of the decade.

He said that the evidence suggests that Pakistan is trying to develop a second-strike nuclear capability, and it has already tested cruise and other missiles that can carry strategic warheads from land or even from submarines.

Also, North Korea and Pakistan also “continue to partner each other such as in matters of missile and uranium enrichment technologies,” said Heinonen, Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
“With fears of continued nuclear proliferation and fueled by complicated regional dynamics and on-going domestic instability, it is imperative for the world to make greater efforts to persuade and pressure Pakistan to halt its nuclear buildup,” he added.

Heinonen argued that not providing sufficient attention and expanding the effort to place Pakistan's nuclear build-up as a priority issue may “risk a nuclear proliferation crisis of a significant scale.”

“Another reason why the world needs to focus on ensuring that Pakistan's nuclear material, particular at the bulk handling facilities, remains under proper safeguards is because Pakistan is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT,” he pointed out.

Heinonen explained that the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide comprehensive safeguards is limited in this case, which, in the longer term, “raises a further challenge of creating effective multinational mechanisms that exercise oversight over countries that remain outside the NPT and not just those countries that voluntarily operate within the system.”

Indian navy eyes more Israeli UAVs

India's navy has operational requirements for additional unmanned air vehicles made by Israel Aerospace Industries, sources say, with these to potentially include improved Heron or Heron-TP systems carrying maritime sensor payloads. Evaluations using some systems have already been carried out, they add.
The Indian navy in January stood up its second UAV squadron, with its current IAI-produced Heron and Searcher II systems facing increased operational demand. This has led to indications within recent weeks that additional contracts could be placed with IAI, the sources say.
In addition to having already provided UAVs to the Indian navy, IAI is also equipping the service with additional equipment, such as the Barak-8 air defence missile.

(Flightglobal)

China tests missile air defence system

(PTI) Chinese military has conducted a drill to test its integrated air defence capability under the scenario of a massive air strike.

The tests which were held last week were aimed at bringing compatibility among various kinds of missile systems built by China, official media reports here said. The tests included surface-to-air missiles, also known as SAM.

Over the years China has built an intact missile defence network consisting of various kinds of missile systems.

New missile systems delivered to the regiment in recent years were not compatible with older models, commander of the missile regiment Wan Dexin said without disclosing the location.

"They have different ports, formats and protocols," Wan said.

Integrating different missile systems has enhanced the combat capability of the whole regiment, Wan said.

"Chinese air defence technology is advanced, but needs to improve in order to match the capabilities of the US," Zhang Qihuai, a professor with the Logistics College of China Air Force, told state-run Global Times.

Zhang said the Chinese missile industry has provided the People''s Liberation Army (PLA) with a series of modern air defence systems.

However, the majority of the SAM systems deployed in China, namely the HQ2, are domestic variants of the Soviet C75 (NATO code name SAM2), which became operational in 1957.

The situation has been gradually improving after 1990, when the Russian S300 longrange SAM system was delivered, he said.

In another development, China recently allowed more military family members to join loved ones serving in the army, which would help nearly 100,000 servicemen to end the separation from their spouses.

This new policy was approved by the Central Military Commission, PLA Daily reported.

The policy allowed lower-ranking military officers, such as company commanders to live with their family members during their time in the army, while the previous regulation permitted vice battalion commanders or above.

The policy also offers more conveniences for military families with servicemen in difficult and remote regions and in special posts, such as those serving at missile and satellite test bases, to now live together, it said.

: MSN News

German frigate Hamburg to call at St. Petersburg

German frigate Hamburg will participate in the International Maritime Defense Show (IMDS-2011) to be held in St. Petersburg, German naval attaché in Moscow Captain Gerd Hamann said to the Central Navy Portal.

That is going to be the first visit of German warship to participate in IMDS.

Possibly, the highest rank aboard the frigate would be deputy inspector of German Navy Rear Admiral Heinrich Lange.

F220 Hamburg (second frigate with this name in German Navy) is a Project 124 Sachsen class frigate, commissioned in 2004. Reportedly, visit of a French warship to St. Petersburg is also planned.

 - Rusnavy

Rafael lines up $1.8 billion India deal

 (UPI) -- Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is expected to secure an anti-tank missile order worth $1 billion from the Indian military, consolidating the Jewish state as a key arms supplier amid a major armed forces upgrade.

Rafael, which posted a record net profit of $178.6 million in 2010, is also in line to secure arms sales to South Korea worth $500 million a year, The Jerusalem Post reported.
These underline a new focus by Israel's high-tech defense industry on the Asian market, spurred in part in response to China's military buildup.
According to Defense News, a U.S. weekly, Rafael will sell the Indian army 8,356 Spike anti-tank missiles with 321 launchers, 15 training simulators and associated equipment.
Rafael was the only bidder in the Indian tender unveiled last June and the Indian army had to obtain a special government permit to sign a deal with the sole bidder.
Defense News said technology transfer was also a potential obstacle.
It isn't clear whether companies that didn't make bids -- General Dynamics Corp. and the Raytheon Co. of the United States, Rosoboronexport of Russia and Europe's MBDA -- had refused to share technology.
The Indians intend to mount the precision-guided Spikes on Russian-built combat vehicles. The Israeli missiles reportedly met all the Indians' requirements -- a range of 1.5 miles in day or night conditions, a 90 percent accuracy rate and include a 3G active-passive fire-and-forget guidance system.
Rafael, which a decade ago was a loss-maker, announced financial results March 23, listing 2010 sales at $1.97 billion and an orders backlog of $3.56 billion at year-end.
Rafael cited a slowdown in demand for defense products in key world markets as defense budgets were adjusted following the 2008 financial meltdown.
But Chief Financial Officer David Vaish told the Globes, an Israeli business daily: "We're still talking about a very handsome orders backlog, which amounts to almost two years of sales. This is not a crisis."
Israel depends on military exports to keep its defense industry going to supply much of its own military needs.
Rafael is pinning export hopes on its newly unveiled Trophy missile defense system for tanks, currently being fitted to the Israeli army's Merkava tanks and armored personnel carriers.
The South Koreans are set to deploy the long-range version of Rafael's Spike missile in 2012 on Yeonpyeong Island, which was shell by North Korea in November.
"The military is hoping to purchase some 50 Spike missiles equipped with a global positioning system," a government source in Seoul told the Yonhap News Agency in February.
The Iron Dome anti-missile system against short-range rockets, which the Israeli military deployed on the border with the Palestinian-held Gaza Strip this week, is seen as another seller.
The Indians are keen on acquiring the Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile system built by Israel Aerospace Industries and the Boeing Co. that has been used in Israel since 2000 to counter Iran's Shehab-3b missiles.
But any deal on that would require U.S. approval since the Americans share in the financing, development, production and assembly of the system.
The Arrow hasn't been cleared for foreign sales but when it is India, one of the Israeli defense industry's largest customers, is likely to be top of the list.
Among recent big-ticket Israel arms sales to India are:
-- Rafael's $1 billion contract in 2009 to provide 18 Spyder surface-to-air missile systems by 2012.
-- IAI's 2009 $1.1 billion deal for advanced Barak-8 tactical air-defense system, primarily for use aboard warships.
-- India launched an IAI-built RISAT-2 all-weather spy satellite from the Sriharikota launch site in southern Andhra Pradesh state, forging strategic cooperation in space projects between the two allies.
-- IAI sold the Indian air force three Phalcon early warning aircraft worth $1.1 billion in 2004.
All told, Israeli companies have sold India weapons systems and other military equipment worth more than $10 billion over the last decade, making Israel New Delhi's second largest supplier after Russia.
Hindu-dominated India established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 following the end of the Cold War, during which New Delhi supported the Arab cause.
But it wasn't until the Hindu Bjaratiya Janata Party came to power in 1998 that the defense partnership was really forged.

Japan Pulls Out Of Malabar War Games

(Aviationweek) : Japan will not take part in a joint naval exercise by India and the U.S. next month as its navy ramps up relief efforts after the massive earthquake and tsunami that has killed more than 10,000 people and threatened to trigger a nuclear disaster.
The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force was supposed to participate in the Malabar series of war games from April 2-10 off Okinawa.
The exercise between India and the U.S. involving destroyers, frigates and submarines will be carried out in the Western Pacific, though the Indian ships have canceled their Okinawa port call due to the nuclear radiation crisis in Japan, an Indian navy spokesman says.
According to the latest reports, five Indian naval warships from the Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern fleet left India on March 12 and have reached the Straits of Malacca. The Indian flotilla comprises INS Delhi and INS Jyoti, INS Ranvijay and two R-class destroyers. The flotilla will visit Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Russia and Singapore.
So far, 12 exercises of the Malabar series have been conducted, 10 of which have been held off India and two in the Pacific. Japanese maritime forces have participated in two war games conducted in the Pacific Ocean.
“The annual exercise, led by the Indian navy, is to enhance inter-operability by sharing information and learning from our allies,” the spokesman says. The navy will mainly concentrate on anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, air defense, live-fire gunnery training, and visit, board, search and seizure operations, he adds.
Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony recently told the country’s parliament that the objective of conducting such exercises is to promote mutual cooperation and gain from the experience of other navies, especially in the field of advanced technology. “It also facilitates inter-operability in times of need in situations like disaster management,” Antony says. “Such exercises offer an opportunity to gain operational skills, exchange experiences and learn the best practices of other navies.”

India Integrates Mission Systems For AEW And C Aircraft

(Aviationweek) : The Defense Research Development Organization’s (DRDO) Center for Airborne Systems (CABS) has begun integrating the indigenous mission systems for India’s modified EMB-145 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
The Indian air force will have three AEW&C aircraft by 2013; the first is due to arrive in the country by year-end. Embraer unveiled the AEW&C aircraft in Brazil on Feb. 21.
DRDO is exploring ways to finish the integration of subsystems on ground rigs to the extent possible. “With this development approach, we expect overall delay is minimized and systems are ready for user trials,” a CABS official says.
Prior to the arrival of the aircraft, the primary radar, identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) interrogator, communications and electronic intelligence receivers and data-processing systems are being integrated. Embraer will modify the aircraft for Indian requirements and it will be certified for airworthiness, including under icing conditions, according to the FAR Part 25 standard.
The radar’s active array unit is undergoing rooftop testing, while the IFF interrogator system will undergo standalone flight trials on an HS 748 Avro.
When asked whether the program’s schedule may slip, industry sources say that in complex programs like these, delays are inevitable.
The initial project was approved at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore ($400 million) to develop two operational and one engineering prototype system. Now more funding has been allocated to carry out other tasks.

IAF won’t accept last minute offers from MMRCA contenders

Newdelhi (PTI): The Indian Air Force has decided against accepting any last minute offers from the contenders of the multi-billion dollar deal for purchase of 126 fighter aircraft even as it rejected a bidder's proposal to equip its warplanes with a more powerful jet engine.

"No offers for upgrades or changes in the original bid submitted by the six aircraft companies would be allowed as their aircraft have been judged on the basis of capabilities offered in the original bid and their performance in the field trials," IAF sources said here.

Six companies -- Lockheed Martin (F-16),Boeing (F/A-18 E/F), Dassault Aviation (Rafale), Saab Gripen, Rosoboronexport MiG 35 and EADS Eurofighter Typhoon are contenders in the USD 11 billion dollar contract of the IAF for procuring 126 Medium-Multirole Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA).

"One defence firm had proposed to equip its aircraft with a more powerful engine along with a host of other capabilities but it was rejected as the aircraft has already undergone trials and we can't allow firms to make last minute offers," they added.

Though the IAF has accepted some of the futuristic capabilities offered by the companies but they were proposed in the original bid itself by the respective companies, they said.

The process of evaluation was concluded early last year and a report was submitted to the Defence Ministry.

The Defence Ministry is expected to start the contract negotiations in the deal soon after going through the technical evaluation and field trial reports of the six aircraft carried out by the IAF for over two years.

(Brahmand)

Qatari warships detained two Iranian vessels with arms on board

Qatari warships intercepted two Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf; the ships were carrying arms and ammunitions on board, reported Kuwaiti news agency Al-Aan .

The report says nothing about the consignee. Along with that, Al-Aan reports that the Iranian vessels were detained near territorial waters of rioted Bahrain, opposite northeastern coast of Qatar.

It should be noted that Qatar helps Bahraini king who called partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council to assist in Bahrain's reinstatement.

Qatari, Bahraini, and Iranian news agencies do not comment the report of Kuwaiti newspaper.

Recall that almost two weeks ago Turkey detained Iranian airplane carrying arms to Syria. Mortars, missiles, Kalashnikov rifles, and ammunitions were found on board the plane.

Earlier on, Israeli Navy intercepted vessel Victoria with Iranian weapons on board sailing from Syria to Egypt to deliver arms to Gaza Strip.

- Rusnavy

Russian Army to get new multiple rocket launchers

Russia's Ground Forces will start taking delivery of new Tornado-G multiple rocket launching systems (MRLS), replacing the current Grad systems, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Sergei Vlasov said on Monday.
This will further increase the Army's firepower and standoff capability for effective engagement, Vlasov said.
Tornados are superior to Grads in their effectiveness, automated control, aiming and satellite navigation systems, Vlasov said, without disclosing any technical details.
The Grad truck-mounted system featuring 122-mm rockets with a range of 30-40 km was developed in 1962 and has been in service since 1964.
A Tornado MRLS vehicle can carry up to twelve 300-mm rockets with an effective range of up to 90 kilometers.

 (RIA Novosti)

French warplanes destroy Gaddafi's command center

French military planes have destroyed the command center of Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi, spokesman for the French Armed forces Thierry Burkhard said on Monday.
NATO took over command of the coalition military intervention in Libya from the United States on Sunday. The mission is trying to ensure a no-fly zone and arms embargo over the country.
The strikes, conducted by two French Rafale fighter patrols, struck the center, located 10 kilometers from Tripoli, on Sunday.
No further strikes were conducted by French forces on Monday, Burkhard said.
Earlier on Monday, France and Britain urged Gaddafi's supporters to "defect before it is too late."
The rebel army, which has been fighting pro-Gaddafi forces since mid-February, has made rapid advancements into the west of Libya since the coalition mission began.

 (RIA Novosti)

India To Test Fire Barak Missile This Year

(Aviationweek) : The first test flight of the Indo-Israeli long-range, surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM), also called Barak-2, will be undertaken this year, says a senior official at India’s defense research agency.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the prime developer of the project, says the missile, at an estimated cost of 26.06 billion rupees ($581 million), has reached its final stage. “We expect to carry out the test flight soon,” the official adds. The test flight of Barak-2 will be one of 11 missile tests scheduled by DRDO this year. It had been expected last year. According to the DRDO official, more than 70% of the content in the missile will be indigenous.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the key partner of the program, says the missile is designed to be used as a point-defense system on warships, defending against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The missile can hit targets at a range of 70-100 km (37-62 mi.).
The first test of the missile was held in Israel last May. The LR-SAM will equip the three guided missile destroyers of the Project 15A class, which are likely to join the Indian navy in 2012.
IAI officials say the missiles, which are mounted in an eight-cell container and are launched straight up, are undergoing simulated tests in Israel. The radar system provides a 360-deg. coverage, and the missiles can take down an incoming target as close as 500 meters (1,640 ft.) from the ship.
Along with the indigenously built Akash SAM (Aerospace DAILY, March 28), the LR-SAM fills a longer-range requirement of the Indian defense system, and both types will complement each other.
A second variant, called the Medium-Range SAM (MR-SAM), is also being developed for the Indian air force (IAF) at a cost of about 100 billion rupees. The project, signed in 2009, is expected to replace all the IAF’s aging Soviet-made Pechora SAM missiles.
A high-level defense team from Israel visited New Delhi two weeks ago and had detailed discussions with senior military and DRDO officials on the missile program. Israel has become one of the top defense suppliers to India, after Russia. Indo-Israel defense cooperation underwent a strategic shift recently when New Delhi decided to spend a major chunk of its defense budget on purchases from Israel.

France tries to tie Rafale with Mirage upgrade

( The Sunday Guardian): Insidious French attempts to link the Indian Air Force's (IAFs) long-postponed and contentious Mirage 2000H fleet upgrade to the $10 billion acquisition of Dassault's Rafale fighters in support of the IAF's requirement of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), have further delayed the pending retrofit.
Ostensibly, the deal to upgrade the IAFs 51 Vajra (Thunderbolt) Mirage 2000Hs, widely expected to be confirmed by end-March with fighter manufacturers Dassault Aviation, official sources said, had been further deferred beyond the March 2011 deadline following unresolved price differences over the retrofit.
The IAF merely confirmed the upgrade agreement had not been signed but declined to elaborate.
Last month Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik had declared at Aero India in Bangalore that the "complex and lengthy" negotiations with Dassault Aviation to upgrade the Mirage 2000Hs to Mirage 2000-5 levels had "concluded satisfactorily" and would be announced "shortly" by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). But military and armament industry sources said in recent weeks that the retrofit had been "complicated" by pressure from a desperate France to "inter-relate" it to the MMRCA procurement reportedly nearing closure.
Rafale is pitted against Boeing's F/A-18E/F, Eurofighter's Typhoon, Lockheed Martin's F16IN, Russian Aircraft Corporation's (RSK's) MiG 35 and Saab's JAS 39 Gripen for the MMRCA deal that is expected to increase to 200 fighters for around $16 billion.
On 10 March, ACM Naik had declared that the MoD would shortlist the MMRCA from amongst the six competitors by end-March and "hopefully" confirm the procurement four months later in July.
Believing Rafale to be in the MoD's shortlist alongside Eurofighter and F/A-18, the French were reportedly using the Mirage 2000H upgrade as leverage and possibly even an inducement to push their fighter so far only in service with the French military.
Earlier, in January 2008 Dassault's chief executive officer Charles Edelstenne, accompanying French President Nicolas Sarkozy on his India visit had made an unsolicited offer of supplying the IAF 40 Rafale fighters pending an "eventual decision" to augment its dwindling fighter fleet.
"If India is interested, we are ready to answer (with Rafale fighters). The offer stands," Edelstenne had declared, adding that the proposal to supply 40 Rafales was a "short term measure" keeping in mind delays that normally accompany all Indian defence contracts.
"We have some experience with Indian delays. Which is why Dassault has made the unsolicited offer," he stated. At the time the MoD and the IAF declined to comment on Edelstenne's offer.
Edelstenne also maintained that French government policies were more conducive than those of the United States for smooth defence ties with India.
"Our market is for countries that want to be independent of the US. The US policy (of imposing sanctions and stopping military deals) is well-known. We are a country which sells military equipment without any preconditions," he said.
The Dassault head was referring to US-imposed sanctions on India for its 1998 nuclear tests that impacted negatively on several domestic military projects and in providing spares to Indian Navy helicopters, a measure that severely curtailed their operational mobility. The sanctions, eventually lifted in October 2001 also impacted adversely on India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft programme, delaying its development by several years as it is powered by a US-supplied engine.
Meanwhile, the IAF and the MoD had dismissed Dassault's demand of $3.3 billion to retrofit the Mirage-2000H fleet as "highly inflated". Both concurred that each upgrade, costing around Rs 2.9 billion each, which included equipping the fighters with new avionics, advanced navigation systems, mission computers and a pulse doppler radar capable of identifying objects up to a distance of 70 nm, was roughly equivalent to the price of a new fighter but critically without the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
In comparison, upgrading the IAF's 63 MiG-29 fighters presently underway in Russia was costing $964 million or a reasonable $15.3 million. The retrofit would render the MiG 29 from being an aerial interceptor and air dominance fighter to becoming a fighter-bomber capable of striking mobile and stationary targets on ground and at sea with high-precision weapons under all weather conditions.
Dassault officials, however, rationalised this huge upgrade cost by maintaining that the retrofitted fighters would provide IAF commanders the operational flexibility to commit fewer aircraft on combat missions for higher success rates, thereby rendering the programme cost effective.
Additionally, the upgraded electronic warfare systems, including radar warning receivers with instantaneous wide-bank receivers, electronic jammers and countermeasure systems and enhanced fuel capacity would keep the Mirage-2000Hs operationally relevant for over two decades.
Glass cockpits and helmet-mounted displays would complete the upgrade, in addition to arming them with Rafael Armament Development Authority's medium-range stand-off AGM-142 Raptor/Have Nap/Popeye air-to-surface launched cruise missile, specially configured for the IAF and codenamed "Crystal Maze" with an 80-100 km range. They would also be armed with MBDA's MICA, the anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile systems.
The retrofit, which includes a Rs 30 billion proposal to augment the capabilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to retrofit 47 Mirage-2000Hs in Bangalore in as many months, after four were readied in France within 40 months of the deal being inked, would, doubtlessly enhance the Mirage-2000H's operational relevance but one which senior IAF officers believe makes little sense for such an astronomical price.

Biggest aircraft deal with US flies into air pocket after India questions price

Applying brakes to the bigger ever defence deal with the US to purchase C 17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Ministry of Defence has asked Washington to come clean and disclose the comparative prices at which the aircraft has been sold to other nations.
The last-minute hiccup has come after the ministry received several representations contending that the price being quoted to India for 10 heavy lift aircraft was inordinately high.
While the contract is in the final stage — commercial negotiations with manufacturer Boeing have been concluded —the ministry has sought a clarification from the US on the price of the aircraft, which is being purchased by the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.
FMS is the US Department of Defense's government-to-government method of selling US defence equipment, services and training.
"We have to ensure that we are getting the aircraft at the right price. The ministry has written to the US government for the price at which the aircraft has been sold to other countries. This has been done to get a fair assessment of the deal and put all speculation at rest," a Defence Ministry official said.
The value of the deal — a highlight of President Barack Obama's visit to India — has been pegged at $4.1 billion by the White House, and at $5.8 billion in the official notification before the US Congress. At either price — $410 million or $580 million each — the aircraft would be the most expensive ever purchased by India.
In a notification to Congress earlier this month, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which coordinates all FMS sales, declared a C 17 Globemaster III aircraft is being sold to Australia for $300 million.
Also, under the FMS programme, the US is supposed to sell the aircraft to India at the price at which the US government purchases it from the manufacturer, plus an additional facilitation fee. The US government buys the C 17 from Boeing at around $200 million per aircraft. This price, however, does not include spares and services.
Boeing says the price depends on the services and package required by the IAF. "The end price will vary depending on what the Indian government requires as part of the final package. That final price will be a matter for the two governments to communicate at the appropriate time," the company said in a statement in November. It declined to comment on current negotiations.
The company had said that the $4.1-billion tag quoted by the White House did not include the cost of engines, spares and support. "$5.8 billion is an umbrella figure that includes everything that could be ordered," a senior Boeing executive had said.
The IAF did not expect the aircraft deal to cost very much over $3 billion, and was taken aback by the price quoted by Washington. As first reported by The Indian Express, a tussle had broken out over the price after the IAF made it clear that it was unhappy over the "unrealistic" estimate of the deal.

(IndianExpress , MSN news)

Missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russian Pacific Fleet in 2013 -Navy

The Russian missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russia's Pacific Fleet in 2013 after repairs, a high-placed official of the Russian Navy said on Sunday.
"In two years, the cruiser may be transferred from Severomorsk to Vladivostok to reinforce the grouping of the Pacific Fleet's surface ships," the admiral said, adding that the Navy's main headquarters was considering this possibility, although a final decision had not yet been made.
The Marshal Ustinov, a Slava-class missile cruiser, was launched in 1982 and commissioned with the Russian Northern Fleet in 1986.
"Now the cruiser is preparing for medium repairs in the Northern Fleet," the admiral said, adding that the cruiser's transfer to the Russian Far East was due to the quick ageing of the Pacific Fleet's warships and the need for this kind of ships to support the combat stability of the grouping of the fleet's strategic and multipurpose nuclear submarines.
The Marshal Ustinov cruiser has been designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-air and ASW capability. It is fitted with sixteen SS-N-12 Sandbox nuclear-capable supersonic anti-ship missiles, which are mounted in four pairs on either side of the superstructure.
In addition, the cruiser reportedly carries 64 SA-N-6 Grumble long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and 40 SA-N-4 Gecko short-range SAMs.
NATO experts had dubbed Russian combat ships of this class "the killer of aircraft carriers," as it can carry 1,000 kg of high-explosives, or a tactical nuclear warhead, out to a range of 300 nautical miles.

 (RIA Novosti)

'Chinese students stealing tech secrets from UK varsities’

LONDON: British industrial designer Sir James Dyson has alleged that Chinese students at the country's universities are stealing scientific and technological secrets and passing them on to their country.

"They (Chinese students) go back home taking that science and technology knowledge with them and then they start competing with us. This is mad, it is madness," Dyson, best know for inventing the bagless vacuum cleaner, told the UK's Sunday Times newspaper.

British universities minister David Willetts said he will carefully study the evidence that Dyson has got.

University UK chief executive Nicola Dandridge said, "We are very aware this is going on and we are taking it very seriously." Electronic engineering and computer sciences are suspected to be among the two sectors where technology is being stolen. Dyson said many Chinese students continue to do so even after leaving UK. "Bugs are left in PCs so that data continues to be transmitted after the students return home." 

 

(Times of India )

Pak replacing US with China as top arms supplier

Islamabad: Pakistan is expanding its nuclear-capable arsenal by embracing China as its new strategic arms partner and backing away from the United States, according to analysts.

Until the mid-1960s, the US was the principal weapons supplier to Pakistan, but it began to back away from the relationship after years of difficult and sometimes unpredictable relations following the 9/11 attacks.

The fact that the US no longer fully supports the military ambitions of Pakistan has led Islamabad to replace America with China as its main source of defence material, at least in terms of arsenals, development and training.

“China is perceived as not coming with nearly as many strings attached as relations with the United States,” Fox News quoted Nate Hughes, director of military analysis at intelligence website Stratfor, as saying.

A Pakistani government official was recently quoted as saying that it was vital for the Navy to acquire more submarines to offset "the pressure we will definitely come under" due to the rapid expansion of India's naval capability.

"Our Chinese brothers have always come to our help and we are asking them for assistance once again," he added.

Although the value of these contracts is kept a tight secret, one would wonder how Pakistan can commit such enormous resources to defence spending.

“While President Asif Zardari travels to China every six months and signs one memorandum of understanding after another, he has committed way too much than he can deliver. There are too many kickbacks for contracts,” said Maria Sultan, the director general for the South Asia Strategic Stability Institute in Islamabad.

“You have to look at the long-term viability of these loans and look at what Pakistan can pay in 5, 10, 15 years. A lot of loans are forgiven with China not asking for Pakistan to return the capital after paying interest,” she added.

But there may be issues in the Pakistani-China relationship as Sultan pointed out that both nations “have problems understanding each other’s mindset”.

“Pakistan had difficulty in applying to the Chinese the hardcore approach to business that it had experienced the United States at the start. That’s not the approach with the Chinese, which is a personal approach built over time through friendships and gradual trust building. China delivers in 15 years what the US can in four years,” she explained.

That locks Pakistan into a deeper relationship with China, arguably an additional downside when diversity of suppliers is a standard policy in many countries to ensure accessibility to weaponry.

“It creates a dependency, especially when you start to talk about sophisticated modern […] technology. You create dependency in terms of upgrades, in terms of spare parts and ammunition, contractor relationships and training,” said Hughes.

(ANI , Zeenews)

DRDO may field Indigenous 155-mm gun for the Indian Army by end of 2013

Indian army which is struggling to purchase 155-mm Guns for itself for the past 9 years might wait little longer and for an indigenously developed 155-mm towed gun.Many of the guns which were offered by foreign vendors are already blacklisted by Ministry of Defence due various ill-regulatories and allegations of corruption that includes some of the top companies like, Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK); Germany’s Rheinmetall; Israel Military Industries (IMI); and another Israeli company, Soltam. Denel, a South African company, had been blacklisted earlier;
155-mm gun Project will be a Public-Private joint venture between DRDO and Bharat Forge / Larsen & Toubro. ARDE one of the DRDO Laboratory has already taken up the work and is carrying out preliminary work of the project.
ARDE designed Arjun’s Tanks 120mm Riffle bore guns and even developed the 105mm Indian Field Gun (IFG), Indian army is likely to work with ARDE on this project and is keen on this project to avoid further delays in inducting 155mm guns.
Indian army which has a requirement of more than 1400 of 155-mm Guns is now counting on ARDE to pull it out of this mess and deliver this guns for trails by 2013 at best, while ARDE with help from Private sector is confident to produce one by 2013 and give it for Army Trials.

(Ajay Naik For Security Magazine)

Eurofighter Typhoon Makes First Combat Experiences over Libya

History in the making: Typhoons fly first combat missions in Operation Ellamy
Yesterday, the commander of British aircraft operating over Libya, Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, announced that the Libyan Air Force has been defeated and Coalition forces could now operate “with near impunity.” The aircraft that mostly contributed to this result have names that sound very familiar to those who have followed airborne combat operations during the past three to four decades: Rafale, Mirage 2000, Tornado, F-18, F-15, F-16, B-2 and Harrier jump jets. Leaving out the Rafale, this predominantly represents a large share of Coalition combat aircraft types that had been involved in the 1991 Gulf War (since, naturally, having added a few technological improvements and different configurations).

However, one aircraft that significantly supported Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya during the past week has not seen combat operations before; and it is not a stealthy, so-called fifth-generation air superiority fighter, such as the F-22, which, by the way, has “too limited communications”, and “too advanced capabilities” for the Libya conflict, according to a DailyTech report. [1]

Military history books and technology databases will henceforth note that the Eurofighter Typhoon saw its first combat operation during the “military intervention in Libya” (let’s wait a little to see what the definite designation of this undertaking, with a yet undetermined outcome, will be). Keep in mind that this is an aircraft that was designed during the 1980s and 1990s. Further, it has been often criticised by experts and other observers for merely being a relic of the Cold War era and already outdated by the time it entered service.

The Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter aircraft have proven, during the first five days of Operation Odyssey Dawn – or Operation Ellamy, as British forces call their involvement in Libya – that they are a legitimate asset for conventional military tasks, such as those now required over Libya.

On Monday, March 21 (the third day of the operation), Major General John Lorimer, spokesman for the British Chief of Defence Staff, announced: “Today, Typhoons flew their first-ever combat mission while patrolling the no-fly zone in support of UNSCR 1973.” In a later briefing, Lorimer explained: “These aircraft mounted their first-ever mission into hostile airspace, patrolling the no-fly zone under the control of an RAF Sentry AWACS aircraft and supported by an RAF VC10 tanker.”

RAF Typhoon pilot Wing Commander Jez Attridge told the BBC in a recent video interview made at the British post in Gioia Del Colle, Italy: “RAF Typhoons are engaged every single day in operational missions back in the UK, protecting the UK airspace itself. So, again, this is no different from the way that we normally operate and train. For me, it was just a case of getting on with the job.”[2] Although, Bagwell confirmed that British jets had not been fired at during the course of the operation, it has certainly not been the usual routine when Typhoon pilots entered Libyan airspace for the first time.

Having deployed to Italy on Sunday evening and flying the first combat mission over Libya the next day, proves that the Typhoon fighter aircraft has been effectively integrated into the Royal Air Force operational structures since the RAF received its first Typhoons in August 2007. This fact was also underlined by Attridge: “To deploy to Italy and operate within twelve hours of arriving here, I think, shows the flexibility and the capability not only of the Royal Air Force Typhoons, but of the Royal Air Force.”

Furthermore, Operation Ellamy saw another first: the Royal Air Force confirmed that on Wednesday, the first female Typhoon pilot took part in combat operations over Libya. The name of the female pilot was not disclosed, but it was reported that she has been part of a sortie that took off from Gioia Del Colle.

According to Lorimer, the Typhoons deployed to Gioia Del Colle are aircraft from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Leuchars in Fife. They form up as 906 Expeditionary Air Wing and are supported by 907 Expeditionary Air Wing based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The Typhoon fighter aircraft have been exclusively used for patrol operations, supporting the Tornados during their ground attack missions. According to the British Ministry of Defence, a mission of a Typhoon fighter patrolling the skies over Libya amounts to an average of five flight hours. The overall number of aircraft involved and sorties flown could not be officially confirmed. However, Typhoon fighter aircraft have been engaged in combat experiences during each day since their deployment to Italy and will certainly continue to do so during the further course of the operation.
----
By Nicolas von(Defpro)

BDL inks Rs 14,000-cr deal with Army for Akash missiles

(The Hindu) : In one of the biggest Defence production contracts, Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) has signed a Rs 14,000-crore contract with the Indian Army for the production of Akash, the surface-to-air (SAM) missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The public sector undertaking, BDL, recently received an order for the Air Force version of Akash for over Rs 1,000 crore, the Chairman and Managing Director, Major Gen Ravi Ketarpal, said in a release from the company.

The Akash missile has a range of 25 km with a low reaction time of 15 seconds. It can shoot down aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) travelling at speeds of up to 700 m/sec. The weapon system is capable of engaging targets in all weather conditions.

Developed by the DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), the missile has been a priority for the armed forces, who plan to use it for the close defence of its installations from all types of aerial attacks.

The contract is the highest value placed by the Indian Army to date, the BDL release said.

BDL is gearing up to manufacture a series of missiles that have been or are being developed by the DRDO by setting up facilities in Andhra Pradesh and other States. It has been allocated land for expansion in two places in Andhra Pradesh.

BDL is the main manufacturer of the indigenously developed missiles. With the implementation of the contracts, it expects to turn into a Navaratna Defence PSU with a turnover projected at over Rs 5,000 crore by 2015. Currently, it is a mini-ratna.

Under the IGMDP, the DRDO has developed Agni, the long-range missile; Prithvi (different versions), a medium range missile; and is close to completing Nag, the anti-tank missile. Akash is the latest to complete all user trials and enter the production and induction phase.

Ground operation in Libya could start in April - Russian intelligence

The international coalition force is planning a ground operation in Libya that could start in late April, a high-ranking Russian intelligence service source said on Friday.
"Information coming via different channels shows that NATO countries, with the active participation of Britain and the United States, are developing a plan for a ground operation on Libyan territory," he said.
"From all indications, a ground operation will be launched if the alliance fails to force the Gaddafi regime to capitulate with air strikes and missile attacks."
If the events in Libya follow this scenario, the ground operation could start "in late April-early May," he added.
The UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya on March 17, allowing "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on rebel-held towns.
The operation to enforce the no-fly zone, codenamed Odyssey Dawn, is being conducted jointly by 13 states, including the United States, Britain and France.
Western warplanes have flown more than 300 sorties over the North African country and fired 162 Tomahawk missiles in the UN mission.

-(RIA Novosti)

India developing 5,000 km-range Agni missile: Antony

NEW DELHI: India is developing a 5,000 km-range Agni ballistic missile, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.

"India has reached an appreciable level of competence in missile technologies , with a reach capability of 3,500 kilometres. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing Agni missile with a capacity to reach 5000 kilometres," he said here.

The Defence Minister was addressing a conference of heads of DRDO laboratories.

Under its missile development programme, India is developing ballistic missiles with longer ranges and had recently successfully test-fired the 3,500 km-range Agni-III missile from a launch facility. The Agni-series also includes missile variants with ranges between 700 and 2,500 km.

The 5,000 km-range Agni-V is a further advancement of the existing systems and is expected to be test-fired later this year, sources said.

Other missiles developed by the DRDO are the Prithvi and its variants with ranges upto 350 km, surface-to-air Akash missile defence system with a range of 25-30 km and the short- range anti-tank NAG missile.

The Trishul air defence missile system programme was scrapped by the DRDO after it was marred by delays.

In his address, the Defence Minister asked the DRDO to speed up the development trials and induction of Interceptor Missile as part of the credible Ballistic Missile Defence ( BMD )).

To reduce cases of suicides and fratricides in the armed forces, Antony asked the DRDO to to undertake a detailed research program to make an assessment of stress profile and mental health of the soldiers.

"I have asked one of the life sciences laboratories of DRDO to undertake extensive psychological research to optimise stress profile and enhance mental health of soldiers. The objective is to reduce incidents of suicides and fratricides among soldiers," he said.

The suicide and fratricide rates in the early part of the decade were high, but due to sustained efforts by the Defence Ministry , they had come down significantly in last few years, according to officials. 

 

- The Economic Times

Destructions- Capabilities of SAM's against Ballistic Missiles

Akash : It is considered to be one of the best SAM which india has for surface to Air defense. It is medium Range defense system developed by Defense development organization ( DRDO) with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Akash is highly effective against incoming missiles and fighter aircraft upto 25-30 km  away, with altitude upto 18000 m (18 km) with speed of mach 2.5, the warhead comes with 55 kg.

The battery comes with four 3d phased array radar and four launchers with three missiles, radar has

Capable to detect 100 and track 64 targets, and engage with 8 targets at one time . The present version

Can target incoming ballistic missles which has 2000 km range.

 Akash is almost comparable to patriot missile system of united states and more accurate then Patriot missile, only some countries in world have capabilities operational multi-target handling  SAM’s .And as per price of akash , it is 8 – 10 times lower than cost of similar type of SAM’s  in other countries.

Rajendra Radar : These missiles are controlled by phased array fire control radar , it can track 64 targets

From 60 km range, these radar can be used for ‘ Weapon Locating Radar’ purpose also. Once india was

Depending on other countries for Weapon Locating Radar for border surveillance , now india is capable

Of manufacturing these cutting edge technology radar types , but MoD has to take decision to induct

Rajendra radar for Weapon Locating purpose also .

Our ‘Security Magazine’ has learnt ‘ Electronics and Radar Development Estalishment(LRDE) is currently

Working on Rajendra 3 version for Indian Armed Forces, it may be mounted on T-72 chassis .

Current Status : Indian Airforce has already placed moderate number of Akash SAM’s systems with

With almost total numbers of 1000 missiles and same volume may also be placed by Indian Army with

Some modifications in system . In past IAF/Army has hesitated to accept  Akash SAM for its Air defense

group, after vigorous and successful test has made to select Akash  .

As per report it may be tested against incoming ballistic missiles from the range of 2000 kms, most

of the ballistic missiles are hypersonic in speed and has more ranges in between 8000 – 12000 kms

in case if we need to face longer range missiles ,  Akash may fail to accomplish the target, that may

cause ‘Maximum Destruction’ .

Defense Against Ballistic Missile

Patriot 3 :  One of most popular SAM system of united states, it has accurate hitting on target with new

Generation technology , but doesn’t have longer range. The range is said to be 15 kms. US recently

Offered this system to  india .But the early version Patriot 2 has more range, it is said to Patriot-2 /3  has capable against ballistic missile . And apart from this, US already in testing of its THAAD missile system with 200 km range , which has high attitude coverage , which  may work against longer range ballistic missiles .

Arrow SAM : The launch platform for Arrow missiles is six canisters/trailer-mounted erector launcher and has flight ceiling 50 -60 km with operational range from 90 km – 148 kms . This program has funded

By United States , In year 1999 india interested to purchase Arrow 2 systems from Israel , however in 2002 , US  vetoed israel’s request to sell the Arrow 2 missiles to india, Arrow 2   has  maximum range

Extended to 300 kms also .

S-400 SAM (Russia) : S-400 is capable of detecting six targets in the range of 400 kms , against Aircraft Cruise and ballistic missile( which is coming from 3500 kms) and engaging them at 200 km ranges.

According to source the speed of S-400 missiles is mach 12 , currently Russia is deploying these systems

By replacing S-300 SAM’s . Apart from this Russia is developing S-500 , which is said to be more advanced in range and technology, it is said to be  more capable than any other missiles in world. May be S-500 Systems have possibilities to inducted in service  by 2015 onwards.

AAD/PAD : India realizes the need of high attitude version SAM’s, that made india to develop  AAD/PAD

System, currently its in developing stage . The some of the test is considered to be highly successful, as per sources this system has capable of 80 km in flight ceiling coverage and DRDO is looking for more powerfully with 150 km flight ceiling coverage, but it may take atleast 3 -7 yrs with fully operational .

by NJS  ( Security Magazine)

Turkey puts F-35 order on hold over US refusal to share technology

From Emre Soncan, Zaman:  Turkey has announced that it is putting the planned purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets from the US on hold because the Pentagon refuses to share the source code used in the software designed for the aircraft as well as the codes that might be used externally to activate the planes.
 
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül said on Tuesday, following a meeting of the Defense Industry Implementation Committee (SSİK), that the negotiations over the F-35 procurement tender had not yielded “satisfactory results.” He said, “We will evaluate the order in the next meeting, in light of the progress made in the talks by then.” 

(Atlantic Council)

NATO to take control of military operation in Libya

NATO will take over control of military operations to ensure a no-fly zone in Libya early next week, diplomatic sources in Brussels said on Thursday.
Turkey's state-run TV earlier on Thursday quoted the country's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying that NATO would soon take control of the operation.
"Compromise has been reached in principle in a very short time," Davutoglu said. "The operation will be handed over to NATO completely."
Turkey expressed reservations about the NATO military intervention in Libya and sought assurances that it would not go beyond the goal of protecting civilians.
France also objected to plans to hand the mission over to NATO.
On Wednesday the NATO council approved the alliance's participation in a mission to ensure an arms embargo against the country using 16 war ships and submarines.
The UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya on March 17, allowing "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on rebel-held towns.
The operation to enforce the no-fly zone, codenamed Odyssey Dawn, is conducted jointly by 13 states, including the United States, Britain and France.
Western warplanes have flown more than 300 sorties over the North African country and fired 162 Tomahawk missiles in the UN mission.

 (RIA Novosti)