Malaysia Announces Cougar as Replacement for Nuri

Malaysia Announces Cougar as Replacement for Nuri (NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - October 3, 2008: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has chosen the Eurocopter Cougar EC725 to replace its aging Sikorsky S-61-A4 Nuri Sea Kings. The RMAF has roughly 40 Sea Kings serving in the medium transport role. In service since 1968, the Nuri has suffered 18 crashes and killed 95 servicemen. The aircraft is scheduled for retirement in 2012.

Eurocopter Cougar EC725

The Cougar beat out the Sikorsky H-92, the AgustaWestland EH-101 Merlin, the Boeing CH-47F and the Russian Mil Mi-17 Hip in an open international tender issued at the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show in December 2007. The tender was for 12 helicopters, eight for the RMAF and four for the Royal Malaysian Army at a reported cost of $600 million. On Sept. 26, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated a letter of intent had already been sent to Eurocopter Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Abdullah would not explain the decision in detail except to say that the Ministry of Defense "considered all the necessary specifications in the helicopters before making the decision." Not everyone is happy with the decision. Suspicions have been raised over transparency issues and the timing of the letter. "Was it legit? Yes. Was is a straight and level playing field with complete transparency? No," said a U.S. source in Malaysia. One Malaysian defense official acknowledged the problem. "It was not the best and most amicable decision, but we just take what is given," the official said.

Russian Navy to get 8 new-generation submarines by 2015

Russian Navy to get 8 new-generation submarines by 2015 (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - October 3, 2008: The Russian Navy will receive at least eight new-generation submarines as part of a state armaments program through 2015, its deputy commander said on Thursday. "We have already built a new-generation nuclear powered submarine," Adm. Alexander Tatarinov said, without giving any details. Asked how many warships would be built in total, he said that would depend on the Navy's needs. "So far a series of eight warships are being planned - possibly more," he said. The current 2007-2015 state armament program calls for the development of "across-the-board" new-generation weapon systems by 2011. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last Thursday that the modernization of the Armed Forces needed to move faster, with priority being given to new, advanced weaponry and improvement of conditions for service personnel. "We are planning to launch large-scale production of warships, primarily nuclear submarines with cruise missiles, and multi-purpose attack submarines," Medvedev said. Russia, with a current defense budget of $40 billion, is reportedly planning to increase its defense spending by 50% in the next three years.

Sukhoi starts testing 2nd Su-35 fighter prototype

Sukhoi starts testing 2nd Su-35 fighter prototype (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - October 3, 2008: Russia's Sukhoi aircraft maker has started flight tests of the second Su-35 Flanker multirole fighter to expedite the completion of the testing program, the company said on Thursday. "The addition of the second aircraft to the testing program will speed up its completion and ensure the beginning of deliveries to our customers in 2011," Sukhoi said in a statement. The first Su-35 successfully completed its first 6-minute demonstration flight on July 7 and has made over 40 test flights since then. All of them confirmed superior technical and combat characteristics of the aircraft. The Su-35 fighter, powered by two 117S engines with thrust vectoring, combines high maneuverability and the capability to effectively engage several air targets simultaneously using both guided and unguided missiles and weapon systems. The aircraft features the new Irbis-E radar with a phased antenna array, which allows the pilot to detect and track up to 30 air targets, while simultaneously engaging up to eight targets. It is equipped with a 30-mm cannon with 150 rounds and can carry up to eight tons of combat payload on 12 external mounts. Sukhoi earlier said it plans to start deliveries of the new aircraft, billed as "4++ generation using fifth-generation technology," to the Russian Air Force and foreign clients in 2011 and produce Su-35s over a period of 10 years up to 2020. The company is planning to export at least 160 Su-35 fighters in the future to a number of countries, including India, Malaysia and Algeria.

Russia's strategic bombers to drill with full combat payloads

Russia's strategic bombers to drill with full combat payloads (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - October 3, 2008: Russian strategic bombers will conduct training flights with full combat payloads and live fire all cruise missiles on board for the first time in over two decades, an Air Force spokesman said. The live firing exercises in Russia's northern latitudes on October 6-12 are part of the Stability-2008 strategic maneuvers in various regions of Russia and Belarus with the goal of practicing strategic deployment of the Armed Forces, including the nuclear triad, to counter potential threats near the Russian border. "During these exercises, for the first time in many years, the crews of Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic bombers will fly missions carrying the maximum combat payload and fire all the cruise missiles on board," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said. Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft can carry six and 12 Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) long-range cruise missiles respectively. Drik said that the scope of the exercises would be unprecedented and involve, apart from the Tu-160s and Tu-95s, the Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers, air superiority fighters, interceptors and aerial tankers. "The number and variety of aircraft involved in the drills shows the wide range of tasks that will be accomplished during the week-long exercise," the spokesman said. Former Air Force commander, General of the Army Pyotr Deynekin, said Russian Tu-95 bombers had conducted live firing of all their cruise missiles only once before, in 1984. "Tu-160 bombers have never done this because it is very expensive," the general said. According to various sources, in addition to 16 Tu-160 bombers the Russian Air Force currently has 40 Tu-95MS bombers and 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.

Boeing Delivers Apache Helicopter Training to Kuwait

Boeing Delivers Apache Helicopter Training to Kuwait (NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS - October 2, 2008: Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the recent delivery of the Kuwait Air Force's first Apache Longbow Crew Trainer (LCT). The LCT is a full-mission, high-fidelity flight simulator that provides training for individuals, crews and maintenance test pilots.

Apache Helicopter

The Kuwait LCT, provided through a U.S. Army Foreign Military Sale, is the first trainer delivered equipped with two of Boeing's newly developed technologies -- the Next Generation Flight Model (NGFM) and the Common Simulation Framework (CSF). These innovative technologies ensure that the devices remain up-to-date and are easily maintained, and increase the trainer's capability. "By implementing these new technologies, we have raised the fidelity of the LCT to a highly sophisticated level, providing the most realistic training possible for Apache Longbow crews," said Mark McGraw, vice president, Training Systems & Services. The NGFM software, which ensures that the trainer operates and feels like a real Apache helicopter, was developed and correlated to actual aircraft flight-test data. This improvement increases the fidelity of the trainer. The CSF combines tools for software development, testing and systems integration with reusable software packages, enabling trainer software to be developed more quickly and be more easily maintained. The NGFM and CSF will be a standard configuration on future LCT deliveries and will be provided through an upgrade package to the U.S. Army's 22 existing devices. Deployed worldwide and used for in-theater training in Afghanistan and Iraq, the LCT supports battalions by allowing pilots ample opportunities to maintain their training hours and to rehearse missions.

Russia, India To Develop New BrahMos Cruise Missile

Russia, India To Develop New BrahMos Cruise Missile (NSI News Source Info) New Delhi, India - October 2, 2008: Russia and India will jointly develop a new BrahMos-2 hypersonic cruise missile, the head of the BrahMos company said on Monday. "At a meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, we decided to set up a working group on the development of the BrahMos-2 missile," the company's CEO, Sivathanu Pillai said.

BrahMos missile

"The new hypersonic missile will have a top speed of over Mach 5, which would make it impossible to intercept," he added. Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace, a joint Indian-Russian venture, produces and markets BrahMos supersonic missiles, whose sea-based and land-based versions have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian army and navy. Pillai said that the company had finished the development of the airborne version of the BrahMos missile and the Indian air force had chosen the SU-30 MKI Flanker-H multirole fighter as a trial platform for the missile. The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg (660 pounds). It can hit ground targets flying at an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the U.S.-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. The head of BrahMos Aerospace earlier said that the recent acquisition of an assembly plant in the state of Kerala from Kerala Hightech Industries Ltd, in addition to the main plant in Hyderabad, would allow the company to increase production to 50 BrahMos missiles a year and fulfill orders from the army on schedule. Analysts estimate that India could purchase up to 1,000 BrahMos missiles for its armed forces in the next decade, and export 2,000 to other countries during the same period.

France Upgrading Their E-3F AWACS

France Upgrading Their E-3F AWACS (NSI News Source Info) October 1, 2008: The E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft is based on a Boeing 707 airframe. It is the world’s most widely used large-jet AWACS platform, in service with the USAF, Britain, France, NATO, and Saudi Arabia. Over the years, the world’s E-3 fleet has required improvements to keep its radars and electronics current with advances in technology.

E-3F AWACS

The most current variant is the E-3 Block 40/45, which is the largest enhancement in the history of the U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS fleet. It includes new mission computing hardware and software, upgraded radar equipment, and improved navigation and communications systems. Airworthiness testing began in June 2006, mission system testing began in April 2007, and finished in September 2008. Nor is the USA alone. Britain is determining and inserting upgrades as part of its $1.2 billion through life maintenance program, NATO is in the middle of its own $1.32 billion mid-life upgrade, and the Saudis are making RSIP improvements. The French Armee de l’Air received its 4 E-3F aircraft between 1991-1992, and undertook its own RSIP improvement program from 2002-2006. Now, they have set their E-3F fleet’s upgrade path to Block 40/45 capability… On Sept 26/08, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced France’s has requested a possible sale to upgrade four E-3F Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) Aircraft with Block 40/45 Mission Computing, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) Interface, and Mode 5/S Identification Friend or Foe (IFF). In addition, this proposed sale will include related spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, integration, personnel training and equipment, contractor engineering and technical support services, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $400 million. France will use this upgrade to maintain full interoperability and interchangeability with U.S. and other NATO coalition partners, and will have no difficulty absorbing the additional AWACS aircraft into its armed forces. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Seattle, WA will be the prime contractor, but implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government and contractor representatives to France.

Oshkosh Defense Awarded $180 Million Contract For Reducible-Height Armor Kits

Oshkosh Defense Awarded $180 Million Contract For Reducible-Height Armor Kits (NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - October 2, 2008: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has been awarded a new contract valued at more than $180 million from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command. The contract calls for more than 1,500 reducible-height armor kits to be supplied to the Marine Corps for aftermarket support of the Oshkosh® Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) fleet.

MTVRs

The kits are designed to meet military requirements of transporting armored MTVRs at a reduced height of 8 feet 2 inches. This allows the protected vehicles to be transported on previously inaccessible decks aboard prepositioning ships. The Oshkosh armored kits add in-theater protection to the Marine Corps’ MTVR fleet, which totals more than 10,000 MTVRs in four unique variants: cargo trucks, tractors, dump trucks and wreckers. “The reducible-height armor kits provide maximum crew protection in the field, while also improving transportability of the armored MTVR,” said John Stoddart, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense. “The MTVR has successfully served the Marine Corps and Navy for years, and Oshkosh is committed to adapting the vehicle to continually meet their needs.” The work will be carried out through Oshkosh Defense Aftermarket, which provides aftermarket services, repairs and parts distribution to customers in every corner of the globe. With factory-trained technicians, Web-based parts support and service centers worldwide, customers are covered 24/7 whether their vehicles are in the field or in garrison. The Oshkosh MTVR is an all-terrain, multipurpose logistics vehicle used by the Marines and Navy Seabees. It comes in several variants for the transportation of troops, materials or equipment. The vehicle features an off-road 7.1-ton payload capacity and an on-road 15-ton payload capacity. Oshkosh also offers an MTVR with on-board vehicle power, which produces 120 kW of power when stationary and 21 kW of power when mobile. Since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Oshkosh has repaired and armored vehicles in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and Oshkosh field service representatives are currently deployed throughout the Middle East. About Oshkosh Defense Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com. About Oshkosh Corporation Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, BAI®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, Geesink™, Norba™, Kiggen™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Signed Today A Memorandum of Understanding on the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Programme

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Signed Today A Memorandum of Understanding on the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Programme (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - October 2, 2008: Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency signed today a Memorandum of Understanding on Sukhoi Superjet 100 Programme. The Memorandum was signed by Igor Vinogradov, First Vice President, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC), and Cho Hwan-eik, President, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). Under this memorandum KOTRA will assist SCAC in identifying Korean enterprises, who are considered by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company as potential participants in production cooperation on the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Programme. Should any parts production orders emerge, KOTRA will assist SCAC in relevant procedures. Besides, KOTRA intends to support Sukhoi Superjet 100’s marketing and promotional efforts in South East Asia, including Korea.

Sukhoi Superjet 100

“Actually, we consider Korean enterprises to be potential parts manufacturers for a number of systems in order to optimize our production flow. A strong reputation of Korean enterprises as reliable, cost efficient and quality-driven manufacturers of sophisticated, high-technology products played an important role”, noted Igor Vinogradov, SCAC’s First Vice President at the signing ceremony. President Cho Hwan-eik expressed his hopes that, with the memorandum signed, Korean companies and SCAC could succeed in starting broader cooperation in advanced technology exchange, thus paving the way for further development of aircraft manufacturing in both countries and enriching the total economic cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Russia. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) is a Sukhoi Company subsidiary founded in 2000 to design, produce, market, certify civil aircraft. At present, the Company’s major project is Sukhoi Superjet 100, a family of regional aircraft. SCAC is responsible for the design, development, marketing, sales, production and certification of the aircraft. Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Company set up SuperJet International, a joint venture entrusted with the marketing and sales of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft family in mature markets as well as worldwide aftersales support. SCAC currently employs 2000+ people, and holds branches at the main production sites located in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Novosibirsk. Korean Trade and Investment Promotion Agency is a non-commercial governmental organization, established in June 1962 to initially promote Korean exports. In 1995 it was also tasked with outward investment promotion as well as facilitating industrial and technological cooperation projects. Running as many as 103 representation offices in 74 countries nowadays, the agency has every possibility to be effective in performing its role. In Russia, besides Moscow, KOTRA operates two offices in Vladivostok and Novosibirsk.