DTN News: Hakimullah Mehsud, One Of TTP's Most Powerful Commanders Dead In Succession Fight?

DTN News: Hakimullah Mehsud, One Of TTP's Most Powerful Commanders Dead In Succession Fight?

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MIRAMSHAH, Pakistan - August 9, 2009: A key Taliban commander was killed in a struggle over succession to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud at a shura meeting in South Waziristan, government and security officials said on Saturday.

Pakistan Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud (L) is seen with his arm around Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud during a news conference in South Waziristan in this May 24, 2008 file photo. The Pakistani government has received reports that shooting broke out between two rivals for the leadership of the Pakistani Taliban, and one of them may have been killed, the interior minister said on Saturday. Pakistani news channels were carrying unconfirmed reports that Hakimullah Mehsud, one of the movement's most powerful commanders, had been killed at a shura, or council meeting, held to decide who would succeed slain leader Baitullah Mehsud.

However, on Sunday Reuters quoted one of the suspected participants as saying not only was there no battle, but that no meeting took place either. Baitullah was killed, along with his wife, in a US Predator strike on Wednesday. Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed reports of a shootout at the shura meeting and said that one of the commanders had been killed. According to sources, commanders Hakeemullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman, the two leading contenders for the chief slot, exchanged hot words at the shura meeting in Sara Rogha over the choosing of a successor to Baitullah. A shootout followed, leading to the death of Hakeemullah while causing life-threatening injuries to Waliur Rehman. A government official in Peshawar said that both Hakeemullah and Waliur Rehman had been killed in the clash. However, Reuters reported on Sunday afternoon that Waliur Rehman, speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location, denied not only rumors of his death, but also that any council meeting, or shura, had taken place to decide on a successor to Baitullah Mehsud. ‘There are no differences. There was no fighting. We both are alive, and there was no special shura meeting,’ Reuters quoted Waliur Rehman as saying. Sources told Dawn that the names of Hakeemullah, Waliur Rehman and 50-year-old Azmatullah Mehsud were shortlisted at a meeting of senior Taliban leaders from the Mehsud tribe, but a decision was put off following differences over who would succeed the slain leader. There was no independent confirmation of the reported shooting. A Taliban commander denied that any clash had taken place.’There is a serious power struggle going on,’ the government official said. Hakeemullah had replaced Waliur Rehman as commander in Kurram. He belonged to a rival group led by Qari Hussain, widely known as the Ustad-i-Fidayeen (teacher of suicide bombers). ‘I think the Haqqanis will now intervene to resolve the leadership dispute,’ the official said, referring to Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of veteran Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani and Mullah Omar’s point man for North and South Waziristan. U.S. soldiers from the 5th. Striker Brigades walk next to armored vehicles as they arrive at their base on the outskirts of Spin Boldak, about 100 kilometers (63 miles) southeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. Thousands of U.S. troops are deploying in southern Afghanistan as part of an effort to prevent the Taliban from disrupting the country's Aug. 20 presidential ballot. Former interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao agreed with the assessment. He told a private TV channel that the Haqqanis had been mediating in the past to resolve leadership issues in tribal areas and it was likely that they would intervene again to help throw up a consensus candidate.

DTN News: Egyptian Armed Forces To Acquire Six CH-47D Chinook Helicopters

DTN News: Egyptian Armed Forces To Acquire Six CH-47D Chinook Helicopters *Source: DTN News / Defense Security Cooperation Agency (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 9, 2009: On August 6, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of six CH-47D CHINOOK Helicopters, 16 T55-GA-714A engines, eight AN/APR-39A(V)1 Radar Signal Detecting Sets with Mission Data Sets, eight AN/APX-117 Transponders with TS-4530 Interrogator/Transponder Test Sets, eight AN/ARC-220 (RT-1749) High Frequency Aircraft Communication Systems, flight and radar signal simulators, three M978A4 HEMTT Fuel Tanker trucks, two Fork Lift trucks and related equipment and support at an estimated cost of $308 million. The CH-47 is a twin-engine, tandem rotor helicopter designed for transportation of cargo, troops, and weapons during day, night, visual, and instrument conditions. The aircraft fuselage is approximately 50 feet long. With a 60-foot rotor span, on each rotor system, the effective length of a CH-47 (with blades turning) is approximately 100 feet from the most forward point of the forward rotor to the most rearward point on the aft rotor. Maximum airspeed is 170 knots with a normal cruise speed of 130 knots. However, speed for any mission will vary greatly depending on load configuration (internal or external), time of day, or weather conditions. The minimum crew for tactical operations is four, two pilots, one flight engineer, and one crew chief. For more complex missions, such as NVG operations and air assaults, commanders may consider using five crew members and add one additional crew chief. Development of the medium lift Boeing Vertol (models 114 and 414) CH-47 Series Chinook began in 1956. Since then the effectiveness of the Chinook has been continually upgraded by successive product improvements, the CH-47A, CH-47B, CH-47C, and CH-47D. The amount of load a cargo helicopter can carry depends on the model, the fuel on board, the distance to be flown, and atmospheric conditions. The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale of six CH-47D CHINOOK Helicopters, 16 T55-GA-714A engines, eight AN/APR-39A(V)1 Radar Signal Detecting Sets with Mission Data Sets, eight AN/APX-117 Transponders with TS-4530 Interrogator/ Transponder Test Sets, eight AN/ARC-220 (RT-1749) High Frequency Aircraft Communication Systems, flight and radar signal simulators, three M978A4 HEMTT Fuel Tanker trucks, two Fork Lift trucks, repair and return, transportation, site survey, construction and facilities, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor technical support, and other related elements of program support.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country, which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. Egypt will use the CH-47D in support of its armed forces, disaster relief efforts, and joint exercises with U.S. forces in the region. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractors will be The Boeing Helicopter Company in Philadelphia, PA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of one U.S. contractor field service representative in Egypt to provide support for a period of one year with an option for two additional years. Four additional contractor representatives and one U.S. Government

DTN News: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Vows To Confront Interfering Powers

DTN News: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Vows To Confront Interfering Powers

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN, Iran - August 9, 2009: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he will slam the heads of those countries which 'interfered' in the country's post-vote events “into the ceiling.”

Opposition newspaper, Etemad-e Melli last week reported that during a meeting with the Association of Basiji Scholars in the northeastern city of Mashhad the president had issued a warning to the opposition.

"Let the swearing-in ceremony occur," it quoted him as saying. "Then we will take them by the collar and slam their heads into the ceiling."

On Saturday, however, Ahmadinejad said his comments had been distorted by the media.

"After speaking at the meeting a number of media outlets reported that I was referring to my opponents, but I was in fact referring to the bulling and interfering powers," he said during a ceremony on the occasion of Journalist Day.

"Even after we informed them of their mistake they continued their physiological warfare against the new government," he added.

Iran has blamed Western countries, particularly Britain, of instigating post-vote unrest which broke out after Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election with a massive margin on June 12. Ahmadinejad was on Wednesday sworn in for a second term into office as the country's president.

DTN News: NATO Helicopters Injure 5 Afghan Police

DTN News: NATO Helicopters Injure 5 Afghan Police

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - August 9, 2009: NATO helicopters have 'mistakenly' fired on Afghan police, injuring at least five of them, NATO and Afghan officials have said. NATO says its forces were responding to small arms fire from insurgents in Ghazi Province early Saturday, when two of its Apache helicopters fired on police by mistake, VOA reported.

Afghan officials have confirmed the incident but said at least six police were wounded, with at least one in critical condition.

The alliance also declared that it is also investigating reports that two Afghan civilians were mistakenly killed neighboring Uruzgan Province Friday, while troops fired mortars at insurgents. Afghan civilians and security forces have repeatedly come under attacks by the foreign troops in the war torn country.

The number of Afghan civilians killed either in coalition airstrikes or Taliban attacks has surpassed 1,000 in the first half of 2009, according to the UN.

DTN News: Colombia To Send Troops To Afghanistan

DTN News: Colombia To Send Troops To Afghanistan *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MEXICO CITY - August 9, 2009: Colombia is to send 84 soldiers to join NATO forces in Afghanistan in yet another nod to US wishes, as the Latin American state draws near isolation. Colombia has one of the largest armies in Latin America which has been mainly financed, equipped and trained by the United States. Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos said on Friday that the infantry soldiers will travel in two groups of 42 -- the first in 2010 and the second in 2011 -- to join the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in war-torn Afghanistan. The soldiers are to provide security at Spanish bases, where over 780 Spanish troops are stationed. Santos also stressed that Colombian military presence in Afghanistan could increase in the future. Colombia, a top US ally in South America, has one of the largest and most well-equipped armies in Latin America, which has been mainly financed and trained by the United States. The move comes as regional opposition to Washington's decision to increase its military presence and open military bases in Colombia, increased. Despite Washington's efforts to calm the region, tensions have been running high between Colombia and other Latin states, over the US-Colombia military deal which places around 1,400 fully-armed US soldiers with military equipment in South America. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has even gone so-far as threatening to halt 'all' business transactions with its neighbor, which tops an annual $7 billion. A number of other Latin American states, such as Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Bolivia have backed Chavez's bid and accused the United States of setting up a military platform in Colombia from which to attack its neighbors. Only the Peruvian President Alan Garcia -- the other principal US ally in the region -- gave his support to the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, whom he called "a good friend." The US claims the planned military surge is aimed to help Bogota combat drug-fueled violence. However, South American leaders accuse the US of using the war on drugs in Colombia as a pretext to boost its regional military presence.

DTN News: German Defense Minister Rebuffs Call For More Troops In Afghanistan

DTN News: German Defense Minister Rebuffs Call For More Troops In Afghanistan

*German Defense Minister Jung has spoken out against a call by the head of NATO to deploy more troops in Afghanistan as tension mounts over confirmation of the death of the Taliban leader in neighboring Pakistan

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) BERLIN, Germany - August 9, 2009: Germany's Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung has rejected calls by the new NATO Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen for a greater German engagement in Afghanistan. German Kommando Spezial Kraefte soldiers with Mercedes Ground Mobility Vehicles in Afghanistan. In an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Jung said that there was no reason to commit more troops or money, adding that Germany already has 4,500 soldiers deployed in the region with another 300 who are responsible for the upkeep of AWACS planes. The Airborne Warning and Control Systems crafts are versatile spy planes with advanced radar capabilities used to monitor military air traffic. According to Jung, the German government has invested 200 million euros ($286 million) each year in the region since 2002, bringing the total so far to 1.2 billion euros. The defense minister added that it isn't just about the military aspect anymore and that reconstruction of civilian infrastructure was just as important. "In this area we've done a lot more than many of our European partners," he said. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made the call for more troops in Afghanistan on Friday. He justified the request by pointing out that the first success against insurgents in the south of the country only came after an increase in the number of troops. Pakistani Taliban chief suspected dead Meanwhile there is still uncertainty over the death of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, following a US drone strike in the northwest of the country. Government officials said they were awaiting full confirmation. There have been reports that the strike also killed Mehsud's wife and several guards in the tribal district of South Waziristan. Despite his allegiance to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mehsud was mainly focused on attacking government and civilian targets inside Pakistan, sending only a few fighters from his militia - believed to be up to 20,000 strong - and several squads of suicide bombers to Afghanistan. That might have been the reason that dozens of strikes by CIA operated pilotless aircraft spared him until recently, when Washington realized that his terrorist acts could destabilize Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against terrorism. In March, the US State Department announced a $5 million bounty on his head. American officials and analysts said it may be too early to tell if the strike that apparently killed Mehsud will prompt Pakistan to sustain its active campaign against Taliban and other militant leaders in the lawless region bordering Afghanistan.

DTN News: Mexican Military Uncovers Vast Drug Compound

DTN News: Mexican Military Uncovers Vast Drug Compound *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MEXICO CITY - August 9, 2009: Mexican soldiers have taken over a vast compound in central Mexico dedicated to the production, warehousing and distribution of illegal drugs, the military said in a statement. A Mexican Navy soldier stands guard as seven tons of seized cocaine are incinerated August 4 at the naval base in Huatulco, Mexico. Mexican soldiers have taken over a vast compound in central Mexico dedicated to the production, warehousing and distribution of illegal drugs, the military said in a statement Friday August 7, 2009. Soldiers found 22 buildings on the 240-hectare (593-acre) property in Durango state that include laboratories for the production of crystal methamphetamine, the military said Friday. The complex includes dormitories, kitchens, rest homes, storage warehouses and laboratories. It also has "luxury quarters" for the compound manager, the statement read. At the site the soldiers found "several thousand" kilos of packed marijuana, as well as chemicals "that correspond to the characteristics of the synthetic drug known as 'Crystal,'" the statement read. Also found were 18 vehicles, including a front loader. The Mexican government is at war with the country's powerful drug cartels, and has deployed some 36,000 soldiers across the country to battle the cartels since 2006. Some 9,600 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico since the start of 2008, despite the security clampdown.

DTN News: German Ship Released By Pirates Arrives In Kenya

DTN News: German Ship Released By Pirates Arrives In Kenya

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MOMBASA, Kenya - August 9, 2009: A German container ship held for four months by Somali pirates arrived in the Kenyan port of Mombasa late Friday after being ransomed, a port official said. Kenya police patrol the Indian Ocean waters as German container ship Hansa Stavanger arrives at the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, August 8, 2009. Hansa Stavanger, which was held by Somali pirates for four months, arrived at Kenya's Mombasa port on Saturday after a $2.7 million ransom was paid for the release of its 24 crew. "The German ship with 24 crew members is in Mombasa but has to be cleared to dock at the port, and that must be done tomorrow morning," he told AFP. Pirates released the Hansa Stavanger and its 24-strong crew on Monday after being paid 2.7 million dollars in ransom, according to Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Programme. The 20,000-tonne vessel was seized in April around 400 nautical miles from the Somali coast, between Kenya and the Seychelles. Some 200 sailors from at least 11 ships are still being held in the region. Somali pirates attacked more than 130 merchant ships last year, more than twice as many as in 2007, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Rough seas and international navy patrols have curbed pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean recently, but experts have warned the end of the monsoon season could see a fresh flurry of hijackings over the next few weeks.

DTN News: Police ~ Suspect Planned Attack On Indonesia Leader

DTN News: Police ~ Suspect Planned Attack On Indonesia Leader

*Source: DTN News / Int'l News (NSI News Source Info) BEJI, Indonesia - August 9, 2009: A leading Southeast Asian terrorist suspect reportedly killed Saturday in a gunbattle with police at a village hide-out was planning a suicide car bomb attack on Indonesia's president, the national police chief said. Indonesian police officers regroup following a raid on a house where suspected terrorists were holed up in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. Indonesian police hunting the terrorists behind last month's attacks on hotels in the capital raided one house and besieged another Saturday, killing two suspected militants, arresting five and seizing explosives and a car bomb, a senior officer said. Police said they could not confirm that the body recovered from the house in central Java was that of Noordin Mohammad Top until DNA tests are complete. Noordin is suspected of having masterminded Southeast Asia's worst terror attacks, some with al-Qaida backing. If verified, his death would be a major victory in Indonesia's fight against Islamist militants blamed for five major bombings that killed 250 people, including attacks on Bali island in 2002 and 2005. National police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri said Noordin and other militants had been plotting to bomb the home of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Police on Saturday also raided a house on the outskirts of Jakarta where they killed two suspected militants and seized bombs and a car rigged to carry them, the police chief said. The house is three miles (five kilometers) from the president's residence. He said the decision to attack Yudhoyono was made at an April 30 meeting led personally by Noordin because of the government's decision to execute three convicted Bali bombers. Yudhoyono told reporters he had been briefed about an ongoing operation "to uphold law and to eradicate terrorism," but made no mention of Noordin. "I extend my highest gratitude and respect to the police for their brilliant achievement in this operation," he said. Noordin is also suspected of planning last month's suicide bombings at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta that killed seven people and ended a four-year pause in terror strikes in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. Noordin eluded capture for about seven years despite a massive crackdown by Indonesian authorities that netted more than 200 suspected militants. A Malaysian citizen, Noordin claimed in a video in 2005 to be al-Qaida's representative in Southeast Asia and to be carrying out attacks on Western civilians to avenge Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq. Officers surrounded the central Java house late Friday after making arrests in a nearby town. At one point, they sent remote-controlled robots into the isolated building to search for bombs. Indonesian police have been met with booby traps and suicide bombers in at least one other previous raid on a terrorist hide-out. Local TV stations reported that Noordin was killed in the 16-hour siege. The remains of a man thought to be Noordin were flown from the location to Jakarta for an autopsy. "If Noordin M. Top was captured or killed, this would be extremely good news and a huge step forward for Indonesia's struggle against terrorism," said Jim Della-Giacoma, Southeast Asia project director for the International Crisis Group think tank. "Whether or not the risk of further attacks declines depends on who else is arrested or killed with Noordin." Noordin is also believed to have orchestrated an earlier attack on the J.W. Marriott Hotel in 2003 and a massive suicide truck bombing outside the Australian Embassy in 2004 which together killed dozens and wounded hundreds. Those early attacks were blamed on the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah and funded by al-Qaida, but Noordin later broke away to form a more violent offshoot that supported targeting civilians. His foreign connections have since became uncertain. Java, home to more than half of Indonesia's 235 million people, has long been the focus in the hunt for Noordin and his associates. In November 2005, Azahari bin Husin, a top Jemaah Islamiyah bomb maker, was fatally shot by counterterrorism forces in east Java. Sariyah Jabir, another explosives expert, was killed in April 2006 during a raid on a militant hide-out in central Java.

DTN News: Three New Bank Failures Bring To 72 Number Of Collapsed US banks

DTN News: Three New Bank Failures Bring To 72 Number Of Collapsed US banks

*Source: DTN News / AFP (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 9, 2009: US authorities have closed three more US regional and local banks, bringing the total of failed US banking institutions to 72 this year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation announced. The banks include First State Bank of Sarasota, Florida, which had total assets of 463 million dollars and total deposits of approximately 387 million.

Stearns Bank, N.A. agreed to purchase approximately 451 million dollars of these assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition, the agency said Friday. Also shut down was the Community National Bank of Sarasota County, Venice, Florida, which had total assets of 97 million dollars and total deposits of approximately 93 million. In Oregon, authorities closed the Community First Bank of Prineville, which had total assets of 209 million dollars and total deposits of approximately 182 million.

DTN News: India Buys 6-12 C-130J-30 Hercules For Special Forces

DTN News: India Buys 6-12 C-130J-30 Hercules For Special Forces *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - August 9, 2009: India Defence quoted Air Chief S.P. Tyagi saying that “the IAF is planning to buy C-130J planes” for its special forces and Border Security Forces.U.S Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules is seen during its exhibition flight at the 48th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget airport , north of Paris. Wednesday June 17, 2009. With Airbus' new A400M airlifter bogged down in delivery delays, Lockheed-Martin and Boeing are hoping their proven C-130J and C-17 models will lure European air force buyers in urgent need of a new transport. * Reports indicate that the IAF is particularly attracted to the C-130J’s ability to land and take off even in improvised or short airfields, and without lights. Those characteristics have served the Hercules well in other anti-terrorism scenarios like Operation Yonatan in Entebbe, and are now more routine maneuvers thanks to the C-130J Hercules’ modern avionics and increased engine power. DID has also noted the ‘J’ model’s good performance in “hot and high” conditions, which can reduce the useful load of older Hercules or similar transport aircraft by 50-60%. The new planes will be bracketed by India’s larger Ilyushin IL-76 jet transports on the high end, and on the lower end by twin-engine Antonov AN-32 turboprops. India’s interest in the Hercules is quite specific to the Special Forces at the moment; but the plane’s capacity for additional specialty operations like aerial refueling both enhances those operations, and gives the IAF a number of additional employment options. The AN-32s are currently undergoing mid-life refurbishment, and a joint project with Russia’s Irkut looks set to develop a Hercules competitor in time for the AN-32’s replacement cycle. Nevertheless, this deal is still a major inroad into the Indian market for Lockheed Martin – one that could develop further on a number of fronts. The contract is proceeding, and recently added advanced surveillance systems for the aircraft.

DTN News: Royal Thai Forces To Acquire Three Black Hawk Helicopters

DTN News: Royal Thai Forces To Acquire Three Black Hawk Helicopters *Source: DTN News / Defense Security Cooperation Agency

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 9, 2009: On August 6, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the Government of Thailand of three Black Hawk helicopters and associated equipment and logistic support for an estimated cost of $150 million. The Black Hawk is the primary division-level transport helicopter, providing dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability compared to the UH-1 Series "Huey" it replaces. The UH-60A, with a crew of three, can lift an entire 11-man fully-equipped infantry squad in most weather conditions. It can be configured to carry four litters, by removing eight troop seats, in the MedEval role. Both the pilot and co-pilot are provided with armor-protective seats. Protective armor on the Black Hawk can withstand hits from 23mm shells. The Black Hawk has a cargo hook for external lift missions. The Black Hawk has provisions for door mounting of two M60D 7.62mm machine guns on the M144 armament subsystem, and can disperse chaff and infrared jamming flares using the M130 general purpose dispenser. The Black Hawk has a composite titanium and fiberglass four-bladed main rotor, is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-700 1622 shp turboshaft engines, and has a speed of 163 mph (142 knots). The Government of Thailand has requested a possible sale of three UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters with six T-700-GE-701D engines with C controls, AN/APX 100 (V) Identification Friend or Foe Mark XII Transponder Set or suitable substitute/commercial equivalent, warranty, internal hoist kits, spare and repair parts, tools and support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistic support. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally.

Thailand needs these helicopters to fulfill its strategic commitments for search and rescue and self-defense within the region without being dependent upon assistance from other countries. This proposed sale will upgrade its air mobility capability and provide for the defense of vital installations and close air support for ground forces. Thailand, which already has UH-60s in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of one contractor representative to Thailand for two years. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law. It does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

DTN News: U.S. Navy ~ Nuclear Cruiser Could Be Cheaper Than Non-Nukes

DTN News: U.S. Navy ~ Nuclear Cruiser Could Be Cheaper Than Non-Nukes *Source: DTN News / Defense News By Christopher P. Cavas

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 9, 2009: A U.S. Navy draft study has concluded that operating a nuclear-powered cruiser could be cheaper than operating a non-nuclear ship, but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is disputing that assessment. The U.S. Navy is mulling a new cruiser propelled by nuclear power, as was the USS South Carolina. (U.S. Navy / PH1 Gregory Pinkley) In an Aug. 7 letter sent to Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Mel Martinez, R-Fla., GAO analyst Paul Francis said a yet-to-be-approved Navy draft cost analysis showed that nuclear cruisers would be cheaper if oil-price patterns of the past 35 years continue to hold. But Francis wrote that the Navy didn't include several factors in its calculations - factors that would change the results to show that non-nuclear ships would be cheaper. They include "present value analysis," a way to calculate the future value of money; alternative scenarios for the future price of oil; and an examination of how a less efficient conventional propulsion system would affect cost estimates. By including those factors in its calculations and coming up with a different result, Francis wrote, his analysis "demonstrates the sensitivity of the cost estimates to different assumptions, underscoring the need for more rigorous analysis before reaching conclusions." Francis wrote that although the Navy disagreed with several of GAO's underlying analyses, it agreed with the need to include the new factors in its calculations. The Navy is considering nuclear power for the new CGX cruiser, which it could buy in 2017. Congress has directed that the ships be nuclear-propelled, but a 2007 Navy analysis reported a nuclear cruiser would cost $600 million to $800 million more than a non-nuke. The Navy has not commissioned a nuclear-powered warship other than an aircraft carrier or submarine since 1980, and all its nuclear cruisers were taken out of service in the 1990s. The GAO letter also provided rare confirmation of some of the broad details of the never-released Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) report for the CGX cruiser. The report, begun in 2005, was to have been completed in late 2007, but has been withheld for a variety of reasons as the Navy reviewed its plans for the ship. Francis reports that the Navy identified six ship design concepts in the CGX AoA: two based on modified DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers; one on a modified DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer; one new conventionally powered cruiser; and one nuclear-powered cruiser. The sixth concept wasn't identified in the letter. The designs vary in capability, Francis wrote, including the sensitivity of the primary radar, the number of missile cells, and the propulsion system. The power of the new radar, to be developed from a new Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), is a key factor in the new ship's ability to meet its mission requirements. Final power needs for the new radar, which is in the earliest stages of development, are as yet unknown, but numerous Navy sources report that the power needs will best be met by providing the cruiser with a nuclear power plant.

DTN News: U.K. May Reconsider STOVL JSF For Conventional Ship Variant

DTN News: U.K. May Reconsider STOVL JSF For Conventional Ship Variant

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 9, 2009: Media reports late last week that Britain may ditch the short-takeoff and vertical-landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter in favor of the conventional carrier variant were not entirely dismissed by a Ministry of Defence statement, which appeared to leave the door ajar for a possible change of platform for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. The F-35C carrier variant will have a larger, folding wing and larger control surfaces for improved low-speed control, and stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier landings. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed, increased range and payload, with twice the range on internal fuel compared with the F/A-18C Hornet, achieving much the same goal as the heavier F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. "To maximize the flexibility that the carriers will offer over their service life, they are being built to an adaptable design that can operate both STOVL and CV type aircraft.

The QE Class are designed around the operation of the STOVL Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, and this remains our preferred solution to meet the UK's Carrier Strike requirement along with the Queen Elizabeth Class of carriers and the Maritime Airborne Surveillance Capability," the statement said. Britain has already ordered three STOVL F-35s for operational evaluation, but MoD insiders say there remains a school of thought among some in the ministry to look again at the CV aircraft.

DTN News: Royal Netherlands Air Force Upgrading 29 (28) Boeing AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters

DTN News: Royal Netherlands Air Force Upgrading 29 (28) Boeing AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters *Source: DTN News / Defense Security Cooperation Agency (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 9, 2009: On August 6, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the Government of The Netherlands of Apache helicopter modification kits and associated equipment, training, and logistical support for an estimated cost of $181 million. The AH-64D Longbow Apache is a remanufactured and upgraded version of the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter. The primary modifications to the Apache are the addition of a millimeter-wave Fire Control Radar (FCR) target acquisition system, the fire-and-forget Longbow Hellfire air-to-ground missile, updated T700-GE-701C engines, and a fully-integrated cockpit. In addition, the aircraft receives improved survivability, communications, and navigation capabilities. Most existing capabilities of the AH-64A Apache are retained. Transportability requirements were initially identified in the ORD and further defined in the AH-64D System Specification. Both configurations of the AH-64D, including any removed items and appropriate PGSE, shall be capable of being transported aboard C-141B, C-5A, or C-17 aircraft. The aircraft shall also be capable of being transported and hangar stored below decks in the landing platform helicopter (LPH) type carrier, Fast SeaLift ships, Roll-on/Roll-off, LASH, SEABEE ships, and Military Sealift Command (MSC) dry cargo ships. The Government of The Netherlands has requested a possible sale of modification kits to upgrade its 29 AH-64D APACHE Block I Helicopters to Block II configuration, support equipment, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, engineering change proposals, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the U.S. by improving the military capabilities of The Netherlands and enhancing standardization and interoperability with U.S. forces. The Netherlands is a NATO ally and an active U.S. partner in Overseas Contingency Operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Netherlands needs these upgrades to enhance its AH-64 fleet capabilities. Having the same aircraft configuration as the U.S. would greatly contribute to its military capability, making it a more capable and sustainable coalition force to support Overseas Contingency Operations. The Netherlands has the ability to use and maintain these helicopters as evidenced by their operating previous AH-64 configurations. The Netherlands, which already has the AH-64 APACHE in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing and utilizing these enhanced helicopters into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractor will be Boeing Corporation of Mesa, Arizona. There are offset agreements proposed in connection with this sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require four contractor representatives in The Netherlands to conducting training for a period of two weeks. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law. It does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

DTN News: President Dmitry Medvedev Promises South Ossetia More Aid, Including Military

DTN News: President Dmitry Medvedev Promises South Ossetia More Aid, Including Military

*Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti (NSI News Source Info) VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia - August 9, 2009: On August 8, the anniversary of the start of the Russia-Georgia war President Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow would continue to provide South Ossetia with social and economic aid, as well as military assistance. "Russia will assist you in everything from the economic and social point of view. We of course will even provide aid for military issues, because without military assistance there will be more problems," Medvedev said at a meeting with South Ossetians. Some 162 civilians and 67 Russian service personnel, including peacekeepers, were killed when Georgia attacked the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia last August. Russia reacted swiftly expelling Georgian troops from the region and subsequently recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another former Georgian republic. Talking about his recent visit to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, Medvedev said "There are signs of new life - new homes, schools. Of course, a year won't solve everything, but the most important thing is there is a future." Russia has allocated some 10 billion rubles ($321 million) to South Ossetia for projects to rebuild infrastructure destroyed during the August war. Medvedev also said that Russia's operation to force Georgia to peace did not complicate foreign relations. "In the end [the operation] did not complicate our relations with other countries... for one simple reason whatever anyone says, everyone, in actual fact, is fully aware that the truth was on our side," he announced. "Russia was in the right from the legal and moral standpoint," Medvedev said during an award ceremony for veterans from the South Ossetian conflict in the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz.