DTN News: Iran Informs IAEA Of Nuclear Fuel Exchange Agreement With Turkey, Brazil

DTN News: Iran Informs IAEA Of Nuclear Fuel Exchange Agreement With Turkey, Brazil

Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) VIENNA, Austria - May 25, 2010: Iran officially informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday that Iran has signed an agreement of enriching uranium abroad, with Turkey and Brazil on last Monday. Thereafter, a short meeting was held between representatives of Iran, Turkey and Brazil, as well as the IAEA chief Yukiya Amano. A letter from the Iranian government has been delivered to the IAEA. With the coordination of Brazil and Turkey, Iran agreed on last Monday to deposit 1,200 kg of its 3.5 percent (low-enriched) uranium (LEU) in Turkey, 120 kg of 20 percent uranium for the need of the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) will return to Iran within one year. However, Iran announced later that uranium enrichment will be continued within the country. Experts pointed that some details of the agreement are deserving attention, such as the incapability of Turkey to convert low-enriched uranium to high-enriched uranium, and the risk of processing uranium somewhere, once the low-enriched uranium is transported to Turkey. The intention of signing this agreement met with general discredits. Diplomatic sources said the uranium-exchange agreement was only a maneuver to buy time. Iran was intended to run away from the coming UN sanctions, by taking advantage of Turkey and Brazil being non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Diplomatic sources also believed that the U.S.-led western countries will not give up sanctions against Iran. As a matter of fact, the U.S. recently continues to urge the international community to execute sanctions against Iran. Due to Iran's refusal of stopping uranium activities, the United Nations Security council has made the resolution against Iran for three times. As reported, new resolution of sanctions against Iran will be made at the beginning of next month. The U.S. representative has made clear that the nuclear fuel exchange agreement was with the purpose of buying time. The western countries all along believed that Iran planned to have its own nuclear weapons, therefore strongly urged stopping any uranium enrichment works. Iran insists its rights of peaceful use of nuclear energy and control of nuclear technology, showing strong antagonist against the western countries. The mutually long-term hostility and suspicion is the major reason why the Iran issue hasn't been solved.

DTN News: U.S. Deploys Patriot Missiles In Poland

DTN News: U.S. Deploys Patriot Missiles In Poland

Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) WARSAW, Poland - May 25, 2010: A battery of U.S. Patriot missiles on Monday arrived in Morag, north-western Poland together with more than 100 soldiers that will to be stationed there, press officer of the American battery Janusz Szczypior told the PAP news agency. The U.S. embassy reported that equipment arrived in 37 carriages. American soldiers of the 5th U.S. battalion, part of the 7th air defense infantry regiment will train Polish soldiers to operate the advanced guided missiles system in a base located just 60 kilometers from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Poland has repeatedly insisted that the base close to Russian Kaliningrad was not chosen for political or strategic reasons, but simply because it already had good infrastructure. The arrival of first Patriot battery follows the ratification by Poland, at the start of the year, of an agreement on the status of United States Armed Forces in Poland (the so called SOFA -- Supplemental Status of Forces Agreement). In line with the rotation plan, American soldiers will be exchanged on the quarterly basis. Training of Polish soldiers will last 30 days and will be attended by some 100-150 American soldiers. A base of Patriot battery is to be deployed first temporarily in Poland and later permanently. In future Poland will also host a base of SM-3 missiles, part of the ballistic defense system. The strengthening of short- and medium-range air defense was a condition set by Poland during negotiations on Poland's participation in the U.S. anti-missile defense program. In September 2009, the Obama administration proposed a new missile defense plan replacing an earlier strategy foreseeing the installation of a U.S. missile interception system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Moscow has expressed anger at having U.S. missiles so close to its territory. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said last month that Russia is concerned about the U.S. "anti-missile activity" in the Polish territory and the planned deployment of the Patriot anti-aircraft missiles there. "The U.S. anti-missile activity in Poland is unjustified and causes our concern," according to the spokesman.

DTN News: Russian Shipbuilders Say Ready To Construct Mistral Class Ships

DTN News: Russian Shipbuilders Say Ready To Construct Mistral Class Ships

Source: DTN News / Ria Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - May 25, 2010: Russian shipyards are ready to build Mistral class helicopter carriers whenever they receive orders from the military, industry officials said on Monday. Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said earlier on Monday that Russia had reached the final stage of pre-contract talks with France, Spain and the Netherlands on the purchase of four of the French warships. According to the minister, one vessel will be bought outright and the other three will be built under license with the participation of Russian shipbuilders. The full construction of the fourth vessel would take place in Russia. "We are ready if the Defense Ministry gives us an order to build these ships," said Dmitry Morochenko, a spokesman for the United Industrial Corporation, which owns several shipyards and tool-making plants in northern Russia, the heartland of the country's shipbuilding sector. The United Shipbuilding Corporation, which owns shipbuilding assets in Russia's Far East and northern Russia, said building such vessels would not be entirely new to Russian dockyards. "Russia has experience in the construction of similar ships during the Soviet era, for example the Ivan Rogov class military transport ships, so we do not see any problems in fulfilling this contract," spokesman Igor Ryabov said. Russia built three Ivan Rogov class amphibious transport ships during the Soviet era. One of them, the Mitrofan Moskalenko, is still in service with the Russian Navy but has been put on a Defense Ministry list of assets for sale. A Ivan Rogov class ship can carry a reinforced naval infantry battalion landing team with all its combat vehicles, plus 10 PT-76 light amphibious tanks. Its flight deck can accommodate four Ka-27 or Ka-29 naval helicopters. Related News Russia in final stage of talks to buy 4 Mistral class warships Russia to build port facilities for Mistral ships Talks on Mistral ship purchase still underway - Russian Defense Ministry U.S. urges more discussions of Russian-French Mistral deal

DTN News: Russia May Purchase Domestic Drones If Defense Requirements Satisfied

DTN News: Russia May Purchase Domestic Drones If Defense Requirements Satisfied

Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - May 25, 2010: Russia may purchase domestic drones after training operators for drones produced by Israel, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Monday. Russia has bought 15 Israeli spy drones since its domestic hardware has not met Russia's requirements on speed, altitude capacity, or accuracy. "Work is underway to train people to operate the Israeli spy drones," Serdyukov said adding that training is due to finish by the middle of summer 2010. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin earlier said Russia had spent about 5 billion rubles ($160.4 million) on drone development and tests that eventually failed. "If our defense industry is able to produce such drones, we are ready to buy them," Serdyukov said, adding that the drones could be easily assembled in Russia. Serdyukov said the defense ministry may also start the production of personnel armored cars similar to those presented by Italy's Iveco during bilateral talks in Italy last week. The minister earlier said the defense ministry will buy military hardware based on the need for ensuring personnel security. According to experts, Russia is lagging 20-30 years behind the West in many areas of technological progress and is attempting to close the gap by purchasing production licenses abroad. Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer said the development of Russia's defense industry in the next few years will be based solely on licensed production of foreign military equipment. "We are so far behind the West that it is cheaper to buy technology [abroad] than to invent our own," Felgenhauer said. Russia is holding talks on the licensed production of Italian Beretta handguns, Israeli spy drones and French Mistral helicopter carriers. Related News Russia, Israel plan joint venture to produce drones Russian police to buy two Israeli drones next year Russia buys 12 spy drones from Israel Russian Armed Forces to acquire new drones in 2010 - Popovkin

DTN News: Boeing Teams With SAIC On Ground Combat Vehicle Proposal

DTN News: Boeing Teams With SAIC On Ground Combat Vehicle Proposal

Source: DTN News / Boeing

(NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS, - May 25, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has teamed with Science Applications International Corporation [NYSE: SAI] on a proposal for the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program. SAIC will be the prime on the team, with Boeing, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall Defence as subcontractors. The team’s offering draws from the experience gained from the Manned Ground Vehicle and the Puma programs and will be built in the United States with a team of experienced American small and mid-tier supplier businesses. "SAIC has pulled together an outstanding team to answer the Army’s requirement for a modern infantry fighting vehicle," said Charles Toups, Network and Tactical Systems (N&TS) vice president and general manager. "We have a unique offering that brings forward mature technologies at the system and sub-system levels. Boeing brings technology and expertise from its background in weapons systems development and integration to the ground environment to give soldiers next-generation precision engagement, for both lethal and non-lethal weapons. Collectively, our team will give the U.S. Army a combat vehicle that is ready sooner and has an adaptable design that will evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of the American warfighter, throughout its projected 20-plus year lifecycle." A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide. Contact: Kathleen M. Cook

Network & Tactical Systems Communications

Office: 314-233-6818

Mobile: 314-705-2239

kathleen.m.cook@boeing.com

Matthew Billingsley

Network & Tactical Systems Communications

Office: 703-647-1444

Mobile: 703-203-9435

matthew.p.billingsley@boeing.com

DTN News: Lack Of Prosecution Poses Challenge For Foreign Navies That Catch Somali Pirate

DTN News: Lack Of Prosecution Poses Challenge For Foreign Navies That Catch Somali Pirate

*Analysis ~ Somali piracy exposes weakness in UN Law of the Sea. In the waters off Somalia's nearly 4,000-kilometer-long coast, warships from more than a dozen countries have formed what U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently described as "one of the largest anti-piracy flotillas in modern history." Ships from NATO, European Union member states, and others have been dispatched there in recent months to fight a sharp upsurge in the hijacking of vessels and crew for ransom. The United Nations says the 111 pirate attacks that took place last year in the sea corridor linking the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean represent an increase of nearly 200 percent over 2007. Operating from remote fishing communities in northeastern and central Somalia, pirates have earned tens - perhaps even hundreds - of millions of dollars in ransom. They have disrupted global trade and have caused untold damage to the world's economy. By DTN News Defense-Technology News.

Source: DTN News / By Craig WhitlockWashington Post Staff Writer Monday, May 24, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - May 25, 2010: For six weeks, two Navy warships have been cruising the Indian Ocean with some unwanted guests: 10 accused Somali pirates the U.S. government doesn't know what to do with.The United States and more than 20 allied countries have captured hundreds of pirates since launching joint operations in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden last year. But catching the pirates -- almost all from Somalia, a failed state on the Horn of Africa -- has been the easy part. Finding a place to hold them has proved far more complicated. Kenya, one of only two countries in the region that had been willing to take custody of suspected buccaneers and put them on trial, announced last month that it would stop taking new cases because they had become too much of a burden. On Wednesday, after meeting with European diplomats, Kenya's foreign minister said his government would resume accepting captured pirates. But U.S. officials said Thursday that they were still waiting to hear formally from Kenya and that the suspension remained in effect. With African countries reluctant to resolve the problem, the U.S., European and other foreign navies that capture pirates increasingly have been confronted with the choice of bringing them all the way home to face trial or simply letting them go -- a practice known as "catch and release." The Obama administration has argued that prosecution is necessary to deter Somali outlaws who have disrupted some of the world's busiest shipping lanes by hijacking vessels and demanding millions of dollars in ransom. On Tuesday, in the first U.S. piracy case in decades, a Somali teenager pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to involvement in last year's hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flagged container ship. Last month, the Navy handed over 11 more suspected pirates for prosecution in federal court in Norfolk. They were captured in two incidents last month after they launched attacks on what they thought -- in the dark of night -- were unarmed merchant vessels but turned out to be U.S. warships on patrol in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Reluctant hosts Under international law, any country may prosecute pirates, regardless of whether its citizens or companies were victimized. But the U.S. government has drawn the line at cases involving American interests. As a result, the Navy has been stuck holding 10 other Somalis it captured April 5 after rescuing a vessel under attack in the Arabian Sea. In that case, the McFaul, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, apprehended a band of pirates that had hijacked an Indian cargo ship and its nine crew members and was trying to board another Indian vessel. Shortly afterward, the Navy transferred the pirates to the Carney, another U.S. warship in the region, "whose mission could better support further transfer of the suspected pirates to another country for prosecution," said Lt. Matthew Allen, a spokesman for the Navy's 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain. The handover attempt fell through, however, prompting the Navy to transfer the suspects back to the McFaul, which is on a counter-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. The Navy did not identify the country that declined to take the Somalis. "My preference is that we don't hold the pirates. But when you have them, you have them," said Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of U.S. naval operations. "I'm kind of letting the diplomatic channels work it out." Meanwhile, the Navy says the accused pirates are detained "in a covered area on the exterior" of the McFaul, where they are fed the same food as the sailors. "The one thing that is for certain is that they gain weight while they're with us," Roughead said. A senior U.S. official said the Obama administration is hoping to clinch a deal in the next several days for another country to prosecute the accused pirates. The official said prosecuting the Somalis in the United States was not under consideration because the case did not involve U.S. victims or interests.

If no deal is reached, the Navy may have to let the prisoners go. "Catch and release is always the last resort, but on occasion, we have resorted to the last resort," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "You can't rule it out." Catch and release Many European countries, whose navies are contributing to the international flotilla patrolling the waters off Somalia, have been much quicker to employ the catch-and-release approach. The European Union's naval forces caught 275 pirates off the coast of Somalia in March and April but released 235 of them after confiscating their weapons, said Anders Kallin, a Swedish navy commander and spokesman for the E.U. forces. Ten were taken to Hamburg to face charges of attacking a German-owned container ship, despite some German officials' fears that the suspects might seek asylum. The island nation of Seychelles agreed to prosecute 11 others, while the remaining 19 were handed over to authorities in Puntland, a region in southern Somalia. In the same period, the U.S. Navy -- which focuses more on capturing terrorists -- caught 39 Somali pirates and released 18 of them. The increased foreign naval presence has reduced the number of hijackings in the Gulf of Aden, a vital shipping lane leading to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. But pirates have responded by hunting for prey elsewhere in the region. Overall, Somali pirates attempted 217 hijackings in 2009, almost double the number from the year before, according to the International Maritime Bureau, a London-based agency. As of March 31, suspected Somali pirates were holding 10 vessels for ransom, along with 178 crew members, the bureau reported. U.S. Navy commanders say that the region is too vast for them to patrol effectively and that it is incumbent on merchant ships to protect themselves. The only long-term solution, they say, is to restore law and order in Somalia. But the country has lacked a functional central government for two decades, and piracy represents one of the few growth spots in an otherwise shattered economy. "I don't think we can sustain the level of operation that we have down there forever," Adm. Mark P. Fitzgerald, commander of U.S. naval forces in Europe and Africa, told Pentagon reporters last month. "How do we deal with this? We've got to come to some kind of solution." Staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.

DTN News: India Joins Elite League Of Countries With LCH’s Successful Inaugural Test Run

DTN News: India Joins Elite League Of Countries With LCH’s Successful Inaugural Test Run

Source: DTN News / ANI By Shashank Shantanu

(NSI News Source Info) BENGALURU, India - May 24, 2010: With the successful first test flight of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) on Sunday here, India has joined the elite club of countries having the capability to produce advance fighter choppers. The LCH designed, developed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited made its first public appearance at the HAL Airport, marking India’s sturdy progress in development of combat helicopters, all by itself. As the LCH, escorted by two Dhruv choppers, which has also been developed by the HAL, soared into the sky and swiftly approached the sitting area, which was filled with people and dignitaries, a sense of ‘proud’ inadvertently soaked in amongst each and every people present there to witness the historic moment. The LCH and the two Dhruvs flew over the sitting area in an “India” formation one over another before the three disembarked into three different directions. The LCH, which has been developed on the same platform as that of the Dhruv, then came down sharply from amidst the clouds and hovered over a particular place before showcasing its low radius turning capability at a high speed. The LCH, due to its hingless rotor, can also be maneuvered backwards, which is an important feature considering its combative role. It can hit a target six kilometers away with utmost precision both the ground and in air. Talking to ANI, Chief Test pilot Unni Pillai, who put the LCH to some rigorous and extreme maneuver tasks today, said he has flow many helicopters and other aircrafts, but not something as good, and exciting as the LCH. “It is brilliant and far more better that what I have flown till date, and it is meant for our own requirements like operating at higher altitudes,” Pillai said. “I am happy that it (LCH) has taken this shape. Its handling is extremely well.I am quite happy,” he said. Talking about the USP’s of the LCH, Pillai said the maneuverability of the brand new combat chopper is particularly noticeable. “Most important feature of the LCH is its maneuverability. It is stable enough to provide the pilot enough time for weapon delivery i.e. firing at the enemy target. It is an ideal combination of the two,” he said. Responding to a question, Pillai that with the LCH, India has announced its presence in the field with was until now was dominated by the US, Russia and some European countries. HAL chairman Ashok Nayak also described the first test run of the LCH as a great achievement not only for the HAL but also for the whole nation. When asked about the thought behind the LCH, he said the need for an advanced combat helicopter was felt right after the 1999 Kargil War. “It (LCH) is a specific combat helicopter for the armed forces. They felt the need in Kargil War. They wanted a dedicated combat aircraft,” he said. Responding to a question about the time by which the LCH is likely to be ready for induction in the armed forces, Nayak said it would take at least two years. “It will take 500 flights, two years to get operational clearance, and all the weapon and ammunition system would be tested and after that it would be inducted in the airforce.We strongly believe it’ll be inducted in the India Army also. (ANI)