Monday, May 31, 2010

DTN News: $9 Billion Pricetag Likely For Canada's Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft

DTN News: $9 Billion Pricetag Likely For Canada's Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft
Source: By David Pugliese
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 1, 2010: Replacing Canada's CF-18s with a new generation of fighter aircraft will cost taxpayers around $9 billion, one of the most expensive military equipment purchases ever, the Ottawa Citizen has learned. The Conservative government confirmed in 2008 its plans to purchase 65 fighter aircraft and is expected to approve the project some time this year, air force officials say. The Defence Department would not provide a cost estimate, claiming that to make the figure public would undercut the procurement process for what is being called the next generation fighter. "To date, no decision has been made by the government of Canada on the choice of a next-generation fighter aircraft or on the procurement approach," added DND spokeswoman Jocelyn Sweet. But in April, Col. Randy Meiklejohn, of the Directorate of Aerospace Requirements, told a gathering of defence-industry representatives in Ottawa that the cost of the program would be about $9 billion. The air force, he pointed out, plans to have the new aircraft in service starting in 2017. The figure he used would include not only the 65 aircraft but also spare parts and long-term support. A number of different fighter aircraft could be considered as a replacement for the CF-18s, but the military has been partial to the U.S.-built Joint Strike Fighter. The Defence Department's claim that it cannot release any figures associated with a new aircraft purchase until the project is approved by government appears to contradict its previous position. DND documents obtained through the Access to Information law previously estimated the full cost to replace at least 80 CF-18 fighter aircraft would be $10.5 billion. Steven Staples, president of the Ottawa-based Rideau Institute, said DND didn't want to provide the $9-billion figure because it's worried about a backlash from taxpayers. "Their plan is to keep this in the backrooms and try to get this deal signed without anyone noticing," said Staples, who has spoken out against what he says are high levels of military spending. "The government wants to spend $9 billion on a stealth fighter when this country has a $50 billion deficit. They should try spending a little more on health care instead." Staples noted that the cost of the project is creeping up without explanation — at one point the government was going to spend $10.5 billion on 80 fighters; now it is $9 billion for 65. "Who knows what this will end up costing Canadians?" he said. NDP defence critic Jack Harris, who raised the issue of the next-generation fighters in the House of Commons Thursday, said it is not clear at this point why Canada needs to spend billions on a new fighter jets. He pointed out that in March, the Canadian Forces received the last of its newly upgraded CF-18 fighters. That project cost $2.6 billion. An air force study produced last year also noted the need for manned fighter aircraft will decrease starting after 2019 as unmanned aerial vehicles — or drones — and other advanced technologies became more common. But there are those in the defence community who say the new jets are needed. The Air Force Association of Canada has pointed out that the jets are necessary to support military forces overseas and to protect Canadian sovereignty. Piloted aircraft can't be fully replaced by drones, the association argues. Meanwhile, in the Commons Thursday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said a new generation fighter would not only contribute to making sure the military has the right equipment, it would also provide opportunities for domestic aerospace companies. "There is eye-watering technology now available, and a fifth-generation fighter aircraft will be brought to Canada after the year 2017," he said. But MacKay also appeared to contradict DND's claim that no decision had been made on how the procurement program for the new fighter aircraft will be handled when he said there would be an open competition. MacKay went on to suggest the decision would be between the Joint Strike Fighter and another aircraft he didn't name. Alan Williams, a former assistant deputy minister at DND, said he found it strange the department was not being more forthcoming about the new fighter program. "Whenever you're going to be spending billions of dollars, you need to involve industry, involve the public and involve Parliament," said Williams. "It makes no sense to hide this." He noted that when he was with the Defence Department, it was common for equipment project leaders to talk about their programs as well as give details on the rough estimates of project costs — now that isn't being done. Williams said since he left DND in 2005, there has been a significant increase in secrecy around military-procurement programs.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Russia May Export 232 New Fighter Jets In Next 3 Years - Report

DTN News: Russia May Export 232 New Fighter Jets In Next 3 Years - Report
Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - June 1, 2010: Russia may export 232 new multi-role fighters worth over $10 billion in 2010-2013, a Russian think tank reported on Monday. "A total of 821 fighter jets worth $53.3 billion will be sold on world markets in 2010-2013. The Russian share during this period will be 19% in revenues and 28.2% in quantity," Russian-based World Arms Markets Analysis Center said in a report. The think tank estimates the exports of 175 Su-family fighter jets worth $7.7 bln and 57 MiG-family aircraft worth $2.4 bln under existing contracts, licensed production contracts or deals that are close to be concluded. Russian arms sales were worth over $8.5 billion last year, including $7.4 billion via state arms exporter Rosobornexport, whose sales increased 10% y-o-y. Sales of combat aircraft constitute the bulk of exported weaponry. Russia expects to boost arms sales by 12% in 2010 and continue the growth trend in the future. Russia's main arms customers are India, Algeria, China, Venezuela, Malaysia and Syria. Vietnam also emerged as a key importer after it signed a deal to buy submarines, aircraft and other military hardware from Russia late last year. Related News *Russia wins large contract to modernize Indian Su-30MKI fighters - media *India to arm 40 Russian-built fighters with BrahMos missiles *Russia completes delivery of Su-30 fighters to Algeria *Rosoboronexport earned $3.5 bln since start of 2010 - CEO

DTN News: $580-Million Tag For IAF's C-17 Aircraft Can Be Cut ~ Boeing

DTN News: $580-Million Tag For IAF's C-17 Aircraft Can Be Cut ~ Boeing
Source: DTN News / Business Standard By Ajai Shukla / New Delhi May 31, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - June 1, 2010: Operation Cactus in 1988 boosted India’s regional stature when Russian-built IL-76 aircraft airlifted hundreds of paratroopers 2,000 km, non-stop, to the Maldives within 12 hours of an SOS from that country’s coup-embattled president. With India’s fleet of 24 IL-76 aircraft now obsolescent, planners have decided to buy Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III, widely acknowledged as the world’s most versatile military transport aircraft. The downside: At over half a billion dollars a piece, the Globemaster is also the world’s most expensive air-lifter. With criticism rising of India’s $5.8 billion (Rs 27,000 crore) purchase of 10 Globemasters, Boeing now says India could actually pay far less. Responding to a question from Business Standard about the Globemaster’s high cost, Vivek Lall, the India chief of Boeing Defence Space & Security (BDS), clarified by email that the $5.8 billion, “is on the higher side of what the actual cost could be…. India may not need all the services and items that the US Air Force is offering them. The final cost will be determined by the actual requirements of the Indian Air Force and after negotiations are held.” In accordance with US law, the US Congress (legislature) was notified on April 23 that India wanted to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft directly from the US government (under the Foreign Military Sale, or FMS, programme) for an estimated $580 million per aircraft. In contrast, the IL-76 can be bought for less than one-tenth that price: about $50 million per aircraft. The $580-million tag could become even bigger if India buys secure communications (COMSEC) and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation aids, by signing two safeguard agreements that US law demands but New Delhi has so far rejected: The Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation. The recent Congress notification indicates that India’s C-17s will not be fitted with COMSEC equipment; GPS security devices; and certain “Government Furnished equipment”. AlternativesLall indicated that Boeing would provide alternatives to the COMSEC and GPS, but said, “We do not discuss detailed aircraft components, as the deal is a foreign military sale and is between the two governments.” Business Standard has examined requests, placed to the US Congress over several years, for C-17 sales to NATO, Canada, Australia, the UAE and Oman to determine how Boeing’s ex-factory price of $200-220 million for each unfitted C-17 Globemaster escalates to $580 million for each of the fully-kitted military aircraft that India is buying. The data indicate that the basic military aircraft, built at Boeing’s Long Beach facility outside Los Angeles, California, costs about $350 million. An additional $150 million per aircraft goes on spare engines, maintenance spares, electronic protection systems, and logistics. Finally, Boeing’s global maintenance network for the C-17 — called the Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership or GSP charges $75 million every three years — i.e. $25 million per year — to ensure each aircraft covered in this plan remains flying, functional and available almost 90 per cent of the time. Boeing has confirmed that India was joining the GSP and that the notification to the US Congress included that cost. Largest C-17 userOnce India’s planned procurement of 10 Globemaster IIIs is completed, it will be the largest C-17 user outside the US, which operates 198 Globemasters. Other users are the UK (six aircraft); Australia and Canada (four aircraft); Qatar (two aircraft) and NATO (three aircraft). Operating from short, mud-paved landing strips such as those on India’s borders, the C-17 can lift 75-tonne payloads to anywhere in China, Central Asia, the Gulf countries and much of Southeast Asia, without refuelling. Capable of carrying 188 passengers, or 102 fully-kitted paratroopers, Globemasters have brought out as many as 300 refugees at a time during humanitarian missions from disaster zones like Haiti. The C-17 can also transport a battle-loaded Arjun or T-90 tank, or a Chinook helicopter with its rotors dismantled.

DTN News: Syria, Lebanon Say Flotilla Attack Can Lead To War

DTN News: Syria, Lebanon Say Flotilla Attack Can Lead To War
Source: DTN News By Roger Smith complied from Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 1, 2010: Syrian President Bashar al—Assad and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Monday that Israel’s attack on a flotilla of aid bound for Gaza threatens to ignite a war in the region. Syria and Lebanon “condemn the heinous crime committed by Israel through the brutal attacks on unarmed civilians on board the Freedom Flotilla,” both leaders said in a joint statement, after a pre— planned meeting in Damascus. They have warned that Israel’s “violations of basic humanitarian norms and international laws threatens to plunge the Middle East into a war which will not only affect the region.” Israel’s navy on Monday stormed the flotilla, made up of six boats carrying some 700 pro—Palestinian activists and 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip. At least 10 died as a result of the raid. Meanwhile, hundreds of Lebanese, Palestinians and followers of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, demonstrated in front the UN headquarters in Beirut. “This is a crime against humanity,” read one banner carried by the protestors, who chanted anti—Israel slogans. They handed a letter of condemnation of the event to UN spokesman in Beirut, Bahaa al Kossi. A ‘crazy move’ Earlier, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla was “dangerous” and a “crazy move,” which would inflame the region. The premier called on the international community to take action and said Lebanon was in contact with a number of countries to coordinate responses to the incident. Reports in Beirut said the head of the Lebanese mission to the “Freedom Flotilla” Hani Suleiman, had been wounded in the attack. Turkish and pro-Palestinian demonstrators shout on a protest march to the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London May 31, 2010. Israel's storming of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla set off a diplomatic furore, drawing criticism from friends and foes alike and straining ties with regional ally Turkey, which called off planned joint military exercises. Israelis wearing snorkels attend a demonstration in support of Israel following a deadly raid by Israel's navy on an aid flotilla bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip, outside the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, May 31, 2010. The killing of at least nine pro-Palestinian activists in the raid Monday battered Israel's already shaky international standing and sharply raised Mideast tensions at a time the U.S. is making a new push for regional peace. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah described the attack as a “premeditated crime against humanity by the Israelis.” At their meeting, al—Assad and Hariri also “demanded the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the Security Council and the international community to act immediately” and put an end to Israel’s actions. The two officials also discussed the outcome of Mr. Hariri’s recent trip to Washington and his talks with US President Barack Obama as well as his meeting with UN Secretary—General Ban Ki—moon in New York last week. A source in the Lebanese government had said earlier that discussing threats by some Israeli cabinet ministers over comments by Mr. Hariri that Arabs have the right to use all means to remain on lands occupied by Israel was on their agenda. On Saturday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said the Lebanese government and its prime minister will pay a heavy price in case of a new war with Hezbollah. According to a source close to the premier, Mr. Hariri’s trip to Damascus comes as part of an Arab tour that is to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.
Israel reconstruction: How the Gaza aid flotilla attack unfoldedMinutes before violent chaos engulfed the Gaza aid flotilla, a British activist frantically tapped away in the darkness, broadcasting an SOS from his laptop. The Israeli Defence Force released a video with captions showing how their commandos were attacked as they boarded the ship. Photo: BBC/IDF Kevin Ovenden, aboard the lead ship, the Turkish Mavi Marmara, sensed a tense game of cat-and-mouse in the Mediterranean sea was about to come to a dramatic climax.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Deaths As Israeli Forces Storm Gaza Aid Ship

DTN News: Deaths As Israeli Forces Storm Gaza Aid Ship
Source: DTN News By Roger Smith complied from BBC News, AP + Press TV
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 31, 2010: More than 10 people have been killed after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army says. Armed forces boarded the largest vessel overnight, clashing with some of the 500 people on board. It happened about 40 miles (64 km) out to sea, in international waters. Israel says its soldiers were shot at and attacked with bars and knives; the activists say Israeli troops came on board shooting. The European Union has called for an inquiry to establish what happened. 'Guns and knives' The six-ship flotilla, carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid, left the coast of Cyprus on Sunday and had been due to arrive in Gaza on Monday. Israel says its soldiers boarded the lead ship in the early hours but were attacked with knives, bars and gunfire. We were not going to pose any violent resistanceAudrey Bomse Free Gaza Movement "Unfortunately this group were dead-set on confrontation," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC. "Live fire was used against our forces. They initiated the violence, that's 100% clear," he said. Organisers of the flotilla said at least 30 people were wounded in the incident. Israel says 10 of its soldiers were injured, one seriously. A leader of Israel's Islamic Movement, Raed Salah, who was on board, was among those hurt. Audrey Bomse, a spokesperson for the Free Gaza Movement, which is behind the convoy, told the BBC Israel's actions were disproportionate. "We were not going to pose any violent resistance. The only resistance that there might be would be passive resistance such as physically blocking the steering room, or blocking the engine room downstairs, so that they couldn't get taken over. But that was just symbolic resistance." She said there was "absolutely no evidence of live fire". Israel says it will tow the boats to the port of Ashdod and deport the passengers from there. It says it will deliver the ships' aid to Gaza. Condemnation Turkish TV pictures taken on board the Turkish ship leading the flotilla appeared to show Israeli soldiers fighting to control passengers. The footage showed a number of people, apparently injured, lying on the ground. A woman was seen holding a blood-stained stretcher. Al-Jazeera TV reported from the same ship that Israeli navy forces had opened fire and boarded the vessel, wounding the captain. The Al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, saying: "Everybody shut up!" Israel's deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said his country "regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome". He accused the convoy of a "premeditated and outrageous provocation", describing the flotilla as an "armada of hate". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel's actions, saying it had committed a massacre. Most of the people on board the boats were Turkish. Turkey said it "strongly condemn[ed] these inhumane practices of Israel", AFP news agency reported. In Turkey, dozens of protesters tried to storm the Israeli consulate in the Istanbul, while Israeli ambassadors have been summoned to the Turkish, Greek and Spanish foreign ministries to explain what happened. Blockade Israel had repeatedly said it would stop the boats, calling the campaign a "provocation intended to delegitimise Israel". Israel and Egypt tightened a blockade of Gaza after the Islamist movement Hamas took power there in 2007. Israel says it allows about 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza every week. But the United Nations says this is less than a quarter of what is needed. The incident comes a day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington after one of the most strained periods in US-Israeli relations in year.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
Related News: