DTN News - SYRIA UNREST: Russia Halts Plans To Supply S-300 Missile System To Syria - Reports

DTN News - SYRIA UNREST: Russia Halts Plans To Supply S-300 Missile System To Syria - Reports
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources RT
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 29, 2012: Russia’s main weapons producer has allegedly suspended its contract with Syria to supply S-300 long-range missile systems. Russia’s ‘Vedomosti’ daily published the report, citing unnamed sources within the military-industrial complex.

The very fact of the contract’s existence was not known until it was revealed in an annual report made only last week and published online by the makers of the S-300 systems, Almaz-Antey.

The report states that the company’s largest contracts are with Algeria (which is paying $39 million for a long-range missile defense system), and Syria, which signed a contract for the same system for $105 million.

The report also says that deliveries on the Syrian contract are expected to be made between 2012 and 2013. But ‘Vedomosti’ claims two separate sources, who chose to remain anonymous, have said deliveries have been put on the back-burner “after a direct order from above.”

It’s unclear whether these reports are true, but many are already speculating on the potential reasons for such a step. Some have suggested that Moscow has decided to placate Washington and Tel Aviv, drawing parallels between this situation and the one back in 2010, when Russia cancelled its contract for the same missile system with Iran.

However, the circumstances in 2010 were rather different. If Russia had fulfilled its contractual obligations back then, it would have been violating an international embargo. But no such embargo currently affects contracts between Russia and Syria.

Others have suggested that Damascus may be strapped for cash, and simply cannot afford the S-300 complex. This claim is also open to speculation as military cooperation between the two states is basically founded on the fact that Russia forgave Syria its $10 billion debt in return for future arms contracts.

No officials have yet commented on the matter, so it will be some time before light is shed on the situation. But President Vladimir Putin had previously said the arms that Russia delivers cannot be used in civil conflicts, and Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated the supplies were merely defensive weapons sold in contracts signed long ago.

“We are sending no battleships to Syria. We have been saying publicly that we have been implementing contracts under which we have to supply arms to Syria. These armaments are entirely defensive and they mostly consist of air defense systems, which cannot be used against the population and can only be used to respond to outside aggression,” Lavrov told RT.

Russia's military trade with Syria

Attention has been focused on military ties between Russia and Syria for some time, ever since international media claimed Russia was supplying helicopters to Bashar al-Assad’s regime. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at first even lashed out at Russia, but later backtracked and was forced to admit that the shipment that had got the West’s blood boiling merely consisted of some old helicopters sent back to Russia for repairs.

Although the Russian Ministry of Defense does not disclose the total value of the arms supplied to Syria, outside estimates exist. The US Congress says Russia has outstanding contracts to supply arms for $3.5 billion, while the Swedish think-tank SIPRI puts the figure at between $5 and $6 billion.

Among the widely reported shipments are two K-300 Bastion coastal defense batteries, equipped with supersonic Yakhont missiles. Two anti-aircraft systems, BUK-M2 and PANTSYR-S1, have also been purchased by Syria, though it is unclear if the orders have been fulfilled.

A $550 million contract for 36 Yak-130 planes was signed between the countries earlier this year. While nominally a sophisticated training jet, it can also serve as a light combat aircraft. Russia has also promised to deliver 24 modernized Mig-29 destroyers. It is assumed that neither of these contracts has been fulfilled.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources RT
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: China Welcomes U.S. Intent To Waive Ban On C-130 Aircraft Export

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: China Welcomes U.S. Intent To Waive Ban On C-130 Aircraft Export

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Xinhua

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - January 14, 2011: China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Yao Jian said Friday that China welcomes the U.S. intent to waive the embargo on the export of C-130 planes to China for use in oil spill response operations.

Yao said China had taken note of U.S. President Barack Obama's proposal to end the restrictions on C-130 military transport aircraft sales to China in a letter to the U.S.Congress on Oct.8.

The waiver of this embargo reflects a positive sign sent by the U.S. to promote its exports to China, and China welcomes all measures that are conducive to promoting the bilateral economic cooperation and boosting the bilateral trade, said Yao.

The U.S. government's export control, which started 61 years ago, has lead to trade imbalances in the manufacturing sector between the two nations and an unstable trade environment.

China hopes that the U.S. will further relax controls over the exports of high-tech products and adopt "fair and non-discriminatory" policies to China in the process of export control reform, he said.

China also hopes the United States to expedite the export control reform announced on Aug. 31, in order to boost bilateral economic ties with China and to improve its trade balance, said Yao.

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China welcomes U.S. intent to waive ban on C-130 aircraft export 2010/10/15 BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Yao Jian said Friday that China welcomes the U.S. intent to waive the embargo on the export of C-130 planes to China for use in oil spill response operations. Yao said China had taken note of U.S. President Barack Obama's proposal to end the restrictions on C-130 military transport aircraft sales to China in a letter to the U.S.Congress on Oct.8. The waiver of this embargo reflects a positive sign sent by the U.S. to promote its exports to China, and China welcomes all measures that are conducive to promoting the bilateral economic cooperation and boosting the bilateral trade, said Yao. The U.S. government's export control, which started 61 years ago, has lead to trade imbalances in the manufacturing sector between the two nations and an unstable trade environment. China hopes that the U.S. will further relax controls over the exports of high-tech products and adopt "fair and non-discriminatory" policies to China in the process of export control reform, he said. China also hopes the United States to expedite the export control reform announced on Aug. 31, in order to boost bilateral economic ties with China and to improve its trade balance, said Yao. Suggest to a Friend Print Related News: Chinese Vice Premier calls for efforts to safeguard China-U.S. relations (2010-10-14) Scholar acccuses U.S. of hypocrisy on exchange rates (2010-10-14) Yuan exchange rate flexibility to gradually increase; no forced appreciation: FM spokesman (2010-10-14) Chinese vice president urges closer financial, economic ties with US (2010-10-13) Senior Chinese, U.S officials discuss cooperation over phone (2010-10-13) Respecting core interests key to development of China-U.S. military ties (2010-10-12) U.S. easing of high-tech export restriction to China good for both sides: FM (2010-10-12) Chinese vice premier calls for joint efforts to promote China-U.S. ties (2010-10-12)

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States, All Rights Reserved Address:3505, International Place, N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, U.S.A. Website:http://www.china-embassy.org　 E-mail:chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn Tel:001-202-4952266 Fax:001-202-4952138

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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DTN News: Libya Imposes 'Total' Trade Embargo On Switzerland

DTN News: Libya Imposes 'Total' Trade Embargo On Switzerland Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - March 5, 2010: Libya has decided to impose a "total" economic embargo on Switzerland following Libyan leader Moamer Gadhafi's declaration of holy war on the European nation, government spokesman Mohammed Baayou has said, as quoted by international media. "Libya has decided to impose a total embargo on all economic and commercial exchanges with Switzerland," Baayou said on Wednesday. He said the country would "adopt alternative [sources] for medicines and medical and industrial equipment" imported from Switzerland. Last week, Gadhafi described Switzerland, which recently imposed a ban on the construction of minarets following a national referendum, as "infidel, obscene state which is destroying mosques" and called for the Islamic world to "boycott" the country. "It is against unbelieving and apostate Switzerland that jihad (holy war) ought to be proclaimed by all means," he said in a live television broadcast, adding "any Muslim around the world who has dealings with Switzerland is an infidel [and is] against Islam, against Mohammed, against God, against the Koran." The day after Gadhafi's call, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the Lybian leader's declaration reminded him of "one of the more memorable sessions of the UN General Assembly", in which Gadhafi delivered a speech, strongly criticizing the organization. "Lots of words and lots of papers flying all over the place and not necessarily a lot of sense," Crowley said. Earlier on Wednesday, Libya expressed indignation over Crowley's statement and demanded "explanations and apologies" from the U.S. authorities, adding there would be "negative repercussions on economic and political relations between the two countries if no measures are adopted." A total of 57.5% eligible voters and 22 out of 26 Swiss cantons voted in November 2009 to ban the construction of minarets. The country's decision, which is believed to stop the "Islamization of Switzerland", sparked criticism from politicians and religious figures worldwide. Switzerland's row with Libya goes back to July 2008, when Gaddafi's son, Hannibal, and his wife Aline who was 9 months pregnant were arrested in Geneva. They were released on bail after spending two days in custody following a hotel employee complaint of mistreatment by the couple. Related News Libya denies entry for Europeans after Swiss dispute with Qaddafi Russia to sell $1.8 bln in arms to Libya Turkey calls on Muslims to withdraw money from Swiss banks Swiss minaret ban prompts global repercussions

DTN News: Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition DSEi ~ China In Spotlight As Largest Defence Fair Opens

DTN News: Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition DSEi ~ China In Spotlight As Largest Defence Fair Opens

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, England - September 8, 2009: The world's largest defence fair opened here on Tuesday, with a Chinese delegation among those showing their wares despite an European Union arms embargo against Beijing. More than 40 countries are represented at the Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition by some1,300 exhibitors selling everything from machine guns and tanks to medical equipment and anti-bomb devices. A Chinese delegation comprised of about nine members of the military and the Chinese ambassador are among those attending the four-day event, at the invitation of Britain's trade body, UK Trade and Investments. But they will not be meeting any of the major defence contractors, UKTI spokesman Adam Thomas said, focusing instead on humanitarian and disaster relief equipment, as well as security technology including biometric devices. China is subject to a Europe-wide arms embargo, which in Britain prevents the export of lethal weapons, their components or ammunition, military aircraft or platforms and any equipment that could be used for internal repression. It was imposed by the European Union following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. It is not the first time a Chinese delegation has attended the DSEi show. They were here two years ago, and were also invited to the Farnborough Air Show, although they did not attend, Thomas said. However, the Campaign Against the Arms Trade said they were "shocked" at the inclusion of China and rejected the argument that the delegations were only in London to see humantarian equipment. "We are shocked but not surprised," said media coordinator Kaye Stearman. "China is such a massive abuser of human rights and there has been an embargo in place for more then 20 years. But then we do see components sold to China -- the rules are pretty flexible." The campaign organised a demonstration outside the UKTI offices in central London in protest at what Stearman called Britain's "cosy relationship" with the international arms trade -- as emphasised by this week's defence fair. Fifty-three major defence contractors are at DSEi this year to present their latest developments, including high-tech clothing for soldiers in combat and ways of delivering breathable atmospheres in nuclear-powered submarines. Three naval vessels -- two from Britain's Royal Navy and one from the Dutch Navy -- were berthed on the waterway outside the conference centre, where a display of equipment used in anti-piracy operations was also due to be held.

DTN News: Embraer Delivers First Embraer 190 Jet To Mozambique Airlines (LAM)

DTN News: Embraer Delivers First Embraer 190 Jet To Mozambique Airlines (LAM) *Source: DTN News / Embraer (NSI News Source Info) São José dos Campos, Brazil - August 1, 2009: Embraer delivered the first EMBRAER 190 jet, yesterday July 31, to Mozambique flag carrier LAM – Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, during a ceremony held at Embraer’s headquarters in Sao José dos Campos, Brazil. The deal was announced in October 2008 and includes firm orders for two EMBRAER 190s, plus two purchase rights. LAM – Mozambique Airlines is the national airline of Mozambique based in Maputo. It operates scheduled services in southern Africa and to Lisbon, Portugal. Its main base is Maputo International Airport. “It is a great pleasure to deliver the first EMBRAER 190 to a new operator on the African continent,” said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “We are proud to be playing a key part in LAM’s fleet modernization and to contribute to the airline’s network expansion in their home market and in the southern region of Africa.” LAM’s EMBRAER 190 is configured in a dual-class layout, featuring nine seats in business class and 84 in economy. The aircraft will be based in the capital of Mozambique, Maputo, and will replace older narrowbody jets operated for domestic routes, mainly in the cities of Nampula and Pemba. It will also be used for regional flights to Luanda (Angola), Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg, and in the near future, Cape Town (South Africa), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). “We are eager to introduce the first EMBRAER 190 in the region,” said José Ricardo Viegas, Chairman of LAM’s Board of Directors. “We have chosen this jet to replace our larger aircraft to better serve our customers and offer more frequencies, new routes and a good level of comfort and space in the cabin. I’m sure that our passengers will appreciate the comfortable interior, and the layout with no middle seat will be a popular feature.” LAM also signed an Embraer Pool Flight Hour Program service contract to easily and effectively support its EMBRAER 190 jet fleet. The pool program quickly provides replacement aircraft parts and eliminates the need for inventory investments, once Embraer assumes the responsibility for maintaining an inventory at its distribution and service centers, in order to provide parts to operators as soon as they are requested.

DTN News: China Agreed To Pay Royalty For Producing Engine Of Snecma And Rolls Royce To Cover 150 JH-7A Fighter Bomber

DTN News: China Agreed To Pay Royalty For Producing Engine Of Snecma And Rolls Royce To Cover 150 JH-7A Fighter Bomber *Source: Defense Media

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING - June 10, 2009: China is seeking to resume manufacturing the JF-7 fighter bomber. To this end, negotiations are underway with jet engine makers in France (Snecma) and Britain (Rolls Royce), to provide engines. The JH-7 entered service a decade ago, although only about a hundred were built.

In 2004, the improved JH-7A entered service with PLANAF. The JH-7A is updated with the JL-10A pulse doppler radar, fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system, one-piece windscreen, additional hardpoints and capability to use laser-guided bombs (LGB) and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles. JH-7 currently equips the PLANAF 6th Division, PLANAF 9th Division and PLAAF 28th Division. A PLANAF JH-7 regiment typically consists of 18 to 20 aircraft, which is fewer than the 24 to 28 aircraft of PLAAF aircraft regiments.

Additional production was delayed because the aircraft was designed to use a British engine (the Spey 202), which was not supposed to be going to China after the 1989 embargo. But Rolls Royce, the manufacturer quietly continued exporting some engines, and technical assistance. China thought it could reverse-engineer this engine, but was unable to do so. China made peace with Rolls Royce over this abortive bit of tech piracy, and began producing their version of the Spey 202 (WS9) in the late 1990s.

But China continues to have problems with manufacturing jet engines to Western standards, and wants more direct assistance from Rolls Royce. Thus China is trying to get a proper production license from the British engine manufacturer, so that it can build more JH-7s. But that 1989 embargo keeps getting in the way.

China is discussing the technical aspects of resuming engine imports, with Rolls Royce and Snecma, in expectation that the European Union will soon drop the embargo. Meanwhile, China buys second hand Spey 202 engines wherever it can. The JH-7 is a 27 ton, twin engine aircraft, with a 40 foot wingspan. It is underpowered, and only has a five ton bomb load. But using new Chinese made smart bombs and air-to-ground missiles, the JH-7 becomes more useful. The JH-7 is used mainly by the Chinese navy.

The aircraft has an operational radius of about 900 kilometers, enabling it to contribute to an attack on Taiwan, or a blockade of the islands ports. The JH7A could carry four KD-88 missiles. China wants to build another 150 JH-7s, as an improved version (JH-7A) with more powerful engines and better electronics.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Says No Plans To Scrap Trade Embargo On Cuba

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Says No Plans To Scrap Trade Embargo On Cuba

*Analysis: Except for Israel, Vuanatu and the Marshall Islands, the whole World condemns the unilateral US embargo against Cuba, and if President Obama is too blind to understand that this is a major thorn in US-Latin America relations, we'll just have to wait until he sees the light.Just like for a breakthrough in Israel-Palestine relations, don't hold your breath for that to happen soon under an Obama administration. It won't happen. Obama is just an illusion of change....said by A Taxpayer (DTN Defense-Technology News)

(NSI News Source Info) VINA DEL MAR, Chile – March 29, 2009: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday that the United States is not planning to lift its trade embargo on Cuba. Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, right, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, left, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pose for the official photo of the Progressive Governance Leaders Summit in Vina del Mar, Chile, Saturday, March 28, 2009. Biden, who was in the Chilean resort city of Vina del Mar for a summit of center-left leaders from Latin America and Europe, replied "no" when asked by reporters if Washington plans to scrap the decades-old embargo. He and President Barack Obama "think that Cuban people should determine their own fate and they should be able to live in freedom," Biden said after taking part in the Progressive Governance Summit. The vice president said a "transition" is needed in the Washington policy toward the communist-ruled island, but that he was in Chile "to talk about the economy, not Cuba." Several of the leftist governments in Latin America have urged Washington to lift the embargo of Cuba, saying such a step would improve Washington's relations across the region. But without signs of budging on the embargo, Biden still drove home the idea that the White House is committed to region. He called his state visit to Chile "just the beginning of the renewal of a partnership with the Americans." "President Obama and I are absolutely committed to working closely with our neighbors in the hemisphere," he told reporters at Chile's La Moneda presidential palace after meeting with President Michelle Bachelet. Leftist or left-of-center governments have been elected in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Honduras and Uruguay in recent years, and at least five Latin American leaders have visited Cuba this year. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet — who met with Fidel Castro on a trip to Cuba in February — held a dinner for Biden under candlelight, as lights were turned off in coordination with an international action highlighting climate change.