Russia's Defense Ministry To Get Over $111 Billion In Next 3 Years

Russia's Defense Ministry To Get Over $111 Billion In Next 3 Years

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - February 11, 2009: Russia's federal budget stipulates the allocation of over 4 trillion rubles ($111 billion) on defense spending in the next three years, a senior Defense Ministry finance official said on Tuesday. "The Russian Defense Ministry's budget for 2009 and for the planned period of 2010-2011 is primarily aimed at creating a fundamentally new army for the 21st century," Deputy Defense Minister for Financial and Economic Work Lyubov Kudelina said. Defense spending is projected at a level of 1,376.5 billion rubles ($38.3 billion) in 2009, 1,379.5 billion rubles ($38.4 billion) in 2010 and 1,476.7 billion rubles ($41 billion) in 2011, Kudelina said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda military newspaper. As in previous years, defense spending will not exceed 3% of the country's gross domestic product and will stand at 2.7% in 2009 compared with 2.6% in 2008, the official said.

Russian-Belarusian Network To Be Part Of CIS Air Defenses

Russian-Belarusian Network To Be Part Of CIS Air Defenses

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - February 11, 2009: The integrated Russian-Belarusian regional air defense network will be part of the integrated air defense network of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia's Air Force chief said on Tuesday. Moscow and Minsk signed on February 3 an agreement on the joint protection of the Russia-Belarus Union State's airspace and the creation of an integrated regional air defense network. The network will comprise five Air Force units, 10 anti-aircraft units, five technical service and support units and one electronic warfare unit, and will be placed under the command of a Russian or Belarusian Air Force or Air Defense Force senior commander. The CIS integrated air defense network was set up by 10 CIS member countries on February 10, 1995. Georgia has recently withdrawn from the network following a brief military conflict with Russia over South Ossetia in August. The main purpose of the network is to ensure the protection of the member-countries' airspace, early warning of missile attacks and coordination of joint efforts to neutralize potential air threats. "The CIS integrated air defense network is intended to accomplish a variety of tasks, including missile early warning and countering attacks of a potential enemy. We [Russia] will certainly participate in the defense of any of the member-states, if their airspace is violated," Zelin said. The CIS network currently comprises seven air defense brigades, 46 units equipped with S-200 and S-300 air defense missile systems, 23 fighter units equipped with MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27 aircraft, 22 electronic support units and two detachments of electronic warfare. Russia's Air Force commander said CIS members would conduct this year large-scale air defense exercises as part of the integrated air defense network at the Ashuluk training ground, in Russia's Astrakhan Region near the Caspian Sea. "During the Combat Commonwealth 2009 exercise, which involves live-firing drills, we are planning to practice joint deployment of CIS integrated air defense network's units on a theater- operational scale in simulated conditions of a military-political crisis in one of the regions included in the collective security zone," Zelin said.

India Evaluating Technical Aspects Of Lockheed, Boeing’s Bid

India Evaluating Technical Aspects Of Lockheed, Boeing’s Bid

By Vipin V. Nair

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: (Bloomberg) -- India’s government is evaluating bids by Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co. and four other companies to supply 126 fighter jets worth $11 billion in the largest military contest in play worldwide. “It’s a complex process, it will take its own time,” Defense Production Secretary Pradeep Kumar told reporters in Bangalore today ahead of the Aero India air show. “Technical evaluation is on and trials will be conducted.” He wouldn’t say when the deal may be completed. Boeing has delivered Super Hornet proposals to the Danish and Brazilian governments in 2008. The Super Hornet is one of three fighter aircraft in a Danish competition to replace 48 F-16s. In October 2008, it was reported the Super Hornet was selected as one of three finalists in Brazil's fighter competition. Brazil has put forward an initial requirement for 36 planes, with a potential total purchase of 120. *Boeing submitted a proposal for India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition on 24 April 2008. The Super Hornet variant being offered to India is named F/A-18IN. It will include Raytheon's APG-79 AESA radar. In August 2008, Boeing submitted an industrial participation proposal to India describing partnerships with companies in India. India in April got bids from six companies to supply the jets as part of its efforts to modernize the air force and replace its aging Russian-made aircraft. The fighter-plane contest is the largest in 15 years, according to Boeing, and marks the first opportunity for U.S. companies to break into India’s defense market. Lockheed’s F-16 is competing in the fighter contest against Chicago-based Boeing’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet; Russia’s MiG-35; Saab AB’s Gripen; France’s Rafale made by Dassault Aviation SA; and the Eurofighter Typhoon, a joint venture of Airbus SAS, BAE and Italy’s Finmeccanica SpA. India wants all but 18 of the 126 multi-role fighter jets it buys to be made in India.

Dirgantara Indonesia Wins First Order for C-212-400 / Dirgantara Has Its First C-212-400 Contract Order

Dirgantara Indonesia Wins First Order for C-212-400 / Dirgantara Has Its First C-212-400 Contract Order

(NSI News Source Info) February 10, 2009: AIRFAST Indonesia, an Indonesian aircraft charter company, has signed a firm order with Dirgantara Indonesia for the purchase of C-212-400. This is the first C-212-400 order for Dirgantara after C-212-400 assembly jigs and facilities are relocated from San Pablo, Spain, to Bandung, West Java.

The contract order was signed by Dirgantara President, Budi Santoso, and Airfast President, Irma Reuneker in Bandung,West Java, on Friday (06/02).

The EADS CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium transport aircraft designed and built in Spain for civil and military use. C-212s are also produced under licence in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, formerly called IPTN but now known as IAe. The design was initially marketed under the name of Aviocar, but EADS-CASA no longer uses that name in referring to the C-212. *A total of 478 C-212s of all variants had been delivered through the end of 2008 by EADS-CASA. EADS-CASA predicts that an additional 85 aircraft will be delivered in the 2007-2016 time period. EADS-CASA currently builds only the C-212-400, which received Spanish certification in 1998. The C-212-200 is currently built in Indonesia, and IAe is also preparing to begin assembly of -400 models, probably in 2008.

The 26-seater C-212-400 is the latest version of the C-212 developed by CASA-EADS. Budi said the market for the C-212-400 was promising as many airlines in the region had started to turn from jets to light aircraft due to high global oil prices.

The ASEAN market of C-212-400 is potential and it is predicted that within the next seven years 155 units of C-212-400 will be sold.

Airbus A400M Military Airlifter, Delivery Schedule Delay And More Delay

Airbus A400M Military Airlifter, Delivery Schedule Delay And More Delay

(NSI News Source Info) February 10, 2009: Having initially thrown a very public hissy fit over the latest delay to the Airbus A400M military airlifter, the UK may be reconciling itself to the inevitable. John Hutton, the British secretary of state for defense, told Parliament in January: “We cannot accept a three or four-year delay in the delivery of those aircraft. That would impose an unnecessary, unacceptable strain on our air assets. We, along with all our partner nations, will have to consider very carefully what the right response to the problem is.” The right response – if a more recent answer from Quentin Davies, the minister for defense equipment and support, is anything to go by, was to carry out a simple piece of arithmetic. “Early A400M production aircraft will be delivered to some of our partner nations and therefore the first UK delivery would occur at least six months after Airbus delivers the first A400M,” Davies told Parliament at the end of last week. He added: “This suggests that initial UK deliveries could not start before 2013 and therefore the estimated in-service date of the A400M (defined as acceptance into service of the seventh aircraft) would be 2014.” The RAF had been expecting the aircraft in 2011 – those this date itself reflected earlier slippage in the program. The A400M is already the most recent poster child for what can go wrong with European multi-national programs – a fate its establishment as an Airbus project was meant to avoid.

Obama Warning On Pakistan 'Haven'

Obama Warning On Pakistan 'Haven'

(NSI News Source Info) February 10, 2009: US President Barack Obama has said his administration will not allow "safe havens" for militants in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Mr Obama's comments at his first White House prime-time news conference came as his envoy to the region, Richard Holbrooke, arrived in Pakistan. Mr Holbrooke, who said he was there to "listen and learn" about the region, began key meetings on Tuesday. Mr Holbrooke earlier said the situation in Pakistan was "dire". Financial concerns Mr Obama said Mr Holbrooke would convey his message to Islamabad. "My bottom line is that we cannot allow al-Qaeda to operate," he said. "We cannot have those safe havens in that region." I'm not going to allow al-Qaeda or Osama bin Laden to operate with impunity, planning attacks on the US homeland. Barack ObamaMr Obama added: "We're going to have to work both smartly and effectively, but with consistency in order to make sure that those safe havens don't exist." The US president said he had appointed Mr Holbrooke as a special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan to give a new focus to dealing with terrorism. "I've sent over Richard Holbrooke - one of our top diplomats - to evaluate a regional approach," he said. "We are going to need more effective coordination of our military efforts with diplomatic efforts, with development efforts, with more effective coordination with our allies in order for us to be successful." Mr Obama said he had no schedule for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. "I do not have yet a timetable for how long that's going to take. What I know is... I'm not going to allow al-Qaeda or Osama Bin Laden to operate with impunity, planning attacks on the US homeland." Security tops the agenda for Mr Qureshi and Mr HolbrookeMr Holbrooke met Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday and will later meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says the main Pakistani focus will be trying to squeeze more money out of the US, particularly for reconstruction in the tribal areas and the revival of a US bill pledging long-term assistance that has been gathering dust in Washington. Mr Holbrooke will be well aware of his financial leverage, our (Photo/Image Mr Qureshi and Mr Holbrooke) correspondent says, and will be pushing to devise mechanisms that will minimise the role of the Pakistani security establishment in charting the country's geo-political strategies. The envoy is likely to restate the need for Pakistan to do more to tackle militants and express concern over the recent release of disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan from house arrest. Pakistan in turn has repeatedly criticised US drone attacks on militants in its territory. The fallout from the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks will also be on Mr Holbrooke's agenda. Mr Holbrooke will stay in Pakistan until Thursday and is due to visit Afghanistan and India.

Northrop Offers Indian Firms Role In F-16 Radar / Northrop Grumman Partnering With Indian Defense Companies On Manufacture of F-16 Radar Components

Northrop Offers Indian Firms Role In F-16 Radar / Northrop Grumman Partnering With Indian Defense Companies On Manufacture of F-16 Radar Components

(NSI News Source Info) BALTIMORE - February 10, 2009: Northrop Grumman Corporation has selected Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics Limited and Dynamatic Technologies Limited to manufacture components of the F-16 APG-68(V)9 fire control radar as part of a broader initiative to engage Indian industry as strategic business partners.

"Following an extensive evaluation of the Indian defense electronic manufacturing base, we feel that these two companies are best positioned to offer the depth of capability required to meet our customers' demanding cost, schedule, and quality standards," said Katie Gray, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Global Sensor Solutions business unit.

As part of a comprehensive co-production program, Northrop Grumman engineers will work side-by-side with engineering teams from Bharat Electronics Limited and Dynamatic Technologies Limited to provide training and support to ensure a smooth transition to production.

The engineering teams will collaborate on all aspects of the manufacturing process, beginning with a formal Production Readiness Review (PRR), and concluding with First Article Inspection (FAI) and First Article Test (FAT) milestones.

Initial radar component deliveries are expected in the second quarter of 2009.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Thales To Upgrade Radar Of Dutch M-Frigates / Thales To Modernize Netherlands' M-Frigates Radar Suite

Thales To Upgrade Radar Of Dutch M-Frigates / Thales To Modernize Netherlands' M-Frigates Radar Suite

(NSI News Source Info) February 10, 2009: The Netherlands' Defence Materiel Organization and Thales Nederland signed a contract for the delivery of SEASTAR and GATEKEEPER sensors that are to be installed on the two M-class frigates.

The modernization will take place in 2011 and 2012 in the scope of the M-frigates' upkeep program. Simultaneously, a contract was signed for the delivery of a GATEKEEPER system that will be installed on the LPD Johan de Witt.

HNLMS Van Speijk (F828) is the eighth and last ship in the Karel Doorman-class of multi-purpose frigates. *Van Speijk was laid down 1 October 1991, launched 26 March 1994, and commissioned 7 September 1995. She is the seventh ship in the Royal Netherlands Navy to be named after Jan van Speijk, who during the Belgian Revolution blew up his ship rather than let it fall in Belgian hands.

The M-Class frigates were introduced in the nineties and were intended for air defence and submarine warfare in the Atlantic. However, these ships are deployed mainly in littoral waters to counter frontier-running, pollution, drugs trafficking and piracy. The SEASTAR and GATEKEEPER sensors provide the vessels with the capability to detect the small targets encountered in such situations. The two new sensors will be matched with the tried-and-true SMART-S surveillance radar and the STIR weapon control radar that are on board of the M-frigates.

This contract includes an option for the same modernization of the two M-Frigates that have been purchased by the Belgian Navy in 2005. The Joint Support Ship that will be built for the RNLN is expected to be equipped with an Integrated Mast, similar to the Mast on the OPVs that also includes SEASTAR and GATEKEEPER.

This contract marks another step in the long-standing and very successful cooperation between the Royal Netherlands Navy and Thales Nederland and proves that Thales's systems can be integrated in existing platform configurations.

BACKGROUND NOTES:

-- SEASTAR is a non-rotating active phased array radar for naval surface surveillance. The system automatically detects and tracks asymmetric threats and very small objects such as swimmers, periscopes in all weather conditions. SEASTAR can also be used for helicopter guidance. SEASTAR has been contracted for two ship classes at present.

-- GATEKEEPER is a 360° panoramic electro-optical surveillance and alerter system based on IR/TV technology. Designed to counter emerging asymmetric threats down to small boats and swimmers, GATEKEEPER increases short-range situational awareness in littoral environments. GATEKEEPER has been contracted for two ship classes at present.

-- Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales's leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of EUR 12.3 billion. Thales Nederland, established in 1922, is one of the leading companies in integrated naval systems for surveillance, weapon control, combat management and system integration world-wide.

Afghanistan: The World's Most Dangerous Place

Afghanistan: The World's Most Dangerous Place

(NSI News Source Info) February 10, 2009: Afghanistan has a high threat of terrorism, with a strong risk of kidnap, violent crime and suicide attacks across the country.

The Foreign Office website (http://www.fco.gov.uk/) strongly advises against all but essential travel to Kabul, adding that “no part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts”.

Middle East Arms Procurement - Procure and Protect The Region

Middle East Arms Procurement - Procure and Protect The Region (NSI News Source Info) February 10, 2009: The global financial crisis and sharp drop in oil prices aside, the Middle East remains a major defence market with no end in sight to efforts to acquire the highest level of defence technologies. While counter-insurgency and piracy deterrence are the primary drivers of most procurement strategies, the continued threat of a nuclear Iran and the re-integration of a fragile Iraq into the regional equation loom large over major acquisitions in line with a greater commitment towards co-operative security expressed by Arab nations, the Gulf states in particular.

A Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft in the full two-tone grey livery of the Royal Saudi Air Force. After unsuccessful campaigns in South Korea and Singapore, on 18 August 2006 it was announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to purchase 72 Typhoons. In November and December it was reported that Saudi Arabia had threatened to buy French Rafales because of a UK Serious Fraud Office investigation into the Al Yamamah ("the dove") defence deals which commenced in the 1980s. However on 14 December 2006 Britain's attorney general, Lord Peter Goldsmith, ordered that the Serious Fraud Office discontinue its investigation in the BAE Systems' alleged bribery to senior Saudi officials in the al-Yamamah contracts, citing "the need to safeguard national and international security". The Times has raised the possibility that RAF production aircraft will be diverted as early Saudi Arabian aircraft, with the service forced to wait for its full complement of aircraft. This arrangement would mirror the diversion of RAF Tornados to the RSAF. However, The Times has also reported that such an arrangement will make the UK purchase of its tranche 3 commitments more likely. On 17 September 2007 Saudi Arabia confirmed it had signed a GB£4.43 billion contract for 72 aircraft. 24 aircraft will be at the Tranche 2 build standard, previously destined for the UK RAF, the first being delivered in 2008. The remaining 48 aircraft will be assembled in Saudi Arabia and delivered from 2011. Saudi Arabia considers to order 24 additional jets in the future, more recent reports suggest that number may be as high as 60 or 72. *On 22 October 2008 an aircraft in the full two-tone grey livery of the Royal Saudi Air Force flew for the first time at BAE Systems’ Warton Aerodrome, marking the start of an initial test flight programme for RSAF aircraft. Declining global fortunes have made the relatively stable, relatively cash-rich Middle Eastern nations even more attractive to international defence companies. The race is on to provide them with the most attractively priced, technologically advanced and well-designed weapon systems, complete with lucrative after-sale service and maintenance contracts. Within the region, however, there is a wide spectrum of capability, capacity and cash flow that limits the effectiveness of sweeping generalisations about regional trends in procurement; poor countries such as Yemen and Lebanon cannot be equated with the immensely wealthy nations in the Gulf such as Saudi Arabia, which has long been ranked among the top 10 largest importers of weapons worldwide.