Russian Armed Forces To Acquire New Drones In 2010 - Popovkin

Russian Armed Forces To Acquire New Drones In 2010 - Popovkin

(NSI News Source Info) ISTANBUL - April 28, 2009: Russia's Armed Forces are to be equipped with new domestically-produced drones in 2010, a deputy Russian defense minister responsible for military procurements said Tuesday. "Russian drones not inferior to foreign varieties will appear in a year, no earlier," General of the Army Vladimir Popovkin said at the IDEF 2009 defense industry exhibition in Istanbul. The issue of insufficient modern weaponry, including drones, in the Russian military came to the fore in August 2008, when Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war after Tbilisi launched an offensive of its former republic of South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control. The lack of advanced reconnaissance equipment severely hampered the effectiveness of Russian military operations in South Ossetia due to an absence of reliable up-to-date intelligence. Popovkin confirmed Russia had concluded a deal to buy a number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Israel, which he earlier called a "temporary measure," and without specifying a figure. "Despite that, we have not stopped any of our efforts on developing them in Russia. We have maintained funding and concentrated our work in one place. I am personally leading on this," he said.

Final “Increment 1” VH-71 US Presidential Helicopter Delivered

Final “Increment 1” VH-71 US Presidential Helicopter Delivered

(NSI News Source Info) April 28, 2009: The ninth and final VH-71 to be built under “Increment 1” of the US Presidential Helicopter Replacement Programme departed AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility today on its way to the United States for completion by prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

The aircraft will depart the UK for the US later this week aboard a US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft. Giuseppe Orsi, CEO, AgustaWestland said at the delivery ceremony “The delivery of the final aircraft today has been achieved just over four years after the contract was awarded in 2005.

All the aircraft delivered are completely compliant to the specifications required by the U.S. Government and the progress achieved in such a short period of time is uncommon for an acquisition of this size and complexity. The whole VH-71 team can be proud of this remarkable achievement”.

He went on to say “The VH-71 helicopters meet or exceed all the performance requirements specified in the contract and it remains the only helicopter available today, or in the medium term, that can meet the demanding requirements. The VH-71 delivers much greater safety, speed, range and capability that the legacy aircraft which are now reaching the end of their service life.” The contract to build four Test Vehicles (TV) and five Pilot Production (PP) aircraft was awarded in January 2005 after an exhaustive evaluation of all solutions. Since then the programme schedule for AgustaWestland has changed by only six months while accommodating over 800 customer changes including 50 major design changes.

The VH-71 is more than an executive transport helicopter - it is a command and control platform that will provide the President with seamless communications connectivity and fulfil the Marine One mission requirements.

The VH-71 aircraft will be ready to enter service in late 2010 following installation of the cabin interior, communications suite and other mission equipment. Following delivery of the final “Increment 1” aircraft AgustaWestland will continue to provide technical and logistical support for the fleet of aircraft and is ready to proceed with “Increment 2” or a range of alternative solutions utilising the capabilities of the “Increment 1” VH-71. The VH-71 is based on the successful multi-mission AW101 helicopter currently serving with seven armed forces and has logged more than 180,000 flight hours, including prolonged combat operations in Iraq and Kosovo.

AgustaWestland Unveils The TUHP 149 Helicopter

AgustaWestland Unveils The TUHP 149 Helicopter

(NSI News Source Info) April 28, 2009: AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, unveiled a full scale mock-up of the TUHP 149 helicopter at IDEF 2009 in Istanbul today. The TUHP 149 is the AgustaWestland candidate for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Programme (TUHP).

The TUHP 149 features a wide, constant cross section and unobstructed cabin with large sliding doors. The cabin can be easily reconfigured to meet different operational requirements with the capability to transport up to 18 equipped troops.

It is a new generation 8.1 ton medium lift multi-role helicopter designed to meet the military requirements of Turkish end users.

The TUHP 149 maximizes the involvement of TAI and additional leading Turkish aerospace and defence companies, including ASELSAN, TEI, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, building on the strategic partnership already set up by AgustaWestland and Turkish industries through the ATAK programme.

The TUHP 149 features a wide, constant cross section and unobstructed cabin with large sliding doors. The cabin can be easily reconfigured to meet different operational requirements with the capability to transport up to 18 equipped troops.

The leading edge technology, open architecture digital avionics and integrated mission and weapon systems allow the aircraft to undertake a wide range of missions. The high performance twin engine helicopter is designed for operations in all environments day and night.

The aircraft can be configured to carry a wide range of weapons, including rocket launchers, air-to-surface and machine-guns as well as external auxiliary tanks in a variety of combinations. Pintle mounted machine-guns can also be fitted on fixed frame windows or in the doors. Structural provisions for the installation of an external cargo hook, heavy duty rescue hoist and a wide range of other mission equipment are provided.

The TUHP 149, due to its modular design for rapid role re-configuration, is perfectly suited to perform an impressive range of duties including troop transport, battlefield and logistic operations, fire support, SAR and combat SAR, special forces operations, reconnaissance, surveillance, CASEVAC, command control and communication, external load lifting as well as VIP military transport.

The new technology TUHP 149 has been designed from the outset with low support and maintenance requirements to minimize the operating costs and the through life ownership costs. A range of support and training services packages will be available to provide cost effective through life support to meet customer's requirements. A full "Level D" flight simulator is also envisaged.

Australia To Buy Seven CH-47Fs For $560Million / Australia – CH-47F Chinook Helicopters

Australia To Buy Seven CH-47Fs For $560Million / Australia – CH-47F Chinook Helicopters

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINTON - April 28, 2009: On April 13 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of seven CHINOOK Helicopters and other related equipment, services and support.

The estimated cost is $560 Million.

The USA’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces Australia’s official request for 7 CH-47F CHINOOK Helicopters with 14 (2 per aircraft) T55-GA-714A Turbine engines, 7 Dillon Aero M134D 7.62mm Miniguns, 16 AN/ARC-201D Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios (SINCGARS), 7 Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Blue Force Trackers (FBCB2/BFT), 2 spare T-55-GA-714A Turbine engines, plus mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, ground support equipment, spare and repair parts, special tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, and support. The estimated cost is $560 million, but a DSCA request is not a contract.

The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of seven CH-47F CHINOOK Helicopters with 14 (2 per aircraft) T55-GA-714A Turbine engines, 7 M134D Dillon Aero Miniguns, 16 AN/ARC-201D Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios (SINCGARS), 7 Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Blue Force Trackers (FBCB2/BFT), 2 spare T-55-GA-714A Turbine engines, mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, ground support equipment, spare and repair parts, special tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $560 million.

Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Iraq and in Afghanistan have had a significant impact on regional political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives and facilitates burden sharing with our allies.

The proposed sale of the CH-47F CHINOOK helicopters and components to Australia will contribute to U.S. security objectives by providing a coalition partner with significantly improved airlift capability. This will improve the Royal Australian Army’s ability to participate in coalition operations, enhance the capacity of Australia’s Defense Forces to provide lift for ground forces and supplies in support of humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, and to contribute to stability operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia 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: Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in St. Louis, MO; Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, IA; and ITT in Fort Wayne, IN. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two contractor representatives to Australia for approximately 3 years to support delivery of the CH-47F helicopters in-country. Also, approximately 6 U.S. Government personnel will participate in program management and/or technical reviews in-country for one to two-week intervals annually.

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.

Turkey Buys 36 Leguan Bridge Laying Armoured Vehicles

Turkey Buys 36 Leguan Bridge Laying Armoured Vehicles

(NSI News Source Info) MUNICH - April 28, 2009: The Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Turkey agreed in November 2008 that the Turkish Armed Forces will buy 36 bridge laying armoured vehicles of the LEGUAN type, which is based on the LEOPARD 1.

Turkey is finalizing contract negotiations for the purchase of 36 Leguan bridge-laying armored vehicles, derived from the Leopard 1 tank. (KMW photo)

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG (KMW) will supply the systems as part of an engagement letter. The final negotiations are currently under way between KMW and the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB). All expectations are that the contract will be signed soon.

Within the programme, the Turkish Armed Forces will manufacture and assemble substantial parts of the systems itself in Turkey. The joint project underscores the close German-Turkish cooperation in the field of armoured vehicles and family vehicles.

International deployments for bridge system:

The LEGUAN bridge laying armoured vehicle can be controlled by only one person with the hatch closed and install a load category MLC 80 bridge that is 26 metres long in approximately five minutes using an electronic control system.

KMW has already produced the LEGUAN bridge-layer on the basis of the LEOPARD 1 or LEOPARD 2 battle tank for the Norwegian, Greek, Belgian and Finnish armed forces. The bridge-laying system can, however, also be mounted on other used or new battle tank chassis. For example, it is in use on the chassis of the Polish PT91, the American M1 "Wolverine" and the M47/M60 in Spain.

But the bridge can also be laid by wheeled vehicles, such as the MAN 8x8 and the 10x10 vehicle from Finnish company SISU. With the aid of additional pontoons, the LEGUAN can also be used to construct ferries of various load categories, and if necessary link them together to form floating bridges.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG leads the European market for armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles. At locations in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the USA, some 3400 employees manufacture and support a product portfolio ranging from air-transportable, heavily armoured wheeled vehicles (MUNGO, DINGO, GFF4 and BOXER) through reconnaissance, anti-aircraft and artillery systems (FENNEK, GEPARD, LeFLaSys, Armoured Howitzer 2000, AGM and DONAR) to heavy battle tanks (LEOPARD 1 and 2), armoured personnel carriers (PUMA) and bridge-laying systems (LEGUAN and PSB2).

Study Says China, India, UAE Top Arms Importers

Study Says China, India, UAE Top Arms Importers

(NSI News Source Info) STOCKHOLM - April 28, 2009: The United Arab Emirates has become the third-biggest arms importer worldwide, a leading defence think tank said Monday. The figures from the UAE reflected what the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) described as a "worrying" regional trend of increased arms imports into the Middle East. The oil-rich country accounted for 6 percent of the world's arms imports between 2004 and 2008, according to the report from SIPRI - the same proportion as South Korea. Only China with 11 percent and India with 7 percent had a larger share of the market, said the report. The UAE's position was all the more striking because in the previous study, covering the period 1999-2003, the UAE was the 16th biggest importer of military equipment. The SIPRI described the country's rise to third place as "the most significant change" in its new survey of global arms sales. The study also found that the average volume of worldwide arms transfers for 2004-08 was 21 percent higher than 1999-2003. There had been a 38 percent increase in arms transfers to the Middle East region in the latest study compared to its previous five-year survey, SIPRI said. "During the past five years, we have seen the re-emergence of the Middle East as a major recipient of conventional weapons systems," SIPRI researcher Pieter Wezeman said in a statement. "While we are a long way from the levels reached in the early to mid-1980s, this is still a worrying trend in a region beset by multiple sources of potential conflict," he added. The United States remains the biggest supplier of military equipment. Its sales account for 31 percent of exports worldwide, ahead of Russia (25 percent) and Germany (10 percent), the report noted.

Vietnam To Purchase 6 Russian Submarines: Report

Vietnam To Purchase 6 Russian Submarines: Report

(NSI News Source Info) April 28, 2009: Russia will build six submarines for the Vietnamese navy, the daily Kommersant reported April 27.

Kilo class is the NATO designation for the very quiet Russian diesel-electric Project 877 Paltus (Turbot) submarines. The Kilo Class Submarines were designed primarily for the purpose of anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare in the protection of naval bases, coastal installations and sea lanes in shallow waters. They were also used for reconnaissance and patrol missions. Design of the Kilo Class Submarines was undertaken by Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau.

The first submarine entered service in 1982. Continuing development of the Kilo class (Project 877) lead to the Type 877EKM and the Type 636. Project 636 was a further development of Project 877EKM. The Russian Type 636 Submarine was developed for the purpose of anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-surface ship (ASuW) warfare. Project 636 submarines have earned the nikname the "The Black Hole", from the US navy because of their almost mysterious ability to just disappear.

Project 636 submarines are to detect hostile submarines at a range of up to four times greater than it can be detected itself. Project 636 submarines are renowned for their quitness, part of which was gained through an advanced anti-acoustic rubber coating applied on the outer hull surface. Flooding ports were removed from the fore-body of the 636 varient to reduce the submarine's acoustic signature. Anechoic tiles are fitted on casings and fins to absorb the sonar sound waves of active sonar, which results in a reducion and distortion of the return signal. These Anechoic tiles help attenuate sounds that are emitted from the submarine, thus reducing the range of which the sub may be detected by hostile passive sonar.

Depending on the varients Kilo clss Submarines may be fitted with six 553mm torpedo tubes, eighteen torpedoes, twenty-four mines, eight SA-N-8 Gremlin or 8 SA-N-10 Gimlet Surface-to-air missiles. Export versions of the Submarines may not be equipped with air defense weapons.

A number of Kilo Class Submarines have been exported to various countries including: Algeria, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Poland, Romania and Iran.

The St Petersburg naval dockyard Admiralteyskye verfi and Vietnam will shortly sign the contract, worth $1.8 billion, the report said, quoting sources close to Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport. It gave no time frame. "Initially it was expected that the submarines would be bought by Venezuela, but Rosoboronexport refused to clinch the deal with that country, largely due to a recent meeting between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his American counterpart Barack Obama," Kommersant said. Chavez, a ferocious foe of the United States under the George W. Bush presidency, showed signs of warming to Obama during the Americas conference earlier this month, telling the new U.S. president: "I want to be your friend."

Sri Lankan Tamil Protest In Toronto On Continuation Of War In Their Homeland

Sri Lankan Tamil Protest In Toronto On Continuation Of War In Their Homeland

(NSI News Source Info) April 27, 2009: A man chants on a microphone as Tamils demonstrate on a downtown street to protest against the political turmoil in Sri Lanka, in Toronto April 27, 2009.

Colombo dismissed an attempt on Sunday to declare a truce by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels, who are now cornered in less than 10 sq km (4 sq miles) of coastline by a Sri Lankan military intent on ending a war that started in 1983.

British Forces With Information Exploitation (IE) Group In Afghanistan Have Upper Hand Fighting Taliban

British Forces With Information Exploitation (IE) Group In Afghanistan Have Upper Hand Fighting Taliban

(NSI News Source Info) April 27, 2009: Britain’s Royal Marines won the information war in Afghanistan during their recent deployment, by employing a new methodology. This was carried out by a combination combat and intelligence outfit, the Information Exploitation (IE) Group.

A handout photograph from the Royal marines shows members of 42 Commando during Operation Aabi Toorah (Blue Sword) in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. The Royal Marines announced that over 500 marines from 42 Commando Group, partnered with soldiers from the Afghan national Army have completed a month long operation into the southern-most regions of Helmand Province to gather intelligence and gain an understanding of an area previously little visited by ISAF troops.

This unit made outstanding progress in defeating the Taliban in Helmand province, largely due to accurate and timely information. Instead of operating alone, the Royal Marines, in an effort to enhance their information advantage, amalgamated their troops with elements from other allied nations and local Afghan security forces and formed an entirely new command called the Information Exploitation Group (IE). The results have been impressive Instead of concentrating on just human intelligence or electronic information gathering, the IE Group gathered, processed, and acted on information gathered through any available means in order to trick and defeat Taliban fighters. The formation combined unmanned UAVs, reconnaissance patrols, local security forces, and electronic warfare specialists to collect and develop a large picture of enemy dispositions in the province. The IE group was broken down into four major elements. The first was the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, a British Army combat unit that conducted aggressive offensives and patrolling against terrorist havens. The Afghan Territorial Force (ATF) was the Afghan National Army element working alongside the Marines, helping to better engage the local population and to gather intelligence. Any intelligence gathered was then sent to the Intelligence Section and Y Squadron, a group of electronic warfare experts and intelligence officers who then processed the information and told the Brigade Reconnaissance Force which tips to act on, based on credibility. The counterinsurgency groups’ success can be seen in the nine major operations conducted against the Taliban in Helmand during the current deployment, preventing weapons and fighters from moving in or out of the region and strangling the safe areas the militants have established. The group’s activities were not merely restricted to engaging the Taliban, but to countering narcotics cultivation and any other criminal threats in the region. On the counter-drug front, at least 10 tons of opium were seized along with 8 tons of cannabis. The unit just recently returned from its current deployment and there are plans to conduct more operations using Information Exploitation units in the future. The British realize that combat is only half the battle in Afghanistan. The other half is information, without which the enemy cannot be found or fixed. By establishing a compact unit that can gather intelligence, process intelligence, work with the local security forces, jam the Taliban’s communications, and engage in proactive and continuing offensives, the briagde's effectiveness is enhanced. The Royal Marines have made headlines with their successes in offensives during their latest deployments. The IE Group and the information it gathered from every source imaginable was a major contributor to their victories.

Lockheed Martin Supports 2009 National Security Agency Cyber Defense Exercise

Lockheed Martin Supports 2009 National Security Agency Cyber Defense Exercise

NSA, Service Academy Experts Test Advanced Tactics and Technologies for Cyber Security

(NSI News Source Info) Elkridge, Md. - April 27, 2009: Teams of cyber security experts from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the nation’s service academies squared off last week in one of the nation’s most expansive and sophisticated cyber “war games,” the Cyber Defense Exercise (CDX). Lockheed Martin hosted the CDX command center and network hub at its Elkridge facility for the week-long event. Lockheed Martin helped NSA establish a closed, secure network for the exercise, which links all the academies with CDX headquarters at the Lockheed Martin facility in Elkridge. The company is also providing technical support and expertise for CDX preparation and execution. This is the seventh year that Lockheed Martin is supporting and hosting the CDX. Lockheed Martin currently supports NSA and a number of defense and intelligence customers with a wide array of cyber security technology and services. In October, the corporation announced the opening of the new Center for Cyber Security Innovation (CCSI) in Gaithersburg, Md., the centerpiece of its company-wide efforts in cyber operations. The CCSI joins the Wireless Cyber Security Center in Hanover, Md., which focuses on testing and evaluating the next generation of wi-fi, cellular and satellite technologies. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.