Asia's Biggest Air Show Aero India 2009 Takes Off

Asia's Biggest Air Show Aero India 2009 Takes Off

(NSI News Source Info) Bangalore - February 11, 2009: Aero India 2009 took off to a roaring start Wednesday with India flaunting its air power in a stunning aerobatics display by fighter jets, helicopters and jet trainers. Billed as the biggest biennial event in South Asia, the five-day seventh edition of Aero India 2009 began on a sunny and breezy day from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station at Yelahanka, about 20 km from Bangalore. With a security blanket in place to ward off terror attacks, about 5,000 people, including diplomats and air chiefs from the world over, were treated to a two-hour spectacular show by scores of IAF pilots. The inaugural by Defence Minister AK Antony in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa was marked by a flypast and breathtaking manouveres from IAF's assorted aircraft -- Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-21, supersonic jet trainer Hawk and subsonic trainer Kiran and a slew of helicopters.

Indian Air Force's Russian-made Sukhoi-30 aircraft lands as well other aircrafts as F-A 18 'Super Hornet', United Arab Emirates F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon during the inauguration ceremony of the "Aero India 2009" at Yelahanka air force station on the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Bangalore February 11, 2009. The 7th Aero India, organised by the ministry of defence, showcases the latest in the field of military and civil aircrafts. The show runs from February 11 to 15. Four indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the state-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) scrambled over the gathering, while a IAF fleet of Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) aerobatic team christened Sarang kept spirits soaring high. IAF's transport behemoths and air-to-air refuelling aircraft had the spectators in awe with their sheer size and functionality mid-air. "Growing in stature, size and public participation, the air show has emerged as the most important event in South Asia, drawing global attention," Defence Secretary (production) Pradeep Kumar said in his introductory remarks. With 25 countries participating and 50 official delegations, including many led by their defence ministers and air chiefs, the Indian version of the air show has come of an age to turn into a war theatre for the world's major aerospace firms and a global consortium. A total of 592 firms, including 303 from overseas and 289 from the Indian subcontinent, are showcasing their products and technologies spanning military and civilian sectors to woo the country's three armed services and the burgeoning aviation industry. The Indian government is set to invest a whopping Rs.1.4 trillion ($30 billion) over the next five years to modernise and upgrade its defence services. The IAF order to induct 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) into its depleting fleet as a replacement to the aging MiG-21 old warhorse has made the six global aerospace bidders vie for the estimated $10 billion (Rs 500 billion) contract by flying in their metal birds to show their strike power. A dozen global aerospace firms, including the state-run HAL, as well as US and German air forces have flown in their fighter jets, transport planes, a fleet of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles for flying and static displays at the event. Among them are the American Lockheed Martin with its strike fighter F-16, Boeing with its F-18 Super Hornet, Russian MiG with MiG-35, European consortium with Eurofighter (Typhoon) and HAL/IAF with Sukhoi, Hawk, Intermediate Jet (IJT) and Dhruv. Spanning an area of 44,000 square metres as against 30,000 sq m in 2007, the exhibition area has five international pavilions hosting Australia, Belgium, Germany, Israel and Romania, 54 chalets and about 600 stalls to house international and Indian firms and a host of facilities forming the eco-system. With the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) riding high on the successful launch of India's maiden lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 to the moon, a space pavilion is also put up to flag the country's prowess in space technology and space applications. "We are expecting about 125,000 visitors, including 50,000 business delegates and about 75,000 people from across the country, especially Bangalore and Karnataka," Kumar said. To provide foolproof security and prevent any untoward incident, the venue has been turned into a fortress, with three-tier protective layer, 140 closed circuit television (CCTV), three x-ray machines, radio frequency identification (RFID), 330 defence service corps, 180 air force police personnel as well as platoons of the Central Industrial Security Force and special commando forces.

HAL May Get To Make Half Of Eurocopter's Choppers

HAL May Get To Make Half Of Eurocopter's Choppers

(NSI News Source Info) Bangalore - February 11, 2009: In line for orders worth over ?8 billion from Indian military and civil defence authorities, leading European helicopter maker Eurocopter is looking to outsource 50% of its helicopter production to the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) over the next few years. The?4.5 billion company, a 100% subsidiary of the European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company (EADS), is also looking to set up three new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centres in India. These will help it meet the service requirements for some of these contracts and other business that it may win in India. Eurocopter already maintains an MRO at Noida to service its civilian fleet, run by its Indian distributor, Vectra Aviation. It has signed an MoU with the public sector helicopter operator Pavan Hans, to whom is has supplied 27 Dolphin helicopters, to set up an MRO in Mumbai. It is scouting for an Indian partner to set up another MRO close to Delhi. Rainer Farid, vice president, sales and customer relations told DNA Money the third new MRO could be a JV with HAL in Bangalore. The total investment on the MROs may add up to?150 million ($195 million). Currently, there are five major deals from the Indian defence, paramilitary and civilian authorities that Eurocopter is competing for. The most immediate is the contract for 197 reconnaissance surveillance helicopters (RSH), for the Indian Army and Air Force. The Russians and the British-Italian company AugustaWestland are also competing for the order, which industry sources said be worth $1-2 billion. Eurocopter is pitching the AS 550 Fennec, a lightweight, multipurpose military helicopter. Then there are two of HAL's projects for making 380 Indian multi-role helicopters (IMRH) of 10-12 tonnes in the class of Russian Mi-17 helicopters, and 187 light utility helicopters (LUH), in which Eurocopter is likely to be a partner. While the IMRH is a co-development, co-production project, the LUH is a co-development initiative. This apart, tenders are out for 22 attack helicopter for the Indian Air Force and 16 multi-role helicopters for supply to the Indian Navy. On the civilian side, Eurocopter is negotiating 20-odd deals for supply of various kinds of helicopters with corporate and state governments, Farid said. With Eurocopter slated to be a prominent player in some of these projects, it has already signed MoU with 50 Indian companies, including L&T and Infotech Enterprises, to outsource work such as software development, engineering, aero structuring, and component manufacturing, as mandated under the offset programme of the Union government. It is estimated that India's imports of military hardware and software could reach a cumulative $30 billion by 2012 and Indian companies are in line to get offset orders from global military equipment makers worth nearly $10 billion in the same period. While for the RSH project, the stipulation is 50% of the value of the contract over the supply period, for the other projects, the mandatory outsourcing ranges from 30-40%. HAL is already a member of Eurocopter's global supply chain systems and is currently making one aero structure per day for supply to the European company. "We are planning to shift 50% of our entire production to HAL," Farid said. This would mean anywhere close to 350 helicopters per year, given that Eurocopter supplied close to 700 helicopters last year. "Overall we are selling to stay here and are open to 100% technology transfer to HAL", Farid said, adding the group was thinking to incorporate Eurocopter India Ltd, on the lines of the EADS India Ltd, given its long-term plans.

Russia's TVEL Signs Nuclear Fuel Deal With India

Russia's TVEL Signs Nuclear Fuel Deal With India

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - February 11, 2009: Russian nuclear fuel producer TVEL signed on Wednesday a contract with New Delhi on fuel supplies to Indian nuclear power plants, a spokesman for the Indian Nuclear Energy Department said. The contract, which according to earlier reports is worth over $700 million, makes Russia the first country to supply nuclear fuel to India since the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a three-decade ban on nuclear fuel sales to the country on September 6, 2008. "All the technical details of cooperation with our Indian partners were worked out very quickly and approval took no more than three months," TVEL Vice President Vasily Konstantinov said during the signing ceremony. Under the deal, Russia is to supply India with 2,000 metric tons of uranium pellets. The fuel contract is another step in burgeoning nuclear cooperation between Russia and India. On December 5, Moscow signed an agreement with Delhi to build an additional four reactors for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, where it is finishing two reactors under an earlier contract, and construct new nuclear plants in India. TVEL is one of the world's leading manufacturers of nuclear fuel, which it supplies to 73 commercial (17% of the global market) and 30 research reactors in 13 countries.

Cobra Gold Military Exercise - Joint Forces #2

Cobra Gold Military Exercise - Joint Forces #2

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: Cobra Gold 09 Combined/Joint Information Bureau, U.S. Seaman Christopher Smith from Washington, D.C., directs a Landing Craft as it departs from the beach after transporting Marines and equipment ashore for the Cobra Gold joint military exercise at Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi province, southeastern Thailand Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

The two-week long annual joint exercise involving with nearly 12,000 soldiers from Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia, is considered the largest military operations in the Southeast Asia region.On February 6, 2009 in Sattahip, southeastern Thailand, and released by the US Navy, a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1631 from Assault Craft Unit One arrives from the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) to off load Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold 09.

Philippines Military Hunting Armed Kidnappers In Southern Island

Philippines Military Hunting Armed Kidnappers In Southern Island

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: Heavily armed soldiers patrol Isabela town in Basilan island during an anti-kidnap operation on Februay 9, 2009. Two gunmen were killed as soldiers backed by helicopter gunships attacked the kidnappers of three teachers abducted in the southern Philippines, the military said. Two bodies, along with two Garand rifles, assorted grenades and ammunition, were found after Marines clashed with the kidnappers in a forested area near Akbar town on the southern island of Basilan, military officials said.

Al Qaeda Warns India Against Attacking Pakistan

Al Qaeda Warns India Against Attacking Pakistan

(NSI News Source Info) London - February 11, 2009: Osama bin Laden’s terror group al Qaeda has warned India against attacking Pakistan, saying it would have to pay a ‘heavy price’ if it tried to do so. The threat, issued in a video by Mustafa Abu al-Yazid – al Qaeda’s operative in Afghanistan and Pakistan – was received by British television network, the BBC. al-Yazid, in the 20-minute video, said in Arabic: “We will bring mujahideen and suicide attackers from all over the Muslim world to confront you (India). They will target your economic centres and raze them to the ground.” He further said the decision to kill former Pakistani Prime Minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto was made by al Qaeda leader Aiman Al-Zawahiri.

In the video, Abu al-Yazid also lashed out at the Pakistani government and Army, and denounced Islamabad’s ban imposed on militant organisations following the Mumbai terror attacks. The threat has also exposed Pakistan, which had claimed that Abu al-Yazid was killed in a US drone strike in August 2008.

Obama Could Order More Troops To Afghanistan This Week

Obama Could Order More Troops To Afghanistan This Week

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: US military chief Adm Mike Mullen says more American troops are needed urgently in Afghanistan. Adm Mullen, who chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said time was of the essence. Speaking in Canada - a Nato ally - he said it was not enough to clear areas of Taliban insurgents, but territory had to be held. President Barack Obama is expected to announce soon how many extra US troops would be sent to Afghanistan, and has called for Nato reinforcements. Adm Mullen said extra troops had to be deployed urgently. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (R) inspect the guard of honor during their meeting in Kabul February 10, 2009. "We've got to have enough forces in there to hold (territory), which we haven't had in the past." US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said President Obama is likely to decide on boosting troops in Afghanistan in "the next few days". Military officials say some 20-30,000 troops could be deployed in 2009. Correspondents say the security situation in Afghanistan - and the fight against Taleban insurgents there - is one of the incoming US administration's foreign policy priorities. Afghan police inspect the carter created by an explosion near a U.S military base in Khost, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. A bomb struck a NATO convoy in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing two soldiers and wounding one, a spokesman for the alliance said. Police spokesman Wazir Pacha said the attack in Khost province was carried out by a suicide bomber in a vehicle. There are currently about 60,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan - most of them are part of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). The troops include about 33,000 US soldiers and some 28,000 Nato forces from 40 countries

Somalia's Pirates Should Be Dealt With Strong Hand And Given A Heavy Blow In Their Own Home-Ground

Somalia's Pirates Should Be Dealt With Strong Hand And Given A Heavy Blow In Their Own Home-Ground

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: Somali pirates are poised for renewed attacks on shipping off the coast of Somalia, according to the Royal Navy's Cdr Gerry Northwood, the head of operations for the EU's anti-piracy taskforce, codenamed Operation Atalanta. The multinational force, commanded by a British Rear Admiral, was deployed in December with the principal aim of protecting vulnerable food ships travelling to Somalia. Compared with last autumn, pirate attacks off Somalia are down this year, but that may be about to change. In this undated photo released by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and distributed by Kyodo News, the JMSDF destroyer Sazanami is shown. Japan said Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 it will dispatch two destroyers, the 4,650-ton Sazanami and the 4,550-ton Samidare, to waters off Somalia for a mission protecting its commercial vessels against pirates. Multinational naval officers at the Northwood base, just outside London, say increased patrolling by coalition warships has reduced the number of successful hijackings. But Cdr Northwood is warning that the pirates' supply of captured ships is running low, tempting them to renew their attacks. "What we've seen in the recent past, as many as 15 or 16 vessels held hostage or hijacked and under ransom negotiation, we're down to seven now, or the pirates are down to seven vessels held, so the indications are they've got plenty of space down there for some more," Cdr Northwood told the BBC. "So if you look at that in terms of the numbers held against what they can do and achieve in terms of ransom negotiations, there's every expectation that you would expect them to go out there and try and bring in some more vessels." Four warships The EU taskforce does not exactly boast an armada. It has precisely four warships - from Britain, France, Germany and Greece - and a single maritime patrol aircraft, all expected to cover more than a million square miles of ocean. Somali pirates can afford to be patient and with more than a million square miles of ocean to patrol, no one is expecting instant results .But the dramatic rise in piracy off Somalia last year - up 200% from 2007 - drew the world's attention and now there are warships from Russia, China, India and other countries all working in coordination with the EU taskforce to patrol the western Indian Ocean. The US Navy also has its own dedicated anti-piracy taskforce, CTF151, based in Bahrain. So I asked Cdr Northwood if any of these coalition warships were ever able to get to a merchant vessel under attack in time to actually stop it being hijacked. "From the point when the merchant vessel has seen the pirates to the point where they are on his bridge and it is game over, is about 10 minutes," he said. If the merchant vessels can take protective measures, he added - either by putting up barricades to block the pirates getting on board, or locking themselves into their super-structure and making it difficult for the pirates to gain access - that buys the coalition force time. "If they can extend that period out to about 30 or 40 minutes, it actually becomes very feasible that a coalition warship, or helicopter, or maritime patrol aircraft will arrive on the scene and will be able to assist them." Hostage situation Down in the taskforce HQ's Joint Operations Centre watch, officers from several European countries are monitoring maritime traffic, logging requests for protection and keeping in constant email contact with several navies. Operation Atalanta is just two months into a one-year deployment When a merchant vessel comes under attack the ship's master usually has time to activate a security alert which is picked up by the UK Maritime Trade Office in Dubai, and the taskforce is alerted. But by their officers' own admission, once a ship is taken over by pirates there is not much the warships can do. By then it is effectively a hostage situation, with the pirates taking care to feed and protect their captured crew and cargo while the bargaining goes on, often for months, to secure their release unharmed. Rarely is anyone prepared to risk an armed confrontation with the pirates when they are holding crew members at gunpoint. Hooks and ladders At the headquarters of Operation Atalanta, staff have built up a comprehensive picture of how the Somali pirates operate and according to Cmdr Northwood, it varies from north to south of the coastline. Pirates operating from Puntland, mainly in the Gulf of Aden, favour using ladders, he said. The EU taskforce seems to be having some deterrent effect on pirates "A skiff (a low fast boat used by pirates) that is up to no good will probably have about three or four feet of ladder extended over the front of the boat," he added. "And also within the boat you'll also have a tarpaulin, and under the tarpaulin there will be a few extra crew members hiding themselves away, plus their stash of AK47s and rocket propelled grenades, so they come quite well armed." Further south, off Hoboyo on the east coast of Somalia, the group that operate tends to favour using grappling hooks, he added. The pirates, say naval officers, tend to station themselves out to sea overnight, often chewing the narcotic qat leaf, then between first light and mid-morning they close in and attack the first vulnerable looking merchant ship they spot. Their favoured approach is to come up from behind on the port side, often choosing the point where the ship's freeboard - the distance between the deck and the waterline - is at its lowest. Frequently, they are deterred by non-lethal methods like water cannons or even barbed wire but when they do manage to climb aboard they often fire their assault rifles, and even their rocket-propelled grenades, indiscriminately. Early days One officer said it is a miracle more people have not been killed this way. This begs the question: Should merchant vessels be arming themselves in defence, as suggested controversially in December by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates? Captain Richard Farrington, Operation Atalanta's Chief of Staff, thinks not. "Industry thinks it's a bad thing, we think it's a dangerous thing and we would not condone it," he told the BBC. "It's ultimately down to the decision of the individual shipping company but it brings with it as many problems as it does solutions and on balance we think it's more likely to escalate a difficult situation than improve it." It is still early days for Operation Atalanta: It is just two months into a one-year deployment. So far, the signs are that the EU's limited taskforce is having some deterrent effect on the pirates. But piracy is a multi-million dollar business, Somali pirates can afford to be patient and with more than a million square miles of ocean to patrol, no-one is expecting instant results.

£1 Billion 'Spy Jets' Join RAF Squadron / Raytheon Has Delivered Sentinel R Mk 1 Aircraft To Royal Air Force

£1 Billion 'Spy Jets' Join RAF Squadron / Raytheon Has Delivered Sentinel R Mk 1 Aircraft To Royal Air Force

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: "Spy planes" that could help detect roadside bombs from seven-and-a-half miles above the ground have just entered squadron service after successful trials in Afghanistan. How effective would they be in fighting the Taleban and saving lives? At almost £1bn for five, the Sentinel R1 jet does not come cheap, but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) hopes its latest "eye in the sky" will have a real impact. Raytheon has delivered the fifth and final Sentinel R Mk 1 aircraft to the Royal Air Force’s 5 (AC) Squadron at RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire. The Sentinel R1 jet would work alongside the existing Nimrod fleet. The twin-engined plane carries some of the world's most sophisticated radar equipment, allowing it to detect and track enemy movement over huge areas. 'Vital platform' The Army hopes the Royal Air Force jets will provide a clearer picture of insurgents' positions as well as pinpoint static and fixed targets. The number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 143. The Airborne Stand-Off Radar (Astor) can cover thousands of square miles, looking deep into valleys, picking out well-used enemy routes and mapping vehicle activity

Information is relayed to ground stations within seconds of the images being captured, allowing troops below to react at speed to tactical planning. Intelligence Corps detachment commander, Major Will Tosh, told the BBC: "The system is unique in terms of its search capability, because it looks at such a large area. "It can pick up a lot of data and see what's happening on the ground, saving time and effort. Commanders can see where activity is and what it is, and move forces into that area." He said the planes could be used as a "tool" in the battle against insurgency, including roadside bomb attacks, but only in conjunction with other systems. He added that because the plane flew so high it would be outside the engagement zone and away from the threat of surface to air missiles. Mobile ground stations receive data covering thousands of miles Sentinel R1's are operated by a crew of five - two pilots, two imagery analysts and a commander - and can fly for more than nine hours at a time. The radar works by looking down to the ground while the aircraft flies in a straight line. It transmits pulses and receives target information as it moves, building up a picture of the target area. Powerful computers and software then allow rapid processing of the information. It is also compatible with joint coalition systems such as the US JStars radar programme. Maj Tosh said the Sentinel's would work alongside existing Nimrods to "compliment" but not replace any of their functions. "The Nimrod has a full motion video sensor, our system doesn't. We have a radar platform and can work day and night through bad weather, the Nimrod can't," he said. The Sentinel was successfully tested in Afghanistan in November and December last year by 3 Commando Brigade. The MoD has spent £954m on five aircraft plus eight ground stations to be operated by 5 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. The fifth and final Sentinel R1 has just been delivered to the base. Group Captain Harry Kemsley said: "This system is about answering the questions the customer on the ground needs answering - getting the information soldiers need to the soldiers. "The ability to look beyond the range of the eye, binoculars and rifle sight is now available with our system. " Peter Felstead, editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, agreed, saying it was a vital platform for surveillance which would bring "significant capability" to forces in the field.

*Radar creates detailed images comparable to images taken by satellites

*Two Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR710 turbo fan engines *40,000ft maximum altitude *Crew of five can fly for nine hours without jet having to refuel *A thrust of 14,750lbs each with a 0.75Mach maximum speed *Contract awarded to Raytheon Systems in 1999 Source: Royal Air Force

Maj Tosh said he hoped the jets would be deployed in Afghanistan as quickly as possible so they could "do it for real". "The system is introducing a new capability into the British arsenal that we don't currently have, it's cutting-edge technology which will only get better in the future," he said. "The system is that flexible, it can fit into any scenario, and is not just contained by the current Afghan situation." The RAF said Astor would become the most advanced long-range, airborne surveillance system of its kind in the world.

President Obama Greets Military Personnel At Andrews Air Force Base In Maryland

President Obama Greets Military Personnel At Andrews Air Force Base In Maryland

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: President Barack Obama greets military personnel and their families before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. Obama will hold a town hall style meeting about the economy in Fort Myers, Fla., before returning to Washington. President Obama headed for Air Force One after greeting Air Force security forces who are being deployed to Iraq. The president was at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, about to begin a trip to Florida to push his economic recovery plan.