Iran Says Air-To-Sea Missile Test Successful

Iran Says Air-To-Sea Missile Test Successful

(NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN - March 9, 2009: Iran said March 8 it "successfully" tested a new air-to-sea missile with a range of 110 kilometers (68 miles), the Fars news agency reported. It did not say when the test was conducted. "Iranian defense specialists are able to successfully install missiles with a range of 110 kilometers on fighter planes and launch them," the report said, adding that the high-precision weapon weighs about 500 kilos. The report said the latest test showed the Islamic republic's "ability to automatically direct the missile and carry warheads to destroy large targets at sea." The announcement comes just days after a top military commander said Iran has missiles that can reach nuclear facilities in its arch-foe Israel. Mohammed Ali Jafari, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, said Tehran has missiles with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers, bringing all of Israel within range. But defense analysts question the accuracy of Iran's longer-range missiles. Jafari's comment came amid sustained speculation that Israel could target Iranian nuclear plants. Israel has a major nuclear facility at Dimona in the Negev desert, at which it is widely believed to have developed a nuclear arsenal. Israel maintains a policy of neither confirming nor denying a nuclear capability, but it is suspected to have more than 200 warheads. Iran does not recognize the Jewish state and has repeatedly predicted its demise.

Pentagon: Chinese Ships Harass U.S. Navy Vessel

Pentagon: Chinese Ships Harass U.S. Navy Vessel

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 9, 2009: Several Chinese ships maneuvered dangerously close to an unarmed U.S. Military Sealift Command ship in international waters, the Pentagon said on Monday. "This was a reckless, dangerous maneuver that was unprofessional" and violated international law, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters. He said the United States would be conveying its "displeasure" to the Chinese government over the incident, which occurred on Sunday in the South China Sea, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Hinan Island. One of the Chinese vessels came within 25 feet and at one point the Chinese crew stripped to their underwear, he said. The Chinese also dropped pieces of wood into the water in the path of the American ship, he said. The small Chinese vessels, which resembled fishing boats, had no apparent military markings, according to photos Whitman showed to reporters. The Impeccable is one of five ocean surveillance ships that are part of Military Sealift Command's Special Mission Ships Program. These ships gather "underwater acoustical data," Whitman said. Ocean surveillance ships use both passive and active low frequency sonar arrays to detect and track undersea threats. Impeccable's speed is 12 knots, and crew is usually 25 civilian mariners and 25 military members, according to MSC's Web site.

UK Home Office To Fund Purchase of Six EC135 Helicopters / UK Government To Fund Purchase Of Six New Police Eurocopter EC135 Helicopters

UK Home Office To Fund Purchase of Six EC135 Helicopters / UK Government To Fund Purchase Of Six New Police Eurocopter EC135 Helicopters

(NSI News Source Info) OXFORD - March 9, 2009: The Home Office has announced funding for the purchase of six new police Eurocopter EC135 helicopters through a 2009/10 £5m capital grant for air support, as part of the first joint procurement by six UK police forces. The grant will also provide enhanced state of the art mission equipment.

The EC135 can trace its history back to before the formation of Eurocopter. It was started as the BO 108 by MBB of Germany in the mid-eighties. A technology demonstrator ('V1') flew for the first time on 17 October 1988, powered by two Allison 250-C20R/1 engines. A second BO 108 ('V2') followed on 5 June 1991, this time with two Turboméca TM319-1B Arrius engines. Both these machines had a conventional tail rotor.

The Police Air Support Units in Suffolk, Cheshire, North Wales, Cleveland, Midlands and Chilterns will each receive a new EC135P2i helicopter. However, the helicopters will be used by up to a total of 18 neighbouring police forces as part of regional consortia, including a Midlands regional collaboration pilot project to trial more efficient joint police air operations.

Across the UK, 27 Police Forces favour the Eurocopter family concept, operating both the EC135 and its larger derivative, the EC145. The EC135/ EC145 helicopter family provide “best in class” technology and perfectly adapted mission equipment meeting the today’s stringent requirements for traditional Air Support and multi-role extended Police Air Operations and Intervention. This is part of a global trend which sees rotary platforms increasingly used as a complement to police forces on the ground in surveillance, search, pursuit and other law enforcement missions, as well as some night time rescue missions.

Markus Steinke, Managing Director of Eurocopter UK, commented: “The decision of the Home Office to fund the purchase of six EC135 helicopters for UK Police Forces confirms our position as the leader in the UK civil and parapublic market as well as valued supplier to the UK Government and its civil and military agencies. We are proud to continue to serve the interests of UK law enforcement with this pioneering approach to joint procurement, offering UK Police Forces the most advanced helicopters on the market.”

Eurocopter remains the undisputed worldwide leader in the civil and parapublic market with more than 50% market share and has 76% of the police market in the UK. The EC135 helicopter is a multipurpose twin engine aircraft with advanced design and state of the art technology, making it ideally suited for Law Enforcement missions.

For more than 10 years the EC135 has been the preferred choice of worldwide Public Services operators. Each of the helicopters will feature the latest Airborne Law Enforcement and Police Reconnaissance & Surveillance systems as well as interoperable communications means, including daylight and thermal imaging cameras, Nightsun search lights, video down-link system and Tetra radios, which will allow easy communication both with police on the ground and with the other emergency services. System integration and fit out will be performed at Eurocopter’s customisation center in Oxford.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2008, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.5 billion Euros, orders for 715 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.

Denmark’s Terma Wins New F-35 Contract / Terma Secures F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Contract

Denmark’s Terma Wins New F-35 Contract / Terma Secures F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Contract (NSI News Source Info) March 9, 2009: Terma has entered into an additional contract for parts for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft which is among the candidates to become Denmark's new fighter aircraft. On 24 February 2009, Terma signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to supply parts for the F-35 aircraft stabilizers. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is among the candidates to become Denmark's new fighter aircraft. Denmark has joined the Joint Strike Fighter program as a Level 3 partner and the Royal Danish Air Force is considering the replacement of 48 of its aging F-16 fighters with next generation aircraft. While the United States is the primary customer and financial backer, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark have agreed to contribute US$4.375 billion toward the development costs of the program. Level 3 partners are Canada, US$475 million; Turkey, US$195 million; Australia, US$144 million; Norway, US$122 million and Denmark, US$110 million. Israel and Singapore have joined as Security Cooperative Participants (SCP). ”Participation in the F-35 program is based on a Best Value approach, and with this contract, Terma proves that we can deliver world-class high-tech solutions at competitive prices," says Jens Maaløe, President & CEO of Terma A/S. He continues: ”Terma has entered into a series of specific orders for the F-35 on a continuous basis, and we expect to win more contracts in the coming years." The agreement between Lockheed Martin and Terma includes the supply of advanced aircraft components for the stabilizers, primarily produced in composite materials. With this contract, Terma now supplies a range of components for the F-35. Besides structures for the aircraft stabilizers, this includes conventional edges for the aircraft wings and parts for the fuselage, pods for advanced test equipment, and high-tech electrical components. "The parts we supply for the F-35 are all solutions which require highly skilled employees and cutting-edge technology. Therefore, our staff and our manufacturing facilities are in constant development in order to maintain our position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of structures for aircraft," says Jens Maaløe, President & CEO of Terma. At this early stage, the F-35 is in development and in its initial low rate production phase. This multi-million DKK contract covers the 17 aircraft included in the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 3 phase of the program. Lockheed Martin expects to manufacture more than 3,000 F-35 aircraft, and when full-rate production is initiated in 2015, Lockheed Martin will manufacture one F-35 aircraft per day. Terma is a leading Denmark-based defense, aerospace, and security company. The company realized 2007/08 sales of approximately USD 180 million and employs approximately 1,300 people worldwide. Terma A/S is headquartered in Århus, Denmark and maintains subsidiary facilities and operations in a number of European countries, Singapore, and in the U.S., including the wholly owned subsidiary, Terma North America Inc.

Indonesian Navy Receiving fourth Corvette Warship "KRI Frans Kaisiepo" By DSNS / Indonesian Navy’s Fourth And Final Sigma-Class Corvette

Indonesian Navy Receiving fourth Corvette Warship "KRI Frans Kaisiepo" By DSNS / Indonesian Navy’s Fourth And Final Sigma-Class Corvette

(NSI News Source Info) March 9, 2009: After finishing of outfitting details and performing successful sea trials, the fourth SIGMA CLASS Corvette, "KRI Frans Kaisiepo", built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) was handed-over and commissioned to the Navy of the Republic of Indonesia. The Sigma class corvette is a patrol boat with ocean capabilities. The Indonesian variant is based on the Sigma 9113 design. Work on the first of the class, KRI Diponegoro, began with the first steel cutting conducted in October 2004. The ship was christened on September 16, 2006 and commissioned on July 2, 2007 by Admiral Slamet Soebijanto, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff. Options for 2 other units were exercised on January 2006 with the first steel cut commenced on 3rd April 2006 in Damen's Schelde Naval Shipbuilding yard, Vlissingen-Oost yard and not in Surabaya stated earlier. In 28 August 2007, Jane's Missiles and Rockets reported that Indonesia was having problems securing the export license for the MM-40 Exocet block II and are considering Chinese made C-802 anti-ship missiles as alternatives. However, the ships have already been delivered with the Exocet missiles. The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Prof. Dr. Juwono Sudarsono, signed the hand-over documents on behalf of the Republic of Indonesia. The commissioning into the Indonesian Navy of the Corvette was done by the Chief of Navy of the Republic of Indonesia, Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijanto. The delivery of the last of 4 Corvettes took place within 3 years after the effective date of Contract. The crew of the "KRI Frans Kaisiepo" will sail back home to Surabaya on April the 11th, after a thorough crew training by the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Israel Believes Iran Can Build Nuclear Weapons

Israel Believes Iran Can Build Nuclear Weapons

(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM - March 9, 2009: Iran is now capable of producing atomic weapons, Israel's top military intelligence officer said Sunday, sounding the highest-level warning that Israel's arch-enemy has achieved independent nuclear capability. At a Cabinet meeting, the chief of military intelligence, Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, did not say Iran already has an atomic bomb, participants said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, center, convenes the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 8, 2009. However, he said, Iran has "crossed the threshold" and has the expertise and materials needed for one. The participants spoke on condition of anonymity because the Cabinet meeting was closed. They said Yadlin told them that Iran continues to accumulate uranium for enrichment and hopes to exploit the Obama administration's intention to open a dialogue as a cover for developing nuclear weapons. Yadlin's comments follow a similar assessment by the U.S. military chief, Adm. Mike Mullen. He said a week ago that Iran has enough fissile material to build a bomb now. Israeli officials have long identified a nuclear Iran as the most serious threat to the Jewish state. Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has repeatedly called for destruction of Israel, and Iran has tested long-range missiles that could strike Israel. Israel's long-held policy is that the world must cooperate to defuse the Iranian nuclear threat. While not directly threatening to take out Iran's nuclear facilities, Israel has avoided taking the military option off the table. Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, who is putting together the next Israeli government, for years has said that Iran represents an existential threat to the Jewish state. He is seen as more likely than other Israeli leaders to order an attack. However, most experts believe that wiping out the Iranian nuclear program is beyond the ability of Israel's military. In 1982 the Israeli air force destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor in a lightning strike, but Iran's facilities are scattered around the country, some of them underground. Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Israel has been watching carefully how Washington develops its policy toward Iran. Unlike his predecessor, George W. Bush, President Barack Obama has called for diplomatic contacts with Iran as a way of persuading its rulers to drop their nuclear ambitions. In talks last week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Israeli officials raised concerns about Iran's intentions and questions about the Obama administration's approach. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he did not object in principle to the idea of U.S-Iran talks, but he warned that Iran could use the contacts to stall while it readies its nuclear arsenal. Olmert said that would be unacceptable. Israeli strategic analyst Yossi Alpher said Yadlin's determination must be taken seriously. "It clearly renders the entire issue of how to deal with Iran both for the Obama administration and for Israel more urgent," he said. "It affects possible diplomatic initiatives, sanctions and the military option." Last week an Iranian leader declared that Iran's missiles can strike all of Israel's nuclear facilities. The main Israeli reactor is in the southern Negev desert, and a smaller research reactor is closer to the center of the country. Experts quoted in foreign publications believe Israel has several hundred nuclear weapons. Israel neither confirms nor denies reports about its nuclear capabilities.

Taiwan Wants To Establish Contacts With Chinese army, Official Says

Taiwan Wants To Establish Contacts With Chinese army, Official Says

(NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - March 9, 2009: Taiwan is working on setting up a think tank to coordinate contacts with the Chinese military, a Defense Ministry official said Monday, in what would be one of the most significant steps so far in rapidly improving relations between the sides. The official's comments follow last week's assertion by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that Beijing is ready to hold talks with Taiwan on political and military issues aimed at ending hostility with the rival island. Since the inauguration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in May, long-standing tensions between Taiwan and China have begun to recede, prompted by Ma's renunciation of his predecessor's pro-independence policies, and his continuing efforts to deepen the island's economic relations with the mainland. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry official told The Associated Press that the purpose of the new liaison organization would be to build mutual trust with the Chinese military "on a step by step basis." He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject . "We want to establish a think tank to reduce the unsafe factors in relations between the sides," he said, without elaborating. He added that the new organization could be part of a research body at a Taiwanese university but said that no final decision had yet been made. China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing continues to see the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened war if it moves to make their break permanent. Last month the Taiwanese Cabinet-level body responsible for relations with the mainland said that Beijing had some 1,500 missiles aimed at Taiwanese military and civilian targets - an increase of more than 100 since Ma entered office. The new president has spoken repeatedly of the need for "confidence building measures" between the Taiwanese and Chinese militaries as a prelude to signing a formal peace treaty. He has frequently pointed to the existence of Chinese missiles as a significant barrier to better relations. In remarks last week to the opening session of China's National People's Congress, Wen said that Beijing was ready to hold talks with Taiwan to "create conditions for ending the state of hostility and concluding a peace agreement." The remarks were similar to ones made by President Hu Jintao in December.

Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf Ready For ‘Useful’ Role If Asked / Obama Would Not Like To See Musharraf Back, Was Given U.S. Aid Of $10 Billion.......

Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf Ready For ‘Useful’ Role If Asked / Obama Would Not Like To See Musharraf Back, Was Given U.S. Aid Of $10 Billion During His Tenure

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - March 9, 2009: Former president General Pervez Musharraf has said he would consider returning to politics again provided he was invited to play a useful role for the country, Press Trust of India said on Saturday, quoting from an interview he gave to an Indian TV channel. Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf addresses a meeting of Indian businessmen in New Delhi, India. ‘If someone offers, I will see whether I can play a role and then I will take the offer. I won't like to be a useless President,’ Gen Musharraf told Aaj Tak TV channel, a sister unit of the India Today group that has invited him on a private visit to India. The former army chief was responding to a question if he wants a second chance to rule the country. Gen Musharraf said he was not missing anything even after being out of power. ‘I am relaxing with family, playing golf, meeting friends and reading and writing,’ he said. The former president claimed that hundreds of thousands of Hindus in Pakistan are his ‘great supporters’. He blamed India for ignoring the ‘real issue’ of resolution of Kashmir issue while talking about terror attacks and terrorist camps in his country. Accepting that Pakistan is facing many problems in the post-Musharraf period, he said, ‘At that time, circumstances were such that I had to go. Now, economic issues, political turmoil and terrorism are the problems faced by Pakistan.’ India, Pakistan need peace Pervez Musharraf called Saturday for peaceful relations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to allow them to fight terrorism more effectively, AFP adds. ‘We must realise we are the victims of terrorism and extremism and we must go for solutions together,’ Musharraf, who stepped down from political office last year, told a conference in New Delhi. ‘Terrorism has to be defeated... in the world, in Pakistan and in India,’ he said. He said he believed ‘the dream of peace’ is possible between the neighbours which have fought three wars against each other, two over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. But Musharraf said the two sides needed to build trust and that the issue of Kashmir needed to be resolved swiftly. ‘Kashmir remains the key dispute and the sore point,’ he said. Musharraf said both sides needed to be bold to confront the main challenges — ‘the curse of terrorism and extremism,’ poverty, underdevelopment and hostility between the two countries. Both must avoid ‘whipping up war hysteria and creating hatred in the public because of any terrorist attack that may have taken place,’ he said.

Pakistan: ‘Foreign Element’ In Cricket Attack: Imran Khan / Imran Khan Wants To Be In Limelight To Capitalize On The Factor

Pakistan: ‘Foreign Element’ In Cricket Attack: Imran Khan / Imran Khan Wants To Be In Limelight To Capitalize On The Factor

Imran Khan makes no sense giving statements to the media without proper intelligence knowledge blaming third parties India, Afghanistan, the Tamil Tigers for Lahore attack, as he just wanted to be in limelight to capitalize on the factor. An investigation into the attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Lahore has found signs that Pakistani militants with possible ties to al Qaeda were responsible, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Pakistani Militants Seen Most Likely Behind Attack....By Dawn News (Link)

(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD - March 9, 2009: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan believes a ‘foreign element’ could be involved in this week's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, according to an interview published Saturday. ‘It could be India, Afghanistan, the Tamil Tigers,’ Khan was quoted as saying in an interview published online by The Times of London.

"It could be India, Afghanistan, the Tamil Tigers": Imran Khan Imran Khan makes no sense giving statements to the media without proper intelligence knowledge blaming third parties India, Afghanistan, the Tamil Tigers for Lahore attack, as he just wanted to be in limelight to capitalize on the factor. An investigation into the attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Lahore has found signs that Pakistani militants with possible ties to al Qaeda were responsible, a senior government official said on Saturday. ‘The motive is to damage the state of Pakistan and end cricket here. The shocking thing is that there was so little security for the players,’ Khan said. Khan said that he now feared that Pakistan would be treated as a pariah by the rest of the world and that it was already being described as a ‘failed state’ and a breeding ground for terrorists. ‘This attack was guaranteed front-page news everywhere in the world,’ Khan said. ‘The perpetrators wanted to portray Pakistan as a chaotic state in the Dark Ages. Yesterday, the stock market took a nosedive. Pakistan is a resilient country but we have gone from crisis to crisis.’ Khan's belief that foreigners may be involved in the cricket attack echoes Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik, who told reporters Friday that, ‘I cannot rule out (involvement of a) foreign hand in the incident.’ Khan said that almost all the terrorism taking place in Pakistan since 2004, when its army was sent into the tribal areas, had been suicide attacks. He said that last year there were over 100 suicide attacks ‘but they have a pattern. They are always in retaliation.’ He said that this week's ambush by 12 gunmen was different. ‘They had an escape route —it was well planned. I certainly don't think this was done by ideological terrorists, motivated to blow themselves up.’ said Khan, who retired from cricket in 1992 and now heads his own political party. Khan blamed the escalation of violence in Pakistan on its previous government's decision to join the US ‘war on terror’ following the September 11 2001 attacks in New York. He said this had made Pakistan a front-line state in the battle against al Qaeda, which should never have been allowed. ‘The decision to send the Pakistani army into the tribal areas simply fuelled extremism... That turned people against the army and a new phenomenon was created: the Pakistan Taliban.’