DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Taliban Behead 17 At Afghan Party 'With Music And Dancing'

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Taliban Behead 17 At Afghan Party 'With Music And Dancing'

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Mamoon Durrani (AFP)
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 27, 2012: Taliban Islamist insurgents beheaded 17 civilians, including two women, who were holding a party with music in a southern Afghanistan village, officials said Monday.

"I can confirm that this is the work of the Taliban," the Helmand provincial governor's spokesman Daud Ahmadi told AFP, referring to the hardliners notorious during their rule for public executions and the suppression of music and parties.

"Two women and 15 men were beheaded. They were partying with music in an area under the control of the Taliban," he said.

Nematullah Khan, the Musa Qala district chief confirmed that the villagers had organised a party with music, and one local official said he suspected that the two women had been dancing.

Secret parties with dancing women from a gypsy-type tribe are common across southern Afghanistan.

During their 1996-2001 rule in Afghanistan the Taliban, waging a fierce insurgency against the NATO-backed government of President Hamid Karzai, also tried to stop the mixing of men and women who were not related.

The latest atrocity happened near Zamindawar village, an area on the border between Kajaki and Musa Qala districts where the Taliban are active.

The insurgents have in the past been blamed for beheading local villagers, mostly over charges of spying for Afghan and US-led NATO forces.

Haji Musa Khan, a tribal elder in Musa Qala district, said the region had seen a surge in such killings in recent months.

"We had three people beheaded during the month of Ramadan. Another person, the son of a tribal elder, was beheaded recently," he said.

Khan said the killings followed major military operations by Afghan and NATO troops in the area.

Hours after the beheadings, Taliban insurgents overran an Afghan army post in the same province in a pre-dawn attack on Monday, killing 10 troopers, authorities said.

Four soldiers were wounded and six others were missing following the attack in Helmand's Washir district, senior regional police officer Colonel Mohammad Ismael Hotak told AFP.

Ahmadi confirmed the incident and said the attack was an "insider" plot in which some army soldiers helped the rebels attack the post.

"The Taliban attacked a post in Washir and killed 10 soldiers. Four other soldiers were wounded and five others have gone with the Taliban with their guns," he said. "It was an insider plot."

If it is confirmed that the attack was facilitated by soldiers it will mark a new escalation in a string of insider attacks on Afghan and NATO security forces.

Two NATO soldiers were killed Monday when an Afghan army soldier turned his weapon against them in a "green-on-blue" attack in eastern Laghman province, the US-led International Security Assistance Force said.

"ISAF soldiers returned fire and killed the attacker," ISAF said.

The latest NATO deaths take the toll from insider attacks this month alone to 12 and to a total of 42 this year, making up around 13 percent of all NATO deaths in 2012.

NATO, which has about 130,000 troops in Afghanistan, has struggled to stem the attacks and they have become a major issue in the Afghan war, eroding trust between the two forces.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Mamoon Durrani (AFP)
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Lockheed Martin Wins $65 Million JLTV Engineering And Manufacturing Development Phase

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Lockheed Martin Wins $65 Million JLTV Engineering And Manufacturing Development Phase

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 25, 2012: Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] received a $65 million contract from the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps to continue developing the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) through the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase.

The Lockheed Martin team optimized a JLTV model already proven in government testing to create its EMD design. The production-enhanced JLTV maintains the proven force protection, mobility, transportability and reliability of the earlier Technology Demonstration (TD) model, while significantly reducing weight and cost. The team’s JLTV design reflects improvements from more than 160,000 combined testing miles.

"We are extremely pleased to announce the selection of the Lockheed Martin JLTV design as one of three mature vehicles selected to enter the Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase of the JLTV Program,” said Col. David Bassett, project manager at the JLTV Joint Program Office. “We are confident that the Lockheed Martin team, along with the other two selected vehicles, are ready to demonstrate their ability to meet and exceed our requirements, deliver vehicles on schedule, and achieve the manufacturing and sustainment costs necessary to compete effectively for production."

Formed in 2005, the Lockheed Martin-led JLTV team includes tactical wheeled vehicles expertise at BAE Systems in Sealy, Texas, which is an industry leader in advanced armor solutions and high volume assembly. The team also includes numerous Tier 1 suppliers, including: Allison Transmission, Cummins Engine, L3 Combat Propulsion Systems, Meritor Defense, Robert Bosch LLC and Vehma International of America.

“We’ve had a consistent team since day one, and this win highlights the merits of a stable, proven design,” said Scott Greene, vice president of ground vehicles at Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “Two JLTVs have been produced on an active manufacturing line, so we are already well prepared for rapid production and testing.”

The firm fixed-price contract has a 27-month performance period with deliveries of 22 vehicles taking place within 12 to 14 months. Primary variants with companion trailers include the utility carrier and shelter (JLTV-UTL), a two-seat prime mover with an open bed; and the general-purpose vehicle (JLTV-GP), which is a four-seater that will carry troops, ammunition and small supplies.

Lockheed Martin’s JLTV EMD vehicles are more affordable than their predecessors, offering lower-cost materials with high fuel efficiency and low logistical support costs.  The vehicles offer enhanced crew safety based upon government tests that show the design meets the high blast-protection standards, with margin, of many existing mine-resistant vehicles serving in combat today. Additionally, the Lockheed Martin team shaved hundreds of pounds off the TD design, which was already proven in helicopter lift tests.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.


*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
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DTN News - U.K. DEFENSE NEWS: U.K. Ministry of Defense Ordered 25 Foxhound Vehicles To Add To the Army's Existing Fleet

DTN News - U.K. DEFENSE NEWS: U.K. Ministry of Defense Ordered 25 Foxhound Vehicles To Add To the Army's Existing Fleet

*Army's Foxhound fleet to grow

*The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to procure 25 extra Foxhound vehicles to add to the Army's existing fleet.

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.K. MoD
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 24, 2012: The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to procure 25 extra Foxhound vehicles to add to the Army's existing fleet.

The MOD made an initial order for 200 Foxhound vehicles in November 2010 and a further 100 were requested late last year as part of a £400m package. The latest 25 will be in addition to this at a cost of £30m.

Foxhound, the Army's state-of-the-art light protected patrol vehicle, arrived in Helmand province in June of this year.

The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, made the procurement announcement today at an event at the Army's Bulford Camp showcasing the capabilities of Service personnel from 4th Mechanized Brigade who are preparing to deploy on Operation HERRICK 17.

Mr Luff said:

"I was very pleased to be able to confirm the purchase of 25 additional new Foxhound vehicles.

"Foxhound's cutting-edge technology gives our troops the ability to engage with Afghan civilians, as they must, whilst benefiting from a high level of protection. Personnel from 4th Mechanized Brigade will be amongst the first to use this outstanding new vehicle.

"This is another example of how the MOD, having balanced the budget, is now able to confidently spend money on the equipment that our personnel really need."

Personnel from 4th Mechanized Brigade will be amongst the first to make use of the new Foxhound vehicle on operations. For its size and weight, Foxhound provides unprecedented levels of blast protection against the threats faced by troops on the front line.

Robust enough to withstand the blast from an IED, it has a top speed of 70mph (113km/h). The engine can also be removed and replaced in just 30 minutes and it can drive away from an ambush on only three wheels.

4th Mechanized Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan in October for a six-month tour as the lead formation of Task Force Helmand. Due to the significant progress in the development of the Afghan National Security Forces it will be the first brigade to oversee a drawdown of British troops from Helmand province, with the UK's military commitment there due to be cut by 500 by the end of the year.

The showcase at Bulford has enabled members of the Task Force to show off their skills, from marksmanship and search dog handling, through to the challenges of having to cook for thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen and women on a daily basis.

Brigadier Bob Bruce, Commander of 4th Mechanized Brigade, said:

"Today has enabled many of the men and women who will deploy on HERRICK 17 to showcase not only the high quality equipment with which they will deploy but also the result of the extensive pre-deployment training that they have conducted.

"4th Mechanized Brigade previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, but a lot has changed since then. Now we are well down the path of transition - the handover of security responsibilities to our Afghan colleagues - and our strategic outlook is very different to what it was two years ago.

"Notably, we will be the first Task Force to see our numbers reduce during the course of our tour, a big challenge but one we will embrace.

"We are an experienced and well-balanced Task Force; while based on a regular Army formation we also have a number of regular Royal Navy and RAF Service personnel in our ranks, as well as a number of reservists who have readily volunteered their time to accompany us to the front line."

The tour will see 'The Black Rats', as 4th Mechanized Brigade is also known, working in support of the Afghan National Army's 3/215 Brigade and the Afghan National Police in their mission to bring security and stability to a region that has known years of unrest but has seen steady progress thanks to the efforts of Afghan, British and other international forces.

Approximately 10 per cent of the personnel who deploy on Op HERRICK 17 will be reservists, including elements of 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital and 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery.

Mr Luff added:

"I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet some of the members of 4th Mechanized Brigade who will deploy to Afghanistan in the autumn and will face an entirely new challenge.

"They continue the work of their predecessor brigades and also oversee the beginning of our drawdown as Afghanistan looks ahead to a future with its own Armed Forces taking the security lead."

4th Mechanized Brigade will replace 12th Mechanized Brigade when they deploy on Op HERRICK 17 in October 2012.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.K. MoD
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DTN News - OSHKOSH DEFENSE NEWS: Oshkosh Defense Receives EMD Contract To Develop JLTV - The Future of Light Tactical Vehicles

DTN News - OSHKOSH DEFENSE NEWS:  Oshkosh Defense Receives EMD Contract To Develop JLTV - The Future of Light Tactical Vehicles

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Oshkosh Defense
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 23, 2012: The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), a contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program’s Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase.  The JLTV program aims to replace many of the U.S. military’s aged HMMWVs with a lightweight vehicle that offers greater protection, mobility and transportability.

“The JLTV program is critical to supporting our troops who stand in harm’s way and deserve the best equipment that industry can provide,” said John Urias, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Oshkosh Defense.  “The Oshkosh JLTV solution will allow the Army and Marine Corps to provide unprecedented levels of protection and off-road mobility in a light vehicle – so that their troops can accomplish their missions and return home safely.”

JLTV is managed by the Joint U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps program, under the leadership of the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS).  Under the contract, Oshkosh will deliver 22 Oshkosh-designed and manufactured JLTV prototypes within 365 days of contract award, and support government testing and evaluation of the prototypes. 

Since 2006, Oshkosh has invested significantly in independent R&D to develop its JLTV solution.  Oshkosh employed a generational product development approach that aligned to rapidly evolving technical requirements.  As a result, the Oshkosh JLTV delivers the latest automotive technologies, an advanced crew protection system, and a next generation TAK-4i™ independent suspension system to achieve JLTV performance at an affordable price.  The Oshkosh JLTV is fully tested, ready for initial production, and meets or exceeds the requirements of the JLTV program.

“The Oshkosh JLTV solution was designed with a purpose – to keep Warfighters safe on future battlefields with unpredictable terrain, tactics, and threats,” said John Bryant, vice president and general manager of Joint and Marine Corps Programs for Oshkosh Defense.  “Oshkosh has a 90-year history of delivering high quality military vehicle programs on-time and on-budget, and our JLTV program is no exception.  We understand how critical this light, protected, off-road vehicle will be to Warfighters.” 

The Oshkosh JLTV solution, called the Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle, or L-ATV, offers an advanced crew protection system that has been extensively tested and is proven to optimize crew survivability.  The L-ATV can accept multiple armor configurations, which allows the vehicle to adapt easily to changing operational requirements. The L-ATV also applies the Oshkosh TAK-4i™ intelligent independent-suspension system to provide significantly faster speeds when operating off-road, which can be critical to troops’ safety. 

Oshkosh Defense has an unwavering commitment to the men and women who serve our nation.  Notably, Oshkosh was awarded the M-ATV contract in June 2009 on an urgent needs basis.  Oshkosh ramped up production at a historical pace – delivering 1,000 vehicles per month within six months.  Oshkosh delivered more than 8,700 M-ATVs, most of which were deployed in Afghanistan and are credited for saving thousands of troops’ lives. 

“Oshkosh’s M-ATV is the only vehicle in the combat theater in Afghanistan performing the JLTV’s mission profile,” said Bryant. “We delivered more than 8,700 M-ATV’s on-time and on-budget, and Oshkosh will bring the same level of commitment to the JLTV program.”

More information about the Oshkosh JLTV solution is available at http://www.oshkoshdefense.com/jltv.

About Oshkosh Defense

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical and protected military vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation

Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorporation.com.

®, TM All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially in the current environment where there are conflicting signs regarding the future global economic outlook; the expected level and timing of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures and an uncertain DoD tactical wheeled vehicle strategy; risks that profit on the definitization of contracts with the DoD could differ from the Company’s estimates; increasing commodity and other raw material costs, particularly in a sustained economic recovery; the ability to increase prices to raise margins or offset higher input costs; risks related to the Company’s exit from its ambulance and European mobile medical businesses, including the amounts of related costs and charges; risks related to facilities consolidation and alignment, including the amounts of related costs and charges and that anticipated cost savings may not be achieved; the Company’s ability to produce vehicles under the FMTV contract at targeted margins; the duration of the ongoing global economic weakness, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Company’s cyclical businesses than Company or equity market expectations; the potential for the U.S. government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine Corps contracts; the consequences of financial leverage, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Company’s products; risks related to production or shipment delays arising from quality or production issues; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; risks related to actions of activist shareholders; and the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.


*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Oshkosh Defense
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Spies ‘Top Priority’ For Czech Intelligence

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Spies ‘Top Priority’ For Czech Intelligence

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 23, 2012: Russian “special services” are the most active foreign espionage organizations in the Czech Republic, the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) said on Wednesday.

The BIS 2011 report states that Russian spies work under different covers, mainly at Russian diplomatic missions, and in numbers that are utterly unjustified given the current status of Czech-Russian relations.

“Russian intelligence officers were spotted at different public and corporate events, where they tried to resume old contacts and meet new people,” the report said.

One of their main targets was the energy sector, in particular, the tender for the completion of the Temelin nuclear power plant, BIS said.

“Based on national security risk assessment, BIS’s main counterintelligence priorities in 2011 were the special services of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China,” the report said.

However, it devoted nine paragraphs to Russian espionage and only one to Chinese.

Chinese intelligence officers “do not pose an immediate risk to Czech citizens,” the report said.

Related News

• Russia, Czech Republic to set up joint nuclear energy venture
• New Czech airline to make maiden flight to Russia in March
• Czech Power Games: How Russia Is Rebuilding Influence In The Former Soviet Bloc

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Plant To Make Mi-171 Helicopters For China

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Plant To Make Mi-171 Helicopters For China

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 23, 2012: Russian Helicopters’ Ulan Ude factory will build Mi-171E multipurpose helicopters under a recent contract with China, a high-ranking defense industry source said on Tuesday.

Moscow and Beijing signed a contract in late July on the delivery of 55 Mi-171E helicopters to China. The cost of one unit in its basic configuration is estimated at $10-12 million.

“One of the largest helicopter export contracts on the delivery of Mi-171E helicopters to China will be carried out by the Ulan Ude aircraft plant,” the source told RIA Novosti.

Mi-171E is an advanced export version of the famed Mi-8 transport helicopter capable of transporting 37 passengers to a distance of 610 km (380 miles) at a speed of 250 km/h. Its loading capacity is four metric tons.

Mi-171E was specifically designed for operations in Middle East and Asian countries, the source said.

Developed from the basic Mi-8 airframe, the Mi-17 was fitted with the larger TV3-117MT engines, rotors, and transmission developed for the Mi-14, along with fuselage improvements for heavier loads. Optional engines for 'hot and high' conditions are the 1545 kW (2070 shp) Isotov TV3-117VM. Recent exports to China and Venezuela for use in high mountains have the new VK-2500 version of the engine with FADEC control.

The designation Mi-17 is for export; Russian armed forces call it Mi-8MT. The Mi-17 can be recognized because it has the tail rotor on the port side instead of the starboard side, and dust shields in front of the engine intakes. Engine cowls are shorter than on the TV2 powered Mi-8, not extending as far over the cockpit, and an opening for bleed-valve outlet is present forward of the exhaust.

Actual model numbers vary by builder, engine type, and other options. As an example, the sixteen new Ulan Ude built machines delivered to the Czech Air Force in 2005 with –VM model engines were designated as Mi-171Sh, a development of the Mi-8AMTSh. Modifications include a new large door on the right side, improved Czech-built APU, Kevlar armor plates around the cockpit area and engines. Eight have a loading ramp in place of the usual clamshell doors, and will load a vehicle up to the size of an SUV.

In May 2008 licensed production of the Mi-17 started in China, with production being led by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant JSC and the Sichuan Lantian Helicopter Company Limited in Chengdu, Sichuan province. The plant built 20 helicopters in 2008, using Russian Ulan-Ude-supplied kits; production is expected to reach 80 helicopters per year eventually. The variants to be built by Lantian will include Mi-171, Mi-17V5, and Mi-17V7.

Related News

• Russian Helicopters Delivers First Mi-171A2 Fuselage
• Russian Helicopters to deliver 40 Mi-171s to UTair before 2014
• Russian Helicopters to sell 40 Mi-171 helicopters to UTair

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
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DTN News - JAPAN DEFENSE NEWS: Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force JGSDF Annual Military Exercise At Foot of Mt. Fuji

DTN News - JAPAN DEFENSE NEWS: Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force JGSDF Annual Military Exercise At Foot of Mt. Fuji

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Pictures of The Day
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 21, 2012: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force JGSDF  annual military exercise at the Higashi-Fuji firing range in Gotemba, at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture on August 21, 2012. 

The annual drill involves some 2,400 personnel, 80 tanks and armoured vehicles and 30 aircraft and helicopters.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force JGSDF, is the Armed Force of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Eiji Kimizuka. The JGSDF numbers around 148,000 soldiers.

The JGSDF was formed from July 1, 1954. For decades its primary concern was internal security in Japan and the opposition of any Soviet invasion of Hokkaido, but with the end of the Cold War, this focus is changing.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Pictures of The Day
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DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Fifth Gen Fighter Aircraft To Be Unveiled In India By 2014

DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Fifth Gen Fighter Aircraft To Be Unveiled In India By 2014

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Zeenews.com
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 21, 2012:  The initial version of a fighter plane, being jointly developed by India and Russia and tipped to be one of the most-advanced in the world, will be unveiled in India in 2014. 

The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) with stealth features is slated to be inducted in the Indian Air Force by 2022. 

The two sides are close to signing a key contract expected to be worth over USD 11 billion for research and development phase of the project in the near future. 

"The first prototype of the FGFA is scheduled to arrive in India by 2014 after which it will undergo extensive trials at the Ojhar air base (Maharashtra)...We are hopeful that the aircraft would be ready for induction by 2022," IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne told a news agency.

The IAF Chief was in Russia in the second week of August where he reviewed the progress made in the programme and the prototypes of the aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau at Zhukovsky there. 

The second prototype will arrive in India in 2017 and the third prototype will arrive in 2019. Based on the experience of test-flights of the each prototype, the final version of the FGFA would be developed for operational service, Browne said. 

India plans to acquire 214 of these fighter planes by the end of 2030 at an estimated cost of over USD 30 billion. 

Russia has already developed three prototypes of the aircraft which are being used for carrying out test-flights. The aircraft will have stealth features and its size would be smaller than that of the frontline Su-30 MKI. 

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Zeenews.com
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DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: India, US Set To Ink $1.4Bn Deal For 22 Apache Helicopters

DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: India, US Set To Ink $1.4Bn Deal For 22 Apache Helicopters

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources TOI
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 21, 2012: India is getting ready to order 22 heavy-duty Apache helicopters for around $1.4 billion, in what will be yet another big defence deal to be bagged by the US. 

The US has already made military sales worth over $8 billion to India over the last few years, despite it having lost out to France in the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to supply 126 fighters to IAF, which is in the final commercial negotiations stage. 

In the battle for the attack helicopters, Boeing's AH-64D Apache Longbow met all ASQRs (air staff qualitative requirements) during the extensive field trials conducted by the IAF, while the Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-28 Havoc failed to pass muster. 

"It's just a matter of time before the contract is inked for the Apaches after final commercial negotiations. Most of the hurdles have been cleared,'' a defence ministry official said. The US and Russia are also locked in battle to supply 15 heavy-lift helicopters to IAF, with the Boeing-manufactured Chinooks pitted against the Russian Mi-26 choppers. 

As first reported by TOI earlier, Indian armed forces are looking to induct as many as 900 helicopters in the coming decade, including 384 light-utility and observation, 90 naval multi-role, 65 light combat, 22 heavy-duty attack, 139 medium-lift and 15 heavy-lift, among others, many of them from abroad. 

The impending $1.4 billion contract for the 22 Apaches will also include the supply of 812 AGM-114L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles, 542 AGM-114R-3 Hellfire-II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92H missiles and 12 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars, as per the Barack Obama administration's notification to the US Congress. 

Among the other military aviation deals already bagged by the US are the $4.1 billion contract for 10 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift aircraft, $2.1 billion for eight P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and $962 million for six C-130J 'Super Hercules'' planes. Negotiations are now being finalized for acquiring six more C-130J as well as four more P-8I aircraft. 

US deputy secretary of defence Ashton B Carter, on his recent visit to India, had stressed that Washington wanted to be New Delhi's "highest quality and most trusted long-term supplier of technology''. India had emerged as the second-largest FMS (foreign military sales) customer of the US in 2011 with imports worth $4.5 billion, he added. 

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources  TOI
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DTN News - ISRAELI DEFENSE NEWS: Israel Strike On Iran Would Be Disaster: Netanyahu's Ex-Deputy

DTN News - ISRAELI DEFENSE NEWS: Israel Strike On Iran Would Be Disaster: Netanyahu's Ex-Deputy

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Reuters
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 18, 2012:  A former deputy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday a pre-emptive military strike against Iran over its nuclear program could embroil Israel in a "disastrous war".

Shaul Mofaz, a parliamentary opposition leader who quit Netanyahu's cabinet last month where he served as vice premier, said on Israeli television he thought Israel was "planning a hasty, irresponsible event".

The former general and defense minister said he thought Israel could not do anything to force a strategic change in Iran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at producing atomic weapons. Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes.

As a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet for two months, Mofaz was privy to deliberations on Iran's nuclear program.

He told Channel 2 television in a studio interview that any Israeli military action "can at the most delay it (Iran's program) by about a year, and it can bring upon us a disastrous war".

Naming both Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, he said he was "very worried at what they are preparing". He added: "I hope very much we don't reach such a war because it would be a disaster."

Days after he quit the cabinet late in July in a dispute about military conscription policy, Mofaz, who heads the centrist Kadima party, cautioned he would not back any Israeli military "adventures".

His comments echoed those of other former Israeli security officials who have spoken against any unilateral attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, with some saying such an assault could spur Tehran to speed up uranium enrichment.

Some officials have also voiced concern that any strike could prompt Iran's proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, to launch rocket attacks on Israel.

Israel, widely believed to be the only atomic power in the Middle East, views Iran's nuclear program as an existential threat, citing threats made by leaders of the Islamist nation to destroy the Jewish state.

There has been an upsurge in rhetoric from Israeli politicians this month suggesting Israel might attack Iran's nuclear facilities ahead of U.S. presidential elections in November.

Netanyahu is frustrated that Western diplomacy to try to force Iran to rein in its program has so far proved fruitless. Reported intelligence leaks that Tehran has been accelerating rather than scaling back its program have added to tensions.

However senior Israeli officials have said that a final decision about whether to attack Iran has not yet been taken, with ministers disagreeing over the issue and the military hierarchy unhappy about the prospect of going it alone without full U.S. backing.

(Writing by Allyn Fisher-Ilan; Editing by Pravin Char)

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Reuters
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DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Female Pilots Trained For New J-10 Vigorous Dragon Fighter Jet In China

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Female Pilots Trained For New J-10 Vigorous Dragon Fighter Jet In China

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Yuan Xiaowei / for China Daily
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 18, 2012: A group of Chinese female pilots have recently made their first solo flights in the J-10 combat aircraft, becoming the first female air force pilots capable of flying the multirole aircraft - the country's most advanced fighter jet.

The five female pilots completed solo flights and missions navigating the J-10 on July 29 and 30, the PLA Daily reported on Wednesday.

The flights took place in an airfield in North China, the paper said, without identifying the airfield's name.

J-10 is designed and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp.

The aircraft, called the "Vigorous Dragon" in the West, is a multirole combat aircraft capable of air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions.

The paper said the five women were among China's first group of 16 female fighter pilots. They have served in the air force's combat troops after graduating from flight colleges in 2009.

He Xiaoli, one of the five pilots, has participated in a fly-over of Tian'anmen Square during the National Day Parade in honor of the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, the paper said.

Given the strict training and their diligence, the female pilots can do what men can, Wang Qin, one of the group's instructors, was quoted as saying.

China has trained nearly 500 female pilots since women were first permitted to enroll in flight schools in 1951, the paper said.

Those female pilots have completed various missions, ranging from flying transport planes, conducting air detection to fighting in military exercise or providing rescue and relief work in emergencies.

In 2005, China's air force began to recruit female combat pilots, following the global trend to enable women to enter military service in the air.

In addition to China, 15 other countries have female fighter pilots, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Spain, Israel and Pakistan.

The paper said China will further train female pilots to fly bombers, early-warning aircraft and tanker aircraft.

The special group has became a cradle of and talent pool for the astronaut corps, as Liu Yang, China's first woman in space, served as a female pilot in the air force before she was selected as an astronaut.

 

tanzongyang@chinadaily.com.cn

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Yuan Xiaowei / for China Daily
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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