DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: French Army And The Sperwer UAV

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: French Army And The Sperwer UAV

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Strategy Page

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 26, 2014: The French Army has purchased five more Sperwer UAVs with an option to get two more. Although not as successful as American and Israeli competitors, the French made Sperwer continues to serve the French military and is expected to continuing doing so until the end of the decade. A French firm is developing a replacement, the Patroller, which is designed to appeal more to the export market. Most of the 150 Sperwers produced since the 1990s were bought by the French Army. Sperwer got its first heavy use during the Balkan peacekeeping missions in the 1990s. Five other nations also bought Sperwer, but most have since retired theirs and bought American and Israeli UAVs.

Starting in 2003 Canada, for example, bought 21 Sperwers, including ten second hand ones obtained from Denmark. The Canadians used their Sperwers heavily in Afghanistan and paid to improve the Sperwer flight control software, to make the UAV more stable when landing under windy conditions. It's often windy in Afghanistan. Still, troops were envious of UAV models they saw used by other nations. Canada stopped using Sperwer in 2009.

The $2.6 million Sperwer LE (Long Endurance) weighs 351 kg (772 pounds), carries a 50 kg (110 pound) payload, is 3.9 meters (12 feet) long, and has an endurance of 12 hours. Sperwer can operate up to 200 kilometers from its ground control unit. It is launched from a vehicle mounted catapult but lands conventionally.

The Sperwer uses a noisy engine (think lawnmower) and flies low enough to be heard. This has not proved to be a problem, as the people below, if they are Taliban, either start shooting at the UAV or try to run away. Despite this, Canadian troops came to depend on their Sperwers and many preferred to have more of them rather than another, newer UAV. The troops learned that operator experience is a major factor in UAV success, and much of that would be lost if they switched a new model. Canada eventually replaced their Sperwers with Israeli Herons.

The Sperwer suffered from the heat, dust, and wind that is so abundant in Afghanistan, and there were several attempts to get an improved UAV to the troops. For a while, Canada was going to buy some Predators, not just because these one ton UAVs are more capable than Sperwer but because Predator could carry Hellfire missiles. But this became a political issue in Canada, where many politicians did not like the idea of an unmanned aircraft carrying, and using, missiles, even if the actual firing was done by a human operator on the ground. Everyone agreed that a larger UAV would be better, especially one that could carry a laser designator and be more stable in the wind. By 2009 Canadian troops in Afghanistan began using the Israeli Heron and that proved satisfactory.

Related ~ Sperwer UAV

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DTN News - NORWAY TERROR PLOT: Norway Convicts Two Men Over al-Qaeda Plot On Danish Newspaper

DTN News - NORWAY TERROR PLOT: Norway Convicts Two Men Over al-Qaeda Plot On Danish Newspaper
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Telegraph - UK
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 31, 2012: Two men were found guilty on Monday of involvement in an al-Qaeda plot to attack a Danish newspaper that caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, the first convictions under Norway's anti-terror laws.

A third defendant was acquitted of terror charges but convicted of helping the others acquire explosives.

Investigators say the plot was linked to the same al-Qaeda planners behind thwarted attacks against the New York subway system and a shopping mall Manchester in 2009.

The Oslo district court sentenced alleged ringleader Mikael Davud, to seven years in prison and co-defendant Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak to three and a half years.

Judge Oddmund Svarteberg said the court found that Davud, a Chinese Muslim, "planned the attack together with al-Qaeda". Bujak was deeply involved in the preparations, but it couldn't be proved that he was aware of Davud's contacts with al-Qaeda, the judge said.

The third defendant, David Jakobsen, who assisted police in the investigation, was convicted on an explosives charge and sentenced to four months in prison – time he's already served in pretrial detention.

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It wasn't immediately clear if any of the defendants would appeal.

The case was Norway's most high-profile terror investigation until last July, when a right-wing extremist killed 77 people in a bomb and shooting massacre.

The three men, who were arrested in July 2010, made some admissions but pleaded innocent to terror conspiracy charges and rejected any links to al-Qaeda.

During the trial Davud denied he was taking orders from al-Qaeda, saying he was planning a solo raid against the Chinese Embassy in Oslo. He said he wanted revenge for Beijing's oppression of Uighurs, a Muslim minority in western China.

Davud, who moved to Norway in 1999 and later became a Norwegian citizen, also said his co-defendants helped him acquire bomb-making ingredients but didn't know he was planning an attack.

Prosecutors said the Norwegian cell first wanted to attack Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, whose 12 cartoons of Muhammad sparked furious protests in Muslim countries in 2006, and then changed plans to seek to murder one of the cartoonists instead.

Bujak, an Iraqi Kurd, said the paper and the cartoonist were indeed the targets, but described the plans as "just talk".

Prosecutors had to prove the defendants worked together in a conspiracy, because a single individual plotting an attack is not covered under Norway's anti-terror laws.

"There is no doubt that Davud took the initiative to prepare the terror act and that he was the ring leader," the judge said as he delivered the verdict.

He said Davud planned to carry out the attack himself by placing a bomb outside Jyllands-Posten's offices in Aarhus, in western Denmark.

The men had been under surveillance for more than a year when authorities moved to arrest them. Norwegian investigators, who worked with their US counterparts, said the defendants were building a bomb in a basement laboratory in Oslo.

Jakobsen, an Uzbek national who changed his name after moving to Norway, provided some of the chemicals for the bomb, but claims he did not know they were meant for explosives. Jakobsen contacted police and served as an informant, but still faced charges for his involvement before that.

An Associated Press investigation in 2010 showed that authorities learned early on about the alleged cell by intercepting emails from an al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan and – thanks to those early warnings – were able to secretly replace a key bomb-making ingredient with a harmless liquid when Jakobsen ordered it at an Oslo pharmacy.

The judge said it had been proven that Davud had contacts with al-Qaida in Pakistan, and that his notebook contained references to Saleh al-Somali, al-Qaeda's chief of external operations, who officials believe helped organise the New York, Manchester and Norway plots. He was killed in a CIA drone strike in Pakistan in 2009.

During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony obtained in the US in April from three American al-Qaida recruits turned government witnesses.

Source: AP

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Telegraph - UK
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DTN News: Denmark, New Zealand And Singapore Top List Of Least Corrupt Countries

DTN News: Denmark, New Zealand And Singapore Top List Of Least Corrupt Countries

*Expats living in Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore can rest assured they are residing in the least corrupt countries in the world, according to this year's Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

Source: DTN News / Int'l Media - By Sean O'Hare ~ telegraph.co.uk

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - October 28, 2010: Britain, in the wake of the MP expenses scandal, has slipped to its all-time lowest rating of 20th in the survey of 178 countries, compiled by Transparency International.

The ranking is based on the perceived levels of corruption among public officials and politicians, as assessed by experts at ten independent institutions including the World Bank, Economist Intelligence Unit and World Economic Forum.

It scores countries on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is perceived to be highly corrupt and 10 indicates low levels of corruption.

Scoring 9.3, Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore head the chart, followed closely by Finland and Sweden at 9.2.

President for the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark Mariano A. Davies said: "The Danish mentality is to a great extent permeated by a Scandinavian cultural heritage known as 'Jante Law', where modesty, punctuality and equality are important measuring tools in the Danish way of life.

"For this reason, few people become seriously rich and even fewer are seriously poor. This rule of life is never very far from the surface of Danish life.

"In a business context, this will mean that Danes celebrate promotion with sensitivity and do not like people who promote themselves bombastically and at the expense of others.

"There is a sense of watchdog mentality underlying the Danish way of life resulting in very clear 'dos and don’ts'”.

"Furthermore, from a business perspective, it can take a very long time (and therefore a local presence) to earn the trust of a company in a supplier role and this trust can be lost very quickly."

Unstable governments, often with a legacy of conflict, continue to dominate the bottom rungs of the CPI. Afghanistan and Myanmar share second to last place with a score of 1.4, with Somalia coming in last with a score of 1.1.

Hugo Chavez's Venezuela ranked 164, below countries such as Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Responding to the survey the Venezuelan Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, Dr Samuel Moncada, called the Corruption Perception Index "hot air and propaganda".

Speaking on BBC's Newsnight programme he said: "Rich countries play an integral part in the corruption of the poor countries when we talk about drug money, banks, the financial crisis.

"Private banks received millions of pounds of public money and nobody in the rich countries calls that corruption. If that happened in Venezuela we would have been called the most corrupt country in the world."

The 2010 CPI shows that nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index score below five, indicating a serious corruption problem.

Chair of Transparency International, Huguette Labelle, said: "These results signal that significantly greater efforts must go into strengthening governance across the globe.

"With the livelihoods of so many at stake, governments’ commitments to anti-corruption, transparency and accountability must speak through their actions.

"Good governance is an essential part of the solution to the global policy challenges governments face today.”

*THIS ARTICLE IS BEING POSTED FROM TORONTO, CANADA BY DTN NEWS ~ DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS, CONTACT:DTNNEWS@YMAIL.COM

DTN News: Boeing Awards Harpoon Launch Structure Contract To Danish Aerotech

DTN News: Boeing Awards Harpoon Launch Structure Contract To Danish Aerotech Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) KARUP, Denmark - March 4, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has awarded a contract valued at nearly $1.5 million to civil defense and aerospace company Danish Aerotech A/S to provide the Aluminum Launch Support Structure (ALSS) for ship-based deployment of the Harpoon weapon system. "Danish Aerotech is very proud to be awarded this contract following a global competition with other competent companies," said Danish Aerotech CEO Jan Jørgensen. "Boeing is a market leader in the civil and defense aerospace industry and an important partner to us. We expect this contract to bring us strategic value as we pursue future business opportunities." The Harpoon ALSS contract delivers on opportunities for Danish Aerotech to work with Boeing outlined in an April 2009 memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two companies. Other areas of opportunity for Danish Aerotech identified in the MOU include the provision of long-term logistics support for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet -- should the Royal Danish Air Force choose the Super Hornet as its New Combat Aircraft -- and partnering on Performance Based Logistics programs for long-term support of other aircraft. "We look forward to expanding our relationship with Danish Aerotech with this ALSS contract," said Jan Närlinge, Boeing Northern Europe president. "Danish Aerotech already has been an important partner to Boeing and its subcontractors through work on the NATO Airborne Warning and Control System." The Harpoon weapon system provides accurate long-range guidance for both land-strike and anti-ship missions. The Harpoon Block II is produced at Boeing facilities in St. Charles, Mo. Boeing has delivered more than 7,100 Harpoon missiles to the United States and 28 allied partners, including the Royal Danish Navy. Danish Aerotech is a civil defense and aerospace company specializing in the development, production, installation and support of mechanical, electrical and electronic parts and components for aircraft, helicopters, missiles and targeting systems, as well as maintenance, modifications and integration of aircraft, missiles and associated components. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin And Terma Sign MoU For The Maritime Helicopter Opportunity In Denmark

DTN News: Lockheed Martin And Terma Sign MoU For The Maritime Helicopter Opportunity In Denmark

*Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, England - September 9, 2009: Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Danish aerospace and defense company Terma A/S today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities associated with the potential sale of the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R multimission helicopter to the Danish Government. The agreement, announced at the Defence Systems & Equipment International exhibition, follows the Danish Government’s June 2009 authorization to procure new ship-based helicopters to support Royal Danish Navy vessels operating in the North Atlantic and internationally. The U.S. Navy’s MH-60R multimission helicopter is a candidate solution for these maritime operations. “Lockheed Martin and Terma will combine our complementary experience and skills sets should the Danish Government procure the U.S. Navy’s most advanced maritime helicopter,” said Marillyn Hewson, president of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY. “Together, we can offer the Danish Armed Forces high quality technological and support services required to ensure mission and flight readiness of the MH-60R across the 30-year life of the aircraft.” “Lockheed Martin and Terma share a long and beneficial history of working together in a close partnership, which includes the F-16, C-130 and F-35 programs," said Terma President and CEO Jens Maaløe. "We are therefore very happy and proud, that today with this MOU we extend this cooperation to also include Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego. We very much look forward to combining both companies’ core capabilities on the Danish Maritime Helicopter program, and to investigating a number of other exciting business opportunities.” Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego is the rotary wing center of excellence for Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company has more than 35 years of experience as a leading mission systems integrator of maritime helicopters, including the British Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk 1 helicopter fleet, and two generations of U.S. Navy helicopters, the SH-60B and the MH-60R. The MH-60R airframe is designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, with mission systems integration by Lockheed Martin. To date, the two companies have delivered 36 MH-60R aircraft to the U.S. Navy. In July, 2009, a U.S. Navy squadron of 11 MH-60R aircraft completed its first at-sea deployment during six months in the western Pacific with the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group. The U.S. Navy has established four of ten planned MH-60R squadrons, and intends to purchase 300 MH-60R aircraft over the next decade. Production plans include capacity for concurrent international sales. The MH-60R replaces the U.S. Navy’s current fleet of SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters as part of the U.S. Navy’s strategy to reduce different type, model and series maritime helicopters with multi-mission platforms. The MH-60R can perform a wide range of missions from its primary missions of anti-submarine and surface warfare to secondary missions such as search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, medical evacuation and communications and data relay. Headquartered in Lystrup, Denmark, Terma is a leading defense, aerospace, and security company. Its business activities include products and systems for a number of non-defense and defense applications, including command and control systems, radar systems, electronic warfare systems, space technology, and aeronautic structures for high-performance military aircraft. The company realized 2008/09 sales of approximately USD 200 million and employs approximately 1,300 people worldwide. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 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.

DTN News: Boeing, Denmark’s IFAD TS A/S Sign MOU To Advance Super Hornet Aircrew Training Computer Network

DTN News: Boeing, Denmark’s IFAD TS A/S Sign MOU To Advance Super Hornet Aircrew Training Computer Network

*Source: DTN News / Boeing Company (NSI News Source Info) ODENSE, Denmark - July 15, 2009: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and IFAD TS A/S, a Danish leader in aviation simulation and networked training products, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to support F/A-18E/F Super Hornet training systems facility requirements. The Boeing Integrated Defense Systems strategy is to understand the enduring needs of customers and provide value-added solutions to meet their requirements. The strategy includes understanding the art of using current and emerging technologies to improve the capabilities of existing products and delivering new solutions. Boeing, a leader in delivering global training solutions, has provided F/A-18 training for more than 20 years. Under this MOU, the IFAD and Boeing engineering teams will pursue opportunities to work together to enhance Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) computer technology within Denmark’s Super Hornet training facility should Denmark select the Super Hornet in its New Combat Aircraft competition. The two companies may also pursue opportunities in continuing support and enhancement of Super Hornet training systems for the Royal Danish Air Force. The MOU signing took place at IFAD headquarters in Odense, attended by representatives from both companies. “This alliance can ensure that future mission-critical hardware and software used to train aircrews in support of Denmark’s tactical fighter jets will be the latest and most advanced there is,” said IFAD CEO Benny Mortensen. “Collaborating to explore new methods to upgrade possible Royal Danish Air Force Super Hornet LAN and WAN computer systems with modern platforms can also strengthen Denmark’s defense-based aviation training network.” Boeing Northern Europe President Jan Närlinge said the Boeing and IFAD collaboration is based on more than a decade of partnership and is the latest step in a growing relationship between Boeing and Danish industry. “We’ve partnered with IFAD on past competitions and projects, and we share strong visions of the future of aviation training,” Närlinge said. “Combining Boeing’s customer focus and program management expertise with IFAD’s ability to produce state-of-the-art mission-critical software and support networks creates a win-win situation.” IFAD, established in 1986, is a 100-percent Danish-owned company. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

DTN News: Sultanate Of Oman Acquires C-130J Super Hercules

DTN News: Sultanate Of Oman Acquires C-130J Super Hercules *Source: Lockheed Martin Corporation

(NSI News Source Info) MARIETTA, Ga. - June 7, 2009: Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the Sultanate of Oman for a C-130J Super Hercules. The aircraft, to be delivered in mid-2012, is in the longer C-130J-30 configuration. The Indian Air Force purchased six C-130Js in early 2008 at a cost of up to US$ 1.059 billion. It is a package deal with the US government under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, and India has retained options to buy six more of these aircraft for its special forces for combined army-air force operations. A C-130J Super Hercules is cleaned in the new wash system at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The Canadian Forces signed a US$1.4 billion contract with Lockheed Martin for 17 new C-130J-30s on 16 January 2008, as part of the procurement process to replace the existing CC-130E and H models. The C-130J will be officially designated CC-130J Hercules in Canadian Forces service. The Royal Norwegian Air Force has decided to purchase four C-130Js to reinforce their transport capacity when it was discovered that their forty-year-old C-130s were unserviceable during a wing change. The first aircraft was delivered in November 2008. The Government of Qatar has also placed an order for four C-130Js, spare parts and training for the Qatari Emiri Air Force for a total of US$393.6 million. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2011. The Iraqi Air Force has requested six new C-130J-30s, while the Israeli Air Force is seeking to purchase nine C-130J-30s. The United Arab Emirates Air Force announced an order for twelve C-130J transport aircraft at the 2009 IDEX, with an announced value of US$1.3 billion. "The C-130J is ideally suited to the operating conditions found in Oman and other areas of the Gulf," said Jim Grant, vice president for business development at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Again we see a country that has recognized all the proven qualities of this world–leading airlifter purchasing additional aircraft." Oman currently operates a fleet of three C-130Hs purchased in the early 1980s. The new C-130J will be used to further support Omani operations where its ability to operate out of remote austere airstrips will be invaluable. This order for Oman brings to 11 the number of countries that have acquired C-130Js. Other nations which are operating or have ordered the C-130J include Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Italy, Norway, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States. 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.

DTN News: BAE's Lightweight Howitzer Wins $118 Million In Further Orders

DTN News: BAE's Lightweight Howitzer Wins $118 Million In Further Orders

(NSI News Source Info) Hattiesburg, MS – May 29, 2009: The U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Canadian Forces have ordered additional BAE Systems M777 155mm lightweight howitzers, taking the company's order book for the type to 800 guns, BAE announced May 28. The three orders' total value is about $118 million, and the program is now worth in excess of $1.6 billion to the company. The United States is buying 38 more weapons, while Canada is ordering another 25 to add to the 12 already in service. U.S. and Canadian forces both operate the type in Afghanistan, where its ability to be transported by tactical helicopter makes it particularly useful in the difficult terrain faced by coalition forces. M777s are manufactured in BAE's Global Combat Systems plant at Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom, and final integration and testing takes place at the company's Hattiesburg, Miss., facility. The weapon can fire the M982 Excalibur smart munition, jointly developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE, to a range of up to 40 kilometers with a high degree of accuracy. The circular error probability requirement is for less than 10 meters, and "the system has consistently demonstrated an ability to meet and exceed that requirement," said James Shields, program manager for the weapon at Picatinny Arsenal, speaking on the occasion of the delivery of the 500th M777 to U.S. forces in April. Even firing conventional ammunition, however, the M777's accuracy has met and exceeded expectations. Feedback from U.S. forces employing the weapon during operations in Afghanistan has revealed "shifts of only 50-60 meters after the first round - and that's just awesome," according to Col. James Matthies, TRADOC capabilities manager at Fort Sill, Okla. Ease of use and the efficacy of the digitization package were areas cited, Matthies said. The M777 is the first such weapon to make extensive use of titanium and aluminum alloys, resulting in an air-transportable weapon that, at 4,200 kilograms, weighs about half that of conventional 155mm systems. The total of 63 howitzers in the new orders comes shortly after the company forecast up to 150 additional orders by the end of 2009. Among potential purchasers are Australia, which is asking for 35 systems but could eventually procure up to 57, Denmark, India, Oman and Thailand. An order from Australia is anticipated before the end of the year, according to the company. In addition to the new order, BAE Global Combat Systems has received a contract for $3 million to reset 33 howitzers returning from deployment in Afghanistan with U.S. forces. This work will be carried out at the Hattiesburg facility.

Boeing, Danish Aerotech Sign MOU For Super Hornet Support

Boeing, Danish Aerotech Sign MOU For Super Hornet Support

(NSI News Source Info) KARUP, Denmark - April 29, 2009: The Boeing Company and civil defense and aerospace company Danish Aerotech today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines opportunities for Danish Aerotech to provide select F/A-18E/F Super Hornet logistics support capabilities. If the Royal Danish Air Force names the Super Hornet as its New Combat Aircraft, Boeing and Danish Aerotech could partner in a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) program for long-term support of the strike fighter aircraft and other platforms. "This MOU is of high value to our company," said Danish Aerotech CEO Søren E. Petersen. "With its wide scope of business in the defense industry and as a leading manufacturer of civilian and military aircraft, Boeing is an extremely attractive partner for Danish Aerotech. We look forward to further developing our core capabilities and jointly working with Boeing on new areas of support that are of strategic, long-term value to Danish Aerotech, as well as providing a considerable boost to revenue and employment." Boeing and Danish Aerotech may also pursue opportunities related to training; PBL contracting; maintenance, repair and overhaul; and build-to-print activities across Boeing's portfolio of programs for some of the world's most advanced military aircraft and rotorcraft. "Boeing has long been an innovator in Performance Based Logistics, and leveraging Danish Aerotech's expertise in aircraft and component maintenance and repair could further boost our strength in delivering mission readiness to our customers," said Tom Bell, vice president of Business Development for Boeing Military Aircraft. Boeing instituted the PBL model a decade ago to address maintenance and repair support as a total integrated task. PBL contracts allow the customer to comprehensively purchase a set level of readiness instead of paying for parts or services on a more expensive transactional basis. The PBL approach continually improves the cost-effectiveness of logistics products and services. Danish Aerotech is a civil defense and aerospace company specializing in the development, production, installation and support of mechanical, electrical and electronic parts and components for aircraft, helicopters, missiles and targeting systems, as well as maintenance, modifications and integration of aircraft, missiles and associated components.

Saudi Arabia To Purchase AIM-9X Missiles / Saudi Arabia To Purchase Raytheon AIM-9X Missiles

Saudi Arabia To Purchase AIM-9X Missiles / Saudi Arabia To Purchase Raytheon AIM-9X Missiles

(NSI News Source Info) TUCSON, Ariz. - April 1, 2009: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to purchase Raytheon Company's AIM-9X missile. Saudi Arabia is the world's 10th country to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided, air-to-air missile. Two F-15E's from the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, fire a pair of AIM-9Xs during a training mission. "The AIM-9X will provide our Saudi Arabian allies with unparalleled capability, a small logistical footprint and ease of integration onto its existing fighter aircraft," said Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's Air-to-Air Missile program manager. "AIM-9X has demonstrated its reliability during ongoing operational deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and in extensive user-driven test programs with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force." Under the agreement, the U.S. government will provide the RSAF an undisclosed quantity of tactical and training AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for its F-15 fighter aircraft. "The Royal Saudi Air Force truly chose the most affordable and capable within-visual-range air-to-air missile in the world," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "Raytheon has delivered more than 3,000 Block I missiles on cost and ahead of schedule, and we look forward to continuing to do the same for the newest member of the AIM-9X family." The Royal Saudi Air Force joins the air forces of Australia, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States as AIM-9X users. Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide. Note to Editors: More than 400 Raytheon employees design and build the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile in Tucson, Ariz., Andover, Mass., and Goleta, Calif. Hundreds of employees in scores of businesses across the U.S. design and manufacture AIM-9X components. Major suppliers include: Alliant Technology, Rocket Center, W.Va.; Atlantic Inertial Systems, Cheshire, Conn.; Axsys Technology, San Diego; BAE Container Solutions, Longmont, Colo.; Celestica, Austin, Texas; Cristek Interconnects, Anaheim, Calif.; ENSER, St. Petersburg, Fla.; HR Textron, Valencia, Calif.; Klune Industries, Spanish Forks, Utah; L3 Comm, San Diego; L3 KDI Precision Products, Cincinnati.

Russia's New Arctic Force To Focus On Border Protection

Russia's New Arctic Force To Focus On Border Protection

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - March 30, 2009: Russia will prioritize the strengthening of its border guards while creating a special Arctic force in line with a new strategy to protect its regional interests, a senior parliamentary member said Monday. The Russian Security Council posted on its website last Friday a document entitled "The fundamentals of Russian state policy in the Arctic up to 2020 and beyond." The document outlines the country's strategy in the region, including the deployment of military, border and coastal guard units "to guarantee Russia's military security in diverse military and political circumstances." According to the document, Russia will create by 2020 a group of forces to protect its political and economic interests in the Arctic. "This is not about the creation of a new strike force. The military component [of the Arctic Group of Forces] will be optimized to accomplish new tasks. The main focus will be on tasks performed by border guard units," said Adm. (Ret.) Vyatcheslav Popov, head of the Commission on Maritime Policy in the upper house of the Russian parliament and the former commander of the Northern Fleet. Popov stressed the necessity of building infrastructure for border guard units on Russia's Arctic coast and islands in the Arctic Ocean, as well as expanding the network of forward-based airfields in the region. "The military component of the Arctic force will include units from the Northern and the Pacific fleets and military districts whose northern borders lie in the Arctic," the admiral said. The new document also prioritizes the delineation of the Arctic shelf "with respect to Russia's national interests." High Arctic territories, seen as the key to huge untapped natural resources, have increasingly been at the center of mounting disputes between the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway, and Denmark in recent years as rising temperatures lead to a reduction in sea ice. President Dmitry Medvedev said in September at a Russian Security Council session that the extent of the Russian continental shelf in the Arctic should be defined as soon as possible. Medvedev also said the Arctic shelf was a guarantee of Russia's energy security and that the Arctic should become a resource base for Russia this century, adding that "about 20% of Russia's GDP and 22% of Russian exports are produced" in the area. Russia has undertaken two Arctic expeditions - to the Mendeleyev underwater chain in 2005 and to the Lomonosov ridge in the summer of 2007 - to support its territorial claims in the region. Moscow pledged to submit documentary evidence to the UN on the external boundaries of Russia's territorial shelf by 2010. A Russian proposal on creating security structures in the Arctic region will be discussed at a ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council in April. The Arctic Council was established in 1996 to protect the unique nature of the Arctic region. The intergovernmental forum comprises Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

Lockheed Gets $320 Million US F-35 Aircraft Deal

Lockheed Gets $320 Million US F-35 Aircraft Deal

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 26, 2009: Lockheed Martin Corp is being awarded a U.S. Navy contract add-on worth up to $320 million for "long lead" items used in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Defense Department said Wednesday. Work on the contract is expected to be completed in November 2011. The F-35 is being developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as for eight international partners -- Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

U.S. Backs Danish PM As Next NATO Chief: Reports

U.S. Backs Danish PM As Next NATO Chief: Reports

(NSI News Source Info) BRUSSELS - March 22, 2009: The United States has told NATO allies it will back Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the next head of the alliance, NATO diplomats and a U.S. source said on Saturday. Rasmussen already has the support of European heavyweights Germany, Britain and France for the post of NATO secretary-general, but Washington had been considering backing Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay. A U.S. source close to the administration of President Barack Obama said Washington had indicated its acceptance of Rasmussen after U.S. National Security Adviser General James Jones this month went to Denmark to visit him. Rasmussen's spokesman Michael Ulveman said the Prime Ministry had "no comments whatsoever" on speculation the U.S. had decided to back the Rasmussen for the job. Two senior NATO diplomats confirmed Washington had signaled to allies its acceptance of Rasmussen. "There seems to be a general coalescence around Rasmussen," said one, adding that an announcement was expected at the April 3-4 NATO summit. The current secretary-general, Dutchman Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, steps down on July 31. Another NATO diplomat said Rasmussen's appointment still needed the backing of all 26 NATO allies -- including mostly Muslim Turkey, which has voiced misgivings over Rasmussen linked to the row over a cartoon in a Danish newspaper in 2006 depicting the Prophet Mohammad with a bomb in his turban. A senior NATO source predicted there would be no problems. "Turkey doesn't want to be in a minority of one," the source said. Rasmussen refused to apologize for the cartoons, which sparked riots and attacks on Danish embassies in several Muslim states, but which Western governments defended in the name of freedom of expression. Rasmussen, 56, in office since 2001, has the reputation of a competent and focused leader who gets things done. In 2003, when Denmark held the EU presidency, he hammered out a deal on membership for 10 new states, mostly from ex-communist central and eastern Europe. He backed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, sent Danish troops there and has urged NATO members to send more troops to Afghanistan, where 750 Danish soldiers are fighting the Taliban. Analysts believe Rasmussen would try to steer NATO to work more closely with the EU and the United Nations. Other contenders for a post which traditionally goes to a European include Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and former British Defense Secretary Des Browne. Speaking at a security conference in Brussels on Saturday, Sikorski said NATO should consider an eastern European for the post now that former Soviet bloc states had been in NATO for a decade. He said this would help improve NATO's relations with Russia, though analysts say appointing an eastern European could in fact hamper NATO efforts to patch up ties with Russia damaged by Moscow's intervention in Georgia last year.

Israel May Drop Bid To Incorporate Own Know-How Into F-35 fighter

Israel May Drop Bid To Incorporate Own Know-How Into F-35 fighter

(NSI News Source Info) March 19, 2009: Israel is close to dropping an effort to put its own electronic warfare know-how into Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a mainstay of its future strike force, a Pentagon official said on Tuesday.

Incorporating Israel's system into the model being built for it "is not going to happen," said Jon Schreiber, who heads the program's international aspects. "I think our system will meet their requirements with some tweaking, and I think they're starting to come around to that realization themselves," he told Reuters in an interview. The issue is sensitive because senior Israeli military officials had maintained that their aircraft must incorporate electronic warfare technologies developed by state-controlled Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

An Israeli embassy spokesman referred a caller to the Defense Ministry, which could not be immediately reached for comment.

Dropping plans for incorporating sensitive Israeli technology onto the F-35 would be a significant departure for Israel. Israeli F-15s and F-16s were modified to carry Israeli electronic warfare, radars, munitions and command and control systems.

Israel is set to become a kind of trailblazer for the F-35, which is being developed by the United States and eight international partners: Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

Israel has gone further than any non-consortium member toward acquisition, with plans to buy an initial 25 F-35A's in fiscal 2012 for delivery starting in 2014 and an option for 50 more.

The F-35 is a radar-evading, single-engine aircraft, designed to switch quickly between air-to-ground and air-to-air missions while still flying. The models built for Israel would incorporate Israeli-made data links, radios and other command and control equipment, but not the electronic warfare suite, largely because of the high cost of integrating it, Schreiber said.

"They have pretty tight budget constraints and we're attempting to fit their requirements into their budget," he said. Officials from the Pentagon's F-35 joint program office met Israeli procurement officials in New York on Monday to discuss the program, Schreiber added without elaborating on their talks.

"We expect to get a revised letter of request from (Israel) within the next month or so," and anticipate that a government-to-government deal will be concluded by the end of this year or early next year, he said.

U.S. instructor pilots would join Israeli pilots to train at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, on four of the aircraft built for Israel, Schreiber said. By early 2015, the U.S. instructors would transition to Israel to continue training pilots there.

Singapore, the other non-consortium member linked to the program through a special status, appears likely to start buying as many as 100 F-35s a year or two after Israel, Schreiber said. He expected an agreement to be signed with Singapore within the next month detailing security safeguards for program information as a prelude to "more serious discussions" about acquiring the F-35. "

At this point, we don't have any indication from Singapore that they want to put anything unique in the airplane," he said. "They want to go with a plain vanilla airplane."

F-35 competitors include Saab AB's Gripen, the Dassault Aviation SA Rafale, Russia's MiG-35 and Sukhoi Su-35, and the Eurofighter Typhoon made by a consortium of British, German, Italian and Spanish companies.

Lockheed's chief F-35 subcontractors are Northrop Grumman Corp and BAE Systems Plc. Two rival, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development. One is built by United Technologies Corp's Pratt i Whitney unit; the other by a team of General Electric Co and Rolls-Royce Group Plc.

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.

South Korean Navy To Deploy For Somalia Mission

South Korean Navy To Deploy For Somalia Mission

(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL - March 4, 2009: South Korea's Navy will send an anti-piracy unit to the Somalia littorals within weeks, its first overseas combat deployment, service officials said March 3. The announcement followed the National Assembly's March 2 endorsement of a motion for deployment. It also followed days of rehearsal operations by the new unit, named Cheonghae, in the waters off the southern port city of Busan. Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers are multipurpose destroyers of the Republic of Korea Navy. The lead ship of this class, ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sunshin, was launched in May 2002 and commissioned in December 2003. Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers are a part of the Republic of Korea Navy's shipbuilding program named "KDX-II", which paved the way for becoming a blue-water navy. The design of the hull was designed by Hyundai Heavy Industries and the first ship built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The Korean contingent includes a 4,500-ton KDX-II destroyer, a Lynx anti-submarine helicopter, rigid inflatable speedboats and 300 personnel, including 30 Underwater Demolition Team/SEAL forces. An explosive ordnance disposal team will also join the contingent. During its planned six-month deployment, the unit will focus on escorting South Korean commercial ships through the Gulf of Aden, an effort to protect the nation's economic interests, said Cmdr. Yoo Young-shik, chief of the Navy's public affairs office. If required, it will also monitor, inspect, stop and seize pirates' vessels as part of the Combined Task Force 151, a multinational naval task force with logistics facilities at Djibouti under the command of the Combined Forces Maritime Component Command based in Bahrain, Yoo said. The task force is responsible for maritime security from the Red Sea down the east coast of Africa and into the Arabian Sea toward Pakistan and India. Currently, the efforts to clamp down on piracy in the troubled waters include about 21 warships and five aircraft from Britain, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, India, Malaysia, and the United States. South Korean officials express confidence in the Navy's counterpiracy operations, citing the service's close-range combat skills accrued from decades of training to thwart North Korean ships. The KDX-II destroyer is equipped with an Mk. 45 127mm gun, Harpoon ship-to-surface missiles, RAM Mk 31 ship-to-air guided missiles, a 30mm Goalkeeper system for engaging sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. Built in 2003, the 150-meter-long, 17-meter-wide ship has a top speed of 29 knots. South Korean cargo ships have also been hijacked in recent years. Somali pirates held eight crewmembers of two Dongwon Fisheries tuna ships for four months before releasing them in 2006 for a ransom of $800. Two Daechang Fishing boats were hijacked in May last year, and their 25 crewmembers were released six months later. In September, pirates kidnapped a cargo vessel carrying eight South Korean and 13 Myanmar crewmembers, releasing them the following month after the ship's owner paid a ransom. The Somali pirates reportedly run sophisticated operations using high-tech equipment such as satellite phones and GPS receivers. They are known to receive information from contacts at ports in the Gulf of Aden and use speedboats with very powerful outboard motors to approach their targets. Sometimes the speedboats are launched from much larger "mother ships" on the high seas. Located along the route of a crude-oil pipeline connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and racked by civil war, Somalia's coastline has become infamous for piracy. Each year, about 20,000 ships sail throughout the Gulf of Aden headed for the Suez Canal, an important shipping route for international trade that links Europe to the Middle East and Asia. The International Maritime Organization counted 111 attacks in 2008 in the Arablic Sea near Somalia, the most notorious location for such activity. A March 3 ceremony in Busan marked the commissioning of the new unit, the service said in a news release. "The inauguration of the Cheonghae unit this year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Navy's founder, the late Adm. Sohn Won-il, will serve as a starting point for our Navy to make history and build a naval power to sustain us over the next 100 years," Adm. Jung Ok-keun, South Korea's chief of naval operations, said in a speech at the ceremony at Naval Operations Command.

Swedish Weapons Exports Up 32 Percent Last Year

Swedish Weapons Exports Up 32 Percent Last Year

(NSI News Source Info) STOCKHOLM - March 4, 2009: Swedish weapons and defense exports surged 32 percent in 2008 to 12.7 billion kronor ($1.4 billion, 1.1 billion euros), the Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) said Tuesday. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world. The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, the Czech Air Force, the Hungarian Air Force and the South African Air Force, and has been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force. A total of 236 Gripens have been ordered as of 2008. The increase was attributed mainly to several large sales such as deliveries of the JAS Gripen fighter jet to South Africa, tanks to the Netherlands and Denmark, and the Erieye airborne radar system to Greece and Pakistan. "Of Sweden's total defense materiel exports, about 87 percent went to well-established cooperation partners within the European Union, and to countries such as Australia and the United States," ISP director general Andreas Ekman said in a statement. Exports representing 13 percent of the total value went to about 20 countries, including Pakistan, India, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Chile and Saudi Arabia. According to Swedish news agency TT, Sweden's weapons exports make up almost two percent of the world's overall weapons sales.

Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Aden

Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Aden

(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Turkey and Singapore recently committed forces to join Combined Task Force 151, a naval coalition dedicated to conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Turkey and Singapore will join other nations -- including the United States, the United Kingdom and Denmark -- that have conducted operations as part of the task force. Republic of Singapore Navy - Frigates; The Formidable class multi-role stealth frigates are the latest platforms to enter into service with the RSN, and are multi-mission derivatives of the French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate. The frigates are key information nodes and fighting units, and are “by far the most advanced surface combatants in Southeast Asia". The frigates will be equipped with Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters, an international derivative of the United States Navy SH-60B Seahawk. The MINDEF signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in January 2005 to acquire six of these helicopters, which will be organic to the frigates. These naval helicopters are equipped with anti-surface and anti-submarine combat systems, extending the ship’s own surveillance and over-the-horizon targeting and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The naval helicopters will be raised as a squadron in the Republic of Singapore Air Force and piloted by air force pilots, but the system operators will be from the RSN. The naval helicopters are projected for delivery in late 2009. The frigates have a special surface-to-air missile configuration, combining the Thales Herakles radar with the Sylver A50 launcher and a mix of MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missiles. The lead ship of the class, RSS Formidable was commissioned on 5 May 2007, marking the 40th year of the RSN. "Coalition ships are a critical part of our mission," U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, commander of CTF 151, said. "The very nature of some of our operations, as well as the success of those operations, is often predicated on our ability to work effectively with our partners and allies." International law obligates all nations to cooperate to the fullest extent in the repression of piracy. Coalition forces have taken action necessary to repress piracy in the region in accordance with international law to ensure free and secure use of the world's oceans by legitimate mariners, task force officials said. "The presence of international navy vessels in the region demonstrates our commitment to regional security and stability," McKnight said. "To continue to counter and deter destabilizing activities successfully, coalition efforts must be complemented by proactive measures by commercial shippers, regional governments and the international community." The task force has worked with and emphasized the important role merchants can play by taking proactive measures to prevent boardings, such as traveling at speeds greater than 15 knots, reporting suspicious activity and pulling their ladders up to prevent access to the ships. Even with increased naval forces in the region, coalition vessels have not always been close enough to a help a ship that was being attacked. "The bottom line is that piracy is an international problem that requires an international solution," McKnight said. "We are committed to continuing operations that counter and deter piracy and other destabilizing activities in the maritime arena to create a lawful maritime order."

US Trying To Get Israel To Leave Joint Strike Force Program?

US Trying To Get Israel To Leave Joint Strike Force Program?

Source: Israel Matzav

(NSI News Source Info) February 17, 2009: In October, the Pentagon approved the sale of 25 F-35 stealth-enabled joint strike fighters to the Israeli Air Force, with an option to purchase up to 50 more. Just last week, I reported that cost overruns that may make the jets cost more than $100 million each were causing the IDF to rethink the purchase. Now, there's a new problem that should give further pause to Israeli purchases of the jets.

When Israel expressed interest in the jets, it asked to install its own technology on them. This wasn't just a question of buying Israeli out of patriotism. Israel fears that the jets will be sold to other countries in the region - like Saudi Arabia - and if our own technology is installed it will allow Israel to maintain a qualitative superiority even if the jets are sold to our enemies. 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. Total development costs are estimated at more than US$40 billion (underwritten largely by the United States), while the purchase of an estimated 2,400 planes is expected to cost an additional US$200 billion. The nine major partner nations plan to acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035, making the F-35 one of the most numerous jet fighters. There are three levels of international participation. The levels generally reflect the financial stake in the program, the amount of technology transfer and subcontracts open for bid by national companies, and the order in which countries can obtain production aircraft. *The United Kingdom is the sole *"Level 1" partner, contributing US$2.5 billion, about 10% of the development costs under the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding that brought the UK into the project. *Level 2 partners are Italy, which is contributing US$1 billion; and the Netherlands, US$800 million. *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).

Participant nations: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

*Primary customer: USA

*Level 1 partner: UK

*Level 2 partner: The Netherlands and Italy

*Level 3 partner: Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark

*Security Cooperative Participants (SCP): Israel and Singapore Some of the partner countries have wavered in their public commitment to the JSF program, hinting or warning that unless they receive more subcontracts or technology transfer, they will forsake JSF for the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Dassault Rafale or simply upgrade their existing aircraft. Norway has several times threatened to put their support on hold unless substantial guarantees for an increased industrial share is provided. Despite this Norway has signed all the Memoranda of Understanding, including the latest one detailing the future production phase of the JSF program. They have, however, indicated that they will increase and strengthen their cooperation with both competitors of the JSF, the Typhoon and the Gripen.

Israeli demands include installing an advanced radar and conformal fuel tank design for long-range missions made by Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as other electronic and weapons systems that could require changes to the configuration of the aircraft.

"We have unique needs and need to retain our superiority in the region," a senior defense official explained. "

To meet these needs we must to be able to install our own systems." The US is refusing to allow Israel - the first country to whom the jets have been offered which is outside the US and the eight countries who are full members of the Joint Strike Force program - to install its own technology. Last week, in an interview with Aviation Week, Maj.-Gen. Charles Davis, executive officer of the JSF program, said that Israel would not be allowed to put its own systems in the JSF, also known as the F-35.

"They [Israel] are going to buy aircraft that have basically the same capability as all the others," Davis told Aviation Week. "

They are trying to do a requirements analyses for future missions. That [customization] is doable through software. It is not doable by Israelis sticking boxes in the airplane. [Elbit and Elta being involved] is not an option," he says.

The IDF is now talking about delaying the purchase to some point beyond 2014. That would lower the cost, but would not solve the technology issue. And one cannot help but get the sense that the IDF feels its been had by the Americans: In the past, officials said, before announcing a decision to purchase an aircraft the MOD first negotiated the installation of Israeli-made systems and then announced that it had made a decision. This, officials said, was the case with the F-15I and the F-16I.

However in the case of the JSF, the US refused to conduct the negotiations with the MOD until an announcement that it would procure the plane had been made. The announcement was made in October in an official request to the Pentagon.

A defense industry source familiar with the negotiations between Israel and the US said that the talks were "tough" but predicted that a deal would be reached in the coming months and that Israel would finally place an official order.

You can bet that there's going to be a lot of pressure placed on Israel to place that order. With a recession on, what is potentially a $75 billion order would be a huge boost for the American defense industries. You would think it would also be an incentive to make the customer king. And that has to make you wonder why the US is suddenly playing hardball.

Oh by the way, one of the countries that is a member of the Joint Strike Force is Turkey. Other members include the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Norway and Denmark, each of whom contributed between $110 million (Denmark) and $2.5 billion (United Kingdom) towards the development costs, with the United States footing the balance of the bill. Israel and Singapore paid $20 million each to receive the lower level status of a 'security cooperative participant' in the program. Hmmm.