DTN News: Pakistan FEATURE ~ Tribal Terror By Australia Network News

DTN News: Pakistan FEATURE ~ Tribal Terror By Australia Network News Source: DTN News / Australia Network News (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 13, 2010: The wild tribal badlands along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan are often called the most dangerous place on earth, the most likely hiding place of the world's most wanted terrorists. Pakistan has long been accused by the United States of providing shelter to the Taliban groups that are attacking Afghanistan from the tribal areas. But Pakistan now claims that the reverse is true - that because NATO has pulled its troops out of remote areas and into Afghanistan's cities, the militant groups attacking Pakistan have free reign on the Afghan side of the border. The Federated Tribal Areas of Pakistan, known as FATA, lie along the western border with Afghanistan. They're one of the most wild, ungovernable areas on the planet. For over 200 years the British tried and failed to establish control, and settled instead for a series of treaties with the tribes who live in the region. It's an arrangement that's largely still in place today, with the Pakistan government virtually invisible. The result is a safe haven for all kinds of criminals, and all persuasions of militants. Despite repeated attempts to dislodge groups such as the Taliban from their strongholds, the Pakistan Army has found that attempts to crack down on the militants, has been like chasing smoke.

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Created: Fri, 07 May 2010 09:32:32 GMT-0400

VIDEO from Australia Network News

Newsline's Thom Cookes reports from Pakistan's Federated Tribal Areas

Imtiaz Gul from the Center For Research and Security Studies, says the porous nature of the region has hindered the Pakistan army's efforts. "We have to keep in mind...that it's very very porous, very poorly governed, you don't have enough of human resources to deploy." "So at the moment you apply pressure, these people simply move out to other locations and then try to reorganise themselves." For the last seven years there's been an increasingly bloody civil war between the army and Islamic militants who want to overthrow the government, and impose sharia law across all of Pakistan. Major General Athar Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistan Army says 2009 has been the bloodiest year so far for his troops. "Virtually every day there were about 10 soldiers casualties. It was a very deadly, one can say." "But this is because the space has been denied to these organisation in their traditional bases so they are on the run." "They are in a desperate situation and they want to strike hard at soft targets." Despite General Abbas' confidence that the army is making progress against the militants, there's already been one failed peace deal between the two groups. Pakistani commanders are also complaining that when they put pressure on the militants, they slip across the border into Afghanistan. Army frustration Brigadier Zafar Iqbal, from the Pakistan Army says now that the NATO forces have withdrawn to Afghanistan's population centres, the militants have free reign in FATA. "On the [Afghan] side, they have sanctuaries...they have their camps where they can go, where they rest, where they even reorganise and come back...that's what's disturbing us." Brigadier Zafar says the lack of co-ordination between the Pakistan Army and NATO forces in Afghanistan is frustrating. "Our operations are linked to the situation on the other side. So these operations could be very effective if the [Coalition forces] conduct operations which are complementary. Then we can handle this very easily and effectively. But that's not what is happening." NATO commanders in Afghanistan have long complained of exactly the opposite problem. They claim the Pakistan Army is sheltering the Taliban militants who are attacking Afghanistan. But Imtiaz Gul from the Center For Research and Security Studies says demands by NATO and the US pose a challenge for Pakistani authorities. "Here's a dilemma for the Pakistani military, [that is] whether to go after those people who do not pose a direct threat to Pakistani interests at all." "The predominate consideration within the Pakistan government is do you really want to antagonise those people who are permenant residents of this region, where as the Americans would be gone, the foreign troops would pull out after some time from Afghanistan." According to General Abbas, despite the pressure from the United States, it's all a matter of priorities. "Some organisations, or a group which is not directly attacking the state, which is not directly threatening your own military or your own police. Therefore one would like to give it a low priority," he said. "It would not be wise to move against a threat which is not bothering you directly." But even where the Army is fighting with those militants trying to overthrow the Pakistani government itself, there is a strong sense that it is going round in circles. Peace deals At tribal meetings, or jirgas, it's the ancient tribal laws of Pashtunwali that apply - not the laws made in the Pakistan parliament, or administered by the courts. Sometimes the militants and the army directly agree not to attack each other. Sometimes the tribal elders claim they can raise a militia to control the militants, and that the army isn't needed any more but the deals almost always break down. Samina Ahmed, from the International Crisis group says every peace deal cedes territory and political space to militants. "What does happen is when you cede political space to them, the stronger they become and they attack the military again and the military goes and attacks strongholds." And so despite the thousands killed, and millions displaced from their homes, the civil war in the tribal areas is deadlocked. Samina Ahmed says in order for the deadlock to be broken, the FATA must be changed. "Any counter-insurgency will be unsuccessful if the politics isn't right and the politics will basically require a change fundamentally change in FATA itself." And that change means dragging FATA into the 21st century, and under full control of the Pakistani state. Despite the Pakistan Army's active role in the region, General Abbas says it's up to the politicians to come up with a solution. "It needs political reconciliation, a revisit of intergration, but I leave that to the politicians, it's not a military problem." But with a young and weak civilian government, caught up in its own struggle for survival, the chances of that change seem remote. *To read this article in original form, please click here .....Australia Network News *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: South African Air Force (SAAF) Atlas Oryx Multirole Utility Helicopter ~ Feature Topic

DTN News: South African Air Force (SAAF) Atlas Oryx Multirole Utility Helicopter ~ Feature Topic *Source: DTN News / Defense Media (NSI News Source Info) CAPE TOWN, South Africa - December 14, 2009: A multirole medium size utility helicopter, Atlas Oryx is manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems for the South African Air Force (SAAF). Based in South Africa, Denel Aerospace (formerly known as Atlas Aircraft Corporation) is a division of Denel (Pyt), one of the biggest manufacturers of defence equipment in the country. Oryx is an 8t helicopter with three cockpit crew seats, 16 troop seats or up to 12 VIP seats. It comes in single-pilot (visual flight rules) and dual-pilot (instrument flight rules) versions. Oryx is an 8t helicopter with three cockpit crew seats, 16 troop seats or up to 12 VIP seats. Oryx was first launched in 1991 as a transport helicopter for the SAAF. It can accommodate a crew of three members, 20 fully equipped troops or six wounded personnel on stretchers with four attendants. Oryx can carry 6,000kg of cargo on the external sling or 3,600kg of freight in the cabin. On 10 May 2007, Denel Aviation received Eurocopter accreditation, which will allow Denel Aviation's maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility to provide dynamic components of the Oryx aircraft in South Africa as well as the African continent. The accreditation also provides complete access and exposure to international best practices. Upgrade programme Denel Aviation is planning to upgrade the on-board communication and navigation systems of Oryx helicopters under SAAF's Drummer project launched in 2008. The Drummer is a mid-life upgrade programme to extend the service life of 40 Oryx helicopters in the SAAF's inventory. "Atlas Oryx is manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems for the South African Air Force (SAAF)." The upgrade will include alteration and installation of new on-board equipment, creation of an interface between the old and new technologies in the helicopter, development of software for the new navigation computers and final flight testing. Denel Aviation will perform initial flight test in late 2009. The Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) and the SAAF have agreed on a communication and navigation systems baseline. The prototype aircraft installation phase is due to begin soon. Denel Aviation's helicopter MRO division will test all upgrades on the helicopter avionics engineering simulator before fitting it to the actual aircraft so as to ensure proper functionality and safety. Oryx design The Oryx helicopter is an upgraded version of Aerospatiale Puma, a transport and utility helicopter equivalent to the Eurocopter Super Puma, a medium-sized utility helicopter. Oryx provides higher performance and efficiency compared with the original and reduces the operating costs by 25% to 30%. The mean time between failures (MTBF) is also higher for the Oryx. The basic airframe of the Oryx is similar to that of Puma helicopter. The external structure was upgraded with a new tailboom which is 50cm bigger than the Puma. The fuselage of the Oryx is longer than that of Puma and shorter than that of Super Puma. The structure of the Oryx was altered with the use of carbon-composite materials which are lighter and tougher. Use of carbon-composite materials has also increased the Oryx's performance and manoeuvrability. The Oryx is equipped with powerplants, dynamics systems such as main and tail gearboxes and the Super Puma's tailboom. A 50m hydraulic hoist is also installed in the Oryx to perform search and rescue operations efficiently. The various missions carried out by the Oryx include medium to heavy transport and communications, rapid deployment of task force, and search and rescue functions. The helicopter is employed by the South African Navy for transport, force multiplication, and search and rescue operations. It is also used for replenishment at sea, reconnaissance and medical evacuation (six stretchers plus two attendants seated). Cockpit and avionics The helicopter is fitted with advanced avionics suite including a GPS / INS navigation system and weather radar with mapping facility. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation in a semi-glass cockpit. The Oryx cockpit is night vision goggle (NVG) compatible. Oryx is also equipped with locally manufactured radio which is used for ground communications. Variants Oryx has four variants: Oryx, Oryx M, Oryx M1 and Oryx M2. The basic Oryx variant is used by inland squadrons. The Oryx M (maritime version) variant is principally used in coastal environment by the 15 Squadron in Durban. A floatation gear and marine band radios were installed in this variant. Oryx M is painted with full gloss white and Akzo Matt schemes. "Oryx was first launched in 1991 as a transport helicopter for the South African Air Force." The third variant, the Oryx M1, is an upgraded version of the Oryx M. 22 Squadron in Cape Town uses this variant for shipborne roles. It is equipped with main rotor blade folding and control stick immobilisation. Oryx M2, the fourth variant, is derived from the M1 version. It is principally used in cold regions such as Marion and Gough Island, as well as in Antarctica by the 22 Squadron. The M2 variant has ice detection, anti-icing and de-icing capabilities and is equipped with cockpit foot warmers, MATAIR radios, all windscreen de-icing and wiping, maritime transponders and 40 KVA alternators. Different features were added to the Oryx helicopters over the years to serve various functions. A big log periodic antenna on the starboard side was installed in the first variant of the Oryx. An electronic warfare version equipped with Grinaker systems Technologies (GST) and GSY 1501 jamming systems is one variant of the helicopter. The EW platform can interrupt communication during air, land and sea battles. Another variant of the Oryx featured dome shaped antennas which were substituted for the main cabin door. The Oryx mk1 variant is primarily used for firefighting, search and rescue operations in open water. The helicopter is fitted with the Bambi water bucket for firefighting missions and flotation gear kit for performing search and rescue operations. The flotation gear includes a strut attached between the fuselage and sponson for rendering extra support during the search and rescue mission. The Oryx mk1 played a key role in search and rescue operations during the 2000 Mozambique floods. Two Oryx mk2 helicopters were built for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, as part of South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP). The two helicopters were modified with de-icing equipment for performing operations in the southern ocean and Antarctic. The helicopter was painted in a high visual red and white colour scheme. Oryx will be updated with the full glass-cockpit in the near future. Current upgrades include threat warning receivers and flare dispensers. Performance "The Oryx helicopter is an upgraded version of Aerospatiale Puma, a transport and utility helicopter." The Oryx works more efficiently in higher temperatures and altitudes than are normally found in South Africa. It can climb at the rate of 915m a minute. The maximum take-off weight is 8,400kg. The maximum speed is 320km/h and the service ceiling is 7,162m. It has a combat range of 303nm and a ferry range of 1,080nm. Engine The Oryx helicopter is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines. Each engine has a 1,877shp output power capacity. The engine contains five modules for easier maintenance. Its time between overhauls (TBO) is 3,000 hours. Weapons The Oryx is equipped with two door-mounted 7.62mm Mitrailleuse d'Appui General (MAG) light machine guns. It is a general-purpose machine gun manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) and designed by Ernest Vervier in the early 1950s. The gun weighs around 11.79kg with a length of 1,263mm and width of 118.7mm. The gun has a height of 263mm and barrel length of 630mm. It has the capacity to fire up to a range of 800m at 840m a second velocity.