DTN News - JAPAN DEFENSE NEWS: Japan Proceeding With F-X Competition, Official Says

DTN News - JAPAN DEFENSE NEWS: Japan Proceeding With F-X Competition, Official Says

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By: Chris Pocock - Ainonline.com

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 13, 2011: Japan is apparently proceeding on schedule with the F-X fighter competition, despite the large economic impact of the recent earthquake and tsunami, and a recent government reshuffle. A Ministry of Defense spokeswoman told Bloomberg news agency that a decision is likely by year-end. Requests for proposals were issued to Boeing (for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet), Lockheed Martin (for the F-35) and Eurofighter last April. Formal responses are due at the end of this month.

Most observers believe that Japan favors the F-35 because of its stealth capability. The country’s earlier interest in the F-22 was rebuffed by the U.S., which declared that the Raptor would not be exported.

However, Boeing is pitching the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the most cost-effective choice, which may have relevance in the current economic environment. Most of the enhanced features that Boeing proposed for export aircraft last year should appeal to Japan, including conformal weapons carriage for reduced radar cross-section, and an internal infrared search and track system (IRST).

Eurofighter has stepped up its campaign, despite Japan’s long history of buying only U.S. defense equipment. Dassault cited this reason in its decision not to bid the Rafale to meet the F-X requirement. “We are ready to offer Japan’s defense industry considerable participation in the [Eurofighter] program, which will offer significant technology transfer opportunities, including the source code,” said Chris Boardman, managing director military air and information, BAE Systems.

The F-X is slated to replace Japan’s two remaining F-4EJ Phantom squadrons (a third flies RF-4E/EJs dedicated to reconnaissance). Therefore, only about 40 aircraft are required–a low number that will adversely affect the unit cost of any licensed production. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has other fighter squadrons equipped with seven F-15Js and three F-2s (a unique and enlarged version of the F-16 produced by Mitsubishi). It is funding upgrades to these, and also the development by Mitsubishi of a stealth combat aircraft demonstrator. This is due to fly in 2014, and if successful could preclude the need to buy further examples of the aircraft chosen as the F-X.

The JASDF lost most of its F-2B two-seat conversion aircraft at Matsushima airbase to the tsunami. A decision on whether to extend production of the F-2 to replace them has not yet been announced. In the meantime, the JASDF is sending pilots to the U.S. Air Force F-16 conversion training squadrons.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Chris Pocock - Ainonline.com

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DTN News: USAF Rules Out New F-15s And F-16s To Narrow ‘Fighter Gap’

DTN News: USAF Rules Out New F-15s And F-16s To Narrow ‘Fighter Gap’ Source: DTN News / FlightGlobal.com By Stephen Trimble (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, U.S. - April 6, 2010: Delays and cost overruns for the Lockheed Martin F-35 have not changed the US Air Force's plans to deactivate about 250 fighters later this year, says its chief of staff, Gen Norton Schwartz. The USAF, however, has begun destructive tests on Boeing F-15s and Lockheed F-16s to prove the viability for a potential service life extension programme, says Schwartz. "At 10-15% of the cost [of a new fighter] you could perform a service life extension programme," Schwartz says, "which would get us close to where we need to be in, we think, a more affordable way." Schwartz rejected buying the latest "fourth-generation-plus" versions of the F-15 and F-16 despite a new two-year slip and nearly 90% projected cost overrun for the F-35. "To be sure, we do not think it prudent to utilise precious procurement dollars for anything but fifth-generation aircraft." But Schwartz added an important caveat, that the USAF still has not determined whether the service life extension programme would be technically or financially viable. The USAF has terminated Lockheed F-22 production with 186 aircraft in inventory after 2011, leaving only plans to acquire 1,763 F-35s over the next 30 years to modernise its fighter fleet. Meanwhile, the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review set the tactical aircraft requirement at about 2,000 fighters. During the F-35's projected lifetime in production, however, the USAF faces a growing fighter inventory gap made even more complicated by Lockheed's cost and schedule problems. In 2009 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported alarming trends. Twelve Air National Guard units today patrol US airspace with F-16s scheduled for retirement by 2020. As of late 2008, only one of the 12 units was scheduled to receive F-35s by 2020 to continue flying the mission. The increasing gap in the fighter inventory prompted a US lawmaker to predict the air force's dependence on the F-35 will be a "monumental mistake". "When these F-16s and F-15s are no longer able to fly and the F-35s still has problems because somebody hasn't figured it out, you're going to have air guard units that are not going to have planes," says Representative Frank LoBiondo, who represents a district that includes an F-16 base, during a 24 March hearing.

DTN News: Israel To India ~ Buy F-16s, Not Swedish Gripen Fighter Jets

DTN News: Israel To India ~ Buy F-16s, Not Swedish Gripen Fighter Jets

*Source: DTN News / The Jerusalem Post By Yaakov Lappin

(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - December 14, 2009: Over the past year, Israel has advised India to purchase American F-16 fighter jets rather than Swedish-made Gripen warplanes. The F-16IN Super Viper is a unique new fighter sharing a heritage with the world's only fifth generation fighters – the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22 Raptor. Evolutionary integration of fifth generation technologies makes the F-16IN the most advanced fourth generation fighter in the world today. This ultimate fourth generation fighter is tailored exclusively to meet or exceed all of India’s Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements. The F-16IN is the right choice for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and is ready for integration into India’s infrastructure and operations now. The ability of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to incorporate the latest technologies into the F-16IN is the key to expanding mission roles and improving combat capability, therefore creating the most effective multi role fighter today. With a robust upgrade capacity and the continuous insertion of technology, the F-16IN can be readily equipped with emerging capabilities throughout its lifecycle. The Super Viper has the most advanced technologies and capabilities available today on the international market. It is truly the ultimate fourth generation fighter with all it brings to the battlefield. The F-16 has been in direct competition with the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft and India has been mulling over which plane to purchase for the Indian Air Force (IAI). Israel defense officials advised their Indian counterparts to purchase the F16s, telling them that the US warplane performed better and was better priced.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin-Built IKONOS Satellite Marks 10 Years In Operations

DTN News: Lockheed Martin-Built IKONOS Satellite Marks 10 Years In Operations *Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin (NSI News Source Info) DENVER, USA - September 28, 2009: The world’s first commercial, high-resolution, Earth imaging satellite, IKONOS, will achieve its 10th year of operation on Sept. 24. Built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], the satellite continues to provide high-resolution imagery of the Earth to commercial and government customers around the world. IKONOS is owned and operated by GeoEye [NASDAQ: GEOY] of Dulles, Va. “When we launched IKONOS in 1999, many said it would change the way we look at the world, and that prediction has certainly come to fruition,” said Jim Crocker, vice president and general manager of Sensing and Exploration Systems at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The spacecraft collects 0.82-meter resolution black-and-white imagery while simultaneously collecting four-meter resolution multispectral data. These map-accurate images are used for applications in land management, environmental monitoring, local and regional government, national security, disaster relief, and many other geospatial applications. IKONOS is based on the Lockheed Martin LM900 LEO, three-axis stabilized, remote sensing bus. At a weight of 1600 pounds (720 kg), it’s a stable, highly agile, precision pointing spacecraft ideally suited for high resolution remote sensing missions. In 2007, Lockheed Martin performed a life expectancy analysis of the spacecraft and determined it may continue to be fully operational into the next decade. IKONOS is one of 150 small satellites developed by Lockheed Martin, all of which have met or exceeded their design life. 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: UK, Libya Sign Secret 'Defense Deal'

DTN News: UK, Libya Sign Secret 'Defense Deal'

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - September 13, 2009: Amid uncertainties and anger about the release of Lockerbie bomber, a report reveals that Britain and Libya have been sharing closing relations over the last six months.

The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that a contingent of between four and 14 men from the Special Air Service (SAS) had been training Libyan forces in the past six months. An unnamed SAS source told the paper that the training was related to an agreement struck with Tripoli over release of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi. (Image: Britain's secretive SAS is among the world's best respected commando units.)

Last month, Scotland freed Megrahi on compassionate grounds to the anger of many relatives of the 1988 airliner bombing, which killed 270 people.

London says that the decision to free him was taken by the Scottish government and had not been done to improve Britain's trade links with the oil-rich Libya.

On Saturday, the British government confirmed the training, but asserted there had been no defense deal connected to the release of Megrahi.

Britain's Ministry of Defense and Foreign Office also announced that they could not comment on the work of the SAS. However, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said, "We have ongoing cooperation with Libya in the field of defense, but to suggest that this is part of any deal related to Megrahi is simply untrue."

The spokeswoman claimed there had been defense cooperation with Tripoli since Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi renounced weapons of mass destruction in 2003.

DTN News: Lockerbie Bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi Release "Linked To Oil Deal" ~ Report

DTN News: Lockerbie Bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi Release "Linked To Oil Deal" ~ Report

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 31, 2009: Britain agreed to include Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi in a prisoner transfer deal with Libya because of "overwhelming interests" shortly before an oil deal was sealed with Tripoli, a newspaper reported on Sunday. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, left, meets Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi at the G8 Summit in L'Aquilla. Italy Friday July 10, 2009. Brown called on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to help return a British child he said was abducted by her father and taken to Libya. Brown's office said Friday he had asked Gadhafi in talks on the sidelines of the G-8 summit to intervene in the case of 6-year-old Nadia Fawzi, alleged to have been taken from northern England to Libya in 2007. Gadhafi raised the case of Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, a Libyan found guilty of blowing up an airliner over Scotland in a 1988 attack that killed 270 people. The Sunday Times said leaked letters from Justice Secretary Jack Straw undermined government denials of a link between the former Libyan agent's freedom and British trade interests. Megrahi, 57, was released from jail on August 20 after Scottish authorities said his terminal cancer gave compassionate grounds for him to return home to die. The British government has distanced itself from the decision, made by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, which has angered many relatives of the bombing's victims and the United States government, which lost 189 citizens. Megrahi was the only person convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie that killed 270 people. His rapturous reception in Tripoli has been criticized by the British and U.S. governments. The Sunday Times said two letters from Straw, dated five months apart, showed he reversed an original plan to exclude Megrahi from a prisoner transfer agreement that was being discussed with Libya. The paper said the change of heart appeared to be linked to a stalled $900 million oil and gas exploration deal with Libya for British oil giant BP that was ratified a few weeks later. BP has always denied any link between the deal and the prisoner agreement. Straw wrote to MacAskill in July 2007 to say he favored excluding Megrahi from the prisoner transfer, an arrangement desired by the Scottish administration which has autonomous powers over most criminal matters. But by December 2007 he told MacAskill his position had changed. "The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom, I have agreed that in this instance the (prisoner transfer agreement) should be in the standard form and not mention any individual," the Sunday Times quoted Straw as writing. Straw told BBC radio the alleged link between trade and Megrahi's release was an "absurd confection." "The suggestion that at any stage there was some kind of backdoor deal done over Mr Megrahi's transfer because of trade is simply untrue," he said The negotiations on prisoner transfers were part of a "normalization process" with Libya, he said. London had made clear to Tripoli that Scotland would retain an absolute right to refuse a prisoner transfer, he added, Straw said the issue was "academic" given that Scotland eventually released Megrahi on compassionate grounds and not under the transfer agreement.

DTN News: Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi Meets With Released Bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi

DTN News: Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi Meets With Released Bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi *Source: DTN News / Defense Int'l (NSI News Source Info) TRIPOLI, Libya - August 23, 2009: Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi met overnight with Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi amid mounting Western outrage on Saturday over the hero's welcome he received upon his return.

Convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi shakes the hand of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli in this August 21, 2009 video grab from Libya TV. Gaddafi hugged the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised more cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release, while London and Washington condemned his "hero's welcome" home. Meeting Megrahi and his family late on Friday, Gaddafi thanked British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Queen Elizabeth for "encouraging" Scotland to release the dying prisoner from a Scottish jail, Libyan news agency JANA reported.

Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam said Megrahi's release from a Scottish prison on Thursday was linked to trade deals with Britain, allegations which were swiftly denied by London.

The Libyan leader praised Scottish authorities for their "courage" in releasing Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, on compassionate grounds.

"At this moment I would like to send a message to our friends in Scotland ... and I congratulate them on their courage and for having proved their independence despite the unacceptable and unreasonable pressures they faced," Kadhafi was quoted as saying by Libya's official Jana news agency. Libyan television showed images of Kadhafi receiving and embracing Megrahi late on Friday. Megrahi, the only person convicted for the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 270 people in the air and on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie, was sentenced to life in prison in 2001.

Hundreds of flag-waving well-wishers cheered Megrahi upon his arrival in Tripoli, despite warnings by the United States that a public celebration might damage relations that have been improving since Libya renounced terrorism and its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction in 2003. US President Barack Obama on Friday called the red-carpet reception Megrahi received "highly objectionable", while his spokesman Robert Gibbs denounced an "outrageous and disgusting" display.

Seif al-Islam, who travelled to Scotland to accompany Megrahi back to Libya, said his release was linked to trade deals. "In all commercial contracts, for oil and gas with Britain, (Megrahi) was always on the negotiating table," Islam said in interview to Libyan TV channel Al Mutawassit taped on the flight back to Tripoli. "All British interests were linked to the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi," he added.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street office firmly denied that Megrahi's release was linked to Britain's interest in Libya's oil and gas reserves. "There is no deal," a spokesman told AFP.

Convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi (front row 2nd R) and his family pose for a photo with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (R) in Tripoli in this August 21, 2009 video grab from Libya TV. Gaddafi hugged the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised more cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release, while London and Washington condemned his "hero's welcome" home. Meeting Megrahi and his family late on Friday, Gaddafi thanked British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Queen Elizabeth for "encouraging" Scotland to release the dying prisoner from a Scottish jail, Libyan news agency JANA reported.

"The position remains the same as we have been making clear: this has always been a matter for the Scottish executive and ministers," he added. A spokesman for the Foreign Office also rejected the allegations. "No deal has been made between the UK government and Libya in relation to Megrahi and any commercial interests in the country," a spokesman said.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Friday angrily refuted suggestions that the British government wanted Megrahi freed so that commercial relations with oil-rich Libya could be improved. "I really reject that entirely," he said. "That is a slur both on myself and the government."

Speculation that there had been some form of agreement was fuelled by the disclosure that Britain's Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson met Islam during his recent holiday on the Greek island of Corfu. Kadhafi said Friday that Megrahi's release "... will surely have positive repercussions on all aspects of cooperation between our two countries."

Megrahi, who has always maintained his innocence, told The Times newspaper in an interview conducted at his family home in Tripoli that he will present new evidence through his Scottish lawyers that will exonerate him. "My message to the British and Scottish communities is that I will put out the evidence and ask them to be the jury," he said, refusing to elaborate.

Britain's newspapers said Saturday that neither London, Edinburgh, nor Tripoli had emerged with any credit from Megrahi's release. The Independent said the London government had been caught off-guard by the negative reaction in the United States, while the Financial Times said the Lockerbie affair was not brought to a close by Megrahi's release, while the Daily Mail said Britain had been humiliated by Libya.

DTN News: Lockerbie Bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi Freed From Jail

DTN News: Lockerbie Bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi Freed From Jail

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) EDINBURGH, Scotland - August 20, 2009: Despite strenuous American opposition, the Scottish government on Thursday ordered the release on compassionate grounds of the only person convicted in the Lockerbie bombing, permitting Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, a 57-year-old former Libyan intelligence agent, to return home after serving 8 years of a 27-year minimum sentence on charges of murdering 270 people in Britain’s worst terrorist episode. He qualified for compassionate release after medical evidence showed he would die within months of prostate cancer, the Scottish authorities said. Less than two hours of the announcement, Mr. Megrahi was on his way in a prison van escorted by police cars and motorcycle outriders from Greenock prison to an airport near Glasgow where a Libyan airplane marked Afriqiyah had landed to fly him home. The announcement at a news conference by Scotland’s Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill, came almost 21 years after a bomb smuggled onto Pan Am Flight 103 exploded at 31,000 feet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988, killing 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. Of the dead, 189 were Americans. The Scottish decision was certain to provoke anguished protest from American families of the victims who had demanded that he serve his full sentence. The White House said in a news release that it “deeply regrets” the Scottish decision. “We continue to believe that Megrahi should serve out his sentence in Scotland.” Mr. MacAskill said it was his decision and his alone that Mr. Megrahi “be released on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya to die.” “I have followed due process,” he said. Mr. MacAskill acknowledged that Mr. Megrahi “did not show his victims any comfort or compassion” and that they were not allowed to go home to their families. “No compassion was shown by him to them,” he said. “But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him.” He called the Lockerbie bombing a “heinous crime” in which the victims were “cruelly murdered.” Mr. MacAskill said he had been asked to rule on two applications for Mr. Megrahi’s release — one relating to an agreement between Libya and Britain on the transfer of prisoners and one on compassionate grounds. He said he rejected an application by the Libyan government for a prisoner transfer after United States officials insisted that, when Mr. Megrahi was tried, they had been assured that he would serve his full term in Scotland. He also criticized the British government for saying it had given no such assurance to the United States. “I find that highly regrettable,” he said. He said Scottish law provided for release on compassionate grounds of prisoners with terminal illnesses whose life expectancy was less than three months. After receiving medical reports from prison doctors and others, he said it was clear that “he has a terminal illness and recently there has been a significant deterioration in his health.” “The three-month prognosis is a reasonable estimate. He may die sooner. He may live longer,” he said. While he acknowledged that “the pain and suffering will remain forever” for the families of the victims, “our belief dictates that justice be served and mercy be shown.” Mr. MacAskill said Mr. Megrahi could be leaving within an hour from Scotland’s Greenock prison, and transferred to Glasgow airport to be flown home. Television footage showed an Airbus with the marking “Afriqiyah” landing at Glasgow airport while a convoy of police cars and motorcycle outriders escorted an armored prison van carrying Mr. Megrahi. “I am conscious there are deeply held feelings and that many will disagree whatever my decision,” Mr. MacAskill said. “However, a decision has to be made.” “Scotland will forever remember the crime that has been perpetrated against our people and those from many other lands,” he said. “Some hurt can never heal, some scars can never fade. Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive. Their pain runs deep and the wounds remain,” he said. News reports said that plans had been made for Mr. Megrahi to fly on a jet sent by the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, as soon as his release had been formally announced. Scottish authorities were braced for a hostile reaction from the Obama administration, which has vigorously opposed Mr. Megrahi’s release. On Wednesday Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, said it would be “absolutely wrong” to release Mr. Megrahi.

Abdel Basset al-Megrahi (L) walks up the stairs to a waiting jet at Glasgow airport August 20, 2009. The Scottish government decided on Thursday to free Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi from prison on compassionate grounds as he is suffering from advanced prostate cancer and he will return home to Libya. Megrahi was sentenced to 27 years in prison in 2001 for his part in blowing up New York-bound Pan Am flight 103 in December 1988, killing 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland. A Scottish official who discussed the case said that Mr. MacAskill’s decision was bound to provoke anger either way. “Whatever decision you make, it’s going to upset some people,” he said, speaking anonymously on the grounds that he was not authorized to comment officially. He added, “There are a lot of representatives of U.K. families who lost relatives in the bombing who feel quite strongly that Megrahi should be released.”

In 2001 a special Scottish court that heard the case in the Netherlands found Mr. Megrahi guilty of murder and other offenses related to the bombing, but acquitted another Libyan tried with him. Mr. Megrahi has never admitted his guilt, and was engaged in a second appeal this year when doctors in Scotland diagnosed a terminal case of prostate cancer. With his health weighing as a potentially decisive factor in the case, the Libyan government arranged for one of Britain’s top cancer specialists, Dr. Karol Sikora, to examine him in late July, together with a Libyan cancer specialist. On Wednesday, Dr. Sikora called for an urgent decision in the case, saying that Mr. Megrahi “has only a very short period of time to live.” The decision Thursday followed days of legal and political maneuvering. Earlier this week, Mr. Megrahi’s lawyers petitioned successfully in a Scottish court to abandon his appeal of his 2001 conviction, which was due to resume in September. The appeal has hinged on the claim of Mr. Megrahi’s lawyers that he was wrongly identified at trial as the man who bought clothes in a shop in Malta that were used to wrap the bomb on board Pan Am 103. A BBC report from Tripoli said authorities there were preparing a warm homecoming for Mr. Megrahi, who belongs to a powerful tribe that has been a political ally of Colonel Qaddafi. But many American families that lost relatives in the bombing remained adamant in their opposition to the Libyan’s release. “If this was bin Laden or one of bin Laden’s deputies sitting in jail, would we even be having this discussion? I don’t think so,” said Stephanie Bernstein, whose husband, Michael, was killed. “I think this has to do with oil. I think this has to do with politics. And I don’t think this has anything to do with justice,” she said Wednesday. Helen Engelhardt, whose husband, Tony Hawkins, was killed on the plane, said she wanted to hear more from Mr. Megrahi. “I would like this fellow, before he breathes his last breath to tell us the story,” Ms. Engelhardt said Wednesday. “We need the truth. We need to know what really happened.”