DTN News: SAM Manufacturers Eye 27 Billion Dollar Market Through 2018

DTN News: SAM Manufacturers Eye 27 Billion Dollar Market Through 2018 *Source: DTN News / Space War

(NSI News Source Info) NEWTOWN, Connecticut - October 8, 2009: Although surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) have seldom been used in active combat in recent years, their production is still anticipated to be worth some $28 billion to manufacturers worldwide over the next 10 years. "MBDA, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon will dominate this market," said Larry Dickerson, Senior Missile Analyst for Forecast International. The three companies will earn a combined $11.4 billion in SAM sales during the 2009-2018 period. "Raytheon's revenues will come from supplying missiles to navies worldwide, while Lockheed Martin's earnings will be generated by meeting land-based needs," Dickerson said. He added, "These companies will earn $5.2 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively. MBDA's sales of $2.8 billion will fit between these two market segments." These three companies will build over 23,000 of the more than 80,000 missiles forecast for production through 2018. With respect to production in China, Dickerson said, "China will produce nearly as many missiles and earn $5 billion from missile sales, but the overwhelming majority will go to meeting Chinese requirements. Chinese companies will have very little success outside the domestic market." Dickerson added with regard to Russia that it is attempting to rebuild its market share, but is encountering difficulty competing head-to-head with Western systems. Of growing importance is a system's ability to engage cruise and ballistic missiles. Israel, for example, faces a considerable missile and rocket threat, which is fueling development of countermeasures. According to Dickerson, Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling are new defensive systems that will enter service in the near future.

DTN News: Regime Goal ~ The Strongest Army In Southeast Asia

DTN News: Regime Goal ~ The Strongest Army In Southeast Asia *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BANGKOK, Thailand - August 23, 2009: The Burmese military regime is well on its way to modernizing its military services, including a self-manufacturing infrastructure for the army, navy and air force. Many of the changes have occurred under the direction of Snr-Gen Than Shwe, who became chairman of the ruling council in 1992. The Defense Industry (DI) ministry, Burma’s main military industry agency, operates 22 manufacturing or procurement facilities, many located on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River west of the Pegu mountain range.Lt-Gen Tin Aye, a trusted Than Shwe ally, is chief of the Defense Industry ministry. Htay Aung, a Thailand-based military researcher, said that since the military took control of the country in 1988, Burma has steadily expanded its military services and modernized armament production and procurement. “In Southeast Asia, Burma has the second largest military after Vietnam,” Htay Aung told The Irrawaddy. “The primary reason for military expansion is that the generals fear that Burma could face an invasion, since it is located between two giant neighbors [India and China].” The regime also may be trying to acquire nuclear weapons, said Htay Aung. Late in the1950s, the Defense Industry, or Ka Pa Sa, maintained arms and ammunition production facilities under contract with the Federal Republic of Germany’s state-owned Fritz Werner. Since then, the Defense Industry network has expanded its infrastructure and today manufactures small arms, ammunitions, land mines and other military hardware. Analysts said the Defense Industry also produces surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs), and may be in the process of exploring ways to build or acquire nuclear weapons. One facility, the No (2) Defense Industry, located in Upper Min Hla Township in Magwe Division, was built by Singapore, say analysts. The facility is said to produce 60 mm, 81 mm, 105 mm and 120 mm mortars. Singapore is a major source of arms technology for Burma, according to analysts. The Korean Daewoo Company signed a deal with the government in May 2002 to build an arms factory valued at US $133 million near Prome in Pegu Division. The factory may build or assemble missiles. No (10) Defense Industry was built in 1993 near Kongyi village in Upper-Min Hla Township in Magwe Division to manufacture surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), air-to-air missiles (AAMs) and rocket launchers. Parts and other material at the No (10) Defense Industry facility are believed to be supplied by South Korea, Russia and China. Defense analysts say the junta may have started a guided missile development program with the help of firms in Singapore. In the face of an arms embargo by Western countries, the regime now relies on China, South Korea, North Korea and Russia for help in upgrading its military hardware. The junta’s desire to acquire some form of nuclear weapons has received extensive exposure in the media in recent months, including in The Irrawaddy. A Rangoon-based company, Soe Min Htaik Co. Ltd, plays a central role in weapons procurement from China, South Korea, North Korea and Russia. Soe Min Htaik Co. Ltd is a private company that was formed by Burma’s Defense Industry in the early 1990. Analysts say Soe Min Htaik Co. procured surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) from China and North Korea. The Burmese military also has created two military-managed economic organizations: the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited (UMEHL), established in 1989 and 1990 respectively. The mission of the two commercial enterprises is to make the military services self-sufficient. Heavy weapons, ammunition and other defense technology are acquired with profits from MEC and UMEHL. The UMEHL has numerous subsidiary and affiliated firms engaged in trading with Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, China, South Korea and India. Cooking oil, fuel oil and automobiles are important imports while exports include cigarettes, beans and pulses, gems, garment products and gas. UMEHL also has earned hundreds of millions of dollars from the Daewoo Company which has a contract to export natural gas. Defense analysts have said that Than Shwe has a goal to acquire nuclear weapon capability by 2025.

France May Develop Short-Range SAM With India / France Hopes To Develop SR-SAM With India

France May Develop Short-Range SAM With India / France Hopes To Develop SR-SAM With India (NSI News Source Info) January 20, 2009: France wants to develop a new short-range surface-to-air missile (SR-SAM) in cooperation with India. Negotiations are nearing conclusion, according to Jean-David Levitte, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Trishul is the name of a short range surface-to-air missile developed by India as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It has a range of 9 km and is fitted with a 5.5 kg warhead. Designed to be used against low-level (sea skimming) targets at short range, the system has been developed to defend naval vessels against missiles and also as a short range surface to air missile on land. Guidance consists of three different guiding beams, with the guidance handed over progressively to a narrower beam as the missile approaches the target. According to reports, the range of the missile is 12 km and is fitted with a 15 kg warhead. The weight of the missile is 130 kg. The length of the missile is 3.1 m. Development costs of the missile touched almost $70 million to the taxpayers.India had Officially shut down Trishul Missile project on February 27,2008.

This new system may be the Maitri, which may incorporate technology from India's Trishul SAM and MBDA's MICA. India' state-run Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) released a global RFP for co-development of SR-SAM system.

Levitte said the process to secure a foreign partner is underway. India recently announced orders for the Akash, another indigenously designed missile, and the Israeli-built SPYDER.