EADS To Aid Flight Trials Of Indian LCA

EADS To Aid Flight Trials Of Indian LCA

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - January 29, 2009: The Indian Defence Ministry has short-listed EADS on a $20 million contract to aid in the flight trials of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The deal is expected to be signed during Aero India 2009, from Feb. 11-14 at Bangalore, said a senior Defence Ministry official. The HAL Tejas is a lightweight multirole fighter aircraft developed by India. It is a tailless, compound delta wing design powered by a single engine. Originally known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – a designation which continues in popular usage – the aircraft was officially named "Tejas"., by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 4 May 2003. Limited series production of the Tejas commenced in 2007; it is currently projected to achieve limited initial operational clearance (IOC) with the Indian Air Force (IAF) by 2008, followed by full operational clearance (FOC) by the end of 2010. A two-seat trainer variant is also in development (exited the production line as of November 2008), as is a naval variant capable of operating from the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers. The IAF is reported to have a requirement for 200 single-seat and 20 two-seat conversion trainers, while the Indian Navy may order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea Harrier FRS.51 and Harrier T.60. The LCA naval variant is expected to take to the skies by 2009. India's Aeronautical Development Agency, which designed, developed and monitors the LCA, had sought overseas partners to carry out design-and-development work in the flight-testing stage. The consulting company would help speed the flight testing through initial operational clearance and final operational clearance. Technical and commercial bids had been invited from EADS, Saab of Sweden, Dassault of France, Boeing and Lockheed Martin of the United States, and MiG Corp. of Russia. LCA development areas that EADS would aid include flight envelope expansion; flight testing for high angle of attack; aero database validation; external stores carriage with emphasis on stores separation modeling and testing; wake modeling and penetration flight tests; and refinements to existing simulation models. LCA is preparing to enter into the weapon-integration stage, and the first aircraft are expected to be inducted into the Air Force by 2010, nearly 15 years behind schedule. The Air Force has ordered 20 LCAs valued at more than $500 million. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics is expected to roll out eight aircraft annually. The aim of the current flight trial program is to achieve initial operational clearance with the multimode radar integrated with a weapon suite. It could take three years and about 1,500 hours of flight testing to move into final operational clearance. Eight limited series production aircraft, along with two technical demonstrators and five prototypes, are part of the LCA's design-and-development program. The LCA is a single-seat, single-engine, supersonic multirole air superiority fighter jet designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat roles.

General Dynamics Awarded $12 Million For MK47 STRIKER40 Weapon System Production

General Dynamics Awarded $12 Million For MK47 STRIKER40 Weapon System Production

(NSI News Source Info) CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 29, 2009: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a $12 million contract from the U.S. government for production of the MK47 STRIKER40® Weapon System. “The MK47 is a lightweight grenade launcher capable of firing airbursting munitions.

Integrating the latest sensing, targeting and computer-programming technology, the MK47 is a reliable, portable 40mm grenade weapon system suited for mobile, tactical combat soldier units. It provides forces with a decisive technological advantage over enemies equipped with older crew-served weapons,” said Jeff Gramse, program manager of gun systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. Production work will be performed at General Dynamics in Saco, Maine, with program management being shared with the company’s Burlington, Vt., facility.

Japan Forces Arrive In Guam For Joint Exercise

Japan Forces Arrive In Guam For Joint Exercise

(NSI News Source Info) January 29, 2009: Japan Air Self Defense Force members offload from a C-130 after arriving Jan. 27 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. More than 60 JASDF members arrived in three C-130s to participate in Exercise Cope North 09-1, a regularly scheduled exercise scheduled for Feb. 2 through 13. Cope North is designed to enhance U.S. and Japanese air operations in defense of Japan.

Russian Strategic Bombers Fly Near Alaska On Routine Patrol

Russian Strategic Bombers Fly Near Alaska On Routine Patrol

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - January 29, 2009: A pair of Russian Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers have carried out a routine patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean off Alaska, an Air Force spokesman said on Wednesday. "Two Tu-95MS strategic bombers took off from an airbase in eastern Russia on Tuesday and successfully carried out a patrol mission over the neutral waters of the Arctic Ocean and near Alaska," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik told RIA Novosti. The Tu-95 is still in service, as of 2008, and is expected to remain in service with the Russian Air Force until at least 2040. The Tu-95 is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop engines, each driving contra-rotating propellers, and remains the fastest propeller-driven aircraft to go into operational use. Its wings are swept back at 35 degrees, a very sharp angle by the standards of propeller-driven aircraft. *Operators Current: Russia ~ Russian Air Force - 64 Tu-95MS Strategic bombers. The spokesman said that during the 10-hour mission, the crews practiced instrumental flight maneuvers in arctic climate conditions. "On route, the bombers were accompanied for 10 minutes by four USAF F-15 Eagle fighters," Drik added. Russia resumed regular strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans in August 2007, following an order signed by then-president Vladimir Putin. All flights by Russian aircraft are performed in strict compliance with international law on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without violating the borders of other states.

Russia Delivers Mi-171 Helicopters To Iran

Russia Delivers Mi-171 Helicopters To Iran

(NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN - January 29, 2009: Russia has started deliveries of Mi-171 Hip transport helicopters to Iran under a $45 million contract, the Fars news agency reported on Wednesday. They will be operated by Iran's Red Crescent for rescue missions and the evacuation of people injured in natural disasters. The Mil Mi-17 (also known as the Mi-8M series in Russian service, NATO reporting name ("Hip") is a Russian-designed helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. *The Mi-17 is also used for search and rescue team like Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department in Malaysia. *In October 2007 defense-aerospace.com reported the government of Saudi Arabia had signed a contract for up to 150 Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters worth $2.2billion. On 28 October 2008. *Royal Thai Army is proposes deal to buy 6 Mi-17 to meet its requirement of medium-lift helicopter. This is the first time in history Thai military buys aircraft from Russia. *A licensed production of the Mi-17 will start in China with production being led by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant JSC and the Sichuan Lantian Helicopter Company Limited in Chengdu, Sichuan province. *On 15th December 2008, Defense News reported that India will purchase 80 Mi-17IV helicopters which will be delivered to Indian Air Force between 2010 and 2014. These will replace aging Mi-8s. Russia has already delivered two helicopters, and will supply another three to Tehran before the end of March. The contract was signed with the East Siberian Ulan Ude helicopter plant, which manufactures Mi-171 transport and Mi-171Sh combat/transport helicopters, in October 2007.

Pakistan Army 'Will Retake Swat'

Pakistan Army 'Will Retake Swat'

(NSI News Source Info) Islamabad - January 29, 2009: Pakistan's army chief has pledged to restore government control of the Swat valley, which is currently controlled by Taleban militants. Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani made the remarks to troops during a visit to the former tourist resort in the country's north-west near the Afghan border. Troops were deployed in Swat after an Islamic insurgency began in 2007. Hundreds have died in battles between troops and militants seeking to impose their austere version of Islamic law. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan says Gen Kayani's remarks come at a time when military circles are talking of a new phase in operations against the militants. The authorities are under severe pressure over the deteriorating security situation in Swat. Killings Gen Kayani "reiterated that the army had both the will and resolve to establish the writ of the government" in Swat, a military statement said. "No amount of sacrifice will deter us to do our duty," Gen Kayani said, according to the statement. The general also "lauded the morale" of soldiers in Swat, a mountainous region of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) which until two years ago was a popular tourist area. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also pledged on Wednesday to curb militancy in the valley and stop the Taleban from establishing their own courts, a government spokesman said. Gen Kayani's comments coincided with an army statement which said that security forces killed seven militants and wounded 11 others in an operation in two villages there. There was no independent confirmation of the casualty figures or if those killed were militants. Civilians deaths are frequently reported in the violence. Further evidence of the deteriorating situation in Swat came when security forces found eight bullet-ridden bodies in the valley on Wednesday. The bodies were found in the town of Mingora. The militants are led by a radical local cleric, Maulana Fazlullah, who is linked to the Taleban. His men are accused of killing dozens of state employees and government supporters in addition to destroying nearly 200 schools - most of them for girls. The Taleban oppose education for girls, which they say is un-Islamic.

There Is No Agreement With US For Drone Attacks: Pakistan /Pakistan To U.S.: Stop The Drone Strikes (And More Weapons, Please) / Islamabad: No Deal...

There Is No Agreement With US For Drone Attacks: Pakistan /Pakistan To U.S.: Stop The Drone Strikes (And More Weapons, Please) / Islamabad: No Deal Allowing U.S. Predators Into Pakistan (NSI News Source Info) Islamabad - January 29, 2009: Pakistan has no agreement with the US that allowed drone attacks inside its territory, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday Jan 28. "There is no understanding between Pakistan and the United States on predator attacks," said Muhammad Sadiq in response to the statement by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates that US would continue such attacks against militants and that Pakistan was aware of this.

But the spokesman rejected the comments and said Pakistan had done more than any other country as far as Al Qaeda is concerned. "We look forward to working closely with the new US administration on all issues, including in the fight against terrorism," he said.

On Tuesday, Gates told a Senate Panel that missile strikes in Pakistan would continue in an effort to root out Al Qaeda members who have based themselves across the border from Afghanistan."Both president Bush and President Obama have made clear that we will go after Al Qaeda wherever Al Qaeda is.

And we will continue to pursue this," he said.Pakistan was expecting that the new US administration under President Barack Obama would bring an end to missile strikes inside Pakistani territory, but Gates' statement Tuesday has cleared the picture that there would be no pause on strikes.

US drones regularly conduct missile strikes on Pakistan's tribal region of Waziristan, which Washington says aimed at targeting Al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

Officials say that US carried out around 50 missile strikes on Pakistan last year, with civilians as majority of the casualties. Earlier, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said that drone attacks could affect Pakistan-US ties and asked Washington to stop drone attacks. He said that diplomatic and military contacts would be used to stop the US attacks.

£650 Million Royal Navy Warship Arrives In Portsmouth

£650 Million Royal Navy Warship Arrives In Portsmouth

(NSI News Source Info) January 29, 2009: The Royal Navy's newest warship, built at a cost of £650 million, sailed into its home port for the first time today. HMS Daring, the world's most advanced destroyer, was officially handed over to the navy last month after work was completed at the BVT Surface Fleet's Scotstoun shipyard on the Clyde, Scotland. The 7,350-tonne ship will be the first of the Royal Navy's series of six Type 45 destroyers. Daring was met at Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire, by a 15-gun salute as well as by families and friends of the ship's company. Hundreds of members of public also lined the harbour walls to welcome the ship. The ship features the latest propulsion, anti-aircraft weapon and stealth technology. The Type 45 destroyers have nearly twice the range - about 7,000 miles - and are 45% more fuel-efficient than the Type 42 destroyers they are replacing in the £6 billion project. It is capable of sailing 3,000 nautical miles, operating for three days and returning home without the need to refuel.

Daring, the first of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers, entered and berthed in her home port of Portsmouth today for the first time, witnessed by hundreds of well-wishers.

The ships are to be armed with a new hi-tech missile system renamed today as the "Sea Viper", formerly known as the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (Paams). The Sea Viper system, in conjunction with the ship's Sampson Radar system, is capable of tracking hundreds of targets as far as 250 miles away and engaging up to 10 of them simultaneously. Daring can operate various helicopters, including the Chinook, embark 60 Royal Marines and is able to accommodate up to 700 people as part of an emergency evacuation. It has a crew of 191 and generates enough electricity from its gas and diesel engines to power a city the size of Leicester. The ship has been fitted with improved accommodation for ratings include larger bed spaces and less beds per room than previous destroyers. Daring was launched from BVT's facility in Scotstoun by the Countess of Wessex in January 2006. Since then it has undergone three sets of contractor sea trials. It will now undertake an intensive sea trials programme for the rest of the year, with a formal commissioning ceremony due to take place in the summer with a target of formal acceptance into service by late 2010. A flypast by Royal Navy and RAF aircraft took place as Daring entered Portsmouth Harbour. Quentin Davies, minister for defence equipment and support said: "HMS Daring is one of the most advanced ships ever built and along with the five other Type 45s will be one of the essential pillars of the Royal Navy in the 21st century. "Today is a special day for the Royal Navy, the city of Portsmouth and her dockyard, the crew of HMS Daring and all those involved in building her, as one of the most powerful warships in the world enters her home port for the first time. "It is with great pride that I have been able to witness the first arrival of HMS Daring into Portsmouth today." Defending placing such a large investment into a single warship, Mr Davies added: "This is a very flexible warship and I can see her as being of immense use to the defence of the nation in a variety of scenarios. "She is not a one-trick pony, she is the opposite of that." Speaking of the missile system, Mr Davies said: "The newly named Sea Viper, a world-leading missile system will allow the ship to detect her prey, target it and issue a deadly strike." Daring's commanding officer Captain Paul Bennett added: "Daring is a good-looking, large capability platform. She is an illustration of the talent and capability of British shipbuilding. "Today provides a fitting opportunity to mark the first entry into Portsmouth of a new class of destroyer for over 30 years. "It's been a fantastic event to mark the passage of this great warship into her home port and we look forward to a successful year of sea trials before embarking on operations."

American, British Forces Hone Warfighting Skills Together

American, British Forces Hone Warfighting Skills Together

By Casey E. Bain

Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team, U.S. Joint Forces Command

(NSI News Source Info) FORT POLK, La. - January 28, 2009: American Airmen and British joint terminal attack controllers and U.S. Army joint fires observers improved their warfighting skills here in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

The U.S. Army's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colo., currently is conducting their mission rehearsal exercise in preparation for its deployment to Afghanistan later this year.

Part of this training is focused on improving the close-air-support skills of the JTACs and JFOs supporting the 4th BCT.

American Airmen and British joint terminal attack controllers and U.S. Army joint fires observers conduct an after action report at the Joint Readiness Center in Fort Polk, La. (U.S. Air Force photo/Casey Bain)

Assisted by the operations group staff, officials of the Joint Readiness Training Center, the Air Force's Green Flag East, and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team, the 4th BCT members honed skills critical to its success during deployment.

"JRTC and Green Flag East have done a superb job of enhancing (close-air support) training for Army, Air Force, and coalition units as they prepare for the challenges that lay ahead once deployed in combat," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Chris Olson, the JFIIT lead at JRTC. "Our job is to help integrate those assets and bridge the gaps between the services so they can improve their combat effectiveness while reducing the potential of fratricide and collateral damage on a very fluid and ever-changing battlefield."

Part of this joint close-air-support training involves integrating coalition assets like the British GR-4 Tornado from Royal Air Force Station Lossiemouth in Scotland.

"Our training at JRTC has been excellent," said Staff Sgt. Clinton Herblson, a 4th BCT JTAC from the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Carson. "The realistic training that we're receiving here will prepare us for the conditions we'll face once in country. Plus, the opportunity to work with our British counterparts is priceless; something that we normally wouldn't experience until we were actually deployed."

JRTC employs joint assets to provide realistic and rigorous training that replicates the operational environment found in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The opportunity to train alongside other services and our coalition partners can't be overstated," said Army 2nd Lt. Gabriel Dearman, a fire support officer with Delta Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th BCT, 4th ID. "This is the first time that we've had the chance to experience this level of training. It's taken our air-to-ground skills to a whole new level of proficiency."

Army Sgt. Clint Inderbitzen, a JFO from Charlie Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th BCT, 4thID couldn't agree more.

"The training we receive at home station is good, but the opportunity to train here with so many different assets, like the British pilots flying the GR-4s, will only help us to execute our mission better once we're deployed," he said. The ability to provide JTACs and JFOs an opportunity to plan and execute a realistic mission in a live environment with many of the same assets they will have once in theater is crucial to the unit's success, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Lever, a JRTC fire support training mentor.

"Coaching, teaching, and mentoring Soldiers how to fully utilize all the capabilities at their disposal is an important part of what we do," Sergeant Lever said. "We're teaching fire supporters how to better execute multiple aspects of their mission, whether it's lethal or non-lethal effects that are needed by the maneuver commander."

The need for brigade combat teams to continue honing their joint air-to-ground skills is an important part of their training mission at home station and in other training events, according to JRTC, Green Flag East, and JFIIT leaders.

"(Brigade combat teams) need to become very familiar with what their Air Force JTACs and other joint assets can do to help the ground commander execute their mission more efficiently and effectively," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Corey Ingram, the lead fire support planner for JFIIT. "JTACs and JFOs working closely together at home station and in a JRTC training environment will build confidence in the entire fires team, which will pay huge dividends once they're deployed."

The benefits to this enhanced joint training environment have become evident to many of the leaders and Soldiers training here.

"JRTC has provided us with the best training that we've ever received," Lieutenant Dearman said. "From integrating numerous joint and coalition assets to allowing us to use and implement what we've learned from school and home station, we're not perfect but I think we're getting better every day."

Malaysia Takes Delivery of First Submarine / DCNS Hands Over Malaysia’s First Submarine / DCNS Delivers Royal Malaysian Navy’s Very First Submarine

Malaysia Takes Delivery of First Submarine / DCNS Hands Over Malaysia’s First Submarine / DCNS Delivers Royal Malaysian Navy’s Very First Submarine (NSI News Source Info) TOULON, France - January 28, 2009: Today (Jan. 27), DCNS delivered the Royal Malaysian Navy’s first-ever submarine. This on-time delivery follows Malaysia’s decision to set up a submarine force comprising two Scorpene-type conventional-propulsion boats.

The Royal Malaysian Navy took formal delivery of Scorpene submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at today’s official handover in Toulon. The guests of honour included RMN Chief of Staff Admiral Dato’Sri Aziz Hj Jaafar.

Scorpène class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarine. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion (AIP), jointly developed by the French company DCNS, formerly DCN, and the Spanish company Navantia (Formerly Bazan, then Izar). The Chilean Navy ordered two Scorpène, which will replace the two Oberon class submarines retired by the Chilean Navy. The Royal Malaysian Navy ordered two, and the Indian Navy ordered six. All will be built in India at Mazagon Dock Limited. In 2008, the Brazilian Navy ordered four Scorpène, in addition to a fifth hull to be fitted with an indigenous nuclear propulsion plant. The Chilean Scorpène class O'Higgins and Carrera were completed in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and are currently the only two in operation.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is the first of two Scorpene submarines ordered by Malaysia in June 2002 and developed jointly by DCNS and Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia. In addition to the submarines proper, the contract calls for associated logistics and training. The submariners have been training in the Naval Training Center of DCI/NAVFCO since 2005, among a total of 146 Malaysians.

This major milestone for the RMN follows the completion, in late December 2008, of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’s final sea trials demonstrating remarkable operational and combat system capabilities. These trials included successful firings of Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes and missiles.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia early in the second half of 2009. The second of the series, KD Tun Razak, is scheduled for delivery in late 2009. Manned by Malaysian crews of just 31, the boats offer an endurance of 45 days for a displacement of 1,550 tonnes and a length overall of 67.5 metres.

Scorpene represents the state of the art in submarine design and construction and benefits from the latest technologies developed for nuclear-powered classes operated by the French Navy, particularly as regards acoustic discretion and combat system performance. Excellent endurance makes the Scorpene one of the few medium-displacement designs suitable for extended ocean patrol duties. The modular design can also be readily tailored to each customer’s specific mission profiles and other requirements.

This programme confirms DCNS’s know-how as a leading prime contractor for sophisticated warship programmes. With ten units ordered to date (two for Chile, two for Malaysia and six for India), Scorpene is truly an international benchmark in SSK design.

The DCNS Group is one of Europe’s leading players on the world market for naval defence systems. To meet customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. To manage the complexity of such projects, the Group draws on in-house expertise in naval architecture and systems engineering, ship assembly and integration and equipment design and production, as well as through-life support.

The DCNS Group employs 13,000 people and generates annual revenues of around €2.8 billion. DCI/NAVFCO has, since its creation, trained over 13 000 officers, naval engineers, submarine officer and specialists. Its services, which are accredited by the French Navy, are adapted to the special naval and aero-naval requirements of its client countries.