ASIAN DEFENCE

India is in the process of signing defence deals worth nearly $42 billion, including a $10.4-billion deal for 126 multi-role combat aircraft, making it one of the most attractive markets for both global and domestic arms industry, an industry study has concluded. The joint study by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and audit firm KPMG has also assessed that India has already signed defence deals worth nearly $25 billion in the last four years. "Our research indicates that deals worth $24.66 billion have been signed by the Indian defence ministry with global integrators in the past 48 months and another $41.99 billion worth of deals are in the process of getting signed," the study said. The army, the navy and the air force are evenly poised as far as future procurement is concerned. While the army and the air force will buy over $14 billion worth of platform, weapons and systems, the navy is expected to sign deals worth $13 billion. ...

 It seems that after close to 50 years of service, the PLA has finally ready to retire it's Type62 fleet.

The Pakistan Navy has augmented its patrols in the Arabian Sea in order to strengthen the security there, because of the rising terror and piracy threats. The Navy is scheduled to participate in a 5-day naval exercise – The “Aman 11”. 39 countries will participate in this exercise and it will be launched from the 8 th of March in the open sea. Similar exercises were held in 2007 and 2009 and the navies of very powerful countries participated in them. The exercise in the open sea will greatly help the Pakistan Navy to assess its preparations to overcome the challenges in the region.

The top Pakistan and Chinese defense officials held a meeting where the new projects to expand their military cooperation, were discussed. The timely completion of the current projects was also an important part of the meeting. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistan Army Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne met Administrator of China”s State Administration of Science Technology and Industry for National Defence Chen Qiufa discussed the issues related to defense cooperation and the present and future projects that the two countries are involved together. General Wynne is in China to take part in the eight round of Pakistna-China security dialogue and he publicly thanked Chen Qiufa for the support in all defense projects and showed his appreciation for the active of SASTING in ensuring the timely completion of all current joint projects. At the moment the major supplier of weapon systems for Pakistan – China, is being involved in a list of defense pr...

Embraer presented the first of three EMB-145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms on Feb 21 to representatives of the Indian government at a ceremony held at its headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Based on the proven Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet, the aircraft features an in-flight refueling system, SATCOM capability, a significant increase in electrical and cooling capacities, and a comprehensive set of aerodynamic and structural changes. These improvements will allow the installation of the advanced electronic systems currently being developed by DRDO under CABS’ coordination.

India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) claims that it has completed upgrades on the Arjun tank, replacing existing German engines and transmission systems with homemade systems. The Mark-II Arjun will incorporate up to 90 percent of indigenous content, compared with 58 percent in the current model, a DRDO scientist said, and should be ready for induction by 2014. The Mark-II also will feature superior missile-firing capabilities, the scientist added.   Conceived in 1973, the Arjun tank was behind schedule by more than 15 years, resulting in the Indian Army choosing the Russian T-90 tank as its main battle tank. The Arjun had to go through a series of trials and retrials before the Army announced the tank fit for duty. Last year, the Arjun Mark-I had to be put on comparative trials against the Russian T-90, after which the Indian Army finally concluded that the Arjun tank performed to expectations.

The Indian Navy will get delivery of the first of its six Scorpene submarines in 2015, a three-year delay from the original schedule of 2012, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.  'The first submarine (Scorpene) is now scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2015. As per the contract, the first submarine was scheduled to be delivered in December, 2012, and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017,' Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply during question hour.  The six Scorpenes -- Project-75 as the submarine construction programme is called -- are under construction at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) at a cost of $4 billion in collaboration with French firm DCNS.  'There has been a delay due to initial teething problems, absorption of technology, augmentation of MDL infrastructure and procurement of MDL Purchased Material (MPM),' Antony said.  He was replying to a question on the delays in augmenting India's...

The second prototype of a promising fifth-generation fighter T-50 (PAK FA) made its maiden flight, according to Interfax . The plane took off from the runway of Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association. The flight was successful. Fighter piloted by distinguished test pilot Sergei Bogdan Russia, in early 2010 flew the first prototype of the T-50. According to Bogdan, all on-board aircraft systems worked normally. "Stability and controllability of the aircraft in the air got a good grade. All systems and aircraft engine worked flawlessly," - said an unnamed source agency in the military-industrial complex. Previously, the second prototype T-50 passed ground tests. Parallel tests were carried out and the first prototype of the T-50, which to date has made 40 flights. As expected, the test airframe PAK FA will be completed in 2011-2012 and in 2013 the Russian Defense Ministry will conclude with the "Dry" contract for the supply of ten airc...

A new type of conventional missile being researched by the Chinese Army is set to be weaponised for entry into active service within five years, military sources revealed. The China News Service has reported that China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) will complete research, production and delivery of the new missile by 2015. A military source revealed that the mew missile is a medium and long-range conventional missile with a travelling distance of 4,000km. Used in both defence and attack, the new missile will be capable of dealing with threats from land, sea, air, space and cybernetic attacks. "The project will also entail a three-year evaluation period. It extends the range of China's missiles and will therefore greatly enhance the national defence capabilities," the source added. China has already deployed the indigenous Dong Feng 21D missile with the army, which has a firing range between 1,800km and 2,800km. People's...

The first squadron of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be raised in Bangalore. The Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) will conduct a series of tests before the aircraft is inducted into the Indian Air Force. Commandant of the ASTE, Air Commodore BR Krishna said that two pilots have been identified by the Bangalore-based flight testing establishment for carrying out extensive tests. The first squadron of LCA will be named Squadron 45. The squadron comprising 20 aircraft will be known as Flying Daggers and will later be moved to the Sulur Air Base near Coimbatore.

Germany is joining a scramble among West-European producers of military equipment for Russian orders. NATO and the United States are silent bystanders to this growing trend, which challenges the Alliance’s defense posture and planning, as well as the US’s hitherto trend-setting role in the Alliance. On February 9 in Moscow, the Chairman of Dusseldorf-based Rheinmetall Defense, Klaus Eberhardt, signed with Russian Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, an agreement whereby Rheinmetall will plan and equip a troop training center in Russia. The center is to be co-located with Russia’s main artillery training range at Mulino near Nizhniy Novgorod on the Volga. It will enable Russian brigade-sized units to test combat readiness for combined-arms operations, using Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art equipment to simulate realistic battlefield conditions and assess troop and staff performance. In addition, Russia’s defense ministry and Rheinmetall agreed to negotiate ...

Tensions in the arms sales relationship between Russia and China have been visibly on the rise in recent years.  Yet, in November 2010, Moscow and Beijing announced a large new package of arms sales that appear to have turned a new leaf in this relationship. Much of the tension stemmed from the Chinese defense industry's practice of reverse engineering Russian weapons technology, indigenizing it and then reselling it in third party markets in competition with Moscow. In negotiations, China has long demanded that Russia sell it advanced technologies in its defense platforms or advanced weapons, something that Moscow has been loath to do regarding both the weapons and their components .  Russia has also always been concerned that China might ultimately employ these advanced technologies and systems against it or its friends in Asia.  For example, in 2006 it refused to sell certain sensitive space technologies to China (Radio Free Europe/Radio ...

 Russia seems to have found a place to deploy its two most modern French-built assault helicopter-carrying ships – in the Far East to help defend the Kurile Islands. The first Russian Mistral will be built by the end of 2013, the second by 2015 and together will reportedly cost some 1.4 billion Euros ($1.9 billion) (RIA Novosti, February 9). Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, earlier this month inspected the Russian garrison (the 18th machinegun/artillery division) entrenched in Cold War era bunkers on the southern Kurile Island of Kunashir (Japanese name –Kunashiri) and Iturup (Japanese name –Etorofu), under Russian rule since 1945 and claimed by Japan together with the Habomai islets and Shikotan as the so-called Northern Territories. Serdyukov promised to reinforce and rearm the Russian garrison (ITAR-TASS, February 4). After that a flurry of controversial statements followed, apparently, indicating disagreement about concrete details of the planned military ...

The Fascinating Emergence of China's J-20 next-generation combat aircraft demonstrator in late 2010 has refocused attention on the pace of military aerospace development in the People's Republic. The carefully stage-managed revelation of the large and unconventional 'new Chengdu machine 2001', or J-20, as many are calling it, seems to confirm that China has grand industrial ambitions and attention-getting operational requirements. Whether the '2001 programme' will fulfil any of those aims remains to be seen. At this early stage there is still more than a hint of amateur dramatics surrounding the aircraft and the speed with which this secret project has been exposed to the outside world. All early assessments of its capabilities should be restrained, but the 2001 programme is nevertheless the fourth or fifth new combat aircraft development project in China - as many as those from the rest of the world combined. Even before the arrival of ...

China's ambitions for a domestic aircraft carrier programme and its achievement of an initial operating capability (IOC) for the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) were both revealed in December 2010. The DF-21D, based on the CSS-5 medium-range ballistic missile, is a two-stage weapon with an effective range of 810 n miles (1,500 km), according to the US Department of Defense's 2010 assessment of Chinese military power. The ASBM has undergone extensive testing that Jane's understands has resulted in a status akin to what western services would call IOC, however it is unclear if the missile has actually completed overwater testing and US analysts believe that trials will continue for another several years.

   India's Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile will make its first flight during 2012, with systems integration work under way, says Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V K Saraswat. To be fired eventually from a variety of land, naval and air platforms, the Nirbhay is planned as a supplement to the larger Indian/Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

The strategic command of Russia's space defense forces took delivery of its second unit of S-400 Triumf missile systems on Wednesday, which will be based in the Moscow Region, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said. Until now, the Russian forces have had only one unit of S-400s, based at Electrostal, near Moscow. "The handover ceremony for the second S-400 will take place at the state firing range in Kapustin Yar from February 16-19," Drik said. The unit will consist of two regiments, each consisting of eight launch points, each with four missiles.

    India said Thursday it aims to start making its own commercial aircraft in a bid to cash on a boom in the domestic civil aviation sector. Officials from the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) told reporters the state-owned firm will present a detailed report to the government within three months seeking clearance to manufacture a 90-seater passenger aircraft. "There is potential for short-distance, low-cost carriers as operators are looking for cost-effective and right-sized aircraft, while passengers want lower air fares," NAL director A.R. Upadhaya said. "The proposed 90-seat civil aircraft can make this happen," he said at Aero India in Bangalore, South Asia's largest airshow, where global aviation firms are vying for a slice of India's burgeoning civil and military market.

   Washington has expressed serious doubts on the ability of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to handle projects like the MMRCA, dubbing it "untested and suspect". This drew a sharp response from a defence ministry official, who pointed out the defence PSU was already engaged in producing a frontline "air dominance" fighter like Sukhoi-30MKI with Russia's help. As per the MMRCA contract, which India hopes to ink this year, 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf from the foreign vendor finally selected, while the rest will be manufactured by HAL in India after transfer of technology. Two American fighters, F/A-18 'Super Hornet' ( Boeing) and F-16 'Falcon' ( Lockheed Martin), are in the race to bag the project, which is the largest fighter deal going around the world at this time. The other jets, which have undergone the gruelling field trials by IAF, are the Swedish Gripen (Saab), French Rafale (Dassault), Russian MiG-35 (Unite...

The Navy will issue a global tender for procuring six next generation submarines worth over Rs 50,000 crore by the end of this year. "The government has cleared Project-75 India which is the next lot of six submarines... At the moment we are going with the Request for Information (RFI) process, I hope within this year we would be able to push off the tender," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters on the sidelines of a submarine seminar. Project-75 India is a follow on of the Scorpene submarine project, six of which are being built by the Mazgaon Dockyards Limited (MDL) under a Rs 20,000 crore deal with French company DCNS. With a depleted submarine strength, the Navy is planning to induct over 12 submarines in the next 10-12 years. The plans have also suffered a setback in view of the delays in the construction of the Scorpenes in Mumbai.

After more than 90 upgrades, an advanced variant of the indigenous Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun will undergo serial production in 2014. The tank, Arjun Mark-II, will be equipped with an indigenous engine a year after the start of its serial production to replace its German power plant, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials told PTI. "The advanced Arjun will be equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour and missile-firing capability from its main gun and better night-vision capabilities," they said. The officials said that the gear box of the tank too would be upgraded to improve its performance. Meanwhile, the DRDO has decided to go ahead with the first phase of the tank''s trial in June this year. "The user-Indian Army- would be involved in the trial from the phase one itself. The second phase would take place sometime early next year," said the officials.

According to BMF, Bangladesh Navy has ordered 3 large missile crafts from China. Currently two are being built in China. New 3 large missile crafts of 600 ton displacement. Specs: 1 x Chinese AK-176M 76.2 mm, 4 x 2 C-802A anti-ship missiles, 2 x 6-cell RDC-32 ASW rocket launchers, 2 x CIWS. Separately 5 of 300 ton displacement are being built in Bangladesh Navy's own dockyard.

The Russian Space Agency Says On Monday that a Foreign Power  behind the space accident that disabled one of the country's most modern military satellites earlier this month. Russia on February 1 launched a high-tech Geo-IK-2 craft to help the military draw a three-dimensional map of the Earth and locate the precise positions of various targets. News reports said the satellite was a vital part of Russia's effort to match the United States and NATO's ability to target its missiles from space. But the craft briefly went missing after its launch only to re-emerge in a wrong orbit that left the craft unable to complete its assigned task. The Russian military and space agency set up a joint task force to probe the accident but it has presented no official results thus far. One unnamed space official told Interfax however that initial evidence suggested that the craft went off target after one of its booster rockets inexplicably reversed course. ...

Elbit Systems says it has successfully flight-tested its Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles from one ground control station, greatly enhancing the operational flexibility of the long-range drones amid a growing global market for the aircraft. The tests underlined how Israel's high-tech defense industry is developing a wide range of unmanned robot systems for air, land and sea. These include Nahshson, a remote-controlled land vehicle that can tote 2 tons of cargo. This is an advanced variant of the Guardium robot vehicle developed by G-NIUS Unmanned Ground Systems, a joint venture by Elbit and state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. The Guardium has been in operated by the Israeli military since 2008. Elbit said the Hermes tests were conducted from the company's new universal ground control station using a single operator for both UAVs. "Joint flight control and management of two different unmanned aircraft systems provides...