ASIAN DEFENCE

India's navy has operational requirements for additional unmanned air vehicles made by Israel Aerospace Industries, sources say, with these to potentially include improved Heron or Heron-TP systems carrying maritime sensor payloads. Evaluations using some systems have already been carried out, they add. The Indian navy in January stood up its second UAV squadron, with its current IAI-produced Heron and Searcher II systems facing increased operational demand. This has led to indications within recent weeks that additional contracts could be placed with IAI, the sources say.

Pakistan is beefing up its arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles by embracing China as its new strategic arms partner and backing away from the U.S., analysts have told Fox News. Pakistan earlier this month test-fired a nuclear-capable missile from an undisclosed location – the second in a month of try-outs for its short-range surface-to-surface Hataf 2 class rocket, co-developed with the Chinese. It was the latest in a series of arms collaborations between the two nations, which view their strategic partnership as a counterweight to a boldly confident India, which has American support. Until the mid-1960s, the United States was the principal supplier of weapons to Pakistan, the world’s eighth most-powerful nuclear nation. But the U.S. began to back away from the relationship after years of difficult and sometimes unpredictable relations following the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. no longer fully supports the military ambitions of a Pakistan that is being destabilized by a...

Pakistan would become fourth largest nuclear state at the end of this decade, A US website, The Huffington Post reported. The website claimed that the world's five original nuclear weapons countries have all suspended production of fissile materials for new weapons and are negotiating cuts in their nuclear arsenals. But Pakistan is steadily building more nuclear weapons, adding production capacity to produce plutonium and enrich uranium, and building new missiles to deliver nuclear warheads. It further claimed that the nuclear risks in Pakistan are three-fold: its non-proliferation record is poor, there are concerns about the security of sensitive nuclear materials, and there is no sign of a slowdown in its nuclear weapons drive. A global response needs to be calibrated to address all three of these potential threats. Former UN weapons inspector David Albright, reported that Pakistan appears to be building a fourth plutonium reactor at the Khushab complex, and...

Chinese military  said it is working to advance its ties with the defence forces of India, even as it intends to strengthen its already "multi-dimensional" relationship with the Pakistani military.In a 41-page "white paper" outlining the policies and perceptions of world's largest standing military of 2.3 million personnel, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it intends to work at building trust with its neighbouring countries."China has strengthened military relations with its neighbouring countries," said the PLA policy paper."It conducts friendly exchanges with the DPRK (North Korea) and the ROK (South Korea) militaries, attaches importance to Sino-Japanese defence exchanges, strengthens multi-dimensional Sino-Pakistani military exchanges and cooperation, works to advance the Sino-Indian military relationship," the paper released to the media by its top military brass said.While PLA shares very close strategic l...

Some days ago India conducted a successful ballistic missile defence test which was capable enough to intercept and kill the incoming missile. This shows that Indian ballistic missile defence program comprising of long range tracking radar, command and control system and the interceptor, is maturing at a faster pace. As a result, the South Asian strategic stability would be challenged as there are diversification of threats and limited response options, BMD adds value to the complexity of the region. India believes in nuclear dominance in the region and aspires to have extended self defence. It aims to become a global power. The technological edge that it is struggling to acquire over Pakistan and China has been to some extent proven by the successful ballistic missile defence test it conducted on 6th March 2011. Till now India has conducted six tests out of which four were successful and two failed due to technological reasons. But now India would proudly be ...

Chinese military has conducted a drill to test its integrated air defence capability under the scenario of a massive air strike. The tests which were held last week were aimed at bringing compatibility among various kinds of missile systems built by China, official media reports here said. The tests included surface-to-air missiles, also known as SAM. Over the years China has built an intact missile defence network consisting of various kinds of missile systems. New missile systems delivered to the regiment in recent years were not compatible with older models, commander of the missile regiment Wan Dexin said without disclosing the location. "They have different ports, formats and protocols," Wan said.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will not accept any last-minute offers from contenders for the multibillion-dollar deal for purchase of 126 medium-multirole combat aircraft (M-MRCA). "No offers for upgrades or changes in the original bid submitted by the six aircraft companies would be allowed as their aircraft have been judged on the basis of capabilities offered in the original bid and their performance in the field trials," IAF sources added. IAF has even rejected a bidder's proposal to equip its warplanes with a more powerful jet engine.

Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI, Ankara, Turkey), a major international F-35 Lightning II supplier to Northrop Grumman Corp. (El Segundo, Calif., USA), reported on March 22 that it has delivered its first composite production air inlet duct for the jet. The delivery of the all-composite duct, a major structural element of the F-35′s center fuselage, will support Northrop Grumman’s production of F-35 center fuselages for conventional takeoff and landing variants of the fighter jet at Northrop Grumman’s aerospace production facility in Palmdale, Calif. “This delivery reflects the growing maturity of TAI’s composite fiber-placed manufacturing processes, and the steady evolution of its role as a second source supplier of center fuselages for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program,” said Mark Tucker, vice president and F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector. TAI produced the air inlet duct at its composites manufacturing faci...

Turkey’s intelligence operations and increasing cooperation between the country’s military and civilian intelligence gatherers is under way but will take as long as two years to complete, according to a senior security official. A senior security official said over the weekend that the General Staff had agreed to a proposal from the civilian government to transfer the administration of the division to the National Intelligence Organization, or MİT. “A protocol between the military top command and MİT was signed recently,” the official said. “The protocol orders that the military will completely abandon the [surveillance] garrison and the intelligence agency will take over.” In a landmark move on March 8, Turkish authorities announced they were bringing the military’s electronic surveillance under the management and operational control of MİT, which effectively means a civilian control over such capabilities. The official added that it could take up to two years ...

 India performed a test of the interceptor missile portion of its ballistic missile defense system on March 6, 2011. The test, the sixth of the series, was reportedly a success and a validation of the technology to be integrated into India’s defense system. The target missile, a modified Prithvi, was launched at 9:32 a.m. from Launch Complex III of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa. The modified Prithvi mimicked the trajectory of a ballistic missile with a 600-kilometer (324-nautical-mile) range. Radars at different locations tracked the modified Prithvi, determined its trajectory, and passed the information in real time to Mission Control Centre (MCC) to launch the interceptor. The interceptor used a directional warhead to maneuver the interceptor to the modified Prithvi before exploding. As part the announcement, V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dir...

  Russia's Army  will start taking delivery of new Tornado-G multiple rocket launching systems (MRLS), replacing the current Grad systems, Army spokesman said on Monday. This will further increase the Army's firepower and standoff capability for effective engagement.   Tornados are superior to Grads in their effectiveness, automated control, aiming and satellite navigation systems, Vlasov said, without disclosing any technical details. The Grad truck-mounted system featuring 122-mm rockets with a range of 30-40 km was developed in 1962 and has been in service since 1964.

 Indian Army is planning to equip its ground forces with thousands of anti-tank missiles to be built in India. The Indian military considers two options, both of them exclusive – the FGM-148 Javelin, proposed under a Government-to-Government (G2G) program via U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS), and the Spike MR, proposed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, being the only bidder in an international tender, which specified characteristics and specifications only the Israeli company could meet. The Indian Army plans to install the missiles on infantry combat vehicles currently carrying locally produced AT-5 or Milan missiles. The Indian Ministry of Defense plans to order 321 launchers, and 8,356 missiles, plus 15 training simulators in a multi-phase arms package worth over one billion US$. Two options are currently on the table – the U.S. Javelin and the Israeli Spike MR.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez thrown more than 15 billion U.S. dollars worth of arms procurement bill, which sparked concerns in Latin America. The article said that Venezuela's purchase of a large number of tanks, helicopters, armored vehicles, submarines and missile systems at an unprecedented rate in history in Latin America to arm themselves. "New Herald" (El Nuevo Herald), said experts consulted, Chavez spent over 15 billion U.S. dollars worth to strengthen its military power for military procurement, has produced unrest in the region. Analysts warned that the arms purchase along with people doubt, there is no competitive bidding and early course of the study, the way decisions are temporary. It is learned that Chavez used the funds to purchase these new weapons in the country one of the largest in history, and a large part from the loan; for the military procurement funds may end up more than 15 billion U.S. dollars. Some analysts said tha...

India to purchase C 17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Ministry of Defence has asked Washington to come clean and disclose the comparative prices at which the aircraft has been sold to other nations. The last-minute incident  has come after the ministry received several representations contending that the price being quoted to India for 10 heavy lift aircraft was inordinately high. While the contract is in the final stage — commercial negotiations with manufacturer Boeing have been concluded —the ministry has sought a clarification from the US on the price of the aircraft, which is being purchased by the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. FMS is the US Department of Defense’s government-to-government method of selling US defence equipment, services and training. “We have to ensure that we are getting the aircraft at the right price. The ministry has written to the US government for the price at which the airc...

India’s ministry of defense is seeking information from vendors across the globe about the purchase of a new  long-range missile featuring a light warhead.  According to the ministry’s request for information (RFI), the missile system will be fired from Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters. “After successful integration, series modification is to be carried out,” the RFI says. “The missile should be light in weight, having a long range with reattack capability.” The ministry also wants the missile to have precision-strike capability with low collateral damage. The RFI also asks vendors to clearly specify the type of warhead to be used.

Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General, Tsai Der-sheng, announced on 16 March that China has begun deploying a new pattern of ballistic missiles against Taiwan. The announcement came during a question-and-answer session following a presentation on the country's intelligence affairs and his bureau's operations before the Foreign and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan.

The Thai government has agreed to buy two second-hand Type 206A diesel electric submarines from the German Navy. Payment for the purchase - which is understood to be about USD220 million - has not yet been secured, although funds are expected to be sourced from the defence budget for Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12), which commences in October. The German Navy decommissioned four Type 206A submarines in mid-2010. The boats are 35 years old and were originally due for decommissioning between 2011 and 2015. As part of a defence review carried out by Berlin, the German Navy brought the boats' retirement date forward to save operational costs.

 Iran is rapidly and significantly expanding capabilities to accommodate larger missiles and satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), including the Simorgh 3 SLV in construction at Semnan space centre, according to Jane’s analysis of satellite imagery of the site. The construction begun in mid-2010 is aggressive even by Iranian standards, with a number of very complex facilities nearing external completion only months after they were started. The site is likely to assume operational readiness by 2013, judging by the pace of construction. Rapid construction – which prevents extended overhead analysis – could underscore the secretive nature of the site, the strategic importance of the facilities, and Iran’s inclinations towards space readiness. The first new project is at the launch/engine test facility, where a launch pad or engine test stand is in the early stages of construction. The flame trench that funnels rocket blast exhaust away from the tower is rough...

Russia's new RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was put on combat duty for the first time with the Teikovo missile regiment in the Ivanovskaya Oblast in central Russia on 4 March. The RS-24 is a modification of the RS-12M2 Topol-M (SS-27 'Stalin'). It is a mobile system that is capable of "penetrating highly protected targets", as well as any current ballistic missile defence (BMD) system, according to Youri Solomonov, head of the Moscow Institute for Thermal Technology, the lead manufacturer of the missile.

Russia has claimed that it will inject USD100 billion into the development of its defence industries during the next decade: a figure that, if achieved, would point towards investment of about 0.5 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product during the years to 2021. The investment was announced by Russian Deputy Prime Minister (and former defence minister) Sergei Ivanov on 21 March. In comments carried by Russian state information service RIA Novosti, Ivanov said that the sum had been allocated under the state programme for the modernisation of Russia's defence sector. The aim is to meet the wider goal of the recapitalisation of the national military inventory with high-technology systems by 2020.

Turkey has announced that it is putting the planned purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets from the US on hold because the Pentagon refuses to share the source code used in the software designed for the aircraft as well as the codes that might be used externally to activate the planes. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Tuesday, following a meeting of the Defense Industry Implementation Committee (SSIK), that the negotiations over the F-35 procurement tender had not yielded “satisfactory results.” He said, “We will evaluate the order in the next meeting, in light of the progress made in the talks by then.” He said much ground had been covered in the talks in terms of technology sharing, but this was not enough for Turkey to accept the jets. He said the costs of the project had also increased but that the Turkish side had failed to secure the source code and the remote flight codes for the planes for which it will be paying $16 billion. Without the source code, Turkish ...

Moscow has been hoping that the earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Japan on March 11, may help overcome the acute crisis in its relations with Tokyo over the South Kurile Islands. President Dmitry Medvedev promptly telephoned Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to express his condolences and offered support. Russian emergency workers were sent to help earthquake survivors and to offer advice in dealing with the Fukushima nuclear power reactor disaster. Moscow agreed to increase shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas to help Japan overcome energy shortages caused by nuclear power shutdowns. Russian diplomats expressed hope that the outpouring of sympathy by the Russian public may help improve relations and lessen tensions (Kommersant, March 14). Moscow needs Japanese capital and technology to develop its Far East and is keen to improve relations while sidelining the territorial dispute over the Kuriles. Sources in the General Staff have been quoted as sayin...

An Iranian air force commander said Sunday that Iran has successfully tested the prototype of its first domestically-built stealth fighter, the English-language satellite Press TV reported. " The plane, due to its physical attributes and the material used in its body, cannot be detected by any rada r ," Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, the force's coordination deputy, was quoted as saying. Nasirzadeh said data from the test flight was favorable and the air force will move forward with its plans to produce the plane called Sofreh Mahi, which means Manta Ray, the report said. However, he said that the production process will not be rushed as such complex systems need thorough analysis and exhaustive testing.

Indian armed forces are going in for a huge induction of the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems to counter the threat posed by enemy fighters, drones and helicopters on both western and eastern fronts as well as protect "vital areas and installations". Developed by DRDO after 25 years of technical glitches, the 25-km range Akash air defence weapon system finally seems to have found favour with the armed forces, who are desperate to plug existing operational gaps in air defence. The IAF had earlier ordered eight Akash squadrons — six of them will be based in North East to counter China — for Rs 6,200 crore. Now, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday cleared two Akash regiments, with six firing batteries and hundreds of missiles each, for the Army. The total order for the Army stands at Rs 14,180 crore at present. The low-reaction-time Akash is designed to neutralise multiple aerial targets attacking from several directions simultane...

A missile production plant in southern Siberia has produced enough Bulava ballistic missiles to complete its tests and arm the first Borey class strategic submarine, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Monday. "A batch of missiles sufficient to finish the tests and equip one submarine has been produced already. Larger production would cause the missiles to stock up," Ivanov said after a meeting of defense industry officials in the southern Siberian republic of Udmurtia.   The Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). Despite several previous failures, officially blamed on manufacturing defaults, the Russian military has insisted that there is no alternative to the Bulava and pledged to continue testing the missile until it is ready for service with the Navy. Russia is planning to conduct at least four Bulava test launches this year and deplo...

The first Oliver Hazard Perry (OHP) frigate set sail for Pakistan on Monday. The frigate was acquired by Pakistan Navy from the United States. The ship is formerly known as the USS McINERNEY (FFG-8) and was commissioned in the Pakistan Navy as the PNS ALAMGIR (FFG-260) on August, 31, 2010 during a huge ceremony at the Mayport, Naval Station. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani. After commissioning, the PNS ALAMGIR underwent modernization and refurbishment and the BAE System Shipyard in Jacksonville Florida. 18 officers and 218 CPO/ Sailors underwent a series of training sessions to be able to operate the ship. The Ship Transfer and Assistance Team (STAT) contributed greatly in the training. The Pakistan Crew’s stay in the US, not only contributed to the better understanding on issues of mutual concern, but also strengthened the relations between the two nations. Captain Naveed Ashraf T.Bt TI(M) was announced a...

Indonesia Looking to buy an unspecified number of Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartans to augment its fleet of military transport aircraft. It will assess the aircraft based on its "operation requirements, technical specifications [and] logistics support", says air force chief Air Chief Marshal Imam Sufaat. Apart from the C-27Js, the service is also reportedly considering the Airbus Military C-295 that is licence-produced in Bandung by state-owned Indonesian Aerospace. "We also need a middle transport fleet. This could be met with the procurement of C-27J Spartans. A CN-235 has the capacity to transport about three tonnes of load while a Spartan is able to carry a load of up to 10 tonnes," the air force chief adds.

Pakistan has inducted its new Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52+ fighters, while its first two full-strength squadrons of Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunders are also on the verge of becoming fully operational. The Pakistan air force inducted 17 F-16 Block 52+ fighters into its 5 Sqn on 11 March, the service says. The final aircraft in the 18-unit deal is still in the USA undergoing testing and will arrive in another month. Pakistan's new batch of aircraft comprises 12 single-seat C-model versions and six two-seat F-16Ds. The air force says it is also in negotiations with the USA for additional Block 52+ aircraft, with its original deal having contained an option for another 18. Pakistan's new F-16s are powered by Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engines, with other systems understood to include Northrop Grumman's mechanically scanned APG-68(V)9 radar and ITT's ALQ-211(V)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite.

  Russian Navy Staff Admiral confirms that a K-152 Nerpa attack submarine will be leased to the Indian Navy by October 2011. The quote was made with the condition of anonymity. Previous reports had indicated that the submarine was already delivered to India. However now it appears that an Indian crew is undergoing training on-board with Russian instructors.

A U.S. fighter jet crashed in Libya after an apparent equipment  malfunction but both crewmembers were able to eject and are back safely in American hands, U.S. officials said Tuesday. The plane crashed Monday at 2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT), said Vince Crawley, a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command. A spokesman for the Libyan opposition, Mohammed Ali, said the U.S. plane crashed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city.

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) developed its Phalcon system for Israeli defence forces and for export. Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C) systems play a major role on the modern battlefield by providing real-time intelligence and command and control needed to achieve and maintain air superiority over the combat area and to enable surveillance of borders in peacetime. The world's most advanced AEWC&C system, the PHALCON, was developed and produced by ELTA using Active Phased Array Electronic Scanning Technology rather than a mechanically rotating antenna (rotodome) used by current AWACS systems, giving PHALCON greater operational flexibility and performance by several orders of magnitude.

 Rohini Radar: The Central Acquisition Radar (3D-CAR) is a 3D radar developed by DRDO for use with Akash SAM. The 3D CAR was developed as part of a program between DRDO and Poland's PIT to develop a family of mobile, S-Band 3D radars. The areas of cooperation were in developing the Planar Array and general architecture. The Indian variant is the 3D CAR, a medium range surveillance radar for Akash at Group level, intended to provide high mobility and comprehensive high and low level coverage. The Polish versions, are the TRS series of S Band mobile radars such as the TRS-17 and TRS-19. The original Indian (3D CAR) and Polish (TRS 17) radars shared the basic architecture and antenna but differed in terms of purpose designed transmitter/receivers, and signal processing equipment. The TRS series for instance can track 120 targets, while the Indian radar tracks 150. Rajendra Radar: The Rajendra Multi-Function Phased Array radar system, designed at ...

India has conducted low-altitude trials with its developmental Lakshya-2 target drone, with the aircraft performing high-g manoeuvres at altitudes as low as 82ft (25m). On a test conducted on 20 December 2010, the drone flew 5.4nm (10km) at an altitude of 82ft, with an average altitude deviation of less than 3ft, says India's Defence Research and Development Organisation. On 23 December it flew the system for 10.8nm at an altitude of 490ft towing a target that was flown at a height of 164ft.

The Tiruchi Ordnance Factory  has Designed and Developed an indigenous assault rifle matching the specifications of the AK47. "When put into use by our armed forces and other security agencies, the rifle will be recognized as pride of India. It has been indigenously developed and has all the features of AK-47,'' said A K Prabhakar,  general manager, in an interaction with reporters on the sidelines of OFT Day celebrations. OFT, one among 41 such factories in the country, was established 45 years ago on the outskirts of the city. To mark the contribution of the Tiruchi factory in developing the rifle, officials have decided to christen it "Trichy Assault Rifle,'' Prabhakar said. Field trials have been done for the 7.62mm caliber rifle with a range of 400 metres. "The rifle has been successfully tried by the Indian Army,'' Prabhakar said. It features a foldable butt and boasts of night vision device besides telescopic day vi...

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Naval Force Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said his forces are due to mass-produce and arm home-made Bladerunner speedboats in the next Iranian year (starting on March 21). The vessel will be mass-produced in 1390 (March 2011-March 2012) based on the specified timeline," Fadavi told FNA, and further voiced satisfaction with the production trend. The commander said Iran has already mounted different types of weapons, including missile launchers, onto the country's speedboats, and noted that the Bladerunners, too, would be equipped with different arms due to their unique features. The Bladerunner 51, weighing 16 tons and 15.5 meters (45 feet) long can reach a maximum speed of 65 knots   In February, Fadavi had said that the IRGC plans to boost the high mobility of its vessels in the next few months, adding that IRGC experts are working on projects to increase the speed of missile-launching and fully armed ...