ASIAN DEFENCE

The U. S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, a $1.8 billion contract for the construction of DDG 1001 and DDG 1002, the next two ships in the Zumwalt-class program. DDG 1001 is scheduled to be delivered in December 2015 and DDG 1002 is scheduled to be delivered in February 2018. "This contract enables us to maintain a strong base of quality shipbuilding jobs in Maine and continue our contributions to sustaining the U.S. Navy fleet," said Jeff Geiger, president of Bath Iron Works. "It provides Bath Iron Works with a healthy backlog of work and reflects the Navy's continued commitment to the DDG-1000 program, as well as their confidence in our ability to build and deliver all three ships of this class." Geiger said, "Winning this work is a result of our commitment to operational excellence and to finding more efficient, affordable ways to operate in every part of our business. It gives us...

China's Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD China's Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD China's Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD China's Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD China's Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD

The country's first indigenous effort to build a carrier borne naval fighter aircraft got a fillip with the crossing of another significant milestone of the first Engine Ground Run of the first LCA (Navy) prototype NP1, DRDO said today. The team steering LCA (Navy) project comprises members of Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, HAL, DRDO, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), CSIR Labs, educational institutions, and other public and private sector partners, a Defence Research and Development Organisation statement said. The first Engine Ground Run of NP1 aircraft, conducted at about 1830 hrs yesterday for its scheduled time, had the primary objective of checking aircraft to engine integration and activation of the various systems like flight control, hydraulics, fuel, electrical and avionics, which was successfully achieved, it said.

CIA Islamabad—Fears are growing in Pakistan that the spread of dengue fever also known as break-bone fever may have been caused by some kind of biological experiment or deliberate release of virus by foreign elements. Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) representatives have called on security agencies to investigate fears of deliberate spread of dengue virus in Pakistan. According to a report, the PMA members and experts have demanded in-depth investigation over mysterious spread of Dengue virus in Punjab. Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus and the disease has caused alarming situation in Lahore and other Punjab cities. Lately the disease has spread to other cities of Pakistan and has killed over 100 people affecting thousands. According to experts the virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection wit...

Russia's top jet engine-maker has signed an agreement to supply over 100 high powered engines for China's new fleet of fighter jets, but Beijing is yet to ratify the deal as it is apparently miffed by some stiff conditionalties of the deal, a media report said. "The contract will involve 140 to 150 engines, but it has not been confirmed by authorities in Beijing," Alexander A Drozhzhin, the head of press for SALUT, a top Russian company that manufactures engines for the Su-27 aircraft, regarded as the fourth generation fighter aircraft was quoted as saying by China's state-run Global Times. According to US media reports, the Russian state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport (ROE), announced in July a sale of 123 SALUT-made AL-31FN turbofan engines to China for USD 500 million.

Prithvi-II Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will test-fire three surface-to-surface missiles, which can carry nuclear weapons, from Orissa's coast. Hypersonic missile Shourya (valour), which can also carry conventional warheads, will be test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Balasore. This will be followed by the launch of Prithvi-II on September 26, also from Chandipur, and Agni-II on September 30 from the Wheeler Island off Damra. It will be the third launch of Shourya, which can fly at six-seven times the speed of sound (Mach 6 to 7) at low altitudes. The first launch was on November 12, 2008, and the second was kept a secret. It is the land-variant of underwater-launched missile K-15 that is being fitted into nuclear-powered submarine Arihant. K-15 is already under production. DRDO missile technologists said the Saturday launch of Shourya would be “a proving trial with the user's [Services'] participation.”...

India is poised to get fifth generation aircraft sooner than expected. While an Indo-Russian programme to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft is already under way, Russia has agreed to provide India with an advanced version of the Sukhoi-30MKI, which boasts of fifth generation capabilities and stealth features. The Indian Air Force, which currently has over 100 Sukhoi MKIs, has placed an order with Russia for about 280-300 aircraft, which are likely to come in the form of the Super Sukhois. This development is expected to provide India a considerable edge over Pakistan. In January 2011, China had agreed to deliver its J-20 fifth generation fighter – touted to be the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft — to Pakistan.

The US has confirmed plans to upgrade Taiwan's ageing fleet of F-16 US-built fighter planes. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has warned Washington not to proceed with the $5bn (£3bn) deal. China's foreign ministry expressed his country's "strong indignation" over the move, saying it would damage ties. But the US is legally bound to help Taiwan defend itself, and the move comes as China's military superiority over Taiwan has steadily increased. China's Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun called the decision "grave interference" in the country's internal affairs which sent a "gravely mistaken signal to pro-Taiwan independence separatist forces".

Boeing is close to conducting the first flight of a 737-800-based P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian navy, with its first example having emerged at the manufacturer’s Renton Field assembly site in Washington. The aircraft has already been painted in Indian markings and assigned the registration IN320. It is the first of eight P-8Is on order as replacements for the navy’s current Tupolev Tu-142 turboprops. The aircraft was last pictured as it entered final assembly in June. Derived from the P-8A Poseidon now in development testing for the US Navy, India’s next-generation maritime surveillance aircraft will enter use from early 2013.

The Pakistan Navy has become the first maritime force in the region that is equipped with stealth technology after its first Fast Attack Craft (FAC) equipped with missiles was launched on Tuesday. India also launched its FAC on the same day in Kochi. “The version Pakistan has bought has far better qualities and added features including cost efficiency and multi-role in any combat activity,” said an insider. “The inclusion of the FAC-M in Pakistan navy will enhance its capacity to fight against terrorism and extremism.” According to the Pakistan Navy, the FAC-M, designated as PNS Azmat was launched at Tianjin (Xingang Chinese Shipyard) in an impressive ceremony where Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Noman Bashir was the chief guest. The vessel will be the first of the Azmat class FAC, scheduled to be delivered to the Pakistan Navy within six months. The missile craft construction project represents a quantum leap, not only in defence production in th...

 BrahMos Aerospace the Indo-Russian joint venture that has developed the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile  is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam with which India is developing a strong strategic relationship, sources have confirmed. However, the Indian government’s approval will have to be taken for any such acquisition. Sources also confirmed that Vietnam is already on a list of about 15 “friendly countries” that was decided by a joint Indo-Russian supervisory council  to whom the BrahMos missile can be sold. “Informal talks are on but no concrete proposal has been made as yet,” a source who did not want to be identified, told this newspaper. “Any acquisition of the BrahMos missile will be of immense value to Vietnam and will boost its defence preparedness,” sources said. So far, the BrahMos missile has not been sold to any third country although a few have already evinced interest in acquiring it. 

Pakistan plans to import the latest Chinese nuclear technology, a senior Pakistani government official said on Wednesday, reported China Daily on Saturday. “Pakistan is in discussions with Chinese companies for imports of the third-generation nuclear technology,” said Pakistan’s Minister of Science and Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali. The minister said that he hoped the latest technology can be acquired by Pakistan in one or two years. China has helped with two reactors at Pakistan’s Chashma nuclear power plant, both of which use second-generation technology. Pakistan has a third 300-megawatt (MW) reactor under construction at Chashma, financed by China. There are plans for more Chinese reactors in Pakistan, according to the World Nuclear Association. China is developing its first domestic third-generation nuclear reactor - the CAP 1400 - which is based on Westinghouse Electric Co’s AP1000 pressurised water reactor, and it will boost the unit’s generating capac...

Saudi PrinceTurki al-Faisal Saudi Arabia has been beefing up its military links with Pakistan to counter Iran's expansionist plans and this reportedly includes acquiring atomic arms from the only Muslim nuclear power or its pledge of nuclear cover. Pakistan has become a front-line state for Sunni Islam and is being positioned by its leaders, particularly in the powerful military and intelligence establishments, as a bulwark against Shiite Iran and its proxies. Increasingly, Pakistan is rushing to the defense of Saudi Arabia, with whom it has a long had discreet security links. It is reported to have put two army divisions on standby for deployment to Saudi Arabia if the kingdom is threatened by Iran or the pro-democracy uprisings sweeping the Arab world. It is even reported to be prepared to provide Saudi Arabia with nuclear weapons if threatened by Iran. In return, it has been promised Saudi Arabian oil and treasure. The Saudis have portray...

China's Dark Sword Stealth Drone China's Dark Sword Stealth Drone China's Dark Sword Stealth Drone China's Dark Sword Stealth Drone    

Special US commandos are deployed in about 75 countries around the world - and that number is expected to grow. by: Nick Turse is a historian, essayist, and investigative journalist. The associate editor of TomDispatch.com and a new senior editor at Alternet.org, his latest book is The Case for Withdrawal from Afghanistan (Verso Books). Somewhere on this planet a US commando is carrying out a mission. Now, say that 70 times and you're done ... for the day. Without the knowledge of much of the general American public, a secret force within the US military is undertaking operations in a majority of the world's countries. This Pentagon power elite is waging a global war whose size and scope has generally been ignored by the mainstream media, and deserves further attention. After a US Navy SEAL put a bullet in Osama bin Laden's chest and another in his head, one of the most secretive black-ops units in the US military suddenly found its mission in the pu...

China on Thursday reaffirmed its support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and said that Israel should join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as soon as possible. China has always supported the strengthening of international nuclear non-proliferation regime and has been committed to promoting the universality, effectiveness and authority of the NPT, said Huang Wei, China's deputy envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Huang told the ongoing IAEA board meeting that China advocates that Israel should join the NPT as a non-nuclear country as soon as possible and put its all nuclear facilities under the IAEA's comprehensive safeguards. Meanwhile, all countries in this region should earnestly fulfil their NPT obligations, sign and ratify IAEA comprehensive safeguards agreement and its additional protocols, Huang said. Huang also said that China welcomed the proposal of holding in 2012 an internatio...

India said it is intensifying energy cooperation with Vietnam on a day China claimed “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea and asked countries in the region to refrain from oil exploration in its waters. Foreign minister S.M. Krishna on Thursday went to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi to chair a joint commission meeting on trade, economy, science and technology cooperation with his Vietnamese counterpart. “We have a very active programme of trade and economic cooperation with Vietnam,” foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in New Delhi. “One facet of this cooperation is cooperation in the area of hydrocarbons.” State-controlled ONGC Videsh Ltd has a “major joint venture” in Vietnam for offshore oil and gas exploration, he said. “They are in the process of further expanding their cooperation and operations in Vietnam.” Prakash said an Essar Oil​ subsidiary has also been awarded an oil and gas block. “This is one area of cooperation and we wo...

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) officially announced that the country's fighter jets have been equipped with anti-missile capability and are now able to detect and intercept any kind of incoming missiles. The capability was demonstrated during the third phase of the 'Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Vellayat III' air drills in Northwestern Iran. The development is viewed as a great achievement for the Iranian weapons and defense industry. During the military exercises, a missile fired by an F-5 fighter jet was instantly detected and destroyed by a Mig-29 fighter jet. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) on Tuesday started the main phase of its four-staged air drills with testing hi-tech bombs and other advanced weapons systems, including various air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

Lockheed Martin's Stealth C-130 Successor STOL Speed Agile Lockheed Martin's Stealth C-130 Successor STOL Speed Agile Lockheed Martin's Stealth C-130 Successor STOL Speed Agile Some Years Ago The US Air Force tried to replace the Lockheed Martin C-130 with a super short take-off and landing (STOL) airlifter, with the Boeing YC-14 and McDonnell YC-15 as the candidates. Then, things got weird. Budgets grew, funding shrank and eventually the requirement transformed into something much larger. Thus, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III was borne to replace the Lockheed C-141B Starlifter and the Lockheed C-130 continues into its seventh decade of active production. What goes around always seems to come around in this business, and so it is with the YC-14 and YC-15.

Turkish Navy's Barbaros class frigate F246 Salihreis The Turkish Navy is planning to dispatch three frigates to the Eastern Mediterranean to ensure freedom of navigation and to confront Israeli warships if necessary, a Turkish news report said on Monday. The Turkish frigates, to be dispatched by the Navy's Southern Sea Area Command, will provide protection to civilian ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, blockaded by Israel since 2007, the Turkish daily Sabah reported. If the Turkish warships encounter an Israeli military ship outside Israel's 12-mile territorial waters, they will advance up to 100 meters close to the ship and disable its weapon system, in a confrontation that resembles dogfights in the Aegean Sea with Greek jet fighters, according to the report.   The report comes days after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Turkish warships will escort civilian aid ships headed to Gaza to prevent a repetition of last year...

Turkish F-16C Turkey's Military Electronics Industry (ASELSAN) has produced a new identification friend or foe (IFF) system for Turkish jet fighters, warships and submarines and the new software, contrary to the older, US-made version, does not automatically identify Israeli planes and ships as friends, a news report said on Tuesday. The new IFF has already been installed in Turkish F-16s and is expected to be installed in all Navy ships and submarines, the report, published in Turkish daily Star, said. It will be fully operational when it is installed in all military planes, warships and submarines. The F-16 jet fighters, purchased from the US, came with pre-installed IFF software that automatically identifies Israeli fighters and warships as friends, disabling Turkish F-16s from targeting Israeli planes or ships. ASELSAN-made IFF will allow Turkish military commanders to identify friends and foes on the basis of national considerations.

Indian Navy's P-8I Indian Navy's P-8I      

Iran has launched a mass production of 105-mm and 125-mm hypersonic kinetic anti-tank shells Sahib, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying. Their speed fivefold exceeds the speed of sound, he added. Vahidi said the new generation of shells is able to penetrate the multi-layer armor tanks, enter into it for half a meter and blast.

The Russian military is planning to carry out a large-scale rearmament of its armored units with new-generation main battle tanks (MBT) in 2014-2020, the Defense Ministry said on Saturday. “At present, the Russian scientists are developing a new-generation tank, and in 2014-2020 we are planning to replace the current fleet with new tanks on a large scale, so that the new models will constitute 70% of the total,” Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Sergei Vlasov said.  According to leading Russian military experts, two models, tentatively dubbed the T-95 and the T-99, are being developed. Both projects are highly classified, and it is still unknown which model will be selected for mass production. The new tank will feature better firepower, maneuverability, electronics and armor protection than the T-90 MBT.  The Russian Ground Forces are equipped with T-72, T-80 and T-90 MBTs and their variants. The existing state arms procurement program envisi...

MIG-29K  The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report slammed the Ministry of Defence and the Navy for buying war planes that do not have weapons. It also pointed a finger at the Indian Air Force (IAF) for having ‘let off’ three of its officers who caused a loss of Rs 302 crore when a sensitive aerostat radar got damaged.   The CAG, in its report tabled in both Houses of Parliament, said the Indian Navy followed a flawed approach in acquiring its fighter aircraft fleet by not finalising the associated weapon package. The CAG said that 11 out of 16 MiG 29K aircraft, acquired at a cost of $740.35 million (Rs 3,405.61 crore), been delivered in December 2009 and May 2011. No matching armament, for which a contract was signed in March 2006, has been delivered as on October 2010, thereby adversely affecting the operational capabilities of the aircraft. Further, the Navy has selected a ‘beyond visual range’ (BVR) missile with an un...

INS Jalashwa The Indian government has cleared the Rs 2,176-crore acquisition of eight specialised vessels or LCUs (landing craft utility), capable of "hard beaching" on enemy shores, to boost the country's amphibious warfare and island protection capabilities. This comes even as the defence ministry is finalizing another project to acquire four huge amphibious warfare ships, called Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for "stand-off beaching", for around Rs 16,000 crore. The LCUs and LPDs will help in swiftly transporting thousands of troops, heavy weapon systems and infantry combat vehicles over long distances to take the battle right to the enemy mainland. The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the LCU project for the eight amphibious assault vessels, to be built by the Kolkata-based defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, a couple of days ago. "The first LCU will be delivered in three years," said an officia...

A U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing after coming under electronic attack from North Korea, Agence France Press reported Friday. AFP, which reported that the jamming occurred in March during a joint U.S.-South Korean military exercise, attributed the information to an unidentified aide to opposition lawmaker Kyu-Baek. The aide said the incident was disclosed in a report that Seoul's Defense Ministry submitted Thursday to of Parliament's Defense Committee. According to the aide, the U.S. aircraft was forced to land about 45 minutes after takeoff when jamming signals from the North Korean cities of Haeju and Kaesong disrupted its global positioning system (GPS) as it was taking part in the annual exercisel, Key Resolve, AFP said.

Iran's United Nations Ambassador Mohammad Khazaei Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei has warned that any aggression against the Islamic Republic will be swiftly met with 'appropriate' action. Iran would not hesitate to act in self-defense and respond to any attacks on its territories, IRNA quoted a formal letter of complaint by Iran's UN envoy to the world body's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday. Khazaei lashed out at the "inflammatory remarks and baseless allegations" made recently by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and underlined that the Islamic Republic would take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself. "The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its deep concern over such remarks, and strongly condemns the provocative, unjustifiable and irresponsible comments," the senior Iranian diplomat noted.

China's AC313 Helicopter China's AC313 Helicopter China's AC313 Helicopter China's AC313 Helicopter China's AC313 Helicopter China's AC313 Helicopter China's domestically developed civilian freight helicopter, the AC313, successfully climbed to a height of 8,000 meters, an altitude that will enable the chopper to fulfill plateau missions. The AC313, developed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), hit its highest altitude to date during a trial flight on Sept. 2 at Gonghe Airport in northwest China's Qinghai Province, AVIC said in a statement Tuesday. "The test flight has fully proven the helicopter's function and reliability, and will decide the range of its flight altitude," said Xu Chaoliang, chief engineer of the AC313.