ASIAN DEFENCE

Moscow is puzzled over Indian media rumors claiming that Russia refuses to fulfill a decade-old contract on licensed production of T-90S main battle tanks in India, a Russian defense industry source said. “The Russian side is timely and completely fulfilling all agreements with India on the licensed production of T-90 tanks, including the delivery of all necessary components and the transfer of technical documentation,” the source said on Tuesday. India’s Business Standard said on November 28 that the licensed production of T-90 tanks was “hamstrung by Moscow’s obstruction in transferring technology and the Russian-built assemblies needed even for the India-built tanks.” “It is difficult to say why these allegations have emerged,” the Russian source said, adding that all controversial issues on the arms contracts with India are promptly resolved by the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation.

Russia has turned on a new incoming missile early warning system in its westernmost region in response to US plans for a missile shield in Europe. President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the system to be activated on a visit to the radar unit in Kaliningrad, a Baltic region bordering EU countries. The unit is equipped with the new Voronezh-DM radar system. Mr Medvedev has warned Russian missiles could be deployed on the EU's borders if the shield is installed. Washington wants an anti-missile shield ready by 2020, arguing that it is necessary to provide protection from the potential missile threat posed by countries like Iran. Under President George W Bush, the US had initially intended to locate major parts of the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, but Russia objected vigorously. When Barack Obama took office in the White House, he scaled back the original ambitions. "Nato's missile defence system [is] designed to defend against threats from ...

The Chinese Navy is expected to procure 30 more submarines by 2020 and bring the total from the current 62 to 100 by 2030, Hong Kong's Ming Pao daily reported on Tuesday. According to the paper, the U.S. has 75 subs, 26 of them deployed in the Asia-Pacific region. China is building up its Navy, including retrofitting its first aircraft carrier. Bloomberg News quoted experts as predicting that Asia-Pacific nations will have up to 86 more subs by 2020. Beijing is not revealing the cost of the subs, but Macau-based military affairs analyst Huang Dong estimates it at US$200 million per sub or $6 billion for 30.

The Ministry of Defence has issued a tender for the import of 66,000 5.56 mm assault rifle for an estimated $250 million (Rs 13,000 crore) to replace the locally-designed Indian Small Arms System 5.56 mm AR, which the army has reluctantly employed since the mid-1990s. The Request for Proposal dispatched to over 40 overseas vendors last month -- with bids to be submitted by mid-Feb 2012 -- requires the 3.66 kg AR's to convert to 7.62x39 mm and be fitted with Picatiny Rail-mounted reflex sights. The ARs would also need to be equipped with under-barrel grenade launchers and be able to fire locally-produced ammunition. The RfP also mandates a transfer of technology to the State-owned Ordnance Factory Board to locally make the ARs of which the eventual requirement is expected to be around 2 million for the army, the central paramilitary forces and state police in a massive programme estimated at $2-3 billion. Armament industry officials, however, said that the...

The recent launch of the nuclear capable Babur cruise missile and its shiny new launch system was looked upon by many as yet another “trick up the magician’s sleeve”. The Tomahawk based Babur is a hybrid weapons system: a Chinese turbojet powering a reverse engineered fuselage of a BGM-109 Tomahawk, with its guidance system developed locally using American built microprocessors.  This is not an uncommon approach when it comes to the design of Pakistani weapons, but the process from start to finish is rarely smooth. Pakistan’s military has, does and for the immediate future, will continue to consider India its arch nemesis and existential threat. This fact seems to influence most major decisions that Pakistan’s establishment makes for the rest of the country, including blunders that have cost the nation dearly. Unlike India, with its booming economy and positive repute in world politics, Pakistan neither has the economic capacity nor the goodwill to update its military ...

Cold Start has been one of the biggest concerns of Pakistan’s military and civilian government. The argument has been protracted for a while now and the Pakistani military has carried out many an exercise to counter this threat. At this stage the Pakistani military thinks that it has significant response capabilities to nullify the Indian Cold Start strike. They could have been right if India had followed through with its military diktat, but unknown to the Pakistani military and civilian establishment, the Indian military changed its strategy and game plan right in mid-stride.  The Cold Start doctrine that initially constituted a military strike at requisite targets took a shape and form of totally different nature that was not known to our military, which incidentally is extremely rigid in its approach and analysis. In the past few years, India had taken a route of economic growth and progress, where any kind of war or aggression by the forces in uniform would have ...

India will ink the world's single largest defence deal by closing the 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract in a couple of months. As these fourth generation fighter jets join the Indian Air Force fleet, China will prepare to launch its fifth generation stealth fighter Chengdu J-20. China is racing ahead towards the planned induction of its indigenous stealth fighter in 2017. The Chengdu J-20, which made its debut in January this year, has already flown two prototypes, within a span of four months. In India's case, however, the two shortlisted contenders — Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale, both only fourth generation — are still undergoing price negotiations. The commercial bids for the US $15 billion deal were opened on 4 November. Eurofighter Typhoon from the European consortium EADS — comprising Italy, Germany, Spain and UK as partner nations — is a twin-engine, multi-role fighter. A question mark exists on its air-to-ground capability. ...

China will develop an air force with integrated capabilities for both offensive and defensive operations in space as well as in air, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Commander Xu Qiliang said Sunday.   Xu Qiliang, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Commander, gestures during an interview.    Calling militarization in the space and in air "a threat to the mankind," Xu said China must develop a strong force in the two arenas in order to face challenges of that threat. The PLA air force would improve its detection and early warning, air striking, anti-missile air defense, strategic delivery capabilities in order to effectively protect China's interests and help maintain regional and world peace, Xu said. Xu meanwhile stressed that the PLA air force was peace-oriented. "The Chinese people is a peace-loving people, and China is a responsible developing country which upholds a national defense policy that is defens...

US and NATO officials were disappointed with Dmitry Medvedev's recent harsh statements about Russia's intention to pull out from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was one of the first to respond to Medvedev's statements. "The suggestion that deployment of missiles in the areas neighboring the alliance is an appropriate response ... is very disappointing. NATO's missile defense system [is] designed to defend against threats from outside Europe. Not designed to alter balance of deterrence," Rasmussen wrote via Twitter. "Cooperation, not confrontation, is the way ahead," he added. However, the USA still refuses to give legal guarantees saying that the air defense system in Europe is not aimed against Russia. Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, the President of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, said in an interview with Pravda.Ru that there were two basic positions determined in the ...

Nato helicopters attacked a military checkpoint in northwest Pakistan on Saturday, killing up to 28 troops and prompting Pakistan to shut the vital supply route for Nato troops fighting in Afghanistan, Pakistani officials said. The Foreign Office condemned Saturday’s attack. “Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has condemned in the strongest terms the Nato/Isaf attack on the Pakistani post,” ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said in a statement. “On his direction, the matter is being taken (up) by the foreign ministry in the strongest terms with Nato and the US.” Two military officials said that up to 28 troops had been killed and 11 wounded in the attack on the Salala checkpoint, about 2.5 kilometres from the Afghan border. The attack took place around 2 a.m. in the Baizai area of Mohmand, where Pakistani troops are fighting Taliban militants. A senior Pakistani military officer said efforts were under way to bring the bodies of the slain soldiers...

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), which displayed its products in Dubai Airshow-2011 in UAE, told APA, Azerbaijan shows interest in JF-17 Thunder combat aircrafts jointly produced by Pakistan and China and announced its intention to purchase aircrafts of this type. The JF-17 Thunder performed flight displays over the Dubai airport during the air show. Members of the Azerbaijani delegation also watched the flights. Referring to negotiations held with Azerbaijan, company officials said that the discussions have not entered the phase of signing a contract yet. The company is currently executing the orders of the Pakistani Air Forces; the export to Azerbaijan could be realised in the upcoming years. According to the company, the negotiating parties are determining the annual amount of the possible order. Offering a high manoeuvrability, JF-17 Thunder aircraft have the same or even superior capabilities to the MiG-29 aircraft of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. By introd...

India is doing a lot of work on laser weapons, particularly at the technology level, said a DRDO's top defence scientist. We are trying to see how to produce high power lasers, how to get that kind of narrow beam, how to get miniaturized version of laser power device,' said V.K. Saraswat, scientific advisor to the defence minister. He, however, said India need to graduate from physics portion to the actual portion of engineering and development. Saraswat, who is also the Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was talking to reporters on the sidelines of 22nd annual conference of Indian Nuclear Society here Thursday evening. He said DRDO, Atomic Energy and academic institutions like Plasma Research Laboratory and National Physical Laboratory were working together on the physics of laser.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has hired the founder of the controversial US security company Blackwater, to set up a paramilitary force made up of foreign mercenaries in Abu Dhabi. Blackwater founder Erik Prince is to set up an 800-member battalion of foreign troops. Documents obtained by The New York Times (NYT) on Sunday showed the crown prince of Abu Dhabi being behind the $529m deal. It is a contentious move, which raises questions about loyalty, the role of citizens and the potential instability brought on by the popular uprisings in the Arab world. The NYT said the covert unit will be used to put down internal revolts, defend oil pipelines and skyscrapers from any possible terrorist attack. It also claimed that fighters from Colombia and South Africa have already been flown into the Emirate, where its rulers are reportedly deeply concerned about the popular unrest in the "Arab world as well as the perceived threat from Iran".

Ninety-one civilians were killed and 494 others injured in police firing in Jammu and Kashmir in 2010, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. "As per National Crime Record Bureau data, 91 civilians got killed and 494 civilian got injured in police firing during 2010 in Jammu and Kashmir," Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

A year after conducting its first live military exercise in Tibet, China has for the first time rehearsed capture of mountain passes at heights beyond 5,000 metres with the help of armoured vehicles and airborne troops.  The Chinese Defence Ministry makes this claim in a short official report that describes the exercise as the “first joint actual-troop drill of the PLA air and ground troops under information-based conditions in frigid area with a high altitude”. The joint drill involved the Chinese Air Force, ground troops, armoured columns and a range of support entities. 

India and Israel continue to silently expand their already expansive ties in the fields of defence and homeland security, at a time when Tel Aviv is threatening military action to quell Iran's nuclear ambitions despite New Delhi seeking a diplomatic resolution. Israeli Air Force commander-in-chief, Major-General Ido Nehushtan, is the latest in the series of high-level visits to India, which are kept under the radar due to political sensitivities, to further bolster the "bilateral strategic partnership''. This comes close after Israeli minister of public safety Yitzhak Aharonovitch held wide-ranging discussions with home minister P Chidambaram on ways to expand ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing during his low-profile visit to New Delhi. Maj-Gen Nehushtan, on his part, discussed military cooperation with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne on Monday, and is slated to meet his naval and army counterparts and other ...

The Russian Air Force will take delivery of about 90 new fixed and rotary wing aircraft in 2012, a Defense Ministry spokesman Told.  The Air Force will receive up to 10 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers, about 10 Su-25SM Frogfoot attack fighters, and an unspecified number of Su-35S Flanker-E multirole fighters, Col. Vladimir Drik said. The Su-35S is Russia’s advanced “Generation 4++” fighter. New acquisitions will also include over 20 attack helicopters, such as the Mi-28N Night Hunter and the Ka-52 Alligator, as well as “highly modernized” Mi-35 Hind helicopters.

Rumors were circulating recently in the Korean military and defense industry that U.S. intelligence agencies are investigating Korea's weapons production and exports. "The rumors said that CIA and FBI agents have arrived and are investigating the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and defense firms to find out whether Korea has developed and exported weapons based on stolen U.S. military technologies," a government official said Thursday. "But our own probe into these rumors found no investigation of DAPA or defense firms by any U.S. agencies." The rumors began circulating after an unusual joint Korea-U.S. investigation in September of suspicions that Korea illegally disassembled the Tiger Eye, a key component of the cutting-edge U.S.-made F-15K fighter jet equipment for low-altitude night penetration attacks.

The indigenous 4.5 generation J-11B has officially been spotted with 5th generation weapon.

                      UAE's United-40 Armed Drone From Dubai Air Show                   UAE's United-40 Armed Drone From Dubai Air Show                       UAE's United-40 Armed Drone From Dubai Air Show                      UAE's United-40 Armed Drone From Dubai Air Show

India’s ''pride,'' the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, will only be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in mid-2014, as the aircraft, about which the IAF had expressed some dissatisfaction, is yet to get the second initial operational clearance (IOC-2). Answering queries from the media after inaugurating a conference here, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said the IOC-2 is expected only by mid-2012 and the final operational clearance could be scheduled only two years after that. Pointing out that there are some delays in its development, he said: “The delay is caused by the active monsoon during which not many flights could be undertaken. But there are also some technical issues that have to be resolved as we go along.” It is noteworthy that his predecessor Air Chief Marshal P V Naik was very vocal about the shortcomings of Tejas. He had, in fact, said the aircraft had not yet reached the category its promoters claimed it was on the ...

Pakistan has upgraded the MFI-395 Super Mushshak with a completely new integrated glass cockpit instead of traditional style of analog dials and gauges.. The Super Mushshak is a basic trainer aircraft which is offered to the International Military and commercial customers. by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). The Super Mushshak features two large multi-function displays, one each for the pilot and co-pilot. It is on the static line next to the JF-17 fighter. The Mushshak series of basic trainers has been a great success for the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex due to its export orders. Beside commercial customers PAC has sold Mushshak trainer to the Pakistan Air Force & Pakistan Army (149), Iranian Air Force (25), Royal Saudi Air Force (20), Royal Air Force of Oman (8), Egyptian Air Force (54) and the Syrian Air Force (6).

                                   PAF Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C Aircraft                                  PAF Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C Aircraft                                      PAF Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C Aircraft