Aug 30, 2012

Pakistan Can Make Russia Queen OF Asia


The relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, despite the numerous attempts to revive them, are falling apart. Therefore, establishing close cooperation with Pakistan will give Russia a real chance to gain a foothold in Central and South Asia. In addition, Russia will be able to access the Indian Ocean, and make the U.S. troops in Afghanistan directly dependent on its logistics.
The constant and rude attempts of the United States to interfere in the internal affairs of a nuclear power raise overt anger in this country at all levels. An opinion poll conducted by Pew Research Center (USA) in the beginning of this year showed that 74 percent of Pakistanis view the U.S. as an "enemy." Not that long ago, the whole country was discussing the scandal connected with the resignation of the Pakistani ambassador to the United States. Husain Haqqani wrote a secret letter, in which he asked for help in preventing a military coup, which was allegedly plotted in Pakistan, and promised certain concessions in return.
But even this pro-American official said last week that the goals and priorities of the two countries would not be the same in near future. That is why, he said, the USA and Pakistan should give up their attempts to build a partnership and pay attention to their own interests instead. "If in 65 years we haven't been able to find sufficient common reasons to live together ... It may be better to find friendship outside the family ties," Haqqani told.

Aug 29, 2012

Futuristic Ships On Top in U.S. Navy Surface Plans


DDG-1000 Zumwalt-Class Destroyer



The budget-cutters swipe at major Pentagon programs and sequestration threatens to tighten the leash on expected expenses, the U.S. Navy remains focused on building its future surface warfighting fleet, says Rear Adm. Thomas Rowden, Navy Surface Warfare Div. director.

And the service is pinning its hopes on futuristic ships like the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).

“I am also excited about the production progress of Zumwalt (DDG-1000), a marvel in design and technological development,” Rowden says in a blog from earlier this month. “During my recent visits to Raytheon in Rhode Island and Bath Iron Works in Maine, I was impressed with how closely the two facilities are working together to ensure the success of this incredible warship.” The ship is 65% complete, he says. “Zumwalt will set the tone for the next two ships, and our Navy will reap the benefits of these three for decades.”

The Navy is slated to build three of the new destroyers, which the Navy says will offer reduced manning, hybrid drive, unsurpassed stealth and ferocious firepower. The Zumwalt is slated to cost a bit more than $3 billion.
While the Navy is proposing to deploy only three DDG-1000s, the service has plans to buy an LCS fleet of about 55. The Pentagon estimates the total acquisition cost for the LCS sea frames alone is about $37.4 billion. The Navy also plans to develop and fund the interchangeable mission module packages the ships will carry.

India Receives EMB-145 AEW&C Aircraft

           EMB-145 AEW&C Aircraft


India has received its first Embraer EMB-145 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
The first of three aircraft was delivered at Embraer's São Josė dos Campos headquarters, says the Brazilian airframer.
The aircraft has undergone ground and flight tests, meeting targets set by Embraer and the Centre for Airborne Systems unit of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Following the integration of DRDO mission systems, the aircraft will subsequently be handed over to the Indian air force. India ordered the three aircraft under a $208 million deal in 2008.

Aug 25, 2012

Australia To Convert 12 Super Hornets Into EA-18G Growlers


Australia will convert 12 of its Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets into EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. The country currently operates 24 Super Hornets, half of which were pre-wired to accept the Growler configuration.
"It will provide options for the air force to undertake electronic threat suppression operations in support of Australian Defence Force operations, including land and sea forces," says an Australian government release. "The Growler capability can also undertake intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and will be able to support the full range of defence tasks from evacuations to major conflicts."
Canberra estimates the Growler conversion will cost A$1.5 billion ($1.57 billion), including conversion kits, support equipment, spares and training. The country expects the modified aircraft to be available for operations starting in 2018. Australia will become the second country after the USA to operate the Growler.

Sukhoi 's FGFA Stealth Fighter To Roll-Out In 2014

Sukhoi's FGFA Stealth Fighter
Sukhoi's FGFA Stealth Fighter



India's fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), which the country is co-developing with Russia, is set to be rolled-out in 2014, the Indian air force's (IAF) top uniformed officer says.
"The first prototype of the FGFA is scheduled to arrive in India by 2014 after which it will undergo extensive trials at the Ojhar air base," Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne says. "We are hopeful that the aircraft would be ready for induction by 2022."
A second prototype is expected to arrive in India in 2017 while a third should arrive in 2019.
India expects to sign an $11 billion development contract for the aircraft with Russia soon according to press reports in that country.

Aug 22, 2012

China's Yu Wenxia Crowned Miss World 2012



China's Yu Wenxia Miss World 2012
China's Yu Wenxia Miss World 2012 
China's Yu Wenxia Miss World 2012
China's Yu Wenxia Miss World 2012 

China's Yu Wenxia Miss World 2012
China's Yu Wenxia Miss World 2012 

2nd Azmat Class FAC To Join PN


2nd Azmat Class FAC
2nd Azmat Class FAC

2nd Azmat Class FAC
2nd Azmat Class FAC
The 2nd "Azmat" class FAC launched in Pakistan. This is a joint-project between China and Pakistan.

China Test Fired 10-MIRV DF-41 ICBM



China's DF-41 ICBM
China's DF-41 ICBM
China's future 'Dongfeng -41' intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads, enough to aim at a population of more than 50,000 U.S. cities and towns." China's Second Artillery missile tests on July 24 to study the Chinese nuclear program at Georgetown University Professor Philip Carbonell to make such a warning. British "Jane's Defense Weekly, 22 (advance), declared that this launch is the latest" Dongfeng -41 "ICBMs, it is not only a substantial increase in the range and can carry up to 10 sub-guided nuclear warheads against different goals. Chinese military experts familiar with the Second Artillery Wei Guoan 21, 2009 interview with the "Global Times" reporter denied that the missile was test-fired "Dongfeng -41", he said, the Second Artillery Corps is developing the third generation of ICBMs to meet Western Description characteristics must be limited to the development of third-generation nuclear weapons, in order to more effectively respond to security challenges. " 
China's DF-41 ICBM
China's DF-41 ICBM



   "Jane's Defense Weekly, said that, since 2007, the multiple photos appeared on the Chinese network, Dongfeng -41 missiles equipped transport / erection / emission vehicles (TEL) driving on the highway. The report quoted anonymous U.S. officials as saying that the Second Artillery Corps July 24 launch is currently China's most advanced intercontinental missile Dongfeng -41 "" This is the U.S. authorities for the first time confirmed the existence of the missile project. Western concern is, "Dongfeng -41" may be used the multiple warhead independent reentry vehicles (MIRV) technology. The technology is not simply on missile loaded rounds of warheads, but let each sub-warhead has a separate flight trajectory, adjustable track attack different targets. A sub-warhead, so Each ABM interceptor missiles can destroy the effectiveness of the anti-missile system greatly reduced. An Asian military expert told Jane's reporter, "Dongfeng -41" can carry up to 10 sub-guided nuclear warheads, which will severely shaken the U.S. anti-missile system reliability. 

JL-2 Test Fired Successfully


JL-2 Test Fired
JL-2 Test Fired

JL-2 Test Fired
JL-2 Test Fired

Aug 17, 2012

India Boring Border Tunnels To Take On China, Pakistan



India is finally kick-starting the plan to build as many as 18 tunnels along the borders with Pakistan and China for faster troop mobility as well as storage of critical war-fighting assets like missiles, without the threat of detection by enemy satellites and spy drones.

While preliminary work on seven tunnels is underway after requisite approvals, the construction of 11 more tunnels in Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh is now on the drawing board after "a strong endorsement'' by the Army.

With China resorting to "tunnelling in a big way'' to store important military equipment, the Army wants the tunnel construction plans in the mountains in J&K and north-east to be fast-tracked. "The tunnels will provide shelter to troops and ammunition from both enemy shelling and extreme weather. They can also be used for NBC (nuclear, chemical, biological) protection and establishing command and control centres,'' said a top official.

Actual construction work is underway only in one of the 18 proposed tunnels. But, this long-delayed 8.82-km long horse-shoe shaped tunnel under the 13,400-feet Rohtang Pass, on the Manali-Sarchu-Leh axis, is unlikely to meet its completion deadline of February, 2015. Feasibility studies and preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) for three more tunnels at Zozila, Z-Morh and Razdhan Pass in J&K are in progress, while similar work is planned for Khardungla and Sadhana Pass in J&K and Theng in Sikkim. The other proposed tunnels include Rangpo in Sikkim and on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang axis in Arunachal Pradesh.

The 4th Type 052C (DDG 151) To Join PLAN

China's  4th Type 052C (DDG 151)

China's New 7.62mm Sniper Rifle

China's New 7.62mm precision sniper rifle
China's New 7.62mm precision sniper rifle


China's New 7.62mm precision sniper rifle
China's New 7.62mm precision sniper rifle

China's J-15 On Aircraft Carrier Varyag

China's J-15 On Aircraft Carrier Varyag
China's J-15 On Aircraft Carrier Varyag

Aug 15, 2012

Russian Nuclear Sub Sailed off U.S. Coast Undetected



Russian Nuclear Akula submarine


A Russian nuclear attack submarine sailed undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for weeks, a report said Tuesday, its travel in strategic U.S. waters discovered only after it left.

The Washington Free Beacon, citing unnamed sources, said the voyage was only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack sub has ventured so close to U.S. shores.

“The stealth underwater incursion in the Gulf took place at the same time Russian strategic bombers made incursions into restricted U.S. airspace near Alaska and California in June and July, and highlights a growing military assertiveness by Moscow,” the publication reported on its Web site.

The Russian patrol managed to expose deficiencies in U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities, American officials said, according to the report. Some of those forces responsible for anti-submarine warfare and detection are targeted for cuts over the Obama administration’s plan to slice nearly $500 billion from the Pentagon’s budget over the next 10 years.

The Navy is responsible for detecting and tracking foreign submarines. The service uses undersea sensors and satellites to locate and track them, the Beacon reported.

Pakistan, Russia To Boost Defence Cooperation



 Pakistan and Russia have decided to enter into new phase of defence cooperation as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafiq Butt has concluded his trip to Russia where he visited various air force related defence installations and had meetings with defence high-ups, including his Russian counterpart.

It was the first-ever visit of any chief of Pakistan Air Force to that country. Air Chief Marshal Butt who has returned to the Air Headquarters has termed the visit a great success. In a brief chat with The News, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafiq Butt on Tuesday said ‘it was excellent visit with positive outcome and we can expect greater cooperation with Russia in the field of defence, particularly in air defence.’ Without going into details, he said that Russian authorities are forthcoming and they have agreed for further interaction between the two countries on the question of defence cooperation.

Aug 13, 2012

Gauss Virus Stuxnet Like Cyberweapon Hits Middle East Banks


A new cyber surveillance virus has been found in the Middle East that can spy on banking transactions and steal login and passwords, according Kaspersky Lab, a leading computer security firm.

Dubbed Gauss, the virus may also be capable of attacking critical infrastructure and was very likely built in the same laboratories as Stuxnet, the computer worm widely believed to have been used by the US and Israel to attack Iran's nuclear programme, Kaspersky Lab said on Thursday.

The Moscow-based firm said it found Gauss had infected more than 2,500 personal computers, the bulk of them in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Targets included Lebanon's BlomBank, ByblosBank and Credit Libanais, as well as Citibank and eBay's PayPal online payment system.
Officials with the Lebanese banks said they were unaware of the virus. PayPal spokesman Anuj Nayar said the company was investigating the matter but was not aware of any increase in "rogue activity" as a result of Gauss. A Citibank spokeswoman declined to comment.

Kaspersky Lab would not speculate on who was behind Gauss, but said the virus was connected to Stuxnet and two other related cyber espionage tools, Flame and Duqu. The US department of defense declined to comment.

"After looking at Stuxnet, Duqu and Flame, we can say with a high degree of certainty that Gauss comes from the same 'factory' or 'factories,'" Kaspersky on its website. "All these attack toolkits represent the high end of nation-state-sponsored cyber-espionage and cyberwar operations."

Jeffrey Carr, an expert on cyber-warfare who runs security firm Taia Global, said the US government has long monitored Lebanese banks for clues about the activities of militant groups and drug cartels. He said Gauss was likely built by adapting technology deployed in Flame.

"You've got this successful platform. Why not apply it to this investigation into Lebanese banks and whether or not they are involved in money laundering for Hezbollah?" he said.

New York's state banking regulator this week accused Britain's Standard Chartered Plc of violating US anti-money laundering laws by scheming with Iran to hide more than $250bn of transactions.

Experts said that surveillance viruses like Gauss are perfect tools for government intelligence units to gather information for such investigations, though they did not specifically link Gauss to the Standard Chartered case.
According to Kaspersky Lab, Gauss can also steal passwords and other data, and send information about system configurations.

Modules in the virus have internal names that researchers believe were chosen to pay homage to famous mathematicians and philosophers, including Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss, Kurt Godel and Joseph-Louis Lagrange.

Lenovo Plans To Build On India Top Spot



Lenovo Laptop
Lenovo Laptop

Lenovo Group Ltd, the world's second largest PC maker, will continue to expand in the Indian market by opening more than 300 new shops next year. It plans to maintain its leading market position in China's biggest neighboring country, which it earned in the first quarter of this year, one of Lenovo's executives told China Daily.
Amar Babu, managing director of Lenovo India, has been working in India's IT industry for more than 23 years.
As a veteran, he worked for many multinational companies before he was recruited by Lenovo.
When Babu first started his career with Lenovo three years ago, the Chinese company's market share was only about 4.8 percent in the world's second most populous country, behind other international brands such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell.Lenovo is now the largest PC player in India with an overall market share of 15.8 percent, according to the US-based IT research company IDC.
"The biggest difference in the sales channel between the Chinese PC market and the Indian PC market is retailers. Unlike the Chinese market, stores in India are multi-brand and quite small," he explained.
After much research of the market, Babu and his Chinese headquarters decided to adapt Lenovo's experience in the Chinese market to build a sales system in India.
"We made an unusual decision in the India market, which was to open exclusive stores instead of selling our products in multi-brand stores," Babu said.
He explained that because a while ago Lenovo's brand and name weren't familiar to India consumers, in order to boost sales, the company needed to build up its reputation first.

James Cameron Eyes Chinese Market With 3D Joint Venture



3D Hollywood
3D Hollywood
James Cameron, the creator of the blockbuster film Avatar, has announced a joint venture with two Chinese firms in a bid to capture the country's fast-growing movie market.
His firm, Cameron Pace Group and its Chinese partners will develop advanced equipment for 3D filming.
The move comes amid a boom in China's movie industry and a growing demand for 3D films in the country.
Various Hollywood filmmakers have been trying to tap into the Chinese market.
"The future of entertainment is 3D and we believe that the future of 3D is right here in China," Mr Cameron was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
Earlier this year, Chinese authorities had announced that they will allow an additional 14 foreign films to be shown in the country, if the movies are made in 3D or for the big-screen Imax format.
'Second home'
China's movie industry has seen robust growth in the past few years.
Ticket sales in the world's second-largest economy surged 29% to 13.1bn yuan ($2.1bn; £1.3bn) in 2011. They are forecast to rise further, by around 20% in the current year.
The growth in its market has seen various Hollywood filmmakers and studios announcing joint ventures with Chinese firms.
Earlier this week, Dreamworks Animation announced plans to co-produce the next Kung Fu Panda movie with its Chinese partners. The firm said it was also planning to open an entertainment district in the country.
In April, Walt Disney Company, the world's largest entertainment firm, said that it plans to co-produce Iron Man 3 with Beijing-based DMG Entertainment.
Mr Cameron said that the robust growth in the country's market made it attractive destination.

Aug 9, 2012

China Made Electronics Pour Into India




India is more concerned than ever about its yawning trade gap with China, as The Wall Street Journal detailed in a front-page story today. But it isn’t just the volume of trade that’s at issue.It’s the mix.

 While India exports mostly raw materials to its neighbor, China is selling more sophisticated manufactured goods – translating into better profit margins and higher paying jobs for workers. That disparity underscores India’s lack of manufacturing capabilities – and, for some national security hawks, it’s raising questions about whether India is too reliant on its rival for vital technologies. One clear example of the trend is electronics. Overall electronics-related exports from China to India jumped from $2.8 billion to nearly $12 billion in the five years ending March 31, 2011.

 Computer hardware from laptops to accessories like USB dongles accounted for $1.5 billion in China’s exports. Chinese-made cellphones and mobile network gear, in particular, have flooded into India. In the two years to March 2011, India’s imports of mobile devices jumped 45% to over $4 billion. That’s partly because of a wave of new Indian firms that are marketing cellphones they’ve sourced from China and rebranded as their own. Chinese brands like Huawei Technologies have had their own stunning success in India. The government’s attempts to erect barriers have proven futile in the telecom sector. In 2010, India began more closely screening imports of cellular network equipment, partly because of security concerns about Chinese goods. 

Aug 8, 2012

PAK-FA Prototype Tests AESA Radar

PAK-FA AESA RADAR




"Sukhoi" has started testing the fighter T-50 (PAK FA) with a new on-board radar system with an active phased array, said in a statement received by the Editor "Lenty.ru." The new radar is installed on the third prototype of the future fighter T-50-3. In the first ground and flight tests were checked in the modes of the radar features "air-to-air" and "air-surface". In parallel testing of optical channels.

Radar PAK FA being developed by the Research Institute of Instrument name Tikhomirov. According to the "Sukhoi", a radar with electronic beam control is made on the basis of the Russian element nanoheterostructures. The system will allow the PAK FA to recognize and classify the group and single target at long range, and at the same time pointing to arms for a few of them. In addition, on-board system will provide communications and electronic countermeasures.

In February 2012 it was reported that the PAK FA prototype made a total of more than 120 flights. The third prototype of the aircraft involved in the flight test program in November 2011. It is expected that during 2012 the program will connect, and the fourth prototype of the T-50-4. The first prototype aircraft flies from January 2010 and the second - in March 2011.

Former Mossad DG: Iran Should Fear Next 12 Weeks


 Efraim Halevy


Former Mossad chief's statement comes as Netanyahu warns time for diplomacy running out amid speculation an attack may take place before US elections.

Former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy added to speculation of an impending Israeli military strike against Iran's nuclear program in a statement published by The New York Times Wednesday.

"If I were an Iranian, I would be very fearful of the next 12 weeks," Halevy said.

Speculation in the media and in political circles about the timing of a potential attack on Iran has focused in recent weeks on whether it needs to happen over the summer, before the US elections, or if it can wait until afterward, maybe as far away as next spring.

Earlier in the week, both Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that time was running out for sanctions and diplomacy to have an effect on Iran's nuclear ambitions. Both men made the statements during a visit to Israel by US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

“We clearly have something to lose by this stretched time [during] which sanctions and diplomacy takes place, because the Iranians are moving forward, not just in enrichment,” Barak said.

Speaking before meeting Panetta in his office, Netanyahu said the constant rhetoric about all options being on the table regarding Iran has not moved the ayatollahs.

India’s Unsafe Nukes

India’s past record presents a number of security lapses in accordance to its nuclear plants and sensitive radioactive material showing that this is part of their regular feature, not to mention USZ shows a similar trend but right now we’ll be dealing with our unbelievably friendly neighbour, a.k.a India.


• On July 14, 2010, a chlorine gas leakage surrounded the city of Mumbai in panic and alarm causing over 80 people to be taken to hospitals in critical condition. Caused by leakage of chlorine gas cylinders that were to be part of a consignment to be transported to chemical industries to manufacture biological and chemical weapons.


• In the end of November 2009, more than 90 Indian workers suffered radiation due to contamination of drinking water at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnata.


• In December 2006, a container packed with radioactive material had been stolen from Indian fortified research atomic facility near Mumbai.


• In December 2005, USZ imposed sanctions on two Indian firms for selling missile goods and chemical arms material to Iran in violation of India’s commitment to prevent proliferation. In the same year, Indian scientists, Dr.Surender and Y.S.R Prasad had been blacklisted by Washington due to their involvement in nuclear theft.


• In February 2004, India’s ambassador to Libya, Dinkar Sirivastava revealed that New Delhi was investigating that retired Indian scientists could possibly be engaged in high technology programs for financial gains during employment in the Libyan government.


• On January 26, 2003, CNN pointed out that Indian company, NEC Engineers Private Ltd. Shipped 10 consignments to Iraq, containing highly sensitive equipment entailing titanium vessels and centrifugal pumps.

India's First Nuclear Submarine Set For Trials


The indigenous 6,000-ton INS Arihant  (Destroyer of Enemies) was unveiled in 2009 as part of a project to construct five such vessels which would be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and torpedoes.
"Arihant is steadily progressing towards operationalisation, and we hope to commence sea trials in the coming months," Indian navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma  told reporters.
"Our maritime and nuclear doctrine will then be aligned to ensure that our nuclear insurance comes from the sea," Verma said,
Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor  and can reach 44 kilometres an hour (24 knots), according to defence officials. It will carry a 95-member crew.
The Indian navy inducted a Russian-leased nuclear submarine into service in April this year, joining China, France, the United States, Britain and Russia in the elite club of countries with nuclear-powered vessels.

China Naval Modernization: Implications For U.S. Navy





The question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. The question is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many U.S. military programs for countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy’s budget. 

Decisions that Congress and the executive branch make regarding U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military capabilities could affect the likelihood or possible outcome of a potential U.S.-Chinese military conflict in the Pacific over Taiwan or some other issue. Some observers consider such a conflict to be very unlikely, in part because of significant U.S.-Chinese economic linkages and the tremendous damage that such a conflict could cause on both sides. 

In the absence of such a conflict, however, the U.S.-Chinese military balance in the Pacific could nevertheless influence day-to-day choices made by other Pacific countries, including choices on whether to align their policies more closely with China or the United States. 

Aug 6, 2012

DRDO To Build Phalcons LIke AWACS For IAF

As Russia rising price in procurement of Ilyushin Il-76 platform and steep price rise demanded by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for IAI EL/W-2090 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) radar system and integration of it in Ilyushin Il-76 platform might lead to no further follow up orders of three A-50EI which Indian air force currently operates .
A50EI Phalcons AEW&C
A50EI Phalcons AEW&C




Follow up order was suppose to be of three more aircraft’s with similar radar integrated on Ilyushin Il-76 platform , bringing total to 6 A-50EI based AEW&C aircraft’s , negotiations are still going on but Government is planning to Start Phase II project to India’s own AEW&C Project and DRDO will get the clearance soon on this matter.

Israel has been asking India to consider Gulfstream G550 Eitam aircraft based AEW&C for some time now to reduce cost in platform purchase and integration cost of radar ,Gulfstream G550 based AEW&C are also operated by Israeli air force but IAF is not keen on it. IAF is also happy with the progress made by DRDO in its own AEW&C program and is considering further development if the deal for three more A-50EI based AEW&C fails to materialize .

Iran Goes OFFline To Dodge Cyber Attacks


Iran Flag
Iran Flag


Reza Taghipour, the country's telecommunications minister, said the step was being taken because sensitive intelligence was vulnerable on the worldwide web, which he said was untrustworthy because it was controlled by "one or two" countries hostile to Iran.
"The establishment of the national intelligence network will create a situation where the precious intelligence of the country won't be accessible to these powers," Mr Taghipour told a conference on Sunday at Tehran's Amir Kabir University.
He described the move as the first phase of a project to replace the global internet with a domestic intranet system scheduled to be completed within 18 months.
Opponents have previously denounced the plan as a means of stamping out western influence on the internet while further tightening already stringent online surveillance of political activists and regime critics.

Aug 4, 2012

Turkey Begins Work On ICBM

Turkish Armed Forces have begun working on a project to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

A decision to launch the project was made in a July 17 meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Board, headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel. Erdoğan had previously requested that the military develop missiles with a 2,500-kilometer range.
 
The board decided to form a satellite launch center that would have a two-fold effect on Turkey's aerospace and military endeavors. First, the center will enable Turkey to place its own satellites in orbit, and second, the center will allow the Turkish military to launch missiles that can navigate outside of the Earth's atmosphere. Attaining an ICBM launch capability is reportedly the chief aim of the satellite launch center.
 
The Turkish Defense Ministry, the Defense Industry Undersecretariat and the Scientific and Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), have been jointly working on the project for some time.
 
The report said Ankara could cooperate with an undisclosed Eastern European country to develop the satellite launch center. 
 
The ICBM project, meanwhile, has sought to improve on the SOM cruise missile developed by TÜBİTAK. The SOM cruise missile has a current range of 300 kilometers. The range would first be increased to 1,500 and later to 2,500 kilometers within the project, according to the report. 

US, China Arms Race Has Begun


An arms race between the United States and China - reminiscent of the former Soviet Union Cold War - has already begun, a leading Australian academic says.
While Defence Minister Stephen Smith quickly ruled out a proposed US aircraft carrier battle group base near Perth, Australian National University (ANU) Associate Professor Ron Huisken said the fact the Americans were considering it was proof they were already locked in an arms race with rising superpower China.
Prof Huisken, attached to ANU's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, told AAP on Thursday both nations were making military decisions exclusively to counter each other.
This was borne out in China's decision to build its own aircraft carrier fleet, and the US's increasing presence in the Asia-Pacific.

China's DF-21D Missile IS One Shot Aircraft Carrier Killer

Since the end of WWII, America's naval might has been undisputed and our aircraft carriers have been its crown jewels. However, the days of dominance could end with China's new DF-21D ballistic missile—the only device on Earth capable of sinking an aircraft carrier—four and a half acres of sovereign US territory—with one shot.


The DF-21D (Dong-Feng 21 variant D) is the world's first and only anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM). It's a two stage, land-launched missile with a maximum estimated range of 2,700 to 3,000 km. Its single fuel-air explosive warhead packs 200 to 500 kilotons. It was developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy as part of the country's massive military modernization effort, an initiative focused primarily on developing overwhelming missile technologies for which there are no effective defenses. The Defense Department believes it entered active service around 2009.

While the Chinese obviously aren't saying much on the inner workings of the new missile system, military experts believe it will rely on China's Over the Horizon radar (OTH) to monitor a 3,000-km swath of the South China Sea, where China is now claiming dominion over. The OTH system bounces its radar signal off the ionosphere to see past the curvature of the earth. If the OTH detects a carrier battle fleet, the system instigates a set of Yaogan satellites to search the area and provide precise targeting data. Additionally, when the OTH detects an approaching fleet, the system will reportedly launch a swarm of micro-satellites into low orbit where they will help refine the targeting data further and transmit it back to the onshore command center. Meanwhile, UAVs will be launched to track the fleet. Once the missile has been launched and separated from its first stage, the warhead employs synthetic aperture radar to find the carrier. It receives real time telemetry data as it locks onto its target and initiates its terminal descent.

This capability could be used to effectively deny US carriers from intervening in, say, the Taiwan Strait. It could also be used as a very large stick in resolving local territorial disputes. Many members of the security community also worry that the FAE warheads could easily be replaced with nuclear ones. If that occurred, it would very lead to an arms race with Japan and India (neither of whom are particularly fond of the Communist PRC). Or, it could dissolve the US-Russian INF Treaty, which prevents the two countries from from deploying short and intermediate range land-based ballistic and cruise missiles.

 www.gizmodo.com

Who's Afraid OF Huawei?

Huawei
Huawei 



China's companies have started to win first place in global markets. Huawei has just overtaken Sweden’s Ericsson to become the world’s largest telecoms-equipment-maker. Even though many foreigners still cannot pronounce its name (some call it “Hawaii”, and the firm has even produced a video teaching people to say hwah-way), Huawei is becoming an increasingly powerful global player, capable of going head-to-head with the best in intensely competitive markets. It follows Haier, which is already the leading white-goods-maker; now Lenovo is challenging Hewlett-Packard as the world’s biggest PC-maker. 

Huawei, a private firm, is a standard-bearer in China’s long march into Western markets. Its founder, Ren Zhengfei, who served as an engineer in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), at first struggled to win customers even in China. But his company followed Mao’s strategy of using the countryside to encircle and capture the cities, and it has moved on to win foreign markets too: in Europe it is involved in over half of the superfast 4G telecoms networks that have been announced, and it has become a strong competitor in mobile phones (see article). The company is now a $32-billion business empire with 140,000 employees, and customers in 140 countries. It commands respect by delivering high-quality telecoms equipment at low prices. 



But Huawei inspires fear too—and not just among its competitors. The company is said to be too close for comfort to the PLA. Westerners fret that the networks the firm is building are used by Chinese spooks to eavesdrop during peacetime and could be shut down suddenly during wartime. They see the firm as a potent weapon in China’s burgeoning cyber-arsenal.
It is a view that some governments are taking seriously. Earlier this year Australia blocked Huawei’s participation in a scheme to build a national broadband network in the country. The company has also faced opposition to its commercial expansion in India. And in America, where Huawei’s attempts to grow have often been stymied, a congressional committee that focuses on intelligence matters is putting the firm under a microscope; suspicions have been aggravated by a recent spate of cyber-attacks attributed to Chinese hackers.


Western governments are also suspicious of the subsidies, low-interest loans and generous export credits lavished on favoured champions, including Huawei. The European Commission is considering opening an investigation. Some people suppose that the Chinese government is helping Huawei win overseas contracts so that spies can exploit its networks to snoop on ever more of the world’s electronic traffic.

Pakistan Air Force's First Aggressor Unit TDS

Pakistan Air Force's First Aggressor Unit TDS