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Showing posts from August, 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 c

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 Nav

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 JosÄ— 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.

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 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.

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  

2nd Azmat Class FAC To Join PN

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 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 t

JL-2 Test Fired Successfully

JL-2 Test Fired JL-2 Test Fired

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 o

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 J-15 On Aircraft Carrier Varyag

China's J-15 On Aircraft Carrier Varyag

Russian Nuclear Sub Sailed off U.S. Coast Undetected

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 y

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.

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"

Lenovo Plans To Build On India Top Spot

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

James Cameron Eyes Chinese Market With 3D Joint Venture

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

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

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

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 Secretar

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 Indi

India's First Nuclear Submarine Set For Trials

INS Arihant  India on Wednesday said its first home-built  nuclear submarine  was set for  sea trials , as it detailed billion-dollar projects to arm its navy with warships, aircraft and modern weaponry. 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 servic

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 cho

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 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

Iran Goes OFFline To Dodge Cyber Attacks

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.

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 ErdoÄŸan  and Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel. ErdoÄŸan 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  (TÃœBÄ°TAK), have been jointly

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 sayin

Who's Afraid OF 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