Editorial note, NOSInt on a break

A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to all readers. NOSInt will resume on January 2nd 2010.

Giant Russian helicopter rescues disabled coalition choppers

A Russian helicopter has successfully returned a chopper belonging to the Netherlands Air Force, which was damaged by ground fire in the South of Afghanistan, to its airbase in Kandahar.

After being shot at, the Dutch Cougar helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at an American military camp 65 kilometers from its base.

It took the Mi-26, belonging to Russia’s Vertical-T airline, half an hour to transport the nine-ton Cougar back.

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Russia to sell Myanmar 20 MiG fighters

Russia has agreed to sell Myanmar 20 MiG-29 jets for 400 million euro ($572.2 million), the Vedomosti daily reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources in Russia's defence industry.

Myanmar's reclusive military government, which has ruled the country for almost 50 years, is shunned by the West because of its human rights record, though Russia, India and China have sold the country arms over recent years.

The Vedomosti daily cited sources in the defence industry as saying that Russia had beaten off competition from China to win the fighter contract.

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OceanServer Delivers Iver2 AUV to Naval Surface Warfare Center

OceanServer Technology has announced that it has recently delivered an Iver2 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Division.

NSWC will use the Iver2 AUV for sensor development, general research, and in-water evaluation of new sensors.

The Indian Head Division has a long track record of critical research for the US Navy and is recognized as the nation's premier resource for energetics technology, development and innovation, as well as technology-based solutions.

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Russian long-range aviation air patrol mission

Two Russian Tu-95 MS turboprop strategic bombers have successfully carried out a routine patrol flight over neutral waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. Tu-95 MS bombers got off the ground from the Russian AF base Engels.

During a 12-hour flight the crews practiced for a number of training missions.

The Russian bombers were escorted by two NATO F-16 Fighting Falcons.

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Raytheon Receives $1.1 Billion Order to Advance Taiwan's Patriot Capability

Raytheon Company has received Foreign Military Sales contract awards totaling $1.1 billion to fund new production of the combat-proven Patriot Air and Missile Defense System for Taiwan.

The awards include ground-system hardware through an initial contract valued at $965.6 million and an initial spares contract valued at $134.4 million.

"The Patriot system is a vital element to providing superior integrated air and missile defense capabilities for the protection of Taiwan," said Daniel L. Smith, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS).

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Russia Test - Fires Soviet Missile to Extend Lifespan

Russia on Thursday said it had successfully test-fired an RS-20V intercontinental ballistic missile as part of a wider attempt to extend the lifespan of its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal.

"The launch was carried out as part of experimental construction work aimed at confirming the flight characteristics of the RS-20V missile and to extend its life span to 23 years," Russia's Strategic Missile Forces said in a statement.

The 22-tonne RS-20V missile hit a target on the Kamchatka peninsular on Russia's Pacific coast after being fired from the Orenburg region, more than 6,500 km (4,000 miles) away, a spokesman for the Strategic Missile Forces said.

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Russia could start 5th generation fighter tests by yearend

Russia could start tests of its fifth-generation fighter in late 2009 or early 2010, a deputy prime minister said on Wednesday.

"We are not making any New Year presents, but flight tests will start in the very near future," said Sergei Ivanov, who oversees the defense sectors of industry.

He said on December 8 the trials would begin in 2010.

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Lockheed secures $842m Morocco contract

US defence group Lockheed Martin has won a contract worth $841.9m (£528.2m) to supply Morocco with 24 F-16 fighter aircraft and support equipment.

The contract builds on a smaller deal struck by the two partners last year.

Lockheed beat France's Dassault Aviation, which makes the Rafaele jet fighter, to the contract.

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Korean Coast Guard Orders 3rd AW139 Helicopter

AgustaWestland has signed a contract to deliver a third AW139 medium-twin helicopter to the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), the U.K.- and Italy-based company said Wednesday.

On Dec. 10, the first two AW139 maritime patrol helicopters were handed over to the KCG during a ceremony held at Gimpo Airport in Seoul.

The latest order represents the sixth AW139 helicopter to be sold to South Korea, the firm said in a news release.

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United Kingdom Announces Approval of Third F-35B Joint Strike Fighter Purchase

The Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) program has announced that the United Kingdom has received financial approval to purchase its third Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II operational test aircraft, reinforcing the U.K.'s continued commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter program's upcoming Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).

"The U.K. this week received financial approval to go ahead and purchase the third U.K. STOVL OT&E aircraft that is planned within LRIP 4.

Given the extremely tight financial climate in the U.K. government and the consequent impact across public spending, especially defence, this is a significant achievement," said Air Commodore Graham Farnell, the U.K.'s Joint Combat Aircraft Team head.

"I believe it reflects well upon the JSF program and it is a measure of the confidence that the U.K. has in both the F-35 Lightning II and the program to deliver this capability."

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New Russian nuclear submarine to enter service in 2010

A new Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine should enter service by late 2010, its developer said Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said dockside tests on the Severodvinsk, a Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, would start later this month and be completed some time next year.

Construction of the submarine began in 1993 but has since been dogged by financial setbacks.

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Visby corvettes delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces

HMS Helsingborg and HMS Härnösand are the first two corvettes in the Visby series delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces to be included in the organization and ready for missions.

FMV handed over the two ships to the Armed Forces at a ceremony in Karlskrona on December 16.

“It's satisfying that we now can hand over the ships in a version where, after the training of the crew, they will be able to go into the organization and be available for operations, "says Mats Elofsson, project manager for the project Visby at FMV.

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Arms sale to Pak justified as India buys from US

A senior Chinese defense official has justified Beijing's sale
of warships and submarines to Pakistan on the ground that India was buying similar systems from Russia and the United States.

He indicated that China was conscious India might be worried about the sales.

"The initiative may invite concerns from its neighboring countries. But the doubts are unnecessary," Zhai Dequan, deputy director of China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, was quoted as saying in the official media.

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Delay in submarine construction rings alarm bell in Indian Navy

The delay in construction of submarines has raised concerns for the Indian Navy which Tuesday said that its underwater capability would be reduced by 50 percent by 2015.

With the construction of French Scorpene submarines at the Mazgaon Shipyard delayed already, the follow-on construction of six indigenous submarine has also suffered.

“The matter came up for discussion during the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) today (Tuesday), which met to decide on the follow on construction of six indigenous submarine,” a defence official said.

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Russian Air Force Takes Delivery of Sukhoi Su-34 Bombers

V.P.Chkalov Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO) handed over to the Russian AF two batch-production Su-34 frontline fighter-bombers produced in the framework of the national defense order for 2009.

The planes have already arrived to the Russian AF Lipetsk Center for Combat Use and Flight Training.

In accordance with the 5-year state contract with the Ministry of Defense signed in 2008, NAPO will produce 32 Su-34 fighter-bombers till 2013.

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Testing of nuclear submarine concluded

The testing program of the modernized Russian strategic nuclear Delta-IV class submarine K-18 “Kareliya”, which has been carried out in the White Sea this autumn, is now finished.

In all, the submarine has been on sea trials in the White Sea three times. “Kareliya” is moored at the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, where the last adjustments and final painting of the submarine will take place, ARMS-TASS reports.

After this the submarine will leave the shipyard for its base in the Northern Fleet.

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RI warships to be equipped with Chinese-made missiles

The Indonesian Navy`s warships will be equipped with missiles made in China, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Agus Suhartono said here on Monday.

"We will continue to procure C-802 missiles from China after we tested the weapon with good results,` he said adding that the Indonesian Navy was also negotiating with China to obtain C-705 missiles that were more slender in shape.

"Both types of missile will be added to the armament of of the navy`s fast patrol boats and Van Speijk warships," Agus said.

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New Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Missile Achieves Two-for-Two in Testing

A U.S. Air Force F-15C fired Raytheon Company's AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder advanced, infrared-guided air-to-air missile as part of the missile's developmental testing program.

The weapon successfully guided and passed within lethal range of a BQM-74 target drone, meeting all primary test objectives.

The Nov. 20 test occurred at the U.S. Air Force's Eglin Air Force Base test range and marks the second time the missile has been fired.

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Chavez: US spy plane violated Venezuela's airspace

President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused the U.S. of violating Venezuela's airspace with an unmanned spy plane, and ordered his military to be on alert and shoot down any such aircraft in the future.

Speaking during his weekly television and radio program, Chavez said the aircraft overflew a Venezuelan military base in the western state of Zulia after taking off from neighboring Colombia. He did not elaborate, but suggested the plane was being used for espionage.

"These are the Yankees. They are entering Venezuela," he said.

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Make or break Agni tests soon

India is going to conduct crucial tests to iron out some flaws in the Agni 2 and Agni 3 missiles. Agni 2 is already inducted into Indian defence and Agni 3 is in the process of being inducted.

But recently, trials of both these missiles had fallen below expectataions. In fact, the night trials of Agni 2 had failed last month.

Now, the DRDO has ordered fresh tests on both missiles. They are both nuclear capable missiles and can hit China.

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Israel's new UAV can reach Iran

Israel's new long-range unmanned aerial vehicle, unveiled by Elbit Industries this week, adds a new dimension to the military's capabilities against Iran -- not just boosting its surveillance reach but perhaps even attacking air defenses with remote-controlled Hellfire missiles.

Elbit announced on Tuesday that its Hermes 900 had successfully completed its maiden flight and would enter production following additional flight tests.

The UAV is based on Elbit's highly successful Hermes 450 model, which has accumulated 170,000 flight hours.

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PAF gets mid-air refueller aircraft

The first air-to-air refueller aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force has arrived, a PAF spokesman said on Saturday.

Three more refueller aircraft are expected to be delivered to Pakistan by mid-2010, the spokesman said, adding that PAF’s overall potential in terms of its effectiveness to defend the airspace would be enhanced by virtue of its capability to refuel air defence aircraft in air.

With this facility the PAF has joined the rank of those developed air forces which have the air refilling system.

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Pentagon delays ‘bunker buster’ bomb project

A “bunker buster” bomb with more than 10 times the explosive power of its predecessor will be put into service by the United States next December, six months later than previously scheduled, the US Defense Department said yesterday.

The deployment’s timing may help shape calculations of the United States and others in long-running standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programmes.

The precision-guided, 13,636 kg Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, is designed to destroy potential targets such as deeply buried nuclear facilities that are beyond the reach of existing bombs.

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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspects diesel electric submarine construction shops at the Admiralty Shipyards in St Petersburg

The shipyards' General Director Vladimir Alexandrov briefed Mr Putin on the production process. Mr Alexandrov described the construction process of a Project 677 submarine.

"This is not the first submarine of its kind. The prototype is already out at sea," the director said.

The director explained that the latest diesel electric submarines feature good running characteristics and are very maneuverable.

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Shipbuilders to compete for MSDF submarine contract for first time

It is increasingly likely that in fiscal 2010, defense contractors will have to compete to build a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) submarine for the first time ever.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corp. are the only two companies in Japan able to build military submarines, and a possible clash between the two companies over the fiscal 2010 submarine contract is attracting widespread industry attention.

"Both companies are in a tough situation with the recession," said one source with a major shipbuilding firm. "To maintain their shipbuilding facilities, certainly both companies would want the order."

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Commissioning of F-22P frigate held in Shanghai

Commissioning of F-22P frigate for Pakistan - PNS Shamsheer - was held on Saturday at Shanghai, China, where Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nauman Bashir was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Nauman said “Pak-China friendship is deep rooted, everlasting and is further bolstering day by day.

This exemplary friendship has always remained a source of close cooperation in the strategic and other defence fields.”

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Boeing Delivers 1st Mk3 Chinook to UK Royal Air Force

Boeing Defence UK Ltd., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, today confirmed the Nov. 30 delivery of the first converted Chinook Mk3 helicopter to the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Following the early delivery, the RAF declared Initial Operational Capability for Chinook Mk3, enabling the aircraft to begin supporting operational needs in locations such as Afghanistan.

A team led by Boeing's UK Rotorcraft Support business converted the aircraft to a cockpit standard coherent with the rest of the UK Chinook fleet and also installed several modifications to increase the aircraft's capability.

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Thales welcomes Royal Navy frigate’s sonar upgrade

One of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) most advanced Type 23 frigates has re-entered operational service, fitted with Thales’s Sonar 2087 system, following a period of intensive sea trials.

HMS Sutherland has been declared fit for operational service after trials of its major sonar and defensive systems, and now becomes the sixth Type 23 frigate to be upgraded with the Sonar 2087 system.

In November 2008 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that HMS Sutherland had left Rosyth dockland for the trials after a multi-million pound refit that included major upgrades to its sonar, Sea Wolf missile defence and gun systems.

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General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4)

The General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team today delivered Independence (LCS 2), its innovative high-speed trimaran combatant ship, to the United States Navy. The ship was constructed by team member Austal USA in Mobile. The delivery of Independence was preceded by the keel laying of its sister ship, Coronado (LCS 4), on Thursday, December 17.

Captain Dean Krestos, USN, Commanding Officer Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Bath, Maine, officially accepted custody of Independence (LCS 2), the Navy's first warship configured with a trimaran hull form.

After signing the custody transfer documentation, Captain Krestos noted, "It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the United States Navy, to accept delivery of the LCS-2, Independence, bringing to the fleet the second ship of this exciting new class of surface combatants."

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£55m carriers contract to go ahead

Work on a £55m aircraft carriers contract is going ahead full steam at a South Tyneside yard – no matter who wins the next General Election.

The pledge comes after fears of delays to the overall £4bn carriers project because of a cash squeeze on the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Dozens of workers at A&P Tyne, Hebburn, are currently at work cutting steel for a centre section of the carriers.

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Lockheed May Add Navy F-35 Jet to Limit Delays

Lockheed Martin Corp. may add an aircraft-carrier model to a group of F-35 test planes as the company works to limit delays on the fighter jets to six months or less instead of the two-plus years expected by the Pentagon.

“We could add a 20th jet,” Dan Crowley, the company’s vice president and program manager, said in an interview yesterday in Fort Worth, Texas, where the planes are assembled.

The extra Navy test plane would allow the company and the U.S. military to do “parallel testing with more assets so you don’t extend” the schedule, Crowley said.

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Navy discloses LCS mine-sub cost spike

The total cost of a Navy remotely piloted submarine has grown so much that top service officials notified Congress this week that it could end up more than 85 percent above original estimates, the Navy said Friday.

Navy officials say the Remote Mine-hunting System, which includes an unmanned submarine and its AN/AQS-20 sonar, could together cost about $22.4 million per copy, a spike of 85.3 percent over the original estimate, said Navy spokesman Cmdr. Victor Chen.

The mini-sub, the Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle, by itself could cost $12.7 million per copy, or almost 52 percent more than the original estimate.

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Development of strategic nuclear fleet under threat?

The unsuccessful Bulava missile test calls into question the entire development strategy Russia has chosen for its strategic nuclear forces. At present the Russian Navy plans to introduce eight Project 955 submarines armed with 16 R-30 Bulava ballistic missiles for strategic nuclear purposes in the next 10 to 12 years.

The failed missile test calls these plans into question.

At present, the first Project 955 ballistic missile submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky, is being tested, while another two - the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh - are expected to be launched in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

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Australian missile frigate tests SM2 missile

Australian navy’s guided missile frigate, HMAS Melbourne, has demonstrated its updated air defence capability by recently test-firing a Standard Missile (SM 2) off the Jervis Bay, Australian Defence Ministry announced Friday.

“This missile firing was the first time a SM 2 has been fired from an Adelaide class frigate.

“The missile was prepared, launched and supported in flight before engaging a target,” Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet said.

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MoD orders Javelin missiles

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture $176m (£109m) to supply more than 1,300 Javelin missile rounds and associated engineering support.

According to Raytheon, Javelin is the world’s first man-portable, ‘fire-and-forget’ multipurpose missile system designed for operations in a variety of environments.

Using the Javelin missile system, an infantryman can engage and defeat targets including armoured vehicles, buildings and field fortifications at ranges up to 2.5km (1.6 miles).

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HMAS Success upgrade details

Defence has released a Request for Tender for modification of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) tanker HMAS Success to achieve International Maritime Organization compliance.

The conversion involves the installation of a second hull internal to the ship which will reduce the risk of cargo spillage in the event of a serious incident.

It is intended that potential contractors selected in an Invitation to Register Interest, conducted in early 2009, may respond and contribute to this project.

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Iraqi fighters use £15 software to hack into spy plane footage

The Pentagon has closed a security breach that allowed insurgents to hack into data feeds from pilotless 'drone' aircraft that provide real-time video of war zones, a US defense official said on Thursday.

The comments followed a report in the Wall Street Journal that revealed Shi'ite fighters in Iraq used software that cost as little as £15 ($26) to intercept the video feeds, potentially allowing them to monitor US military operations.

'It is an old issue that was addressed and fixed,' a US defense official said when asked about the article.

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Russian Air Force gets modernised Su-24M2 bombers

Russian Air Force has received the final batch of overhauled Su-24M2 frontline bombers from the Sukhoi Company.

The aircraft were retrofitted at the VP Chkalov Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO) in southern Russian city of Novosibirsk, Sukhoi said in a statement.

Fitted with new equipment and systems, the modernised planes now have enhanced capabilities and improved combat efficiency. The aircraft have been sent to their respective air force bases.

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Sukhois crash India's defense

It has been one of the worst years ever for India's Air Force, with 13 crashes in 2009 that have taken some 25 lives.

But two particularly stand out – the loss of two fast, deadly Russian-built Sukhoi SU-30 MKI jet fighters, which can fly 3,200 km at cruising speed carrying eight tons of armaments, with the ability to strike deep into China if necessary.

The crashes, which have resulted in the grounding of India's entire 105-plane Sukhoi fleet, have raised questions about India's air strike capabilities, given the existing arsenals held by India's often hostile neighbours, Pakistan and China.

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Iran test fires advanced medium-range solid fuel missile

Iranian state television has reported that the nation has test fired a more advanced version of a medium range missile on Wednesday.

The missile has a range which could easily threaten Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East.

The Sajil-2 missile, which was initially tested in May, has a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles).

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Unmanned unit tested for psychological warfare

Most of the methods currently used in psychological warfare have been brought together in an unmanned system developed by Boeing and demonstrated for the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Psychological operations are crucial to wartime missions for combatant commands, but until recently such measures involved different approaches and comprised varying elements, from dropping conventional leaflets in battle zones to using audiovisual effects.

The system is also equally effective in civilian scenarios such as crowd control.

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Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Fire Scout Completes Successful Maritime Sensors Demonstration

Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully completed maritime sensor demonstrations using a company-owned MQ-8B Fire Scout tactical Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS).

Fire Scout was equipped with the Telephonics' radar and FLIR Electro Optical Infrared system, and highlighted the versatility of the unmanned helicopter's modular payload architecture and its flexibility in integrating off-the-shelf payloads.

The demonstration was performed under a contract awarded in September by ABS Group, a Systems Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) contractor for the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center.

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Lockheed Martin Achieves Critical Global Ballistic Missile Defense Milestones in 2009

Lockheed Martin missile defense systems achieved several key milestones in 2009, including five successful intercepts and numerous other major accomplishments, further solidifying Lockheed Martin as a world leader in air and missile defense.

With 20 successful Aegis BMD intercepts, six successful Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) intercepts and 26 successful Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile intercepts since the inception of those programs, Lockheed Martin continues to build on its unmatched legacy as the pioneer of hit-to-kill technologies.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to continue to lead ballistic missile defense efforts for the United States and allied nations,” said John Holly, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s newly established Missile Defense Systems operating unit, based in Huntsville, AL.

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Russia completes trials of new surface-to-air missile

Russia has completed preliminary testing of a long-term interceptor missile for the advanced S-400 missile-defense system, the chief of the Almaz-Antei design bureau said on Wednesday.

Igor Ashurbeili said the trials had been completed in November and there were no problems with the new missile.

He also said all elements of Russia's unified missile defense system, including the advanced S-500 surface-to-air missile, will be in place by 2015.

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Vietnam orders Russian submarines, fighter jets

Vietnam has ordered submarines and fighter jets from Russia, its former communist ally, the government announced Wednesday, in a deal reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The agreement was made Tuesday during a visit to Moscow by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Vietnam's government said on its official Web site.

Vietnam also invited Russia to help build its first nuclear power plant, the Web site said, providing no further details.

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Russia delays construction of 4th Borey-class nuclear sub

The start of construction of Russia's fourth Borey-class nuclear-powered submarine has been postponed from December to the first quarter of next year, a Defense Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Construction of the Project 955 Svyatitel Nikolai (St. Nicholas) ballistic-missile submarine was to begin on December 22 at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk.

The keel-laying ceremony was timed to coincide with the shipyard's 70th anniversary.

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Makin Island Completes First CSSQT, Harrier and AAV Ops

Sailors and Marines aboard the Navy's newest Amphibious Assault Ship returned to port Dec. 10 after completing three combat critical training evolutions.

During its 11-day underway, USS Makin Island's (LHD 8) focus was on conducting successful Combat Systems Ships Qualification Trials (CSSQT), its first Harrier flight operations and first operations with Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Combat (C5) Department performed four missile shoots against low altitude/high velocity targets and four Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) shoots throughout the underway.

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Ukraine gets into North Korea illegal arms export mess

Ukraine has become embroiled in another arms scandal after a cargo plane carrying tonnes of weapons, allegedly from North Korea, and destined for Ukraine has been seized during a refueling stop at Bangkok airport.

One of the detained crew members says the aircraft also set off from Ukraine, and was expected to return there after several stopovers.

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Ainsworth: RAF Cottesmore to close

RAF Cottesmore
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has announced the closure of RAF Cottesmore, cuts in the number of military and civilian personnel and the early scrapping of the Nimrod MR2.

The harrier fast jet fleet from RAF Cottesmore will be moved to RAF Wittering, said Ainsworth, adding that the government would cut a further "1 or 2" Harrier and Tornado squadrons in the forthcoming Defence Review.

Reductions in service personnel numbers were also planned by slowing down recruitment and "releasing some personnel in accordance with their contracts".

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Scientists now brace up for Agni tests in January

After the twin failures of India’s first long range missile Agni-II, the successful trial of nuke-capable surface-to-surface Dhanush missile came as a face saver for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Now the organisation is eyeing the success of the two proposed tests of Agni-II and Agni-III missiles in January.

Dhanush, Naval version of Prithvi ballistic missile, was flight tested by the Indian Navy from the warship INS Subhadra, 35 km away from Balasore coast yesterday.

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Japan puts new missile interceptors on hold

Japan is to put on hold the deployment of additional ground-to-air missile interceptors as the heavily indebted government struggles to balance the budget and rethink its military strategy, a report said on Tuesday.

The Defence Ministry had sought 94.4 billion yen ($1.1 billion) to deploy Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) PAC-3 missile interceptors at three air force bases over a five-year period starting in the fiscal year from next April 1, Kyodo news agency said.

But a change of government in September has put defence plans on hold and the ruling coalition agreed on Tuesday to delay the deployment, Kyodo said.

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Russia Navy to continue work with Bulava missile - commander

There was another test on December 9, 2009, which failed. The failure caused the 2009 Norwegian spiral anomaly, causing puzzlement and excitement there before the source was later identified. The Russian Defence Ministry reported that the first two stages of the rocket worked properly, but a technical failure in the third stage resulted in the launch failure.

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky believes it is impossible to refuse from the submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile Bulava, despite its recent unsuccessful tests, and impossible to replace it with another missile.

“We shall continue (to work with Bulava). Just think, how can it be replaced with any other,” the commander told Itar-Tass.

Answering a question if it is real to develop another missile instead of Bulava or to use instead of it the recently adopted for service in the RF Navy Sineva (RSM-54) strategic missile installed on the 667BDRM project nuclear-powered submarines of the Dolphin class (Delta 5 by NATO classification), Admiral Vysotsky said: “It’s impossible.”

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Trident Program Intent On Avoiding Past Shipbuilding Pitfalls

As the Navy begins to design its next ballistic-missile submarine, officials caution that the service must avoid shipbuilding practices of the past that have led to cost overruns and delays.

Although the first of the Navy’s fleet of ballistic missile submarines won’t retire for another 17 years, the time to start the design work is now, said Vice Adm. Jay Donnelly.

“This is the right time for the Navy to commence efforts to replace the Ohio-class SSBN. It’s not too early,” said Donnelly, who is the commander of the Navy’s submarine force.

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Iran's secret nuclear trigger: translation of full document

The Times had the documents which were originally written in Farsi translated into English and the translation separately verified by two Farsi speakers.


This is a full translation of the main document:

"In the name of God

Outlook for special neutron-related activities over the next 4 years

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CzechRep to join NATO's airborne early warning system in January

The Czech Republic will join NATO's E-3A AWACS system of airborne warning and control as of January, the Czech government decided today.

The Czech contribution to the system's NAPMO programme will be almost 290,000 euros a year. It will be covered from the Defence Ministry's budget.

The ministry says the accession to the system will improve and enhance the Czech Republic's defence capability along with its position in NATO.

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U.S. eyes Vietnam, Libya arms sales

The Obama administration is prepared to consider selling at least non-lethal arms to Vietnam and Libya, both one-time U.S. foes, as security ties with each of them grow, a top Pentagon official said on Monday.

With Vietnam, whose defense minister is to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon on Tuesday, "we're in the infancy of the process now," Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa, head of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, told the annual Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit in Washington.

Wieringa said a country like Vietnam with its long coastline might be interested in maritime patrol aircraft or a coastal radar system.

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Berlin Wants To Keep HDW in German Hands

The German government is pushing to prevent foreign investors buying a majority stake in submarine maker Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), the Spiegel weekly reported Dec. 13.

Representatives from the German economy ministry were in talks with two German companies that have expressed an interest in HDW, which is currently owned by steelmaker ThyssenKrupp, Spiegel said, without naming its sources.

Also involved in the talks is Abu Dhabi MAR, which owns interests in other European shipyards and which is eyeing a minority stake in HDW, Spiegel said.

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Pak to get three more AWACS next year

Pakistan is set to receive three more Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) in 2010, the country's defence ministry has announced.

The Daily Times quoted Minister for Defence Production, Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, as saying that one AWACS plane had already reached the country, and three more were expected next year.

Answering a question regarding the demand for a new province, Jatoi referred to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's statement that the time is not suitable to raise such issues.

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Successful Maiden Flight for Elbit Systems' Hermes® 900 UAV

The new Hermes® 900 builds on the rich operational experience of the Hermes® 450, offering additional capabilities such as flight altitude of over0,000 ft, long endurance, large payload capacity (up to 300kg), modular design allowing fast payload replacement and flight capabilities in adverse weather conditions.

Serial production of the UAV will commence shortly, following completion of additional test flights.

Read more (pdf)

India to test fly light combat helicopters shortly

India will shortly test fly the indigenously designed and built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), which will augment the IAF's fleet of small and highly manoeuvrable rotary flying machines.

A 'baby' of the Bangalore-headquartered defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the first prototype of LCH is expected to take to the skies between December 26 and December 29, a senior HAL official told PTI here today.

HAL has already bagged a firm order to deliver 65 LCH to the IAF and 114 to the Army, company sources said.

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Newly Designed Iranian Warship Will Soon Join The Navy

Iran is conducting final testing of a newly built military warship as announced by Iran’s Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi, in a report by Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA).

General Vahidi said final phases of testing of the country’s latest domestically manufactured warship is underway and very soon more detail about it would be announced to the media.

He also said there are other newly manufactured missile systems which are undergoing their final preparations before joining the service.

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PM to order £1.5bn defence cuts

Gordon Brown is to approve about £1.5bn of cuts to "low priority" defence projects over the next three years as part of a reform package that will shift resources to Afghanistan and ease the crippling defence budget shortfall.

Final details are still under negotiation but the measures will include cuts to the existing Harrier and Tornado fighter jet fleet, an early drawdown of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft and thousands of staff cuts across the armed forces and Whitehall.

The sacrifices will be offset by moves to boost spending on critical frontline equipment for the Afghan campaign.

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Hindustan Shipyard Ltd likely to be transferred to Defence Ministry

Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam
The State-owned Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), which is currently being used by the Shipping Ministry to build ships, could be used for constructing nuclear submarines after it is transferred to the Defence Ministry.

The Union Cabinet, which has received a letter from the Shipping Ministry in this regard, is expected to consider the proposal soon, media reports here said.

Negotiations were going on between the two ministries for quite some time to transfer the shipyard to the Defence Ministry for strategic purposes.

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German-made submarines in latest US arms package

The United States is preparing to sell German-made submarines to Taiwan as part of its latest arms package.

That's according to the US-based Foreign Policy magazine, which was quoted on the website of Hong-Kong newspaper Singtao on Sunday.

Foreign Policy reported that the United States may make an announcement on its latest arms deal to Taiwan before next Friday, when President Barack Obama will attend the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen.

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India Successfully Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile

India says it has successfully test fired a short range, nuclear-capable missile.

Officials fired the surface-to-surface Dhanush missile Sunday from a ship in the Bay of Bengal. The missile can hit a target up to 350 kilometers away.

India last tested the Dhanush missile in 2007.

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Huge N Korea arms cache seized

Thai authorities have seized tonnes of weapons from an eastern European plane travelling from North Korea.

The plane, headed for South Asia, was searched when it landed at Don Mueang airport yesterday.

Five foreigners on board the aircraft were detained, the weapons confiscated, and the plane impounded.

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