Netherlands - MK-48 Torpedo Conversion Kits

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to The Netherlands of 40 MK- 48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology (AT) Torpedo Conversion Kits and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $150 million.

The Government of The Netherlands has requested a possible sale of 40 MK- 48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology (AT) Torpedo Conversion Kits, 40 containers, support and test equipment, spare and repair parts, weapon system support and integration, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost is $150 million.

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RP to get US missiles, says report

The United States has pledged to provide the Philippines with $18.4-million worth of precision-guided missiles this year to use in its fight against Islamist militants in the south, according to a military document seen by Reuters.

The missiles are being funded under a US Congress Act that allows the US Defense Department to train and equip foreign armies allied with Washington to fight terrorists across the world since 2006.

Troops in the southern Philippines have said they need unmanned drones to help hunt down Abu Sayyaf bandits and Jemaah Islamiyah militants on small remote islands.

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Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers set new flight duration record

Two Russian Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic bombers have carried out a record-breaking 40-hour patrol over three oceans, an Air Force spokesman said.

"The Tu-95MS bombers carried out patrols over the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans and set a new flight duration record of about 40 hours, exceeding the previous record by four hours," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said at a news briefing on Thursday.

The crews practiced instrumental flight and carried out four in-flight refuelings from Il-78 aerial tankers, the official said.

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Nuclear deterrence means the nation must pay for a submarine always on patrol

Sir – There are two interconnecting arguments about the nuclear deterrent that need to be considered together.

First, the suggestion that the number of submarines committed can be reduced to the point where there is not one at sea fails to understand the word “deter”.

The ballistic submarine (or “bomber”) cannot deter if it is tied up at Faslane. It is not difficult to predict a submarine’s return to base (ask the local hairdressers), and the nation’s security would be put at risk when the duty bomber is in port. Only if there is always a submarine on patrol is there a deterrent. Otherwise scrap the lot.

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US missile defence early warning site to be built in Czech Republic

Prague is the most likely location for the early warning site
The United States and the Czech Republic are once again negotiating the possibility of building part of the US missile defence system in Prague, Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said on Friday. The Pentagon has already requested a sum of $2.2 million for the building from the US Congress.

The facility should be able to detect and give an early warning in case a short- or medium-range missiles aimed at Nato countries.

According to sources from the Czech Foreign Ministry, the new site should consist of two offices with equipment gathering data on enemy missiles, Czech daily Hospodarske noviny (HN) has reported.

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MoD may sell carrier to fill huge hole in defence budget

Britain may be forced to sell one of its flagship new aircraft carriers to plug a huge hole in its defence budget.

Talks are taking place at the Ministry of Defence about finding a buyer for one of the ships being built at a cost of £5.2 billion for the Royal Navy. The financial crisis at the MoD has deepened after Chancellor George Osborne rejected a bid by Defence Secretary Liam Fox to get the Treasury to pay for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent, which will cost tens of billions.

Senior military insiders are not optimistic about forcing the Treasury to change its stance on funding the upgrade of the submarine-borne nuclear weapons system.

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Boeing contracted to build missiles for Taiwan

The U.S. Defense Department has contracted Boeing to manufacture 32 Harpoon missile bodies for Taiwan, the department announced Thursday on its website.

The missile bodies are included in a US$65.99 million contract awarded to Boeing for the procurement of not only the missiles, but also Harpoon canisters for Canada and missile spares for the Netherlands, Portugal, Japan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Pakistan, Turkey and Singapore.

Taiwan's purchase, at a cost of US$43.85 million, accounts for 66.4 percent of the entire contract, according to the press release.

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Supertanker 'was damaged by explosion or submarine'

A Japanese supertanker which sustained serious hull damage while sailing through the hyper-sensitive Straits of Hormuz was either hit by an explosion or in a collision with a submarine, officials in the United Arab Emirates said yesterday.

When the M Star supertanker reported it had been hit by an "explosion" late on Wednesday, officials in the UAE played down the claim, citing seismic activity and saying the vessel had been hit by "a freak wave".

Yet yesterday, it was confirmed the crude carrier had been hit by an external force and a specialist on military attacks has been asked to help investigate damage to the 1,100-foot vessel laden with oil for Japan.

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Insitu Awarded Small Tactical Unmanned Air System/Tier II Contract

Insitu Inc. today announced it has been awarded the Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS)/Tier II contract from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for its Integrator unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

In partnership with The Boeing Company, Harris Corporation, Corsair Engineering and Black Ram Engineering Services, Insitu will begin the 24-month engineering, manufacturing and development phase to build and test its Integrator UAS satisfying STUAS/Tier II system requirements.

Under the contract, Integrator will support two operational assessments. The first will determine if an early operational capability option will be exercised leading to the fielding of up to five systems in fiscal 2011.

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S. Korean newspaper exonerates North over torpedo

A South Korean newspaper claims Russian investigators have found North Korea did not torpedo one of the South's warships that sank in spring. The report says the vessel hit a mine.

Russia has not yet commented on the story.

The "Cheonan" sank off the Korean peninsula in March, with the loss of 46 sailors.

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Troubled Russian sub starts sea trials after repairs

A Russian Black Sea Fleet submarine that malfunctioned last year has started sea trials after major repairs, a source at the Novorossiisk naval base said on Thursday.

In November 2009, the Alrosa diesel-electric submarine sent a distress signal and was towed to port following engine malfunction during sea drills.

The naval official said when the trials were complete the submarine would go under its own steam to its permanent location in Ukraine's Sevastopol.

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Russia denies selling S-300 missiles to Azerbaijan

There is no truth to reports that Russia has agreed to deliver S-300 air defense systems to Azerbaijan, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Thursday.

"There is no contract between Russia and Azerbaijan on the delivery of S-300 air defense systems to this country," a Rosoboronexport spokesman said.

Russian business daily Vedomosti said earlier on Thursday that Rosoboronexport signed an agreement with the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on the delivery of two S-300PMU-2 Favorit (SA-20b Gargoyle b) battalions last year, citing a top manager at a company producing S-300 components.

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Navy welcomes Advanced Hawkeye, newest eye in the sky

The Navy's newest surveillance plane doesn't look much different from its predecessor: It's got the same dinner-plate-shaped radar dome perched atop its fuselage, the same twin propellers, the same wingspan.

But the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivered to the Navy has vastly improved radar systems, communications and computing abilities compared with its older sister, the E-2C, in service since the mid-1980s.

The latest model is the sixth generation of the venerable E-2, which has provided the Navy airborne early warning and control capabilities for more than 45 years. The Navy plans to buy 75 of the Advanced Hawkeyes, which cost about $180 million each, over the next 11 years, according to the Navy official who manages the program.

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The Dong Feng 21D missile

Since Saipan has a front row seat to the germinating Asian arms race, it’s time for an update. Let’s take a look at China’s Dong Feng 21D missile. This is the hot story in Pacific naval news.

We’ll call this weapon the DF-21D for short and, while I’m stirring up alphabet soup, I’ll note that the DF-21D is an ASBM, which means "Anti Ship Ballistic Missile."

Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for the U.S. military, said this in a May 12 Web article: "If its targeting system proves accurate, the Dong Feng would rank as the world's first mobile, land-based missile capable of hitting a moving aircraft carrier from nearly 2,000 miles away, depending on its payload and other factors."

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Aegis Weapon System Verified During Republic of Korea Navy Ship Trials

The Republic of Korea ship Sejong the Great, supported by the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin, successfully completed a three-week series of trials for the ship's combat system.

The Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) were conducted at sea and took place at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

During the CSSQT, the ship's Aegis Combat System was evaluated for combat-readiness through comprehensive surface, subsurface and anti-air warfare exercises, as well as thorough testing of the system's tactical data link capabilities. The anti-air warfare exercises included manned aircraft raids, electronic attack scenarios and live Standard Missile-2 and Rolling Airframe Missile air defense engagements, The Aegis Weapon System performed flawlessly throughout the exercises.

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Lockheed's Delays on Interceptor Missile Hinder Mideast Defense, U.S. Says

Lockheed Martin Corp., the world’s largest defense contractor, is at least a year behind schedule delivering the first 24 of the Pentagon’s newest interceptor missile.

A safety switch intended to prevent accidental launches failed testing and these interceptors and 24 more can’t be assembled until it’s fixed, said Rick Lehner, a Missile Defense Agency spokesman. The switch is made by Moog Inc., a Lockheed subcontractor.

The interceptors are the centerpiece of the new regional missile defense that the Obama administration plans to deploy in the Middle East against Iran’s medium- and long-range ballistic missiles. Batteries of the land-based interceptors would be linked by sensors and radar to the U.S. Navy’s existing sea- based systems on Aegis-class destroyers and cruisers.

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First woman takes helm of U.S. carrier strike group

When Nora W. Tyson entered the Navy in 1979, women were not allowed to go to sea on aircraft carriers.

The idea of a woman commanding a mighty carrier strike group? That was certainly for another day.

That day arrived Thursday for Rear Adm. Tyson, who made history in assuming command of Carrier Strike Group Two in a ceremony on board the USS George H.W. Bush.

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Russia's defense spending to rise by 60% by 2013

Russian defense spending will increase by 60 percent, to more than 2 trillion rubles ($66.3 million) from 1.264 trillion ($42 million) by 2013, a leading Russian business daily said on Friday.

The Russian government made the relevant decision during a meeting on Thursday. The largest growth is planned for 2013, when the figure will rise by 0.5 trillion rubles ($16.6 million), Vedomosti reported.

Konstantin Makiyenko from the Russian Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) told the paper that the government is likely to spend more on the Navy, as well as the aviation and space industries.

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ADF MRH90s back in the air

The ADF's Multi Role Helicopters (MRH90s) have recommenced flying operations following an incident north of Adelaide in April 2010, when an MRH90 suffered an engine failure in one of its two main engines.

The DMO's Helicopter Systems Rear Admiral Mark Campbell said media reports alleging pilot error had been a factor in the engine failure were incorrect.

"There is no suggestion of pilot error as alleged in one UK report," RADM Campbell said.

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Defence ministry clears Navy's 30k cr destroyer project

Slowly but surely, India is building a powerful three-dimensional blue-water Navy to protect its geo-strategic interests stretching from Hormuz Strait to Malacca Strait.

After the recent nod to the over Rs 50,000-crore project for a second line of six submarines, the defence ministry has cleared another major programme to indigenously construct four guided-missile stealth destroyers.

MoD sources say `Project-15B' for the four destroyers, valued around Rs 30,000 crore, has now been sent for final approval to the finance ministry before it's taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

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U.S. Air Force Confirms 4 Killed In Elmendorf Crash

Officials are now confirming that all four Airmen on board an Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft that crashed Wednesday on Elmendorf Air Force Base have died.

"Our deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of those Airmen killed in this crash. Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family and it's a loss felt across our entire joint installation," said Col. John McMullen, 3rd Wing commander.

"Right now our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators. We are also engaged in a deliberate investigative process."

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New contract for airlift capability

TNT Airlines SA (Liege, Belgium), was awarded the contract to replace the capability provided by the three NATO AWACS Programme Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA).

The NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Programme Management Agency (NAPMA), Brunssum, the Netherlands, signed the five-year contract today to provide cargo and passenger service beginning 1 January 2012.

The contract provides NATO with routine and short-notice airlift capability to transport personnel and equipment.

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Marines’ Stealth Jet Struggling to Lift Off

90% of America’s combat aviation power is eventually supposed to come from F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

But the $388 billion program has busted its budget so badly, it’s on the verge of collapse.

So a couple of weeks back, some two-bit defense pundit proposed overhauling the JSF effort by getting rid of its most expensive, most technically-complex model: the one for the Marines that takes off and lands vertically, helicopter-style. It’s a neat trick but its battlefield utility is debatable. “The Marines have talked themselves into believing they really need this capability,” one senior defense official told me. “But it’s one we’ve never counted on in any fight.”

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Fault grounds aircraft at Anglesey RAF base

All training Hawks at RAF Valley on Anglesey have been grounded after engineers detected a fault in an aircraft.

The problem with the ejector seat of one of the craft was spotted during an on-site inspection on Tuesday morning.

Hawks have also been grounded at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, RAF Leeming in Yorkshire and RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

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Russia to sell S-300 defense systems to Azerbaijan

Russia has agreed to deliver S-300 air defense systems to Azerbaijan, leading Russian business daily Vedomosti said on Thursday.

Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed an agreement with the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on the supply of two S-300PMU-2 Favorit (SA-20b Gargoyle b) batallions last year, a top manager of a company producing S-300 components told Vedomosti.

The contract is already being implemented and is expected to be fulfilled within a year or two, he said.

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RTAF Pilots for Gripen Training in Sweden

The first three Gripen aircraft made for RTAF will arrive in Thailand in January 2011 and the remaining three RTAF Gripen are due in March 2011.

Training of pilots, technicians and ground support staff is a vital part of RTAF's preparations for Gripen and much of this education is taking place in Sweden.

Technicians and aviation mechanics responsible for maintenance and support of the aircraft, have traveled to the Armed Force Technical School (Air Force) in Halmstad. Later this group will continue their training operational duties at Wing 7 in Såtenäs and Wing 17 in Ronneby.

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It's an RAF Nim-road

A Nimrod spy plane travels along the A96 from RAF Kinloss on its way to a new home at Highland Aviation Museum, Inverness.

The surveillance aircraft, one of which exploded in mid-air over Afghanistan in 2006 killing 14 personnel, were withdrawn from military service earlier this year.

One onlooker yesterday said: "The Nimrods were a familiar sight at Kinloss - it's really sad to see them go."

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Colombia takes delivery of first Airbus Military CN235-300 MPA

The Colombian Navy has today taken delivery of a CN235-300 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft).

The aircraft is equipped with the Airbus Military-developed Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) which presents data gathered by a comprehensive battery of sensors to the two tactical operators and two pilots in an intuitive and usable format.

The sensor suite includes a search radar, which can locate and track ships, and an automatic identification system.

An infrared camera can capture images and the aircraft is equipped to make digital video recordings of the missions for playback after missions.

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Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet: the story goes on

Every last Sunday in July Russia celebrates Navy Day. This year's celebrations were held on July 25. Sevastopol, the main base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, hosted a naval parade. In retrospect, this event requires serious appraisal.

Anyone watching the parade realizes that Sevastopol is inseparably linked with the men and warships of the Black Sea Fleet defending southern Russian borders.

From the very beginning, the city was conceived as a naval base, and fleet commanders have always exercised greater powers than local mayors.

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Kooseh, the first Iranian submarine

In the mid 1970's the Imperial Iranian Navy signed a contract to purchase three U.S. submarines from the U.S. Navy.

One of these submarines named Kooseh or Shark was purchased for $650,000 with an additional 26 million dollars spent for its complete overhaul.

The Imperial Iranian Navy sent their best officers and sailors to the U.S. so they could be trained at a U.S. submarine school.

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S. Korea, US end joint exercise in East Sea

The militaries of South Korea and the United States wrapped up their four-day naval and air readiness exercise off the eastern coast of Korea, Wednesday, which were intended to send a “message” to North Korea, blamed for attacking a South Korean warship in March.

The allied forces continued their drills centered on anti-submarine warfare, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

Some warships from both militaries fired cannons at a mock target, and others were maneuvering to deter an imaginary North Korean submarine trying to infiltrate the South, a JCS official said.

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Indian media reveal details of British submarine operations

The whereabouts of British warships is usually kept a closely-guarded secret, with Ministry of Defence officials refusing to confirm even which ocean a particular vessel is operating in.

But hours before the games began, the Times of India published full details of the exercise, in which the "hunter-killer" Trafalgar Class HMS Talent was tasked with tracking down the Indian sub INS Shankush.

In a further breach of security, the newspaper even named the commander of the UK task group, Commodore James Morse, who headed a nine-member British Navy team which took on an 11-man contingent from India under the leadership of the commander of the INS Talwar, Captain M A Hampiholi.

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Submarine part moved through Cumbrian town

Traffic came to a standstill as an 800-tonne section of submarine was moved along a street in a Cumbrian town.

The Astute class vessel Audacious is being built at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow.

The section, which will house the vessel's command deck, was moved along Bridge Road from the firm's assembly shop to the Devonshire dock hall.

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Russia To Export 8 Helicopters to Peru

Russia's official arms export agency Rosoboronexport signed a contract to export eight helicopters to Peru, the first post-Soviet arms sale to the Latin American country.

Rosoboronexport said in a statement that six Mi-171Sh (NATO codename Hip) transport helicopters - also capable of serving as gunships - and two Mi-35P (Hind) attack helicopters will be delivered to Peru in 2010-11.

Anatoly Isaikin, the head of Rosoboronexport, called the contract "lightning-fast," adding that it took only a month and a half to prepare the contract after the Peruvian military filed a request.

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Rewinged P-3 Orion First Flight

The first P-3 Orion to receive the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) modifications was flown for the first time on July 19 from the Lockheed Martin facility in Greenville, SC.

Converteam develops catapult launch system for UK carriers

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing in the development of an electromagnetic catapult system for the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in case procurement of the F-35B short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter is abandoned.

Power conversion specialist Converteam UK announced on 20 July that in 2009 it was awarded a GBP650,000 (USD1 million) follow-on contract to continue the design, development and demonstration of high-power electrical systems for its EMCAT (electro-magnetic catapult) system and that work on the contract was nearing completion.

The naval director at Converteam UK, Mark Dannatt, told Jane's on 22 July that a small-scale EMCAT system had been completed in 2007 to prove the operation of modern linear motor, energy stores and control systems.

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The Netherlands – GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress July 26 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to The Netherlands of 603 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs1 (SDB1) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $44 million.

The Government of the Netherlands has requested a possible sale of 603 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs1 (SDB1), containers, flight test integration, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost is $44 million. This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the U.S. by improving the military capabilities of The Netherlands and enhancing standardization and interoperability with U.S. forces.

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Northrop Grumman Delivers U.S. Navy's Newest DDG 51 Class Destroyer, Gravely (DDG 107)

The U.S. Navy accepted the Northrop Grumman Corporation built Aegis guided missile destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) today on the fantail of the ship here at the company's Pascagoula facility. Gravely is the 27^th DDG 51 class ship delivered to the Navy.

"Our shipbuilders continue to perform well on this program, as they have done for more than 20 years in building quality DDGs," said Bob Merchent, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's vice president of surface combatants and U.S. Coast Guard programs.

"It was a challenge with sea trials in the wake of the oil spill, but together with our Navy customer, we have worked to execute a seamless plan to get to this point.

Our shipbuilders understand who will be operating this ship, and those sailors deserve our best effort as they take control of Gravely and begin the ship's mission of defending our nation."

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F-22 Raptors Make Korean Debut at the Korea-US Joint Military Exercise

The four-day South Korea-United States joint military exercise in the East Sea is indeed an unprecedented one in many ways.

Apart from its large scale it is the stage for the American F-22 Raptor to make its Korean debut.

Two F-22s known as the best fighter aircraft in the world were shown combat-ready at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province on Monday.

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SuperLynx maintenance adds up

AgustaWestland has been awarded a R2.6 million contract to provide further interim product support for the South African Air Force's four Super Lynx 300 Mk 64 maritime helicopters.

The contract takes “interim product support” for the rotorcraft to R37 750 605 since 2007.

South Africa took delivery of four of the aircraft in July 2007. Although operated by the SAAF and assigned to 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat, the type will operationally fly from the SA Navy’s four Meko A200SAN frigates.

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India, Britain begin submarine naval exercise on Wednesday

A two-day submarine exercise between the British Royal Navy and the Indian Navy will begin off India's west coast from Wednesday.

HMS Talent, a Trafalgar class hunter killer submarine, of the Royal Navy will take part in the three-day exercise with a Shishumar class submarine of the Indian Navy, Navy spokesperson Commander PVS Satish said.

Meanwhile, the India-UK naval table-top exercise continued for the second day at the Mumbai port.

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BAE Systems to Modernize Destroyers Under U.S. Navy Ship Repair Contract

BAE Systems, Inc., a leading U.S. non-nuclear ship repair, modernization, and conversion company, will modernize 11 Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class guided missile destroyers under a contract with the U.S. Navy with a potential value of $365 million.

This work, along with the recent acquisition of Atlantic Marine, reflects BAE Systems' efforts to support new-era requirements of customers for the readiness and sustainment of equipment and systems.

The company received the multi-ship, multi-option drydock contract to service ships home-ported or visiting the Norfolk area.

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US delivers sophisticated missiles for F-16 to Pakistan

Pakistan has acquired sophisticated air-to-air missiles from the US for its newly inducted F-16 fighter jets, a move which will bolster its defence capabilities "manifold", an official said on Tuesday.

The first batch of AIM-120 Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles will be used with the new Block-52 F-16 C/D jets of the Pakistan Air Force delivered by the US.

"The induction of these 'beyond visual range missiles' in the PAF's inventory marks the achievement of another major milestone in the air force's developmental plan and "bolsters its defensive capabilities manifold," said an official statement.

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Europeans call for defense contract probe

Sales of German submarines to Greece and Portugal look all the more suspicious given the economic times, a defense expert from London said.

"What's striking about Greece and Portugal is the inappropriateness of these purchases. It makes no sense at all to urge austerity and at the same time encourage them to buy weapons," said Nick Witney at the European Council on Foreign Relations, the EUobserver reported Monday.

Members of the European Parliament have called for an investigation into the $1.3 billion-per-submarine purchases and the defense industry, where deals are commonly couched in sweetheart deals -- a billion dollar submarine order for Germany and a host of deals for Greece that pave the way for a signature on the contract.

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Raytheon-Boeing Team on Target During First Government-Funded Test of JAGM

Raytheon Company and The Boeing Company completed the first of three government-sponsored firings of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile. During the successful test, the JAGM used its laser guidance system to hit an 8-by-8-foot target board from a distance of 16 kilometers (10 miles).

The Raytheon-Boeing JAGM features a tri-mode seeker with laser; an uncooled imaging infrared sensor; and millimeter wave guidance.

The weapon leverages proven components from other Raytheon and Boeing programs, including the Raytheon GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II and the Boeing Brimstone.

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X2 Technology™ Demonstrator Achieves 225 Knots, Sets New Top Speed for Helicopter - Target Milestone of 250 Knots Looms in Q3 2010

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s X2 Technology™ demonstrator today unofficially broke the speed record for rotorcraft, achieving a maximum speed of 225 knots in a one-hour test flight at the Development Flight Center. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

X2 Technology demonstrator Chief Pilot Kevin Bredenbeck executed the successful record-breaking test flight. The previous record for a 3,500 kg class of rotorcraft – 216 knots – was set by a Westland Lynx in the mid-1980’s.

“The X2 Technology demonstrator’s latest flight is continuing to push the speed envelope, successfully flying approximately 50 knots faster than a traditional helicopter,” said Jim Kagdis, Program Manager, Advanced Programs.

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Project 667BDR submarine decommissioned

Submarines of the Project 667BDR/Delta III class are fairly old - most of them began their service in the 1970s.

Nevertheless, the subs seem to be operational - two submarines conducted successful launches of their missiles in October 2009.

Still, the START numbers indicated that one of the subs has been in the decommissioning process for some time - it had some missiles unloaded.

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One more time for the dump and burn

Last year the RAAF's F-111 fighter jets made what was believed to be their last ever appearance at Brisbane's Riverfire festival, where for years they have performed the spectacular dump and burn manoeuvre.

But the commanding officer of Australia's last F-111 squadron has now confirmed they will be back this year by popular demand for one last show.

Wing Commander Micka Gray says the fighter jets will go out in typical style with two passes over the city on September 4.

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Mig-35 offered to India matches all requirements

Russia on Monday said that its new Mig-35 fighter had passed Indian Air Forces three evaluation tests and matched all requirements listed by New Delhi in the $10 billion tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).

"The requirements of the tender are quite rigid, but we have already held three evaluation tests, and we believe we have offered an aircraft which entirely corresponds to the tender requirements," a senior official of the Rosoboronexport State Corporation Sergei Kornyev said.

His comments come as India is believed to be in the process of shortlisting the bidders.

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Zala Aero unveils Zala 421-20

Today Zala Aero is unveiling its latest development Zala 421-20. The fixed wing UAV has been in development for the last two years and is the upgrade to Zala 421-09 with much greater capabilities.

Although developed primarily for long endurance surveillance and reconnaissance Zala 421-20 is also suitable for maritime patrol, law enforcement, border patrol and monitoring of forest fires or other hazardous situations.

Zala 421-20 payload capacity of 50kg allows the customer to combine and operate the latest technology including AIS, SAR, LRF and latest thermal imaging camera utilizing a continuous zoom lens.

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Russian deal for French Mistrals in limbo

France has said that it will press ahead with the sale of two state-of-the-art amphibious ships for the Russian navy.

Still, doubts over the fate of the deal were cast over the weekend when a senior Russian admiral warned that the sale could be suspended if France refused to accompany the sale with technology transfers.

In an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio, Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said the purchase of the Mistral-class helicopter hinged on the "transfer of key, fundamental technologies," The Moscow Times reported. Otherwise, he said, it would be pointless.

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Vietnam asks France for military upgrades

The French defense minister has agreed to help Vietnam modernize its military on a historic visit to the former colony, state media reported Tuesday.

Vietnam recently bought radar, helicopters and transport aircraft from France, according to French Defense Minister Herve Morin, as the Southeast Asian country gradually tries to upgrade its antiquated armed forces.

"There is a strong demand from Vietnam for France's active participation in the modernization of its army," Morin was quoted by online newspaper VietnamNet as saying. "France is willing to meet all demands by Vietnam."

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KD Tunku Abdul Rahman Proves Capability

Malaysia's first submarine, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman Monday proved its capability when it successfully conducted the firing of an Exocet SM39 Block 2 missile.

Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar in a statement here, said the missile hit its 40-metre long surface target located 22 nautical miles (40km) away.

He said it was fired from a depth of 55 metres, a range that was difficult for anti-submarine ships to adopt counter measures against submarines.

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Boeing Completes Final Design Review for P-8I

Boeing on July 16 successfully completed the final design review (FDR) for P-8I, India's long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The P-8I, based on the Boeing 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.

Completion of the FDR locks in the design for the aircraft, radar, communications, navigation, mission computing, acoustics and sensors, as well as the ground and test support equipment.

It also paves the way for the program to begin assembling the first P-8I aircraft.

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Submarine USS Missouri moves to Connecticut base in preparation for commissioning

The USS Missouri has moved to the Naval Submarine Base in New London, Conn., in preparation for a commissioning ceremony.

The Missouri is the newest member of the Virginia class of submarines. It was built at General Dynamics' Electric Boat division in Groton, Conn.

Last Thursday, the sub made the 6.5-mile voyage from Electric Boat up the Thames River to the Naval Submarine Base in New London. Commissioning is set for Saturday.

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India's interceptor missile hits the bull's eye

India's plans to put in place the initial phase of a robust Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) shield by 2012 received a big thrust on Monday, with a supersonic interceptor missile, Advanced Air Defence (AAD), bringing down an incoming “enemy” ballistic missile (a modified Prithvi) of 2,000 km range, at an altitude of 15 km over the Bay of Bengal.

The proposed twin-layered BMD system envisages interception and destruction of incoming enemy missiles in exo-atmosphere (altitude of 50-80 km) and endo-atmosphere (altitude up to 30 km).

While the first phase seeks to protect vital assets against enemy ballistic missiles of up to 2,000 km range, the second phase is intended to engage missiles of up to 5,000 km range.

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Japan to allow export of missile interceptors to third countries

Amending its long-standing policy of banning export of arms and weapons, Japan is likely to sell the Standard Missile-3 Block 2A system, an advanced version of the SM-3 series being developed with the US, to other countries.

The Japanese Government is set to allow exports of the new missile system to third countries and Europe is considered a likely destination, a news report in The Japan Times said quoting sources close to Japan-US relations.

US had urged Japan to consider exporting the new variant of the SM-3 missiles in October 2009.

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Experimental U.S. Missile Defense Satellites Pass Big Tests

A pair of experimental U.S. missile defense satellites has passed a series of vital tests in space, spotting three missile launches and successfully relaying data about their trajectories to observers on Earth.

The two satellites make up the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) and were built by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency as a demonstration of technology to protect the United States from enemy missiles. The $1.5 billion STSS Demonstration mission was launched in September 2009.

The STSS's most recent test, the June 28 observation U.S. Missile Defense Agency rocket launch during an intercept test, was "the most thorough indication yet of the space-based sensor's capabilities," Northrop Grumman officials said in a statement.

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Leaked data on US forces in Afghanistan is outdated – military analyst

One of the biggest leaks in US military history has exposed several cover-ups over the war in Afghanistan, including the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

The whistle-blowing website Wikileaks handed over 90,000 classified documents to British and American newspapers.

Altogether in the reports, there is information on 195 civilians that were killed and 174 wounded.

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Raytheon Consolidated Manufacturing Center Delivers 200th AESA Radar

Raytheon Company has delivered its 200^th APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar to Boeing for installation on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft and the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet.

"As we celebrate our 200^th APG-79 AESA delivery, it is also significant to note that the U.S. Navy has now flown Raytheon's AESA radars for more than 115,000 operational flight hours," said Fred Lanes, business development executive for the company's Tactical Airborne Systems business division.

"Our service members have now received 200 critically needed, combat-proven radars. These milestones are a testament to how our AESA technology has revolutionized fighter combat capabilities and dramatically improved situational awareness for aircrews."

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Tycoon Vekselberg plans training aircraft plant in Russia

Russian Renova Group, owned by tycoon Viktor Vekselberg, may build a plant for the production of training aircraft, based on the technology of the Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus, Vedomosti daily reported on Friday.

The project will only go ahead if Renova manages to conclude delivery contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, a source close to the group told the paper.

If launched, the plant will produce aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9 M and PC-21 models.

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Israel, U.S. agree to cooperate in developing Arrow anti-missile system

Israel and the United States signed a deal on Sunday to upgrade the Jewish state's Arrow anti- missile system, a cooperation expected to expand the interceptor's defense range.

The two sides will work together to make the Arrow III system capable of tracking and shooting down ballistic missiles at a higher altitude, local news service Ynet quoted the Defense Ministry as saying.

The upgraded Arrow system will be able to intercept missiles while they are still "outside the atmosphere," the ministry said.

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As Tensions Rise, U.S. and S. Korea Begin Drills

The United States and South Korea began their largest joint war games in years on Sunday, with a nuclear powered American aircraft carrier prowling off the east coast of South Korea while North Korea threatened to retaliate and reportedly put its military on alert for war.

The rising tensions demonstrated just how tenuous peace has been on the divided peninsula since the Korean War was halted, 57 years ago on Tuesday, by a cease-fire between the United States-led forces of the United Nations and the Communist troops of North Korea and China.

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Japan to Beef Up Submarines to Counter Chinese Power

Japan is to increase its submarine fleet for the first time in 36 years, the Sankei Shimbun reported Sunday. The plan apparently aims to counter China's naval build-up by partially filling the void created by the U.S. reduction of submarines in the Pacific area.

The paper said the Japanese government plans to increase the number of submarines from the current 18 including two trainer submarines to more than 20 when it revises its Defense Program Guidelines by year's end.

Tokyo has maintained 18 submarines since it first formulated the guidelines in 1976, although it has strengthened their capability by replacing superannuated vessels and with new ones.

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Iran ups ballistic missile capability

A senior commander with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the country is now capable of 'producing an endless number of ballistic missiles.'

"Our production lines are running very smoothly," IRGC's Deputy Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying on Sunday.

Iran has also made enormous progress in the field of air defense, added the top general.

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Three new ships, three submarines to join Russian Black Sea Fleet

Three patrol boats of a new project and three submarines of 636 project will be laid up at Russian shipyards for the Black Sea Fleet before the end of 2010, Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said.

"They [the ships] will be included in the Black Sea Fleet," Vysotsky said. "The three submarines of the 636 project have already been laid, and they will be included in submarine forces of the Black Sea Fleet."

He added that these ships and submarines will ensure a security of ships in the Black Sea.

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Oman Vessel Named in Launching Ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base

The Royal Navy of Oman's (RNO) second Corvette, Al-Rahmani, was commissioned this morning at Portsmouth Naval Base.

It is the second corvette out of three designed and built by BAE Systems for the RNO.

The Commissioning Ceremony was held under the auspices of His Excellency Sayyed Badir bin Saud bin Harib Al-Busaidi the Minister Responsible Defence Affairs in the Sultanate of Oman.

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First Lady Michelle Obama Christens the Newest Northrop Grumman-built National Security Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752)

First Lady Michelle Obama christened the Northrop Grumman-built U.S. National Security Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) in front of 3,000 guests today calling the ship "truly magnificent."

Stratton is the third of eight planned National Security Cutters being built at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for the U.S. Coast Guard.

With its 418-foot length and 4,700 ton full load displacement and state-of-the-art command and control systems, the NSC is the largest and most technologically advanced of the new multi-mission cutters.

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Keel Laying Ceremony for Spearhead (JHSV 1)

Just over six months after the official opening of Austal’s new Module Manufacturing Facility (MMF) in November 2009, Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama on July 22, to signify the erection of the first modules on the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV).

This is part of a 10-ship program potentially worth over $1.6b.

Keel Laying is the formal recognition of the start of the ship’s module erection process. In earlier times it was the “laying down” of the central or main timber making up the backbone of a vessel.

Today, fabrication of the ship modules begins months before the units are actually joined. However, the keel laying symbolically recognizes the joining of modular components and the ceremonial beginning of a ship.

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Russia plans to upgrade 3 nuclear-powered cruisers by 2020

Russia will upgrade and put on active duty three mothballed Soviet-era nuclear-powered missile cruisers by 2020, a high-ranking Navy official told RIA Novosti on Saturday.

Russia built four Kirov class nuclear-powered cruisers in 1974-1998. One of them, the Pyotr Veliky, is in active service as the flagship of the Northern Fleet.

"Cruisers Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Ushakov will be modernized and returned to the Russian Navy's combat force in 10 years," the official said, adding that their equipment and weapons will be fully modernized.

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