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Friday, November 30, 2012

Syria: Internet and mobile communication 'cut off'


The internet has been cut off and mobile phones have been disrupted in Syria, monitoring firms have said.

Networking firm Renesys said the country's connection protocols were unreachable, "effectively removing the country from the internet".

Local reports suggested that the internet had been down since early afternoon, and that telephone lines were only working intermittently.

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Barracuda SSN: DCNS opens combat system shore integration facility

Barracuda SSN |Over 100 people, including DCNS employees and representatives of the DGA, the French Navy and partners, attended a ceremony at the Toulon naval base on Wednesday 28 November to inaugurate the combat system shore integration facility for the Suffren, the first nuclear-powered attack submarine of the new Barracuda type.

The combat system is the submarine’s central nervous system. It manages all command and control functions involving all sensors and weapons in real time.

The ceremony marked the transition from the combat system’s design phase to functional integration, or the assembly of its hardware and software components on a shore integration facility (SIF).

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Iran launched a new missile frigate, two hovercrafts and two Qadir class light submarines

Sina-7 frigate |In a ceremony attended by Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari in Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Abbas, hovercrafts BH7 which had been overhauled by local experts and SRNX whose Iranian name is Tondar (Thunderbolt) and has been manufactured through indigenized technology joined the Navy's fleets in Iran's Southern waters.

Iran unveiled the highly advanced home-made Tondar which can launch missiles and serve as launch pad for drones in a ceremony earlier this month.

Addressing a ceremony to unveil the hovercraft at the time, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said that the hovercraft has been designed and developed by Iranian experts in two models for combat and transportation missions, and that the combat model is called 'Tondar'.

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Cameroon receives MA60

MA60 |The Cameroon Air Force has accepted an MA60 twin turboprop aircraft from Xi’an Aircraft Corporation at a signing ceremony in China, bringing the number of African MA60 operators to six.

The signing ceremony was held on October 13 and follows Cameroon President Paul Biya’s visit to China in July 2011 when he ordered the MA60.

On December 1 of that year, Xi’an Aircraft International Corporation and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) signed contracts for six MA60s, including three for Cameroon, two for Air Burundi and one for Air Congo International.

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Air Force retires C-130H from service

RAAF C-130H |Minister for Defence Stephen Smith today farewelled the C-130H Hercules from Air Force service after an illustrious 34-year career at a ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond, Sydney.

Delivered in 1978, the C-130H Hercules has provided the Australian Defence Force with a highly effective capability, setting the standard for all Air Force transport aircraft which have followed.

Everyone who worked on the C-130H has cause to be proud of their efforts. This aircraft has provided a tremendous service to Australia.

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Dutch, 21st Cav kick off Chinook training with visit from Dutch chief

CH-47F Chinook |Dutch airmen training under 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat) ushered in a new era of joint training Tuesday with the kickoff of their CH-47F Chinook program.

To mark the occasion, Gen. Thomas Middendorp, chief of Dutch armed forces, visited the Central Texas installation to view the inaugural Chinook exercise and meet with his troops and their American counterparts.

During remarks to his Dutch army and air force troops Monday evening, Middendorp complimented the combined American-Netherlands contingent on their hard work and recognized the training benefit provided to the Dutch by 21st Cav. Bde. and Fort Hood.

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Go West, New Plane

HC-130J Combat King II |An HC-130J Combat King II takes off for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. from the Lockheed Martin facilities here today.

Aircraft number 5708 is the fifth of 15 HC-130Js to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command.

The HC-130J replaces the HC-130P/N as the only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform in the Air Force inventory.

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Saudi Arabia keen on $130m Patriot missile deal

MIM-104 Patriot |Saudi Arabia is seeking to order a $130m military package from the United States to help with its Patriot Missiles programme.

According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the Government of Saudi Arabia is asking for technical services to "recertify the functional shelf life of up to 300 Patriot guidance enhanced missiles and associated equipment".

The estimated cost is $130m, the Agency said, adding that the proposed sale was still to receive approval from the US Congress.

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MEADS Successfully Intercepts Air-Breathing Target At White Sands Missile Range


The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) detected, tracked, intercepted and destroyed an air-breathing target in its first-ever intercept flight test today at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The test achieved all criteria for success.

MEADS is a next-generation, ground-mobile air and missile defense system that incorporates 360-degree radars, netted and distributed battle management, easily transportable launchers and the hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missile.

The system combines superior battlefield protection with new flexibility to protect forces and critical assets against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft.

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F-35 not the only plane that meets stealth requirements: Lawson

F-35 Lightning II |The F-35 might not be the only plane that could meet Canada’s requirement for stealth as currently set out, according to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson.

Lawson told the national defence committee Thursday evening that the F-35 is not the only plane that meets the level of stealth set out in the statement of operational requirements (SOR). The terms of the SOR do not mean the F-35 is the only fighter aircraft Canada can to buy.

“Is there only one airplane that can meet the standard of stealth that’s set out in the statement of requirements?” Liberal MP John McKay asked.

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County to pursue F-35 jets for Plattsburgh Airport


Plattsburgh International Airport
The idea of luring Air Force F-35A aircraft to Plattsburgh International Airport from across the lake could be gaining some traction.

“We want to keep an open mind about this, and I believe some phone calls will be made,” said Clinton County Legislator Robert Heins, who chairs the county’s Airport Committee.

At Wednesday night’s County Legislature meeting, Heins (R-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh) was asked by fellow Legislator Robert Butler (R-Area 6, Saranac) if the Airport Committee had discussed the idea of going after the F-35s.

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Australian Orions complete 10-year Middle East deployment

RAAF P-3C Orion |Australia's Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion aircraft have returned after 10 years of continuous service in the Middle East.

"The final aircraft to deploy, along with personnel from Number 92 Wing, RAAF Base Edinburgh, returned home on 29 November following a successful long-term commitment as part of Operation Slipper," says Australia's Department of Defence.

Over the last decade, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Orions were operated in the Arabian Gulf, North Arabian Sea, Afghanistan, Iraq and off the coastline of Somalia. Missions included maritime patrol and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

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Fighter jet plagiarism allegations 'offensive'

J-15 Flying Shark |China on Thursday dismissed claims that its carrier-based fighter jets plagiarized foreign models and would make Beijing more assertive in tackling maritime disputes with neighbors.

It is at least unprofessional, if not an intentional attack, to claim China copied foreign aircraft carrier technology through a simple comparison since the laws for military development are objective, and the principles of building military equipment, the command and safeguard methods are similar, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Geng Yansheng said at a regular news conference.

Geng made the remarks in response to reports that the carrier-borne J-15 fighter jet, which made its debut in a landing and take-off exercise on China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning on Saturday, is a Chinese adaptation of the naval version of Russia's Su-33.

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Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Conduct First Catapult Launch of X-47B Unmanned Aircraft


Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy have conducted the Navy's first catapult launch of an unmanned system using the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator.

The test was conducted today at a shore-based catapult facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. It marks the first of several shore-based catapult-to-flight tests that will be performed before the Navy's UCAS Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program catapult launches the X-47B from a ship.

Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for the UCAS-D program.

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New era of sub training ahead with opening of Groton facility

Bridge simulator |

From his post at the top of the submarine's sail, Lt. Andrew Pyle looked out Wednesday at the buoys that mark the entrance to New London Harbor. He saw New London Ledge Light to his right.

Sailboats darted in front of the submarine, and Pyle had to react. It began to snow, and the sea grew rougher.

But Pyle was not in a submarine returning to the Naval Submarine Base. He was in a building at the Naval Submarine School.

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Royal Naval Survey Ship Discovers Sunken Dhows

Dhow in 3D |The Royal Naval survey ship HMS Enterprise is already making significant inroads into navigational safety in Dubai having discovered the previously uncharted wrecks of two dhows in Port Rashid Harbour.

Making use of its new hi-tech, smaller motor launch, the Plymouth-based ship discovered two sunken dhows in one of the world's busiest ports at the beginning of a nine-month deployment.

Spitfire, the new survey motor boat, can be sent off independently to gather data at the same time as the mother ship - effectively doubling the ship's capacity to chart the seas.

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Rebels’ surface-to-air missiles open new page in Syria war


In less than 24 hours, rebels used surface-to-air missiles to strike down two aircraft in northern Syria, marking a turning point in their war with forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

Since the end of July, the Syrian regime has used fighter jets to try to suppress a growing insurgency. The air force has frequently bombarded rebel-held areas across the country, causing high casualties.

But on Wednesday morning, rebels shot down a warplane in the northern province of Aleppo, an AFP reporter said.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Netherlands Ministry of Defence awards Thales Goalkeeper CIWS Modification contract


The Netherland’s Ministry of Defence and Thales Nederland have signed an agreement for the update of 16 Goalkeeper Close-In Weapon Systems that are operational in the Royal Netherlands Navy.

The operational modification will bring the system to the highest operational status again, capable of dealing with current and future threats.

In addition, this contract solves various obsolescence issues.

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FORAN in the ALHD Canberra built by NAVANTIA for the Australian Navy

Canberra ALHD |FORAN has been the CAD/CAM used by Navantia for the structural design of the ALHD for the Australian Navy, “Canberra”.

The vessel, the first of the two contracted by Navantia for this country, has been transferred to Australia after a two-month navigation in the heavy sea lift ship Blue Marlin. The construction of the vessel began in the Navantia shipyard in Ferrol-Fene in 2008 and the ship was launched in 2011, it’s almost a sister ship of the “Juan Carlos I” built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy.

The 3D model of the structure of the ship, the production drawings as well as all naval architecture calculations have been carried-out using the FORAN System, developed by SENER.

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Plane, Helicopter Crash During Venezuela Air Show


A training plane crashed during an air show in Venezuela on Tuesday, and a military helicopter went down during a rescue mission, Mexican media said on Wednesday.

A Chinese-made K8 training plane fell near the Libertador Air Base during an air show to mark the Air Force day in the central Venezuelan state of Aragua.

During a rescue operation for two pilots, who managed to eject, a French-made Cougar helicopter also went down. The crew of the aircraft, owned by the country’s rescue service, was unharmed in the accident.

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Second batch of Sokols delivered to the Philippine Air Force

Sokol W-3 |PZL-Świdnik, an AgustaWestland company, is pleased to announce that the second batch of Sokol helicopters in combat utility configuration has been delivered to the Philippine Air Force.

The two additional helicopters follow the four Sokols delivered by PZL-Świdnik to the customer in February 2012.

The second batch of Sokols are part of a contract signed with the Philippine Air Force in 2010.

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Raytheon awarded $422 million contract for Paveway™ II

GBU-12 Paveway II |Raytheon Company was awarded a $422 million contract for its combat-proven Paveway™ II family of precision-guided munitions.

The company was awarded the direct commercial sale from an international customer.

Paveway™ is a Raytheon-designed kit that transforms "dumb" bombs into precision-guided munitions.

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HAL flies upgraded Jaguar in Bangalore

'Darin III''' Jaguar |State-run defence behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Wednesday flew the upgraded version of Jaguar fighter with latest avionics for re-induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) after final certification and clearance, an official said.

"The upgrade will enable the 'Darin III' Jaguar to fly in all-weather with air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea capabilities, using latest avionics and multi-mode radar," HAL chairman R.K. Tyagi said in a statement here.

The new version boasts of mission computer, engine and flight instrument system, solid state digital recording system and data recorder, autopilot, radar, global positioning system and radar warning receiver.

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IAF to upgrade Su-30MKIs to 'Super Sukhoi' standard

Su-30MKI |The prowess of IAF's frontline fighter aircraft Su-30MKI is set to get a boost with plans to equip them with missiles having a strike range of around 300 kilometres.

The plan is to upgrade the first 80 Su-30MKIs to the level 'Super Sukhois' which will have highly advanced radars and weapon systems, IAF sources said.

Su-30 MKIs have been inducted into IAF in four phases. The ones to be upgraded are from the first phase and the project is likely to be completed in the next three to four years, they said.

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Northrop Grumman Outlines E-2D Progress Ahead of Early Warning Event

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye |Programme leaders from the US Navy and Northrop Grumman Corporation have detailed the progress on the E-2D Hawkeye in an exclusive interview ahead of the company's involvement in Defence IQ's 12th Annual Airborne Early Warning event taking place in Paris from January 22 - 24. Listen to the full interview at http://www.airborneearlywarning.com.

Bart LaGrone, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems vice president for the Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management Command and Control (AEW/BMC2) programmes, and the new USN programme manager for the E-2D, Captain John "Chet" Lemmon, confirmed that initial test and evaluation of the aircraft had been completed and that the current contract is for provision of 20 E-2Ds to the Navy, with other foreign sales under consideration.

"Northrop Grumman has been the lead sponsor for this AEW conference since its inception more than a decade ago," said Lagrone.

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Israel pips US in anti-tank guided missile supply to India


Israel has upstaged the US in the ongoing race to bag the huge deal to supply third-generation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to the Indian Army, in a project which could well be worth $1 billion eventually.

Defence ministry sources said the plan to go in for the American FGM-148 Javelin ATGMs has "virtually been shelved" because of Washington's reluctance to provide full military knowhow - licensed "transfer of technology (ToT)'' - to allow India to indigenously manufacture the "tank killers'' in large numbers after an initial off-the-shelf purchase.

Instead, the Army has already completed extensive trials of the Israeli 'Spike' ATGM, which like Javelin is also a shoulder-launched and fire-and-forget missile, under varied conditions in plains, deserts and mountains. "The staff evaluation is now in progress as the next step in the procurement process,'' said a source.

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Hellfire missiles tested in Med

Hellfire missile being firedOne of the world’s leading tank-busting missiles has been fired from Apaches based on HMS Illustrious during a firing exercise in the western Mediterranean.

For the second time this year the Army Air Corps gunships were launched from the deck of the Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier to fire live Hellfire missiles.

Two Apaches from 656 Squadron AAC flew from the helicopter carrier’s flight deck as the sun rose over the western Med near Gibraltar to practise shooting at specialist targets.

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Four bidders pursue UK maritime UAS deal

ScanEagle UAV |Four contractors have been invited to tender for an initially two-year requirement to provide the UK with a maritime unmanned air system capability to be deployed from Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

Boeing Defence UK, Cassidian, Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems and Qinetiq have been asked to contest the urgent operational requirement (UOR) deal for a contractor-owned, contractor-operated service, the Ministry of Defence says.

The companies are required to reply to a mid-November invitation to tender by 18 December, with the MoD expecting to issue a contract to one of the bidders in early February 2013.

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4 Frigates on Line for Turkish Navy

TF2000 project |Turkey has chosen an ambitious project to follow the building of eight corvettes: this time the production of four fair defense frigates worth around $4 billion dollars, the largest ships in the inventory of the country’s Navy.

A statement on the website of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) on Nov. 22 cited the need to procure air defense frigates for the Navy that would provide defense against the classical and modern munitions fired by aircraft and other platforms, command and control, early warning, reconnaissance, surface warfare, underwater warfare and electronic warfare and air defense warfare.

It said the feasibility studies of the frigates had been completed and a “project model” would now be devised for the frigates to be procured. The model is expected to be a manufacture model by a private naval shipyard, but the complexity of the frigate would probably need the contributions of a foreign company.

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HMCS Windsor passes critical dive test

HMCS Windsor |The refit of Canada’s secondhand submarines is years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget.

However, it seems the East Coast is now only months away from having an operational submarine.

HMCS Windsor has been in refit since 2007 but Defence Minister Peter MacKay tells CTV News it completed a key dive, called a camber dive, on Nov. 7 and is now being readied for sea trials.

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BAE Systems receives 80 million U.S. navy contract for two advanced gun systems


BAE Systems has received an $80.3 million modification contract award from the U.S. Navy to deliver two Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) for the latest in the Zumwalt class destroyer fleet, the DDG 1002.

This contract marks the third destroyer to receive AGS applications and brings the total funding of the initial contract for this ship, first awarded in October 2011, to $149 million.

“This contract demonstrates the progress made on the DDG 1000 program with the integration of AGS technology onto now a third DDG 1000 destroyer,” said Dave Johnson, director of the DDG 1000 program for BAE Systems.

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Thai navy deflects allegations of irregularities

Kasturi class frigate |The Royal Thai Navy yesterday countered the opposition's allegation of irregularities surrounding the navy's scheme to modernise combat systems on two frigates.

ADM Thaweewut Pongpipat, a special adviser to the navy who serves as chairman of the committee implementing the scheme, said Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat had nothing to do with the changes made to the procurement of the combat systems.

ACM Sukumpol had inquired with the navy about the changes, which were solely the navy's decision, said ADM Thaweewut.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Chilean army flies UAV


An unmanned aerial vehicle prototype developed by the Chilean army has successfully completed its first flight test.

Lascar, as the UAV is called, has been under development the army, in collaboration with the University of Concepcion and private business, since 2008 and was flown in Chile's Biobio region.

"It gives us a lot of pride and satisfaction to all see how the army, our army of Chile, in conjunction with the University of Concepcion, a magnificent and traditional institution of this region, and the private sector come together to develop an unmanned aircraft that will allow us to do so much in a country with so many challenges in terms of natural disasters," said Chilean Defense Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter following the test flight.

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PH navy ship being prepared for voyage

BRP Ramon Alcaraz |BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the second Hamilton-Class Cutter acquired by the Philippines from the US, is being prepared for its voyage to the Philippines by early 2013.

The ship, formerly called the USCGC Dallas, was a Coast Guard high endurance cutter commissioned in 1967 in New Orleans and was decommissioned in March 2012.

Named after war hero Commodore Ramon Alcaraz--a distinguished Philippine Navy Officer during the Second World War who was awarded the Silver Star for shooting down 3 Japanese planes off Bataan in 1942--the ship was formally transferred to the Philippine government, under its first Filipino Commanding Officer Ernesto Baldovin, on May 22.

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Boeing Receives $178 Million Contract for B61 Tail Kit Assembly

B61 nuclear bomb |Boeing will help to modernize the B61 free-fall ballistic munition by designing a new tail kit under a $178 million contract from the U.S. Air Force.

The design, development and qualification phase of the B61 (Mod 12) Life Extension Program is expected to run for three years.

The program further expands Boeing's Direct Attack weapons portfolio.

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Lockheed Martin Demonstrates New Ground-Based Laser System in Tests Against Rockets and Unmanned Aerial System


Lockheed Martin today announced that it has successfully demonstrated a portable, ground-based military laser system in a series of tests against representative airborne targets.

Lockheed Martin developed the Area Defense Anti-Munitions (ADAM) system to provide a defense against short-range threats, such as rockets and unmanned aerial systems.

Since August, the ADAM system has successfully engaged an unmanned aerial system target in flight at a range of approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) and has destroyed four small-caliber rocket targets in simulated flight at a range of approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).

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Pakistan test fires nuke capable ballistic missile

Ghauri (HATF-V) |Pakistan today tested the Hatf-V nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a range of 1,300 km, with the military saying that the launch was aimed at strengthening the country's deterrence capability.

A statement from the military described the test as a "training launch" conducted by a strategic missile group of the Army Strategic Force Command.

The test of the medium range ballistic missile, also known as the Ghauri, marked the culmination of a field training exercise aimed at testing the operational readiness of the Army Strategic Force Command.

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Helicoper shot down as Syria air war intensifies


Syrian military jets bombed the southern edge of Damascus yesterday while Syrian rebels downed their first army helicopter with a ground-to-air missile.

It was the second consecutive day that fighter jets had dropped bombs on Daraya, just six kilometres from the heart of Damascus.

Huge plumes of smoke rose above the skyline after a series of air attacks in the morning and early afternoon.

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44 Skyhawks For Sale

A-4 Skyhawk |The SIBAT department of the Israeli Ministry of Defense is calling defense entities, militaries and countries from around the world and inviting them to acquire the fleet of Skyhawk aircraft which have been in IDF service since the 1960s.

The Skyhawk was the first fighter aircraft that the United States agreed to sell to Israel, and the Israeli Air Force began using the aircraft in 1967.

Today, the aircraft are used for combat training and instruction in the framework of the IAF’s flight course, and the sale comes as part of the preparation for when the IAF receives the new Italian M-346 trainer aircraft.

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Will Stealth Survive As Sensors Improve? F-35, Jammers At Stake

F-35 Lightning II |Is stealth still America's silver bullet? Or are potential adversaries' radars getting too smart for US aircraft to keep hiding from them?

That's literally the trillion-dollar question, because the US military is investing massively in new stealth aircraft.

At stake in this debate are not just budgets but America's continued ability to project power around the world.

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Northrop Grumman to Supply Navigation Systems for Indian Coast Guard Vessels

Cochin Fast Patrol Vessel |Northrop Grumman Corporation, is to supply advanced shipboard navigation systems for 20 fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard.

The fast patrol vessels will be built at Cochi Shipyard Ltd., India.

Under the contract, awarded through the company's Indian reseller Marine Electricals Ltd., Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will provide a navigation package including VisionMaster™ Total Watch™ multifunction displays, electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), autopilot, magnetic compass and the new NAVIGAT 3000™ fibre optic gyrocompass.

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India, Israel Defence Secretary-level talks from December 3

Il-76 Phalcon |India and Israel are expected to discuss the progress in their joint military projects including air defence systems and specialised radars during Defence Secretary-level talks starting on December 3 here.

Israeli Defence Ministry's Director General Maj Gen Ehud Shani will be in India to take part in the meeting of Indo- Israel Joint Working Group on defence cooperation with Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, ministry officials said here.

The two countries, who have developed very close military ties in the last 10-15 years, hold this meeting annually and discuss the ongoing and future military cooperation projects.

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Spanish Admiral to Lead EU Anti-Piracy Mission

EU/NAVFOR Atalanta Crest |A Spanish admiral was appointed on Tuesday to lead the EU anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, the Council of the European Union said.

Rear Admiral Pedro Angel García de Paredes Perez de Sevilla will take up the post of force commander for operation Atalanta on December 6. He replaces Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino from Italy on the rotation basis.

Operation EU NAVFOR ATALANTA, launched in December 2008, aims to prevent acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast and in the Indian Ocean.

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Chinese fleet train in W. Pacific


Chinese navy vessels have passed through the Miyako Strait and carried out routine training in the western Pacific.

According to the Ministry of Defence, China's open sea training naval fleet was composed of guided missile destroyers the Hangzhou and Ningbo; missile frigates the Zhoushan and Maanshan, supply ship the Poyanghu, and ship-based helicopters.

Most of these are major warships in China's fleet, with strong comprehensive capabilities.

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Northrop Grumman Awarded In-Service Support Contract for Royal Canadian Navy Navigation Systems

HMCS Algonquin |Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) to provide in-service support for the MK-49 inertial navigation systems and navigation data distribution systems fielded aboard surface ships and submarines of the Royal Canadian Navy.

The $12.1 million contract, awarded by Public Works Government Services Canada, includes material spares and software maintenance for the next five years.

This is the fourth in-service support contract that Northrop Grumman has received from the DND since 2001.

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DCNS and PIRIOU enter into exclusive negotiations to create a leader in maritime security ships

Gowind OPV L’Adroit |DCNS and PIRIOU have entered into exclusive negotiations to set up a joint venture specialising in maritime security ships built to civilian shipbuilding standards. The project is part of both companies’ growth strategies and will expand their accessible markets.

DCNS and PIRIOU aim to leverage their complementary commercial and industrial skill sets to create a world leader in maritime security ships (coast guards, law enforcement authorities, customs…) built to civilian shipbuilding standards.

The joint venture would draw on DCNS’s experience in naval defence and PIRIOU’s background in civilian shipbuilding.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

After three months on ground, combat aircraft Tejas resumes test flight

Tejas LCA |The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which has remained grounded for more than three months, finally resumed flight-testing last week.

Seven flights of the Tejas have taken place since then without mishap.

The grounding of Tejas, which was kept secret, took place because of the new pilot’s helmets. Since these protruded above the ejection seats, the helmets could have prevented a smooth ejection by smashing into the fighter’s canopy before it was blown off.

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21 Huey choppers to boost PAF’s operations

Huey II |The 21 refurbished Huey helicopters seen to be added to the Philippine Air Force’s list of assets, will not only boost the aviation wing’s capability and military operations but will also be of use to the upcoming 2013 elections, the Department of National Defense said Monday.

Undersecretary for Finance, Munitions Installations and Materiel Fernando Manalo said the Air Force requested additional helicopters as they are anticipating an increase in air mobility requirements due to election-related flights in various parts of the country.

He also said that the project was already in the pipeline as early as 2011, when then PAF Commanding General, Lt Gen Oscar Rabena, requested President Benigno S. Aquino III for additional Hueys. The said helicopters are also urgently required during calamity and disaster operations.

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Rheinmetall transfers MANTIS air defence system to the German Air Force – reliable protection against the threat from above


The German Air Force took formal delivery today of the Rheinmetall-made MANTIS air defence system at a ceremony in Husum, Germany, home of Air Defence Missile Squadron 1 “Schleswig-Holstein”.

Bodo Garbe, a member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, handed over the system in front of the assembled troops.

Also on hand were Harald Stein, head of Germany’s BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support); Lieutenant-General Dieter Naskrent, Deputy Chief of Staff of the German Air Force; and Lieutenant Colonel Arnt Kuebart, commanding officer of the Air Defence Regiment.

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Obama Administration Pushes Ahead with Drone Killings


According to a report published Sunday on the front page of the New York Times, the Obama administration is pushing ahead with plans to establish a more systematic and regular program of using unmanned drones to kill people selected by the White House for death.

The newspaper estimated that US drone strikes have killed more than 2,500 people—a death toll approximating the number killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The article was written by Scott Shane, the same reporter who was the conduit for administration propaganda last May, glorifying drone missiles as a great advance in the “war on terror” and detailing Obama’s personal role in the approval of targets.

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X-47B Loaded On USS Harry S. Truman


U.S. Navy Sailors assist with the onload of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

The air vehicle arrived by barge from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft.

The Navy plans to conduct X-47B carrier deck handling tests aboard the ship.

Source

S. Korean deploys Aegis ships to track rocket launch

Sejong the Great class destroyer |The South Korean military has deployed two Aegis destroyers off its southern coast to trace a space rocket to be launched later this week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.

The two Aegis warships with an advanced radar system left for the nation's southern waters to follow the path of the two-stage Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) after it takes off at Naro Space Center on the south coast on Thursday.

"Two Aegis warships have been deployed to guard southern waters near Naro Space Center to support the successful launch of the space rocket," a JCS official said.

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Britain offers Malaysia RM10bil arms package

Eurofighter Typhoon |The British government has offered Malaysia an arms package which can be worth more than RM10 billion if all options are exercised.

The proposed package includes new Hawk jet trainers, advanced frigates, howitzers and future soldier systems for the army, industry sources told theSun.

Separately, the British government is also backing the offer by BAE Systems to sell 18 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) requirement.

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Russia to make new super silent torpedoes?

RFS Yuri Dolgoruki |The appearance of a new submarine, especially a nuclear-powered cruiser equipped with missiles, is always an outstanding event, since it represents the security of a country.

How can one make it as invulnerable as possible and not too expensive at the same time? It turns out that it is not that hard: the submarine only needs to be outfitted with silent weapons.

The shipyards of Sevmash have already built two serial underwater cruisers of the 955th type (Borei) - Yury Dolgoruky and Alexander Nevsky before. Presently, the company is building another sub of this project - Vladimir Monomakh.

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Submarine Severodvinsk conducts winged missile test launch

K-329 Severodvinsk (Yasen class) |The multi-purpose nuclear submarine Severodvinsk (Project 885 Yasen) has conducted a test launch of a winged missile at a ground target in the White Sea, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-AVN on Monday.

"The Severodvinsk conducted the first test launch of a supersonic winged missile at a ground target from an underwater position in the White Sea," the source said.

The launch was successful and the target was hit, the source said.

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Iran to commission submarines and hovercrafts to country's Navy

Kilo class submarine |As part of Navy Week in Iran, the country will commission two Ghadir-class submarines and two hovercrafts to the national Navy, IRNA reported.

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that Iranian experts have also build special submarine simulators, which will be used to prepare for real submarines.

In September, upon the order of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran has released new military submarine "Tareq 901" into water in Bandar Abbas port, IRINN Tv channel reported.

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Iran irked by cancellation of WMD summit

Ali Asghar Soltanieh |The Iranian envoy to the IAEA lashed out Monday at a U.S. decision to cancel an upcoming conference on Middle East weapons programs.

Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, announced last week that a conference to discuss the elimination of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East was canceled.

"The United States regrets to announce that the conference cannot be convened because of present conditions in the Middle East and the fact that states in the region have not reached agreement on acceptable conditions for a conference," she said in a statement.

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Japan watching North Korea over missiles

N. Korean rocket |The Japanese government will continue gathering information about a possible missile launch by North Korea and is ready to defend itself, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Monday.

Last week, Japanese media reports said US satellite images showed North Korea had delivered what are believed to be long-range ballistic missile parts to a launch site.

The movement involves equipment similar to that used in April when North Korea tested a long-range ballistic missile that exploded shortly after lift-off.

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Raytheon Opens State-of-the-Art Missile Plant

Raytheon missile plant |Two missile mockups gleamed in the Alabama sun on Monday as local dignitaries, military leaders and Raytheon executives cut the ribbon on a factory that will soon play a key role in the U.S. missile defense program.

“This integration center, its employees and the innovative products we build here will indeed be national assets,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “We recognize that countless lives may one day depend on these technologies.”

The new $75 million, 70,000 square-foot facility will produce the Standard Missile-3, a defensive weapon used to destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It will also produce the Standard Missile-6, which defends naval vessels against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Production challenge met: DCNS delivers first FREMM frigate to French Navy


On 23 November, European Joint Armament Cooperation Organization OCCAR* formally signed acceptance documents on behalf of French defence procurement agency DGA following the delivery of FREMM frigate Aquitaine in compliance with all contractual requirements.

Aquitaine is the first FREMM multimission frigate for the French Navy.

This major technological and industrial achievement is the result of a design and construction process conducted under DCNS programme prime contractorship and in close collaboration with the Navy, the DGA and OCCAR every step of the way.

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Space, power and weight savings as Thales updates Australian Collins submarine sonar systems

Collins class submarineThales Australia has signed a major contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation to deliver a significant update to the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine sonar systems.

The company will address obsolescence issues on the Collins class Scylla sonar, boosting the reliability of a system that was initially designed over a quarter of a century ago.

Specifically, the project will replace existing equipment in the Scylla Signal Processing Cabinets with modern Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components, and also re-host the software.

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Israel successfully tests missile defense system


Israel successfully tested its newest missile defense system Sunday, the military said, a step toward making the third leg of what Israel calls its ‘‘multilayer missile defense’’ operational.

The ‘‘David’s Sling’’ system is designed to stop mid-range missiles. It successfully passed its test, shooting down its first missile in a drill Sunday in southern Israel, the military said.

The system is designed to intercept projectiles with ranges of up to 300 kilometers (180 miles).

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Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Taiwan’s F-16 Upgrade

F-16 Fighting Facon |Taiwan's plans to upgrade its 145 Lockheed Martin F-16 combat aircraft and its on-again off-again pursuit of 66 new-build F-16C/Ds have taken a couple of interesting turns in recent months – turns entirely related to the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) own upgrade of about 300 of its newer F-16s.

The USAF upgrade program has been thrust upon it by the continuing delays to Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which was supposed to replace the F-16 (among other aircraft) but has run into numerous delays.

In the meantime, the USAF's F-16s will get an upgrade – called the Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) – that includes a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a new center display unit and the ALQ-213 electronic-warfare (EW) system.

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X-37B: Secrets of the US military spaceplane


As the US Air Force prepares for the third launch of its mysterious X-37B vehicle, BBC Future looks at what is known about the classified project.

In the early morning of 16 June, 2012, a top secret spaceplane made a picture perfect landing at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

To those unfamiliar with the vehicle, it might have looked roughly similar to the US space shuttle, the manned spacecraft that shuttled astronauts into space for two decades.

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Shipyards on the slipway

Nigel Whitehead |Closure looms for one of Britain's three remaining Royal Navy shipyards. And so does a renewal of hostilities over the politics of where they're located.

It's no surprise to find that there is too much capacity for the amount of work the Royal Navy has on offer.

One yard is likely to close; Portsmouth on the south coast, or either Govan or Scotstoun on the Clyde.

BBC News

Military communications satellites go into service


Two sophisticated U.S. military communications satellites launched earlier this year for distinctly different missions have entered initial service lives in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth.

The Navy's Mobile User Objective System 1 spacecraft was carried aloft by a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Feb. 24 and the Air Force's Advanced Extremely High Frequency 2 satellite followed from the same pad atop a similar Atlas on May 4.

MUOS is the first in a new space-based constellation for global mobile communications to replace the military's aging Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spacecraft fleet with substantial new capabilities for smartphone-like flow of information around the battlespace.

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Rear Admiral Shoemaker speaks candidly of the threat of war with Iran

Mike Shoemaker |In an article published today in the United Kingdom, Rear Admiral Mike Shoemaker, the commander of Carrier Task force 9 spoke candidly of the threat of war with Iran.

"Could there be a threat?" asked Rear Admiral Mike Shoemaker, the man who would command any mission to force open the sea lanes. "Yes is the answer. Is it manageable? Also yes."

“Admiral Shoemaker, runs through the likely threats: anti-ship cruise missiles; midget submarines; speedboats on suicide missions. Iran's conventional air force and navy are clapped out and no match for the US Navy, but they had years of practicing mine-laying”, he said.

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HMAS Choules out of action until April 2013

HMAS Choules (L100) (ex RFA Largs Bay) |Defence has revealed that HMAS Choules, bought from the British last year, will be out of action until April following a mechanical breakdown June 2012.

Following consultation with the transformer manufacturer, the Defence Materiel Organisation, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Lloyds Classification Society and the UK Ministry of Defence, the Chief of Navy has made the decision to replace the remaining four transformers on the Choules before the ship returns to sea.

As detailed in a previous ADM report, all remaining transformers have now also been inspected and similar signs of premature ageing have been identified.

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Russian Navy to buy L-CAT/EDA-R landing catamarans from France for Mistral class LHD


Russian Ambassador in Paris, Alexandre Orlov, Announced on Friday 23rd 2012 that Russia will be purchasing the L-CAT fast amphibious landing craft (dubbed EDA-R for "engin de débarquement amphibie rapide" by the French Navy) to be used with the Russian Navy's future Mistral class LHDs.

"We signed a contract on the purchase of two Mistral class ships. The first is already under construction in Saint-Nazaire, the second will follow.

We also discussed the construction of two Mistral LHDs in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Everything is on schedule.

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UN approves of drone use in Congo conflict

MQ-1C Grey Eagle |The United Nations wants to use drones for the first time to monitor fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where Rwanda has been accused of aiding rebels, officials said yesterday.

Peacekeeping chiefs have been in contact with the governments of DR Congo and of Rwanda about the sensitive move, which could set a precedent that would worry other United Nations members, diplomats said.

UN leaders are looking for ways to strengthen their peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, where guerrillas from the M23 rebel movement have taken over much of mineral-rich North Kivu province.

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Russia sends a detachment of ships to the coast of Gaza

 RFS Moskva |Russia sent a detachment of ships of the Black Sea Fleet to the coast of the Gaza Strip in order to evacuate Russians in case of escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a source in the main command of the RF Navy said.

"The detachment of combat ships of the Black Sea Fleet, including the Guards missile cruiser Moskva, the patrol ship Smetliviy, large landing ships Novocherkassk and Saratov, the sea tug MB-304 and the big sea tanker Ivan Bubnov, got the order to remain in the designated area of the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea for a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from the area of the Gaza strip in case of escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict", - the Agency’s interlocutor said.

According to him, in the course of military service the crews of the ships will continue their routine combat training, maintenance of equipment and weapons.

Source

Missile testing range to come up at Machilipatnam


Machilpatnam
A long-range missile testing range will come up on a 260-acre land at Machilpatnam in the state.

There have, however, been hurdles from the petroleum ministry to the facility, which has been cleared and all that is awaited is the state government's transfer of land to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This was revealed by DRDO director general and scientific advisor to defence minister V K Saraswat during an interaction with media persons on the sidelines of the 26th national convention of aerospace engineers, organised by the Institution of Engineers (India), Andhra Pradesh state centre, here on Saturday.

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Canada to consult allies, competitors to replace CF-18s

CF-18 Hornet |The agency overseeing the replacement of the country's CF-18s intends to talk to the U.S., Australia and Britain as it conducts a wide-ranging analysis into the future of Canada's fast fighter fleet, defence sources tell The Canadian Press.

That review, which will also include consultation with competitors to the oft-maligned F-35 stealth fighter, will get underway soon and could last several months.

In the House of Commons this week, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose said that the air force's statement of requirements — the document that set out what the military says it needs for selected pieces of equipment — will be set aside until an options analysis is completed.

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