SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor

Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced Oct. 29 at a Navy SEAL Warrior Fund Benefit Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, the name of the newest Zumwalt-class Destroyer will be USS Michael Monsoor.

Designated as DDG 1001, the name honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Ramadi, Iraq, Sept. 29, 2006.

Winter discussed the qualities, values and dedication to duty that Navy SEALs exemplify, including the extraordinary acts of Michael Monsoor.

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A Russian missile program in Syria

As the deal solidifies between the US and Eastern Europe for a missile defense shield – Russia has begun plans of its own, opening talks to place their missile program Iskander in Syria

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Russia to float out new missile frigate in 2011

The first Russian Project 22350 frigate being built at a shipyard in St. Petersburg will be launched in 2011, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Thursday.

The St. Petersburg-based Severnaya Verf shipyard started building the Admiral Sergei Gorshkov frigate in February 2006. According to military sources, Russia's Navy intends to procure up to 20 such vessels.

"As we agreed today, the frigate must be floated out in 2011," Sergei Ivanov told a meeting of Russia's Military-Industrial Commission.

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Fincantieri to Build New Fleet Tanker for the Indian Navy

On the occasion of the international exhibition Euronaval – the most important trade fair for the defence industries currently in progress in Paris-Le Bourget – Fincantieri has announced the company has gained an order to build a fleet tanker for the Indian Navy.

Following previous orders to Russian industries, this is the first order for a surface vessel for which India has chosen a foreign company, Fincantieri, which competed to win the order against leading international players, especially from Russia and Korea.

The vessel, which will be built at the shipyards in Liguria, for delivery at the end of 2010, will be 175 metres long, 25 wide and 19 high and will have a displacement at full load of 27,500 tonnes.

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Speculation mounts about Indian lease of new Russian nuclear attack sub news

The Russian Amur shipyard, located in the country's Far East, said early on in the week that it had begun sea trials of a newly built nuclear-powered attack submarine, a Schucka -B or Akula II (NATO designation) class, which persistent media reporting has identified as being constructed with Indian finances prior to being given out on long lease to the Indian Navy.

The Akula II or Schucka-class vessels are considered the quietest and deadliest of Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines.

"The submarine, built under a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, has been moved from the shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur to a maintenance facility in the Primorye Territory and fitted with all necessary equipment. At present it is undergoing sea trials," a spokesman for the shipyard told Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

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Two foreign companies shortlisted in Indonesian submarine overhaul tender

The Defense Ministry has shortlisted two foreign shipbuilders -- one German and one South Korean -- in its tender for the overhaul of the Indonesian Navy's submarine KRI Naggala-402, a senior ministry official said.

The two foreign companies are HDW of Germany and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co Ltd (DSME) of South Korea, Eris Herryanto, the ministry's director general for defense facilities, said here Thursday.

The ministry was now studying the two companies' bids further to decide to which of them the overhaul contract would be awarded, he said.

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More analysis needed on destroyer plan

Chief Pentagon arms buyer John Young said he still had questions on Thursday about the U.S. Navy's decision to halt the DDG-1000 destroyer program at three ships and build older model DDG-51 destroyers instead.

"There's a substantial amount of additional analytical work to be done," Young told reporters at his Pentagon office.

Any move by the Navy to build just a few more DDG-51 destroyers would be "very expensive," he said.

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Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Signs A Contract For Three AW139 Helicopters Plus Options

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has signed a contract for three AW139 medium twin engine helicopters plus options for several additional aircraft.

These helicopters will be used to perform search and rescue, coastal patrol and law enforcement duties around Malaysia’s extensive coast line.

This order marks the entrance of the AW139 helicopter into the Malaysian government market and follows the earlier success of the aircraft in the Malaysian commercial market.

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Financial crisis should not delay US missile shield

The global economic downturn and a potential Democratic win in US elections should not delay plans to build parts of a missile shield in Europe, the head of the US Missile Defence Agency, general Henry Obering, has said.

"If you don't have national security it won't matter what your economy is doing because you won't be able to protect your citizens and their jobs," he said in an interview with EUobserver on Tuesday (28 October).

Speaking hours before a trip to Poland and the Czech Republic - where the US missile shield components are to be placed - the general described the project as "a prudent investment in security," which remains necessary to counter the continuing proliferation of a ballistic missile threat around the world.

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Pakistan tells US to stop missile strikes

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry says it summoned the U.S. ambassador and called for a halt to missile strikes on militant targets in Pakistan's border region.

A ministry statement said the envoy was called in on Wednesday and told the Pakistani government «strongly condemns the missile attacks» and that they «should be stopped immediately.

Missiles strikes by U.S. military and CIA drones have intensified in recent months. American commanders have complained that Pakistan's military has not been putting enough pressure on militant sanctuaries in its territory.

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J-10 fighter jets to debut at China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition

The Seventh China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition will be held from November 4 to 9 in Zhuhai.

Top-notch equipment including the orbital module of Shenzhou VII will make its debut at the exhibition, but the biggest attraction this year will be the aerobatic show by J-10 fighter jets, Guangzhou Daily reported.

Highlight No. 1: Debut of the orbital module of Shenzhou VII
Highlight No. 2: Display of China's missile defense system
Highlight No. 3: J-10 fighter jet aerobatic show

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Cyprus to destroy military missiles

The Minister of Defence has announced a government decision to destroy 324 portable anti-aircraft missiles, type 9M32M.

In his speech at a joint meeting of the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Cooperation, Costas Papacostassaid the government is determined to declare its commitment for the withdrawal of these missiles.

The government, he said, “acknowledges the threats from the uncontrolled production and the use of these anti-aircraft weapons, which in terrorists’ hands can be used for terrorist activity. These weapons are capable of costing innocent lives and hampering peace and stability in the world."

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Spain foils pirates' plans

A Spanish maritime patrol aircraft prevented pirates from attacking an oil tanker in the troubled waters of the Gulf of Aden, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The P-3 Orion aircraft received a call for help from the crew of the Panama-flagged Leander on Tuesday who said pirates on two boats were trying to board their vessel when it was about 210km north of the coast of Somalia, it said.

"To deter the pirates, the plane flew over the hostile boats three times and launched a smoke bomb at them each time," the statement said.

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Boeing Selects BAE Systems to Provide Digital Electronic Warfare Suite for International F-15s

The Boeing Company has selected BAE Systems' Electronics, Intelligence & Support (EI&S) division to provide the next-generation Digital Electronic Warfare Suite (DEWS) for future international versions of the F-15 multirole fighter aircraft.

Boeing's selection of BAE Systems is the result of a rigorous source-selection competition.

"BAE Systems' Digital Electronic Warfare Suite will greatly improve the F-15's aircrew situational awareness, self-protection and electronic countermeasures capabilities," said Mark Bass, Boeing F-15 Program vice president and program manager.

"The F-15, with its state-of-the-art electronic warfare capabilities, will continue its multirole supremacy for decades."

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DND accepts SIRIUS system

DND has accepted the first SIRIUS Long Range Infrared Search and Tracking (IRST) System from DRS Technologies Canada Ltd.

The acceptance took place in a formal ceremony in the ballroom of the Wardroom in CFB Halifax on Friday, September 5.

“This delivery is an event that is worthy of recognition and celebration for three reasons,” stated Luc Maglieri, vice president and general manager of DRS Technologies Canada Ltd.

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AESA, Other Developments Drive Radar Production

Forecast International projects the worldwide radar market to be worth $50 billion over the 2008-2017 timeframe.

In "The Market for Radar Systems" analysis, the production, operations and maintenance, and RDT&E programs of 113 radar systems are covered. Over the next 10 years, the study projects 13,325 individual radar units will be produced.

Advancements in technology are driving demand for new radar systems around the world. "Advancements in digital and electronic technology are further improving radar capabilities," said William Ostrove, electronics analyst and author of the study.

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Gaddafi visits Russia on arms, energy drive

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi makes his first visit to post-Soviet Russia on Friday, seeking to deepen a budding energy and military partnership with Moscow and counterbalance his fast-expanding relations with the West.

The visit, his first to Moscow since 1985 according to Russia's Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily, is the latest step in a bold push by the former outcast state to accelerate overseas trade and investment for its booming post-sanctions economy.

Examples of that drive include a rapid expansion of a Libyan state holding in Italian bank Unicredit and a growing list of Libyan deals in Africa and Europe, including a refinery in Egypt and a wheat farming agreement in Ukraine.

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U.S. Air Force Having Serious Trouble Keeping F-22 Raptor Pilots

According to a recent Air Force Times article, the F-22 Raptor has the lowest pilot-retention rate of any U.S. fighter or attack aircraft measured, at a rather abysmal 33%.

Compare this to 81% for F-15E Strike Eagle pilots and 68% for F-15 Eagle pilots respectively, and, gentlemen, we've got a problem. Think about that for a second.

If those numbers are correct (and we're not sure about them, yet), the F-15E, a much older and less-technologically-advanced aircraft, enjoys almost 2.5 times the pilot retention rate of the vaunted F-22.

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BAE Teams with General Dynamics on U.S. Navy System

BAE Systems announced it has partnered with General Dynamics to compete for the U.S. Navy's upcoming Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 upgrade effort.

The electronic warfare system, called Sea Lightning, is designed to defeat maritime threats by intercepting and classifying threat radars, particularly those on anti-ship cruise missiles.

Sea Lightning also will integrate EW capabilities into the Navy's combat direction and management systems.

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Lockheed Martin Completes Modernization Of Air Defense System For Romania

Lockheed Martin has completed installation of an air defense and communications network modernization project for the Romanian Air Force.

The project, completed by Lockheed Martin and several Romanian subcontractors, enhances the air defense and command and control capabilities of Romania’s Air Sovereignty Operations Center (ASOC) by extending the air space management system’s radar, voice, and data link communication network to provide an enhanced air surveillance picture covering the entire country.

“This project provides the Romanian Air Force with significantly improved situational awareness as well as modern command and control capabilities that are interoperable with other NATO assets,” said Rick Udicious, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Tactical Systems business.

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Syria asks UN to prevent US attacks inside its territory

Syria has asked the United Nations Security Council to ensure that United States do not attack inside its territory.

In a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, Syria asked the UN to act to prevent repeat of the attack by the US helicopters inside its territory.

It alleged that on October 26 four US helicopters coming from Iraq violated the Syrian airspace in al-Boukamal area targeting a civilian building and firing at workers.

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Gates calls for modernization of US nuclear arsenal

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Tuesday for the modernization of the US nuclear arsenal to strengthen deterrence at a time when Russia and China are upgrading their nuclear weapons.

"Currently, the United States is the only declared nuclear power that is neither modernizing its nuclear arsenal nor has the capability to produce a new nuclear weapon," he said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for Peace.

"To be blunt, there is absolutely no way we can maintain a credible deterrent and reduce the number of weapons in our stockpile without resorting to testing our stockpile or pursuing a modernization program," he said.

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Iran opens new naval base at mouth of Persian Gulf

Jask Naval Base
Iran yesterday signalled its intention to extend its military presence in the world's most important oil conduit, opening a new naval base at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and adding weight to its threats to choke off oil supplies, if the Islamic Republic came under attack.

The inauguration of the new base at Jask was announced by Iran's naval commander, Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, who said it represented a new line of defence, blocking the entry of the "enemy" into the Persian Gulf and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the gateway through which 40% of the world's traded oil passes each day.

As international tensions have grown over Iran's nuclear programme and US allegations of Iranian involvement in Iraq's insurgency, the US has reinforced its naval presence, keeping two aircraft carriers and their battle groups in the Gulf for long periods this year, instead of one. The USS Ronald Reagan and USS Theodore Roosevelt carriers are currently on patrol, and being used for sorties over Iraq.

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Canadian Destroyer undergoes first trials with Northrop Grumman inertial-navigation and data-distribution system

A Canadian Navy destroyer just completed the first sea trials with a new-generation inertial-navigation system (INS) and data-distribution network supplied by Northrop Grumman Corp.

The Iroquois-class destroyer, HMCS Athabaskan, is the first naval ship to go to sea with the MK49 ring-laser gyro navigator (RLGN) INS and Navigation Data Distribution System (NavDDS). The systems were developed by Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit.

The Sperry Marine MK49 RLGN provides precise real-time 3D position, heading, speed, and attitude reference data for the ship's navigation and combat systems.

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Russia reforging its nuclear shield

The introduction of the RS-24 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 2009 will be the most important phase in the renewal of the Russian Strategic Missile Force (SMF) after the adoption of the Topol-M.

For the first time in post-Soviet Russia, a new ground-based MIRV-equipped missile system will be adopted by Russia's military.

There is little information on the performance of the new RS-24. According to the most reliable sources, this missile, developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology like the Topol-M, is in fact a further development of the latter, with an improved third stage and dispensing mechanism, the so-called "bus," from the RSM-56 Bulava ICBM.

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EU sending 4 to 6 warships on anti-piracy patrol off Somalia

The European Union says it will send at least four warships for anti-piracy patrols off Somalia starting in December.

An EU official says the squadron of four to six ships will be backed by patrol aircraft. The EU had announced the planned patrols last month to help police waters off Somalia, considered among the world's most dangerous amid a renewed outbreak in piracy.

The EU force will take over next year from NATO frigates escorting vessels carrying food aid and merchant ships in the area.

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China considers next-generation Su-33s for aircraft carrier programme

China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is close to reaching a decision on the procurement of aircraft for its aircraft carrier programme, Russian industry sources have told Jane's.

Negotiations between the PLAN and the Komsomolsk-na-Amure Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO) in Russia have been held intermittently for several years, with the Chinese military said to be unsure whether to purchase a version of the Sukhoi Su-33 carrier-capable fighter or develop its own carrier aircraft based on the Chengdu J-10.

Russian sources have now told Jane's that under the current proposal the Russian in-service Su-33 would be put back into production and the PLAN would acquire 14 of this type to be used for the training phase of the programme.

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French navy applies to move aircraft carrier to shipyard

Despite an ongoing legal battle to block the dismantling of one of its aircraft carriers in this country, the French navy has applied for permission to dock the vessel in the North-East.

The Environment Agency confirmed yesterday that it has received an application to move the Clemenceau from Brest, France, to Able UK Limited’s facilities in Graythorp, Hartlepool, for dismantling and recovery.

Campaigners from the Friends of Hartlepool are taking their battle to the High Court to stop the vessel, which contains asbestos, from being dismantled.

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Northrop Grumman continues to update B-52 electronic warfare systems

Northrop Grumman Corp. continues to make updates to the electronic warfare (EW) self-protection systems onboard the U.S. Air Force's B-52 bomber.

In 2008, the company has received Air Force contracts valued at $72 million to update the B-52's system capabilities through the insertion of cutting-edge EW technologies developed for the F-35 aircraft into the B-52's electronic warfare self-protection system.

"Many of our current B-52 EW systems are at least 30 years old, expensive to maintain and lack capabilities much needed by our warfighters.

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Russia military offers Cuba air defence aid

Russia will offer to share its air defence expertise with Cuba when a military delegation visits the Caribbean island this week, Interfax news agency reported on Monday.

"The Russian and Cuban military will exchange experience in organising tactical air defence and in training officers," Interfax quoted Russian Land Forces spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

The two sides will "discuss the prospect of training Cuban servicemen at the tactical air defence academies and training centres in Russia, using upgraded Russian-made military hardware," Interfax quoted him as saying.

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VT1 Missile Fired Vertically for 1st Time

Thales and DCNS completed a first vertical live fire of a VT1-VL naval Crotale missile from a Sylver A35 launcher, the French defense systems company said Oct. 27.

The firing took place Oct. 16 at the Biscarosse firing range of the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement procurement office, Thales project manager Martine Roseau said at the Euronaval trade show.

The Crotale VT1 hypervelocity missile is the same missile used in the surface-to-air application but has a range of 12 kilometers instead of 15. The difference in range arises from the vertical launch in the naval system, rather than a ramp launch.

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U.S. report faulting BAE oversight retracted

The Pentagon inspector general's office has retracted a report concluding that U.S. technology in the F-35 fighter aircraft may have been compromised by unauthorized access at units of BAE Systems Plc, a top subcontractor.

In a rare climbdown, the internal watchdog said in an Oct. 23-dated memorandum that it lacked "sufficient appropriate evidence" to support the conclusion of a March 6 report in which it had raised alarm about the security oversight of BAE facilities and computers.

BAE, headquartered in Farnborough, England, is the biggest overseas partner on the radar-evading F-35 -- the Pentagon's costliest arms acquisition plan, valued at nearly $300 billion over coming decades.

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Foreign navies powerless to uproot Somali piracy: experts

A spate of high-profile hijackings by Somali pirates has spurred western navies into action but experts argue that a handful of warships can do little to stamp out the lucrative piracy business.

An Italian destroyer as well as British and Greek frigates arrived in the Gulf of Aden last week as the front guard of NATO's anti-piracy Operation Allied Provider.

NATO announced Monday that one of its ships had successfully carried out its first mission, escorting a vessel bringing supplies to African Union peacekeepers in Somalia.

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Russia's new nuclear attack submarine starts sea trials

The Amur shipyard in Russia's Far East said on Monday it had started sea trials of a newly built nuclear-powered attack submarine, which according to media reports may be leased to India.

The construction of the Akula II class Nerpa nuclear attack submarine started in 1991 but has been suspended for over a decade due to lack of funding. Akula II class vessels are considered the quietest and deadliest of Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines.

"The submarine, built under a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, has been moved from the shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur to a maintenance facility in the Primorye Territory and fitted with all necessary equipment. At present it is undergoing sea trials," a spokesman for the shipyard told RIA Novosti.

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Taiwan to produce 300 cruise missiles

Taiwan plans to manufacture up to 300 cruise missiles, despite warming ties with rival China, it was reported Monday.

"President Ma Ying-jeou has given the order for the production of 300 Hsiungfeng 2E cruise missiles," the Taipei-based China Times said, citing what it said was an unnamed authoritative military source.

However, the paper said it was not clear when the missiles would be put into service.

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UK defence minister supports EU army

The freshly appointed UK defence secretary has publicly supported the idea of a European army, a key ambition of the French EU presidency.

Speaking to the country's Sunday Times newspaper yesterday (26 October), John Hutton, who took on the defence portfolio on 3 October, was asked about the prospects for an EU force.

He said: "I think we've got to be pragmatic about those things. I think that's perfectly sensible. France is one of our closest allies, and the French believe very strongly in this type of role. If we can support it, we should."

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Morocco orders military aircaft in $167m deal

Morocco has ordered four military transport aircraft in a deal worth €130m ($167m).

Rabat has purchased the C-27J Spartan tactical air transport planes from the Italian group Alenia Aeronautica, a subsidiary of the aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica.

The C-27J Spartan is capable of multiple roles, from troop transport and medical operations, to search and rescue missions, and humanitarian assistance.

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Raytheon, U.S. Navy Demonstrate Unmanned Aircraft System Capability for Submarines

Raytheon Company and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, demonstrated an unmanned aircraft system capability for submerged submarines Sept. 10.

The program, called Submarine Over the Horizon Organic Capabilities, simulated the submarine launch of a specialized UAS for collection of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information in a complex littoral environment.

"SOTHOC provides submerged submarines with the ability to use unmanned aircraft systems and will increase commanders' situational awareness and provide clarity to a fogged battles pace picture," said Ken Pedersen, Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president of Advanced Programs. "In future demonstrations, we will deploy a UAS from an actual submerged submarine and evaluate its performance in the maritime interdiction mission."

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Study: F-35 twice as loud as F-15

The Air Force is very quiet about a noisy fighter

At military housing areas and base schools on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., noise from F-35 Lightning II operations will be twice as loud as current Eglin F-15 flights, reaching 83 decibels.

Off base, F-35 noise will be even louder, reaching up to 90 decibels in civilian neighborhoods under an Eglin flight path.

All that is revealed in an environmental impact study prompted by plans to set up the joint F-35 pilot and maintenance training school at Eglin.

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U.S. launches attack on Syrian territory

U.S. military helicopters launched an extremely rare attack Sunday on Syrian territory close to the border with Iraq, killing eight people in a strike the government in Damascus condemned as "serious aggression."

A U.S. military official said the raid by Special Forces targeted the network of al Qaeda-linked foreign fighters moving through Syria into Iraq.

The Americans have been unable to shut down the network in the area because Syria was out of the military’s reach.

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$4.6m for next generation submarine study

Almost $5 million in funding has been given to an early planning program for the development of Australia's next generation of submarine.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced plans for the $4.67 million study into what Australia's submarines could look like in 2025.

"Submarines provide a vital military capability for Australia. A key Defence election commitment for this Government is focused on carefully planning for Australia's next generation of submarine," he said.

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Venezuela, Russia building a military bond

Chavez allows training exercises, seeks weapons

The Russians are coming, including Peter the Great.

For the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russian warships are sailing toward the Caribbean Sea to conduct joint exercises with a Latin American nation, Hugo Chavez's Venezuela.

The high-seas maneuvers, led by the nuclear-powered heavy-missile cruiser Peter the Great, stand as a splashy demonstration of the growing alliance between Moscow and Caracas, whose president, Chavez, a former paratroop officer, is spending billions on Russian military hardware.

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Tejas delivery by 2011

Defence minister A.K. Antony on Saturday declared that the induction of the light combat aircraft Tejas into the Indian Air Force (IAF) would be a reality after 26 long years.

He announced that the LCA is expected to get final operation clearance by the end of 2010 and that the first delivery of the LCA to the IAF would take place in 2011.

The Indian Air Force, he said, would induct one squadron initially and a total of seven squadrons eventually in due course of time.

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Metal fatigue discovered on F-18s

The US Navy has ordered the inspection of over 600 of its fighter jets after discovering 'fatigue cracks' on more than a dozen aircraft.

The inspection order is issued for 636 F/A-18D Hornets built by Chicago-based Boeing Co., some of which are currently deployed in Afghanistan.

On Thursday 15 aircraft were found with cracks on a hinge connecting the aileron to the flaps on the back side of the wings, CNN quoted a navy spokesmen as saying.

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Somalia: South Korea paves the way sending navy troops to fight against the pirates

Korean officials will leave for Somalia next week to determine whether their government should dispatch naval forces to thwart attempts by Somali pirates to abduct South Korean ships, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

The group, consisting of diplomats and officials from the Defense Ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Navy, will depart Monday, the ministry said.

Seoul officials said earlier the government was considering dispatching a Navy warship to Somali waters, where a number of South Korean commercial vessels have fallen prey to pirates in recent years.

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Monessa Catuncan: A Filipina takes flight

United States Air Force F-16 fighter pilot Monessa Catuncan doesn’t just maneuver an aircraft whenever she’s on air—she also carries the Philippine flag and the pride of the country it represents and the people in it.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon or most commonly known as the “Viper” is a state-of-the-art fighter aircraft.

It has been a high-performance weapon system for the US and allied nations for it has been used in numerous air-to-air combats. This specific aircraft has exceeded all the potential threat fighter aircrafts.

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Russia's nuclear cruiser to let off steam

A new nuclear-propelled Russian submarine is to undergo sea trial in line with the country's decision to renovate its nuclear deterrent.

Installations and systems of the fourth-generation head strategic missile submarine, Yuri Dolgoruky "are being checked and it is being prepared for the first trials," Mikhail Starozhilov, the spokesman for the Sevmash shipyard at which the submarine is being built, was quoted by ITAR-TASS as saying on Friday.

Yuri Dolgoruky and its sister submarines form the Borei-class which is looked upon as the centerpiece of the Russian strategic nuclear forces in the current century. They will have 12 intercontinental solid fuel ballistic missiles.

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Taylor: Northrop hasn't lost destroyer pacts

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding has not lost the contracts for a half dozen new Navy destroyers, despite a document that was recently quoted by a trade publication, U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor said Friday.

"That was a memo with someone's thoughts floating around the Pentagon," Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, said. "Nothing is a done deal, and that should not have been released because it was just something someone was merely considering. That should have never left the Pentagon."

The trade publication, Inside the Navy, stated that the U.S. Navy plans to award contracts for six of the proposed eight DDG-51 destroyers to Bath Iron Works in Maine and only two to Northrop Grumman in Pascagoula.

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Nato declares war on piracy

NATO secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has unveiled new plans to redirect significant naval resources towards tackling the piracy epidemic off the coast of Somalia.

The move will form part of wider push by the military alliance to re-establish maritime security as one of the core functions of Nato.

Refocussed Nato operations in the region will include the introduction of a sophisticated intelligence network to work alongside the flotilla of Nato frigates due to arrive in the Gulf of Aden this weekend.

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Pentagon Says 5 Weapons Had $206 Billion Cost Growth

Cost increases on five major weapons programs accounted for $206 billion, or 22 percent, of the total jump in spending for new arms so far this decade, a Pentagon commissioned report found.

Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft and Boeing Co.’s Future Combat Systems each contributed more than $65 billion in higher costs, the Defense Business Board said in its latest report, which examined programs from 2000 to 2007. The report was issued yesterday.

The report is designed to help U.S. defense officials identify transition issues for the next U.S. president in January. The next defense secretary must personally get involved to reverse the trend in program cost increases, the report said. Some $919 billion was added to the programs in the years studied, bringing the total for new weapons to $1.7 trillion.

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Indian Navy's submarine fleet in poor health: CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in his latest report has painted a bleak picture of India's defence preparedness.

The report, tabled in Lok Sabha on Friday, says half of India's submarine fleet is in disrepair and a grossly inadequate, three decade-old radar network has left the country vulnerable to enemy attack.

The stinging CAG report states that no more than 48 per cent of India's submarine fleet is available for waging war, should India be attacked.

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First Flight of Typhoon in Royal Saudi Air Force Livery

A Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft in the full two-tone grey livery of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has flown for the first time today at BAE Systems’ Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire, North West England.

This milestone marks the start of an initial test flight programme for RSAF Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft being assembled at Warton.

In December 2005, the Saudi Arabian and UK Governments announced the signing of an Understanding Document that aimed to establish a greater partnership in modernising the Saudi Armed Forces.

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Russia's Pacific Fleet completes anti-submarine drills

Surface ships and submarines from Russia's Pacific Fleet have completed a three-day anti-submarine exercise, the fleet's press service said on Thursday.

The exercises, involving the missile cruiser Varyag and four ASW ships, were conducted Monday through Wednesday under the command of Rear Adm. Sergei Avakyants.

"The submarines were the aggressor," the press service said, adding that surface vessels had rehearsed search-and-destroy operations with torpedoes and depth bombs.

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IAF will get Brahmos version by 2012

The Indian Air Force (IAF) would get its own version of Brahmos — a supersonic cruise missile — by 2012, A Sivanthu Pillai, chief executive officer and managing director, Brahmos Airspace, said on Wednesday.

Pillai was addressing media persons after inaugurating IWAPS 2008, a two-day international workshop on ‘Advances in processing of solid propellant rocket motors’ at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) here as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and centenary celebrations of HEMRL.

“Trials and tests will be carried out by 2011 and it is expected to be inducted into the IAF by 2012,” he said, adding that the Army and Navy already had variants of the missile provided by Brahmos Airspace.

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Argentina tests successfully air-defense Aspide missiles

The Argentine Navy successfully launched two ground-air mid range Aspide missiles, according to an official release on Wednesday from the Ministry of Defence.

The missiles originally from Italian factory Selenia were refurbished at the Argentine Armed Forces Scientific and Technical research centre, CITEFA (Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de las Fuerzas Armadas argentinas).

The missiles were fired from the naval air base of Punta Indio in the province of Buenos Aires and will enable the Argentine Navy to recover its air defence capacity.

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Xianglong UAV Being Developed By China

Chinese Secret UAVChina is reported to be developing a new UAV that's similar to the U.S.' RQ-4 Global Hawk.

The Chinese aircraft is the Xianglong (Soaring Dragon) and is about half the size of the Global Hawk. The Xianglong weighs 7.5 tons and has a 45 foot wingspan as well as a .65 ton payload.

The craft's maximum altitude will be 57,000 feet and it's range will be 7,000 kilometers with a faster cruising speed than the RQ-4.

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Afghan crash latest blow to Orion fleet

An incoming Navy P-3 Orion airplane overshot the runway, crashed and went up in flames Tuesday at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, the latest mishap for the fleet of troubled maritime patrol and reconnaissance planes.

The crash caused serious structural and fire damage to the plane, part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 5, based at Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine.

One U.S. crew member suffered a broken ankle, the only injury. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, Navy officials said.

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