Happy New Year

I just wanted to wish a happy new year to all readers. One of the cool things about blogging is that you get to make friends and meet some terrific people along the way, and that is exactly how I feel about you guys.

And no, it's not too soon. The New Year has arrived in Kiribati

Is Iran About to Test a Nuclear Bomb In North Korea?

On December 24, a research report from the South Korean Foreign Ministry Institute indicated that North Korea would carry out another nuclear bomb test after the beginning of the year. -- South Korean media reported earlier this month that the North was digging a tunnel in preparation for such a nuclear test.

At the same time, reports from inside Iran indicate that a team of Iranian nuclear scientists have been sent to North Korea and that the two governments have agreed on a joint nuclear test in North Korea with a substantial financial reward for the Kim Jong-Il government.

It is no secret that Iran and North Korea are collaborating in a ballistic missile program. The North Koreans provided Iran with the technology and know-how to build the Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile, which is a copy of the Nodong-1 missile. The Shahb- 3 missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) covering all of the U.S. military bases in the Middle East and the entire country of Israel.

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N.Korea Boosts Special Forces, Conventional Arms

North Korea's special forces have grown by 20,000 over the past two years, reaching about 200,000 in total and increasing the so-called asymmetric threat the country poses to the South.

The numbers come from the defense white paper 2010 published on Thursday, which says the North has consistently boosted its special warfare capabilities, deploying a light infantry division under an Army corps stationed on the frontline and adding a light infantry regiment to an Army division there.

The 200,000-odd special troops are primed to carry out combined operations such as attacks on major facilities in South Korea, assassination of VIPs and harassment in the rear by infiltrating the South using underground tunnels and AN-2 aircraft capable of low-altitude infiltration, the white paper said.

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Japan says Chinese military aircraft more aggressive since September

Chinese military aircraft have become more aggressive in confrontations with Japanese aircraft operating over the East China Sea, since a collision between a Chinese trawler and Japanese Coast Guard vessel in September.

Defence officials in Tokyo told the Asahi newspaper that in addition to the harassment of Japanese aircraft, China has stepped up its probing of air defences in the region and the monitoring of military exercises involving units from the United States and Japan.

In the last nine months, Japanese fighters have been scrambled to intercept Chinese intruders on 44 occasions, the highest figure in the last five years and more than double the number for the whole of fiscal 2006, the Telegraph quoted Japanese defence ministry officials, as saying.

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IDF postpones final tests of Iron Dome defense system

The IDF has postponed by several weeks the final tests of the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system, which were scheduled to take place recently, due to delays in the final development stages.

After the tests, the much anticipated active protection system was supposed to be declared operational.

The IDF had planned to reach “initial operational capability” for the Iron Dome, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, over the summer, but then postponed the date until November. The new target date has now been moved back by a few weeks.

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Raytheon Receives $52 Million U.S. Navy Contract to Retrofit Radars

Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a $52 million contract to Raytheon Company to produce APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for F/A-18 Super Hornet tactical aircraft.

These AESA radars provide the U.S. Navy with the most advanced technology available, including enhanced capabilities that allow aircrews to detect and identify targets beyond the reach of most missiles.

This long-range capability allows more time to process, share, and assess information before critical decisions are made.

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Armenia says it has S-300 air defense missiles

Armenia's Defense Ministry has announced that it has S-300 air defense missiles and says it made the announcement to remind neighboring Azerbaijan of the dangers of renewing military conflict.

Tensions remain high between the two countries over the unresolved status of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year separatist war ended in 1994.

Russia has long maintained S-300s on its base in Armenia, but Wednesday's announcement was the first acknowledgment that Armenia has missiles of its own.

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China's 5th Generation Fighter

Reports coming form internet sites in China have published images of a large, stealth-like aircraft that, if confirmed, could be the first hard evidence of China's new 5th Genaration multirole aircraft.

The images show the parked aircraft being inspected, and taxiing along a taxiway. Analysts in the West accepted the images with some doubts, due to the Chinese' in displaying imaginary 'facts' but the photos released today seem genuine.

recent reports coming from China mention Chengdu has recently completed two J-20 technology demonstrator aircraft sofar, one model will be used for the test flights and another one will be used for ground testing.

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US companies to re-enter race for sale of gunships to India

American military aviation companies have announced their intention to re-enter the race for India's massive $1.4 billion contract for purchase of 22 attack helicopters, almost a year after withdrawing from the hunt.

The American intentions were made clear with the Pentagon notifying US Congress about the possible sale of helicopter gunships to India and clearing the sale of AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles to the country to arm Indian Navy's about to be delivered P-81 Neptune maritime patrol aircraft.

According to the Pentagon notification, the American aviation giant Boeing will re-bid for the Indian contract with its Apache AH-64D helicopter gunships, which have proved their mettle in the ongoing Iraq and Afghan conflict.

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Navy T-45 from Pensacola crashes near Tallahassee

A U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk jet from Pensacola Naval Air Station crashed today in an uninhabited area of Jefferson County, said Jim Durwin, assistant superintendent of operations for Tallahassee Regional Airport.

Both people inside the T-45 Goshawk jet ejected to safety, said Patrick Nichols with the Department of Public Affairs at Pensacola NAS.

He described the plane as a small jet and said both people ejected safely and the plane landed in a swampy area.

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Navy awards LCS deals to Lockheed, Austal

Under the plan, both Lockheed Martin and Austal USA will build Littoral Combat Ships.

Lockheed Martin and Austal USA received contracts Wednesday to build more Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the U.S. Navy, all but assuring that each company will build 10 more of the fast, small warships over the next eight years.

Both companies succeeded in their bids to build more of the ships because, Navy officials said, they were able to reduce the cost of each new vessel to levels significantly below Congressionally-imposed cost caps.

As a result, the long-stalled program that over the past six years has only produced four ships now stands to ramp up to produce 20 ships between now and 2015.

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DRDO working on cutting submarine vulnerability

Work is apace at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Naval Materials Research Laboratory at Ambernath in Maharashtra on developing a land-based prototype plug, and subsequently an engineered, operational version of an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that will significantly cut the ‘indiscretion rate' of diesel and electric submarines.

The ‘indiscretion rate' is the percentage of time a submarine spends snorting when it is most vulnerable.

By eliminating the need for conventional submarines to frequently resurface for recharging batteries by breathing in air, it would considerably enhance their sub-surface endurance.

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Engine failure suspected as cause of crash as Tu-95 and An-22 fleet grounded

The Russian Air Force command has grounded the entire fleet of its Antonov An-22 transports and Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers after an An-22 was destroyed in a crash on Tuesday killing all twelve crew on board, the Force says.

The fact that the Air Force has decided to ground all Tu-95s suggests that engine failure is strongly suspected as the cause - both aircraft types share the Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop, the largest engine of its kind in the world.

"In order to maintain safety in using these aircraft, which both use this engine, the air force command has decided to suspend operations until the reason for the accident is clear," an Air Force spokesman said.

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DRDO demonstrates indigenous aerostat system

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday demonstrated its indigenously designed and developed aerostat system capable of carrying electro-optic and COMINT payloads for surveillance.

The trials of the system concluded on December 25, 2010.These included surveillance all over Agra and interception of variety of communications. ELINT and RADAR payloads are also being developed indigenously.

This platform is a result of development of a number of high end technologies in the field of aerodynamic design of balloon, fabrics, fabrication, hydraulic winch, electro optic tether, high pressure helium cylinder manifold, active pressure control system etc in association with large and medium sized Industrial partners.

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Russian Air Force receives 4 Su-34 fighter-bomber airplanes

As reported today by the Russian media, a spokesman would have declared that the Air Force of the Country has received four new Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers, NATO reporting name "Fullback".

70 new aircraft should be delivered to the Russian Air forces within 2015 to replace outdated tactical bombers at low altitude Sukhoi Su-24, NATO codename "Fencer" ("Swordsmen"), much used during the Cold War and currently subjected to a modernization process to extend its life's service.

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Navy Stamps blue Water Presence Across IOR, bolsters Capacity with Indctuion of MIG-29k, INS Shivalik

The nation woke up to the threat from the sea in the wake of the Mumbai attacks of November 2008.

The Government has since initiated a slew of measures to beef up coastal security and in the year gone by the Indian Navy, besides the Coast Guard, witnessed much activity and expansion.

The Mig-29K and the INS Shivalik were the biggest force multipliers in the Navy during the year gone by.

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End of an era as submarine is retired after 32 years' service

It was the end of an era at Devonport Naval Base when the last of the class of Swiftsure attack submarines was retired after 32 years' service.

HMS Sceptre was formally decommissioned at a special ceremony which saw tributes paid to her role, and the hundreds of submariners who served onboard.

Commander Steve Waller, the 16th and final commanding officer of the vessel, said the occasion marked more than the end of a submarine in service, but also the end of an era of Swiftsure submarines.

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India deploys 4 warships in Arabian sea to check pirates

In wake of rise in incidents of piracy off the coast of Lakshadweep, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have deployed at least four warships in the Arabian Sea and pressed into service aircraft for surveillance as part of efforts to check such incidents.

To deter the pirates from attempting any action in the region near Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, the two sea guarding agencies have decided to maintain sustained presence of four to five of their vessels in the Central Arabian Sea, Navy officials said here.

The step comes soon after pirates captured Bangladeshi merchant ship MV Jahan Moni on December 5 off the coast of India's Lakshadweep Islands on its way to Europe with 25 crew members and 41,000 tonnes of nickel ore on board.

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No more spiralling shipbuilding costs, vows navy chief

Commodore Steve Brunton, head of destroyers, said the Royal Navy now knows enough not to repeat the mistakes it made with Type 45 and supercarrier programmes.

Both projects ran over in cost by billions of pounds.

Now he said it is time to get tough and make contractors realise there is no 'open-ended cheque book' when it comes to the next generation of Royal Navy ships - the Type 26 frigates, still in the design stage.

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DRDO readies underwater missile test-fire

After the success of Prithvi-II, the DRDO is planning to test-fire a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from an underwater platform off the Andhra Pradesh coast in January.

While no one would elaborate whether it would be K-4 or K-15 missile, sources at the Chandipur base said preparations were on for the test.

The missile has been planned to be launched from a Pontoon (replica of a submarine) which is being readied.

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North Korea aiming nukes at aircraft carriers?

Sources report 'underwater weapons' under development

Defense analysts are expressing alarm over the possibility North Korea secretly is developing underwater nuclear torpedoes and mines, with plans to target U.S. aircraft carriers, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

The report comes from dissident North Koreans and there is no separate Western confirmation yet.

However, the fleeing North Koreans say their nation has a special group of researchers at the National Defense Technology Institute and they are "developing underwater weapons using nuclear warheads."

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China moving toward deploying anti-carrier missile

China is moving closer to deploying a ballistic missile designed to sink an aircraft carrier, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command said in newspaper interview published Tuesday.

Adm. Robert Willard told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that he believed the Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile program had achieved "initial operational capability," meaning that a workable design had been settled on and was being further developed.

Known among defense analysts as a "carrier killer," the Dong Feng 21D missile would be a game-changer in the Asian security environment, where U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle groups have ruled the waves since the end of World War II.

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Iran deploys submarines in high seas

The Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Monday that the country is deploying submarines in the high seas to further boost its military power.

Addressing a meeting in the Northern port city of Anzali on Monday to introduce the new commander of the Iranian Navy’s northern fleet, Admiral Sayyari noted Iran’s 20-year vision plan, and said “the plan envisages Iran as the most powerful country in the region” and the Navy should contribute its share in this regard.

Meanwhile, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has also laid much emphasis on the importance of the seas and the necessity for making an optimised use of it to attain sustainable development, Sayyari added.

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New safety equipment installed after Nuclear-sub spill

New safety equipment is being introduced at Devonport Naval Base, two years after a nuclear spill in which hundreds of litres of radioactive liquid escaped into the River Tamar, writes Andy Greenwood.

In November 2008, 280 litres of water, contaminated with radioactive Cobalt-60 and Tritium, poured from a burst hose as it was being pumped from the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Trafalgar. It was the worst nuclear spill at the Royal Navy dockyard since 1985.

Both the Royal Navy and Environment Agency insisted that there had been "no risk to the public" and the incident was treated seriously and fully investigated.

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Pakistan Navy test-fires several surface-to-air missiles

The Pakistan Navy today successfully test-fired several surface-to-air missiles to assess its air defence capabilities, officials said.

Three surface-to-air missile tests were carried out in Sonmiani area of Sindh province, a navy spokesman said, adding all missiles hit their targets precisely.

Naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir and Air Defence Commander Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar witnessed the drill.

“The successful testing will add to the defence capability of the Pakistan Navy,” Mr. Bashir said.

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Iran to launch spy satellite next year

Iran will launch a reconnaisance satellite dubbed the "Fajr" in the next few months, Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in a report Saturday by the official IRNA news agency.

Vahidi said the Islamic republic would also put into space around the same time another satellite, the Rasad 1 (Observation), whose launch was originally scheduled for August 2010.

Iran is "building different satellites and by end of the (Iranian) year (March 2011), the Fajr and Rasad satellites will be launched into space," the minister was quoted as saying.

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UCAVs: The Future of Air Warfare

The Indian Air Force is projected to induct a large number of 5th generation fighter aircraft within the timeframe of 2025.

This poses serious challenges for the numerically smaller Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The paper suggests UCAVs as a possible solution in countering India’s military aviation threat to Pakistan.

Pakistan can develop UCAVs in the same manner they developed the JF-17. The argument is in favor of UCAVs to supplement 4th generation fighters and enumerates an active and specific solution for PAF.

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U.S. to Send Another Nuke-Powered Aircraft Carrier to NE Asia

The U.S. will deploy another nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Northeast Asia in response to North Korea's threat of a "sacred war" using nuclear weapons, media reports said.

The Ronald Reagan will bring to three the number of U.S. aircraft carrier fleets in the west Pacific, joining the George Washington in Japan and the Carl Vinson that just arrived in Guam.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the new addition could raise tensions in the region, with the Chinese military already calling it the biggest threat to China and North Korea in six decades.

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Indian Space Rocket Explodes After Lift-Off

This is the dramatic moment when India's ambitious space programme suffered one of its biggest setback when an advanced communication satellite exploded within a minute after its launch.

A stunned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) did not give the reason for the blast in the sky but an officer told IANS that there was a fault in the se More..cond stage of the launch.

'The rocket's first stage seemed to have performed normally. The problem seems to have cropped up in the second stage as the rocket didn't get sufficient thrust,' he said.

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Gulf focuses on military might

The eight nations of the Gulf region have among the highest military expenditures in the world as a percentage of GDP, driven by huge arms purchases to defend against regional instability and protect valuable oil and gas assets.

Between 2000 and 2008, Oman and Saudi Arabia spent more of their GDP on the military than any other country for which data are available, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

During that time Oman spent as much as 12.5 per cent of annual GDP on defence, compared with the global average of 2.3 per cent and 2.5 per cent. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, spent between 8 per cent and 11.5 per cent of GDP on its military, said the report.

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Taiwan anti-sub aircraft in service next year

The first of a dozen anti-submarine aircraft are set to go into service in Taiwan next year, local media reported Sunday, as east Asian governments look to counter an increasingly assertive China.

Washington agreed in 2007 to sell the refurbished P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, along with three non-operational machines for spares, and "the first ones will be delivered beginning next year," the Taipei-based China Times said.

"The surveillance range of Taiwan's anti-submarine fleet will expand tenfold after the P-3Cs join the navy," it quoted an unnamed military source as saying.

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Port Royal returns for $20M in repairs

The Navy cruiser USS Port Royal is back in Pearl Harbor shipyard for more than $20 million in repairs — on top of the $40 million spent to fix damage from a 2009 grounding and an $18 million refurbishment immediately before the warship ran aground.

The latest yard period, which began in September and is expected to end in late February, is to address cracks discovered in the aluminum alloy superstructures on all 22 of the Navy's Ticonderoga-class cruisers, officials said. The ships were commissioned between 1986 and 1994.

The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., said cruiser hulls are made of steel and that superstructures — everything above the main deck — were fabricated using lighter-weight aluminum alloy 5456, a material that has been used by the Navy on deckhouses since 1958.

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Russia, France to build two Mistral helicopters together

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday, the Kremlin said. The presidents exchanged New Year greetings.

The two presidential administrations made a joint statement, which reads, “Russian President Dmitry Medvedev informed French President Nicolas Sarkozy that a consortium of the French company DCNS and the Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation won an international tender for the delivery of two helicopter ships to the Russian Defense Ministry announced on October 5.”

Two helicopter ships will be built jointly at first, and another two will be built in the future, the statement said.

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Chinese military capabilities overstated: The Post

China's growing military might which is a subject of anxiety among its neighbours appear to be overstated and the emerging giant is still far from developing capabilities that can pose a challenge to a power like the United States, a media report here said today.

The rising military might of China is not as strong as it is thought to be, The Washington Post said in a report analysing China's indigenous military strengths and where it stands compared to military powerhouses the US and Russia.

"Although the US is making changes in response to China's growing military power, experts and officials believe it will be years, if not decades, before China will be able to produce a much-feared ballistic missile capable of striking a warship or overcome weaknesses that keep it from projecting power far from its shores," the report said.

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US notifies sale of Harpoon missiles for Indian Navy

The US government has notified that country's legislature for a "possible" sale of 21 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile systems to India under a complete package worth $200 million (over Rs 900 crore).

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed the US Congress about the deal that would take place through foreign military sale route and would involve the sale of associated equipment, parts and logistical support.

The aircraft-fired missiles are for the maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft P-8I purchased by the Indian Navy from US aerospace major Boeing.

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Ultra Electronics joins Navy program to develop NGCM submarine torpedo defense system

Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems in Braintree, Mass., is joining a U.S. Navy program to develop the U.S. Navy's Next-Generation Countermeasure (NGCM) anti-torpedo defense system.

Ultra Electronics and the Argon ST subsidiary of the Boeing Co. in Fairfax, Va., will build competing NGCM engineering development models in preparation for a Navy downselect in 2015 to build a final, deployable NGCM system.

Ultra Electronics wan a $13.1 million contract Wednesday from U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington to develop NGCM engineering development models and special test sets. Boeing Argon ST won a similar contract to begin NGCM development under terms of a $16 million contract.

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Possibility of submarine dismantling at Rosyth not welcomed by all

There was mixed reaction on Thursday night when it was disclosed that Rosyth could be set to be the chosen base for dismantling nuclear submarines.
The move would see the west Fife site remove medium-level reactor contamination compartments from what it is believed to be around 27 submarines.

MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Murdo Fraser gave his support to the possible move and said it would be "fantastic news" for Fife — but local politicians Councillor Bill Walker and Ian Chisholm both expressed concern at what may happen with the contaminated waste.

Devonport in Plymouth won the contract to refit the Trident submarine fleet in 1993.

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China may be ready to launch its first aircraft carrier in 2011

China may be ready to launch its first aircraft carrier in 2011, Chinese military and political sources said on Thursday, a year ahead of US military analysts' expectations.

Analysts expect China to use its first operational aircraft carrier to ensure the security of its oil supply route through the Indian Ocean and near the disputed Spratly Islands, but full capability is still some years away.

"The period around July 1 next year to celebrate the (Chinese Communist) Party's birthday is one window (for launch)," one source with ties to the leadership said, requesting anonymity because the carrier programme is one of China's most closely guarded secrets.

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Morocco doubles defense spending in arms race with Algeria

A U.S. consultant said the North African kingdom has entered an arms race with neighboring Algeria. The consultant, Forecast International, said Morocco and South Africa have become the leading spenders on defense over the last five years.

"Morocco's defense budget doubled in size between 2005 and 2009," Forecast said. "This development comes as the government supports a series of new arms acquisitions that will allow the country to maintain a balance of power with neighboring Algeria."

Forecast, in a Dec. 20 report, did not specify Morocco's defense budget. The Newtown, Conn.-based firm said Morocco represented a 13 percent increase in African defense spending from 2005 to 2009.

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Indian Navy, Coast Guard to receive 127 ships in 2010-11

In recent years, the Indian MoD has been able to ensure improved results in the delivery of warships and submarines.

During 2009-2010, these numbers stood at 120 vessels for the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and coastal states.

In the current financial year, 85 vessels have already been delivered and by March 2011, a total of 127 vessels will be delivered, according to Indian defence minister, A K Antony.

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More delays for HMCS Victoria retrofit

The much-anticipated retrofit of HMCS Victoria submarine won't be completed before the middle of next year, the Defence Department confirmed Thursday.

The submarine has been in dry dock in Esquimalt, B.C. since 2005, undergoing $195 million in repairs and upgrades that were supposed to take two years.

Scheduled to re-enter active duty in 2009, it was delayed to late 2010 and again to mid-2011.

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Russia's new nuclear sub completes year-long trials

Russia's newest strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky has successfully completed trials programme of 2010, according to a media report.

"The submarine is not going to be delivered to the Navy so far; as is known, Yury Dolgoruky will undergo trials of standard weapon – new missile system Bulava", ITAR TASS quoted a shipyard's representative as saying.

Yuriy Dolgorukiy is the first SSBN submarine of the Borei class of the Project 955, which was laid down in 1996 and launched for outfitting in April 2007.

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Airbus misses RAAF KC-30 MRTT delivery deadline

Airbus Military has failed to deliver a KC-30A MRTT to the RAAF by the end of 2010, despite the company saying as late as last month that it still planned to meet that schedule.

The latest schedule slip, now taking total KC-30 program delays to over two years beyond the original late 2008 first delivery schedule, is not believed to be of a technical nature, but is due to ongoing delays in writing the comprehensive technical documentation for the aircraft’s all-new boom and its remote operating station, which currently does not satisfy the RAAF’s stringent airworthiness standards.

The RAAF’s airworthiness requirements are recognised worldwide for their high standards, and without having the appropriate technical documentation upon which to establish an acceptable baseline, the RAAF is unable to verify the airworthiness of the boom and therefore clear it for operational use.

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Saab receives Multi Mission Radar order from Australia

Defence and security company Saab has received an order for the GIRAFFE AMB multi-mission radar system and related

services from the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). The order amounts to 550 MSEK.

“We are very proud that the Giraffe AMB has been selected to enhance the force protection capabilities of the Australian Defence Force. This further underscores Saab’s strength as a radar supplier and the capability of our Giraffe system”, says Micael Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Saab’s business area Electronic Defence Systems.

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N.Korea Deploys More Missiles Along West Coast

North Korea has had extra surface-to-ship and surface-to-air missiles ready near the western coast since early this week in response to a South Korean artillery drill on Yeonpyeong Island, which took place on Monday.

"The North has deployed more SA-2 surface-to-air missiles and Silkworm surface-to-ship missiles at Cape Deungsan on the western coast," in addition to multiple rocket launchers and coastal artillery, a South Korean government source said Tuesday. "It seemed ready to launch some of the surface-to-ship missiles, so our naval ships moved out of range."

The surface-to-ship missiles have a range of 83-95 km, while the Soviet-made SA-2 surface-to-air missile has a range of 30-40 km, which could pose a threat to South Korean fighter jets in operations over areas near the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto maritime border.

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Israel to bolster defense along Gaza after new missile attack

Israel will deploy tanks equipped with a new defense system along the Gaza border after Palestinian fighters for the first time used an advanced Russian-designed missile against an Israeli tank this month, Israeli defense officials said Wednesday.

In the meantime, the UN sharply condemned Wednesday a rise in cross-border attacks by Palestinian fighters in Gaza after Israel filed a complaint. Criticizing the move, Hamas said Wednesday they will also file protests to the UN against Israeli air raids on the Gaza.

The Palestinian use of the laser-guided Kornet missiles, confirmed by Israel’s military chief Tuesday, marks a new milestone for Gaza fighters.

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BEL supplies P-8I aircraft equipment to Boeing

Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has supplied critical equipment to US aerospace major Boeing for the Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft that will help it identify friendly and enemy planes and forces.

“Boeing has received a key sensor technology for the Indian Navy’s P—8I long—range maritime reconnaissance and anti—submarine warfare aircraft last week from Bharat Electronics Ltd,” a Boeing official said today.

BEL delivered the Indian—designed Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Interrogator - a battle management system that will enable P—8I aircraft to distinguish friendly aircraft and forces.

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DGA Delivers First MM40 Exocet Block 3 Missiles

Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), the French defense ministry’s armaments agency, on Dec. 6 awarded its operational qualification to the Block 3 version of the MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile, designated MM40B3.

An initial batch of 45 missiles, ordered in December 2008 from prime contractor MBDA, will be delivered to the French navy between end 2010 and mid-2013.

The first four missiles were formally accepted on Dec. 16 by DGA’s quality control department.

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US Senate passes START

The US Senate has approved a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia -- after 13 Republicans broke ranks to back it. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty -- or START -- will cut both countries' arsenals of deployed warheads bombers and nuclear submarines.

Russia has welcomed the development, saying it will help develop relations between the two countries. The treaty represents a major foreign policy victory for President Obama, whose reputation has taken a battering in the US.

Source

Germany & Portugal : Delivery of second Class 209PN Submarine to the Portuguese Navy

On December 22, 2010, the second Class 209PN submarine for the Portuguese Navy, was delivered and commissioned on the premises of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft - a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems - in Kiel.

The new submarine named N.R.P. Arpão is equipped with an air-independent fuel cell propulsion system and combines the proven design principles of the Class 209 family with the innovative features of Class 214.

Ultra-modern sensors and an integrated Command and Weapon Control System make it optimally suited to its future reconnaissance and surveillance tasks.

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Netherlands to deploy navy ship to Ivory Coast

The Netherlands is deploying one of its naval vessels, HNLMS Amsterdam, to Ivory Coast. The move comes at the request of the French government.

Security in the West African country has deteriorated dramatically since incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to his rival Alassane Ouattara following last month's elections. The situation in the country remains volatile.

Dutch Defence Minister Hans Hillen and Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal have written to parliament to explain that the ship may be used for supplies or to evacuate civilians.

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India twice successfully tests n-capable Prithvi-II missile

India Wednesday successfully conducted two tests of its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile from a military base in Orissa, an official said.

The surface-to-surface missile, which has been inducted into the Indian armed forces, first blasted off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 230 km from here, at 8.15 a.m. and then at 9.15 a.m.

This is the second time two Prithvi missiles were successfully tested within a gap of one hour, the official said.

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Alenia Aermacchi: roll-out of first two Italian Air Force T-346A trainers

Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company controlled by Alenia Aeronautica, unveiled today the first two M-346 advanced trainers from the first batch of six aircraft for the Italian Air Force.

The roll-out took place at the Alenia Aermacchi factory at Venegono Superiore and was attended by company executives and representatives of the Armed Forces and local government.

Within a few months the first two T-346A - as the M-346 is designated by the Italian Air Force - will be delivered to the Experimental Flying Unit at Pratica di Mare Air Force Base, near Rome, where they will undergo operational evaluation testing.

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Boosting trade and military-technical cooperation top Russia-India talks

Trade, nuclear power and defense ties have been at the forefront of a meeting between the Russian and Indian leaders in New Delhi. Military and trade deals worth billions of dollars were sealed on Tuesday.

A total of 30 documents were signed on the first day of Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to the world's second-fastest growing economy, and among them an agreement on oil and gas cooperation development, as well as cooperation pacts in science, technology and innovation.

Deals on peaceful nuclear energy and information technology were also signed.

Russia Today

Pakistan Expands Fighter Force

The Pakistani air force is gearing up for a major expansion of its JF-17 single-engine fighter force.

The service just began taking delivery of the first batch of Chengdu FC-1/JF-17s (now produced in Pakistan) this year, with about half of the 42 ordered now in place. With one squadron operational, service officials now plan to set up a second unit.

What’s more, the Pakistani government hopes to order a second batch of 50 fighters next year, says Air Commo.Junaid, who is involved in the JF-17 project. Pakistan is looking for enhanced features on the second batch, although the exact requirements have not been spelled out.

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BAE Systems Wins U.S. Navy Minehunting Sonar Contract

BAE Systems will deliver an upgraded minehunting sonar system to the U.S. Navy for the detection and classification of bottom and moored sea mines. BAE Systems will provide four systems under a $14 million contract.

The AN/SQQ-32(V)4 minehunting sonar set with the high frequency wide band upgrade replaces the existing SQQ-32(V)3 detection sonar currently employed aboard the MCM-1 Avenger Class mine countermeasures ships.

This upgrade improves detection performance in the littoral environment and against stealth mines.

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Pentagon Said Likely to Back New Design for Ballistic Missile Submarine

The U.S. Defense Department is likely to pursue a brand new design for its next nuclear-armed submarine, following a Navy recommendation during a key program review earlier this month, according to experts and observers (see GSN, Sept. 27).

The Pentagon's Defense Acquisition Board on December 9 completed an initial design review meeting on the so-called "SSBN(X)" effort, spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin confirmed last week. However, she indicated the department was not ready to release the review's results.

If approved by defense acquisitions czar Ashton Carter, the replacement submarine for today's Ohio-class ballistic missile vessels would enter its first major acquisition program phase, called "Milestone A."

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Tejas successfully completes drop tank jettison trial

India's light combat aircraft Tejas has successfully completed the 'drop tank jettison trial' over the recently commissioned air-to-ground range of National Flight Test Centre at Chitradurga .

The 1,200-litre drop tank jettison trial was conducted yesterday at a critical point in the jettison envelope on Tejas LSP-3 aircraft, piloted by Group Captian Suneet Krishna, P S Subramanyam, Programme Director (CA) and Director of the Aeronautical Development Agency, said in a statement here.

Jettisonable drop tanks are carried by a combat aircraft, after completing the mission and are required to be dropped from the mother aircraft for a quick getaway from the enemy territory and other emergency situations.

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Low altitude digital Lakshya-2 successfully flight tested

City-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation, has successfully conducted the flight test of Lakshya-2, built to meet anticipated user requirements for such a vehicle for testing out their guns and missiles.

The users have indicated their requirement of flying the pilot-less target aircraft at very low altitudes (15 to 25 metres above sea level) to simulating trajectory of low-level cruise missiles, DRDO said in a statement.

"ADE prepared Lakshya-2 with necessary hardware and software for meeting the user requirements.

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Pak successfully test fires 'Ghauri Hataf-V' ballistic missile

Pakistan has successfully test-fired its ballistic missile- Ghauri Hataf-V.

A spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the missile is capable of carrying all kinds of warheads, Geo News reported.

The test-firing of Ghauri Hataf-V, which has a range of 1300 kilometers, was a normal experiment to identify its capability, it added.

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Helibras delivers the first three Eurocopter EC725 helicopters for the Brazilian Armed Forces

Eurocopter’s Helicópteros do Brasil (Helibras) subsidiary today delivered the initial three EC725s for Brazil’s armed forces, marking a key milestone in the program to supply 50 of these medium-sized, multi-role helicopters – which will lead to in-country production of the rotary-wing aircraft.

These first three helicopters were provided in a standard configuration and will undergo final outfitting in Brazil.

Eurocopter and Helibras pilots and technicians performed delivery flight tests, which were followed by acceptance evaluations carried out by Brazilian Armed Forces representatives – whose personnel have been in training since May to operate and maintain the EC725s.

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Russia to develop new heavy ICBM by 2020

Russia's state arms procurement program through 2020 provides for the development of a new heavy ballistic missile, a leading missile designer said on Monday.

The final decision should be made in 2012-13 by the expert community, not solely the Defense Ministry, said Yury Solomonov of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT), the developer of the troubled Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile.

"This matter is beyond the Defense Ministry's competence. It is a matter of state importance," he said.

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Fourth Airbus Military A400M makes first flight

The fourth Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has made its first flight – the culmination of a highly successful 2010 which also saw the fleet of Grizzly development aircraft complete just over 1,000 hours flight-time and 300 flights.

Known as Grizzly 4, the aircraft took off from Seville, Spain with a weight of 130 tonnes at 10h18 local time (GMT+1) and landed five hours and ten minutes later.

Experimental Test Pilot Klaus-Dietrich Flade captained the flight, supported by Experimental Test Pilot Christophe Cail.

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