Top Court Rejects Call to Close Airbase in Central Russia

Voronezh Malshevo air base
Russia’s Supreme Court threw out a petition by a group of residents in the Central Russian city of Voronezh to close a military airbase, the city legislature said on Wednesday.

The petition, filed in 2011, urged the Defense Ministry to remove the airbase called Baltimore from the city boundaries.

The residents have held numerous rallies, demonstrations and pickets complaining to the local authorities about the noise created by flying jets, especially at night, as well as the extensive ammunition and fuel storage facilities that pose a serious threat to the residents.

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Lockheed Martin Receives $197 Million U.S. Army Contract for Guided MLRS Rocket Production

Lockheed Martin received a $197 million contract option from the U.S. Army for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rocket production.

This contract option was attached to the GMLRS Production Lot 7 contract, which now has a total funded value of $550.8 million. The GMLRS Production Lot 7 contract was originally awarded to Lockheed Martin in July 2012. This move enables the service to pay less for each rocket than if a separate 2013 production contract were issued.

“Our top priority is to ensure that our warfighters are equipped with the most effective, affordable and dependable weapon system available, and we’re proud that GMLRS meets that standard,” said Scott Arnold, vice president of precision fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

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Final Giraffe arrives in Australia

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the final of three Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Giraffe radars has arrived in Australia.

Mr Clare said two radar systems are currently operating in Tarin Kot. This third system will be used to train troops ahead of their deployment to Afghanistan.

“The Giraffe radars provide our troops with early detection of attacks from enemy rockets, artillery and mortars, protecting Australian and ISAF forces,” Mr Clare said.

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Reduced F-35 performance specifications may have significant operational impact

The Pentagon's decision to reduce the performance specifications for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will have a significant operational impact, a number of highly experienced fighter pilots consulted by Flightglobal concur.

But the careful development of tactics and disciplined employment of the jet may be able to mitigate some of those shortcomings.

"This is going to have a big tactical impact," one highly experienced officer says. "Anytime you have to lower performance standards, the capability of what the airframe can do goes down as well."

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100th F-35 On Lockheed Martin’s Production Line

Assembly of the 100th Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is well underway at the F-35 production facility here.

F-35 technicians are in the final phase of building the wings that will be installed on the 100th aircraft known as AF-41.

AF-41, a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, is one of 88 F-35s in various stages of completion on Lockheed Martin production lines Fort Worth and Marietta, Ga., and supplier locations across the world.

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Israel hit SA-17 missiles shipment

News agency quotes US and regional security officials as saying Israel conducted airstrike inside Syria hitting convoy of trucks; officials estimate target was SA-17 missiles which would be 'game-changing' in hands of Hezbollah.

Israel conducted an airstrike inside Syria overnight near the border with Lebanon, hitting a convoy of trucks, US and regional officials said Wednesday.

The regional officials said Israel had been planning in the days leading up to the airstrike to hit a shipment of weapons bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon.

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China sets navy exercise amid Japan tensions

China said Wednesday that its navy will proceed with a deep-water training exercise amid a continuing spat with Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea that has sparked regular confrontations between patrol boats from each side.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the previously scheduled exercise would take place in the coming days in the Pacific, beyond where the islands are located, and where deep waters are ideal for anti-submarine drills.

The navy, which last year launched China's first aircraft carrier, held seven such drills last year, each involving a half-dozen or more surface ships and an unknown number of submarines. The exercises reflect China's long-held aspirations to build a navy that can operate far from its shores.

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KAI, Philippines to enter final negotiations for 12 FA-50s

Korea Aerospace Industries and the Philippines will soon commence final negotiations for the purchase of 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft.

A source close to the deal tells Flightglobal that negotiations will commence in February. The source expects negotiations to last for six months. If discussions are successful, Manila could receive its first FA-50s in 2015.

The source's comments came after Philippine media reports quoted presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda as saying that Manila will move forward with negotiations for the 12 aircraft.

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China offers Type 054 to meet Thai frigate requirement

China has offered Thailand its Type 054-class Jiangkai frigate to meet a requirement to procure multipurpose frigates for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), thus potentially putting Beijing and Washington head to head in a large-scale international procurement programme.

Sources have confirmed to IHS Jane's that preliminary discussions between Thailand and China have commenced over the potential deal, in which China has said it is prepared to sell to the RTN three Type 054-class vessels at a cost that will meet the programme's budget of USD1 billion.

While the RTN is said to favour a purchase of a US, European, or South Korean platform, the potential deal to procure from China is being led by the government, which views the Type 054-class as a cost-effective alternative to Western vessels.

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IRGC Starts 3-day Wargames in Persian Gulf

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday started a series of wargames in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday to exercise different tactics of naval defense.

The 3-day naval wargames, codenamed Fath 91, are underway in the IRGC's third naval zone in the Central parts of the Persian Gulf (Assalouyeh) and its Northern parts.

The IRGC naval forces will carry out different defensive operational tactics based on asymmetric warfare for times of crisis.

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Australian Defence Force to sell off thousands of vehicles and other war equipment

Australians will soon be able to own, and use, a slice of military history, as a huge sale of second-hand vehicles kicks off the largest disposal of defence equipment since World War II.

A vast range of war fighting kit from machine guns to jet fighters and torpedos to warships will eventually be sold.

Starting in March, up to 12,000 vehicles, including Land Rovers, trucks, semi-trailers, tankers, Unimogs, motorcycles and trailers valued at more than $100 million will be sold by Sydney-based firm Australian National Disposals, trading as Australian Frontline Machinery (AFM).

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INS Sindhurakshak en route to Vizag

The temperature is plus 4 Celsius under the ice and minus 10 above it, but it’s somewhat hot inside the robust hull.

The crew of the INS Sindhurakshak has already made the revived ship its home and is now taking it south to its home station and combat duty area from the icy embrace of the White Sea.

The INS Sindhurakshak is a diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy that underwent interim overhaul and modernisation at the Russian Severodvinsk-based Zvezdochka shipyard.

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UK unveils £159 billion defence equipment plan, but doubts remain

Britain published on Thursday a 159-billion-pound long-term defence equipment spending plan, a move aimed at reversing decades of mismanagement but which drew only qualified praise from experts.

The plan covers spending from 2012 to 2022, the first time the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has outlined defence equipment spending over such a long period, reflecting the gestation time of major military projects.

Equipment covered in the plan contained no surprises, having been outlined in the MoD's last major planning exercise, the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which charted a course for British security needs by 2020.

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ST Engineering Wins Newbuild Contract for Eight Naval Vessels for the Republic of Singapore Navy

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) today announced that the Group has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) for the design and build of eight new vessels.

This new development attests to the Group’s core strength of providing integrated capabilities and solutions to support its customers.

The Group’s marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine) will build the eight vessels at its Singapore Benoi Yard.

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IL-476 Airlifter Makes First Long Test Flight

A prototype Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (also known as the Il-476) heavy-lift transport plane completed its first prolonged test flight on Tuesday, its manufacturer Aviastar said.

The flight, which lasted four hours and 25 minutes at altitudes of up to 10,000 meters (33,000 feet), was designed to assess the performance of its onboard avionics, engines, automated control system, and other characteristics, Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar said.

The prototype will soon be sent to the Zhukovsky flight test center near Moscow for further trials.

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North Korea Upgrading Egyptian Scud Missiles

Egypt is responsible for the first wartime use of Scud missiles during its attack on Israel in the Yom Kippur War.

Egypt is now working with North Korea to upgrade its Scud missiles.

Much like Egypt’s tanks and jet planes, there really is only one country that could conceivably be a target of all that firepower.

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Sales of F-35 fighters to Israel could violate Japan's export ban

Potential U.S. sales of F-35 stealth fighter jets, which include Japanese-made parts, to Israel could send Japan into turbulence because of the nation's ban on weapons exports to designated countries.

Lockheed Martin Corp. of the United States is developing the radar-evading aircraft. Japan has allocated 29.9 billion yen ($330 million) to acquire two F-35s--the first to be manufactured with the participation of Japanese companies--in the draft fiscal 2013 budget adopted on Jan. 29.

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera admitted at a news conference the same day that F-35s that use Japanese parts may be exported to Israel.

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Turkey completes Anka UAV test campaign

Turkish Aerospace Industries announced its ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV system has completed acceptance test flights.

The last of more than 130 ground and air tests, performed last week by the unmanned aerial vehicle, were witnessed by representatives of Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and the Turkish air force.

The final flight evaluation on Jan. 20 lasted 18 hours and demonstrated the aircraft's endurance, the effectiveness of its 124-mile data link range.

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Drone Spying Capabilities Are About To Take Another Huge Leap

The fleet of drones that police our skies are about to get an upgrade.

Developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and BAE Systems, The $18.5 million Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System (ARGUS) program will be the most advanced surveillance system in the sky.

Once attached under an unmanned aerial vehicle, an ARGUS camera can patrol at 17,500 feet and send back high resolution images of 1.8 gigapixels.

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More than 300 UK troops set for Mali mission

There are no plans for British troops to take on a “combat” role in the front-line in the war between Islamist fighters and the Malian government, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

However, up to 40 British personnel could be deployed inside Mali itself with a further 200 poised to train troops from other African countries for the mission, Number 10 said.

Some 70 personnel are already in the region operating a Sentinel spyplane, while 20 RAF crew are staffing a transport plane carrying equipment from France to Mali.

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Pakistan’s Naval Survelliance Bolstered by U.S. P3C Orion Aircraft

Pakistan’s Navy will receive the P3C Orion surveillance aircraft from U.S. later this year, indicating strengthening defense ties between the two countries, said state media, quoting the country's ambassador Sherry Rehman in Washington.

The Pakistani ambassador emphasized that Pakistan-US interactions were crucial to push forward bilateral defense ties and the Navy's key role in securing North Arabian sea lanes as part of the anti-piracy international coalition was widely appreciated by the US.

Pakistan’s agreement with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of seven Orion aircrafts was signed seven years ago. Of these, three aircraft were delivered in 2010, while two were delivered in 2011.

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China's increasing military power conducive to peace in Asia-Pacific

Recently, Chinese people have heard much good news from the military industry. Soon after the “Y-20” jumbo air freighter succeeded in its first flight, there came the news that China successfully carried out its interceptor missile test.

Thinking of previous outstanding performances including the launch of aircraft carrier, trial flight of the fifth-generation fighter jets and opening of Beidou satellite navigation system, Chinese people feel deeply proud.

For some narrow-minded Western media, China’s increasing military power seems to have given more evidence on the argument of “Chinese Military Threat Theory”, and makes it easy to draw a conclusion of “Every powerful country is inclined to seek hegemony”.

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S. Korean military supports rocket launch

The South Korean military has deployed two Aegis destroyers off its southern coast to trace a space rocket to be launched later in the day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday.

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 at 4 p.m.

"The Navy has deployed two Aegis warships 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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Yemen, U.S. intercept ship with 'large cache of illegal arms'

Yemeni authorities working with the U.S. Navy intercepted a ship carrying a "substantial" cache of "illegal arms" such as surface-to-air missiles, potent explosives and rocket-propelled grenades, a U.S. official and Yemen's government said Monday.

The incident took place in Yemeni territorial waters in the Arabian Sea last Wednesday, according to a statement issued five days later from Yemen's embassy in Washington.

The crew of the USS Farragut, a Naval destroyer, was working with Yemeni authorities when they spotted the vessel, said an official in the Obama administration.

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Progress Made Towards Removal of Grounded USS Guardian

A U.S. Navy-led salvage team has removed the bulk of fuel oil and materials that could pose environmental risks, such as paint, solvents, and lubricants from mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef January 17.

No fuel has leaked since the grounding, and all of the ship's approximately 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel was safely transferred to the U.S.-contracted Malaysian tug-boat, the Vos Apollo during controlled defueling operations completed on January 25.

US Navy ship salvage and maritime architecture experts continue to develop the salvage plan and perform work to reinforce the structure of the ship, such as reinforcing the hull with Kevlar lines in an effort to reduce the strain that the ship sustains due to wave action.

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Unmanned Little Bird: Flexible autonomy from land and sea

The Unmanned Little Bird H-6U is neither your average rotorcraft nor your average unmanned airborne system (UAS).

Unlike a traditional helicopter, it can fly without a pilot in the cockpit.

And, contrary to its name, Unmanned Little Bird can be flown either fully or partially manned, making it an ideal platform to train users and flight-test UAS technologies.

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Russia to Buy 7 AW139 Helicopters

Russia’s Defense Ministry is planning to buy seven multirole AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters for 630 million rubles (about $20 million) this year, the Federal Agency for Arms Procurements said Monday.

“An open tender will be announced in February,” it said.

Russia started making AW139s at the HeliVert plant last year.

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Iranian Navy Foils Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker Off Oman

Iranian warships thwarted an attempted pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in international waters on Sunday.

The Iranian Navy stated that the ship was attacked by two pirate boats just 20 miles off Masirah Island off the coast of Oman.

Once alerted, the fleet of warships hurried to the scene and forced the pirates to flee by performing successful defensive operations and using heavy firepower, reported Fars News Agency.

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Engineers discover culprit behind F-35B fueldraulic line failure

Engineers working on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) have identified the likely culprit behind a fueldraulic line failure on 16 January that led to the temporary grounding of the US Marine Corps' B-model aircraft.

"Government and industry engineering teams investigating the origins of a failed propulsion fueldraulic line on an F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant have identified the probable cause and are developing a return to flight plan to lift the suspension of flight operations," the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) says.

According to the JPO, engineers have ruled out any design or maintenance problems. "Evidence revealed a quality discrepancy from the company that produces the fueldraulics line," the JPO says. "The investigation determined the line was improperly crimped."

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Iran launches monkey into space, showing missile progress

Iran said on Monday it had launched a live monkey into space, seeking to show off missile systems that have alarmed the West because the technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead.

The Defense Ministry announced the launch as world powers sought to agree a date and venue with Iran for resuming talks to resolve a standoff with the West over Tehran's contested nuclear program before it degenerates into a new Middle East war.

Efforts to nail down a new meeting have failed repeatedly and the powers fear Iran is exploiting the diplomatic vacuum to hone the means to produce nuclear weapons.

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Indonesia Buys Chinese Missile for Warships

The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) will use C-705 missiles from China in its locally-made fast missile boats (KCR). According to plan, 16 KCR-40 warships manufactured in Batam by PT Palindo Marine will be equipped with the missiles.

"The contract had been signed, the missiles are expected to arrive in 2014," First Admiral Untung Suropati, Chief of Information Center for TNI AL, told Tempo on Monday, January 28.

In accordance with Law No.16/2012, the government will cooperate in technology transfer in the purchasing scheme. With the scheme, it is expected that three domestic factories: PT. Pindad, Lapan, and PT. Indonesian Aerospace, will be able to manufacture their own missiles.

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US considering new drone base in Africa

The United States so far has only one permanent base in Africa, in Djibouti
The US is planning to consolidate its position in Africa with a new drone outpost in Niger, with the stated purpose of providing unarmed surveillance support to French efforts in Mali and keeping tabs on al-Qaeda elements on the continent.

The robotic unmanned aircraft would likely be based in Niger, on the eastern border of Mali, where French forces are currently waging a campaign against Al-Qaeda, AFP reported, quoting an anonymous official.

If the plan is approved, up to 300 US military servicemembers and contractors could be sent to the base to operate the drone aircraft, the New York Times reported. US Africa Command is also considering another location as an alternative to the base in Burkina Faso, the official said.

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India's Vikramaditya to undergo final trials in mid-2013

India's delayed aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is to undergo trials this summer prior to its delivery to the Indian navy.

Trials cannot commence before June as the port of Severodvinsk, at which the ship is moored, will be icebound until then, Russia's embassy in New Delhi says in a statement on its website.

An Indian navy source separately confirms that "delivery acceptance trials" will take place this summer, setting the stage for final delivery to the service.

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China denies selling weapons to ethnic army in Shan State

China has dismissed as “ill-founded” and “misguided” allegations it sold or delivered weapons to the about 30,000-strong United Wa State Army in Shan State.

"The Chinese government holds a clear and consistent policy of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar," its embassy here said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Reports alleging China had sold or transferred weapons to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar are misguided, it said.

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Submarine Trends In Asia Pacific: Air-Independent Propulsion A Game Changer?

The contending strategic realities of the Asia-Pacific region compel states to adopt innovations of their rivals. This is the case for new classes of conventional submarine designs, which incorporate an array of innovative technologies in order to maximise their survivability and lethality in diverse maritime operations.

By Michael Raska

WHILE EUROPE and North America remain key submarine markets, China’s ongoing military modernisation coupled with contending international relations in the Asia-Pacific will increasingly drive submarine procurement in the region over the next decade.

In 2011, the total submarine market in Asia-Pacific is estimated at US$4.4 billion, and for the next decade, submarine expenditures are projected to US$46 billion.

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Thales delivers first MELTEM II CASA CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft to Turkey

Thales has achieved delivery of the first of three maritime surveillance aircraft under the Meltem II programme for Turkey.

This aircraft will be operated by the Turkish Coast Guard from Izmir Air Base. Pierre Eric Pommellet, Senior Vice-President of Thales Group, officially handed over the aircraft at a ceremony held at the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) facility in Ankara.

The official hand-over was presided by Turkish Minister of Interior, Mr Idris Naim Sahin, who thanked all contributors to the programme and its main contractor Thales for “delivering a state-of-the-art aircraft which will enable the Turkish Coast Guards to perform their surveillance duty up to 120 miles from the coast”.

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China carries out anti-missile test

China tested emerging military technology aimed at destroying missiles in mid-air after an initial test in 2010, state media said, in a move that will unnerve its neighbours.

A brief report by the official Xinhua news agency said the military carried out a "land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory".

"The test has reached the pre-set goal," the report quoted an unnamed defence ministry official as saying. "The test is defensive in nature and targets no other country."

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Russia poised to achieve nuclear superiority over U.S.

In his second term as Russian president, Vladimir Putin has made the rebuilding of Russian military forces, including its nuclear striking capabilities, a top priority. Advanced missiles, bombers, and submarines are either on the drawing board or coming into operational service, just as the United States is on the verge of drastic cuts in its armed forces.

Of the three legs of Russia's nuclear triad (air, land, sea forces), attack submarines carrying newly designed intercontinental ballistic missiles are receiving special attention.

Moscow is seeking first to equal and then overtake the United States in nuclear weaponry, according to a now retired military weapons and terrorism analyst.

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Iron Dome Deployed in North to Defend Against Syrian WMDs

The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has been installed in northern Israel, according to the IDF, due to the escalating civil war in Syria.

The move comes in response to increasing concerns that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may lose control over the chemical weapons arsenal in the country.

Should that occur, the lethal arsenal held by Israel’s northern neighbor could be handed over, or become vulnerable to theft by a number of Islamic terrorist organizations, among them Hizbullah or Al Qaeda.

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Dream of fitting Kaveri engine onto LCA-Tejas over

The dream of fitting Kaveri engine being developed indigenously onto the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft LCA-Tejas appears to be as good as over.

“Kaveri engine as such will never come into LCA,” P S Subramanyam, Director of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a DRDO lab, which is the nodal agency for the design and development of LCA with HAL as the principal partner, said here.

Noting that LCA-Mark 1 and Mark 2 will have engines from GE, he, however, said the LCA would support Kaveri engine’s flight tests and demonstrations and certification.

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Iran starts mass production of new missile system

On Sunday, the production line of a new Iranian domestically manufactured short-range missile system named the Ya Zahra was inaugurated and mass produced Mersad missile systems were delivered to the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Air Defense Base.

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi attended the inauguration ceremony and briefed reporters on the features of the mobile Ya Zahra air defense system, saying, “The weapon has the capability to identify, track, and destroy aerial targets, such as various types of aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) within a short range.”

“The system can be deployed anywhere and carry out its mission effectively,” he added.

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Australian air force faces strike fighter gap

Australia will almost certainly be forced to buy 24 new Super Hornet fighter planes for about $2 billion to plug a looming gap in its air defences caused by delays in the purchase of the cutting-edge Joint Strike Fighter.

According to a leaked draft of the 2013 defence white paper, Australia will take delivery of just two Lockheed Martin JSFs by 2020, indicating the government will need to buy a batch of rival Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets, which are cheaper but older and less stealthy than the fifth-generation JSF (pictured).

''By the end of this decade, the ADF will . . . take delivery of three air warfare destroyers, two landing helicopter dock amphibious ships and the initial two F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft,'' the white paper states.

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Wildcat helicopter unveiled by Royal Navy

Boasting a fearsome armoury, this state-of the-art helicopter is the Royal Navy’s latest recruit which will play a vital role in protecting its fleet around the world.

The £26 million Wildcat attack helicopter, so powerful it can blow a submarine out of the water, will replace the Lynx fleet, which has served the Fleet Air Arm since the mid-70s.

Yesterday the chopper, which is fitted with the latest sensors, equipment and weapons, took its first flight from its base in Yeovil, Somerset.

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Defense Ministry mulls request to provide submarine technology for Australian Navy

Japan's Defense Ministry is weighing whether to share submarine technology developed by a contractor for the Maritime Self-Defense Force with the Royal Australian Navy, sources said.

Given that submarine technology is highly classified, doing so would signal strengthened cooperation among friendly nations in the Asia-Pacific region where the Chinese Navy has demonstrated a growing presence.

The sharing of military technology was made possible with the relaxation in 2011 of the three principles Japan had adhered to with regard to weapons exports. However, Japan has until now not shared such technology with any nation other than the United States.

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Taiwan needs new submarines

President Ma Ying-jeou said Monday that Taiwan badly needs a new generation of submarines to beef up its naval fleet.

"Our existing submarines are all very old and need renewal," Ma said while meeting with a United States congressional delegation headed by Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ma noted that Royce paid a visit to a naval base in southern Taiwan Sunday and boarded the Guppy-class submarine "Sea Lion."

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India test fires missile from under sea, completes nuclear triad

After a smooth countdown at 1.40 pm today, India's missile, named BO5, emerged effortlessly breaking the balmy waters of the Bay of Bengal.

The missile was launched from an approximate depth of about 50 metres, simulating exactly the conditions as would prevail during an operational launch from India's indigenously made nuclear-powered submarine bINS Arihant.

The missile whose name has been variously given as Sagarika or at times K-15 or even Dhanush has finally been christened as BO5 and is a medium-range ballistic missile.

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Boeing-led Missile Defense Team Completes GMD Flight Test

Boeing, working with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and industry teammates, today returned the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system to testing with a successful flight. GMD is the United States' only defense against long-range ballistic missile threats.

"Today's test signals the next step in GMD’s future capability and is the culmination of successful partnerships among government, military leaders and industry,” said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager for Boeing Strategic Missile and Defense Systems. "Throughout our team effort to solve one of the toughest challenges facing the aerospace industry, GMD remained on alert and continues to defend the United States."

GMD flight testing was halted in early 2011 after a guidance error resulted in a failed intercept in a December 2010 test.

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Japan launches 2 intelligence satellites as tensions rise with North Korea

Japan launched two intelligence satellites into orbit on Sunday amid growing concerns that North Korea is planning to test more rockets of its own and possibly conduct a nuclear test.

Officials say the launch Sunday of the domestically produced HII-A rocket went smoothly and the satellites -- an operational radar satellite and an experimental optical probe -- appear to have reached orbit.

Japan began its intelligence satellite program after North Korea fired a long-range missile over Japan's main island in 1998.

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First NATO Patriot battery goes operational in Turkey

NATO has declared operational the first Patriot anti-missile battery deployed in southern Turkey, set to intercept possible rockets fired from Syria. The other five units are expected to be in place and operational over the next few days.

The first battery to go combat ready was provided by the Netherlands, according to NATO. The unit is the latest version of the US-made Patriots, which is optimized for intercepting incoming rockets. It’s deployed in the city of Adana.

Other Patriot systems, which are expected to be set up and made fully operational by the end of January, will be stationed in the Turkish cities of Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep.

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Repairs needed for Coast Guard HC-144A aircraft engine

The U.S. Coast Guard currently operates 13 HC-144A maritime patrol aircraft, each powered by two CT7-9C3 turboprop engine power units.

The aircraft is manufactured by Airbus Military in Spain, and the CT7-9C3 turboprop engine power units are provided by General Electric Corp. in Lynn, Mass.

These aircraft are procured under the authority of the Coast Guard Aviation Program Management Office.

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India parades brand-new intercontinental ballistic missile

India used its annual Republic Day parade to display its first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile, just hours after the country’s president made loaded comments about its relationship with long-time antagonist Pakistan.

Republic Day, nominally a national holiday celebrating the introduction of a constitution following independence, is traditionally a display of nationalistic fervor, capped by a massive procession showing off all the latest military hardware.

The pride of place this year was taken by Agni-V, a new-generation missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads as far as China and central Russia, which has been developed at a cost of more than half a billion US dollars. Although the missile underwent a successful test launch in August last year, this was the first time it has been shown to the wider public.

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Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Topped Off with 555-Metric Ton Island

Huntington Ingalls Industries celebrated significant progress today as the 555-metric ton island was lowered onto the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

The island will serve as the command center for flight deck operations aboard the first of the next-generation class of aircraft carriers.

"The Gerald R. Ford continues our tradition of building quality ships," said NNS President Matt Mulherin. "It is our duty, our responsibility and--indeed--our great privilege because we know CVN 78 will provide American presence and diplomacy anywhere she is needed. She will be home to thousands of sailors, and she will keep President Ford's legacy alive for future generations."

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With Argentine navy’ honour lying on her side, Minister Puricelli could be next official removed

The Argentine government has removed two top naval officers from their duties following the sinking, this week at her moorings pier-side of the destroyer “Santisima Trinidad” once the flagship of the service and which was actively involved in the invasion of the Falklands in 1982.

Defence minister Arturo Puricelli ordered the head of the Navy “the immediate removal from their posts” of the officers in charge of Maintenance and Arsenal, Alberto Garcia Grigioni and the head of the Decommissioning Group Marino Veccia.

However the incident could be the last straw of a very poor ministerial performance for Puricelli and his exit in a near future.

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China’s New Freight Plane Extends Military Modernization Program

China successfully tested a locally- built freight plane, two months after the debut of its fighter jet, boosting the nation’s efforts to use homegrown technology to expand defense capacity.

The Yun-20, which had its maiden flight yesterday, can take a maximum load of 66 tons and is suited for long-distance transportation, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The plane will aid the armed forces and will help deliver disaster relief and humanitarian aid, according to the report.

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US Navy eyes silent running for nuclear powered subs

One of the most critical aspects of the US military's fleet of submarines is the ability to operate in almost total silence.

When a submarine is submerged under the surface of the ocean, it's obviously difficult to see, but also needs to operate quietly to avoid detection from hostile forces.

As such, the US Navy has been working on a new and revolutionary nuclear drive system for its formidable fleet of subs that promises to be more efficient and quieter than systems in use today.

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Sukhoi Delivers 5 Su-34 Bombers to Russian Air Force

The Novosibirsk aircraft plant, part of the Sukhoi holding, delivered five multirole Su-34 strike aircraft to the Russian Air Force on Friday, the manufacturer said.

The jets will make a nonstop ferry flight from Novosibirsk to an air base in Voronezh, southwest Russia, a distance of over 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles).

Six Su-34s were delivered to the Air Force in 2011, as part of an initial contract signed in 2008 for 32 aircraft. The Voronezh base received its first five Su-34 warplanes in late December.

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Russian Shipyard Starts Work on Fifth Buyan Corvette

A shipbuilder in Russia's republic of Tatarstan has begun construction of a fifth Project 21631 Buyan-class missile corvette for the Navy, the Zelenodolsk shipyard said on Friday.

The corvette, a derivative of the earlier Project 21630, will be named Serpukhov.
The Buyan-class is optimized for anti-surface warfare.

It is armed with an eight-round launcher for 3M54 Kaliber (SS-N-27) cruise missiles, Igla 1M anti-aircraft missiles, a 100-mm main gun and two 30-mm air-defense guns and is equipped with electronic countermeasures equipment, according to Russian-ships.info.

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HMS Vengeance 1st of class to receive new electrical power conversion system

A new alternative system to traditional motor generators for electrical power conversion is to be installed on HMS Vengeance during the current Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) being undertaken by Babcock, in a first-of-class project that follows some four years of development and planning.

The decision to undertake this first embodiment on Vengeance was taken by the MoD In-Service Submarines (ISM) team in late November 2012, and installation commenced this month (January).

The project is part of a programme to install Main Static Converters (MSCs) to replace the motor generators (MGs), an essential part of the onboard electrical power system, on all four Vanguard class submarines.

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HAL to hand over 2 Rudra helicopters to Army

The Indian Army will be handed over the first two weapon system integrated (WSI) version of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Mk-IV) Rudra, during Aero India 2013.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) chairman R K Tyagi told Express that Rudra will also be available for customer demonstration flights during the show. "Rudra will definitely add more teeth to Indian Army and we will roll out more production units to the squadron," he said.

Express had earlier reported that around 70 Rudras will fly out of HAL to meet Army's initial requirements.

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South Africa court 'halts Zimbabwe helicopter donation'

A court in South Africa has temporarily halted a delivery of helicopters to the Zimbabwean military, human rights group AfriForum says.

The group made the urgent request when it heard about the donation of South Africa's retired Alouette fleet.

It said it would be irresponsible to give equipment to a force that was not neutral ahead of this year's elections.

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Northrop Grumman-Built NASA Global Hawk Supports Studies on Climate Change

A Northrop Grumman Corporation-built NASA Global Hawk is now conducting science missions to study the impact of atmospheric change on the Earth's climate.

The Global Hawk is collecting data and helping scientists learn more about the humidity and chemical composition of air entering the tropical tropopause layer of the atmosphere and its impact on the Earth's overall climate.

The Airborne Tropical TRopopause Experiment (ATTREX) campaign, sponsored by NASA, began on Jan. 16 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and will conclude on March 15.

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