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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

US administration 'divided' over Afghanistan, says book


President Barack Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan believes the current strategy cannot work, according to a new book. The claim, published in the New York Times, is from a book by veteran reporter Bob Woodward.

Reports say the book paints a picture of in-fighting in the administration. Some key players doubt the president's strategy of sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and starting to withdraw next summer.

Bob Woodward, who made his name exposing President Richard Nixon's cover-up of Watergate has written a searing series of books about President Bush and the Iraq war so his latest work "Obama's war" has been eagerly awaited in Washington.

Now the New York Times say it has a leaked copy.

It cites quotes from Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy to the region, saying "It can't work" and the president's main advisor on Afghanistan says that the painstaking White House review which took months "didn't add up" to the policy that was adopted.

It says the CIA has a 3,000-strong secret army inside Afghanistan and that intelligence reports suggest the Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been diagnosed as a manic depressive.

Mr Woodward's book paints a picture of President Obama demanding an exit strategy, saying "I can't lose the whole Democratic party" and irritated with the military for boxing him.

Perhaps most significantly it hints at conflicts to come over the timetable for a US withdrawal.

It quotes the top US soldier in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, as believing they could "get more time on the clock", and then being told by a senior advisor: "That's a dramatic misreading of this president."

( www.bbc.co.uk )

Sukhoi fighters pass flight tests at Indonesia base


All three Su-27SKM fighters delivered to Indonesia by Russia earlier this month have successfully passed flight tests at an airbase in the South Sulawesi province, a source at the base said on Wednesday.

The planes were delivered to Indonesia as the final part of an August 2007 $300 million deal for six of the Sukhoi fighters. That agreement followed on from the 2003 purchase by Indonesia of four fighter jets from Russia.

Indonesia's Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Friday his country planned to buy six more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, the Jakarta Post reported.

"The existing squadron of 10 Sukhois is insufficient for our vast air space," Imam told the Antara news agency.

He said the purchases had already been approved by the country's president, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

However he added that while the purchases would be on the Defense Ministry's long-term agenda, he was not sure when the deal would go ahead.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Iranian army receives new short-range missiles


The first batch of modified short-range missiles have entered service in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the defense minister said on Tuesday.

The Guard has received a modified version of the surface-to-surface Fateh-110 missiles, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said, according to Irna news agency.

Iran said last month it had successfully test-fired the third generation of Fateh-110 missiles.

The Fateh-110 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant, high-precision ballistic missile with advanced navigation and control systems.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Monday, September 20, 2010

Yakhont missiles could protect Russian naval base in Syria - analyst


Russian-made mobile anti-ship missile systems sold to Syria could be used to protect a Russian naval supply and maintenance site near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus, a Russian arms trade expert said on Monday.

Russia earlier announced it would honor a 2007 contract on the delivery of several Bastion anti-ship missile systems armed with SS-N-26 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles to Syria, despite U.S. and Israel security concerns.

Syria needs to shield a 600-km stretch of its coastline from potential amphibious assaults.

"One of the purposes of the deployment of Bastion missile systems in Syria is to ensure the protection of the Russian naval site in Tartus," said Igor Korotchenko, head of a Moscow-based think tank on the international arms trade.

The Yakhont missile has a range of 300 kilometers, the capacity to carry a 200-kilogram warhead and the unique ability of being able to cruise several meters above the water surface, making it difficult to detect and intercept.

According to Korotchenko, none of the world's existing warships could thwart a Yakhont missile attack.

The Soviet-era naval maintenance site near Tartus is Russia's only military foothold in the Mediterranean. Russia plans to modernize the facility to accommodate large warships, including missile cruisers and even aircraft carriers after 2012.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Mystery Chinese SSK fuels Asia's submarine race


The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation has launched an unidentified new-type conventional submarine (SSK) at its Wuhan shipyard, according to Chinese reports. It is the third new SSK design revealed by China since 1994 and is likely to exacerbate regional anxieties that are propelling many Asian states to increase or establish submarine fleets.

Vague or altered internet images of this new SSK, which first appeared on the popular Chinese CALF web page on 10 September, led observers to think that it may be yet another Chinese internet hoax, but the submarine's existence was confirmed by much clearer images on 13 September.

While not much larger than the 3,000- to 4,000-ton Type 041 Yuan class, the new boat appears to incorporate Russian design influences, including a stouter hull with a reduced aft taper similar to the Project 667 Lada/Amur class, plus an elongated sail and hull-mounted retractable hydroplanes similar to the Project 636 Kilo class. However, in contrast to the sail of the Kilo, the new Chinese SSK incorporates hydrodynamic elements such as an intricately-faired leading edge with concave and convex curves.

( www.janes.com )

UK troops leave Helmand's Sangin


British forces in Afghanistan have handed responsibility for security in Sangin to US forces, marking the end of their four-year mission in the area. Control was handed over from UK forces to the US Marine Corps at 0630 BST.

The UK has suffered its heaviest losses in the area. Of the 337 UK deaths in Afghanistan since 2001, a third have happened there. Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said UK troops should be "proud of their achievements".

He said Sangin, in Helmand province, was "one of the most challenging areas of Afghanistan".

"The level of sacrifice has been high and we should never forget the many brave troops who have lost their lives in the pursuit of success in an international mission rooted firmly in our own national security in the UK," he said.

British troops will redeploy to central Helmand, where they will continue to lead the fight against the insurgency and assist in building a stable and secure Afghanistan, he added.

UK forces have been in Sangin since 2006, and 106 UK personnel have been killed. The MoD announced in July that British troops were to be replaced by US forces.

The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul said there would be a physical handover, with the union jack lowered and the US flag raised, but little would change on a pratical level.

He said some members of the 1,000-strong 40 Commando Battle Group had already left, and the handover would be staggered over the coming weeks.

Describing it as a "totemic" moment for the UK, he said Sangin is the most dangerous district in Helmand - if not the whole of Afghanistan.

On a recent visit to the area, he witnessed a long battle in which a number of US soldiers, Afghan soldiers and civilians sustained injuries.

"Although progress has been made the area remains very difficult, it is a key battleground for insurgents and coalition forces.

"The truth is, the Americans will now have to try and finish the job that Britain started," he added.

Ministry of Defence spokesman Major General Gordon Messenger, a former commander of the UK Helmand task force, insisted the handover was not an admission of defeat.

"It certainly won't look like that on the ground," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"The British soldiers that are there are handing over to the American Marines. In terms of the physical security presence, and every other aspect of the campaign in Sangin, it's going to be more of a continuum than a watershed."

"We are seeing real and positive progress in areas that only a year or so ago were in a very different state," he added.

The commanding officer of 40 Commando group, Lieutenant Colonel Paul James, said the handover was "poignant moment" tinged with sadness, but the overwhelming emotion was one of pride.

"I think we've achieved significant success here: making Sangin a much more stable and peaceful place.

"And probably just as importantly, the Afghan national security forces that we've partnered here are now starting to be able to stand on their own two feet and take on the responsibility for delivering Sangin for themselves.

"It's not going to be British forces who deliver success in Sangin and it's not going to be American forces.

"It's not going to be anyone else other than the Afghans themselves."

( www.bbc.co.uk )

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sikorsky X2 breaks 250 kt to set new record


Sikorsky's X2 helicopter technology demonstrator achieved its stated goal of 250 kt true air speed in level flight at the Sikorsky development Flight Center in Florida on 15 September, the company has announced.

The speed, reached during a flight lasting just over one hour, is an unofficial speed record for a helicopter, surpassing the 216 kt achieved by a modified Westland Lynx in 1986. The X2 demonstrator also reached 260 kt in a very shallow dive during the flight, Sikorsky said.

The record-breaking flight has yet to be confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): the body responsible for approving such feats.

With the primary performance key for the X2 now met, Jim Kagdis, programme manager for Sikorsky Advanced Programs, said that the demonstrator vehicle has about three months more of flight-testing to undertake. During this time, the company will fly the aircraft for four more tests to demonstrate that it has achieved the other key performance parameters of the programme, such as for noise, vibration, efficient hovering and safe autorotation.

Once flight-testing is complete, "we will declare success and we will have the information needed to then look out how we can take this information and technology and apply it to future concepts", Kagdis said.

( www.janes.com )

Expired ammunition cause of Ukraine warship incident - Navy source


The artillery shells that exploded on board a Ukrainian warship during military drills off the Crimean Peninsula, were expired, a source in the Ukrainian Naval Forces said on Saturday.

Ukraine's UNIAN news agency reported earlier in the day that two artillery shells had gone off on board the Kirovograd medium amphibious assault ship late on Friday, seriously injuring four servicemen. The incident took place at Crimean training ground Opuk during the Vzaimodeistviye-2010 (Cooperation-2010) military exercises.

The injured servicemen have been reportedly admitted to hospital in a grave condition.

"Firing expired artillery shells is a common practice that allows to kill two birds with one stone: both to train and to get rid of obsolete ammunition," the source said, adding that the incident would have been prevented if drill monitors had checked the ammunition's expiration date.

"During gunnery exercises, a ship is strongly shaken - even ceiling lamps in corridors fall down. It's quite possible that the expired shells detonated. Fortunately, they were quite small, and no one was killed," he said.

Ukraine's defense authorities have provided no official comments over the incident. UNIAN said the defense minister, Mykhailo Yezhel, had been supervising the drills on Friday.

In 2008, during military drills off the Crimean peninsula, a missile exploded just seconds after it was launched from a Buk-M1 (SA-11 Gadfly) missile system. No one was killed in the incident.

Although the Ukrainian military authorities declared the drills "successful," then-Defense Minister Yury Yekhanurov admitted that missiles used by the country's military were "obsolete."

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Russian troops conduct live firing drills at South Ossetia base


Russian troops, deployed at a military base in South Ossetia, have conducted a battalion-level tactical exercise with live firing, a military source said. The exercise was held on Saturday at the Dzartsemi training ground.

The personnel "dealt successfully with the task and performed well at firing sites," said Lt. Col. Andrei Bobrun, a spokesman for the commander of the North Caucasus Military District.

After recognizing the independence of South Ossetia in August 2008, Russia signed an agreement with the former Georgian republic to establish a permanent military base in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali.

The base hosts up to 1,700 servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems and a variety of aircraft.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Friday, September 17, 2010

Blast rattles Kabul before Afghan poll begins


Afghanistan braced for a day of violence on Saturday as voters headed to the polls for a parliamentary election that is a crucial test of government credibility and the strength of its security forces.

A large blast rocked central Kabul about three hours before polls were due to open at 7 a.m. (0230 GMT).

An area near the U.S. embassy was cordoned off but there were no reports of damage or injury. A spokesman for NATO-led forces said the blast was being investigated.

The Taliban have vowed to disrupt the poll and urged potential voters to stay at home even as the government called on Afghans to come out to polling stations for what is their second chance to choose their own parliament.

"We should try to do our best under the current circumstances. It is very important that the Afghan people come out and vote," Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was re-elected last year in a poll marred by fraud accusations, told reporters.

Significant security failures would be a major setback, with Washington watching closely before U.S. President Barack Obama conducts a war strategy review in December likely to examine the pace and scale of U.S. troop withdrawals.

Corruption and fraud are also serious concerns after a deeply flawed presidential ballot last year. A third of votes cast for Karzai were thrown out as fake. Even though he is not standing, Saturday's vote is seen as a test of Karzai's credibility.

It will not be clear for several weeks at least who among the almost 2,500 candidates have won the 249 seats on offer in the Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament.

Preliminary results from Saturday's voting will not be known until October 8 at the earliest, with final results not expected before October 30.

Election observers expect thousands of complaints from losing candidates, with Afghanistan's own poll watchdog expecting a "disputatious" election, which could delay the process further.

Almost 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police are providing security for the poll, backed up by some 150,000 foreign troops.


CLAMPDOWN, ABDUCTIONS

A heavy security clampdown was imposed on Kabul on Friday.

A wave of abductions spread across much of the rest of the country on Friday, however, with 23 kidnappings of people working on the elections, including two candidates.

Observers fear security worries could lead to a low voter turnout, as it did last year when the Taliban staged dozens of attacks but failed to disrupt the process entirely.

Voter turnout was very low last year in the south and east where Pashtuns, Afghanistan's main ethnic group, dominate and where the Taliban has its strongest support.

Washington believes corruption weakens the central government and its ability to build up institutions like the Afghan security forces, which in turn determines when Western troops in Afghanistan will be able to leave.

Voter turnout may also be hit by cynicism and disillusionment. Billions of dollars in foreign aid cash have flowed into Afghanistan over the past nine years but, for many people, have brought no real improvement in their lives.

( www.reuters.com )

Russia to overhaul Bulava production if tests fail again - Serdyukov


Russia will have to overhaul the whole production and manufacturing system of its troubled Bulava ballistic missile if this autumn's tests fail again, the defense minister said on Friday.

Anatoly Serdyukov said that if failures continue and their causes prove to be different, "then we will have to overhaul the whole system of production and [manufacture] control of these missiles."

The Bulava (SS-NX-30), a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), has officially suffered seven failures in 12 tests.

Bulava test launches were put on hold after the most recent failed launch, from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine in the White Sea on December 9, 2009, pending the results of a government investigation.

The failure was caused by a defective engine nozzle. A source close to state commission, which investigated the failure, said the malfunction was caused not by the design but by a manufacturing fault.

The next test launches, initially scheduled for mid-August, have repeatedly been postponed.

"The next three launches of the Bulava missile will be held until the first ice appears. We will definitely launch [the missiles]," Serdyukov said.

Some analysts suggest that in reality the number of failures was considerably larger, with Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer suggesting that of the Bulava's 12 test launches, only one was entirely successful.

The future development of the Bulava has been questioned by several lawmakers and defense industry officials, who suggest that all efforts should be focused on the existing Sineva SLBM.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Indonesia confirms plans to buy six more Su fighters from Russia


Indonesia's Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Friday his country planned to buy six more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, the Jakarta Post reported. He said the purchase would be on the Defense Ministry's long-term agenda, but was not sure when the plan would be implemented.

"The existing squadron of Sukhois remains insufficient to give a deterrent effect given our vast territory," Imam told the Antara news agency.

He said the proposal was already approved by the country's president, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Indonesia bought three Russian fighter jets in 2003. The $300 million contract signed in August 2007 stipulated the delivery of six Su-30MK fighter planes. Three aircraft were delivered in February 2009, another two were handed over to Indonesia on September 10, and one was taken to Indonesia on Thursday.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

The Bushmaster Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR)


The Bushmaster Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR) is the production name for an updated version of the Masada Adaptive Combat Weapon System. In late January 2008, Bushmaster entered into a licensing agreement with Magpul whereby Bushmaster would take over production, future development and sales of the Masada.

It is a patent pending self-loading rifle platform designed by Magpul Industries of Erie, Colorado. The rifle was initially developed over a period of four months, completely independent of government funding. Prototypes were displayed at the 2007 SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida. Originally scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2008, Bushmaster announced on May 16, 2008, that the consumer release would be delayed until Q1 2009, due to a focus on military projects.

On November 18, 2008, Bushmaster released a statement saying, "The ACR is being redesigned to be a superior offering to compete for the next generation US Army infantry carbine and subcompact weapon requirement and will be available to select customers in 2009.

The ACR was one of the weapons displayed to U.S. Army officials during an invitation-only Industry Day on November 13, 2008. The goal of the Industry Day was to review current carbine technology prior to writing formal requirements for a future replacement for the M4 Carbine.


Design

The original Magpul Masada design represents an amalgamation of several recent rifle designs, incorporating what is considered by its designers to be the best features of each in a single, lightweight, modular rifle platform.

Design features from the Armalite AR-18 (short-stroke gas system), the FN SCAR (upper receiver, charging handle location), the Heckler & Koch G36/XM8 (liberal use of polymer components), the M16/AR-15 (trigger pack), and the M16 (barrel, fire control group) are clearly prevalent. The rifle also includes several features developed by Magpul, such as a quick-change barrel/trunnion system, adjustable gas regulator, non-reciprocating charging handle, and storage compartments located in the stock and grip.

Just prior to the deal with Bushmaster, Magpul made additional changes to their design—the most obvious of these is the relocation of the ambidextrous operating handle to a forward position (somewhat similar to the Heckler & Koch G3 and Heckler & Koch MP5 series of weapons). Experts from Magpul Industries have on several occasions mentioned that depending on the barrel length of the weapon, the rate of fire is estimated to be in the range of 600-800 rpm (this is an estimate; specifics have not yet been verified).

Bushmaster Firearms, with the help of Remington Arms (a sister company in the Freedom Group, Inc portfolio that includes Bushmaster, Remington, Marlin, and DPMS Panther Arms brands) has also made some design changes based on extensive environmental and functional testing specifically to meet the emerging requirements of the US military in both the carbine and subcompact weapon versions of the ACR family. It is expected that the rifle will be offered to military customers in 5.56mm NATO, 6.8mm Remington SPC, 6.5 Grendel, and possibly in .30 Remington AR. with the same lower receiver and the user just having to switch out the barrel, bolt face, and magazine to change calibers. It is also expected that the ACR will have barrel length options of 10.5″, 12.5″, 14.5″, 16″ (commercial), and 18″. The official name of the rifle for military use will be the Remington ACR.

The magazine conceived for the 5.56mm version of the ACR rifle is called the PMag, a high-impact, 30-round polymer magazine claimed by Magpul to be significantly more resistant to wear, shock, aRata Penuhnd harsh environments than other counterparts on the market. The PMag is STANAG 4179-compatible, as it will readily fit any STANAG magazine firearm, including the M16 rifle family.

The Bushmaster ACR's modular construction even allows the user to fire several other rounds, including the 7.62×39mm round and Remington 6.8 SPC round with an alternate barrel and lower receiver.


Availability

The ACR is stated to be available in the 2nd Quarter of 2010 for military, government and commercial customers. The ACR will be available in greater quantity (tens of thousands) in the commercial marketplace in 2010.

According to an official press release from Bushmaster, the rifle will have suggested retail price between $2,685 - $ 3,061.00

- twice as much as early price quotes of "around $1500," causing public outcry and dismay of the rifle from a large portion of the firearms fraternity and potential civilian end-users. Semi-automatic versions will be available to the commercial market from Bushmaster, and selective-fire versions available for military and law enforcement under the Remington name.

As of April 2010, civilian market rifles are available for sale.


( www.wikipedia.org )

Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, India



The Akash (sky) is an all-weather medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed in India. It provides multidirectional and multitarget area defence. The missile system was indigenously developed as part of the integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP). In operation from 1983 to 2007, the programme developed a range of missiles, including the Nag, Agni and Trishul missiles and the Prithvi ballistic missile.

In 2008, the Indian Air Force (IAF) introduced its indigenous SAM system after nine successful field trials. Some modifications to the Akash SAM, such as the launch platform, were made to the army version to meet mobility and gradeability requirements.

In June 2010, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of India ordered Rs125bn ($2.8bn) of the army version Akash missile system for induction into the Indian Army.


Akash surface-to-air-missile

The Akash SAM was developed to replace the Russian 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) missile system, currently in service. Development of the Akash missile system began in the 1980s, involving the work of 300 public and private companies. The flight tests were initiated in 1990 and the development flights continued till 1997. Several user trials of the missile system were conducted and its ballistic missile role was proven successful.

The Akash SAM system – including the associated radars, missile and systems – took about 20 years to develop, at an investment of about $120m. Other countries that have developed the multitarget handling surface-to-air missile systems are the US, some EU countries, Russia, Israel and Japan.

SAM system features

The Akash SAM system consists of an integral ramjet propulsion, a switchable guidance antenna system, a command guidance unit, an onboard power supply, a system arming and detonation mechanism, digital autopilot, radars and C4I centres.

The Akash SAM system – including the associated radars, missile and systems – took about 20 years to develop, at an investment of about $120m. Other countries that have developed the multitarget handling surface-to-air missile systems are the US, some EU countries, Russia, Israel and Japan.


Akash missile launch

The Akash missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms, such as battle tanks, providing flexible deployment. The SAM can handle multitarget and destroy manoeuvring targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters.

The Akash SAM system defends vulnerable areas in all weather conditions against medium-range air targets being attacked from low, medium and high altitudes.

It can operate autonomously, and engage and neutralise different aerial targets simultaneously. The kill probability of the Akash is 88% for the first and 99% for the second missile on a target. The Akash SAM is claimed to be more economical and accurate than the MIM-104 Patriot, operated by several nations including the US, due to its solid-fuel technology. The Akash can intercept from a range of 30km and provide air defence missile coverage of 2,000km².


SAM system features

The Akash SAM system consists of an integral ramjet propulsion, a switchable guidance antenna system, a command guidance unit, an onboard power supply, a system arming and detonation mechanism, digital autopilot, radars and C4I centres.


Detonation sequence

The prefragmented warhead of the Akash missile is coupled with a digital proximity fuse. The detonation sequence is controlled by safety arming and a detonation mechanism. The missile is also integrated with a self-destructive device. Unlike the Patriot missile, Akash uses a ramjet propulsion system which gives it thrust to intercept the target at supersonic speed without any speed deceleration.

The terminal guidance system of the missile enables its working through electronic countermeasures.

The Rajendra radar completely guides the Akash missile, which increases its efficacy against electronic jamming of aircraft.

( www.army-tecnology )

Obama calls for soonest ratification of arms treaty with Russia


U.S. President Barack Obama and other top state officials urged the Senate of speed up the ratification of a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia. The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14-4 on Thursday to recommend the Senate ratify a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia.

"Today, I urge the full Senate to move forward quickly with a vote to approve this Treaty," the U.S. President said in a statement.

"I encourage members on both sides of the aisle to give this agreement the fair hearing and bipartisan support that it deserves, and that has been given to past agreements of its kind," he went on.

He said that "leaders from across the political spectrum," including former secretaries of state and defense from Republican and Democratic administrations have endorsed the treaty.

"They recognize that it is in our national security interest," the president added.

The new treaty was signed by Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on April 8 in Prague as a replacement for the START 1 treaty that expired in December 2009. It stipulates that the number of nuclear warheads is to be reduced to 1,550 on each side, while the number of deployed and non-deployed delivery vehicles must not exceed 800 on each side.

The Russian and U.S. presidents earlier agreed that the ratification processes should be go ahead side-by-side.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "applauded" the committee vote in a joint statement.

"Like previous arms control treaties, the New START Treaty deserves broad bipartisan support and prompt ratification by the full Senate. We urge Senators to act quickly and approve this treaty," the statement reads.

The two officials said the treaty would provide stability and predictability in relations of the world's two largest nuclear powers.

"It will restore crucial inspection and verification mechanisms that ceased when the original START agreement expired last year, allowing U.S. inspectors back inside Russian nuclear weapons silos," Clinton and Gates said. "And it will help keep nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists or rogue regimes."

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who is currently on the visit to the U.S., also welcomed the move.

"Of course, we are positive [about the recommendation]. We discussed it yesterday with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Both U.S. and Russia are interested in [ratification]," he said. "We expect this to happen, though not everyone in Russia applauds the agreement."

He said that Russia would follow the U.S. ratification procedure to try and synchronize the ratification process, but "will not jump the gun."

The document was submitted to the U.S. Senate for ratification on May 13 and to the State Duma on May 28.

Representatives of the Department of State and the U.S. administration earlier said that the Senate may vote before the November 2 mid-term elections. However, Senator John Kerry, who chairs the Senate's foreign affairs committee, said that the voting should take place after the elections, for a smoother and swifter vote.

"I personally believe we will have the votes to ratify this," the senator said.

The Democrats control just 59 seats in the upper house of the U.S. Congress, while a total of 67 votes are required to ratify the agreement. At least one of the Republicans, Senator Richard Lugar, openly expressed his support for the pact.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Four Russian strategic bombers complete patrol in Far East


Four Russian Tu-95MS Bear H strategic bombers have successfully completed an air-patrol mission in Russia's Far East, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. The mission, spanning neutral water areas in the Sea of Japan, the Pacific and the Arctic Ocean, lasted around 14 hours, Vladimir Drik said.

He did not specify whether the planes flew in formation or separately.

The mission included midair refueling and flying over featureless terrain where the pilots were completely reliant on the planes' instruments.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Russia to complete Su fighter delivery to Indonesia by late Sept. - ambassador


Russia will make its last delivery to Indonesia as part of a 2007 Su-30MK fighter deal in late September, the Russian ambassador to Indonesia said on Thursday.

"The handing-over ceremony...will take place at the end of September," Alexander Ivanov said.

The $300 million contract signed in August 2007 stipulated the delivery of six Su-30MK fighter planes. Three aircraft were delivered in 2009, while another two were handed over to Indonesia on September 10.

The Indonesian Air Force wants the fighters to take part in a military parade on October 5.

Three Russian specialists who were helping the Indonesian Air Force assemble the recently delivered Su fighters died at a Sukhoi holding in the Indonesian city of Makassar on Monday in "unexplained circumstances", amid allegations of methanol poisoning.

The Russian ambassador said, however, the reports of poisoning are "groundless." He also said the cause of death had yet to be announced.

Alexander Ivanov said the deaths did not affect the work of other Russian specialists in Makassar, and that work to assemble the Su fighters was being carried out according to schedule.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

RG41 Wheeled Armoured Combat Vehicle, South Africa


The RG41 is an 8×8 wheeled armoured combat vehicle developed by BAE Systems South Africa. It is a new-generation combat vehicle, which integrates high mobility, protection and fire power in an advanced combat vehicle platform. The vehicle is suitable for multiple theatres.

The RG41 development project began in 2008 and the first RG41 vehicle was showcased at the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris in June 2010.


RG41 design and features

Designed for modern warfare environments, the RG41 is a low-cost, highly mobile combat vehicle. The field-repairable mine-protected design was developed by using the RG series technology, which has proved to be successful across the world in different environments.

The ITAR (international tariff in arms regulation) free design mostly consists of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The lower hull of the vehicle comprises five modular units joined together and bolted under the top structure. The vehicle is based on the 8×8 wheeled chassis.

The RG41 has a high payload capacity of 11t and offers 14.9m² of usable cabin space. The vehicle is fitted with 11 seats, each with safety belt four-point harness, and provides good ride comfort.

The vehicle accommodates a gunner and a section commander in the turret and seven troops in a hull compartment. The class-leading turning circle and good power-to-weight ratio improve the mobility and performance of the vehicle.

The driver's seat is placed at a very front of the vehicle for good vision. The space for the commander is provided behind the driver to take control over the section leader and troops. The vehicle contains a large section when it is equipped with a remotely controlled overhead weapon station.


RG41 variants

The RG41 is offered in several standard and customised variants for specific missions. The standard variants include a section combat vehicle, a command vehicle, an ambulance, a recovery vehicle and an engineering vehicle.

Turret

The RG41 can be fitted with a range of conventional or overhead turrets and weapon stations. The vehicle demonstrated at the Eurosatory was fitted with the new TRT-25 remote weapon station (RWS). The TRT-25 is effective beyond the range of 2,000m and allows engagement on the move in day and night operations. The turret with minor modifications, can accept a number of weapons.


Armament

The RG41 can be armed with direct and indirect-fire weapons. A 25mm Alliant Techsystems M242 Bushmaster and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun can be mounted on the TRT-25 turret. A 360° video vision system is provided for vehicle commander.


Self-protection

The field-upgradeable self-protection of the RG41 varies with the requirements of the user. The vehicle features a full-length semi v-shaped hull for high levels of protection against mines and IEDs. The lower part of the hull consists of the drive line and the structure is covered with a five-piece modular mine-protection package.

The vehicle also has an engine bay and a crew compartment fire suppression system.


RG41 engine

The RG41 is powered by a Deutz 2015TCD V6 engine. It is coupled to a ZF5HP902 five-speed transmission that transmits power to the two-speed 17,000 series transfer box. The engine delivers a maximum power of 390kW at 2,100rpm and a maximum torque of 2,130Nm at 1,300rpm. The vehicle can run at a maximum speed of 100km/h.


Mobility

The fully integral power-assisted steering system of the vehicle has twin steers. The main brake system consists of pneumatic disk brakes equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). The RG41 is equipped with double wishbone-type, hydro-pneumatic strut and hydraulic shock absorbers. The hydro-pneumatic suspension provides a high level of cross-country mobility to the vehicle.

The RG41 is equipped with a central tyre pressure regulation system. The vehicle has 16.00R20 Michelin XZL tyres fitted with 10.00R20 aluminium rims. These tyres reduce ground pressure and provide off-road speed. Run-flat inserts provide a range of 100km at 50km/h speed.

( www.army-technology.com )

The British Accuracy International AS50 BMG Sniper Rifle


This awesome weapons represents the British attempt at designing the worlds greatest sniper rifle. Similar in design and features to the Barrett M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle, the Accuracy International AS50 certainly exhibits the pinnacle of futuristic sniper rifle engineering. The greatest difficulty to overcome when designing a rifle of such high caliber is how to effectively and efficiently disperse the recoil, and the AS50 employs a free-floating barrel with a dual chamber muzzle brake to accomplish this feat.

One important thing to note about this rifle though, is that it is truly designed as an anti-material weapon, meaning that it is intended to be armor-piercing to take out lightly armored vehicles such as APCs and trucks rather than intended as anti-personnel. However though, the accompanying video definitely stirs the imagination when it shows the melons, the perfect shape for a human head, being blown apart after the round penetrates some concrete blocks. I’m just waiting for the X-ray vision scope to be put on this bad boy, watch out everyone!

( www.futurefirepower.com )

Myths About the NATO 5.56 Cartridge


There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding the current M16A1, M16A2, M4, M16A4NATO 5.56 round and its effectiveness on the battlefield. Now before you make a judgment as a soldier or as a firearm enthusiast (a more euphemistic way of saying “gun nut”), consider your sources. Who is it that is telling you the 5.56mm, or .223 if you prefer, is an ineffective round? Is this source an armchair general who has watched Blackhawk Down one too many times; or a Navy Corpsman who has been attached to a MEF fighting in Fallujah and has seen, treated and inflicted these wounds with his own M-4? People look at the .30-06 round from their grandfather’s M1 Garand and the 7.62×51mm round from their dad’s M-14 and compare it to the M-16/M-4’s 5.56 and think; “Wow, this is considerably smaller. Therefore, it must be less effective.”

Now Joe Nichols had it right when he said, “Size Matters.” However, when you are talking about combat cartridges this is not always the case, and I say that hesitantly. When the 5.56 was derived from Remington’s .223 in the late 1950’s, it was meant as a “force multiplier” if you will. By that I mean a soldier could literally carry twice as much ammunition as one who has the older 7.62 for the same weight. They wanted a soldier who could stay longer in the field without re-supply and could literally out-last and out-shoot the enemy in many aspects. The 5.56 is an incredibly fast and flat shooting round compared to the 7.62, but is under half the bullet weight.

So one might ask; ‘How in the world can a smaller bullet be more lethal than a bigger one?” One word: cavitation. Cavitation is the rapid formation and collapse of a substance or material after an object enters it at a relatively high velocity. I guarantee you have seen cavitation before. Next time you are in the pool or on the boat, look at your hand as it passes through the water or the propeller spinning. In both cases you will notice bubbles on the trailing edge of each. You see this because the liquid water falls below its vapor pressure. Without getting into physics and the hydrodynamics behind it, I’ll just leave it at that. When a human body is hit with a 5.56mm 62-grain bullet traveling at 3,100 feet per second; essentially the same thing happens but much, much more violently. For a split second, the cavity created inside the human body by the round from an M-16/M-4 is about the size of a basketball (if hit dead center of mass). The 5.56 creates this massive cavitation by tumbling through the body initiated by inherently unstable flight.

Other calibers of bullets travel through the body on, more or less of, a straight line after some fragmentation. When the 5.56 round was first designed by Remington, it was meant to tumble through a target, not kill with brute force. It did this not only by the relatively blunt shape, but also by using a rifle barrel with less of a twist. Next time you look at an M-4 or an AR-15, notice it says “5.56 NATO 1:7” on the barrel. This literally translates into; “the bullet will make 1 full rotation for every 7 inches of this barrel.” This was not always the standard twist set for the new NATO round. The first AR-15 made by Armalite, had a 1:14 twist making it a very, very unstable round. One can only imagine the orientation of the entry and exit wounds.

Now if you haven’t figured it out already, the less the twist, the more unstable the round is. (1:14 twist is less than 1:7) It is said in “firearm enthusiast” legend that the first tests were done on pig carcasses and that the entry wound could be on the lower right stomach with an exit wound coming out of the back upper left shoulder. It left horrific wounds and terrible internal damage to its intended target, immediately drawing the interest of the US Military, in particular USAF General Curtis Emerson LeMay. That’s right folks, you can thank we in the United States Air Force for the M-16/M-4 legacy (I say this without sarcasm). He thought it was an ideal weapon for his deployed members of the USAF Security Forces for guarding the perimeters of Air Force installations in such places as Korea and Vietnam. Before military trials, Armalite increased the barrel twist to 1:12 to improve accuracy. But when tested in frigid Alaska, accuracy was decreased because of the increased friction from the denser, colder air. Therefore, the barrel twist was eventually increased from 1:12 to 1:9 and eventually to the 1:7 you see it today. Although some bull-barreled AR-15’s and Stoner Sniper Rifles can be found in a 1:9, most issued M-16’s and M-4;s are primarily a 1:7 twist.

This change increased the accuracy of the 5.56 round out past 500 meters, but decreased its lethality when striking a body. Now the real debate begins… How truly deadly is the 5.56? Well, this past April when I was going through Combat Skills Training at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin, one week was spent in Combat Life-Saving class (CLS). The medics who instructed us had slide show after slide show of combat injuries they have treated over their last three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. And let me tell you, these were not for the weak stomachs among us. If you are reading this article, I bet you are the same type of person as I to ask, “What calibers caused those wounds?” These men and women have seen the worst injuries of coalition forces and enemy combatants alike. The Geneva Conventions state that medics must provide medical care to all captured enemy personnel when able. Therefore, many Taliban and Jihadist fighters came across their operating rooms. After class one day I asked all of them, “Do any of you doubt the killing power of the 5.56 round?” They all answered with a resounding, “NO.”

I personally don’t like telling war stories but I do enjoy telling hunting stories. I have brought down 180 to 200+ pound deer with a 55 grain .223 FMJ (full metal jacket) with no problem. Yes, I know, the counter argument to that is, “Well that’s not an enemy combatant hopped up on cocaine, khat or adrenaline.” I understand that, but if you saw the exit wound or those on the pictures from the combat medics, you would certainly cease your criticism of the 5.56. However, there are certain design features of the M-16/M-4 that continue to puzzle me.

We have all heard the reports of those rifles failing during combat during Vietnam and even yet today. During the 60’s when it was first introduced, it was hailed as “the self-cleaning rifle.” Of course that was proven to be a myth within the first months of its service. Soon thereafter, cleaning kits, cleaning manuals with attractive cartoon-like characters, and muzzle covers were issued in large numbers. A lot of the first problems the rifle saw were due to using ball powder vs. stick powder. Ball powder burns hotter, faster and dirtier than stick does. This caused the rifle to gum up quicker in the humid atmosphere of Vietnam and mis-feed the rounds. The U.S. Military then switched back to the cleaner burning stick powder and added a forward assist to jam the bolt carrier forward after heat expansion and carbon build-up. The military saw this problem and fixed it fairly early on, so why haven’t they saw the clear flaw in the 100% gas-blowback operation of the firearm? Why haven’t they learned lessons from rifles such as the AK-47, AK-74, G36, SCAR and countless other who have switched to a short stroke gas piston?

So far rifles such as the HK 416, HK 417, SCAR and MAGPUL Masada have all incorporated this short stroke gas piston in their designs and have all seen massive reductions in carbon build-up, over-heating, and mis-feeds. If this needs any explaining; what this basically does is stop the hot, carbon-filled gasses just rear of the front sight and pushes a pistol-like rod back instead of the gas traveling all the way back to the bolt carrier assembly. It is even possible to convert current uppers to this gas piston system using such kits as those offered by Bushmaster. If the cost benefit is too great for these kits to be installed, why not begin to install them on the floor as they are now? They are 100% compatible with all lowers used by the M-16 and M-4.

So in conclusion, the main flaws of the M-16/M-4 assault rifle system is not necessarily in the round itself, but in one minor design feature of just the upper. This article is meant as a predecessor to a piece in the making on the advantages to switching to a round such as the 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. The 5.56 round is effective, but could be better. I want to hear your feedback. Tell me why so many people (mostly civilians) think the flaws of the rifle are in the round. I’m looking to you military folks; tell me about your operational experience with it. Airsoft players, armchair generals, and firearm enthusiasts; let’s hear your voice, but don’t comment on its “knock-down power” unless you hunt big game with a .223 or were once in the military and have used it in combat. Next up: A viable future replacement for the 5.56 and the M-16/M-4 combat rifles along with first-hand news from the front on forces already making the switch.

Remember; every rifle and every round can be equally as deadly when put in the right hands. We seek to find the perfect round and the perfect rifle to increase that number of hands.

( www.futurefirepower.com )

Russia, U.S. establish defense working group


The U.S.-Russian Defense Relations Working Group agreed to be created during a visit by the Russian defense minister to Washington will focus on issues related to U.S. and Russian military reforms and help achieve transparency in military cooperation between the counties.

The Russian minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed a joint statement on the creation of the working group on Wednesday, following two days of talks in the U.S. capital.

The working group is intended to develop a "new level of relations between the military departments of both countries," the statement said.

According to the document, the working group will address the following issues: armed forces reform and transformation, priorities of defense policy and national security, transparency and confidence-building measures furthering the improvement of mutual understanding, regional and global security, new challenges and threats, and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Gates and Serdyukov, who will co-chair the group, intend to meet at least once a year, the statement said.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

US-led Troops Advance in Taliban Stronghold


U.S. and Afghan forces began advancing slowly Wednesday through the insurgent-filled district in southern Afghanistan that gave birth to the Taliban movement, treading ground where guerrilla fighters have operated freely for years, the British general in charge of NATO troops here said.

Maj. Gen. Nick Carter said the latest push in Zhari district is part of a crucial strategy aimed at reducing violence in the provincial capital Kandahar by stemming the flow of fighters and weapons there and connecting civilians estranged from their government.

But he downplayed the extent of the latest troop movements headed by the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, which mans outposts with Afghan troops throughout the district. He said they were part of military operations that have been going on in Zhari for at least four months. U.S. and Afghan forces on Wednesday, he said, had only gone "slightly further than we've gone before."

The movements were significant, though, because the locations were areas where coalition forces had never been - at least not in force.

One of the targets in Zhari was the village of Makuan, which U.S. commanders expect to clear within days. Carter said troops had "breached some IED belts" adjacent to the village, referring to bombs coalition forces often call improvised explosive devices.

He said troops encountered "some resistance," but gave no details.

Also on Wednesday, NATO said 25 Afghan civilians had been killed and 60 injured so far in September as the result of the Taliban insurgency.

"While the Taliban talk of protecting the people and issue disingenuous directives claiming to shield Afghans from harm, instead they have increased their use of indiscriminate violence, killing scores of innocent Afghans," NATO spokesman Rear Admiral Greg Smith said in a statement. "Their rhetoric does not match reality."

Civilian deaths in NATO military operations are a major source of contention between the alliance and Afghanistan's government, even though the United Nations says the insurgents are responsible for most civilian deaths and injuries.

( www.military.com )

Testing times: UK's Sea Viper missile system bares its fangs


At just past midday on 17 June 2010, the guided weapons test barge Longbow was in position on the Direction Générale de l'Armement Essais de Missiles (DGA EM) range area a few miles off the Île du Levant (a small island lying off the French Riviera).

Inside, range personnel and test engineers from European missile house MBDA prepared for a critical test-firing of the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) new Sea Viper anti-air guided weapon system.

At 1255 h local time a Mirach 100/5 target vehicle launched from the Île du Levant. Back on Longbow, the back-to-back antenna of Sea Viper's Sampson multifunction radar (MFR) was rotating at 30 rpm atop a 34 m mast, its electronically scanned beams interweaving horizon search and volume search functions near instantaneously.

Twelve minutes later, the target presented and Sampson made an initial detection on a low-level target flying at high subsonic speed on a crossing trajectory. Plot confirmation and track initiation followed, with the MFR reporting the track to the Sea Viper system for threat evaluation.

Complex software-based logic, running on a high-speed processing platform, immediately prioritised the track and put the MFR into a dedicated tracking mode that increased radar dwell time on the target. The track was declared a threat, prompting weapon assignment and the relay of a launch message to Sampson.

Two Aster 30 missiles – housed inside an eight-cell SYLVER A50 vertical launcher module on Longbow 's deck – received initialisation messages, the system software providing each munition with positional information on the target and the predicted missile trajectory to intercept. The stressing nature of the threat demanded a salvo firing to maximise the probability of kill.

"Three, two, one, zero time," reported Longbow's trials manager to the range trials director. "Permit firing."

A hatch on the vertical launch silo flipped open and two seconds later an eruption of bright orange flame was followed by a trail of dirty white smoke as the first Aster 30 missile arced upwards and away from Longbow and accelerated towards its target.

( www.janes.com )

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

U.S. missiles kill 12 militants in Pakistan


Missiles fired by U.S. drones hit al Qaeda- and Taliban-linked fighters in Pakistan's northwest, killing a dozen insurgents on Wednesday, security officials said, the 12th such strike this month.

The attack, the third in less than 24 hours, targeted what officials said was a militant compound in North Waziristan, a major sanctuary for al Qaeda and Taliban on the Afghan border.

"At least eight missiles were fired and at least 12 militants were killed," a security official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Another security official said those killed were "Punjabi Taliban," a term used for militants from the central Pakistani province of Punjab, and were working closely with the Haqqani network, one of the brutal Afghan militant factions fighting U.S.-led foreign forces across the border.

Named after veteran mujahideen leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, the group is now led by his son Siraj and is closely linked to al Qaeda. North Waziristan is a major base for Haqqani network.

The pre-dawn strike took place in Dargah Mandi, a village on the outskirts of North Waziristan's main town of Miranshah.

A fresh surge of missile strikes by pilotless U.S. drones in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt, most of them in North Waziristan, has killed scores of militants this month.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (The Taliban Movement of Pakistan), who have unleashed attacks across Pakistan, last week threatened more strikes in response to U.S. drone attacks.

The al-Qaeda-linked TTP has made threats against U.S. and European targets, but has so far failed to carry out any overseas attacks. The attempt by Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber, in May was the closest the group came to success.

U.S. officials say the drones are highly effective against militants though civilian casualties have angered Pakistanis.

Pakistan, a crucial U.S. ally for its efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, has launched major offensives against homegrown militants attacking the Pakistani state but the United States has long demanded its ally extend its crackdown on Afghan militant factions, particularly the Haqqani network.

Pakistan, now overwhelmed by the worst floods in its history, says its troops are overstretched and it needs to consolidate gains before mounting new operations.

Analysts believe Pakistan is holding Afghan groups such as the Haqqani network in reserve to maintain influence in Afghanistan after the Americans begin to leave next year and to check the influence of its arch-rival India and Iran.

( www.reuters.com )

USAF uses C-17 for bio-fuel flight-test


The US Air Force (USAF) flew a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft on JP-8 aviation fuel blended with bio-fuel during tests at Edwards Air Force base (AFB), California, it announced on 3 September.

The trials, which were carried out by the 418th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) between 23 and 27 August, mark the first time that the USAF has flown an aircraft on bio-fuel. They were a major milestone in the air force's attempts to develop an alternative to JP-8 aviation fuel, of which it is the largest consumer in the world.

During the trials a C-17 flew on all four engines being powered by a 50:25/25 blend of JP-8; bio-fuel derived in part from animal fat; and synthetic fuel derived from coal. The flight was a first for any Department of Defense aircraft where a 50 per cent mix of JP-8 was blended with 25 per cent renewable bio-fuel and 25 per cent fuel derived from the Fischer-Tropsch process, which is essentially liquefied coal or natural gas.

According to Lieutenant General Mark D Shackelford, the military deputy to the assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition, the test marks a major milestone in the USAF's efforts to source half of its jet fuel requirements from domestically derived, environmentally friendly alternative sources by 2016.

( www.janes.com )

Thirty Insurgents Killed in Afghanistan


Up to 30 insurgents have been killed in fighting ahead of this week's parliamentary elections in Afghanistan which the Taliban want to undermine, NATO and Afghan officials said Tuesday.

The military alliance said that up to 23 militants were killed in action in southern Helmand province Monday and three in eastern Wardak province Tuesday. An Afghan official said four Taliban were killed Tuesday in southeastern Zabul province.

There were no reports of casualties among joint NATO-Afghan forces.

Attacks and clashes are rising amid an allied offensive aimed at suppressing the continuing Taliban insurgency.

Meanwhile, tensions are rising ahead of Saturday's parliamentary elections. The Taliban has vowed to target polling stations and warned Afghans not to participate in what it calls a sham vote.

NATO said the coalition forces killed three "known manufacturers" of improvised explosive devices in Wardak, just west of capital Kabul.

"The removal of these criminals effectively removed a potential threat to the people of Afghanistan," Lt. Col. Dan Morgan, Regional Command-East chief of operations, said in a statement. "We will continue to work with our Afghan partners to provide a secure environment for the upcoming elections."

The insurgents want to oust the pro-West Afghan government and drive foreign troops out of the country, and have sought to sabotage all aspects of the political process, including elections.

The government and its Western allies hope the ballot for the lower house of parliament will help consolidate the country's shaky democracy, eventually leading to the withdrawal of the roughly 140,000 NATO-led foreign troops in the country.

NATO said the coalition forces were attacked on three separate occasions during a patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province on Monday. The forces responded with airstrikes, mortars, rocket and machine gun fire, killing up to 23 insurgents.

The allied forces stopped firing when women and children moved into the compound from where the insurgent fire had originated, NATO said.

Civilian deaths in NATO military operations are a major source of contention between the alliance and Afghanistan's government, even though the United Nations says the insurgents are responsible for most civilian deaths and injuries.

Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, spokesman for the provincial governor of Zabul, said four militants were killed and four caught alive with explosive material on Tuesday.

( www.military.com)

Russia's Kazan aircraft plant to build next generation bomber


The Kazan aircraft maker will start manufacturing a new strategic bomber, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

The plant will continue upgrading Tu-160 and Tu-22 long-range bombers and will then "start assembling a new-generation strategic bomber," he said.

He offered no indication of the new bomber's specifications or exactly when production would start.

Another Kazan-based enterprise - a helicopter plant - will start production of a new Mi-38 helicopter and continue making Mi-8, Ansat and Aktai helicopters that have already proved their worth, Putin also said.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

T- 90 Main Battle Tank


The T-90 is a Russian main battle tank (MBT) derived from the T-72, and is currently the most modern tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Naval Infantry. The successor to the T-72BM, the T-90 uses the tank gun and 1G46 gunner sights from the T-80U, a new engine, and thermal sights. Protective measures include Kontakt-5 ERA, laser warning receivers, Nakidka camouflage, the EMT-7 electromagnetic pulse (EMP) creator for the destruction of magnetic mines.

and the Shtora infrared ATGM jamming system. It is designed and built by Uralvagonzavod, in Nizhny Tagil, Russia.

Development

By 1992, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it could no longer afford to manufacture two main battle tanks in parallel.

Since both the "quality" T-80U and the cheaper "quantity" T-72B were being built at different plants, and each plant was critical to the economy of its city, the government gave small orders to both. Omsk built five T-80Us and Nizhny Tagil built fifteen T-72s, and both built more in the hopes of winning large export orders. Nizhny Tagil had built a few T-72BMs, T-72Bs upgraded with a third generation add-on explosive reactive armour (ERA) called Kontakt-5, which was already in service on the T-80U.

To further improve the T-72's export prospects and its chances of being selected as Russia's sole production MBT, the T-80U's more sophisticated fire control system was also added to produce a vehicle designated T-72BU. The T-90 was developed by the Kartsev-Venediktov Design Bureau at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil. The production model is based on the T-72BM, with some added features from the T-80 series.

The T-90 with an 840 hp (630 kW) engine went into low-level production in 1993, based on a prototype designated T-88. It features a new generation of Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor on its hull and turret. Of conventional layout, the T-90 represents a major upgrade to every system in the T-72, including the main gun.

The T-90S have been identified as export model. The references to a T-90E appear to be unsubstantiated.

The T-90 is fitted with a "three-tiered" protection system: the first tier is the composite armour in the turret, second tier is third generation Kontakt-5 ERA and third tier is a Shtora-1 countermeasures suite.

( www.wikipedia.org )

Russian aircraft carrier readies for training mission


Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has left a dry dock after scheduled repairs and is getting ready for a training mission in the Barents Sea, the Northern Fleet said in a statement.

"The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will sail to the Barents Sea at the end of September on a training mission relevant to its main purpose," the statement said.

The warship was assigned to the Northern Fleet in January 1991. It is capable of carrying 26 Su-33 Flanker-D and MiG-29K Fulcrum-D carrier-based fighter jets, and 24 anti-submarine helicopters.

The upcoming mission will most likely involve a comprehensive program of naval pilot training to further develop the skills acquired by pilots at the Nitka Naval Pilot Training Center in Ukraine.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to be docked at Sevmash shipyards in 2012 for full-scale modernization, which will continue for at least five years.

Russia is aiming to finish drafting plans for a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for its Navy by 2012 and build at least three of the ships for its Northern and Pacific fleets.

( RIA NOVOSTI )

Pakistan drone attack kills 10 in North Waziristan


Ten militants died when missiles fired by a suspected US drone hit a house in north-western Pakistan, local security officials say. They said the raid targeted a militant hideout in Shawal district in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border.

It is the 10th drone strike this month in the region, a stronghold of the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

The attacks have killed hundreds of people since January 2009 and fuelled anti-American sentiment in Pakistan.

Pakistan publicly objects to the strikes but analysts believe they have the private backing of officials.

The American military does not routinely confirm drone operations, but analysts say the US is the only force capable of deploying such aircraft in the region.

( www.bbc.co.uk )

New information emerges on post-9/11 hunt for bin Laden


Western intelligence agencies were able to form a detailed picture of Osama bin Laden's movements in the years after 9/11, and came closer to capturing or killing him than has so far been acknowledged, a former European intelligence official has disclosed.

The former official, who declined to be identified, told CNN that in 2003 and 2004 an informant in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region with close connections to al Qaeda's top leadership provided a stream of reliable information on bin Laden's movements. But the information was never quite fresh enough for Western intelligence agencies to target al Qaeda's leader.

Nearly nine years ago, bin Laden and others in the al Qaeda leadership escaped as their haven among the caves and mountains of Tora Bora -- close to the Afghanistan border with Pakistan -- came under withering U.S. air attacks. Despite bin Laden being the world's most sought-after fugitive, to date very little has been reliably reported about his movements beyond a consensus that he is now likely hiding somewhere in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

The former official said that in the period after bin Laden left Tora Bora, under pressure and on the run, he and his lieutenants were little able to communicate with each other. But gradually, al Qaeda restored its communications and was able to resume meetings.

Bin Laden even met with 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed at some point before the latter's arrest in February 2003. Additionally, bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri were frequently in the same area and regularly in communication.

During this time, Western intelligence agencies were able to draw up a detailed map tracing bin Laden's movements, according to the former intelligence official.

In 2003-2004, bin Laden spent time in several areas -- amid the rugged mountains of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal areas and in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, a more heavily populated area where Pakistan's security forces had a greater presence.

But according to the former official, bin Laden shunned big cities, preferring to stay in rural areas. The intelligence stream indicated that al Qaeda's leader also made several trips across into Afghanistan during this period, despite the presence of tens of thousands of U.S. troops.

In a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, Western intelligence agencies were always playing catch-up as bin Laden moved from location to location. Tantalizingly at one point, according to the former official, information about his exact location was only one week old. But the intelligence stream on bin Laden's movements never resulted in what is known as "actionable intelligence" that could have led to his capture or assassination.

After 2004 the intelligence stream dried up, according to the former official, who did not elaborate why. But he said that despite the setback, information on al Qaeda's leaders' movements never completely dried up; and recent intelligence suggested bin Laden and al-Zawahiri were still in close geographic proximity and able to communicate with each other.

However, few al Qaeda followers get to meet them. European and American jihadists who joined up with al Qaeda in 2008 have subsequently told Western interrogators that for security reasons access for them to bin Laden was strictly off limits.

Bin Laden is now mainly concentrating on providing "strategic direction" to the al Qaeda organization, rather than involving himself deeply in the daily running of the terrorist organization, the former official told CNN. Raw intelligence reports leaked in July on the Wikileaks website suggesting bin Laden took part in detailed planning of operations should be treated with skepticism, said the former official.

U.S. intelligence officials play down the possibility that bin Laden might be captured soon. CIA Director Leon Panetta stated in June that very little hard information on bin Laden's movements had come to light in recent years.

But on Friday, President Barack Obama said that pressure on the al Qaeda leadership meant that "they have been holed up in ways that have made it harder for them to operate." He added: "Bin Laden has gone deep underground. Even Zawahiri, who is more often out there, has been much more cautious."

( www.cnn.com )

U.S. preparing massive arms deal for Saudi Arabia, defense official says


The Obama administration is preparing to notify Congress of plans to sell $60 billion of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, according to a U.S. defense official.

The official, who would not be identified because the proposal has not yet been sent to Congress, described the deal as "enormous."

"We believe this is the largest of its kind in history," the official said.

Congress would have to approve the deal.

The proposed package includes 84 newly manufactured F-15/SA fighter aircraft; 70 upgraded aircraft, 70 Apache helicopters, 72 Black Hawk helicopters, and 36 AH-6 Little Bird helicopters. A number of bombs and missiles also are in the deal, including the Joint Direct Attack Munition, a satellite-guided bomb, as well as a laser-guided Hellfire missile variant and some advanced targeting technology.

The Saudi arms effort is in large part directed at providing a modernized capability against Iran.

"This gives them a whole host of defensive and deterrent capabilities," the official explained.

The official emphasized that nothing in the sale would change the qualitative edge that Israel seeks to maintain. A point reiterated by State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.

"Suffice it to say that at the core of our policy is making sure that, you know, there is stability in the region and part of that stability is making sure that Israel has what it needs ... to be able to provide for its own security," Crowley said Monday. "So the United States would do nothing that would upset that -- the current ... balance in the region."

The Obama administration hopes to send the proposed package to Capitol Hill no later than next week. The official emphasized it's not clear yet whether the Saudis would follow through to buy all of the weapons and aircraft in the package because they are continuing to evaluate their own financial concerns.

Boeing Corp. has told the administration that if the entire package is sold, 77,000 company jobs would be "involved," but there was no calculation on how many new jobs might be created over the five- to 10-year period of potential delivery, according to the official.

The official also indicated the United States is discussing with the Saudi government additional sales of a ballistic missile defense system and more modern warships.

( www.cnn.com )

Monday, September 13, 2010

Military Eyes Secret of Fireflies’ Glow


Someday, the secrets of fireflies or glowing sea plankton could save an American soldier in battle, a Navy SEAL on a dive or a military pilot landing after a mission. That's the hope behind a growing field of military-sponsored research into bioluminescence, a phenomenon that's under the microscope in laboratories around the country.

For university scientists who specialize in bioluminescence, an organism's ability to illuminate with its own body chemistry, military research grants are offering a chance to break ground.

A possible military use of bioluminescence would be creating biodegradable landing zone markers that helicopters can spot even as wind from their rotors kicks up dirt.

The military could also develop bioluminescent "friend vs. foe" identification markers and security systems, and methods to track weapons and supplies on the battlefield.

First described around 500 B.C. by the Greek philosopher Anaximenes, bioluminescence is familiar by its sight - if not its name - to children catching fireflies and to divers entranced by lanternfish and other sea life.

It's also the factor behind the renowned Bio Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where floating microorganisms called dinoflagellates leave neon-blue trails when disturbed.

The phenomenon is noteworthy because it creates light without heat, said Bruce Branchini, a chemistry professor at Connecticut College in New London.

For the military, that could mean using bioluminescence to mark objects or locations wouldn't make them vulnerable to an enemy with heat-seeking technology.

Branchini, who recently received a $225,000 grant for his work studying lightning bugs, is examining ways to use their proteins to mutate the greenish-yellow glow to create what's called "far red."

That light, just short of infrared, is just off the spectrum of human vision and is the same light produced in the signals of television remote controls.

"What they're going to do with it, I don't know," Branchini said. "I don't have secret clearance, I don't go to secret meetings. They'll work on the practical applications, but what interests me the most is the research portion."

Hugh De Long, deputy director of math, information and life sciences at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, said it has given about $500,000 in grants yearly for bioluminescence studies since 2002 or 2003.

The Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation also give grants for bioluminescence work, sometimes several million dollars at a time. They hope for long-term benefits for the military, health researchers and other government entities by encouraging the basic biological research with financial incentives.

De Long said although government researchers also work on bioluminescence, tapping the knowledge of academics throughout the United States is key.

"It's much more beneficial and efficient for the military to go out to the university community and say, 'Hey, look, this is an area that will tie in with some of the stuff we're doing, and we want to fund that,'" De Long said.

(www.military.com)