Chinese Version of Russian Armored 'Bumerang' Reaches Testing Phase

Source : http://sputniknews.com

China is finalizing the development of the VP-10, an analogue of the sophisticated Russian-made armored personnel carrier Bumerang (Boomerang), the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported.

China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) has already presented the prototype of the VP-10 at one of the country's military exhibitions. Its design is similar to the Bumerang armored vehicle.

For example, the NORINCO VP-10's engine is installed at the front of the hull, and the troops can leave the vehicle via rear doors, or roof hatches.

The Bumerang armored personnel carrier drives during the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015

The new Chinese armored vehicle is expected to be equipped with different types of combat modules. A lighter version of the machine will be capable of carrying between ten and twelve fully kitted soldiers. A version of the vehicle with heavy weapons on board can only carry eight soldiers.

Like the Bumerang, the amphibious NORINCO VP-10 will have an 8x8 configuration and can be transported by aircraft.

In addition to being put on service in the Chinese army, the new armored vehicle is due to be supplied to African and Latin American countries.

According to the military-informant.com website, the NORINCO VP-10 is currently undergoing a series of tests before being delivered to an unnamed customer.

US Patriot system is pitiful semblance of Russia's S-300

Source : http://english.pravda.ru

Pravda.Ru conducted an interview with Colonel Sergei Khatylev, former chief of Russian anti-aircraft missile forces, to learn an expert opinion about state-of-the-art anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian Army. 

"Anti-aircraft missile system S-400 "Triumf" is second to none in the world and is recognized as the most advanced system of the kind. The idea to create a long-range system appeared during the 1990s to destroy targets at a maximum range at medium altitudes. 

"The missiles that were previously developed for the S-300 system can also be used in the S-400 complex. The range of detection systems depends not only on technical parameters but also on geography. Therefore, the S-400 has several options for long-range guidance.

"The heart of the S-400 system is the head of mixed active and semi-active guidance that had been developed since the 1980s. The head has a function to search for enemy aircraft in a given area. That is, the missile arrives to the designated area and starts looking for the target.

"Also, following external commands, a missile can receive information about the enemy and take aim directly in the area designated for destruction. This perfect system was created by the team of engineers led by Almaz-Antei chief designer, Professor Lemansky.

He was personally in charge of all the works. People would not sleep at night as they were making the weapon that would be capable of destroying not only aeroballistic, but also ballistic targets, to protect the sky above Russia. Unfortunately, during the final tests in 2007, Lemansky tragically died right on the range ground. A street in the town of Elektrostal, the Moscow region, was named in his honor."

"What targets can "Triumf" detect and destroy?"

"Anti-aircraft missile system S-400 can detect and destroy tactical and strategic aircraft, as well as aircraft of early radar warning, helicopters, cruise missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, their warheads, guided air bombs, vulnerable elements of land, surface targets, medium range ballistic missiles, tactical and aeroballistic missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. There is a very wide range of targets.

"The S-400 complex consists of several vehicles. The anti-missile system includes a command post, a radar complex and automated equipment, a multi-functional radar and a launching system that ensures all pre-launch operations. 

"The MRLS radar can detect 300 line targets simultaneously. The electronic equipment of the system offers a few options to the commander, who makes a final decision. Electronic equipment analyzes air traffic situation on their own and takes aim, while a person controls the situation and makes decisions with the help of the equipment.

"The S-400 system can use four types of missiles and four options for obtaining targeting, receiving information from both internal and external sources.

"To date, there are no analogues to Russia's S-400 in the world. This is recognized by all professionals in the world. The US-made Patriot PAC-5 is a pitiful semblance of Russia's S-300 PM-2. The American system can not even be compared with the S-400 as it is too far behind it on all parameters. 

"Interestingly, Russian military commanders offered to demonstrate the abilities of the S-300 and the Patriot systems during an arms show in Abu Dhabi. We were ready for the event, but the Americans refused."

"Why did they refuse?"

"They knew that the performance of their system would not let them catch up with the performance of the S-300. There are many disadvantages of the US Patriot that make the American system a lot less effective. It is also important that the Americans expect an air enemy only in a certain sector, while Russia practices all-round defense. 

"The Americans are not ready to work, if the target suddenly appears from another direction. They have no rotating antenna post - they launch missiles in an inclined plane. Russia's state-of-the-art systems can protect air space of the country effectively. And of course, our air defense continues to improve."

Fighter deal likely during Modi’s November visit to Russia

Source : http://m.thehindu.com/

    

The final agreement for the joint development and production of a fifth generation fighter aircraft could be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in November, diplomatic sources told The Hindu on Thursday.

Preparations are under way in both countries for the summit-level meeting to impart a qualitative boost to defence cooperation.

Agreeing that differences exist, sources said without getting into the details that “a workaround has been found and discussions are in an advanced stage” and an agreement could be reached “by autumn”. The final deal is likely to be signed in November.

The agreement on the fighter aircraft has been stuck because of differences in the work share between Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). As the project is to have equal investment from each side, India has been insisting on parity in the work share. So far, both sides have invested $295 million for the preliminary design. India had some reservations on the engine and stealth characteristics.

India has requested Russia to let its pilots fly the T-50 prototypes currently under testing. A decision by Russia on this is expected shortly. India plans to induct 144 fighters and the entire project is expected to cost over $30 billion. The first batch of aircraft is expected to be handed over to the Russian Air Force in early 2017.

China's military establishes first national security think tank

Source : http://www.wantchinatimes.com

China's military Thursday established its first think tank for national security studies at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The research center for national security studies will promote interdisciplinary studies, provide advice for the central government and military commission, issue annual reports, and hold regular high-end seminars.

Ren Tianyou, vice head of the center's leader group and also director of the university's strategic teaching and research division, said the university will integrate military and civilian resources to provide advice on policy.

The center will be operated under the guidance of the central government and the PLA headquarters.

The think tank is the latest result of China's focus on national security. Since 2013, the country has also established the National Security Commission, issued a national security strategy guideline and adopted the National Security Law.

Russian Army units of the Eastern Military District started the practical preparations for the international exercise "Selenge 2015"

Source : http://function.mil.ru

In preparation for the international exercise "Selenga-2015", which was first held in a specialized landfill Tsugol Trans-Baikal Territory, the personnel of the tank connection of the Eastern Military District stationed in the Republic of Buryatia, started working out practical exercises driving and shooting.

Particular attention is paid to the coherence of crews and their training to the most complex elements - overcoming the water hazard.

In addition, crew T-72B3 will fulfill the element of fire training as "flanking fire." This exercise is carried out when the tank is moving along the of the target field. Shooting is conducted on the range to the target ranging from 800 to 1200 meters.

Training in the consolidated divisions are more than 500 soldiers with the assistance of about 100 pieces of equipment.

US Army Chief of Staff Gen Odierno Insists on More Troops, Arms to Europe to ‘Cope With Russia’

Source : http://sputniknews.com

US Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno is relying on Russophobic scaremongering to urge America to put an “additional brigade’s worth of heavy equipment, including tanks and armored-personnel carriers, in Germany”; the move will therefore mitigate the cuts to US forces in Europe.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Gen. Ray Odierno, Chief of Staff of the US Army, has called for putting the “larger stockpile of heavy equipment in Germany” in position, including tanks and armored personnel carriers.

“That would allow a heavy brigade of some 3,500 [US] soldiers to fly quickly to Europe,” he added.

Gen. Odierno also voiced his intention “to designate the entire Colorado-based 4th Infantry Division as a so-called regionally aligned force for Europe. Such a designation would mean the division’s brigades, helicopters and logistics specialists would regularly deploy to Europe to conduct security exercises.”

He specified that the military units “would more likely be used for a crisis”.  By “the crisis” the general apparently meant “a rising threat from Russia in Ukraine”.

The "rising Russian threat” card is being played yet again, as the US Army is dealing “with cuts required by the failure to reach a long-term agreement in Congress to end mandatory spending reductions.”

“Gen. Odierno has fought to halt cuts to the Army, but Democrats and Republicans have failed to agree on any measure that would increase long-term spending on the military,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Gen. Odierno said that if the Army is forced to cut further, reducing its forces below 450,000 soldiers, it would have to curb overseas deployments.

“I am very concerned about the size of the force — we cannot go any lower than 450,000,” Gen. Odierno said. “If we do, we will have to stop doing something. We are not going to meet our requirements in the Middle East, plus our requirements in Europe, plus our requirements in Korea and around the Pacific. Something is going to have to give.”

Gen. Odierno said adding tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other equipment would allow the US to send forces quickly to assist NATO member countries, should a conflict with Russia erupt.

In the event of a military crisis between Moscow and a NATO member, Gen. Odierno said, the US focus wouldn’t be on pulling out the small companies of soldiers it has in Poland and the Baltic states. Instead, it would use troops from the U.S. and its pre-positioned equipment in Europe to reinforce forces nearest the crisis.

“We hope that the Russians wouldn’t [create a crisis], but we always must be prepared,” Gen. Odierno said. “We have to figure out how to reinforce those companies that are forward.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the US Army currently has one brigade based in the US state of Georgia that is aligned to Europe. The new plan, which would be implemented over the next two years, would allow more soldiers to be available for operations and exercises in Europe. It would also allow the division’s intelligence experts to focus on the threat from Russia and its planners to become experts on allied capabilities.

Russian antisubmarine ships go on combat duty in Pacific

Source : http://tass.ru/en

VLADIVOSTOK, July 8. /TASS/. Russian small antisubmarine ships have entered the Pacific for combat duty missions, Pacific Fleet spokesman Roman Martov said on Wednesday.

‘Small antisubmarine ships from a formation for the protection of the water area of troops and forces in northeast Russia have set off for combat duty in the designated parts of the Pacific Ocean as part of an antisubmarine striking force," the officer said.

The naval task force will carry out patrol missions and demonstrate the Russian flag and will also hold antisubmarine exercises, the Pacific Fleet spokesman said.

"The small antisubmarine ships MPK-82 and MPK-107 earlier searched for imaginary enemy force’s submarines in Avachinsky Bay and the Sea of Okhotsk as part of a combat readiness check for the Pacific Fleet troops and forces," the spokesman said.

Estonia government will consider the construction of a landfill for training heavy armor NATO allies

Source : http://militarynews.ru

Tallinn. 9 de Julio. Interfax - The Estonian government will consider the construction of the landfill for training heavy armor NATO allies.
As reported by "Interfax" the press service of the government, the landfill in accordance with the program of development of national defense in the 2013-2022 year will be built in Harju County and in Kuusalu parishes Ania in the vicinity of the reservoir and the river Soodla.
The area of ​​the landfill will be 5865 hectares, the length of the outer fence - 32.2 kilometers.
Polygon Soodla created primarily for training, as well as for training of heavy armored NATO allies that can not be done at the Central site.

Next gen S-350 mobile mid-range missiles to make Russian air defense impenetrable

Source : http://rt.com

Russian air defense is getting ready to deploy S-350 Vityaz mobile SAMs to replace outgoing versions of S-300 anti-aircraft systems. The core of the new system features missiles with state-of-the-art active radar-homing warheads.

Everything is ready for the production of Russia’s brand-new medium to short range mobile S-350 Vityaz anti-aircraft missile complex. The system will replace S-300ps SAMs, which are armed with outdated V55R missiles due for decommissioning by the end of the year.

“The next generation S-350 systems will be operational in the nearest possible future,” General-Major Sergey Babakov, the Commander of Russia’s anti-aircraft missile troops, told journalists in early July. “Deployment is expected to comply with the schedule, no failures on delivery are expected,” the general added.

The S-350 Vityaz system consists of a launcher vehicle, all-aspect radar for scanning airspace and a command vehicle. The maximum number of launchers operating with one radar and command center is classified, as well as the maximum quantity of simultaneously tracked targets.

The S-350 Vityaz is armed with two types of missiles. One is medium range also employed by anti-aircraft S-400 Triumph systems. The other interceptor missile is a brand-new modern projectile with an active homing head, which means it has its own radar station.

The technical characteristics of this new missile“outperform missiles of previous generation systems,” Colonel Igor Klimov, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, told journalists.

The new missile is smaller, lighter and more maneuverable, General Babakov said last weekend in an interview with Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine. “Though it is smaller, its characteristics are better than that of S-300ps. It is agile, does better at ultra-low and maximum heights and has longer range,” the general said.

“I believe the new system is going to be die-hard,”Babakov said in an interview with the Russian News Service radio station.

The S-350 Vityaz was unveiled to the public at the MAKS-2013 International Aviation and Space Show.

Initially, the complex was expected to enter production in 2014, but the final tests of the new missile took more time than was expected.

The S-400 Triumph and S-350 Vityaz complexes are replacing those of the outdated S-300 family systems.

The principal difference between S-350 Vityaz and S-300 is the number of missiles ready for use: the S-350 launcher vehicle carries 12 missiles, whereas the S-300 has just four. This is due to modern missiles being more powerful, and so missiles become either smaller or achieve longer ranges with the same size.

Bulgaria To Award MiG-29 Service Deal To Poland

Source : http://www.defensenews.com

WARSAW — Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev unveiled plans by his government to sign the much-awaited contract for maintenance and repair services of the country's 12 Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets with Poland.

The minister first made the announcement in an interview with Reuters, confirming earlier reports on the government's reluctance to continue its defense cooperation with Moscow. Until now, the aircraft was serviced by Russia. The Bulgarian government decided to award the deal to one of its NATO allies, Poland, because of Sofia's increasing row with Moscow.

A representative of RKS-MiG, the aircraft's manufacturer,, said Poland cannot legally perform maintenance and servicing works on the Russian-built fighter.

"Poland does not have the licence to repair and extend the life of the engines of MiG-29 fighter jets," RKS-MiG's Alexander Alexandrov told local daily Pressa.

This April, Nenchev told local media he was offered a bribe to sign a deal with Russia, but refused to do so. The extended deal until 2019 — which Nenchev said was "unfavorable" to Bulgaria — was priced by the Russian side at some 80 million leva (US $45 million), according to the minister.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense is also considering to acquire new fighter jets. When the country joined NATO in March 2004, its government vowed to replace six of its MiG-21 fighters and acquire eight new aircraft by 2016.

Swedish CybAero receives authorisation for UAV delivery to China

Source: Flightglobal.com

Swedish company CybAero has been granted an export licence to sell 70 Apid unmanned air vehicles to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), allowing the first type to be delivered in-country.

The Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls licence was issued on 26 June, following “highly extensive” factory and flight testing carried out earlier in the month.

An eight year framework agreement for 70 of the type, plus one demonstrator, was signed in July 2014 and is valued at some SKr 700-800 million ($82.7-94.5 million).

The first demonstrator model is now approved for delivery. This take place sometime in July, and the model will then be used for customer demonstrations in China.

“The system CybAero is delivering meets requirements and will be commissioned as early as August,” says Mikael Hult, CEO of CybAero.

CybAero

CybAero received a notice for the first five systems under the framework agreement in March 2015. These are now in production and will be delivered to distributor ACC in the third quarter of 2015.

“We have now initiated the delivery phase of our largest-ever order, which feels extremely exciting,” Hult adds. “CybAero is now taking the step from being a development company to becoming a production company."

China is a key market for the company – in January the Chinese government’s customs department ordered three systems,which will be based on three new ships dedicated to customs control, port management and anti-smuggling operations.

The UAV completed testing with the Chinese shipyard that is building the new ships in April.

Liaoning aircraft carrier's first battle group to be formed next year

Source : http://www.wantchinatimes.com

China's first aircraft carrier battle group is expected to be formed next year to make up for the shortcoming of the limited combat radius of the country's existing fleets, according to China's official news agency Xinhua.

Citing the Military-Industrial Courier, a Russia-based weekly, the report said China's first carrier, the Liaoning, embarked on its first blue-water passage in early 2014 escorted by 12 vessels of different classes. The carrier, refitted in Dalian from a Soviet-era hulk purchased from Ukraine in 1998, was commissioned in 2012.

Beijing is considering different approaches for forming its aircraft carrier battle groups, including the one used by the United States Navy, the report said. Two new aircraft carriers built domestically with greater displacement and greater power are also planned, with the long-term goal of having four new carriers, it added.

With a driving power of 200,000 horsepower, the Liaoning has displacement of 67,500 tonnes at maximum load.

China began to build its first new aircraft carrier in 2013, which is expected to have "initial combat ability" in 2020. The PLA Navy also saw the number of its surface vessels more than double. It now has 50 missile frigates and destroyers in service compared with 15 in 2000.

The country has also spared no efforts in overhauling its old vessels by equipping them with its most advanced weapons, the report said. The PLA's latest model of frigate is equipped with Russian-made P-270 supersonic anti-ship missiles with a range of 209 kilometers and the domestically produced YJ62 anti-ship missiles (241 km), YJ83 missiles (152 km)and YJ8A missiles (104 km), while the Luyang-class or Type 052D destroyers, the most advanced surface vessels in China's navy, will be equipped with vertical launch systems and long-range anti-ship missiles.

China is also developing 10,000-tonne cruisers that are expected to be armed with massive anti-air, anti-ship, ship-based cruise missiles, and even magnetic weapons in the future, according to the report.