Kalashnikov Group to Showcase Drones, Army Assault Boats in St. Petersburg

Source : http://sputniknews.com

Russia’s renowned producer of the legendry AK-47 assault rifle, Kalashnikov Group, is now sizing up larger markets and is set to showcase its newly developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and army assault boats at the International Maritime Defense Show, which has just kicked off in St. Petersburg.

Russia’s Kalashnikov Group is set to unveil its naval battle group of UAV-equipped multifunctional assault boats, according to the press service of the group. The boats will be showcased at the VII International Maritime Defense Show, which has just kicked off in St. Petersburg and will last until July 5.

“Kalashnikov Group will unveil a naval battle group of multifunctional assault boats equipped with modern weaponry systems and recently-developed UAVs, which are adapted to launch from the boat's deck,” read the press service's statement

Saab Receives SEK270 Million Order for RBS 70 Missiles

Source : http://saabgroup.com

Defence and security company Saab has received an SEK270 million order for the delivery of RBS 70 missiles and additional equipment and training. Deliveries will occur between 2015 and 2016.

The Saab portfolio of short-range ground-based air defence missile systems includes the RBS 70 and the further enhanced RBS 70 NG. The RBS 70 system has an impressive track-record on the market with more than 1,600 launchers and over 17,000 missiles delivered to 19 countries.

“One of our customers of the RBS 70 system has placed an additional order to achieve added capacity of its forces. This order demonstrates the reliability of the RBS 70 system, as well as the high quality of our manufacturing and support capabilities,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab business area Dynamics.

"The RBS 70 is a modern system with a long lifespan. An increasing number of customers are discovering its flexible design, which allows for the system to be continuously upgraded,” says Görgen Johansson.

The details of this contract are covered by a confidentiality agreement between Saab and the customer. No further information concerning this order will be released. 

NATO’s turn against Russia plotted long before Ukraine events — diplomat

Source : http://tass.ru/en

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. NATO’s return to the Cold War era security perception was planned long before the Ukrainian crisis, Russia’s envoy to the alliance, Alexander Grushko, said on Tuesday.

"Today, the whole NATO machine is in fact turning to the East, in other words is going back to the sources. This is an extremely dangerous tendency as it envisages long-term trends," he told a video link-up between Moscow and Brussels.

"NATO links the need for such a turn to Russia’s alleged aggressive actions in Ukraine," the diplomat said. "But NATO cannot but see what efforts are made by Russia to ensure the full implementation of the Minsk agreements."

Not a single Russia-NATO cooperation program works — Russian diplomat

"However, those decisions that are taken are no way linked to the Ukrainian crisis, what is becoming another evidence that the military and political turn of NATO was devised long before the Ukrainian events," he said.

This turn comes first of all as the "epoch of major operations is over, showing NATO’s failure to adopt to new security conditions." In order to prove that this tool is still in demand, "the alliance has found nothing better than to return to the security perception of the Cold War time."

India to Develop New Tank, Use Russian Armata as Prototype

Source : http://sputniknews.com

Soviet and Russian military hardware makes up around 40 percent of all hardware in the Indian ground forces (it is even more in India's Air Force — 80 percent, and  Navy — 75 percent). In total, there are around 600 T-55 tanks, almost 2,000 T-72M1 and 640 T-90C tanks.The new tank the Indian Army plans to design and manufacture is known as the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV).

The new generation MBT will form the base platform for other armored vehicles, similar to the Russian-made Armata platform. The Indian army wants to use the platform for as many as 11 different tracked vehicles, including light tracked, wheeled, bridge layer and trawl tanks, self-propelled howitzers, air defense guns, artillery observation post and engineering reconnaissance vehicles, and armored ambulances, the Diplomat said.

India might likely use Russia's new Armata tank as a prototype for its own armored vehicle, Gazeta.ru reported. Earlier this month, defense expert Samir Patil from India's Gateway House analytical center said his country was willing to buy the Armata platform or some of its elements for future development of their own tank.

"I think India would like to purchase such a combat platform for its armed forces," Samir Patil said.

What makes the Armata tank stand out from its domestic and foreign counterparts is that the crew is securely enclosed in a multi-layer armored capsule separated from the ammunition container. The vehicle is fully computerized and only needs three servicemen to operate it.

The tank has an unmanned, remotely controlled turret, digitally controlled by a crew-member located in a separate compartment. It is believed that this would eventually lead to the development of a fully robotic tank.

Orbital ATK Successfully Launched Two GQM-163A Coyote Targets for the U.S. Navy

Source : http://www.navyrecognition.com 

 

Orbital ATK, Inc. a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, successfully launched two GQM-163A Coyote Supersonic Target Vehicles for the U.S. Navy, marking the 47th and 48th mission of Coyote program since its inception 15 years ago. “The recent flight test showcases the robustness of the Coyote target and the commitment of our team to the success of our customer’s mission,” said Keven Leith, Orbital ATK’s Senior Director of Navy Programs. “We are proud to provide an important capability to the Navy that is critical to the defense of this country.”
   
The launches took place from San Nicolas Island, which is part of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Point Mugu Sea Test Range, which is responsible for testing and evaluating weapons systems for all branches of the military and allied forces.

The Coyote target vehicle is based on a ramjet propulsion system that is integrated into a compact missile airframe measuring 18 feet long and 14 inches in diameter. Rail-launched from naval test and training ranges, the highly maneuverable Coyote has two optional flight trajectories: “sea skimmer” and “high-diver.” This test was flown as a high-diver mission in which the Coyote ascended to approximately 35,000 feet, reaching Mach 3.3 cruise speed under ramjet power, and then executed a planned 40-degree unpowered dive to its objective point near the ocean’s surface at the end of its 110 mile journey.

“A high-diver test truly showcases the full capability and flexibility of this system,” said Leith.

Throughout the history of the program, Coyote targets have been successfully launched from three sites including San Nicolas Island in the Point Mugu Test Range, the Pacific Missile Range on Kauai, Hawaii, and Ile du Levant near the French Mediterranean coast. In addition, the GQM-163A Coyote will launch from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico this summer.

The Coyote program is managed by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), based at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. Launches are managed by the Pacific Target and Marine Operations Division (PTMO) NAWCWD in Point Mugu, California.

Orbital ATK was awarded an initial development contract in 2000 to meet the U.S. Navy’s requirement for an affordable system to simulate high-speed anti-ship cruise missiles for fleet training and weapon systems research, development, test and evaluation. Development and five flight tests were conducted from the start of the contract to when the program became operational in 2005.

Since that time, Orbital ATK has received multiple orders from the U.S. Navy, as well as orders from the Royal Australian Navy, French, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) and Japan, Technical Research Development Institute (TRDI). Approximately 120 units have been ordered to date, of which 97 have been delivered to customers. The company has supported 48 Coyote launches that include 11 flight tests or demonstration launches and 37 operational missions. Of these 37 operational launches, seven have been "high diver" trajectories with the remaining 30 being sea skimmer trajectories.

The development and manufacturing of the Coyote vehicles occurs at Orbital ATK’s production facility in Chandler, Arizona. Orbital ATK’s major subcontractors include Aerojet Corporation in Gainesville, Virginia and Sacramento, California for the solid-fuel ducted-rocket motor, and Goodrich Sensors & Integrated Systems in Vergennes, Vermont for the vehicle’s fin actuation system.

India's Tank Plan Clouds Future of Arjun

Source : http://www.defensenews.com

NEW DELHI — The Indian Army's plan to develop and build a medium-weight main battle tank to replace more than 2,500 Russian T-72s has raised questions about the future of the homemade Arjun tank and likely would kill a decade-old proposal by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to build a tank, according to analysts and officials.

The Indian Army this month floated a global request for information to seek partners to design the new tank under a program called Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV). As a medium-weight platform it would weigh 40-plus tons, compared with the Arjun, which weighs 60 tons.

"The proposed FRCV is in the medium category and is more likely to be around the T-90 platform than the Arjun Mark-II platform, which is getting close to the medium-heavy/heavy category," said Anil Chait, retired Indian Army lieutenant general. "Designing and developing the product around proposed qualitative requirements afresh would suggest that we may be looking toward the end of the Arjun saga," he said.

However, Rahul Bhonsle, a retired Army brigadier general and defense analyst, said the Arjun will progress from the current Mark-1 level to Mark-3.

"The lead time for the FRCV to be manufactured, if all goes well, is likely to be approximately 15 years or so. This provides adequate scope for the Arjun series to be progressed to at least Mark-3. Moreover, there is a need in the Indian Army for an Arjun class of tank."

While no Ministry of Defence official would comment on the fate of the decade-old Futuristic Main Battle Tank (FMBT) project to be developed by DRDO, an Army official said FRCV has "surely killed" the FMBT.

The FMBT, intended to be in the 50-plus ton category, was also meant to replace the T-72s.

"The FRCV seems to be a completely new project which possibly junks the FMBT, which was being worked upon by the DRDO or may be a lead to the developing agency to add on to the existing work that has already been done on the same," Bhonsle said.

"I surely see Americans, Russians, French, Germans, Koreans and British participating along with Indian companies in stand-alone or joint venture mode. We could see leading companies from there which are involved with tank design, participating in it," Chait said.

Unlike the earlier tank effort, the FRCV does not restrict production to the DRDO. Domestic defense companies in tie-ups with overseas defense companies can serve as the production agencies.

"As this is an open competition, private agencies could also be roped in to develop the tank. The best option would be for DRDO designing and developing the same with a foreign partner as it is best placed technically to do so. For an Indian private company in collaboration with a foreign partner it would be a Greenfield venture," where the foreign company would construct new facilities for the project, Bhonsle said.

The Army plans to begin induction of the basic FRCV by 2025-27, which would be the platform on which numerous variants would be developed to serve different functions. These variants will include a tracked light tank, a wheeled version, a bridge layer tank, a trawl tank and mine plows, armored recovery vehicle, self-propelled gun, anti-aircraft tank, artillery observation vehicle, engineer reconnaissance vehicle, and armored ambulance.

According to the request for information, FRCV will be executed in three stages: design, prototype developmental and production.

The request says the design agency and developing agency can be separate entities. The best design will be chosen and given to the nominated development agency for prototype production. The selected prototype will be given to the production agency or agencies for bulk production.

Shankar Roy Chowdhury, retired Army general and former service chief, said the paramount requirement for the tank is survivability.

"Russian designers sought to achieve this [survivability] by smaller size [three-man crew and lighter armor], lower profile and speed. The West preferred larger turrets, hence thicker armor, heavier tanks. The test for both designs has been the Arab-Israeli wars and the gulf war. The Russian designs did not do too well. Blame that on the crews if you like," Roy Chowdhury said.

The most important requirement, however, is that the future FRCV must be indigenously designed, Roy Chowdhury said.

Russia’s 4th Varshavyanka class submarine delivered to Vietnam

Source : http://tass.ru/en

HANOI, June 30. /TASS/. The fourth of a total of six Varshavyanka class submarines of Project 636.1 that Vietnam ordered from Russia has been delivered to Cam Ranh Port in the central part of the country on Tuesday.

The Da Nang submarine was transported by the Dutch heavy load carrier vessel Rolldok Star. Its unloading and the submarine’s putting afloat will be carried out within the next two days after all the necessary administrative formalities and customs documentation execution are completed.

To date, Vietnam’s naval forces include the first three boats supplied by Russia - the Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Haiphong. The submarines equipped with the standard package are supplied to the Vietnamese side with the Club-S missile strike system.

The delivery to the customer of the entire batch of the boats that are built at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg is planned to be completed in 2016.

Russia is a traditional partner of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) in the sphere of military-technical cooperation. In recent years the sides have signed contracts worth more than $4.5 billion on the supply of Russia’s newest weapons to Vietnam. The most significant deals were the contract on the supply of a batch of the Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters to Vietnam, which is estimated at some $1 billion, and a $2 billion contract on the sale of 6 Varshavyanka class submarines to Vietnam.

This year, Russia will deliver to Vietnam 10 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters, and so the number of this type of aircraft in the Vietnamese People’s Army will reach to 36.

According to the Vietnamese government, Vietnam’s annual defence spending amounts to some $1.5 billion, which is equivalent to 1.8% of national GDP.

The TSB started the final round of consultations on the Russian-Mongolian planning exercises "Selenge 2015"

Source : http://function.mil.ru

06/30/2015 (5:31) The TSB started the final round of consultations on the Russian-Mongolian planning exercises "Selenge 2015"

In the Eastern Military District (VZV) started the final round of consultations on the preparation of a joint Russian-Mongolian military exercise "Selenga-2015."

In the final planning of the conference, which began in the capital of Trans-Baikal Territory, Chita, representatives of the Eastern Military District and the Armed Forces of Mongolia will hold reconnaissance (study) area of ​​future scientists, land water hazard, accommodation field camp, station loading (unloading) of arms and military equipment, the route of their movement in the area of ​​teaching.

Final Protocol of negotiations on the preparation of the teaching will be signed on July 2nd.

In the past planning conference held in Ulan-Ude (Buryatia) and Ulan Bator (Mongolia), the parties have agreed that the joint military exercise "Selenga-2015" will take place at the training complex BBO "Tsugol" (Trans-Baikal Region) from 19 to 27 August this year.

Arrival Armed Forces of Mongolia involved in teaching, scheduled on August 17 this year, the grand opening of exercises planned for August 19 sg ..

The exercise combined group of forces of Russia and Mongolia will work together tactical actions during anti-terrorist operations with tactical landings and forcing water barriers.

Recall that in the joint Russian-Mongolian military exercise "Selenga-2015" from the Eastern Military District will participate tank battalion, mechanized infantry company, a mortar, self-propelled artillery and rocket batteries division flamethrower, sniper, reconnaissance, and NBC protection. There are about 90 pieces of weapons and military equipment, including two Su-25, a pair of Mi-8 helicopters AMTSH couple - Mi-24 from the Armed Forces of Mongolia 54 units of AME.

From the Mongolian Armed Forces will participate in the maneuvers tactical grouping infantry battalion, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks, T-72, BM-21 MLRS, mortars.

By the maneuvers planned to involve about 850 soldiers from both sides.

International exercise "Selenga-2015" will be devoted to the 70th anniversary of the Victory in World War II

Another Eight Ships, Two Subs to Reinforce Russian Navy in 2015

Source : http://sputniknews.com

Eight ships and two subs will join the ranks of the Russian Navy by 2016 meaning that the arms procurement plan is running smoothly.

The Russian Navy will receive eight warships and two submarines by the end of 2015 in accordance with the state arms procurement plan, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday.

The two diesel-electric subs will join the ranks of the Black Sea Fleet. Among the eight ships, the minister mentioned the corvette Sovershenny (Perfect) and the first frigate Admiral Gorshkov.

Corvette Sovershenny, which floated out on May 22, is the first ship to join the Russian Pacific Fleet in the 21st century. It is a multirole guard vessel designed to combat an enemy's ships and submarines, as well as support marines with artillery.

The ship is armed with a complex of anti-ship missiles Uran (NATO name "Switchblade"), an air defense system Redoubt, three artillery cannons, eight torpedoes, and pads for machineguns and grenade launchers, and can carry one Ka-27 helicopter.

Frigate Admiral Gorshkov was launched in 2010. It will enter the service in the Northern Fleet. The frigate is armed with an A-192 130mm naval gun, launch units for 16 Oniks and Kalibr anti-ship missiles, an air defense system Redoubt, two close-in Palash weapon systems, as well as anti-ship missiles, and has a helipad for a Ka-27.

Minister Shoigu said that 10 motor boats already joined the Russian Navy in 2015.

He added that 45 facilities will be built for the Russian Navy.

New Silk Road Ruins US Military Plans to Impose Blockade of China

Source : http://sputniknews.com

Beijing's One Belt, One Road initiative, a viable alternative to China's vulnerable sea routes through the South China Sea, is aimed at bolstering China's economy and preventing the US from imposing a distant blockade of the country, Stratfor notes.

China's Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative is not just a "sum of infrastructural projects," but rather a carefully thought-out strategy aimed at pursuing China's geopolitical objectives in Eurasia, Stratfor's analysts pointed out.

Beijing's "Belt and Road" will be in fact a sum of six transport corridors across Eurasia, comprising of both land and maritime components, the analysts elaborated.

"The strategy behind the Belt and Road Initiative is to diversify transit lines, thereby mitigating China's vulnerability to external economic disruption and reinvigorating China's slowing economy. Ideally, China would like to link its inland cities to global markets with a diversified network of transit routes and energy pipelines, many of which would take inland routes and serve as alternatives to existing sea-lanes," the Stratfor report stated.

Since China's economy is heavily reliant on foreign trade and energy supplies through the country's "vulnerable" sea routes, it would be "relatively easy" for a potential adversary to disrupt China's trade and block the country.

"US war planners have certainly not ignored China's geographic vulnerability… In the case of a war between the United States and China, many US strategists favor imposing a distant blockade of Chinese waters," the analysts pointed out.

Thus far, by launching the Belt and Road initiative Beijing is seeking to mitigate such a risk, constructing a network of transit routes across Eurasia in order to avoid a "single point of failure."

Beijing is planning to improve existing transportation networks, build new ones and construct new energy pipelines and transport hubs. Remarkably, China has already built a number of such hubs in Eurasia and now it will have to simply link existing segments of infrastructure into a comprehensive network.

"The Belt and Road investments will also serve to build political support for China. Many countries along the proposed transportation corridors face huge budget shortfalls in the area of infrastructure development, together totaling trillions of dollars between 2010 and 2020," the Stratfor report read, adding that "with its large financial resources, China is well poised to fill some of these gaps."

The analysts underscored that China may face certain security and political obstacles while accomplishing its ambitious project. For instance, Beijing will have to build a number of transport routes through undeveloped and troublesome regions. Furthermore, China is also facing a substantial threat posed by Xinjiang separatist insurgents, the analysts noted.

However, if China succeeds in implementing the Belt and Road project it will obtain several alternatives to its vulnerable South China Sea-lanes that "would greatly complicate potential US plans to impose a distant blockade" in an instance of war.

"Inland transit routes would naturally be insulated against naval interdiction, and the proliferation of short maritime transit legs would force the US Navy to spread its assets over a large expanse rather than concentrate on a small number of chokepoints. In peacetime, these options would enhance China's political leverage by preventing any individual country from threatening to disrupt China's economic lifelines," Stratfor's analysts concluded.

The crash of the SpaceX CRS-7 Falcon 9 rocket played into the hands of Russia

Source : http://sputniknews.com

The crash of the SpaceX CRS-7 Falcon 9 rocket played into the hands of Russia, since the Russian-made Soyuz remains the main servicer of the International Space Station (ISS), Breitbart reported.

The Falcon 9 rocket exploded just three minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. SpaceX rocket was carrying the Dragon cargo ship with supplies for the ISS. According to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the explosion happened due to excess pressure in the liquid oxygen tank.

© AP PHOTO/ JOHN RAOUX

Program for ISS Mission Remains Unchanged Despite SpaceX Crash - Roscosmos

NATO contracted SpaceX for $1.6 billion to fly at least 12 unmanned re-supply missions to the ISS. The failed mission was an attempt to deliver a water purifier, as well as an extra docking port adapter, food, research data and one extra space suit.

Although astronauts at the space station have enough water and supplies to last for several months, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden described the explosion of the rocket as a "significant setback" to the re-supply program, Breitbart said.

Currently, the incident is under investigation to find out what went wrong with the CRS-7 Falcon 9 rocket. Until the investigation is complete SpaceX won't be able to fly missions to the ISS.

The next cargo delivery flight will be launched from the Baikanur station in Kazakhstan this Friday after Russian officials re-scheduled it from August 3 to July 3.

French Navy ATL2 MPA Can Now Self Designate GBU-12 Laser-Guided Bombs With MX-20 System

Source : http://www.navyrecognition.com

 

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that on 18 June 2015, two Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol crews were qualified to GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bomb shooting procedures with self-designation. This flight marked the end of a training course which confronted crews to modern technologies used in air-to-ground support missions thanks to the Wescam MX-20D electro-optical turret fitted on ATL2 Standard V.
   
The mission took place on the Biscarosse range in south-western France. These qualification firings were made under the French procurement agency (DGA) control for the trajectory of the ammunition and respect of shooting conditions. The French Navy (CENTEX PATSIMAR) was in charge of crews compliance with dedicated procedures. According to the French Navy, the GBU-12 shooting was a success.

The French Navy operates 22 ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft in two "Flotilles" (equivalent to the US Navy's Patrol Squadrons): 21F and 23F. A small number of these aircraft received a Wescam MX-20D EO/IR system as part of an upgrade to increase the ISR capabilities of the platform, especially when conducting missions over desert area. ATL2 crews operate regularly over such areas in support of French ground forces and special forces (as illustrated recently in operations over Mali or Iraq

In October 2013 the French Ministry of Defence awarded Dassault Aviation and Thales a contract for the modernisation of 15 ATL2s. The upgrade will consist in a new radar, the Thales Search Master, new IFF, latest-generation digital acoustic processing subsystem, a new core system... and MX-20D systems for all 15 platforms. The upgrade programme will improve the ATL2's ability to deal with new and emerging threats under all weather conditions, both in strategic deterrence roles and in asymmetric conflicts involving quiet and stealthy submarines, high-speed craft, land vehicles, etc. The aircraft will be equipped to remain in operational service beyond 2030.

The ATL2 can deploy Exocet AM-39 anti-ship missiles for anti-surface warfare, MU90 torpedo and sonobuoys for anti-submarine warfare. The new ability to self-designated GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs will allow ATL2 crews to operate on their own: They won't require "buddy lazing" from troops on the ground or from a jet equipped with a laser designation pod. 

During the Paris Air Show 2015 held a couple weeks ago, Paul Jennison, Vice President of government sales and business development at Wescam told Navy Recognition "Only Wescam offers an imaging system like the MX-20D. It is very stable and very user-friendly. The MX-20 series offers precise geolocation and high magnification. For these reasons the MX-20 EO/IR system was chosen by many navies for their Maritime Patrol Aircraft such as the US Navy Poseidon and the French Navy ATL2".

  

Brazil will upgrade its armed forces with Pantsir air defense systems

Source : http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Brazil is apt to purchase Russian Pantsir air defense systems as early as in the first half of 2016, Brazilian Ambassador to Russia Jose Vallim Guerreiro said.

“A general decision on the purchase has been made…As far as I know, the deal is expected in the first half of 2016,” Guerreiro told RIA Novosti.

In a January interview with RIA Novosti the ambassador had suggested that the contract on the delivery of Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to the Latin American country could be signed in the beginning of 2015.

Guerreiro explained that this delay was mainly because “the 2015 budget did not provide enough financial resources to pay for armaments.”

He added that the work is currently underway to include a corresponding provision in the 2016 budget.

The two countries launched negotiations on Pantsir deliveries in 2012.

The Pantsir-S1 (NATO reporting name SA-22 Greyhound), is a short-to-medium range gun-missile system combining a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 57E6 radio-command guided short-range missiles. The system is designed to acquire a variety of targets flying at altitudes from five meters to 10 kilometers and at the range from 200 meters to 20 kilometers.

Units of S-400 of the Russian Federation to work to intercept air attack

Source : https://defencerussia.wordpress.com

Units of anti-aircraft missile complexes S-400, S-300 and anti-aircraft missile and gun complexes “Pantsir-S” across Russia will fulfill the interception promising air attacks in the contest “Keys to the sky”, the press service of the Defense Ministry said.
“Units of S-400, S-300, Pantsir-S across the country will work to intercept promising air attacks in the framework of the “Keys to the sky”… Today, at the site opened in Buryatia Telemba-army stage of the competition on the field training units of air defense troops Air Force “Keys to the sky,” the statement said.
Air crews of the Eastern Military District will be used to designate enemy aircraft and air defense units will work for detection, tracking and conditional defeat of air targets, the Defense Ministry said.

France fills the US Arms void into Middle East

Source : http://www.atlanticcouncil.org

Through a series of recent sales worth billions, most recently a $12 billion deal with Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday, the Rafale has become the backbone of Paris's realpolitik economic diplomacy aimed at sustaining its global stature and capitalizing on recent rifts in the United States' relations with its partners.

Gulf states are signing defense contracts with Paris to express their discontent with American policies in the wake of the Iran nuclear negotiations. The fact that the Iran talks have excluded Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners while ignoring Tehran's regional meddling has led Gulf partners to question the American commitment to their security, especially after the administration's backtracking on a Syrian chemical weapons red line. Spotting an opportunity, France has stepped in to fill the void.

France adopted a hard line from the beginning of the Iran nuclear talks to both distinguish itself from the United States and to cultivate closer ties with the Saudis and other nervous Gulf states. It continues to push for a UN Security Council resolution enforcing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, forcing the Obama administration to seek a postponement of any vote on the issue.

Presenting an alternative to the United States on such key regional issues has helped Paris put the Rafale on the map andsecure billions in regional defense contracts over the past year, raising French arms exports to the highest level in 15 years.

In Egypt, France capitalized on thecontentious U.S. arms suspension that began in late 2013 to secure a Rafale deal in February, which came on the heels of the Egyptian navy's purchase of four French corvettes last summer. Even though the United States ended the suspension earlier this year, France's military deals are not tied to mutual security objectives and have no conditions requiring Cairo to undertake political reforms. As Egypt's experience shows, France has emerged as an attractive, no-strings-attached alternative for states seeking to sidestep the scrutiny of U.S. conditional aid....

Hollande's attendance at a ceremony in Doha before the summit was even more significant. France benefits from U.S.-Qatari tensions stemming from Qatar's support for radical Islamists and Muslim Brotherhood affiliates from Libya to Syria, which has led to dangerously destabilizing competition for influence with some of its Gulf neighbors with closer U.S. ties. Seeing its chance, Paris seized the opportunity to sell Doha 24 Rafale fighter jets and other military equipment worth $7 billion....

France will not supplant the United States as an alternative security guarantor for the Middle East. Despite recent instability in its regional relationships, the United States maintains a forward military presence no other country could sustain. And for all of their bluster, Gulf partners still rely on Washington's superior capabilities and will to act. But until relations between the United States and its Middle Eastern partners stabilize, France is happy to present an outlet for regional actors to express their dissatisfaction in exchange for lucrative defense deals.

German-made engines to power British Army vehicles

Source : http://www.upi.com

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, May 27 (UPI) --German-made engines for the first time will be used to power British Army vehicles under a deal between Rolls-Royce and General Dynamics European Land Systems.

The engines are MTU's Series 199 diesel engines, which will be used on six variants of GDELS's Scout specialist vehicles, which will form the backbone of the British Army's future fleet of armored fighting vehicles.

The contract for 589 MTU engines is worth about $87.3 million. Their delivery to GDELS will begin in 2016, Rolls-Royce said.

"We are delighted that our MTU engine has been trusted for this important project," said Dr. Ulrich Dohle, Rolls-Royce Power Systems chief executive officer. "This order once again proves that when it comes to performance and reliability, the Series 199 engine is benchmark in its power range."

The 8V 199 TE21 engine has a power output of 600 kilowatts and is used in various armored vehicles. The engine delivery will include the engines' cooling systems and generators.

USS Fort McHenry Visits Montenegro's port of Bar

Source : http://cne-cna-c6f.dodlive.mil

BAR, Montenegro – The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and her crew arrived in Bar, Montenegro, for a scheduled port visit June 24.

The port visit serves to enhance relations between the United States and Montenegro as the two nations work together to provide a stable, secure, and prosperous Europe.

Hypersonic Missile Arm Race: US Walking a Tightrope in East Asian Region

Source : http://sputniknews.com

 

Washington is walking a tightrope in the East Asian region: the Sino-American hypersonic missile arm race may prompt a rapid escalation of tensions between the two sides with certain destabilizing effects, military expert Eleni G. Ekmektsioglou notes.

The hypersonic missile arm race between the United States and China may prompt a rapid military escalation in the East Asian region, dragging it into the abyss of instability, PhD Researcher and Research Assistant at the American University School of International Service Eleni G. Ekmektsioglou noted.

According to the scholar "military thinking so far has been dominated by the use of brute force… instead of coercive force that leaves the final choice to the opponent."

"The latter [coercive force] would be more expedient in a regional conflict scenario where the United States faces a nuclear force while at the same time the objective at stake does not justify an all-out war effort," she elaborated.

The United States has been pursuing its conventional prompt global strike (CPGS) high precision technology, aimed at "striking a target anywhere in the world within one hour's time," since late 1970s. The idea has caught its second wind after 9/11, during the Bush administration.

Although CPGS had been initially meant for counterterrorism operations, very soon the concept has taken on a new meaning of a prompt "counternuclear" strike. "Counternuclear is broader and more comprehensive than counterforce since it targets nuclear warheads, C4ISR systems as well as production and storage facilities," the scholar elaborated.

The Obama administration praises the development of the CPGS program. However, Washington's course has triggered growing concerns among Chinese policy-makers. Beijing fears that the program is aimed at containing China.

"Specifically, Chinese experts talk about the scenario of China being subject to American coercion, a concern that is mainly due to US nuclear superiority, which — married to BMD [Ballistic Missile Defense] and a conventional pre-emptive strike enabled by CPGS — puts at risk the Chinese retaliatory capability," Ms. Ekmektsioglou emphasized.

In order to equalize opportunities, China kicked off its own hypersonic missile projects. The Chinese tests carried out in January and August 2014 had demonstrated clearly that Beijing entered the competition.

"Over the last several years, talk has heated up over Beijing's DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), with a maneuverable warhead and range at around 1,500 km, taking many U.S. experts and high echelon officers by surprise," the scholar stressed.

The CPGS technology is considered a game changer in the traditional warfare. Indeed, its accuracy and speed that allows to penetrate an adversary's BMD systems may significantly bolster both US' and China's military capabilities. But on the other hand, it leads to "two-sided escalation situations."

A surprise attack and a tough response to it leave "no room for signaling and diplomacy," and, unfortunately, the "escalation control" is just a "wishful thinking" in the troublesome East Asian regional environment.

"Hypersonic weapons add to the complexity and elusiveness of the escalatory dynamics and this is something both sides will need to plan for," the scholar emphasized.

Russia to Complete Construction of Airship ‘Atlant -100’ for Army by 2018

Source : http://www.strategic-culture.org

'Augur RosAeroSystems' is a leading Russian lighter-than-air manufacturer. The company builds big airships and aerostats equipped with high-precision computer equipment and technology. The recent announcement by the company tells of airship 'Atlant' to be ready for the Russian Army by 2018.

The ‘Augur-RosAeroSystems’ Holding is set to build the airship ‘Atlant’ by the end of 2018. It will have the capacity of carrying over 16 tons of weight.

RosAeroSystems is a leading Russian lighter-than-air manufacturer. The company builds big airships and aerostats. It is the only Russian enterprise, and one of the few in the world with own and powerful aerostatic envelope production division, able to produce and test envelopes up to 50 000 cub m volume. The envelope production line is equipped by high-precision computerized cutting equipment and RF welding machines.

The airship ‘Atlant’ will possibly be used by the Defense Ministry.

According to the Vice President of the Holding, Mikhail Talesnikov, the development work of the first phase will be completed in December of this year. It will be examined, displaying the innovation system balancing. By 2018, ‘Atlant’ is scheduled to begin flight testing with the first prototype carrying weight capacity of 16 tons and volume of 30 thousand cubic meters.

The vice president stressed that this innovation cannot be made by anyone else in the world in such a short time span.

“During the unloading of the weight at the point of arrival, the airship will be able to get heavier via controls without needing ballast, in that way it will not get weightless after unload and will not soar into the stratosphere. This system is unique, nowhere abroad do they have that,” elaborated Talesnikov, media reports.

It was earlier reported that the modification of the airships towards more militarized concept is being carried out on airship ‘Atlant-30’- carrying capacity of 16 tons and airship ‘Atlant-100’- carrying capacity of 60 tons.

Secret Russian Hypersonic Nuke Glider Can Pierce Any Missile Defense

Source : http://sputniknews.com

Extremely maneuverable, ultra-fast and elusive, the hypersonic Yu-71 can break through any missile defense system, military experts said. Russia has reportedly carried out four tests already.

Russia is test-launching a new hypersonic attack aircraft that can carry nuclear warheads and penetrate missile defense systems, US media said citing a report by Jane's Information Group.

The development of the Yu-71 vehicle took several years, and Russia reportedly conducted the most recent test flight on February 26, with an SS-19 missile trying to deliver the Yu-71 to space. The new hypersonic aircraft is part of Moscow's plans to modernize its Strategic Missile Forces.

Yu-71, a secret missile program codenamed "Project 4202", has probable speed of up to 11,200 kmh (7,000 mph) and is extremely maneuverable, which makes it an incredibly dangerous and a hardly targetable weapon.

Thanks to its speed and unpredictable trajectory, Yu-71 can evade an enemy's missile defense systems.

"This would give Russia the ability to deliver a guaranteed small-scale strike against a target of choice; if coupled with an ability to penetrate missile defenses, Moscow would also retain the option of launching a successful single-missile attack."

The report's authors assume that Russia may put into service up to 24 nuclear-capable Yu-71 aircraft between 2020 and 2025.  Moreover, by that time Russia may have developed the Sarmat - a new ICBM that will carry the new hypersonic device.

The report also said that Russia's next generation strategic stealth bomber PAK DA will carry hypersonic cruise missiles.

China has tested its hypersonic strike vehicle Wu-14 at least four times since January 2014, seriously alarming the Pentagon, as the device may reportedly neutralize the US anti-missile shield.

The United States is also engineering a similar device AHW (Advanced Hypersonic Weapon) as a part of its Prompt Global Strike program, which is not covered by the 2010 New START Treaty with Russia.  

Jane's experts predict that Moscow may use the new hypersonic aircraft as an ace in the sleeve during arms control talks with Washington.