Global Defence

Official LCA Navy Ski Jump Video

2015-01-01T09:37:00.002-08:00

Barak 8 Test Video

2014-11-11T02:02:00.000-08:00

Barak 8 Test Video

2014-10-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

Iran anti-radar missiles

2014-05-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

A senior Iranian commander says the Islamic Republic plans to boost the range of its anti-warship and anti-radar missiles soon.

“In the near future, the range of anti-warship and anti-radar missiles will be increased to 100 kilometers, up from 50 kilometers,” Commander of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh told Iranian national TV on Monday.

Referring to Iran's numerous achievements in its defense and military industries, the Iranian commander said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has managed to overcome the enemies’ sanctions through relying on domestic forces and drawing on their capabilities and talents.”

Iran’s progress in its defense industry has made the enemies stop threatening the Iranian nation and engage in negotiations with the Islamic Republic, added Hajizadeh.

Earlier this week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei paid a visit to an exhibition at the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Forces’ Central Command, where the achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Forces in the design and development of drones were put on display.

During the event, the IRGC Aerospace Forces unveiled a domestically produced version of a sophisticated US drone it had captured back in 2011. The US RQ-170 Sentinel was reverse-engineered by IRGC experts in about two years.

Other Iranian drones, including Shahed 129 and 125, were also on display at the exhibition.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and has attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.  Iran has repeatedly said that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence

Tu-214 Open Skies Plane

2014-05-12T01:24:00.001-07:00

The new reconnaissance plane Tu-214ON will be introduced into the fleet of the Russian Air Force as part of its implementation of the Open Skies Treaty, ITAR-TASS reported. The aircraft is equipped with an aircraft surveillance system developed by the radio technologies company Vega.

The Open Skies Treaty was signed March 24, 1992, in Helsinki by representatives of 23 OSCE member states. The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen trust between the countries by improving mechanisms for monitoring military activities. The document establishes an “open skies” regime that allows participants the opportunity to conduct aerial surveys of each other’s territory.

Before that, on February 19, 1988, a center was established to ensure the implementation of arms reduction agreements by the Russian Air Force. Currently it consists of its leadership and three departments, all of which are subject to the commander of the Air Force.

“With the participation of officers from the center, up to 60 foreign inspection teams are escorted through the Russian Federation annually, and up to 15 inspections and 41 aerial surveys take place elsewhere through the Open Skies Treaty,” noted Col. Igor Klimov, spokesperson for the Russian Air Force.

Since 2010 the center has been directed by Russian groups that support the foreign missions that come to Russia under the Open Skies Treaty. Observation flights over the territory of the Russian Federation are carried out on OC-135B, C-130, SAAB-340B, CN-235, AN-30, and AN-26 airplanes. AN-30B-154 and Tu-LK1 aircraft are used for missions over the territory of other treaty participants. “At the end of 2013 the Russian Air Force received the Tu-214ON plane to implement the Open Skies Treaty. This year we will receive another new plane, which is now undergoing inspections,” Igor Klimov said.

TU-214ON (OPEN SKY) is an aircraft with integrated intelligence systems and developed by JSC Tupolev based on the Tu-214 passenger aircraft. It was created specifically for operating under the Open Skies Treaty and is designed to replace the outdated Tu-154 and An-30 models.

The first Tu-214ON was demonstrated publically at the MAKS-2011 international air show and drew a lot of attention. Representatives of Italy, Norway, Canada, USA came to the demonstration, and experts gave the aircraft high marks.

Tu-214ON is equipped with ONBOARD SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM developed by the radio engineering company Vega. The system is designed to produce images of the countryside, record the submissions received, document all incoming information and surveillance, and monitor and manage navigation data for the surveillance analysis.

Iran Test-Fires New Generation of Laser-Guided Missile

2014-02-12T04:20:00.000-08:00

One day before Iran celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, it test-fired two new domestically manufactured missiles.

According to the Iranian Defense Ministry, a laser-guided surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missile named Bina (Insightful) and the new generation of a long-range ballistic missile were tested on Monday.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said that the laser-guided Bina missile can be fired by fighter jets and from launching pads.

He added that the missile is capable of hitting important targets such as bridges, tanks, military vehicles, and enemy command centers with high precision.

Obrum & BAE system Concept Tank

2013-11-16T17:32:00.002-08:00

The concept vehicle — developed by Obrum, part of the Polish Defence Holding group — features an unmanned turret sporting a 120mm gun mounted on a chassis, drawing heavily on CV90 mobility and protection technology provided by BAE’s Hagglunds operation in Sweden.

The BAE Systems-Polish Defence Holding’s team competing for an upcoming requirement from the Polish Army for a family of light tanks and infantry fighting vehicles has released a sneak preview of a concept demonstrator they plan to unveil at the upcoming MSPO defense equipment show.

The vehicle will be a centerpiece of Polish Defence Holding’s stand at the MSPO exhibition, which opens in Keilce, Poland, on Sept 2.
BAE and the state-owned Polish Defence Holding, formerly known as the Bulmar Group, announced a teaming deal in late May to compete for a Polish Army requirement for hundreds of light tanks and infantry fighting vehicles using a universal tracked platform.

Formal specifications for the tracked vehicle requirement are expected to be released by the Polish Defense Ministry toward the end of the year, with a requirement for the first delivery sometime in 2018.

BAE officials said the modular design of the demonstrator is intended to be flexible and help stimulate debate as Poland heads toward issuing a formal specification.

Despite unexpected Polish government revenue shortfalls this year, which could result in some trimming of the defense budget spending on the military, funding remains robust with the portion of cash going to equipment increasing.

INS Vikramaditya inducted in Indian Navy

2013-11-16T17:23:00.000-08:00

Russia handed over to India its aircraft carrier renamed INS Vikramaditya on Saturday after a much-delayed refit and cost escalations that led to disagreements between Moscow and New Delhi.

The Indian Navy finally received its modified carrier – formerly known in Russian as Admiral Gorshkov − at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern town of Severodvinsk.

The ship was first scheduled to be delivered in 2008, but the deadline was repeatedly postponed over the period.
The official ceremony was attended Saturday by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Indian Defense Minister AK Antony, who arrived in Russia on Friday for a four-day visit.

The commissioning papers were signed by deputy director of Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport Igor Sevastyanov and the ship’s Indian captain Suraj Berry.

The Vikramaditya will be escorted to India by a group of warships to secure its safe sail to its base in base in the Arabian Sea through a classified route because it does not have any air defense systems on board, according to Indian website Zee News.

The warship is expected to reach India by February 2014, Russian officials said earlier.

Renamed after a legendary Indian king, the warship was originally as a Project 1143.4 or modified Kiev class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was decommissioned in 1996 after cuts to the Russian Navy fleet.

The refurbishments of the vessel lurched from one crisis to another since the $947 million deal was signed with Russia in 2004 for its purchase and refit.

The delays pushed up the cost of its refurbishing to $2.3 billion, sparking acrimony between Russia and India over the contract.

Angola Inks $1Bln Arms Deals With Russia

2013-10-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Russia’s state arms export monopoly has signed a $1 billion deal package with Angola to deliver military equipment, build an ammunition plant and provide maintenance services, Vedomosti business daily reported Wednesday.

Rosoboronexport will supply 18 Su-30K fighter jets to the southern African nation, the daily said, citing sources at the arms exports company and the Russian military.

The Su-30K fighters in question are a batch of aircraft that were initially supplied to India in the late 1990s, prior to Delhi receiving the more advanced multirole Su-30MKI variant. They were returned to Russia in 2007, Vedomosti said, and have since lain idle in a Belarusian repair plant.
They had previously been offered to Belarus, Sudan and Vietnam.

Also on the list are Mi-17 transport helicopters, tanks, artillery, firearms and ammunition, the newspaper said.

Rosoboronexport will conduct maintenance for Russian-made military equipment used by the Angolan military, the report said.

Russia to Offer Brazil Stake in Future Advanced Fighter Project

2013-10-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

A Russian military delegation about to visit Brazil will offer joint development of a fifth-generation combat aircraft “of the type” of its own most newest fighter to Brazilian defense officials, a member of the delegation told RIA Novosti Monday.

The proposal appears to be in support of an unsolicited offer by Russia’s combat aircraft maker Sukhoi of its Su-35 fighter, that has been struck off Brazil’s shortlist for its air force’s F-X2 tender for the purchase of 36 fighter jets worth $4 billion. Russia is still hoping to sell the Su-35s or similar aircraft to Brazil outside the framework of that tender, sweetening the deal with the new proposal.

“During the talks in Brazil, we are ready to offer our partners deliveries of ready-for-sale advanced aircraft like the Su-35, but also joint development of a next-generation [combat] aircraft of the T-50 type,” the delegation source said.
The T-50 or PAK-FA, which will make up the core of Russia's future fighter fleet, is a multirole warplane featuring "stealth" technology," super-maneuverability, super-cruise capability, and advanced avionics including an active electronically scanned array radar, according to its designer Sukhoi.

In late April, President Vladimir Putin said the first T-50 would enter service with Russia’s armed forces in 2016.

Russia and India are already developing a derivative of T-50 for the Indian Air Force. According to executives from India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), that will build the plane, the two sides completed the preliminary design of the aircraft, tentatively dubbed FGFA, earlier this year and are now negotiating a detailed design contract.

The F-X2 tender is Brazil’s second attempt to find a replacement for its ageing Northrop F-5 and Dassault Mirage fighters. An earlier tender, F-X, was cancelled in 2005 due to lack of funding.

Three contenders officially remain in the running – the Swedish SAAB Gripen NG, French Dassault Rafale and US Boeing FA-18E/F Super Hornet. According to Defense Industry Daily, the FA-18E/F was close to winning the deal last month, but revelations that the United States National Security Agency had spied on the Brazilian presidential office put the deal on hold. Brazil’s Poder Aero magazine, citing local officials, says Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff decided late last month to postpone the tender until 2015, after next year’s elections.

India launches first indigenous aircraft carrier

2013-08-13T22:57:00.001-07:00

Amidst chanting of hymns from the Atharva Veda, Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier, decommissioned on 31 January 1997, was reborn today as Smt Elizabeth Antony, wife of the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, christened India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) as ‘Vikrant’ meaning “courageous” or “victorious” in Sanskrit.

In a colourful ceremony filled with traditional pomp and fervour at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Smt Antony launched ‘Vikrant’ in the presence of Shri AK Antony, the Minister of Shipping, Shri GK Vasan, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi, the F-O-C in C Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Commander-in-Chief Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Chairman and Managing Director, CSL, Commodore (Retd) K Subramaniam and other officials of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Shipping. In addition, a multitude of Naval officers, yard workers and a few members of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the manufacturers of the indigenous warship grade steel, were also present.

At the launch, marking the end of Phase- I of the project, the imposing ramp of the 37,500 tonne Short Take off but Assisted Recovery (STOBAR) Carrier boasted the indigenous design and build capabilities of the country. The ship has attained its designed length of about 260 m and is almost at its maximum breadth of 60 m. The main landing strip is ready.
Over 80% of the structure, containing about 2300 compartments has been fabricated, over 75% has been erected, all the major machinery, such as the two LM2500 Gas Turbines developing a total power of 80 MW, the diesel alternators capable of producing about 24 MW and the main gear box have been fitted. Soon after Vikrant floated perfectly upright, she was launched out into the Ernakulam Channel in a pontoon assisted precision manoeuvre. Vikrant was moved out of the building dock to be positioned in the refitting dock where the next Phase of outfitting will be completed.

Describing the occasion as a ‘momentous’ one, Shri Antony said, “Today’s launching of the IAC marks just the first step in a long journey, but at the same time, an important one.” He said it was indeed a proud moment for the country to witness our efforts at achieving self-reliance in the field of warship design and construction, as only a very few advanced countries in the world possess the capability to design and build aircraft carriers.

Shri Antony said we must continue the process of strengthening indigenous capability towards securing our maritime interests. “Our Navy must continue to maintain high operational readiness at all times to ward off any likely misadventure against our national interests,” he said.

The Defence Minister urged the Indian industry to participate whole-heartedly in our shipbuilding programmes and further consolidate our strength in this field.

Speaking on the occasion, the Shipping Minister Shri GK Vasan said by launching this great warship which is one of the most important ships for the Indian Navy, Indian shipbuilding has demonstrated its technical capability and expertise.

The design and construction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier was sanctioned by the government in January 2003. The keel of the ship was laid on 28 Feb 2009 by Shri AK Antony. Vikrant marks a special feather in indigenous defence capabilities- this being the first ever aircraft carrier to be designed by the Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy, the first warship to be built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and the first warship to be built entirely using indigenously produced steel.

The construction of the ship is a truly pan Indian effort with active participation of private and public enterprises. The steel has come from SAIL’s plants in Raurkela in Orissa, Bokaro in Jharkand and Bhilai in Chattisgarh; the Main Switch Board, steering gear and water tight hatches have been manufactured by Larsen and Toubro in its plants in Mumbai and Talegaon; the high capacity air conditioning and refrigeration systems have been manufactured in Kirloskar’s plants in Pune; most pumps have been supplied by Best and Crompton, Chennai; Bharat Heavy Engineering Limited (BHEL) is supplying the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS); the massive gear box is supplied by Elecon in Gujarat; the tens of thousands of electrical cable is supplied by Nicco industries in Kokatta; Kolkatta is also where the ship’s anchor chain cable is manufactured.

Vikrant will be capable of operating an aircraft mix of the Russian MiG-29K and LCA (Navy) fighters being developed indigenously by HAL. Its helicopter component will include the Kamov 31 and the indigenously developed ALH helicopters. The ship’s ability to sense and control a large air space around it will be enabled by modern C/D band Early Air Warning Radar, V/UHF Tactical Air Navigational and Direction Finding systems, jamming capabilities over the expected Electro Magnetic (EM) environment and Carrier Control Approach Radars to aid air operations. Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM) systems with Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and Close- In Weapon System (CIWS) will form the protective suite of the ship.

All weapon systems onboard the carrier will be integrated through an indigenous Combat Management System (CMS), being manufactured by Tata Power systems. The ship’s integration with Navy’s Network Centric Operations will provide force multiplication.

Design of this prestigious ship has been undertaken by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND)of the Indian Navy. Created in 1956 as the Corps of Naval Constructors, to realise the dream of being a builder’s Navy through indigenisation, DND has successfully designed over 17 different classes of warships, to which around 90 ships have already been built within the country.

The Delhi-class destroyers, with a displacement of about 7000 tonnes, were the biggest warships designed by DND so far. Designing of the Vikrant, at almost 40,000 tonnes speaks of the maturing of the capabilities of DND and represents a feather in the cap of the designers particularly as it is the first aircraft carrier of its size in the world with some unique features such as Gas Turbine Propulsion.

The seamless hull and smooth lines of the ship stand as testimony to the high production standards of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). CSL, a mini Ratna PSU, has earned a reputation for quality construction and timely delivery. Till now, CSL had the distinction of building the largest ship in India i.e., 93,500 tonne Aframax tankers. However, this complex integrated construction project enabled by a Rs 200 Crores infrastructure augmentation plan involving large cranes, workshops and heavy duty machinery has seen the shipyard maturing into a competent warship builder.

Vikrant will now enter the second phase of construction which will see the outfitting of the ship, fitment of various weapons and sensors, integration of the gigantic propulsion system and integration of the aircraft complex (with the assistance of M/s NDB of Russia). The ship will then undergo extensive trials before she is handed over to the Indian Navy by around 2016-17.

It may be recalled that at the time of attaining our Independence, our visionary leaders saw the centrality of a powerful Navy and set us on the right course by envisaging an aircraft carrier-centred Indian Navy.

INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier, was acquired from Great Britain and commissioned on 04 Mar 1961. In its 36 years of glorious service INS Vikrant was at the centre of action in the 1971 operations for liberation of Bangladesh. Having seen many years of service as a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off but Arrested Recovery) carrier working an angled deck and operating Sea Hawks, Alizes and Sea Kings, INS Vikrant was transformed into a STOVL carrier to operate Sea Harrier jump jets. INS Vikrant was decommissioned on 31 Jan 1997, after 36 years of glorious service under the Indian ensign.

With the launch of IAC, ‘Vikrant’ the Indian Navy is well on its way to demonstrate its comfort with the practiced art of trapped landings and angled deck operations.

Russia unveils new SAM 'Vityaz'

2013-07-09T22:26:00.002-07:00

Russia has for the first time demonstrated the short-to-mid-range air defense platform ‘Vityaz,’ which will replace older variants of the S-300 system due to be scrapped soon. The army will begin testing the new hardware later this year.

The new surface-to-air missile system is made by Russian weapons manufacturer Almaz-Antey. The company demonstrated the system at the Obukhov State Plant in St. Petersburg, home to its branch that manufactures the Vityaz launchers.

The system boasts advanced all-aspect phased array radar, a new mobile command post and a launcher carrying 12 vertical-launch missiles, which will use a variant of the 9M96 active radar homing missile. Similar missiles are used by the S-400, the newer generation of the S-300, which is currently being deployed in Russia.

Vityaz launchers can also fire a short-range missile that was not officially identified, but is likely a variant of the 9M100.

“I believe the system will be able to engage target within ranges from 30km to 120km,” Said Aminov, military analyst and editor of the World of Air Defense website told RT. “It’s a system of object air defense with some element of tactical antimissile defense.”

Almaz-Antey aims to hand over the system to the Russian Defense Ministry for testing before the year’s end, company head Vladislav Menshikov told Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was inspecting the plant.

The company partially based the design of the Vityaz on its work with the South Korean KM-SAM Chun Koong system. Almaz-Antey designed three radar units for the KM-SAM, and is rumored to have also helped design the system’s missiles.

The Russian military officially backed the Vityaz project – which has better capabilities than the Korean air defense system – after studying its performance, Almaz-Antey said in 2010. The new Russian system has been in the works since 2007, and is expected to be completed in record time.

The ministry earlier said it plans to buy at least 30 Vityaz systems before 2020, if it passes testing, and deployment of the platforms could start as early as next year.

Vityaz was designed as a replacement for the S-300PS, an older variant of the S-300 air defense system developed in the early 1980s. The Russian army is expected to decommission about 50 of the S-300PS by 2015 due to old age.

The name of the system comes from an archaic Slavic word for a noble warrior. It is shared by the famous aerobatic team known as the Russkie Vityazi (‘Russian Knights’).

Russia plans to deploy the Vityaz system alongside other advanced air defense weapons, including the service-ready S-400 and Pantsir-S1, and the future long-range S-500 and short-range Morfei. Moscow aims to create a multi-layered grid to cover Russia’s airspace, defending against threats ranging from drones, to conventional manned aircraft, to cruise and ballistic missiles.

The Contract to Develop a Sketch and Technical Project of the Russian-Indian 5th-Generation Fighter Was Completed

2013-04-11T20:11:00.001-07:00

The contract to develop a sketch and technical project of the Russian-Indian perspective multi-functional 5th-generation fighter (PMI/FGFA) was completed. The fighter design was fully developed.

Both parties have agreed upon on the amount and division of work during the research and development (R&D) stage. A contract for the R&D is being prepared. It is to be signed this year.

The agreement on the joint development and production of the 5th-generation fighter aircraft was signed on October 18, 2007 in Moscow at the 7th Session of the joint Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation. It is the largest joint project of the Russian-Indian military and technical cooperation.

In December 2010, Rosoboronexport, Sukhoi Company and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a contract to develop a sketch and technical project of the fighter. In the course of the first stage of the project the Russian side has trained Indian professionals, provided them with the original data and the software to create a single working environment.

The Indian working group of experts has been working in Russia since January 2012 and a group of Russian specialists in India. Both parties exchange the necessary information.

The PMI/FGFA fighter developed by the parties will have some differences from the Russian prototype due to specific requirements of the Indian Air Force.

Bell Helicopter Introduces the Bell V-280 Valor Tiltrotor at AAAA

2013-04-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

Bell Helicopter revealed today the Bell V-280 Valor, its offering for the Joint Multi Role/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Technology Demonstrator (JMR/TD), at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America’s (AAAA) Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth.

“The introduction of the Bell V-280 Valor underscores our commitment to our military customers. The Bell V-280’s unmatched capabilities in speed, range and payload, and its operational agility combine to deliver the best value for the U.S Army,” said John Garrison, president and CEO at Bell Helicopter. “This aircraft is the most advanced and operationally effective vertical lift solution, providing the Warfighter a decisive advantage. The name itself makes an important statement of its own: V representing vertical lift, 280 representing its unmatched speed, and Valor as a tribute to the service men and women who approach their jobs with valor every day.”

The Bell V-280 Valor, Bell Helicopter’s third generation tiltrotor, offers the U.S. Army the highest levels of maturity and technical readiness. With its U.S. Army-centric design, the Bell V-280 has the capacity to perform a multitude of missions with unparalleled speed and agility. The Bell V-280’s clean sheet design reduces complexity compared to previous generation tiltrotors, with fewer parts, as well as non-rotating, fixed engines. The Valor delivers the best value in procurement, operations and support, and force structure, providing increased maintainability, component reliability and systems designed to reduce operational and support costs.
“The Bell V-280 is a combat multiplier with a cruise speed of 280 knots and combat range of up to 800 nautical miles. Tiltrotor is the only vertical lift platform that can rapidly self-deploy to any theater,” said Mitch Snyder, executive vice-president for military programs at Bell Helicopter. “And our technology demonstrator is a true medium class aircraft accommodating a crew of four and 11 troops, which translates to the highest level of certainty for a future program of record.”

The Bell V-280 Valor’s Army-centric design boasts a number of unmatched capabilities and transformational features including:

-- Speed: 280 KTAS cruise speed

-- Combat range: 500-800nm

-- Strategically Self-Deployable

– 2100nm Range

-- Achieves 6k/95 -- Non-rotating, fixed engines

-- Triple redundant fly-by-wire flight control system

-- Conventional, retractable landing gear

-- Two 6’ wide large side doors for ease of ingress/egress

-- Suitable down wash

-- Significantly smaller logistical footprint compared to other aircraft

“Bell Helicopter is leading the development of next-generation tiltrotor technology, because it’s the best technology for future vertical lift. The U.S. Army’s JMR/TD Operational Effectiveness Analysis Report stated that advantages in speed and fuel efficiency made the tiltrotor the most operationally effective concept aircraft,” said Snyder. “Based on a strong foundation of 55 years of tiltrotor experience, including combat-proven platforms, Bell Helicopter has created the ultimate solution for the Army’s FVL needs.”

Tank's Hard kill Active Protective System

2013-04-08T18:29:00.001-07:00

Active protection system suitable for light to heavy vehicles. Attacks from various threats are detected and intercepted in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle – before they reach their target.

Russia Areana

The Arena defense aid suite (DAS) was developed by Russia around 1993 and it was the first Active defence to have a hard kill, this system belongs to the latest generation of Russian APS. Arena's direct predecessor was Shatjor APS that was installed on the experimental Obiekt 478M MBT. Both systems have been designed by the Kolomna-based Engineering Design Bureau (KBP) together with other allied enterprises.Arena is intended to protect tanks from antitank grenades and ATGMs, including some variants of top-attack ATGMs.

In combat mode, the radar continuously searches for incoming projectiles. Once the threat is detected the radar switches to the target tracking mode, in which the data on the moving target is obtained and entered into the computer, which uses it to select the most appropriate silo and determine the time for its activation. At the determined moment, the computer generates command signals to the selected protective ammunition. The later is launched upwards and detonates, creating a directed stream of destructive elements which destroys any target within this field, eliminating the shaped-charge effect of the threat or reducing it to levels that are not dangerous to the tank.In emergency the commander (operator) can manually operate and detonate protective ammunition from the control panel.

Israel

Trophy

Trophy active defence system is a situational awareness and active protection hard kill system that operates in three major stages: Threat detection and threat tracking followed by hard kill countermeasure (Multiple Explosive Formed Penetrators – MEFP) activation and threat neutralization. The neutralization process takes place only if the threat is about to hit the platform The Trophy system is adaptable to any combat platform.

Once a platform is chosen, a short trade study is completed to work out any integration issues that may arise. Numerous elements are taken into consideration for each vehicle variant or type. For vehicles with relatively basic or light armor, e.g. the Stryker, the Trophy provides full protection against all types of RPG (as well as other threats) due to the fact that the Trophy destroys these types of threats without detonation.

‪Bright Arrow APS & RCWS‬ ‪

Bright Arrow is a combined hard and soft kill active protection system (APS) and remote-controlled overhead weapon station. Based on proven Iron Fist sensing, jamming and intercepting technology, Bright Arrow integrates firepower, survivability and situational awareness into one system with weight, volume and power constraints designed specifically for light combat vehicles.‬ ‪

Bright Arrow utilizes a sensor suite and remote fire capability to rapidly detect, engage and overmatch threats typically encountered during military missions. The sensor suite provides robust detection capability of anti-tank threats and small arms bursts. The soft kill layer is based on a directional electro-optical jammer to engage a threat’s tracking and sensing behavior. The interceptor-based hard kill layer protects against close-range anti-tank rockets and guided missiles by physically destroying or deflecting the threat a safe distance from the defended platform. The blast interceptor effectively destroys or deflects an incoming threat with minimal fragmentation, minimizing collateral damage or injury to nearby personnel.‬

Iron Curtain

Iron Curtain is an Active Protection system (APS) that defeats many of the most challenging armored vehicle threats. It was developed by US, it uses a C-band radar to detects and tracks an incoming round, alerting the system and switching it from armed-ready to an armed state.

At close range, a distributed optical sensor classifies the threat to select aimpoint and determine which countermeasure (CM) to fire.

The CM acts straight down, killing the threat with minimal collateral damage to personnel in close proximity.

Quick Kill

Quick kill is developed by Raytheon. The system consists of a multi-mission, fire-control radar that detects and tracks incoming threats, combined with hard-kill countermeasures that serve as a hit avoidance system, enabling multi-tracking and multi-engagement of enemy fire for vehicle and squad protection.

The system's vertical launch countermeasure is unique in its ability to engage threats fired from any angle or elevation, providing all weather, full 360 degree hemispherical vehicle and crew protection with each countermeasure.

South Korean KAPS

KAPS was developed by south korea for their K2 tanks, The APS consists of a three-dimensional detection and track radar, heat detection and track system, control computer, launching system and counter rocket, it is said that it only takes three-tenths of a second for the new system to detect and track anti-tank missiles and rockets fired from enemies and fire its counter rockets to hit those missiles.

It’s not quite as glamorous as Russian and Israeli hardkill protection systems, and the system is nearly one tenth the estimated cost of an entire K2 tank (Around $8.5 million USD).

Germany AMAP-ADS

AMAP-ADS is an active protection system developed by the German company, it is suitable for light to heavy vehicles. Attacks from various threats are detected and intercepted in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle – before they reach their target. As fragments are not generated the risk of collateral damage is minimised.

The system provides 360° azimuthal multi-hit protection up to a hemispherical cover.

With a total weight of only 70 to 600 kg, depending on vehicle type, it is possible to mount AMAP-ADS in theatre within 2 hours and even apply the system to light vehicles.

Due to the very short reaction times AMAP-ADS defeats threats with velocities of up to 2000 m/s and those that are fired at very close distance.

Sweden LEDS 150

LEDS-150 is a progression of the LEDS-100 active defence system. It typically consists of laser-warning sensors (LWS), an Active Defence Controller (ADC-150), a combination of passive and active Sensors and High-Speed Directed Launchers (HSDL). This allows the combined application of active signature management, soft- and hard-kill countermeasure deployment capability to the platform. Also included in the suite are optional displays and special-to-installation interconnecting harnesses.

The hard-kill feature of the LEDS-150 product is characterised by its capability to physically destroy the efficiency of the terminal ballistic capability of attacking munitions without residual penetration of the protected vehicle.

The hard-kill system detects and tracks multiple threats and calculates whether the attacking munitions will hit the platform or not. The system determines the best inertial intercept position and provides the slew and firing commands to the launchers.

The Mongoose-1 countermeasure missile is launched at a predetermined time to intercept and neutralize the detected munitions off-board at a distance of between 5–15 m from the vehicle to minimize collateral damage to own forces.

Bangladesh Plans to Buy 24 Russian Jet Trainers

2013-03-29T20:20:00.001-07:00

Bangladesh is planning to buy 24 Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers on $1 billion credit from Russia, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Wednesday.

“Bangladesh has a whole list of arms it wants, but so far that is a state secret. I will reveal one little secret: The purchase of Yak-130 warplanes is a very significant subject of negotiations between Russia and Bangladesh,” Rosoboronexport Deputy Chief Viktor Komardin said at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA-2013) that opened in Malaysia on Tuesday.

He added that negotiations on Yak-130s are due to begin later this spring.
Russia granted Bangladesh a $1 billion credit during the Bangladeshi prime minister’s visit to Moscow in January.

Some 20 Russian companies are taking part in LIMA-2013, which has been held since 1991, including top aircraft manufacturers and the state-owned United Industrial Corporation (Oboronprom), which produces helicopters, aircraft engines and air defense systems.

Lockheed Martin's EAPS Completes Successful Miniature Hit-to-Kill Interceptor Flight Test

2013-03-27T19:38:00.002-07:00

Lockheed Martin's (LMT) Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) program successfully conducted the first Guided Test Flight to characterize the seeker, guidance, navigation and control systems of its Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) interceptor. The very small and agile interceptor is designed to defeat Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAM) targets at ranges greatly exceeding those of current systems.

The test was conducted on March 22 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Development & Engineering Command/Aviation Missile Research Development & Engineering Center (RDECOM/AMRDEC). This test is another milestone in a series of technically challenging events completed under the EAPS Integrated Demonstration Science and Technology program.

The test closely replicated a tactical situation in which an enemy launches a mortar at an area protected by the MHTK intercept system. A radar successfully detected and tracked the threat in flight. The tactically configured MHTK interceptor launched vertically and flew a trajectory positioning it to detect energy from a ground illuminator reflected off the mortar target. Responding to the reflected energy, the MHTK interceptor maneuvered to fly very close to the target and gather data through its seeker as it passed the mortar in flight. Intercepting the target was not an objective of this flight test.
In addition to gathering data to characterize the interceptor's performance, this test integrated and exercised the entire intercept system for the first time. The data collected will support an intercept flight test planned for later this year.

Loretta Painter, AMRDEC EAPS Program Director, said, "This guided flight represents progress for the program. The data collected is an important step toward our goal of providing improved indirect fire protection capability. We are very pleased with the initial review of the test data and this data will be extremely valuable in reducing risks and making necessary improvements prior to the next flight."

"We continue to successfully demonstrate the MHTK intercept capability with our EAPS solution," said Mike Trotsky, vice president of Air & Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We are confident the system will play a crucial role in the affordable and effective protection of our forces in the future."

The Lockheed Martin MHTK interceptor is on track to meet the AMRDEC Average Unit Production Cost goal of $16,000 per interceptor in 2006 dollars at specified quantities, making it much more affordable than systems it will replace. At less than 1 meter long, less than 50 millimeters in diameter and less than 3 kilograms mass at launch, the MHTK is extremely compact and very agile in flight. Paired with a fire control sensor capable of providing illumination, the MHTK provides robust defeat of RAM targets through body-to-body impact at tactically significant ranges, greatly increasing the protected volume in which our soldiers operate and offering commanders more flexibility than legacy and interim systems.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is a 2012 recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence. The Malcolm Baldrige Award represents the highest honor that can be awarded to American companies for their achievements in leadership, strategic planning, customer relations, measurement, analysis, workforce excellence, operations and results.

Russians offered upgrade for Flogger that India rejected

2013-03-23T14:52:00.003-07:00

Rosoboronexport offered reduced fuel-burn engine and avionics modifications but India opted for upgrading the fighter on it's own.

Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport is offering India a Mikoyan MiG-27 Flogger fighter-bomber upgrade featuring a structural life extension, new cockpit and integration of precision-guided munitions.

Head of RSK MiG's Mikoyan engineering centre Vladimir Barkovsky said the package includes the replacement of the aircraft's Tumansky R29B "with another engine with reduced fuel burn", but he declines to specify the engine. Changes would include cockpit multifunction displays and an air-to-air refuelling capability. India has more than 130 MiG-27s.

Russian industry is faced tough competition from Israel Aircraft Industries' Lahav division, which was offering a package developed from its Mikoyan MiG-21 and RSK MiG-29 Fulcrum upgrades.
Russia makes only one modern engine with enough thrust, the NPO Saturn AL-31F, with 27,560lb (122kN) augmented thrust and 16,900lb thrust at military power, compared with the R29B's 25,330lb and 17,620lb thrust, respectively.

The Al-31F is lighter, 1,520kg (3,350lb) against the R29B's 1,772kg, and has better specific fuel consumption, but the Saturn engine is 200mm (8in) wider than the current powerplant. Offering India the AL-31F would give the air force commonality with its Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

An earlier MiG-27 upgrade, proposed in 1996 by the fighter's manufacturer, the Irkutsk Aircraft Production Organisation, included a new navigation system, computer and multiplex databus. The proposal generated no interest. In 1999, RSK began working on a new package, the MiG-27M-99/MiG-23BN-99, on which the Indian upgrade is thought to be based.

RSK has also developed upgrades for the related MiG-23 fighter. The MiG-23-98 option 1 adds the Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infrared-guided short-range missile and helmet-mounted sight. Option 2 integrates Vympel's radar-guided, medium-range RVV-AE (R-77/AA-12 Adder), an upgraded Saphir-23 or new radar, revised cockpit and navigation systems.

The project was initiated by india in the year 2002 through a tripartite memorandum of understanding between Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Nasik and the Indian Air Force

In 2009 India successfully completed the upgrade of the 120 Soviet-origin MiG 27 but failed to upgrade it's engines and it will be phased out by 2017.

Despite a lack of customers, Barkovsky said "some interest remains in the market", as the MiG-23 is still in service with at least in few air forces.

India Tests Sub-Launched Brahmos Missile

2013-03-21T19:48:00.002-07:00

India successfully test fired a submarine-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on Wednesday, the BrahMos Aerospace Russian-Indian company said.

The missile was launched vertically from a submerged platform in the Bay of Bengal and flew its complete range of over 290 kilometers, BrahMos chief executive Sivathanu Pillai said.

Ship- and ground-launched versions of BrahMos have been put into service with the Indian army and navy.
India has recently updated BrahMos missiles by installing advanced satellite navigation systems from Russia's Kh-555 and Kh-101 strategic long-range cruise missiles, adding GPS-GLONASS technology to the existing doppler-inertial platform.

The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 kilometers (180 miles) and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds). It can effectively engage targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile.

Brahmos is modeled on the Russian-designed 3M55 Yakhont (SS-N-26) missile.

Flight tests of the airborne version had been slated for completion by the close of 2012.

Pillai told media in November that development of the missile was three years behind schedule.

The Indian Air Force is planning to arm 40 Su-30MKI Flanker-H fighters with BrahMos missiles.

Russia and India recently agreed to develop hypersonic BrahMos 2 missile capable of flying at speeds of Mach 5-Mach 7.

Russia to Get First 3 New Il-476 Cargo Planes in 2014

2013-03-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

The first three modernized Ilyushin heavy-lift transport planes will be delivered to the Russian Defense Ministry in 2014, the aircraft’s designer said on Tuesday.

Ilyushin Aviation Complex said the prototype Il-476, also known as Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A, made the first in a series of trial flights on Monday at a testing center near Moscow.

“The flight lasted one hour and 55 minutes at altitudes between 2,000 and 10,000 meters,” the company’s press service said.
The promise that three planes could be delivered by next year marks a more ambitious target than that set by Ilyushin general director Viktor Livanov, who told Ekho Moskvy radio station earlier this month that the goal was for two aircraft.

A planned test flight last week was postponed due to bad weather.

Ilyushin says the test program will consist of a series of 22 flights. Technicians will collect and process data after every flight to make any required improvements.

The Il-476 is a modernized version of the Il-76 Candid transport plane and features a new wing, a fully digital flight control system, a new cockpit with advanced digital displays and PS-90A-76 turbofans with improved fuel efficiency, according to state-run aerospace holding United Aircraft Corporation.

Russia's Defense Ministry signed a contract last October for the delivery of 39 Il-476s, to be built before 2018.

UAC said on Tuesday it was in talks with the Defense Ministry over a contract for an unspecified number of Il-78 tanker aircraft, which are modeled on the Il-76MD-90A.

Aviastar, which manufactures the Ilyushin, says it hopes to build up to 100 Il-76MD-90As by 2020 for Russian state customers.

Iran Launches destroyer "Jamaran-2" In Caspian Sea

2013-03-18T23:01:00.006-07:00

Iran has launched a domestically built destroyer in the Caspian Sea.

President Mahmud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the guided-missile destroyer "Jamaran-2" in the port city of Anzali, about 250 kilometers northwest of Tehran.

He said the deployment aimed to bolster peace and friendship in the region but also that "the destroyer is there to meet those who want to jeopardize the security of surrounding nations." He did not elaborate.
State TV called the vessel the nation's first heavy military presence in the oil-rich sea.

The 1,400-ton destroyer, which has a helicopter landing pad, is 94 meters long and can cruise at 30 knots.

It is equipped with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles as well as antiaircraft batteries and sophisticated radar and communications terminals.

Iraq Accuses Ukraine of Selling Inferior Armored Vehicles

2013-03-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

A senior Iraqi lawmaker on Thursday accused Ukraine of delivering low-quality armored personnel carriers and breaching the delivery terms of a contract signed in 2009.

“A probe into Ukrainian arms deliveries to Iraq revealed corruption with regard to Part 3 of the contract, concerning the sale of 420 armored personnel carriers, of which only about 100 have been delivered to date despite the fact that the contract was ratified several years ago,” Shiwan Muhammad Taha, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s security and defense commission, said in an interview with RIA Novosti’s Arabic-language newswire.

All the BTR-4 vehicles delivered so far have “very old, rusty bodies,” he said, adding that “the machines are dysfunctional.”

The Iraqi parliament has urged the government to set up a special committee to investigate the contract’s implementation and sue those responsible, Taha said.

Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi will shortly be summoned to parliament to explain the situation, he said.

There has been no comment from Ukraine as of late Thursday afternoon.

Earlier this month, Iraq’s parliamentary anticorruption commission circulated an in-house report on violations revealed in the implementation of the Ukrainian-Iraqi arms contract, including the $456 million BTR-4 deal.

Ukraine is one of the world’s largest arms sellers.

In 2009, Ukraine and Iraq signed a $2.4 billion contract for the delivery of armored vehicles, aircraft and related equipment, and precision guided weapon systems, as well as the provision of modernization and maintenance services. The contract has been on the verge of termination several times over delivery delays.

Final Rooivalk Handover Cements Relationship Between Denel and SAAF

2013-03-18T21:52:00.003-07:00

Mike Kgobe, the CEO of Denel Aviation says the acceptance of the locally developed combat support helicopter marks the culmination of a 26 year partnership between the SAAF and Denel. “We took this proudly South African aircraft through all its stages – from design to manufacturing, upgrading and retrofitting – to the point where it will soon be deployed.

Denel will continue to be involved with the Rooivalk through on-going maintenance and repair services and providing the continued airworthiness engineering support to ensure the fleet of 11 helicopters remains mission ready.

Mr Kgobe says the Rooivalk project is indicative of the symbiotic relationship between Denel Aviation and the SAAF. “We are always ready to provide technical and ground support to ensure the operational readiness of the Air Force’s fleet.”

This relationship was strengthened last week with an agreement in which Denel Aviation will continue to deliver vital maintenance services to the SAAF, leading to continued airworthiness and the upkeep of air assets.

“This is a win-win situation for both Denel and the SAAF which results in the retention of high-level critical skills, a focused service delivery and cost effectiveness for the SAAF,” says Mr Kgobe.

The company recently received a “zero defect report” from the SAAF to confirm that all 11 Rooivalk helicopters have been upgraded to block 1F baseline standards.

Denel Aviation is receiving excellent feedback from the SAAF – and especially from 16 Squadron at Air Force Base Bloemspruit – where the first batch of helicopters has now been flying continuously since April 2011

Dewald Steyn, the project manager: Rooivalk, at Denel Aviation says the performance of the aircraft is being closely monitored and evaluated from a design and development perspective. The helicopter has exceeded the expectations and no major maintenance or repair work has thus far been required.

The Rooivalk project started its design phase in 1984 and had its first flight in April 1990. It attracted world-wide attention for its unique design and capabilities and has been displayed at major international air shows in England, Dubai, Malaysia and Cape Town.

Denel Aviation was responsible for the final modifications to the helicopter to improve its safety and reliability and accuracy of its weapons systems and to complete all outstanding certification flight testing to enable the application for a full military type certificate at the Cabinet-agreed deployment baseline.

JHSV 2 completes builder's trials

2013-03-18T20:42:00.004-07:00

Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) 2, the future USNS Choctaw County, conducted builder’s sea trials March 7-8, in Mobile, Ala.l

The ship, now under construction at Austal USA, is the second ship of the JHSV class.

Builder’s trials are a significant step in the construction and delivery of a ship to the fleet and are the first opportunity to operate the ship underway and test overall system performance prior to demonstration to the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

“JHSV 2 is the second ship in this class to go through rigorous builder’s trials testing,” said Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager Capt. Henry Stevens. “At this stage, JHSV 2 is more complete than the lead ship, and we are benefitting from JHSV 1′s lessons learned. This was the first step in preparing the ship for acceptance trials and delivery later this year.”

Trials included operating the ship’s propulsion plant for many hours at different power levels, up to full power; testing and calibration of communication and navigational systems; ride control systems testing; and pollution control systems tests. Maneuverability trials tested the ship’s four steerable water jets while a series of high-speed turns demonstrated the stability and agility of JHSV’s catamaran hull form. The ship reached speeds of more than 41 knots.

Next, Austal will complete any required corrective actions required in preparation for acceptance trials, planned in the coming weeks. Choctaw County is expected to deliver to the Navy this summer. JHSVs are versatile, non-combatant, transport ships used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles, and equipment.

JHSV is designed to commercial standards, with limited modifications for military use. The vessel is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2).

Other joint requirements include an aviation flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations. JHSV 2 will have airline style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed berthing for 104.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Delivering high-quality war fighting assets while balancing affordability and capability is key to supporting the Navy’s Maritime Strategy.

Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Fails

2013-03-16T16:02:00.001-07:00

India's first indigenously developed long range cruise missile 'Nirbhay' was aborted midway today after it deviated from its intended flight path and fell on land.

The missile, which failed to hit the intended target in the sea, was terminated over the Bay of Bengal after it was airborne for about 25 minutes but crashed on land at some distance from a village near Kendrapara in Odisha.

There was no loss of life or property as TV footage showed wreckage of the missile launched from here.

The DRDO while making the announcement, however, said the sub-sonic missile 'Nirbhay' (fearless) with a strike range of around 1,000 km was "successfully" launched and met the basic mission objectives and performed some of the manouveres satisfactorily.

"Nirbhay was successfully launched today at 1150 hrs from launch complex, Chandipur, Odisha, meeting the basic mission objectives successfully.

"After travelling approximately mid-way, deviations were observed from its intended course. Further, flight was terminated to ensure coastal safety," DRDO spokesman said in a statement.
The missile blasted off from a mobile launcher positioned in the launch pad¿3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from here.

The surface-to-surface sub-sonic cruise missile has the capability of being launched from land, sea and air, they said, adding Nirbhay has good loitering capability, good control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and very good stealth features