Saturday, April 04, 2009

DTN News: Why The F-22 Remains Vital And Important Factor To Be Maintained Part #3

DTN News: Why The F-22 Remains Vital And Important Factor To Be Maintained Part #3
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: For 10 years, the Air Force has argued that the F-22’s incredible dogfighting capabilities will ensure the U.S. remains dominant for decades. And for 10 years, critics who say the fighter is an overpriced Cold War relic have steadily whittled down the service’s Raptor budget. It’s time for a new argument. The F-22’s superior dogfighting capabilities are barely relevant. Yes, formidable new fighters are being fielded by potential adversaries, notably the Russian-built Su-37 and MiG-31 and the Chinese F-11. The F-22 is far superior to these older-technology, nonstealthy aircraft, but the F-35 would also far outperform any of these models. As a consequence, the dogfighting rationale for the F-22 has never gained much traction outside the Air Force. Air Force leaders need to regroup and posit a rationale that the administration, Congress, the services and the American people can understand and support. The dogfighting gambit has not worked, but the need for maintaining air superiority is very real. The F-22 should become our chief asset for taking down enemy air defenses. Air superiority has two aspects: We prevent the enemy from using air power to attack our forces and facilities, but he cannot prevent us from attacking his. This second element is the most challenging. Since World War II, the Air Force has lost more than 2,700 aircraft in combat. Of those, fewer than 200 have been shot down in air-to-air engagements — and none since Vietnam. The other 93 percent have been either destroyed on the ground, or downed by anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. Now Russia has built new SAMs that are far more dangerous to our aircraft than anything we have yet faced. The S-400 system has an impressive range of up to 200 miles and would devastate nonstealthy fighter aircraft. Large and less maneuverable aircraft — tankers, airlifters and C2ISR platforms — would not stand a chance. These new SAM systems are proliferating, and we can expect that they will soon be in the arsenals of China, Iran, North Korea and Syria — if they are not already there. To employ our assets near the combat zone, we would have to take out the enemy SAM belt. Our current Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses assets could not do this — our anti-radiation missiles, carried by nonstealthy F-16s, are far outranged by the SAMs. It would be the classic case of taking a knife to a gun fight. But the F-22 could. With its superstealth and high speed, the F-22 could penetrate the enemy SAM belt, use its advanced radar and sensors to locate the enemy SAMs, and employ its internal ordnance of small-diameter bombs to destroy those sites. Removing these lethal missiles will then allow the thousands of other U.S. and allied aircraft to operate in the combat zone. Air superiority should remain the key mission of the F-22, but the threat is not the nonstealthy aircraft of potential adversaries. The threat is from the ground. Only a stealthy fighter with the capabilities of the F-22 can accomplish this crucial SEAD mission. The Air Force needs to remarket the Raptor. The old arguments about the need for a superior dogfighter are not credible. A SEAD asset is, however, essential. That is the vital mission the Raptor can perform peerlessly and for which it should be adapted.

U.S. Army’s FMTV 2.5-Ton Trucks Undergo Overhaul

U.S. Army’s FMTV 2.5-Ton Trucks Undergo Overhaul
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: The U.S. Army is refurbishing another 200 of its 2.5 ton FMTV trucks for a cost of about $100,000 each. Bought new, the trucks cost about twice that.
Most of the trucks to be refurbished are worn down by hard use (some have 50,000 miles on them), while others were damaged in combat or accidents.
These 2.5 ton trucks replaced the Vietnam era M35 models in the 1990s. They can carry 2.5 tons, and tow six tons. The army is still buying these 2.5 ton and 5 ton (same design, just different size) trucks, and will have acquired nearly 100,000 of them when production stops in the next 5-10 years.
A new design is in the works to replace the FMTV family of trucks in a decade or two. Army trucks are wearing out faster than expected because of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Additional Info - Related News
Army trucks will be overhauled to “like-new” condition at Red River Army Depot in Texas for roughly half the cost of buying new models.
The Army awarded a $20.5 million contract to BAE Systems in September to refurbish — or “reset” in Army-speak — 200 of its family of medium tactical vehicles 2.5-ton trucks. The FMTV has been in production since 1991 and comes in 21 variants, including troop carriers, cargo carriers, vans, dump trucks and recovery vehicles.
Trucks are deemed candidates for refurbishment if Army engineers determine that they are more economical to repair than to replace with a new vehicle. They have accumulated anywhere from 500 miles to more than 50,000 miles.
Some of the trucks with lower mileage may have been badly damaged in training exercises or in actual combat by roadside bombs.Before the trucks move down the production line, 70 to 90 parts, such as hoses and filters, are removed and replaced. Once on the line, reconditioned engines, transmissions and axles are installed and a technical inspection determines other parts to be repaired or replaced, says Daryl Gore, director for logistics programs at BAE Systems’ mobility and protection systems division.
Each truck is to be refurbished in 90 to 100 days. The goal is to reset about 30 trucks per month to meet the Army’s completion deadline in September. “We’ve been doing this for two and a half years. We know what the hard-to-get parts are,” Gore says.
Threats of roadside bombs and other explosives have prompted manufacturers to evolve cabs with better protection in recent years.
Newer FMTV models have incorporated armor and other materials to boost survivability. But the first-run FMTVs, such as those going through the overhaul, were built with soft-skin cabs that are no longer manufactured.
Rather than construct such cabs from scratch for the reset, older cabs previously provided to the government are being rebuilt in Sealy, Texas, before being sent to the depot for reassembly on the chassis.
BAE was awarded a $107 million contract in January to incorporate engineering changes that add additional armor (B Kits) to 5,108 FMTV cabs.
The work is expected to be completed by August 2010.To complete 30 trucks per month, workers perform on eight-hour to nine-hour shifts. BAE Systems is in negotiations with the Army to determine whether to move to 24-hour operations to stay on task, says Gore. Trucks coming through the production line so far have displayed average wear and tear, he adds. “It’s used every single day. It’s the workhorse,” says Gore, a retired soldier who served as a logistics officer during its Iraq deployment in 2005 to 2006 with the 4th Infantry Division. “I was responsible for the readiness of all the vehicles within our division.
That was the one I never had to focus on.”The contract includes options to reset an additional 400 FMTVs in the next two years. BAE also is competing for a possible future acquisition by the Army of 22,000 FMTV trucks between 2009 and 2013.

Nato To Commit Up To 5,000 Extra Troops To Afghanistan

Nato To Commit Up To 5,000 Extra Troops To Afghanistan
(NSI News Source Info) STRASBOURG - April 4, 2009: The White House said Saturday its NATO allies would send up to 5,000 more troops to Afghanistan, in response to President Barack Obama's call for a greater alliance role. Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said the number would include 3,000 soldiers on short-term postings to provide security for the election later this year, including 900 from Britain, 600 from Germany and 600 from Spain. Front row from left, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wiat for the start of a group photo at the NATO summit. A further 1,400 to 2,000 soldiers would also be made available in 70 units of 20 to 40 troops each to form embedded training teams for Afghan army units. The White House also said the NATO summit in Strasbourg had agreed to establish an alliance mission to provide better training for the Afghan army and police force. Several nations would contribute more than 300 new para-military trainers and mentors for the struggling Afghan police service, the White House said in a fact sheet. The alliance, meeting in its 60th anniversary summit, also agreed to expand a fund to sustain the Afghan army and to make a downpayment of more than 100 million dollars. FROM THE SUMMIT PROCEEDINGS
Nato leaders sought new ways to tackle the Taliban in Afghanistan at the alliance's 60th anniversary summit on Saturday, as differences festered over its future secretary general. After a minute's silence to mark the fallen in allied operations from the Balkans to Afghanistan, leaders meeting in Strasbourg set their minds on ways to provide security for key Afghan elections in August. ‘We can't allow ourselves to lose,’ France's President Nicolas Sarkozy declared at the opening session of the talks on Afghanistan. ‘Over there, the freedom of part of the world is at stake.’ ‘Afghanistan is a real test of our credibility,’ added summit co-host Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, insisting that international terrorist groups must not again be allowed to set up Afghan safe havens. The hosts were responding in part to calls from US President Barack Obama, who has used his first diplomatic tour of Europe to call for his reluctant European allies to step up their involvement in the Afghan war. There are 70,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, mostly under Nato command, battling Taliban-led rebels, whose tenacious rebellion is spreading from the rugged and lawless tribal regions around the border with Pakistan. Obama has decided to send 21,000 extra US troops and is considering deploying 10,000 more, while asking Europe to contribute by providing more soldiers as well as civilian support staff to train the police. Sarkozy, who earlier met his Nato counterparts at the centre of a monumental footbridge connecting France and Germany, used the occasion to announce France's return to the alliance's military command. The meeting also honoured Albania and Croatia who this week became the 28-strong bloc's newest members. ‘Welcome to Nato, we are excited about your participation,’ Obama said, greeting the new states. ‘It is a measure of our vitality that we are still welcoming new members.’ Despite this optimism, the session was delayed for more than an hour as the leaders huddled in an impromptu meeting to try to overcome Turkish objections to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as next head of Nato. Obama held an hour-long telephone conversation with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Saturday and the two men were joined on the line by Rasmussen, Turkish news agency Anatolia reported. Outside, demonstrators disrupted proceedings, blocking some routes to the summit venue, while Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi held up events in what appeared to be his latest diplomatic gaffe. Arriving on the German side of the Rhine River to be greeted on a red carpet Merkel before the walk to the French side, the Italian leader left his car still talking on his mobile telephone. He turned his back on his host and walked to the river bank still talking. Merkel appeared at first amused and then exasperated, and the others left Berlusconi behind to cross for the bridge ceremony. Following two days of attempts to breach the security cordon around the summit, anti-war protesters split into smaller groups and attempted to block several road junctions throughout the French city. Riot police fired tear gas to repulse a group of 1,000 protesters who tried to cross a bridge into the city centre, but another group managed to breach the outer security perimeter and block a tramline serving the venue. There were 25 arrests in the early clashes, which followed two days of violence on both sides of the Rhine.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen Wins Top NATO Post After Turkey Relents

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen Wins Top NATO Post After Turkey Relents
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: NATO picked Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as its next leader, overcoming Turkey’s objections that the choice would rile Muslims and damage the war effort in Afghanistan. The battle over the Danish candidate laid bare the divisions confronting President Barack Obama as he strove to repair ties with American allies at the military bloc’s 60th anniversary summit. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, informally known as Anders Fogh is the current Prime Minister of Denmark and the next Secretary General of NATO, a job he will be taking over on the 1st of August 2009. He is the leader of the Liberal Party (Venstre), and heads a centre-right coalition of his Liberal Party and the Conservative People's Party which took office in 2001, and won its second and third terms in February 2005 and in November 2007. Fogh Rasmussen's government relies on the Danish People's Party for support, in keeping with the Danish tradition for minority government. His government has introduced tougher limits on non-ECA immigration and froze tax rates before he took office (the "tax freeze", or "skattestoppet" in Danish). He has authored several books about taxation and government structure. Under Fogh, certain taxes have been lowered, but the Conservative coalition partners repeatedly argue for more tax cuts and a flat tax rate at no higher than 50%. Fogh implemented an administrative reform reducing the number of municipalities (kommuner) and replacing the thirteen counties (amter) with five regions. Rasmussen has referred to this as "the biggest reform in thirty years". Furthermore, a reform of the police and judiciary systems is being implemented, changing the numbers of police districts and city courts from 54 to 12 and 82 to 22, respectively. Prior to the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by Irish voters, European political analysts suggested that he could become the president of the European Union as suggested in the Lisbon Treaty. Rasmussen has since been named as the replacement for Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as NATO's Secretary General in 2009, having received the support of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Turkey at first indicated opposition to his candidacy “A solution has been found for the concerns expressed by Turkey,” the outgoing secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, told reporters after North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders met today in Strasbourg, France. “We all very much agree and are unanimous on this nomination.” Rasmussen, 56, will take over as NATO’s 12th secretary general in August, charged with overseeing the war in Afghanistan and trying to craft better ties with former Cold War foe Russia. Predominantly Muslim Turkey went into the summit vowing to block Rasmussen because of his defense of Danish newspaper cartoons lampooning Islam in 2005. Pressure to relent came from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the summit’s co-hosts. ‘Force of Unity’ “The force of unity won the day,” Merkel told a post- summit press conference. “No one would have understood it if we hadn’t managed to agree on someone.” Sarkozy said “the time of summits for nothing is over.” The clash of civilizations in the trans-Atlantic military alliance broke out two days before Obama travels to Turkey in an effort to reach out to Muslims who were alienated by the U.S.- led war on terror. Obama leaves the summit -- marking the alliance’s founding on April 4, 1949 as a bulwark against the Soviet Union -- with a hastily brokered compromise on the next NATO chief and praise for European leaders for his new Afghanistan strategy. What he didn’t get were European offers that came close to matching the U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan, currently around 38,000. Obama has ordered 17,000 more combat troops and 4,000 trainers to Afghanistan. Bush Administration In a break with the Bush administration, Obama dropped the criticisms of European allies for not sending more frontline troops and said the U.S. would welcome civilian and financial contributions as well. Britain, with 8,000 troops in the second-biggest contingent after the U.S., said it would send more on a temporary tour in the run-up to Afghanistan’s Aug. 20 elections as long as other allies follow suit. Divisions over burden-sharing in Afghanistan -- where insurgent attacks last year reached the highest level since the 2001 U.S. invasion -- colored the dispute over who will run the alliance. NATO has had 11 secretaries general, all western Europeans, since the post was created in the early days of the Cold War in 1952. The appointment, usually for a four-year term, is made by consensus, giving veto power to any one allied country. NATO’s top military commander, based in Mons, southern Belgium, is traditionally an American. That post is now held by U.S. Army General John Craddock. Dutchman De Hoop Scheffer, 61, leaves office at the end of July.

Italy Considers Withdrawing Female Troops From Afghanistan

Italy Considers Withdrawing Female Troops From Afghanistan
(NSI News Source Info) ROME - April 4, 2009: Italy could withdraw its female troops stationed in Afghanistan to protest against a new law for the country's Shi'ite minority that has been attacked as a blow to women's rights, the Italian defence minister said. A female Italian soldier in Afghanistan on patrol along with her male counterpart. Italy, which is the sixth largest troop contributor to the NATO-led military operation in Afghanistan, is the latest to express concern on the Shi'ite Personal Status Law after some Afghan lawmakers criticised it as legalising marital rape. "I realise that it would not be a very easy choice," Ignazio La Russa told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview on Saturday. "But a temporary withdrawal of our women in uniform, perhaps with the exception of those involved in health services, could represent a very significant gesture on the role of women." He called the new law a step back in the modernisation of Afghanistan and in contrast to the values that justify the presence of Italian troops in the country. "Everyone would understand, Shi'ites included, that women can accomplish the same work done by men," he said, explaining his proposal. "It would be the best education for the Afghan population. The United States, NATO, Canada and the United Nations have already voiced concern about the law, but Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the criticisms were based on a wrong translation or misinterpretation of the law. La Russa said his proposal had yet to be discussed with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, but it was immediately welcomed by Equal Opportunities Minister Mara Carfagna.
Such a move would be a "strong reponse" to a law that violates basic women's rights, Carfagna said in a statement. Separately, La Russa told reporters at the NATO summit in Strasbourg on Saturday that Italy would also heed the the U.S. call for more European help in Afghanistan by sending an additional 524 soldiers to the 2,665 already present there.

BAE Wins $169 Million For M-113, M-88 Vehicle Work

BAE Wins $169 Million For M-113, M-88 Vehicle Work
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: Pentagon Contract Announcement
-- BAE Systems, Anniston, Ala., was awarded on Mar. 31, 2009, an $87,735,664.00 firm fixed price contract for the reset of 697 M113 Family of Vehicles. Work is to be performed at Anniston, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009.
One bid was solicited and one bid received.
U.S. Army Tank & Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-G-0005).
The M88 is one of the largest all weather armored recovery vehicles currently in use by U.S. Armed Forces and Israel Defense Force, almost 10 tons heavier than the M1 Abrams main battle tank. There are currently three variants, the M88, M88A1 and M88A2 Hercules. The M88 series has seen action most noticeably in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to a lesser extent during the Kosovo War where they were deployed to help recover heavy armored vehicles of the Allied ground units. The current M88A2 replacement cost is around $2,050,000.
-- BAE Systems, York, Pa., was awarded on Mar. 31, 2009, an $81,419,445.00 firm fixed price contract for production of 39 Army-configured M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles, and three sets of Authorized Stockage List Spares. Work is to be performed at York, Pa., (98 percent) and Aiken, S.C. (2 percent), with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012.
One bid was solicited and one bid received.
U.S. Army Tank & Automotive Command Contracting Center, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-C-0408).

General Dynamics Awarded General Services Administration Alliant Contract For Information-Technology Solutions

General Dynamics Awarded General Services Administration Alliant Contract For Information-Technology Solutions
(NSI News Source Info) FALLS CHURCH, Va. – April 4, 2009: General Dynamics has been awarded an Alliant contract by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to provide federal government agencies with integrated information technology solutions for evolving needs on a global basis. Alliant is a 10-year multiple-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC). The contract has a $50 billion potential value among all 59 awardees if all options are exercised.
Through this contract, General Dynamics will provide infrastructure, application and information technology management services to support federal government agencies. Alliant is a successor contract to the Applications n’ Support for Widely Diverse End-User Requirements (ANSWER) and Millennia government-wide technology contracts. General Dynamics currently holds the ANSWER contract.
“As a long-standing partner of the General Services Administration, General Dynamics is committed to providing outstanding information technology and mission-support services to agencies throughout the federal government,” said Jerry DeMuro, executive vice president of the Information Systems and Technology group for General Dynamics. “General Dynamics will help federal agencies achieve seamless and efficient access to the vital information-technology solutions necessary for them to successfully fulfill their missions.”
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

British 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) Return From Tough Helmand, Afghanistan Tour

British 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) Return From Tough Helmand, Afghanistan Tour
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) returned to the UK yesterday after a tough six-month deployment to Helmand which saw them working from remote and austere bases mentoring the Afghan National Army. British Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles arrive at RAF Brize Norton after a gruelling but successful six-month deployment in Helmand. Led by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cavanagh, over 550 soldiers from the battalion deployed to Helmand province in September 2008, as part of 3 Commando Brigade. The 1 RIFLES Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battle Group was responsible for working alongside the Afghan National Army soldiers and officers as their personal mentors, and as liaison officers between the British-led HQ and the Afghan Brigade. Working in eight-man teams from remote and austere bases they lived amongst the Afghan people, rather than in British bases, for six months of patrols in the local towns and villages, and on operations to hunt the insurgents. During their deployment the battalion were also involved in what was described as a 'stunning success' in the pivotal operation to clear enemy forces from the area around the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, Operation ATTAL, and assisted the Afghan National Army in bolstering the security around Helmand's second city of Gereshk. They also provided security across Helmand during voter registration for the impending national elections. In addition to OMLT tasks, detachments of riflemen from two platoons and a rifle company were employed on a variety of other tasks such as providing security in the capital, Kabul, protecting the southern town of Garmsir, and maintaining the security of the main UK base and airfield - Camp Bastion. Tragically eight soldiers from the 1 RIFLES Battle Group were killed during the tour: Rifleman Stuart Nash, Serjeant* Chris Reed, Corporal Richard Robinson, Corporal Daniel Nield, Lance Corporal Stephen Kingscott, Rifleman Jamie Gunn, Lance Corporal Paul Upton and Corporal Tom Gaden. Lt Col Cavanagh said that members of 1 RIFLES had been helping each other with the deaths and the battle group has become stronger and more tight-knit. He said: "We have a unique position as the infantry battalion of the brigade. We've learnt a great deal about each other - the men have been under some fierce pressure at times but we've observed that we get valuable results from the efforts we've put in - it's been rewarding and satisfying." After landing at RAF Brize Norton yesterday afternoon, 2 April 2009, 1 RIFLES returned to their base at Beachley Barracks in Chepstow and Lt Col Cavanagh paid tribute to the battalion's rear party and the soldiers' families and members of the public locally and nationally who have been supporting them. He said: "We remain indebted to you all, we cannot have hoped for better support; it is with pride and determination that we drive on towards completion of this most demanding of tours. "The battle group has achieved amazing things during this tour - with the Afghan National Army and among ourselves. The Riflemen have been making a difference and know it. "We're a family regiment and we draw great strength from the support we have received at home."

U.S. Air Force Awards Raytheon Contract For Laser-Guided Maverick Missile

U.S. Air Force Awards Raytheon Contract For Laser-Guided Maverick Missile (NSI News Source Info) TUCSON, Ariz. - April 4, 2009: The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon Company a contract to upgrade guidance and control sections for the air-to-ground Maverick missile. Maverick AGM-65: Maverick launched from an F-16 fighter. "The military is successfully employing laser-guided Mavericks against moving targets and in urban environments," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "This contract is a win for the warfighters, because it gives them a reliable combat-proven weapon they can take to war almost immediately." The contract initiates engineering efforts required to restart the laser-guided Maverick production line and will incorporate state-of-the-art laser-seeker technology. The contract will result in the upgrade of up to 450 laser Maverick guidance sections for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. Raytheon plans to deliver the first upgraded guidance sections to the U.S. Air Force in 20 to 24 months. The contract uses funds from a General Services Administration exchange program. The program provides the latest technology to the U.S. Air Force without affecting normal weapon procurement budgets. Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

Boeing Teams With TAK To Develop Wing Assembly For 2,000-Pound JDAM ER

Boeing Teams With TAK To Develop Wing Assembly For 2,000-Pound JDAM ER
(NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS - April 4, 2009: Boeing March 31., announced an agreement with Times Aerospace Korea, LLC (TAK) to jointly develop a wing assembly for the 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM ER). Boeing has announced an agreement with Times Aerospace Korea, LLC (TAK) to jointly develop a wing assembly for the 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM ER), shown here in an artist's rendering. "This teaming agreement is a prime example of Boeing Weapons Programs' efforts to form strategic partnerships as we develop the systems our global customers need," said Debra Rub, Weapons Programs vice president. "Our alliance with TAK is an important step forward in bringing the expanded capability of JDAM ER to the warfighter." Under the teaming arrangement signed Feb. 27, Boeing and TAK will co-develop, test, and field a JDAM ER wing kit to convert the 2,000-pound JDAM into a JDAM ER. Over the course of the 40-month development program, Boeing will provide support to TAK as the Korean company further develops its aerospace capabilities, including preparations for production of the JDAM ER wing assembly.
Upon successful completion of the development and flight-test programs, TAK will become Boeing's primary supplier for the 2,000-pound JDAM ER wing assembly. JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into accurately guided "smart" weapons.
The JDAM kit consists of a tail section that contains a Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System and body strakes for additional stability and lift. The incorporation of the Extended Range wing kit extends JDAM's standoff range. The baseline JDAM has been sold to the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy, as well as to 22 international customers.

President Barack Obama Strategy For Afghanistan And Pakistan Receives High Marks

President Barack Obama Strategy For Afghanistan And Pakistan Receives High Marks
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - April 4, 2009: The new U.S. regional strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan unveiled by President Barack Obama last week has won the backing of both Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. And earlier this week, 80 countries and organizations attended a U.N.-sponsored meeting on Afghan security and reconstruction. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L), US President Barack Obama (C) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are pictured after crossing the Passerelle Mimram pedestrian bridge which connects Kehl, Germany to Strasbourg, France on April 4, 2009 during the NATO summit. The summit, which marks the organisation's 60th anniversary, is taking place on April 3 and 4, 2009 in Strasbourg and the neighbouring German cities of Baden-Baden and Kehl.
President Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan includes a pledge to deploy more troops to defeat al-Qaida militants and their allies, but also includes a greater emphasis on region diplomacy and economic development. An American Perspective Roy Gutman, foreign editor of McClatchy newspapers, is the author of a recent book on Afghanistan. He says not only are foreign leaders welcoming the Obama administration’s new strategy in the region, but it is also gaining bipartisan support in the United States. Speaking with host Judith Latham of VOA’s International Press Club, Gutman says the principal problem is the fact that al-Qaida, which started in Afghanistan in the 1990s and was forced to flee after 9/11 and the American invasion of Afghanistan, took root in Pakistan’s tribal areas. He says this is the first time the United States has ever had a strategy for the region. In addition to committing 17,000 more U.S. troops and 4,000 trainers to Afghanistan, Gutman explains the new American strategy focuses on regional economic development and on diplomatic initiative. He notes that the Afghan economy is heavily dependent on opium poppy growing and heroin production. Instead, he says, “You need to help Afghans come up with real crops and a real economy.” And that means roads, schools, and local authorities. In Pakistan, Gutman says, the issue centers on the tribal areas because it is there that radical organizations, like al-Qaida and the Taliban, can take root. On the diplomatic side, Gutman says one of the biggest problems Washington faces is how to deal with Afghanistan and Pakistan in a way that would prove mutually beneficial. Although American interests are the main object of U.S. policy, Gutman observes that “you can’t achieve them if you don’t work with those countries in terms of what they see as their interests.” An Afghan Perspective Afghan journalist Nabi Misdaq says the Obama strategy for Afghanistan is generally well-conceived, but notes many Afghans worry about the increase in U.S. troop levels. He says there needs to be more emphasis on reconstruction and on bringing dissidents, including members of the Taliban, into the Afghan government. Misdaq says that unfortunately in the last seven years, there has been very little accountability, and most of the money for construction projects has not been delivered. However, he notes the presidential elections are coming in Afghanistan this summer. He says “if the right person is elected and his team is really dedicated to work for reconstruction, peace, and stability,” he is sure it will “make a lot of difference.” A Pakistani Perspective American University Professor Akbar Ahmed praises the new U.S. strategy. An anthropologist, journalist, diplomat, and former High Commissioner of Baluchistan province, Professor Ahmed was also in charge of the northwest tribal region of Waziristan. He warns of the enormity of the problems that must be overcome to help stabilize Pakistan. Professor Ahmed says it is a much bigger challenge than President Obama and his team realize. If it is not implemented on the ground, he says he foresees “serious hurdles.” Professor Ahmed says the government of Pakistan needs to retake the tribal areas and reestablish its own authority there. “The administrators, like I was, have been marginalized in the last eight years, thanks to President Pervez Musharraf’s military dictatorship,” Professor Ahmed explains. Madrassas in Pakistan, say critics, are hotbeds of religious fundamentalism and a training ground for militants.The new Pakistani government has to “focus on the madrassas, the religious schools,” he emphasizes. Unless they can be reformed, Professor Ahmed warns, thousands upon thousands of youngsters will come out of them “with very little on their mind except a desire to defend Islam.” Professor Ahmed says Pakistan faces other major hurdles as well. Among them, he says are the political rift between President Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the tensions between the army and the government, and the “collapse of law and order in much of Pakistan.”
For example, he points to this week’s terrorist attack on the police training center outside Lahore, where eight people were killed. In claiming responsibility for the attack, Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud said they were in retaliation for U.S. drone attacks that kill innocent people, particularly women and children. Akbar Ahmed describes those drone attacks as an “unmitigated disaster.” In fact, he says, they create so much ill will that they are counter-productive.” They create anger and resentment in entire regions, he explains, and “put further pressure on a shaky Pakistani government and fuel anti-Americanism.” An International Response Meanwhile, on Tuesday in The Hague, officials from more than 70 countries and a dozen organizations at a U.N conference on Afghanistan stressed the importance of international and regional cooperation to rebuild the war-torn nation. They also agreed to work jointly to improve security and to foster economic and political development in Afghanistan. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered reconciliation to Taliban members who stop fighting, renounce extremism, and accept the Afghan constitution. The following day President Karzai and Pakistani President Zardari pledged closer cooperation in fighting Islamic terrorists during a summit meeting in Turkey with President Abdullah Gul.

Taliban Commander Captured In Eastern Afghanistan By U.S. Led Coalition Forces

Taliban Commander Captured In Eastern Afghanistan By U.S. Led Coalition Forces
(NSI News Source Info) KABUL - April 4, 2009: Afghan National Army backed by the U.S.-led Coalition Forces on Friday captured a Taliban commander and three other insurgents in Khost province of eastern Afghanistan, said a Coalition statement issued here on Saturday. A member of Afghan Public Protection Force speaks to villagers after a graduation ceremony in Jalrez district of Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, March 31, 2009. After three weeks of training, the newest security experiment to protect Afghanistan's countryside from Taliban fighters was on display for this village in central Afghanistan's Wardak province. The combined forces carried out an early-morning raid of a compound in the Lagharah Valley of Khost Province where they captured a mid-level Taliban commander who is responsible for facilitating suicide bombings and placing improvised explosive devices in the surrounding area, the statement said. "Three other militants believed to associate with and aid the Taliban commander were also detained," it added. "No shots were fired and no non-combatants were harmed during this operation." Taliban militants who staged a violent comeback four years ago have vowed to intensify attacks, mostly in the shape of suicide attacks and roadside bombings, against government interests in the conflict-plagued country in 2009.

Japan Readies Itself For North Korea's Rocket Launch

Japan Readies Itself For North Korea's Rocket Launch
(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO - April 4, 2009: The Japanese government has readied itself ahead of Pyongyang's imminent launch of a communications satellite, with the Self-Defense Forces poised to shoot down the launch vehicle if it is seen falling toward Japan's territory. Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers guard Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles (behind them) at JGSDF Araya base in Akita, northern Japan April 4, 2009. The Japanese government has readied itself ahead of Pyongyang's imminent launch of a communications satellite, with the Self-Defense Forces poised to shoot down the launch vehicle if it is seen falling toward Japan's territory. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced the launch will be "soon". The projectile is expected to fly over northeastern Japan after the launch. Kyodo News said Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to stay in his official residence and will immediately move to his office if the launch is confirmed. The office is expected to release information immediately on the launch. Cabinet members belonging to the Security Council of Japan such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone are also expected to be on standby in Tokyo. "We still hope the launch will not take place," Nakasone was quoted as saying upon arrival at the Foreign Ministry. "It would be very regrettable if (the DPRK) starts the launch despite the efforts by various countries urging it to refrain from doing so," he said. Meanwhile, the Crisis Management Center at the prime minister's office has also beefed up staff to gather information and has got ready to provide information on the launch to local governments and media organizations, according to Kyodo. The government has relocated Patriot ground-to-air guided missile launch units to Akita and Iwate prefectures in northeastern Japan and sent two destroyers equipped with Standard Missile-3 interceptors in the Sea of Japan and another destroyer to the Pacific Ocean to track the projectile. Japan's aviation authority issued a notice Friday to advise airlines to maintain vigilance with regard to possible antiballistic missiles when flying in some areas of Japanese airspace.

China Would Contribute $ 40 Billion Towards IMF Kitty / Analysis: At G20, China Finds Way To Raise Stature In World Finance

China Would Contribute $ 40 Billion Towards IMF Kitty / Analysis: At G20, China Finds Way To Raise Stature In World Finance
(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING - April 4, 2009: After a mere four-and-a-half hours, world leaders at the G20 summit in London decided to devote about 1 trillion U.S. dollars to supporting world economic growth and trade, an outcome that surprised many analysts with its scale. But in that scant time, China had a chance to showcase its growing importance in the world economy. China said it would contribute 40 billion U.S. dollars to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) increased financing capacity. That's only a small portion of the total, but it could take China's IMF voting rights from to 3.997 percent from 3.807 percent. China's new voting share would still far behind that of the United States, which is first with about 17 percent. However, since many countries' voting shares in the IMF are well under 1 percent, any incremental change gives a member just a little extra say in the workings of the multilateral organization. And so the potential change is a small step toward China's goal of having more influence on how the IMF, and the world financial system, operates. HIGHER FINANCIAL STATUS Economists said China's proposed contribution of 40 billion U.S. dollars was in line with its current development level and would mean a more influential voice for Beijing in international financial institutions and in shaping the world economic order. "China's promise of extra funding was a contribution to the world economy and showcased the country's clout," said Zhao Jinping, an economist with the State Council's (cabinet's) Development Research Center. Tang Min, deputy secretary general of the China Development Research Foundation, said the country's voting rights and quota of contributions to multilateral bodies still fell short of its status as the world's third-biggest economy. He said China would further step up its contributions, and influence, as its economic power grew and reforms of the international financial system went forward. Zhao said it was part of a long-term trend for developing countries like China to have more influence in decision-making at international financial institutions, noting that the "obsolete mechanism and structure of world financial organizations" failed to reflect an evolving world economy. British special G20 envoy Mark Malloch-Brown was quoted in the China Securities Journal on Thursday as saying that an overhaul of the world financial system should start with international financial institutions and reforming the IMF meant China's voice must be bigger. The G20 leaders' statement was a "positive signal" in that it gave a timetable for reforming the IMF and the World Bank, said Zhang Bin, an expert with the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank. Zhao said China's obligations to international financial institutions should reflect not just the country's size but also the fact that China is still a developing country. He urged China to expand its influence by actively joining multilateral or regional dialogues and offering more proposals on international issues. "It should be a step-by-step process for China to shoulder more responsibility. It can't be accomplished in just one move," said Zhao. LONG ROAD TO REFORM Be it "a turning point," as U.S. President Barack Obama stated, or "a new world order," as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed, the G20 summit was a major step in reshaping the global financial system, but there was still far to go, Chinese economists said. "China should seek to expand its IMF quota and voting rights further after the summit. Although the statement give a timetable for reform, it remains unclear whether the goal can be achieved because that would affect the interests of the United States and the European Union," said Mei Xinyu, a researcher at China's Ministry of Commerce. The G20 statement reads in part: "We commit to implementing the package of IMF quota and voice reforms agreed in April 2009 and call on the IMF to complete the next review of quotas by January 2011." "On the one hand, China could count on the IMF restructuring, and on the other hand, it may start again somewhere else. For instance, it can push forward the establishment of the 120-billion-U.S.-dollar reserve pool agreed by several East Asian countries," Mei said. Leaders of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea agreed last month to speed up the creation of a foreign-exchange reserve pool of 120 billion U.S. dollars to address liquidity shortages. Mei described the pool as an "Asian Monetary Fund," saying it could partly replace the IMF in Asia and help increase use of the Chinese currency in international trade. Another government economist, Wang Xiaoguang, said the agreement served as a foundation for more concrete policies to tackle the global downturn and this would be good for global stability and China's own economic recovery. Wang added that it was unrealistic to change the global financial order immediately, because it would cause conflicts among major economies. "They will rework the current system rather than introduce a new one," he said. Zhuang Jian, an economist at the Asian Development Bank, said the biggest challenge was how to implement those commitments. China should closely monitor the implementation of the agreement and decide whether its short-term objectives could be realized. "China's appeals will be discussed after the summit," he said, referring to financial market reform and the position of emerging countries in the international financial system. "I think the country will have a bigger say in the global financial system. But the G20 summit is just a forum, and if the global economy worsens, the agreement might end up as nothing more than words," he said.

Russia Has Not Made Up Mind To Participate In G20 $1.1 Trillion Package: Reports

Russia Has Not Made Up Mind To Participate In G20 $1.1 Trillion Package: Reports
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: Russia has not yet made any commitment to contribute to the $1.1 trillion anti-crisis package approved by the G20, the finance minister said Friday. "Russia is not participating in this package yet. We have made no commitments," Alexei Kudrin said at a congress of the Association of Russian Banks. Kudrin, who is also a deputy prime minister, said Russia is already providing significant assistance to neighboring states, as well as being the major contributor to the Eurasec anti-crisis fund, which has a charter capital of $10 billion. "We believe we play the role of an elder brother for our region," he said. G20 leaders agreed on Thursday in London a package of measures to combat the world crisis. In particular, $1.1 trillion would be given to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other financial institutions. Kudrin also said Russia could invest its international reserves into IMF bonds, which the Fund has mooted issuing. "Another tool is IMF bonds," he said. "We could diversify international reserves ... by participating in this tool."

Nigeria: Government Trying To Deal With Crime In Niger Delta

Nigeria: Government Trying To Deal With Crime In Niger Delta
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: A government committee, set up last year to study all past studies of the Niger Delta problems, has reported its findings. Not surprisingly, it advocates more oil money for the Niger Delta (25 percent, up from the current 13 percent), and that more jobs be allocated for the unemployed young men (who otherwise tend to become criminals). Fighters with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) prepare to head off for an operation against the Nigerian army in the Niger Delta. MEND has declared full-scale 'oil war' against the Nigerian authorities in response to attacks by the Nigerian military launched against the militants. "Our target is to crumble the oil installations in order to force the government to a round table to solve the problem once and for all", said Boy Loaf, leader of the militants.
It was also suggested that MEND rebel leader Henry Okah be granted bail, and an open trial on treason (rather than the secret one now planned). Okah is very popular, although he is also a gangster and, if elected as a state (there are several states in the Niger Delta) governor, he would likely be as corrupt as past governors. Thus allocating more oil money to the Niger Delta states would probably just mean more for the local officials to steal. The main problem has always been the corruption that prevents government revenue (mostly from oil), from getting to the people. Meanwhile, the JTF (Defense Ministry Joint Task Force) is going after the large oil stealing gangs, including at least one operated by a former army general. The JTF is not large enough to shut all the gangs down any time soon, and is accused of taking bribes to leave some criminal operations alone. That is unproven, but certainly possible considering the amount of money in play in the delta and past performance of police and army units there. The government has proposed amnesty for the Delta rebels, but most of the gangs there, especially MEND, turned down the offer. MEND wants autonomy, and more oil money. The local politicians don't like the idea of being replaced, or at least having to compete with, a new bunch of populist politicians, and support trying to defeat the gangs. There are no clear winners one can see, and it's a bloody and expensive stalemate. This is especially true as rebel activity still keeps over 20 percent of potential oil exports from leaving the country. That, plus the falling price of oil, has meant less money for the rest of the country, and politicians nation-wide. The government is trying to break this deadlock by giving the JTF more money, and more authority, in the Niger Delta. Many politicians have been able to get their own gangsters exempted from JTF raids, but this will be ending. Throughout the country, politicians are patrons of criminal gangs which, during elections, do street level dirty work to ensure that their patron gets elected, or re-elected. A lot of the stolen (by politicians) government funds goes to pay off these gangs. This is not a unique situation. Saddam Hussein, and many other dictators, had street gangs on the payroll. Even the Soviet Union, one of the more "professional" police states, had many gangsters working for the secret police. March 28, 2009: In an increasingly common event, police freed a foreign worker from a kidnapping gang. The Lebanese construction worker had been held outside Lagos by a criminal gang. Six of the kidnappers died fighting the police raiders. While MEND and the oil gangs also kidnap, they have more secure facilities to stash their victims. March 25, 2009: China has agreed to replace, at no cost, a communications satellite it launched for Nigeria in 2007. The satellite failed a year later. This is largely a good will gesture, and avoids a legal battle over whether China should pay. China has been developing economic ties in Nigeria, and throughout Africa. Unlike Western countries, China will do whatever it takes to obtain resources and economic opportunities, and the generally corrupt African officials like that just fine.

Canada Demands Afghan Leader Explain Women's Rights Crackdown

Canada Demands Afghan Leader Explain Women's Rights Crackdown
(NSI News Sour
ce Info) STRASBOURG - April 4, 2009: Canada demanded Friday that Afghan President Hamid Karzai come forward with an explanation for a new law restricting women's rights in the Islamic country.Afghan president Hamid Karzai arrives at the World Forum Center in The Hague. Speaking ahead of a NATO summit in this French city, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said the legislation was "extremely alarming and would be troublesome for a lot of the allies". "We are calling on President Karzai to be able to come forward with an explanation," Cannon told reporters. At issue is the Shia Personal Status Law, which reportedly makes it illegal for a woman from Afghanistan's Shia Muslim minority to refuse sex with her husband or to leave home without his permission. It also denies her custody of their children after a divorce. Cannon said such rules would be "injurious and offensive" for women. "It's Canada's policy to support human rights. That's the reason I'm asking President Karzai for a clarification," he said. Canada has some 2,800 troops in southern Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force routing insurgents, and has pledged massive financial aid to the war-torn country. Since the start of its mission in 2002, 116 Canadian soldiers, a senior diplomat and two aid workers have been killed in Afghanistan.

Korean AF Says T-50 Trainer Saves Money, Time / T-50 of ROK Air Force Most Effective In Training Pilots

Korean AF Says T-50 Trainer Saves Money, Time / T-50 of ROK Air Force Most Effective In Training Pilots
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: Employing the advanced training jet T-50, developed and built with the country’s indigenous technology, in training combat pilots significantly reduces the amount of time and cost required to train a pilot, the Air Force said March 17.
The T-50 Golden Eagle is a South Korean supersonic advanced trainer and light attack jet, developed by the Korean Aerospace Industries beginning in the late 1990s. The T-50 is South Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and the world's only high-performance supersonic trainer in production. Currently, KAI is upgrading its four prototypes of the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer to advanced light fighters.
The advanced pilot training system currently employed by the Air Force consists of a practice course using T-103 training jets, a basic course built on KT-1 jets, an advanced course based on T-59 training jets and a combat course involving TA-50 light attack fighters.
The Air Force said the duration of the entire program to train a F-16 pilot from the entry level to combat level was curtailed by six months when T-50 was put into the program.
By replacing T-59 with T-50, the Air Force could reduce the amount of time required to train a F-16 pilot from 32 months to 26 months, and this consequently led to the reduction of costs from 2.1 billion won to 1.4 billion won.
“Those who underwent advanced course using T-50 training jets were able to quickly adapt to flying F-16 fighter jets and better understand their aeronautical equipment, and this led to a reduction of about 20 percent in the number of exercise flights they required,” Lt. Col. Hong Soon-taek, commander of the 157th Squadron of the 20th Fighter Wing. “This helps greatly improve our operation as it allows us to put the resources into actual combat training.” Meanwhile, a ceremony was held at the 1st Fighter Wing on March 17 to mark the complete of the first advanced pilot training course of the year that signaled the birth of 45 new ‘Red Muffler’ pilots. The new pilots will soon be posted to various units to carry on their mission as combat, transport or helicopter pilots.

Finland Looking At Taurus, But May Buy JASSM / Finland Getting Top US Missiles?

Finland Looking At Taurus, But May Buy JASSM / Finland Getting Top US Missiles?
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: The Finnish Air Force is buying at least 200 million euros worth of new equipment for its F-18C Hornet jet fighters. American JASSM air-to-surface missiles may become the latest addition to Finnish fleets.
The JASSM project began in 1995 after the cancellation of the AGM-137 TSSAM project. The TSSAM was designed as a high precision stealthy missile for use at stand-off ranges, but poor management of the project resulted in rising costs. Since the requirement for such weapons still existed, the military quickly announced a follow-up project with similar goals. Initial contracts for two competing designs were awarded to McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Martin in 1996, and the missile designations AGM-158A and AGM-159A were allocated to the two weapons. Lockheed Martin's AGM-158A won and a contract for further development was awarded in 1998. The AGM-158A is powered by a Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet. While carried the wings are folded to reduce size, flipping out on launch. There is a single vertical tail. Guidance is via inertial navigation with updating from a global positioning system. Target recognition and terminal homing is via an imaging infrared seeker. A data link allows the missile to transmit its location and status during flight, allowing improved bomb damage assessment. Accuracy is extremely good. The warhead is a WDU-42/B 450 kg (1000 lb) penetrator. The JASSM will be carried by a wide range of aircraft - the F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, F-35, B-1B, B-2 and B-52 are all intended to carry the weapon.
The government’s financial affairs committee gave the go-ahead on Wednesday to buy the weapons from the US Navy. The hardware includes long-range air-to-ground missiles.
The upgrade is part of a 17-year development programme with a total price tag of about one billion euros.
Under the plan, the entire fleet of Hornet jets will be updated by the end of 2016. The need for updating was already known when the decision was made to buy the US-made planes in 1992. Two agreements on industrial cooperation are linked with the deal. The Finnish Patria Aviation will install the devices.
Top-of-the-line missiles
Finnish defense officials expect the US to sell Finland its top-of-the-line JASSM air-to-surface missiles as part of the upgrade programme for the country's fleet of F-18 Hornet jet fighters. According to a Defense Ministry memo accessed by YLE, both the JASSM and the German-Swedish Taurus missile are under consideration.
In February 2007, the United States declined to sell JASSM missiles to Finland, which at the time was seen by some as a sign of political mistrust.
The JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) is an autonomous, long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. JASSM is designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets. JASSM's significant standoff range keeps Air Force and Navy aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defense systems. The missile's mission effectiveness approaches single-missile target kill capability. With this superior performance and affordable price, JASSM offers the best value of any weapon in its class.
Officially it was denied that there was any friction between the two countries. Later there was speculation that the US had been experiencing technical problems with the missiles and so put a freeze on sales abroad.

Brazilian-Built Patrol Boat Opens Export Prospects / New Patrol Boat For Namibia Opens Export Prospects

Brazilian-Built Patrol Boat Opens Export Prospects / New Patrol Boat For Namibia Opens Export Prospects
(NSI News Source Info) April 4, 2009: The patrol boat “Brendan Simbwaye” (P-11) today at 4 p.m. left the INACE shipyard in Fortaleza (CE state) for Walvis Bay, in Namibia, after being approved for service by the Commission of Inspection and the Training Command, both composed on Brazilian naval officers.
The Patrol Ship-Brendan Simbwaye (P11) started today at 16h, the yard INAC, in Fortaleza-CE, to the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia, after being approved by the Commission for Inspection and Office of training, consisting of Official the Brazilian Navy. Accompanied by a Brazilian ship, the corvette Caboclo, P-11 across the Atlantic Ocean on his first trip, making stops in the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Ascension Island and St. Helena Island, before arriving at the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia, on April 21. The ship was built for Navy in Namibia on 16 January 2009, in a ceremony in the yard INAC, which was built with the presence of high authorities of both countries, further strengthening relations between the governments of Brazil and Namibia.
Escorted by a Brazilian Navy ship, the corvette “Caboclo,” P-11 will cross the Atlantic Ocean for its maiden cruise, with stops in the islands of Fernando De Noronha, Ascension and Saint Helena before arriving at Walvis Bay on April 21.
The ship was commissioned into the Namibian Navy on January 16, 2009, during a ceremony at the INACE shipyard, where it was built, in the presence of ranking authorities of both countries, thus strengthening the relations between the Governments of Brazil and Namíbia.
In addition to creating new jobs, this successful Brazilian initiative will develop the production capabilities and the technological know-how of Brazilian industry, and opens new prospects for future exports of naval ships.
The “Brendan Simbwaye” is armed with cannon and machine guns. It is 46.5 meters long and can reach a top speed of 27 knots; it will be used to monitor and defend the Namibian coast.
The project was managed by the EMGEPRON, a public company tied to the Navy of Brazil, that was also responsible for guaranteeing the boat’s quality, for the installation of the armament and for the logistic support provided to the Namibian Navy. Its crew was also trained by the Brazilian Navy.