Tuesday, November 10, 2009

DTN News: Israel Signs $1.1 Billion Defense Deal With India

DTN News: Israel Signs $1.1 Billion Defense Deal With India *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - November 11, 2009: India and Israel agreed to jointly develop a new long range, land-based air defense system to replace the aging Pechora (SA-3 GOA) missiles currently in service with the Indian Air Force. Covering a range of 70 km, the new missile will almost double the range of the 60km vertically launched Barak 8 shipborne missile (also known as Barak NG) currently being developed for the Indian and Israeli Navies under a US$480 million five year program launched in early 2006. The new missile system will be based on the medium-range naval air defense missile currently under development for the Indian and Israeli Navies. The naval application of the missile will be integrated with the MF-STAR phased array shipborne radar, which Elta claims to be superior to the SPY-1 AEGIS radar. Overall, the MF-STAR / Barak 8 combination is claimed to be superior to the leading US made systems such as AEGIS or Patriot PAC-3 missile systems. (Image: A view of the Barak 8, developed for shipborne defense as well as ground based air defense applications. Photo: IAI) Barak 8 missile utilizes a fully active seeker, the missile is not dependent on the launcher for targeting and guidance, and can perform at much longer ranges, offering effective protection from aerial threats, manned, unmanned as well as guided weapons. Covering both low and high altitudes, the missile is designed for operation on-board ships as well as for terrestrial applications. Barak 8 system is designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously with deadly effectiveness. The missile uses vertical launched missile is designed to offer 360 degrees protection, utilizing an advanced active radar seeker. The missile is equipped with a two-way datalink, supporting mid-course updating and terminal updating and validation. To extend its datalink and C3 coverage over a wide area, the system will integrate surface based radars and communications elements with airborne manned and unmanned elements, maximizing its operability and range over all types of terrain. MR-SAM is expected to streamline with the original Barak 8 schedule, adding about $300 million to the program development cost. In its decision last week the Indian Government earmarked a total funding of about Rs10,000 crore (about US$2.5 billion) for the medium range surface-to-air missiles (MR-SAM) project. The program will include the deployment of up to nine air defense squadrons. The MR-SAM development will be conducted under the bilateral agreement signed between the two countries, which will guide the scope of collaboration formulating between DRDO and IAI defined in a memorandum of agreement signed in New Delhi, June 2007. The Indian Air Force plans to re-equip nine air defense squadrons with the new missile, each including two batteries comprising a multi-mission radar system performing target acquisition and guidance, command-and-control element and three container-launchers each mounting eight missiles. Prime contractor for the program will be the Indian DRDO, with IAI missile and space group acting as leading subcontractor with IAI's Elta Systems providing the radar and Israel's RAFAEL producing the interceptor missiles. According to the bilateral agreement, the Indians will be able to locally produce and support the systems. Barak 8 is expected to be part of a new offensive and defensive system suite under development at IAI's Missiles and Space division. This new family of weapons will also comprise the latest generation Gabriel 5 anti-ship missile, an integrated combat management system and multi-function EL/M-2248 MF-STAR shipborne phased array radar system.

DTN News: US Wants More Nato Troops For New Afghanistan Surge

DTN News: US Wants More Nato Troops For New Afghanistan Surge *Source: DTN News / The Times By Michael Evans, Defence Editor (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, UK - November 11, 2009: President Obama is to ask members of Nato to provide up to 4,000 more troops to help to break the deadlock in Afghanistan. Mr Obama is poised to confirm a surge of more than 30,000 US combat troops, according to senior military sources. He will also urge the rest of Nato to provide thousands of soldiers to train new recruits to the Afghan National Army (ANA). Afghan soldiers are put through training exercises under the supervision of British troops at Ghar Ordoo military base in Herat, Herat province west of Kabul, Afghanistan. Foreign NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops across 42 countries are involved in training Afghan National Forces in the fight against the Taliban insurgency. His appeal is set to be largely ignored, however. At present only two Nato members have offered more troops — Britain and Turkey — and no other country is expected to come up with any, according to alliance sources. Such a response would threaten the credibility of the alliance in Afghanistan and represent a considerable snub for Mr Obama, who was viewed as a welcome change after the administration of President Bush. Nato military officials are to meet in Belgium on November 23 at a “force generation” conference in which each ally will be asked to contribute towards the expansion of the ANA, either by sending extra trainers or more money for the training programme. Mr Obama is expected to confirm that the campaign in Afghanistan needs another 40,000 troops, meeting the request made by General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Kabul, more than ten weeks ago, but that a proportion of the 40,000 — up to ten per cent — should be for other Nato countries to provide. Turkey is increasing its military presence from 720 soldiers to 1,488 having assumed responsibility for Nato’s International Security Assistance Force in Kabul on November 1. Britain has offered 500 more troops but their deployment depends on other Nato countries making similar pledges. According to military sources, the priority now is to get the balance right between providing combat troops and soldiers who can train Afghan recruits. The meeting in Belgium will give a clear indication whether the alliance is prepared to back Mr Obama with a surge in troop numbers. Nato defence ministers have already given their support to the new strategy for Afghanistan outlined by General McChrystal after his review of the campaign — with the emphasis on accelerating the expansion of the ANA as rapidly as possible. Under General McChrystal’s plan, the ANA would expand from its current strength of 94,000 troops to more than 134,000 by the end of next year.The ultimate goal is to double the size of the ANA to about 250,000.

DTN News: North And South Korea Have Naval Skirmish ~ Official Reports

DTN News: North And South Korea Have Naval Skirmish ~ Official Reports *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - November 11, 2009: North and South Korea have had a naval skirmish in Yellow Sea waters off their west coast, the South's Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.This undated photo released by the South Korea Navy on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 shows South Korean Navy patrol boats, the same type of South Korean boats that involved in a naval clash with a North Korean ship, engage in an exercise in the West Sea, South Korea. The two Koreas briefly exchanged naval fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, with a North Korean ship suffering heavy damage before retreating, South Korean military officials said. The agency did not immediately provide any additional details.A South Korean man watches a television screen showing file footage of South Korean sailors in a clash in 2002 with North Korea navy near the disputed waters off South Korea's west coast, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. The two Koreas briefly exchanged naval fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, with a North Korean ship suffering heavy damage before retreating, South Korean military officials said. The letters on the screen read " South Korean warship shot at a North Korean navy ship which crossed the disputed sea border." A Defence Ministry spokesman said it could not confirm the report at this time.

DTN News: Boeing Delivers First 777 To Guggenheim For Lease To Korean Air

DTN News: Boeing Delivers First 777 To Guggenheim For Lease To Korean Air *Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) SEATTLE - November 10, 2009: Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Guggenheim Aviation Partners recently celebrated the delivery of the leasing company's first 777, a 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplane that Guggenheim customer Korean Air will operate under lease. The 777-300ER is Guggenheim's first leasing arrangement with Korean, as well as the first new Boeing passenger airplane delivery to Guggenheim. The delivery is the 25th 777 for Korean. Guggenheim is scheduled to take delivery of an additional five 777s. The 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The airplane can seat up to 365 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). The 777 family is the world's most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Fifty-seven customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 777s. Guggenheim Aviation Partners is a leading participant in commercial aircraft leasing with offices in Seattle, London and Singapore. Korean Air, a premier global airline, has its headquarters in Seoul.