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Scooped by
Romain
March 13, 2013 7:14 AM
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Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the Defense Ministry are in talks over a deal for new Ilyushin Il-78 Midas aerial refueling tankers for the Russian Air Force, UAC said on Tuesday. The aerospace holding declined to say when a deal might be signed or on what terms. “Work is in progress to agree the terms…but until the contract is signed we are unable to make any comment,” a UAC press service representative told RIA Novosti, adding that the contract is part of the State Arms Procurement Program for the period to 2020. Some media reports in mid-February claimed the parties were close to signing a deal for 31 new Il-78 tankers. The ll-78 is a four-engine aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76 heavy transport aircraft. A modernized version of the Il-76MD-90A (also known as Il-476) will soon enter series production at the Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP plant. The new tankers would be based on the Il-76MD-90A, which has a new wing, more efficient engines, higher payload and a new cockpit with a smaller flight crew than the old Il-76, which is no longer in production. The Defense Ministry said last October it had signed a contract worth about 140 billion rubles ($4 billion) with UAC for the delivery of 39 Il-476 planes by 2020. Military Transport Aviation’s commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Benediktov later said the service would in fact buy 48 of the planes by 2020. The Russian Air Force operates 19 Il-78 tankers aircraft in the 203rd Guards Air Refueling Regiment, according to open sources
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Rescooped by
Romain
from Newsletter navale
March 13, 2013 7:01 AM
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The navies of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Iraq have signed an agreement to expand cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries. The agreement was signed on Tuesday by the IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi and Commander of the Iraqi Navy Vice Admiral Ali Hussain Ali.
The document calls for expanding cooperation among the two countries’ navies, arranging mutual visits for naval forces and holding joint drills.
Fadavi described the agreement as a beginning for more cooperation between the two countries in the north of the Persian Gulf region.
In recent years, Iran Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for Iranian merchant vessels and tankers.
In November 2012, Russia's Caspian Flotilla Commander Rear Admiral Sergei Alekminski called for closer cooperation between Iranian and Russian naval forces. He said a fleet of Russian ships and frigates would pay a visit to an Iranian port in 2013.
Iran Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said in February 2012 that the naval forces of a number of neighboring countries have expressed desire to send fleets to Iran and Tehran is ready to welcome them.
Iran Navy has also sent vessels to the Indian Ocean and dispatched two ships via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in February 2011.
The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured other nations, especially its neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.
Via Patrick H.
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Romain
from Newsletter navale
March 13, 2013 7:00 AM
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Le Government of Accountability Office, organisme américain indépendant publiant des études pour le Sénat, a rendu public un nouveau rapport concernant les coûts – exorbitants – du F-35 Joint Strike Fighter de Lockheed Martin.
Selon le document, le Pentagone devrait débourser 12,6 milliards de dollars par an en moyenne jusqu’en 2037, afin d’assurer le financement du F-35, le coût total du programme avoisinant actuellement les 400 milliards de dollars.
Présentation du rapport : What GAO Found The F-35 program achieved 7 of 10 key management objectives for 2012 and made substantial progress on one other. Two objectives on aircraft deliveries and a corrective management plan were not met. Also in 2012, the program conducted more developmental flight tests than planned and made considerable progress in addressing critical technical risks, such as the helmet-mounted display. With about one-third of development flight testing completed, much testing remains to demonstrate and verify F-35 performance. Software management practices are improved, but with significant challenges ahead as software integration and testing continue to lag behind plans. Manufacturing and supply processes are also improving--indicators such as factory throughput, labor efficiency, and quality measures are all positive. While initial F-35 production overran target costs and delivered aircraft late, the latest data shows labor hours decreasing and deliveries accelerating. The program is working through the continuing effects from its concurrent acquisition strategy that overlapped testing and manufacturing activities. For example, the program is continuing to incur substantial costs for rework to fix deficiencies discovered in testing, but the amount of rework needed on each aircraft is dropping. Going forward, ensuring affordability--the ability to acquire aircraft in quantity and to sustain them over the life cycle--is of paramount concern. With more austere budgets looming, F-35 acquisition funding requirements average $12.6 billion annually through 2037. The new F-35 acquisition baseline incorporates the Department of Defense's (DOD) positive restructuring actions taken since 2010, including more time and funding for development and deferred procurement of more than 400 aircraft to future years. These actions place the F-35 program on firmer footing, although aircraft will cost more and deliveries to warfighters will take longer. The program continues to incur financial risk from its plan to procure 289 aircraft for $57.8 billion before completing development flight testing. Meanwhile, the services are spending about $8 billion to extend the life of existing aircraft and to buy new ones to mitigate shortfalls due to F-35 delays.
Via Patrick H.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 13, 2013 5:59 AM
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Un Blackhawk de l'armée américaine s'est écrasé cette nuit, tuant les cinq occupants. Le dernier crash était intervenu
en août dernier, avec la mort de sept américains et quatre afghans.
Deux membres des forces spéciales US avaient été tués hier par un afghan. Avec sept morts, la journée d'hier est le pire bilan quotidien enregistré cette année en Afghanistan par les Etats-Unis, dont les pertes totales s'établissent à 12, depuis le 1er janvier, contre près de 300 en 2012.
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Romain
March 13, 2013 5:55 AM
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Accusée d'avoir été à l'origine des nombreuses attaques informatiques ayant visé des médias et des firmes aux États-Unis, la Chine a proposé d'ouvrir un dialogue constructif avec son grand rival afin de prévenir l'apparition de nouvelles agressions lancées via Internet. Les tensions persistantes et régulières entre les USA et la Chine dans le domaine de la sécurité informatique nécessitent un dialogue accru sur ce sujet plutôt que des coups de menton, qui participent en réalité à la dégradation du climat entre les deux pays. Cette discussion, la Chine se dit prête à l'engager. Une posture encourageante, mais qui ne met pas fin pour autant aux attaques provenant de l'Empire du Milieu. Cité par l'Associated Press, le ministre des Affaires étrangères Yang Jiechi a déclaré le cyberespace devait être encadré par des règles dont le but premier est justement d'empêcher qu'une guerre éclate entre États. "Nous nous opposons à faire du cyberespace un champ de bataille ou à utiliser Internet comme un outil pour interférer avec les affaires intérieures d'un pays". La Chine n'est officiellement pas mêlée aux attaques Le commentaire de Yang Jiechi se lit à deux niveaux. D'abord, il vise à rappeler la position officielle de la Chine. En matière de piratage informatique, le gouvernement n'autorise ni n'approuve la moindre initiative hostile. Autrement dit, les attaques localisées en Chine ne sont pas commanditées par le pouvoir ; elles sont l'œuvre de groupes ou d'individus isolés sans lien avec le PCC. En outre, ce n'est pas parce que des attaques proviennent de Chine qu'elles sont effectivement lancées par des Chinois, qu'ils soient reliés ou non au pouvoir central. Il est tout à fait envisageable, par exemple, que des ordinateurs chinois aient été infectés par une puissance étrangère, afin d'en faire des rampes de lancement pour de futures attaques. Facile, ensuite, de pointer la responsabilité de la Chine. La Chine veut tenir à distance l'influence occidentale Ensuite, la réaction du ministre est plus politique. La Chine connaît le rôle que peut jouer Internet dans l'émancipation des peuples. La Chine sait encore plus les efforts des Etats-Unis de se servir de ce vecteur comme d'un outil de politique étrangère. Washington cherche ainsi à compliquer les tentatives de censure des régimes autoritaires, en aidant l'opposition à échapper à la suveillance étatique. La Chine, de son côté, sait que la stabilité de son régime politique et le contrôle de la population dépendent en partie d'Internet. D'où les efforts du pays d'en garder une maîtrise complète tout en plaidant pour un code de bonne conduite à l'ONU et en œuvrant pour limiter l'influence des USA sur l'ICANN. Une coopération inévitable Les divergences entre la Chine et les États-Unis sur Internet en général et les cyber-attaques en particulier obligent néanmoins Washington et Pékin à discuter. Sans aller jusqu'à mettre un téléphone rouge entre les deux capitales sur ce sujet, les deux pays sont vraisemblablement condamnés à discuter pour limiter la casse éventuelle engendrée par leurs frictions continues. "La Chine est prête [...] à engager un dialogue constructif et une coopération dans ce domaine avec la communauté internationale, y compris les Etats-Unis, afin d'assurer la sécurité, l'ouverture et la paix sur Internet", a indiqué le porte-parole du ministère des affaires étrangères. "La sécurité d'Internet est un problème mondial [...] et la Chine est l'une des principales victimes du piratage".
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Scooped by
Romain
March 13, 2013 5:35 AM
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Kongsberg's developmental Joint Strike Missile (JSM) has been attached to a Lockheed MartinF-35 for the first time at the airframer's Fort Worth, Texas facility. Installed on 27 February as part of a "fit check" using one of the stealthy fighter's external weapons pylons, the munition will undergo a further test later this year to verify that it is also able to be carried within the F-35's internal weapons bay. Lockheed will conduct similar external trials on all three variants of the fighter, while internal fit checks of the JSM will be confined to the conventional take-off and landing F-35A ordered by Norway, says Norwegian F-35 programme director Anders Melheim.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 12, 2013 12:22 PM
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Le consortium Panavia vient de remporter un contrat pour la mise à niveau de la flotte d’avions de combat de l'armée de l'air italienne. Cet accord illustre l'engagement de toutes les parties, afin, d’assurer le soutien à long terme pour assurer la durabilité des aéronefs de type Tornado et les mises à niveau des capacités de celui-ci. La modernisation couvrira une modernisation sur trois ans, qui comprend, les essais en vol et les activités d'intégration des nouvelles armes ainsi que le logiciel associé. Cette mise à niveau de la flotte des Tornado italiens, implique l’ensemble des entreprises partenaires, dans le programme Panavia Tornado, soit Alenia-Aermacchi, Cassidian. L’objectif doit permettre à l’armée de l’air italienne de maintenir ses Tornado opérationnels jusqu’en 2025. La mise à jour : Cette mise à jour vise à l’intégration des bombes GBU-38 de 500 livres à guidage laser ainsi que la gamme de bombe à faible diamètre de type GBU-39 Small-Diameter Bomb (SDB) de 113 kilos, la bombe Raytheon GBU-24 E / B Enhanced Paveway III ainsi que l’intégration du missile Storm Shadow de MBDA système. Les Tornado italiens recevront également un nouveau système de communication UHF /VHF SATURN. Les appareils recevront une mise à jour du système de liaison électronique LInk16 avec un renforcement de la résistance au brouillage électronique à la transmission de données. Pour la reconnaissance tactique, les Tornado italiens recevront le pod de reconnaissance israélien électro-optique Rafael «RecceLite»
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Scooped by
Romain
March 12, 2013 11:42 AM
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Israel is to equip its air force's Eurocopter AS565SA "Atalef" helicopter pilots with advanced helmet-mounted sights, with a system selection expected to be made soon, after tests have been completed in various flight conditions.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 12, 2013 11:26 AM
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Indian defence minister AK Antony has confirmed that the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya will be commissioned in the last quarter of 2013. "The ship was put to sea for trials from June to September 2012," Antony said in a written reply to a question in parliament. "During the sea trials over 108 days, the main propulsion plant could not complete the 'full power trials' due to defects encountered on 'boiler furnace brickwork' at higher speeds." India originally ordered the warship, formerly the Soviet carrier Admiral Gorshkov, in 2004. Cost disputes delayed work on the ship, but in March 2010, New Delhi and Moscow agreed on a final $2.3 billion price tag. After the revised agreement, delivery was planned for 2012, but the propulsion problems encountered during the trials resulted in additional delays - the original delivery had been scheduled for 2008. In 2004, New Delhi ordered 12 single-seat RAC MiG-29Ks and four twin-seat RAC MiG-29KUBs to operate from the ship. All of these aircraft have been delivered, with the Indian navy pilots operating the type from land bases. In 2010, New Delhi also decided to obtain an additional 29 MiG-29Ks. Given China's increasing profile in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi's carrier capability has received considerable criticism in the Indian media this year. The country has just one carrier, the Viraat, a 50-year old ship that has just spent several months undergoing refits in the Cochin Shipyard. Formerly the HMS Hermes, the Viraat operates BAE Sea Harriers and helicopters.
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Romain
from Newsletter navale
March 12, 2013 6:46 AM
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MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Navy has begun setting up a permanent task force to defend Russia’s interests in the Mediterranean, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Monday. “The defense minister has ordered us to form a task force that will operate in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis,” Chirkov told reporters after a defense ministry meeting. “We have already started work on this task.” The move comes at a time of increased international tension in the eastern Mediterranean due to the worsening civil war in Syria. According to Chirkov, the issue has been discussed at the Navy's Main Headquarters, with the focus on logistics and training of commanding personnel. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier on Monday a decision to deploy a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean had been made. “I believe that we have the capability to form and maintain such a task force,” Shoigu said, citing the success of the recent large-scale naval drills carried out by the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean and Black seas. The exercises involved warships from the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets, strategic bombers and naval infantry. A high-ranking defense ministry source told RIA Novosti in the beginning of March that a proposed Russian permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea could consist of up to ten combat and auxiliary ships from three of the existing fleets. The task force may operate on a rotating basis and use ports in Cyprus, Montenegro, Greece and Syria as resupply points, the official added. The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron in that sea from 1967 until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy 6th Fleet during the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels at different times.
Via Patrick H.
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Rescooped by
Romain
from Newsletter navale
March 12, 2013 6:44 AM
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A la suite d’accusations de corruption à l’encontre de la compagnie italienne Finmeccanica, le ministère indien de la défense a décidé de suspendre la décision sur l’achat de 100 torpilles Black Shark — qui devaient être achetées à une filiale de Finmeccanica — destinées aux 6 sous-marins Scorpene. Le gouvernement indien n’a pas pris de décision sur l’achat de ces torpilles lourdes à longue portée. Elles sont fabriquées par Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei, une filiale de Finmeccanica. Pour obtenir un contrat pour des hélicoptères, de hauts responsables de Finmeccanica et de sa filiale britannique AgustaWestland sont soupçonnés de corruption. A la suite de ces allégations, le ministère indien de la défense a bloqué la livraison des hélicoptères et les paiements à la compagnie. A ce stade, on ignore ce que le ministère va faire pour les contrats négociés ou signés avec d’autres filiales du groupe Finmeccanica. Le ministre de la défense, A K Antony, a annoncé que le ministère avait reçu des plaintes sur ce contrat d’un concurrent et de parlementaires. Aucun nom n’a été cité. Un comité technique spécial a été constitué afin de revoir le processus d’évaluation et les plaintes. Référence : Deccan Herald (Inde)
Via Patrick H.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 12, 2013 6:03 AM
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he small Congolese Air Force is set to receive an ex-Botswana Defence Force (BDF) CASA CN235 transport aircraft.
CN235M-10 (cn C009, TN-228) was spotted undergoing a test flight at Lanseria International Airport earlier this year, according to the March edition of Air International magazine, which adds that the aircraft will soon be delivered to the Force Aérienne Congolaise (Congolese Air Force).
This is one of two ex-Botswana Defence Force Air Wing CN235s, which were retired after being replaced by new production CN235M-300s from December 2009. Botswana was the second African customer for the CN235 and received its two examples in 1987-88. The older aircraft were subsequently placed in storage at Lanseria. The other aircraft (cn C008, 5V-MBM) was spotted last year in Togolese Air Force markings.
Both CN235s are registered with Fayard Enterprises of Wake Forest, North Carolina. This company primarily provides skydiving operations with aircraft and aircraft maintenance services.
The CN235 is able to carry up to six tonnes of payload. Its two General Electric GE CT7-9C3 turboprop engines, each delivering 1 870 shp, give it a maximum cruise speed of 240 kt (450 km/h). Nearly 280 CN235s have been built for 43 operators in 28 countries around the world. CN235s have accumulated more than a million flight hours.
Congo-Brazzaville has a very small air force geared towards providing transport, especially to the president and government ministers, according to Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment. Janes adds that since 1997, the air force has “effectively ceased to exist as a viable and effective military organisation. Even before the civil war, most types had been withdrawn from service.”
The Congolese Air Force’s only combat capable aircraft are two ex-South African Air Force Mirage F1s acquired several years ago after being refurbished by the Paramount Group (the Air Force’s dozen MiG-21s are all grounded).
The Congolese Air Force has a motley collection of transport aircraft and helicopters. These include an An-12, five An-24s, one An-26, a Boeing 727, one Fokker F-28 and an N-2501 Noratlas, according to the IISS’s The Military Balance.
Only a few helicopters are in flying condition, including a Mi-26, AS 365 Dauphin, SA 316 Alouette III and SA 318 Alouette II. Other aircraft in the Congo’s inventory include four L-39 Albatros jets. A number of Mi-8/17s may also be in service.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 12, 2013 5:55 AM
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The Netherlands and Jordan have struck a €21 million deal that will see 60 surplus Cheetah air defence systems being transferred to the Jordanian armed forces. The agreement also includes the delivery of Cheetah spare parts, some 350,000 rounds of surplus ammunition and technical documentation. In addition, five Leopard 1 armoured recovery vehicles will be handed over to Jordan together with the hulls of 12 non-refurbished PRTL air defence systems and two Leopard 1 main battle tanks (MBT), which will be used for spare parts. Eleven Thales Nederland Flycatcher Mk1 mobile radar fire control systems and 22 40mm Bofors L/70 guns are also included in the deal. The Dutch Ministry of Defence will provide assistance with training and deliveries will commence in 2014. The Cheetah is the Dutch variant of the German Gepard twin 35mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) and is based on a slightly-modified Leopard 1 tank chassis. Produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the mobile air defence system is equipped with independent search and tracking radars, a search radar (S-band for the German vehicle and X-band for the Netherlands vehicle) installed at the rear of the turret, and a tracking radar (Ku band for the German vehicle and X/Ka band for the Netherlands) on the front of the turret. The Dutch MoD acquired five pre-production and 95 production PRTLs, the last of which was delivered in 1979. In 1995 it was decided to refurbish 60 PRTLs, the first of which was redelivered in 1998. The upgrade programme was a bilateral effort with the German army concurrently refurbishing 147 of their Gepards. The upgraded air defence gun was known as Cheetah in Dutch military service and its service life was planned to continue until 2015. However, due to a realignment of Dutch ground based air defence forces, the Cheetahs were withdrawn from service in 2007 and stored under the auspices of the Dutch Defence Material Organisation. Germany phased out its last Gepards in 2010. Romania received 43 former German army Gepards in 2004 and Chile bought 30 in 2008. The latter deal was later cancelled due to high overhaul costs. In late 2012, another 36 upgraded Gepards were sold to Brazil.
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Rescooped by
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from Newsletter navale
March 13, 2013 7:02 AM
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TAIPEI: Taiwan Tuesday confirmed it plans to study the feasibility of building a submarine fleet on its own in a move which suggests it is running out of patience over a long-stalled US offer to supply eight of the warships. The navy hopes to come up with an in-depth report in four years on items ranging from design and acquisition of equipment, to construction capabilities and product tests and evaluation, according to a defence ministry statement.The report will cost around Tw$140 million ($4.7 million) to be financed by a defence ministry-controlled fund, it said.“The move is a crucial sign showing that the navy has dropped the idea of purchasing submarines from the United States and decided to build them at home,” a naval source was quoted by the Liberty Times as saying. The paper said an initial naval evaluation report indicated that the island’s leading shipyard CSBC Corporation had acquired expertise to build the sophisticated warships. But Taiwan is still short of critical know-how on development of submarine fighting systems, sonars and torpedo launch tubes, it said. In April 2001, then US president George W. Bush approved the sale of eight conventional submarines as part of Washington’s most comprehensive arms package to the island since 1992. Since then, however, there has been little progress as the United States has not built conventional submarines for more than 40 years and Germany and Spain have reportedly declined to offer their designs for fear of offending China. The Taiwanese navy currently operates a fleet of four submarines, but only two of them, Dutch-built, could be deployed in the event of war. The other two were built by the United States in the 1940s. Tensions between Taiwan and China have eased markedly since President Ma Ying-jeou came to power on a platform of beefing up trade links and allowing more Chinese tourists to visit. Ma was re-elected in January 2012. But Taiwan, which has governed itself since 1949, still sees a need to modernise its armed forces because China regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. -- AFP
Via Patrick H.
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from Newsletter navale
March 13, 2013 7:00 AM
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Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $6,563,713 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-2000) for the procurement of four torpedo tube launched (TTL) Tomahawk Block IV all-up-round missiles for the government of the United Kingdom under the Foreign Military Sales Program.
The Tomahawk Block IV missile is capable of launch from surface ships equipped with the vertical launch system (VLS), submarines equipped with the capsule launch system (CLS), and submarines equipped with the TTL launch system.
Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (32.6 percent); Camden, Ark. (13 percent); Ogden, Utah (10.5 percent); Dallas, Tex. (3.5 percent); Minneapolis, Minn. (3.3 percent); Glenrothes, Scotland (3.3 percent); Spanish Fork, Utah (3.1 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (3 percent); Walled Lake, Mich. (2.6 percent); Anniston, Ala. (2.5 percent); Ft. Wayne, Ind. (2.3 percent); Ontario, Canada (2.2 percent); Vergennes, Vt. (2.1 percent); Berryville, Ark. (1.8 percent); Westminster, Colo. (1.6 percent); Largo, Fla. (1.5 percent); Middletown, Conn. (1.3 percent); Huntsville, Ala. (1.2 percent); Clearwater, Fla. (0.8 percent); Moorpark, Calif. (0.8 percent); El Monte, Calif. (0.6 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (0.6 percent); Farmington, N.M. (0.2 percent); and various continental U.S. (CONUS) and outside CONUS locations (5.6 percent); and is expected to be completed in February 2015.
Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount of $6,563,713 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.
Via Patrick H.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 13, 2013 6:01 AM
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'état-major des armées a annoncé que le 12 mars dernier, les deux derniers hélicoptères de manœuvre du DETHELICO ont quitté l’Afghanistan (photo EMA). Ils avaient effectué leur dernier vol le 24 février dernier. De 2006 à 2013, les 1 300 hommes du bataillon d’hélicoptères ont effectué plus de 5 000 missions dont près de 4 500 consacrées au combat ou au transport tactique. Pas moins de 23 000 obus de 30 mm, 870 roquettes et 60 missiles ont été consommés dans les opérations conduites ou pour détruire des véhicules suicides et des caches d’armes.
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Romain
March 13, 2013 5:58 AM
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Aéroport de Kaboul, 24 février 2013, 19h45 locales. «Kaboul ground , this is Roxana 67. - Roxana 67, go ahead. - Roxana 67, to shut down and leave... definitively !!!» À cet instant, l'émotion est grande au sein de l'équipage de l'EC 725 Caracal de l'armée de l'air ! Sur ces mots vient de se tourner une page longue de sept années de présence en Afghanistan. Une dernière mission qui s’ajoute à plus de 3400 autres. Au final, le bilan est éloquent : 3325 heures de vol réalisées et 229 Medevac (évacuation médicale). «First in, last out», l'escadron d’hélicoptères (EH) 1/67 «Pyrénées» a consolidé sur ce théâtre une expérience et une expertise tactique sans équivalent. Évoluant dans un environnement hostile et dans des conditions particulièrement difficiles (températures extrêmes, relief marqué, nuits très sombres), l'unité a démontré sans conteste son savoir-faire technique et sa bravoure. Présents lors des événements les plus marquants du théâtre (embuscade d'Uzbeen, bataille d'Alasay, etc...), les équipages ont également réalisé deux missions de recherche et sauvetage au combat suite à des accidents d'hélicoptères. Cet engagement opérationnel a été récompensé en novembre 2011 par l'attribution de la Croix de la Valeur Militaire au fanion de l'escadron. Ce ne sont pas moins de 250 hommes et femmes dont l’engagement et l’abnégation ont été exemplaires qui ont permis de réaliser ce bilan éloquent. À titre d'exemple, le chef de patrouille de cette ultime mission achève son 7e mandat sur le territoire, et à tout juste trente ans, totalise plus de 500 missions de guerre. Le mécanicien navigant, quant à lui, grièvement blessé sur ce même théâtre en 2009 a tenu à assurer ce dernier détachement après une rééducation longue et difficile.
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Scooped by
Romain
March 13, 2013 5:35 AM
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GE Marine has delivered one LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbine to Avio S.p.A. of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbine will power the French Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate Lorraine. The Italian-French FREMM program marks the first application in the marine sector of GE’s LM2500+G4 gas turbine, which has 17% more power than its LM2500+ predecessor. Through Avio, 18 LM2500+G4 gas turbines will provide propulsion for the current FREMM program, which includes six ships for the Italian Navy, 11 ships for the French Navy, and one ship for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Read more: http://www.asdnews.com/news-48080/GE_Delivers_LM2500+G4_Marine_Gas_Turbine_to_Avio_for_France_s_Lorraine_FREMM_Frigate.htm#ixzz2NPXBFNeo
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Scooped by
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March 13, 2013 5:31 AM
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Trois grands dauphins au service de la Marine ukrainienne, qui ont pris la fuite en février à Sébastopol lors d'exercices en mer Noire, auraient pu être attirés par une femelle sauvage de leur espèce, a déclaré mardi un expert des armes sous-marines de lutte antisubversive, Iouri Pliatchenko. "Il y a eu des cas de perte de contrôle des animaux amphibies pendant les années 1980. Si un mâle voyait une femelle pendant la saison des amours, il la suivait sans écouter les ordres de son maître. Mais il revenait une semaine plus tard", a indiqué M.Pliatchenko, ancien commandant d'un détachement des armes sous-marines de lutte antisubversive de la Flotte soviétique de la mer Noire. Des médias de Crimée (Ukraine) ont rapporté lundi que trois des cinq dauphins engagés dans les exercices en mer Noire n'avaient pas regagné leur base à Sébastopol le 24 février. Les recherches n'ont pas donné de résultats. Toutefois le ministère ukrainien de la Défense a démenti ces informations. D'ailleurs, le ministère n'a jusqu'ici jamais officiellement confirmé que la Marine ukrainienne disposait de "dauphins soldats" malgré la publication de photos de dauphins avec des équipements spéciaux sur leur dos par la presse locale. L'URSS a lancé un programme d'entraînement de dauphins au sein de la Marine en 1973 à Sébastopol. Les cétacés avaient pour tâche de repérer des armes et du matériel de combat au fond de la mer et d'attaquer les nageurs et navires ennemis avec des explosifs fixés sur la tête. Après la chute de l'Union soviétique et le partage de la Flotte de la mer Noire entre Moscou et Kiev, l'unité militaire chargée de l'entraînement des dauphins est passée à l'Ukraine. Par la suite, les cétacés ont également été utilisés dans le cadre du traitement d'enfants souffrant de maladies psychiques.
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March 12, 2013 11:43 AM
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Et de trois. Le 6 mars, le missile Aster Block 1 a démontré une nouvelle fois sa capacité à intercepter une cible représentative d'un missile balistique de courte portée (type Scud-B), lors d'un essai franco-italien mené au centre DGA Essais de missiles de Biscarrosse. A cette occasion, un missile Aster tiré par une batterie SAMP/T a intercepté avec succès la cible Black Sparrow tirée par un F-15 israélien parti de Cazaux (une configuration similaire à l'image ci-dessous), à l'issue d'une course balistique d'environ 300 km.
Deux essais similaires avaient déjà été menés, l'un en novembre 2011 et l'autre en octobre 2010. Afin de tester les capacités antibalistiques du SAMP/T, la DGA avait dès le départ commandé trois cibles Black Sparrow (ainsi que les services de mise en oeuvre associés) pour assurer d'éventuels échecs de tir, mais tous ont été couronnés de succès. Même si celui d'octobre 2010 n'avait pas abouti à la destruction de la cible par impact direct, l'Aster était en effet passé suffisamment près de l'objectif pour pouvoir considérer un coup au but.
En service en France et en Italie, le SAMP/T est "la pierre angulaire de la contribution de ces deux pays au programme Otan de protection des forces déployées contre la menace balistique", rappelle la DGA. Et l'avenir de l'Aster dépend justement du bon vouloir de ces deux pays, qui ne se sont toujours pas engagés sur le financement de l'Aster Block 1NT, une évolution censée améliorer les performances de l'Aster face à des missiles balistiques de plus longue portée grâce à un autodirecteur amélioré. Interrogée récemment sur ce programme, la DGA précisait que "les discussions se poursuivent avec l'Italie, partenaire sur le programme SAMP/T, et dans le cadre de la préparation de la future LPM". Le climat budgétaire ambiant ne facilite pas la prise de décision rapide sur le sujet. Et encore moins sur un hypothétique Aster Block 2, intercepteur antimissile encore plus performant qui permettrait de répondre à la demande de clients export potentiels (notamment dans le Golfe) qui, lentement mais sûrement, se tournent l'un après l'autre vers des solutions américaines.
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Romain
March 12, 2013 11:41 AM
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FORT WORTH, Texas, deux bonnes nouvelles concernant l’épineux dossier de l’avion F-35 « Lightning II » en ce début de semaine avec tout d’abord l’annonce de la sortie du second F-35A destiné aux Pays-Bas et l’arrivée premier F-35B depuis la nouvelle chaine de production de Lockheed-martin. Le second Lockheed- Martin F-35 Lightning II destiné aux Pays-Bas vient de sortir des installations de production.. Il s'agit de la dernière étape dans le processus de production qui conduira ensuite l’avion vers ses essais en vol au sein de la base aérienne d’Eglin AFB, en Floride cet été. Les Pays-Bas envisagent de se doter d’une flotte de F-35A à décollage et à l'atterrissage conventionnel (CTOL).Ce second appareil d’essais connu sous le nom AN-2 servira pour les tests de formation et d'exploitation pour les pilotes et la maintenance. L’AN-2 fera encore l'objet de contrôles du système de carburant avant de procéder aux essais au sol puis en vol plus tard cette année.
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March 12, 2013 11:24 AM
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Singapore is close to completing its evaluation of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which it sees as a possible fit for its future requirements. "Though the F-35 aircraft is still in development, we are nonetheless interested in the platform for our future needs," defence minister Ng Eng Hen said in a speech to parliament on 11 March. "The F-35 will be the vanguard of next generation fighter aircraft when operational." Ng added that the nation's force of Northrop F-5S fighters is at the end of its service life, and that its Lockheed F-16C/Ds are at their "mid-way mark". According to Flightglobal's World Air Force's directory, Singapore operates 26 F-5s and 60 F-16s. "For the longer term, the Republic of Singapore Air Force has identified the F-35 as a suitable aircraft to further modernise our fighter fleet," Ng added. "We are now in the final stages of evaluating the F-35." Nonetheless, he stopped short of committing to the type. "[The defence ministry] will have to be satisfied that this state-of-the-art multi-role fighter meets our long-term needs, is on track to be operationally capable and, most importantly, is a cost-effective platform," he said. "I've given many necessary caveats before we make a final decision, but we are evaluating the platform." Singapore is a security cooperation participant in the F-35 programme, which provides access to programme data and allows it to request special studies. Ng gave no sense about whether Singapore will hold a tender for new fighters, the number of new aircraft that will be obtained, or the timeframe for a new aircraft acquisition. One alternative to the F-35 could be additional Boeing F-15SG aircraft, of which Singapore operates 24. Another alternative could be an F-15 variant based on the F-15 Silent Eagle that Boeing has proposed in South Korea's F-X III competition.
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from Newsletter navale
March 12, 2013 6:45 AM
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SINGAPORE - Plans to enhance the fighting capabilities of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and tighten training safety were spelt out by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in the Budget debate yesterday. Here are some key highlights. New defence machines Mindef is in the "final stages" of evaluating the still-in-development F-35 jet to "modernise" the Republic of Singapore Air Force's fighter fleet, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. He said the jet has "the potential to be the most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft for decades to come". Mindef is also looking to replace its ageing Challenger-class submarines, which were built in the 1960s.
Via Patrick H.
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March 12, 2013 6:03 AM
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24 sous-marins et 54 navires de surface supplémentaires équiperont la Marine russe avant la fin de l'année 2020, a déclaré lundi le ministre russe de la Défense Sergueï Choïgou. "En application du programme national d'armement pour la période de 2011-2020, la Marine recevra huit croiseurs sous-marins lance-missiles, 16 sous-marins polyvalents et 54 navires de surface de différentes classes", a précisé le ministre. Selon lui, le renouvellement du parc de navires de guerre est crucial pour le développement de la Marine. "Toutefois, il impossible de préserver le potentiel de combat de la Marine, si le niveau d'entretien technique n'est pas réalisé au niveau requis", a poursuivi M.Choïgou. Le chef du département militaire a souligné que depuis 2011, l'entretien des bâtiments et navires de guerre russes était régi par un contrat de trois ans conclu avec le Consortium unifié de constructions navales.
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March 12, 2013 5:57 AM
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Washington has expressed an interest in supplying Greece with naval support aircraft just days after discussions between Athens and French officials about a possible deal. Kathimerini understands that the USA is prepared to supply four Lockheed P3-Orion surveillance aircraft for free or a symbolic fee as long as the Hellenic Navy is prepared to agree a refurbishment deal with Lockheed Martin that would cost approximately 250 million dollars (190 million euros), payable over five years. US sources said that it would cost about 150 million dollars each if these aircraft were bought new.
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