May 13, 2005: The United States has agreed to sell Pakistan a new, and more capable model of the Harpoon anti-ship missile. The 40 air launched and 20 surface launched Harpoon missiles use GPS and more sensitive target detection systems to achieve better accuracy. The U.S. says these sixty missiles won’t change the balance of power in the region, where the Indian navy dominates the local waters. This new version of the 1,600 pound Harpoon entered service in 2002 and has a max range of 224 kilometers. The new version of the Harpoon is meant mainly for export.

quote:

Anyhow, as far as I know the 209 (1100 - 1400) are pretty old. It might be the most popular export-sales submarine in the world but still it doesnt deserve to be in service of a modern navy anymore. We started replacing them with the hybrid 212 . The 209 by now is faaar from being top notch and the potential to modify it is limited since the structure of the sub is not built of modern materials. All second class militaries already have one!

Really it doesn't matter how old the submarines are, it's South Africa, there aren't exactly a lot of major ASW threats to their subs from other African countries.

Cool photos from the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov

Very cool pictures, it looks like the overhaul is finally finished although the ship itself looks like it could use a few coats of new paint.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cubsrock,

The German Parliament on April 20 approved funding for the design-and-development phase of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), the contract for which is worth about $3.4 billion.

Germany’s partners in the MEADS program, the US and Italy, signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the for the design-and-development phase back in September 2004. The US has a 58% percent stake in the MEADS program, Germany 25%, and Italy 17%. Initial operational capability (IOC) of the MEADS in Germany and Italy is planned for 2012, while the US Army plans to attain IOC of the first US MEADS unit in 2014.

Germany had agreed in principle to the MoU in September 2004, but was formally unable to become a signatory until parliamentary approval was obtained. The MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA), the NATO activity overseeing the program, has already issued a contract for the design and development of the system, however, awarding it on Sept. 28, 2004, to consortium MEADS International (Orlando, FL) (see "$3B MEADS Development Contract Awarded").

http://www.edefenseonline.com/default.asp?func=article&aref=05_11_2005_IF_01

UAE Receives First Desert Falcons

by Brendan P. Rivers
May. 10, 2005

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated the delivery of its first 10 Lockheed Martin (Ft. Worth, TX) F-16E/F aircraft on May 3.

The first 10 aircraft were flown by UAE Air Force pilots who completed F-16 training in the US in April, and these F-16E/Fs are the first of 80 to be delivered under a $6.4-billion deal inked on March 5, 2000.

The F-16 Desert Falcon, also known as Block 60, aircraft for the UAE represent the latest generation of the F-16, with capabilities surpassing even the F-16s in service with the US Air Force (USAF). In addition to an all-new cockpit, avionics, and flight controls, the new aircraft is equipped with the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, MD) AN/APG-80 agile-beam radar and integrated forward-looking infrared (FLIR) targeting system (IFTS), along with the Falcon Edge Integrated Electronic Warfare Suite (IEWS), produced by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems' Defensive Systems Division (DSD) (Rolling Meadows, IL). The Falcon Edge IEWS is a derivative of DSD's Tactical Radar Electronic Combat System (TRECS), originally developed for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that features a brand new digital radar-warning receiver (RWR) and digitally based radio-frequency (RF) jammer (see "UAE [Finally] Picks F-16 EW Suite").

http://www.edefenseonline.com/default.asp?func=article&aref=05_10_2005_OM_01

Turkey Upgrading F-16 Fleet

by Brendan P. Rivers
May. 4, 2005

The Turkish and US governments signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) on April 26 for the $1.1-billion modernization of 117 Turkish Air Force F-16s. The upgrade will create a common avionics configuration for the service's fleet of F-16 Block 40 and 50 aircraft.

The deal will be conducted under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, with Lockheed Martin (Ft. Worth, TX) serving as principle contractor, although the actual modification of the aircraft will be performed by TUSAS Aerospace Industries (Ankara, Turkey).

Systems to be integrated on Turkey's F-16s include the AN/APG-69(V)9 radar that is currently being installed on new F-16 Advanced Block 50/52 aircraft, along with color cockpit displays, the Modular Mission Computer and new avionics processors, the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System, the Link 16 datalink, new identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) transponders, AN/AVS-9 night-vision goggles, and upgraded navigation systems. The aircraft will also be modified to accept new missile systems as well. In addition, all of the aircraft will receive the BAE Systems (Nashua, NH) AN/ALQ-178(V)5+ electronic-warfare (EW) system, mounted internally, with radar-warning and jamming capabilities for aircraft self-protection.

http://www.edefenseonline.com/default.asp?func=article&aref=05_04_2005_OM_01

Turkey sets deadline

Flight International
10 May 2005

Companies bidding to meet Turkey’s revived attack helicopter requirement have until 10 June to deliver information, according to the nation’s defence ministry.

Ankara last year cancelled its attack helicopter contest after five years, but now seeks to buy 50 aircraft and hold 41 options under a $1.5 billion project. AgustaWestland’s A129I Mangusta, Denel’s Rooivalk, Eurocopter’s Tiger and the Kamov Ka-50 and Mil Mi-28 promoted by Russia’s Rosoboronexport are expected to contest the requirement. The USA’s Bell Helicopter and Boeing are considering again offering their AH-1Z King Cobra AH-64 Apache designs.

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), which is part of the Ka-50 bid team, has meanwhile added the Hindustan Aeronautics-built Dhruv advanced light helicopter to a package on offer to the Turkish armed forces. Both aircraft are equipped with Israeli avionics.

I know that technically I should post this in the Surface Warfare forum, but I started this thread & I'm feeling pretty lazy today, so it's going here instead.

May 15, 2005: The U.S. Navy is suffering sticker shock. The next generation of aircraft carriers are going to cost over $10 billion each, which is three billion more than the last batch. The next generation of escort ships for the carriers, the DD(X), will cost over $1.5 billion each. This is the main reason the effort to build the navy up to a force of 300-350 ships won’t happen unless the mix of ships changes. The LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) costs only $250 million each, and costs only $14 million a year to operate. It costs $20 million a year for the DD(X). The navy doesn’t want to lose any more carriers, but the force has already shrunk from fifteen to twelve (since the 1990s), and may go down to ten before the end of the decade.

The American carriers are unique, no other nation has anything like them. Every other nation with carriers uses smaller ones that carry less than half the combat aircraft U.S. carriers haul. In fact, the majority of carrier aircraft in the world are American. The ability of American carriers to move quickly across the world’s oceans provides irreplaceable combat power. This was seen in Afghanistan, when the quick elimination of the Taliban government would not have been possible without those carriers. But a carrier task force costs nearly $20 billion to build new, and some $300 million a year to operate.

Another option the navy is talking about is cutting back on its fleet of amphibious ships. This has the marines in an uproar. The new amphibious ships, which are actually small carriers, cost over a billion dollars each, but make it possible for the marines to be first on the scene for a crises. Problem is, this capability has not been needed much. Someone apparently took a close look at past experience with the amphibious force and decided that lots of cuts could be tolerated.

While the lightweight (under 3,000 tons) LCS is popular, and a cheap way to get ship numbers up, the carrier force still have a huge fan club, and an impressive track record. Trouble is, the navy can’t afford to stop building everything else in order to maintain the carrier force.

quote:

Originally posted by cubsrock:
I thought that it might be a good idea to start a thread about militaries that aren't covered under other discussion areas, feel free to post any news about other countries militaries here.

More than anyone else, the originator of the thread should be the one most determined to keep it focused on the original topic.

Brazil to buy S. Korean trainer jets with weapons capability

2005-05-12 16:17:33
LINK


SEOUL, May 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Brazils' air force chief has proposed that South Korea export its supersonic trainer jets to the South American country after adding attack capability to the aircraft, South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted an official as saying Thursday.

Gen. Luis Carlos da Silva Bueno flew to Seoul on Saturday for an eight-day trip to discuss cooperation on defense-related industries between the two countries.

Bueno told South Korean Air Force officials that Brazil is willing to buy South Korea's T-50 trainer jets, if those are upgraded to F-50s, an aircraft that is equipped with both anti-ground and anti-air weapons systems, a top South Korean Air Force officer said, requesting anonymity.

South Korea's state-run Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the manufacturer of T-50s, is examining the proposal in a "positive" manner, the official said.

The T-50, dubbed Golden Eagle, is the world's only supersonic trainer jet under development by the KAI in a technology partnership with Lockheed Martin Co. The KAI will deliver 94 T-50sto its air force by 2011, starting from October this year.

The plane is equipped with a range of advanced systems to trainpilots in both current and next-generation combat aircraft.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:

quote:

Originally posted by cubsrock:
I thought that it might be a good idea to start a thread about militaries that aren't covered under other discussion areas, feel free to post any news about other countries militaries here.

More than anyone else, the originator of the thread should be the one most determined to keep it focused on the original topic.

Yes, well we all have our weak moments.

May 16, 2005: Who will be the big world powers twenty years from now? This is a tough prediction to make, mostly because in 20 years, many unexpected changes could take place. For example, two decades ago, the United States and Soviet Union were locked in a Cold War. Nobody expected that in five years from then, the Berlin Wall would fall and the Soviet Union would literally disintegrate. That said, there is an idea of who is emerging, and who is fading.

10. Brazil – This country is emerging as the dominant military and economic force in Latin America. It operates the only aircraft carrier outside the US Navy in the Western Hemisphere. Currently, Brazil is trying to build up its forces still more, and is pursuing a program to build a nuclear-powered attack submarine and could be pursuing nuclear weapons development as well.

9. South Korea – This country has an indigenous naval program that is quite solid, and one of the better armies in the world. The only thing holding it back is a reliance on foreign designs for aircraft, although it is manufacturing F-16s locally.

8. Germany – Despite reductions in the German defense budget after the end of the Cold War, this military has several quality systems (like the Leopard 2 main battle tank and the Type 212 submarine). Germany also has had a tradition of effective military forces (just ask the Romans).

7. Japan – This is a country which has, with one hand tied behind its back, developed the number two navy in the Pacific Rim, and arguably the second-best air force (tied with China). The only thing that holds Japan back is an apparent lack of desire. Things could rapidly change on that front, though.

6. Russia – This country has a lot of nukes, and a lot of bombers. While naval designs (like the Kirov-class battlecruisers and Oscar-class submarines) are good on paper, they still have quality issues, and accidents are not unheard of. Still, this is a country that has some advantages, and is no pushover.

5. France – Probably in better shape than what one would expect. This is largely because of the quality of the troops (due to career NCOs). Has remained self-sufficient in terms of producing major weapons systems (see the Rafale), and operates the only CVN outside the U.S. Navy (even though it has had problems).

4. China – This is a force that has quantity on its side, and is rapidly trying to improve its quality. Their air force will probably have the largest force of Su-27 fighters in the world (at least 580, compared to the 550 in Russian service). The Chinese navy is rapidly introducing new classed of destroyers and frigates that are close to the quality of American and Japanese surface combatants. That said, it is still behind, and the Chinese financial situation could go downhill rapidly.

3. UK – While small, this is a force that not only had a tradition of high quality, it has proven as recently as 1982 that it can operate half a world away and still accomplish a difficult mission. Sailor for sailor, there is no better navy than the Royal Navy.

2. India – Probably the most dynamic country in terms of the leaps. India is rapidly becoming self-sufficient in a number of areas, and what it cannot produce, it is able to buy. It also has some of the best training in the world, and can give an unsuspecting opponent a surprise. Probably the next superpower due to a more firm economic footing, and the fact that its Navy is much more advanced than China’s.

1. USA – Even while fighting a war on terrorism, the United States is pursuing new technology (such as UCAVs) to maintain an edge over any potential challenger. The forces are well-trained, and the United States Navy is still the most powerful in the world. The term superpower almost understates what the United States can do – it is arguably a hyperpower. – Harold C. Hutchison (hchutch@ix.netcom.com)

quote:

Who will be the big world powers twenty years from now?

Based solely on military capability...

1 - USA
2 - China
3 - Russia
4 - India
5 - UK
6 - Japan
7 - Australia
8 - France
9 - Germany
10- South Korea...(this could be a unified Korea by then, thus ranked even higher)

Others: Israel, Iran, North Korea (see #10), Pakistan and Taiwan

Bulgaria says it is offering the United States the use of three bases as the American military reorganizes and redeploys its forces based abroad.

Bulgarian news agency, BTA quotes Defense Minister Nikolai Svinarov as saying that the decision on the exact bases in question will follow discussions next week between a U.S. team and Bulgarian military authorities.

Earlier this year, the top commander of NATO forces in Europe, U.S. General James Jones, while visiting Bulgaria, mentioned five bases as being under consideration for use by American forces.

Bulgarian officials say they had offered the use of two airfields, at Ignatevo and Bezmer, a firing range, at Novo Selo and a naval base, at Atia to the U.S. military.

Bulgaria sees the bases as key to its effort to attract foreign investment and improve its stagnant economy. The United States is seeking small flexible bases for use in the struggle against terrorism.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

http://globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/05/mil-050514-voa01.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:

quote:

Who will be the big world powers twenty years from now?

Based solely on military capability...

1 - USA
2 - China
3 - Russia
4 - India
5 - UK
6 - Japan
7 - Australia
8 - France
9 - Germany
10- South Korea...(this could be a unified Korea by then, thus ranked even higher)

Others: Israel, Iran, North Korea (see #10), Pakistan and Taiwan

In general your list is good. But I think you are deadly wrong about Australia. You fully overestimate this country. Germany, which deserves to be at the end of this list, has at least 20 times the military budget of Australia. That is not one of my assumptions, that was a small google comparison I made.

quote:

In general your list is good. But I think you are deadly wrong about Australia. You fully overestimate this country. Germany, which deserves to be at the end of this list, has at least 20 times the military budget of Australia. That is not one of my assumptions, that was a small google comparison I made.

True, but we are talking about 20 years from now.

Republic of Singapore Navy Hosts IMDEX Asia 05 Ship Display

(Source: Singapore Ministry of Defence; issued May 16, 2005)

The RSN hosted a display today by 18 warships and two Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) at Changi Naval Base (CNB) as part of the programme for the International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia) 2005.

The warships were from Australia, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States. Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean visited some of the foreign warships. He also observed a demonstration of the Spartan USV.

The RSN and the US Navy are collaborating in the development of the Spartan USV, which can be configured for a variety of roles such as Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and Mine Countermeasure. The use of unmanned technology is an important component of the SAF’s transformation efforts. The RSN already operates the Protector USV, which was employed for force protection when the RSN deployed an LST to the Arabian Gulf for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both the Spartan and Protector USVs are being showcased at IMDEX Asia for the first time.

The RSN is also hosting the 10th Naval Platform Technology Seminar (NPTS) 2005 in conjunction with IMDEX Asia 2005. The theme of this two-day biennial seminar was "Transformational Technologies for the Future Navy". More than 800 technologists, academics and naval officers attended the seminar, which is a forum to encourage international research and sharing on the potential of future naval platform technologies.

The RSN will also be hosting three Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) events involving ships and personnel representing 19 WPNS navies. The participants this year include ships from Australia, Canada, France, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand, with personnel from navies of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and the United States. Besides the 3rd WPNS Multilateral Tactical Training Centre Exercise (MTTCEX), the RSN will also host the inaugural WPNS Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX) and the first WPNS Maritime Security Information Exchange Seminar. These WPNS events are useful avenues for building professional capacities, enhancing mutual understanding, and strengthening interoperability among WPNS navies.



Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV)

Unmanned systems technology is a key enabler in the transformation to the 3rd Generation SAF, and the RSN is exploring the capabilities of unmanned surface vessels (USV). USVs are controlled remotely from the mother ship and can perform a range of functions, including force protection, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare, depending on their configuration.

--PROTECTOR

The RSN has acquired a small number of Protector USVs, a commercial off-the-shelf system. The Protector was fielded to meet an operational requirement when the RSN deployed in the Arabian Gulf for Operation Iraqi Freedom recently. The Protector, being remotely controlled, offers enhanced surveillance, identification and interception capabilities while reducing risks to personnel in an operational environment.

Type: Unmanned Surface Vessel
Displacement : 4 tons
Dimensions : L 9.5m, W 3.5m, H 4.5m
Mini Typhoon Stabilised Gun
Toplite electro-optical pod
Water jet propulsion


--SPARTAN SCOUT

The RSN is also participating in a collaboration programme with the US Navy to develop the Spartan Scout USV and concepts for its operation. The Spartan Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) programme started in 2002. The Spartan USV is modular and can be configured for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Mine Countermeasure, Anti-surface Warfare, and Anti-Submarine Warfare roles. The RSN will commence testing the Spartan in local waters this year

Type: Unmanned Surface Vessel
Displacement : 2 tons
Dimensions : L 7.0m, W 3.0m, H 4.5m
Modular; can be configured for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, Mine Countermeasure or Anti-submarine Warfare

Georgia/Russia: Tbilisi, Moscow Continue To Negotiate On Bases
By Robert Parsons

The foreign ministers of Georgia and Russia said in Warsaw today that talks on the withdrawal of Russia's military bases from Georgia would resume soon. The two ministers are in Warsaw for a summit of the Council of Europe. Georgia's parliament had given Russia until 15 May to announce a date for withdrawal or face sanctions. There are signs though that the two sides may be moving toward a compromise.

Prague, 17 May 2005 (RFE/RL) -- For the moment, at least, the fist-waving is over. Georgia has pulled back from its threat to switch off the gas, electricity, and water supplies to the Russian bases. With an agreement apparently within reach, neither side wants to provoke another crisis.

The important thing now, said President Mikheil Saakashvili's spokesman, Gela Charkviani, is to continue talking.

"Of course, there is no final document or thoughts yet, but there has been some progress," Charkviani said. "Probably the correct thing now is to continue calmly. Of course, the Georgian parliament's resolution remains in force but, in parallel with this, the process of negotiations continues. And it is possible this process will bear fruit. Probably we can give this process the means to continue."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov appeared to suggest in Warsaw that his government had reached a decision to withdraw from the bases. The key, however, is when.

Georgia wants the troops all out by January 2008 at the latest. Russia has been calling for at least seven years, as well as significant financial compensation. But in Warsaw, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Yakovenko said Russia had presented Georgia with a compromise position of four years. Aleksei Malashenko is a political analyst at the Carnegie Endowment in Moscow. He suggested this is an offer Georgia would be wise to accept.

"In my opinion this is a reasonable time frame," Malashenko said. "There's nothing humiliating in this for Tbilisi, particularly as it has to be decided where to move the soldiers to and how to resettle them. According to some information, the creation of new bases on Russian territory will cost between $150 million and $300 million. It's really a big economic problem."

May be so, but Moscow should not look to Tbilisi for sympathy. Many independent observers also question why it should cost so much to move 3,000-4,000 troops. The problem, say the Georgians, has nothing to do with the mechanics and costs of moving the troops and everything to do with Russia's inability to reconcile itself to the loss of empire. Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili spoke to RFE/RL in Tbilisi just before her departure for Warsaw.

"They're still struggling with accepting reality, with accepting they're no longer an imperialistic superpower that was controlling with those means the countries around," Zurabishvili said. "It means they have not yet accepted that Georgia is fully independent. My own understanding is that I think they want to do it but they don't completely want to do it, so they're struggling with themselves. That's why it's so difficult and that's why the work of persuasion that others can do together with us is so important."

If Aleksei Malashenko is to be believed, the real hard work has already been done.

"Of course, some form of compromise will be found," Malashenko said. "In fact, I have the impression that one already has been found. One gets the feeling that at the summit of power in Moscow and Tbilisi they are quite relaxed about the situation. What's going on beneath them is a political game."

Political game or not, the issue of the Russian bases has soured Russian-Georgian relations for the better part of a decade. In that time, the geopolitical realities of the region have changed beyond recognition. Today, it is George Bush not Vladimir Putin who pays state visits to Georgia. It is U.S. troops who train the Georgian Army and American money that promises to revitalize the economy. And it is English -- not Russian -- that is being learned by the young. A Russian foreign policy for the region has been conspicuous only by its absence. The key, said Foreign Minister Zurabishvili, is for Russia to come to terms with its changed circumstances.

"In the end, the main thing is for them, and them at the highest level, to be convinced that this is not the beginning of the end, the beginning of another humiliation, but the beginning of a new life of equal -- never equal because they are so big, but of partnership with their neighbors," Zurabishvili said.

As Zurabishvili said, Georgia needs Russia as a friend, not a resentful neighbor. The simple truth of the matter is that it is Russia that is on Georgia's doorstep, not the United States or the European Union.

Georgia has to adjust to that; but in return it wants financial investment, not soldiers and weapons.

http://globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/
2005/05/mil-050517-rferl08.htm

May 18, 2005: The German firm Rheinmetall has introduced, with impressive sales success, a new, lightly armored, military vehicle. The Caracal is about the size of the American hummer, but comes with armor installed, as well as some protection from vehicle mines. The Caracals are thus heavy, weighing from six to eight tons, depending on options. Normally, five people can be seated. Britain and Italy have already placed orders, and other nations with peacekeeping obligations are also interested.