31st August 2008, 10:14 pm
August. 27, 2008
Sikorsky
HORSEHEADS, N.Y., Aug. 27, 2008 – Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation today successfully completed the first flight of its X2 TECHNOLOGY™ Demonstrator, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through hover, forward flight, and a hover turn, in a test flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
Sikorsky Chief Test Pilot Kevin Bredenbeck conducted the test flight at Sikorsky’s Schweizer Aircraft Corp. rapid-prototyping facility in Horseheads, N.Y. The milestone culminated more than four years of design, development and testing of the Demonstrator aircraft’s suite of technologies that are intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter.
Continue reading ‘Sikorsky’s X2 Technology Demonstrator Achieves First Flight’ »
31st August 2008, 01:43 am
August 2008
By Grace V. Jean
National Defense Magazine
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — The mobilization here shows no signs of slowing down. The demands for aerial surveillance in Iraq and Afghanistan grow by the day, and that means more Predators and pilots are needed.
To ease the crunch, the Air Force is rushing the production of new Predator unmanned aircraft and is expediting the training of hundreds of aviators here at the home of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing — established last year as the Air Force’s first unit dedicated solely to unmanned aerial systems.
Continue reading ‘Predator Ground Stations Need Redesign, Say Pilots’ »
30th August 2008, 07:20 pm
By VOA News through Military Spot
28 August 2008
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the Georgian crisis to benefit one of the presidential candidates, a claim the White House calls “patently false.”
In an interview with the television network CNN, Mr. Putin said Russian defense officials told him the United States encouraged Georgia to attack the breakaway region of South Ossetia. The Russian prime minister did not identify which presidential candidate he was referring to, and he offered no proof of his accusation.
A White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, called Mr. Putin’s claim “just not rational.” She said Russian defense officials are giving Mr. Putin bad advice.
Continue reading ‘US Rejects Putin’s Charges that Bush Administration Orchestrated Georgian Crisis’ »
30th August 2008, 07:16 pm
Reuters, Friday August 29 2008 (Adds comments from union leadership)
By Kyle Peterson
The Guardian
CHICAGO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Boeing Co’s largest labor union said on Friday it advised its members to reject the company’s final contract proposal and go forward with a strike next week that could cost the plane maker $3 billion a month.
“This company is not listening. They know what they need to do to come our way to make this an acceptable contract,” said Tom Wroblewski, president of Seattle’s District 751 for the International Association of Machinists (IAM).
“Overwhelmingly, our members are opposed to this contract.”
IAM members are due to vote on the contract on Sept. 3, when the current three-year deal expires. Without a new pact, the union could vote for its 27,000 IAM-represented employees to strike as early as Sept. 4.
The company can avert the job action by getting more than 34 percent of union members to ratify the offer, because a two- thirds majority of “no” votes is needed to start a strike. If there is no strike, the union would in effect accept Boeing’s last offer.
Continue reading ‘Boeing machinists union says members should strike’ »
30th August 2008, 06:19 pm
By BRADLEY BROOKS Associated Press Writer
Salon
Aug 29th, 2008 | RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazil will spend US$160 million by the end of next year on the development of a nuclear-propelled submarine to protect the oil reserves found recently off its coast, the defense minister said Friday.
The vessel — which officials hope to be complete by 2020 — would be the first nuclear-propelled submarine in Latin America. Brazil does not have nuclear weapons.
The submarine is the highlight of the Brazil’s new defense plan — to be made public on Sept. 7.
Continue reading ‘Brazil spending $160M on nuclear propelled sub’ »
30th August 2008, 03:18 am
Wed Aug 27, 11:18 PM ET
TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan has acquired 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles from the United States in a boost of its defence against rival China, the defence ministry here said Thursday.
The missiles will be used by the air force’s F-16 fighter jets, the ministry said, in a 90-million-dollar deal.
Continue reading ‘Taiwan acquires Harpoon anti-ship missiles’ »
30th August 2008, 12:19 am
by Martin Sieff
Washington (UPI) Aug 28, 2008
Space War
The effective use of decades-old Russian T-72 Main Battle Tanks in the brief Georgia conflict again shows how supposedly obsolete weapons can still play a potent and even decisive role in modern war.
The Russian army did not rely exclusively on its 30-year-old T-72s. State-of-the-art T-90 Main Battle Tanks were also identified during Russia’s brief but highly effective five-day drive into the former Soviet republic of Georgia from Aug. 8 to Aug 12. But the old T-72s, upgraded with explosive-reactive armor, were there too.
Continue reading ‘Russia: Packing A Punch With The T-72 Part One’ »
30th August 2008, 12:09 am
By BRYAN MITCHELL
Published: 27 Aug 15:52 EDT (19:52 GMT)
Defense News
Marines will soon fly in the first newly engineered Huey helicopter the U.S. Marine Corps has introduced in more than 35 years.
Known as the UH-1Y, the helicopter can fly faster, farther and ferry more troops and gear than older models, offering commanders more options when planning operations, according to program manager Col. Keith Burkholz. It will enhance the Corps’ ability to perform reconnaissance, provide secure escorts, scramble quick-reaction teams and place troops in hostile territory.
Continue reading ‘New Huey Cleared for USMC Deployment’ »
29th August 2008, 11:56 pm
Karyn Maughan
August 29 2008 at 08:05AM
Independent Online
The government’s exorbitant multibillion-rand arms deal has crippled the South African Navy.
And, according to one of the country’s leading arms deals experts, the navy does not even have the money “to fully or properly operate or support” the costly frigates or submarines that has devastated its budget.
The Mercury revealed on Thursday that the navy wants to spend billions more of taxpayers’ money on patrol ships, primarily because the hugely expensive corvettes they bought to monitor the country’s seas are not ready or up for the job.
According to a June 2008 Defence Force Legal Services staff paper for Chief of the Navy Vice-Adm Johannes Mudimu, the state’s controversial purchases - “which absorb most of the South African Navy’s financial resources” - have left the navy incapable of:
Continue reading ‘South Africa: Navy crippled by frigate purchase’ »
29th August 2008, 11:52 pm
Record-setting vessel set for N.H. commissioning
By Deborah McDermott
dmcdermott@seacoastonline.com
August 29, 2008 6:00 AM
Seacoastonline.com
GROTON, Conn. — It is one in a class of the most technologically advanced submarines of the United States — or any other — Navy, it was built ahead of schedule and under budget, and as was evidenced in full measure Thursday, it is the pride of both General Dynamics Electric Boat and its crew.
The submarine SSN-778, to officially be dubbed the USS New Hampshire, was officially handed over to the Navy during a ceremony at the dock of Electric Boat on Thursday morning after several weeks of sea trials in which it performed impeccably. Until the ceremony, the sub was still officially owned by Electric Boat.
After the ceremony, officers and crew proudly conducted a tour of the sub’s state-of-the-art control room, as well as its mess and torpedo rooms.
Continue reading ‘Submarine delivered to U.S. Navy’ »
28th August 2008, 01:05 am
25 Aug 2008, 0143 hrs IST,TNN
The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Impressed with the combat skills of IAF top-gun pilots flying Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, IL-78 mid-air refuellers and IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft, the US would like IAF to take part in the “Red Flag” wargames on a regular basis.
“IAF is a world-class air force, with great aircraft and great leadership. It’s a great training opportunity for USAF and IAF to integrate our assets in a training environment. We would like to have IAF here as a regular participant,” said Captain Marcus ‘Spike’ Wilson, leader of American F-15s and F-16s, during the ongoing exercise at Nellis US Air Force base in Nevada.
In its largest-ever overseas deployment, IAF’s six Sukhois, two IL-78 and one IL-76 aircraft, along with 247 personnel, are now in the final “run” phase of the Red Flag exercise, pitting their skills against American F-15s and F-16s, as also French Rafale fighters and South Korean F-15K jets.
Continue reading ‘India: US wants IAF to be part of wargames on regular basis’ »
27th August 2008, 07:36 pm
27/08/2008 - 16h56
da Folha Online
O presidente da Rússia, Dmitri Medvedev, viajou nesta quarta-feira para Duchambe, capital do Tadjiquistão, para participar da reunião da Organização de Cooperação de Xangai (SCO) que acontece amanhã (28). O intuito do líder russo é buscar, na Ásia, apoio para as ações que têm promovido na vizinha Geórgia, aliada dos Estados Unidos.
No começo de agosto, a Rússia invadiu a Geórgia para proteger a Ossétia do Sul, uma região separatista do país, de uma ofensiva militar georgiana. O conflito acabou graças a um acordo de paz mediado pela União Européia e pelos EUA. Ontem, Medvedev deu novo combustível à crise ao anunciar que o país reconhecia a autonomia da Ossétia do Sul e da Abkházia.
Continue reading ‘Rússia busca apoio de países asiáticos em conflito contra a Geórgia’ »
27th August 2008, 04:56 pm
27 August 2008
Domain-b
Mumbai: The United States and the Indian Navy are set to conduct complex air-to-air, under-sea and warship-to-warship manoeuvres as part of their recurrent ‘Malabar’ series of war games which will be conducted for a period of ten days, starting 15 October. Along with aircraft carriers and submarines, the war game, to be held in the Arabian Sea off India’s western seaboard, will also see participation by latest guided missile cruisers, destroyers and frigates as well as long range maritime F-18 and Jaguar fighters.
The United States Navy will field its most-powerful warships, led by the latest nuclear-powered super-carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, and nuclear submarine, USS Springfield. The Indian Navy will field an entire range of indigenously designed and built warships, led by the Delhi-class destroyer, INS Mumbai. Other warships will include Rajput-class missile destroyers, the stealth-featured INS Talwar and the somewhat older INS Godavari, INS Brahmaputra and INS Betwa-class frigates.
It will also field the SSK-class German designed submarine, INS Shishumar.
Continue reading ‘Malabar 2008 Indo-US naval exercises: US to field super carrier ‘Reagan’ and nuclear submarine’ »
27th August 2008, 04:25 pm
Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters, investigates the recent actions surrounding the US Air Force tanker challenge.
Date: 27 Aug 2008
Air Force Technology
Unless the Pentagon reverses course and changes its new draft guidelines for a $35bn competition for refuelling aircraft, Boeing may well file a protest against terms it considers unfair.
“The final decision to lodge a protest rests with Boeing’s chairman, but the dominant view in the company is that they must protest because the revised solicitation is unfair and they can’t win on these terms,” said defence analyst Loren Thompson of the Virginia-based Lexington Institute.
Continue reading ‘Boeing Mulling Over Protest in US Tanker Contest’ »
26th August 2008, 03:40 pm
Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:30pm EDT
By Denis Dyomkin
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia recognized two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states on Tuesday, escalating tension in the volatile Caucasus and putting Moscow on a collision course with the West.
Flanked by a Russian flag and a presidential banner, a somber President Dmitry Medvedev said Tbilisi’s desire to seize back Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force had killed all hopes for their peaceful co-existence in one state with Georgia.
“(Georgian President Mikheil) Saakashvili chose genocide to solve his political tasks,” Medvedev declared in a statement broadcast from his summer residence in the resort of Sochi.
“…The peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have more than once spoken in referenda supporting the independence of their republics. We understand that after what had happened…they have the right to decide their fate themselves.
Medvedev’s move came as Russian tanks and troops still occupied parts of Georgia after a brief war over South Ossetia earlier this month — the first time Moscow has sent troops into another country since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Continue reading ‘Russia recognizes Georgia rebel regions’ »
26th August 2008, 02:38 pm
Tehran Times
Iran has launched the production line of a new domestically-manufactured submarine in an attempt to boost its defensive capabilities.
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar inaugurated the production line of the new submarine Qaaem, on Monday.
Qaaem functions as a submarine capable of carrying and firing various torpedoes and subsurface missiles with a special operation crew onboard.
During the opening ceremony, the Iranian defense official said the Islamic Republic has become self-sufficient in manufacturing all types of military vessels.
Continue reading ‘Iran begins new submarine production’ »
22nd August 2008, 01:33 am
First time since WWII an Italian sub has crossed Atlantic
By Jennifer Grogan Published on 8/21/2008
The Day.com
Groton— The SMG Salvatore Todaro (S 526) arrived at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton Thursday morning, with the Italian flag flying from the sail and crewmembers standing on top of the ship to check out their new surroundings.
“Where else do you bring a sub but the submarine capital of the world,” Capt. Mark S. Ginda, base commanding officer, said, in explaining the reason for Todaro’s visit to Groton.
Continue reading ‘Italian submarine and crew visit Groton base’ »
21st August 2008, 11:22 pm
Aug 8, 2008 0:35 | Updated Aug 9, 2008 20:23
Jerusalem Post
By YAAKOV KATZ
If Russia goes through with the sale of its most advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Iran, Israel will use an electronic warfare device now under development to neutralize it and as a result present Russia as vulnerable to air infiltrations, a top defense official has told The Jerusalem Post.
The Russian system, called the S-300, is one of the most advanced multi-target anti-aircraft-missile systems in the world today and has a reported ability to track up to 100 targets simultaneously while engaging up to 12 at the same time. It has a range of about 200 kilometers and can hit targets at altitudes of 27,000 meters.
While Russia has denied that it sold the system to Iran, Teheran claimed last year that Moscow was preparing to equip the Islamic Republic with S-300 systems. Iran already has TOR-M1 surface-to-air missiles from Russia.
Mixed media reports have emerged recently regarding the possible delivery of the system to Iran. Two weeks ago Reuters quoted a senior Israeli official who said the system would be delivered to Iran by the end of the year. In response, the Pentagon released a statement rejecting the assessment and saying that the US did not believe Iran would get it in 2008.
Continue reading ‘Israel: ‘We’ll neutralize S-300 if they’re sold to Iran’’ »
21st August 2008, 02:53 am
August 20, 2008 by admin
Pakistan Defence
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has agreed to upgrade 42 Pakistani F-16 fighter jets.
Negotiations will be done later this year and then the contract for upgrading the F-16 fighter jets will be awarded to the Turkish company.
Continue reading ‘Turkish Aerospace Industries to upgrade 42 F-16 jets’ »
21st August 2008, 02:33 am
News Release
Raytheon
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., Aug. 5, 2008 /PRNewswire/ —
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft fired the newest variant of Raytheon Company’s (NYSE: RTN) Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile May 22 as part of developmental testing.
The AIM-120D AMRAAM passed well within lethal range of the QF-4 target drone. The missile destroyed the target and met all primary test objectives.
Continue reading ‘New AMRAAM Variant Destroys Target During Recent Test’ »