F-22 fighters allowed back in the air: US Air Force

The US Air Force said Monday its fleet of F-22 fighter jets will be allowed back in the air after officials grounded the planes over concerns about the aircraft's oxygen system.

The F-22 Raptors, the most advanced combat aircraft in the world, were barred from flying for four months, a highly unusual move that reflected serious worries over safety.

"We now have enough insight from recent studies and investigations that a return to flight is prudent and appropriate," Air Force chief of staff General Norton Schwartz said in a statement.

"We're managing the risks with our aircrews, and we're continuing to study the F-22's oxygen systems and collect data to improve its performance," said.

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US suggests it will supply Taiwan with F-16 upgrades

A senior US administration official all but confirmed reports that the United States will help Taiwan upgrade its 145 US-made F-16 A/B fighter jets.

The official, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity on Monday, could not confirm the information until Congress is notified of the administration's decision, which the official said will happen "Wednesday afternoon."

The official sought to clarify leaked reports about the F-16s after saying "something got lost in translation" amid suggestions that Washington was caving in to a powerful China.

"Assuming the decision is to upgrade F-16 A/Bs, they will provide essentially the same quality as new F-16 C/D aircraft at a far cheaper price," the senior US official said.

"And Taiwan would stand to get 145 A/Bs versus only 66 C/Ds and we're obviously prepared to consider further sales in the future," the official said.

There were renewed calls for the US to help Taipei update its fleet last week after two Vietnam War-era jets crashed, killing all three pilots.

A US congressional source said Friday that Washington has decided not to sell Taiwan F-16 C/D, the improved version of F-16 A/B now serving the Taiwanese air force, for fear of upsetting Beijing.

But the source said Washington will help Taipei upgrade what the source said is 146 US-made F-16 A/Bs to the F-16 C/D levels.

Taipei applied in 2007 to buy 66 F-16 C/D fighters, which have better radars and more powerful weapon systems, in response to China's growing military muscle.

Washington recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei but remains a leading arms supplier to the island.

Ties between China and Taiwan have improved since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on promises of ramping up trade links and allowing in more Chinese tourists.

But Beijing has refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan even though the island has ruled itself for more than six decades since their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

The US official sought to counter any impression Washington was going soft on supplying Taiwan with weapons.

"First the US is profoundly committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and that commitment remains unwavering. Second, the scale and pace of defense article sales to Taiwan over the last two years is unprecedented," the official said.

"Weapons sales to Taiwan since 2009 will be greater than in the previous four years and they will be double the sales that occurred between 2004 and 2008."

US Air Force vows to spare F-35 from budget cuts

The US Air Force vowed Monday to "protect" costly weapons programs despite budget pressures, saying the country needed the F-35 fighter jet, a long-range bomber and other aircraft.

While acknowledging the need for reductions to the defense budget, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley proceeded to list several big ticket programs that were not up for negotiation.

"There are certain capabilities we will protect. We will apply best military judgment to oppose reductions that would cause irreparable harm," Donley told retired members of the Air Force in a speech.

The firm line taken by Donley comes as the Pentagon seeks to fend off possible deep budget reductions by lawmakers. Congress has to find a way to trim the country's deficit by a November 23 deadline or else automatic cuts will be triggered that could derail the Pentagon's budget plans.

With an aging fleet of fighter planes, it was crucial to build the next generation combat aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to ensure US air superiority, Donley said.

"With a fighter fleet now averaging 22 years old and with two decades of declining fighter force structure, modernizing our aging and smaller fighter force depends on the fifth generation capabilities of the Joint Strike Fighter," Donley said.

"Simply put, there is no alternative to the F-35 program. It must succeed," he said of the aircraft, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays.

The F-35 has come under growing scrutiny amid speculation that the Pentagon may be forced to downsize the program, including possibly eliminating a version of the plane designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings.

The civilian head of the Air Force also argued for maintaining funds for a planned long-range bomber, space satellites, nuclear forces, unmanned robotic aircraft and benefits promised to service members when they joined.

Donley said that budget reductions would require the Air Force to accept "greater risk in some areas, terminate some lower priority programs, streamline others," but did not provide details.

In his speech to the Air Force Association, Donley also said that within 10 years the force could be "potentially smaller than in previous decades" but did not offer an estimate.

Chinese sub logs new depth milestone

A Chinese submersible conducted the country's deepest manned dive Tuesday in the latest technical milestone for China, which theoretically puts most of the ocean floor's vast resources within its reach.

The Jiaolong undersea craft -- named after a mythical sea dragon -- reached 5,057 metres (16,591 feet) below sea level in a test dive in international waters of the northeastern Pacific, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Though less than half as deep as a record 1960 dive by the US Navy, the achievement highlights a Chinese push to catch up with advanced nations in space, sea, and polar exploration, which has revealed fast-growing technical capabilities.

This campaign has been exemplified by a space programme that in 2003 made China just the third nation to conduct manned space flight.

Wasp Prepares for Joint Strike Fighter

The crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) is preparing the ship to become the first at-sea test platform for the U.S. Navy’s test variant of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Recently, four members of Wasp’s Air Department traveled to one of the Navy’s premier test facilities at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to help give them a good idea of what WASP can expect when testing begins. The group consisted of Cmdr. Stephen McKone, Wasp’s Air Boss; Lt. Michael Curcio, Wasp’s Aircraft Handling Officer and F-35B Ship Integration Project Officer; Ens. Maguel Brooks, Wasp’s Air Bos’n; and Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) Richard McCray.

First Euro Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System Touches Down in Germany

Euro Hawk, the first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), signals intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk produced by Northrop Grumman for the German Bundeswehr, successfully touched down in Manching, Germany, today.

The Euro Hawk took off on July 20 at 2:50 PDT (11:50 Central European Summer Time) from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and landed at 10:06 Central European Summer Time July 21 in Manching Air Base.

The Euro Hawk will carry a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) and integrated in Manching, Germany.

Russia's enters Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter

Russia's Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter has been placed on a short list of a South Korean tender for the delivery of advanced fighter jets, a Russian arms industry think-tank said on Monday.

Korea is seeking to buy 60 fighters with advanced stealth capability from a foreign aircraft maker in the biggest arms-procurement deal ever for the country with an estimated budget of $7.86 billion under a program code-named FX-III.

Russia's Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade cited South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as saying that Sukhoi's fighter would compete with the F-15SE Silent Eagle from Boeing, the F-35 Lightning II from Lockheed Martin and the Eurofighter Typhoon from the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

Multi-national maritime exercise involving the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate

BAB EL MANDEB STRAIT (BNS): A multi-national maritime exercise involving the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate, two Turkish naval vessels and French Mirage fighters has concluded in the Gulf of Aden.

Commanded by the RAN’s seventh Anzac class frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, exercise ‘Scimitar Exocet’ held between July 22 and 23, was aimed at contributing to maritime security in the Bab El Mandeb Strait in the Middle East.

Pak to add more nuclear-capable missiles to its arsenal

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan plans to add 24 nuclear-capable, short-range missiles to its arsenal this year, reflecting an urge in the security establishment to seek "strategic parity in the region", according to a media report Monday.

This will be the highest number of missiles Pakistan has ever produced in a year if the government achieves the target; The Express Tribune newspaper quoted its sources as saying.

IAF pushes for opening of aircraft bids to replace MIG 21s

NEW DELHI (PTI): Keen on getting 126 combat aircraft as early as possible, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is pushing for the commercial bids of the two contenders – Eurofighter and Dassault – to be opened before the end of this month.

“We are pushing the Defence Ministry to open the bids of these two companies by the end of this month,” a senior IAF official told PTI.

After the opening of the commercial bids, the Defence Ministry will work out the L-1 (lowest bidder) in the tender on the basis of the life cycle cost of operating the two aircraft.

India successfully test-fires short-range Prahaar missile

CHANDIPUR–ON-SEA, ORISSA (PTI): India Thursday successfully carried out the first test-firing of its latest surface-to-surface quick reaction tactical missile `Prahaar', which has a range of 150 kms.

Prahaar is capable of carrying different types of warheads and will be operated by the Army as a battle field support system.

"The test-firing was conducted successfully at 0820 hours Thursday. Prahaar with a capability to strike targets at 150 kms, comparable to ATACMS missile of the United States, fills the vital gap between multi barrel rockets and medium range ballistic missiles," DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said.

Indian Navy's new frigate to be fitted with BRAHMOS

NEW DELHI (PTI): India will get a new frigate within six to eight months from Russia that will be equipped with the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system.

"During his visit to Russia, Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma reviewed the progress of the Talwar Class follow-on warships, under construction at the Yantar shipyard there and was reassured that the first ship 'Teg' would commence trials shortly and be delivered in six to eight months," the Navy said in a release here.

Atlantis makes historic final landing

WASHINGTON (BNS): Bringing a glorious and highly successful era to an end, NASA's space shuttle Atlantis on Thursday touched down at Kennedy Space Center's Runway 15, after completing its 13-day long final space mission.

It was the 25th night landing, the 78th landing at Kennedy and the 133rd landing in shuttle history.

Atlantis' main gear touched down at 5:57 a.m. (EDT) followed by the nose gear at 5:57:20 and wheels stop at 5:57:54 a.m. At wheels stop, the mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds, according to a NASA press statement.

Small Tanker Cum Utility Ships (STUS) MADADGAR and RASADGAR were commissioned, PNS ALAMGIR was formally inducted in the PN fleet

PN Ships RASADGAR, MADADGAR & ALAMGIR.

PNS RASADGAR

PNS ALAMGIR was formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet during an impressive ceremony held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard on July 19th 2011.

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir in a group photograph with Naval officials at Pakistan Navy Dockyard as PN Ships MADADGAR and RASADGAR; the Small Tanker Cum Utility Ships (STUS) have been commissioned and PNS ALAMGIR formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet during an impressive ceremony.

Russian Navy to receive new air defense system

The Russian Navy will soon receive a new ship-based gun/missile air defense system, KBP Instrument Design Bureau, the developer of the system, said on Monday.

The system, dubbed Pantsyr-M, has been developed on the basis of the land-based Pantsyr-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound).

"Pantsyr-M will replace the Kortik air defense systems and will be installed on all new classes of Russian combat ships, from corvettes to cruisers," said Alexander Zhukov, a senior KBP official.

First F-35 arrives at Eglin Air Force Base

See The Department of Defense's first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter touched down at its new home here July 14, marking a major milestone in the nation's military history.
Upon arrival, the jet officially became part of the Air Force inventory. It now belongs to the JSF training unit, the 33rd Fighter Wing.
Flying it in was Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th Fighter Squadron, the first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot.
"It was a smooth ride in," said the colonel of the hour and 40 minute flight. "The jet behaved awesomely. I'm just so proud to bring it home to Eglin (Air Force Base)."
A crowd of 33rd FW people braved the 90 degree heat to watch the fifth-generation fighter touchdown and taxi in. Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd FW commander, was the first to greet his pilot upon arrival.

Pakistan drone crashes near oil refinery: navy

A Pakistani surveillance navy drone crashed near an oil refinery after hitting a bird on a routine flight, coming down in the country's largest city of Karachi on Tuesday, the navy said.

"A Pakistan Navy UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) crashed after a bird hit it. It fell near an oil refinery and there was no (other) damage," navy spokesman Commodore Irfan Ul Haq told AFP in Islamabad.

Fellow navy spokesman Commander Salman Ali told AFP that there were no casualties and that the drone had been on a surveillance flight when a bird flew into the aircraft and it came down in the Karachi suburbs.

UH-60M Blackhawk Helicopters for Thailand

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Tuesday of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Thailand for three UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $235 million.

The Government of Thailand has requested a possible sale of three UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters, eight T700-GE-701D Engines (six installed and two spares), Dual MXF-4027 VHF/UHF-AM/FM communication radios, AN/ARC-201E Export SINCGARS Airborne Radio, AN/AXP-117 CXP (Common Digital IFF Transponder), government furnished equipment, engineering change proposals, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, Aviation Mission Planning Station, Transportable Blackhawk Operations Simulator (TBOS), U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, aircraft warranty, Air Worthiness Release Support, Repair and Return Support, and other related elements of logistics support.

Two STUS and frigate join PN fleet

KARACHI: PN ships Madadgar and Rasadgar, the Small Tanker cum Utility Ships (STUS) have been commissioned and PNS Alamgir formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet during an impressive ceremony held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard here on Tuesday.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir graced the occasion as chief guest while the ceremony was also attended by officials from Ministry of Defence (MoD), Flag Officers from Pakistan Navy, senior management of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) and other distinguished guests.

France and India Look to deepen defence ties

The Indian government's long-delayed green light to French defence majors Dassault and Thales to undertake the Mirage-2000 combat fighter upgrade is yet another indicator of New Delhi forging stronger strategic links with Paris. 

Over the last decade, French defence vendors have bagged, or are the leading contenders to win a number lucrative Indian arms contracts, including the $11-billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft tender for 126 aircrafts for the Indian Air Force, and the estimated $2.4-billion Mirage-2000 upgrade. 

Eurofighter optimistic to win India's MMRCA contract

LONDON (PTI): As India prepares to open the commercial bids for the USD 10.8 billion tender for 126 medium range multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), Eurofighter hopes to make the country a partner in its Typhoon fighter jet programme which it says would be a game-changer.

"We are offering India to become a full participant in the programme...fully or partially whatever India chooses to do...get involved in future developments. Combat aircraft programme never stops. It will operate over decades," said Peter Maute, Senior Vice-President of Cassidian Air Systems, the security and defence company of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).

China launched latest amphibious warship

BEIJING (BNS): The Chinese Navy has launched its largest amphibious warship ‘Jinggangshan’ in Shanghai, according to media reports.

The vessel is the second Type 071 dock landing ship and has been built by the Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard. 

The warship was officially launched in Shanghai, the official China Daily said Tuesday quoting media reports. 

Pak Navy inducts guided missile frigate

 ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan's Navy has inducted a guided missile frigate provided by the US into its fleet, besides commissioning two small tanker-cum-utility ships.

The frigate PNS Alamgir and the small tanker-cum-utility ships PN Madadgar and PN Rasadgar were commissioned and inducted during a ceremony at the Karachi naval dockyard Tuesday.

PNS Alamgir, which was formerly the USS McInerney, is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate.

Irkut to supply 40 Su-30 fighters to Russian Air Force

Russia's Irkut aircraft holding is in talks with the Defense Ministry on the delivery of up to 40 Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighters to the Russian Air Force, the company said on Monday.

"We will sign a contract with the Defense Ministry next year," Irkut President Alexei Fyodorov said. 

The contract stipulates the initial delivery of 28 fighter jets and the supply of an additional 12 aircraft as an option.

The Su-30 Flanker-C is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. Russia currently operates four of these fighter jets.

Additional RAF Tornados for Operations Over Libya

 The Ministry of Defence has announced that, in the coming days, the UK will deploy an additional four RAF Tornado GR4s to Gioia del Colle air base in Italy, primarily in the reconnaissance role to further support operations over Libya.

The aircraft are in addition to 12 RAF Tornados already deployed at Gioia del Colle. This latest deployment is intended to bolster NATO's reconnaissance capability. Equipped with RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado) pods, RAF Tornados can provide extremely detailed reconnaissance imagery over large areas.

The deployment will have no effect on operations in Afghanistan.

In an update on Libya operations, Major General Nick Pope, the Chief of the Defence Staff's Communications Officer, said:

Three US ships in Vietnam for joint exercise

DANANG, VIETNAM (AP): Three US Navy ships were welcomed by former foe Vietnam for joint training, despite China's irritation following weeks of fiery exchanges between the communist neighbours over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

US and Vietnamese officials have stressed that the seven-day ship visit and naval training are part of routine exchanges planned long before tensions began flaring between China and Vietnam in late May. China has criticized the port call as inappropriate, saying it should have been rescheduled due to the ongoing squabble.

Navy orders submarine weapon control unit spares

The South African Navy is buying unspecified weapon control unit spare parts for its fleet of three Heroine-class Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarines (SSK). The deal, worth R5 826 188.24, was awarded to Cybicom Atlas Defence last week and follows a number of other spares orders for the subsurface fleet in recent months. 

This includes the procurement of optronic “submarines depot spares” from Carl Zeiss Optronics worth R3.9 million last month and the acquisition of spare pneumatic cam switching devices worth R1.3 million from Siemens Ltd in May.  


Source : http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17239:navy-orders-submarine-weapon-control-unit-spares-&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106

India approves $2.4 bn French Mirage jet upgrade

India has approved a $2.4-billion proposal from French defence groups to upgrade its fleet of 51 ageing Mirage fighter jets, a military source said on Thursday.

"The defence secretary has agreed to the proposal put forward by French defence majors Dassault and Thales and (European group) MBDA for the Mirage-2000 retrofit," the source in the Indian Air Force (IAF) told AFP.

The upgrade is expected to include advanced navigation systems, mission computers, electronic warfare systems and radars.

Indian Navy decommissions oldest ship 'INS Sharabh'

PORT BLAIR (PTI): The oldest commissioned ship of the Indian Navy, a landing ship tanker, 'Sharabh', was given a fond farewell after 35 years of service with a guard of honour and the naval band playing the Last Post.

The National Flag, Naval Ensign and the Decommissioning Pennant were hauled down for the last time at sunset symbolising the end of her service to the country, Indian Navy Public Relation Officer of Andaman & Nicobar Command Lt Commander Mannu Virk told to PTI.

Australia receives three new Super Hornets

BRISBANE (BNS): The Australian Air Force on Friday received three new US-made F/A-18F Super Hornets, bringing the total number of such fighters in its fleet to 18.

The fourth batch of Boeing-made fighters, worth over 175 million AU dollars, landed at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley in Queensland.

Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, while welcoming the new planes said, “The Super Hornet gives the Royal Australian Air Force the capability to conduct air-to-air combat; to strike targets on land and at sea; to suppress enemy air defences; and to conduct reconnaissance.”

German patrol boat offer to Angola sparks criticism

Germany said it was ready to sell patrol boats to Angola to boost links with the resource-rich country, sparking parliamentary criticism against Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.

On a visit to the southwest African country, Merkel offered industrial cooperation as well as six to eight coast guard vessels, saying the ships could be used for securing borders of a country that plays a role in regional stability.

"Germany is ready for for an energy and raw materials partnership," Merkel said after meeting Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in the capital Luanda.

Piracy attacks bigger, bolder, more violent - IMB report

Piracy attacks on the world's shipping rose by a third in the first half of this year and became increasingly violent, with pirates using machineguns, grenade launchers and other weapons, a maritime watchdog said in a report released today.

Despite the increase of such attacks off Somalia in the Horn of Africa, where piracy is rampant, and other areas, successful hijackings were down, in large part due to massive patrolling by naval fleets, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said.


"In the last six months, Somali pirates attacked more vessels than ever before and they're taking higher risks," IMB director Pottengal Mukundan said in a statement.

India to Modernise Mirage 2000 Fighter Aircraft Fleet

Indian MoD approves $2.4 billion upgrade contract for Dassault, Thales and MBDA

With another recently approved multi-billion dollar defence contract, India is giving its armed forces modernisation efforts a significant push. According to AFP, Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar approved the offer by leading French defence companies Dassault and Thales, as well as by the European MBDA group, to upgrade India’s ageing fleet of Mirage 2000 ‘Vajra’ fighter aircraft at a cost of some $2.4 billion. 

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Boeing EA-18G Growlers Complete 1st Combat Deployment

Boeing EA-18G Growlers operated by U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron VAQ-132 safely returned to their home base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., on July 9, after completing an eight-month deployment that included combat operations in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility.

During the deployment, VAQ-132’s personnel and aircraft supported CENTCOM operations in Iraq before quickly transitioning to AFRICOM to conduct operations supporting NATO in Libya.

Indian Navy commissions FAC INS Koswari

VISAKHAPATNAM (PTI): Aiming at extending its coastal and offshore surveillance and patrol, the Indian Navy has commissioned indigenously built Fast Attack Craft (FAC) in a function held at the eastern naval command here.

Designed and built by state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, INS Koswari is a highly manoeuvrable craft and ideally suited for deployment along the coast, a defence release said.

India approves proposals for French firms to upgrade IAF fleet

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian government has cleared proposals worth over $3 billion for upgrading the fleet of 51 Mirage 2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

As per the proposals, French firms Dassault and Thales will upgrade the aircraft, which will add 20-25 years to the life of the Mirages, inducted by the IAF in the mid-80s.

"The proposals related to upgrade of the Mirage 2000 were cleared by a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)," a defence ministry official said Wednesday.

Eurofighter Typhoon to Display Agile Multi-Role Capability at RIAT 2011

The Eurofighter Typhoon will be making a rare demonstration of its unrivaled agility and engine power with a full weapon load air display at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) from the 15th to 17th July at RAF Fairford. 

BAE Systems Chief Test Pilot for Combat Air, Mark Bowman, will fly a Warton based development aircraft (IPA 5) on each day of the show and a full scale replica of the aircraft, including full weapon display, will be available for general public access.

Indonesia-South Korea KFX Cooperation: The Second-Best Option?

Indonesia and South Korea are getting ready to sign an MoU on the joint-development of a KFX fighter jet program (dubbed Boramae) later this year, following a letter of intent in March 2009 on Indonesian participation in a KFX study. When enacted, the MOU will provide a breakthrough for both countries in terms of bilateral defense collaboration and aircraft technology indigenization.

The defense community and members of parliament believe that the cooperation will help the revitalization of the Indonesian defense industry. MPs urged the government to conduct a feasibility test before embarking on a US$2 billion venture that spans across an eight-year period. It is expected from the collaboration that five prototypes will be built before 2020.

China testing new aircraft carrier killer-missile

BEIJING (PTI): China's ambitious new long range ballistic missile with a range of 2,700 km dubbed as carrier-killer is undergoing tests, a top military official has said.

Chen Bingde, chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff acknowledged that China is developing Dongfeng-21D with an ability to strike moving targets - including aircraft carriers - at sea.

First Boeing 787 Dreamliner lands at IGI airport

NEW DELHI (PTI): The first ultra long-haul passenger jet with a capacity to fly about 250 passengers’ non-stop up to 16,000 km touched down at the IGI airport here Wednesday.

As the Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at the airport from Dwarka side and taxied to the parking bay, it was given a water-cannon salute, airport sources said.

While Air India has ordered 27 of these planes, Jet Airways has placed orders for ten of them. The aircraft would enable them to mount direct non-stop flights to North America or Australia.

IAF upgrading Patriot missile defense system

Upgrades will include the installation of new software as well as hardware changes to the radar system that accompanies the system.

The air force has approved a set of upgrades for its Patriot missile Defence system that will boost its interception capabilities, IAF sources say.
The upgrades will include the installation of new software as well as hardware changes to the radar system that accompanies the system, which Israel first received from the United States ahead of the First Gulf War in 1991.
The upgrades will enable the IAF to one day receive PAC-3 missiles, a more advanced version of the interceptor currently used by Israel that is already in service in the United States.

Nigerian Air Force reintroduces four Alpha Jets into service

The Nigerian Air Force has finished upgrading four of its 24 Alpha Jet trainers and will soon return them to service.

The Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF’s) Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, said that the jets were reactivated in an effort to ensure combat readiness. The Nigerian Air Force has over the last several years been upgrading and modernising its equipment, much of which has been or remains inoperable. It is not yet clear if the NAF will upgrade its other 20 Alpha Jets.

Umar was speaking at a two-day logistics conference entitled, “Enhancing the existing logistics management system for efficient NAF air operations”, held at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos, last week.

Thai Air Force inducts Gripen fighters

BANGKOK (BNS): The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has officially declared its new air defence system consisting of six Gripen fighters and a Saab 340 Erieye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) operational during a ceremony at its Wing 7 base in Surat Thani.

Thailand received six Gripen C/D multi-role fighters from Swedish firm Saab in February this year under a 2008 contract.