Saudi Arabia may buy three Aegis destroyers

Saudi Arabia may buy three Aegis destroyers with BMD capabilities and take options for three more.

defensenews

Philippines plans wide-ranging modernisation of air force

The Philippines could issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for advanced jet trainers, transport aircraft and helicopter modifications within the next 12 months.

The Philippines air force has identified several capability gaps that it hopes to fill in the coming years. Budgets have been approved for several acquisitions.

The highest profile acquisition planned is for 12 lead-in fighter trainer aircraft. Requirements for the type include radar, supersonic speed, and the ability to prosecute both ground and air targets - the latter with beyond visual range missiles.

The Korea Aerospace Industries F/A-50, Alenia Aermacchi M-346, Yakovlev Yak-130 and the BAE Systems Hawk fits requirements

flightglobal

New Chinese fighter conducts maiden flight

Images have emerged on Chinese defence sites that appear to show a new Chinese fighter aircraft in flight.
The flight was said to be the first conducted by the aircraft that is now being commonly referred to as the Shenyang J-31. Previous reports have variously given the aircraft's designation as the J-21, J-31 or F-60.
Images for the aircraft first appeared in mid-September 2012 and were said to be taken at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation airfield.
During the flight the J-31 was accompanied by a pair of Shenyang J-11 fighters. It seems to have conducted the ten minute flight with its landing gear in the lowered position.
Prior to its flight, it conducted a high speed taxi run and became briefly airborne.

flightglobal

La Armada española sólo cuenta con dos submarinos operativos

La crisis ha reducido a la mitad la flota de submarinos de la Armada, ya que después de que el 'Siroco' fuera dado de baja el pasado junio los presupuestos para el próximo año no contemplan la gran revisión a la que se tendría que someter el 'Tramontana' para continuar operativo.

De esta manera, España permanecerá sólo con dos submarinos disponibles a la espera de que se incorpore la nueva flota que está siendo construida por Navantia, un programa de más de 2.000 millones de euros.

La Armada espera que el primero de los nuevos submarinos, que ya está en avanzado estado de construcción en los astilleros de Navantia en Cartagena, esté operativo en 2016.

que.es

Indonesia, Germany to sign tank sale deal next month

Indonesia is to sign a 280-million-dollar deal with Germany for the purchase of 130 Leopard 2 battle tanks, the Indonesia Defence Ministry said Monday.

en.europeonline-magazine

PLA’s Last Q-5 Attack Aircraft Delivered

The Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Group Corporation Limited under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) held a final assembly and delivery ceremony of the last Q-5 attack aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on October 25, 2012.

defpro

First Ka-52K Choppers for Mistral Ships to be Built in 2013

The Russian Navy will receive the first batch of Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopters for Mistral class amphibious assault ships in 2013.

rian

Philippine Air Force Opens Bid for 21 Hueys

The Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to spend P1.26 billion to purchase 21 combat helicopters to give a much-needed boost to the Philippine Air Force.
In a notice posted on the DND website on Monday, October 29, the department said it intends to acquire the refurbished Bell UH-1 ("Huey") helicopters along with the corresponding logistics support package

defense-studies

Colombia tendrá aviones no tripulados y radar militar en el 2015

Colombia contará en 2015 con un radar militar en el departamento del Meta y fortalecerá la construcción de aviones no tripulados para las operaciones militares, que incluso tendrán aplicaciones civiles como la vigilancia y control de oleoductos.

podermilitar

Fuerza Aérea Mexicana reemplazará sus aviones de transporte IAI Arava

Los seis nuevos aviones de transporte Airbus Military C295M de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM) sustituirán a la antigua flota de diez Arava 101-A, de fabricación israelí, según confirmaron fuentes de la FAM al periódico La Prensa. La sustitución será efectiva en las próximas semanas y los Arava quedarán “fuera de vuelo”, de acuerdo con la publicación de mediados de octubre.

podermilitar

Venezuela, noveno importador mundial de ingeniería naval militar entre 2005 y 2012

Venezuela se posicionó como el noveno importador mundial de ingeniería naval militar en el período 2005-2012, según revela un informe elaborado por el por el Centro de Análisis del Comercio Mundial de Armas.

podermilitar

Nuevo avión presidencial de México costará 189 millones de dólares

Boeing y la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional de México (Sedena) habrían fijado en contrato el precio por 139 millones de dólares del nuevo avión presidencial, un Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

podermilitar

Militares españoles asesoran al Ministerio de Defensa de Perú en la reforma del sector

Una delegación de asesores militares españoles está coordinando una serie de planes con el Ministerio de Defensa de Perú para cooperar en la reforma del sector.

podermilitar

Perú pone en marcha sistema de control por satélite para lucha antidrogas

Perú, primer productor mundial de cocaína según Estados Unidos, puso en marcha el jueves una ley de control de insumos químicos para fiscalizar la comercialización de esos productos con sistemas satelitales, de cara a reforzar la lucha contra el narcotráfico, informó el gobierno.

podermilitar

Marina de Guerra del Perú desarrolla baterías de Defensa de Costas

Con ocasión de la jornada de puertas abiertas realizada este mes de octubre en la base naval de Callao, la Marina de Guerra del Perú (MGP) colocó en display un prototipo de batería de defensa costera integrada alrededor de un camión Volvo 380 enganchado a un tráiler de cama baja que en la parte trasera monta un par de contenedores de misiles antibuque Otomat Mk II. El tráiler ha sido modificado con cuatro soportes desplegables, colocados por pares en la parte delantera y trasera.

podermilitar

South Korea moves toward buying PAC-3

The South Korean military is pushing to buy the PAC-3 after studies found that the PAC-2 only has a 40 percent success rate in intercepting North Korean missiles.
yonhapnews

Sunday Times report details alleged IAF strike on Sudan arms factory

The British Sunday Times has published a detailed report on what it claims was an Israeli attack on an Iranian-run missile factory in Sudan last week.

haaretz

Russian air force procurement plans

Not long ago, the Russian Air Force was in really bad shape. Almost all of its planes were 20-25 years old, outdated, and in poor condition. It’s therefore not at all surprising that the State Armament Program made procurement of new aircraft a priority, with a total investment of 4 trillion rubles in that sector alone.

russiamil.wordpress

U.S. Army Prepares For Full-Rate AH-64E Production

The U.S. Army has officially designated the newest version of its Apache helicopter the E model, and service officials are planning to issue a contract to Boeing to begin full-rate production.

aviationweek

Japan says four Chinese ships in disputed waters

Four Chinese maritime surveillance ships were spotted in territorial waters around disputed Tokyo-controlled islands on Sunday, Japan's coastguard said.

spacewar

Lockheed Martin Initial Contract for Next Set of Missile Warning Satellites

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin an $82 million contract to begin initial work on the fifth and sixth geosynchronous (GEO) satellites in the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) missile warning constellation.

spacewar

Khartoum arms factory fire caused by airstrikes

An explosion and fire at a Sudanese munitions factory this week appears to have been caused by airstrikes, a US-based non-profit monitoring group said.
spacewar

North Korean missile threat to the U.S.

During a news conference at the Pentagon, on October 25, 2012 Leon Panetta spoke about the situation in North Korea and reported that North Korea have missiles that can reach the American mainland.

examiner

Britain rejects US request to use UK bases in nuclear standoff with Iran

Britain has rebuffed US pleas to use military bases in the UK to support the build-up of forces in the Gulf, citing secret legal advice which states that any pre-emptive strike on Iran could be in breach of international law.

The Guardian has been told that US diplomats have also lobbied for the use of British bases in Cyprus, and for permission to fly from US bases on Ascension Island in the Atlantic and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, both of which are British territories.

The US approaches are part of contingency planning over the nuclear standoff with Tehran, but British ministers have so far reacted coolly. They have pointed US officials to legal advice drafted by the attorney general's office which has been circulated to Downing Street, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence.

guardian

Chinook Wins Indian Heavy Copter Program

The US is now all set to bag yet another mega Indian defence deal, with the iconic
Boeing-manufactured Chinook heavy-lift helicopters emerging as the cheaper option than its strong contender the Russian Mi-26 choppers.

timesofindia

Blas de Lezo, el almirante español cojo, manco y tuerto que venció a Inglaterra

Valiente, honorable, buen estratega… muchos son los adjetivos que se pueden aplicar a grandes héroes como el almirante Nelson, cuyo nombre aún resuena en Gran Bretaña. Sin embargo, también son características de las que pudo presumir Blas de Lezo, un oficial tuerto, cojo y manco de la marina española que consiguió resistir el ataque de 195 navíos ingleses con apenas 6 barcos durante el Siglo XVIII.

Esta historia, digna de salir en cualquier película de la conocida saga «Piratas del Caribe», es una de las muchas en las que se ha demostrado la capacidad estratégica de la marina española de la época. Sin embargo, se suma a las docenas de hazañas que han caído en el olvido.
abc

Veterans mark 70th anniversary of El Alamein

Veterans of the Battle of El Alamein marked its 70th anniversary today at a special service at Westminster Abbey.
Some 40 British and Australian veterans, many of whom are in their 90s, were part of a 500-strong congregation honouring those who fought the battle which, as Churchill claimed at the time, marked “the end of the beginning” of the Second World War.

thetimes

Satellite pictures suggest Sudanese weapons factory hit by air strike

Satellite images of the aftermath of an explosion at a Sudanese weapons factory this past week suggest the site was hit in an air strike, a US monitoring group said Saturday.

guardian

Bulgaria plans to acquire new fighter jets in 2014

Bulgaria will seek to acquire eight new or used fighter jets for its air force in 2014, Defence Minister Anyu Angelov said Friday.

spacemart

Northrop Grumman Delivers New BACN-Equipped Global Hawk to USAF Ahead of Schedule

Northrop Grumman has delivered a Global Hawk unmanned aircraft to the U.S. Air Force carrying the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) - expanding airborne communications and information sharing among military units in harsh environments.

spacewar

Turkish Army inducts missile with 200-km range

Turkey has successfully completed development of a ground-to-ground missile with a range of 200 kilometers that has now entered the Army inventory.

news.az

US Army takes delivery of first OH-58F

The handover, on 24 October at Meridianville, Alabama, concludes the aircraft's build phase. Now the 1968-vintage aircraft will be fitted out with flight test instrumentation in readiness for the first flight, expected to take place in April 2013.

shephardmedia

U.S. Navy just two years away from arming warships with laser weapons capable of destroying incoming missiles and aircraft

The U.S. Navy is now just two years away from arming it’s ships with the first generation of ‘directed energy’ laser weapons.
The weapons are designed to track and fire on threats to a warship that could include anything from armed drones and small 'swarm' boats to incoming missiles and aircraft.


dailymail

Dutch Warship Destroys Somali Pirate Boat

Another Somali pirate boat goes up in flames as attacks hit a three-year low.
Somali pirates may not be as active as they once were off the coast of African waters, but they still pose a danger.
AK 47s are no match for the power of a Nato warship, as a group of alleged pirates learned today. Early Wednesday, the crew of the Dutch warship HNLMS Rotterdam, spotted a dhow close to the Somali shore. A boarding team on the Nato warship was dispatched to inspect the vessel because pirate crews often use dhows.

maritime-executive.com

Major Anglo-French Exercise Gets Underway in the Mediterranean

Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond and French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian witnessed the combined operations as part of Exercise Corsican Lion.
The aim is to further develop the maritime and land components of the newly formed UK/France Combined Joint Expeditionary Force.

mod.uk

Fourth Hypersonic X-51A To Fly In Mid-2013

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) plans to fly the fourth and final Boeing X-51A WaveRider hypersonic engine demonstrator in mid-2013.

aviationweek

USAF Youngest B-52 is 50 years-old

Boeing 50 years since the company delivered its last B-52 Stratofortress to the U.S. Air Force. H-model bomber 61-040 was assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., where it remains in active service.

boeing

Boeing Exec Predicts First International V-22 Osprey Sale Next Year

The Boeing Co. is anticipating opening up new international markets next year for both its CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopter and the V-22 Osprey.

nationaldefensemagazine

Killer Kamikaze "Switchblade" Drone Ready to Fly in Afghanistan

The Army’s Rapid Equipping Force has shipped the Lethal Miniature Aerial Munitions System (LMAMS)—otherwise known as the Switchblade UAV—to an Army unit in RC East, though the soldiers there are still waiting for the final go-ahead to begin using the small, lethal drone in combat.

blogs.defensenews.com

Italy Plans To Use Aster Against Ballistic Missiles

The Italian Army — as it readies its new Aster missile-based air defense capability — says it is looking to give the system a role in knocking out tactical ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.

defensenews

Successful first end to end firing of MBDA naval cruise missile (MdCN) in its submarine configuration

The French DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has successfully carried out the first end to end firing of the MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval or naval cruise missile) in its submarine version. This fourth development firing of the missile manufactured by MBDA took place from a platform representing a submerged submarine at the DGA’s Levant missile test center located in the Var region of southern France on 24th October 2012.

mbda-systems

Navantia starts the cut of steel for the first LCM-1E high speed landing craft for Australia

Navantia has celebrated last October the cut of steel of the first LCM-1E high speed landing craft, of a series of 12 that Navantia will build for the Royal Australian Navy, to be operating on board the ALHD Canberra and ALHD Adelaide

These units are identical to the LCM-1E high speed landing crafts built by Navantia and in service with the Spanish Navy since 2007 and 2008.

Each LCM-1E weights 110 tonnes. The first four will arrive in 2014, when the first of the new ALHDs becomes operational.

The main characteristics are:

- Lenght overall: 23.30 m
- Floatation length: 21.27 m
- Width: 6.40 m
- Depth: 2.80 m
- Propulsion: two 809 kW diesel engines, two waterjerts propellers.
- Speed: > 20 knots
- Autonomy: 190 miles at full load
navantia

Sudan accuses Israel of air raid

Israeli missiles struck a military factory and killed two people in the Sudanese capital on Wednesday, the government said, 18 months after alleging a similar raid by the Jewish state.

spacewar

The Liaoning offers strong backup force to maritime surveillance

The joint exercise in the East China Sea, which is aimed at improving coordination between the navy and administrative patrol vessels and safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, has already kicked off.

xinhuanet

Dutch independent think tank says F-35 testing should continue

The Netherlands should go ahead with participating in the F-35 fighter test programme because pulling out at this stage would incur substantial costs, a government think-tank said.
reuters

RoKAF’s last 737 AEW&C Peace Eye delivered

A fourth and final unit of the early warning aircraft Peace Eye has been delivered to South Korea's Air Force.

yonhapnews

Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky to offer mix fleet of MH-60R/S to India

Lockheed Martin Corp. said it may offer India a mixed helicopter offering as it competes for an order for more than $2 billion worth of maritime aircraft.

Lockheed, based in Bethesda, Maryland, and United Technologies Corp. (UTX)’s Sikorsky are trying to tempt India with an offering comprised of the more capable MH-60R helicopter to fight against ships coupled with the basic MH-60S to help lower costs, said George Barton, vice president for business development at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors. India is poised to formally kick off the competition for at least 75 naval helicopters.

businessweek

RAF Reaper drone squadron stood up at RAF Waddington

The creation of the RAF's first squadron of armed drone aircraft to be operated remotely from the UK will be officially marked on Friday.
RAF personnel currently fly five UK Reaper aircraft remotely from Creech Air Force Base, in Nevada, US.

bbc

Ceremonia de entrega a la Armada de la fragata "Cristóbal Colón" (F-105)

El miércoles pasado se celebró en el Arsenal Militar de Ferrol la ceremonia de puesta a disposición de la Armada de la fragata "Cristóbal Colón" (F-105).

buquesdeguerra

UAE Halts Talks to Buy French Rafale Fighter

The United Arab Emirates has halted negotiations with France to buy Rafale fighter jets.

4-traders.com

Ejército del Aire dice que vuelos en Cataluña son habituales de instrucción

El Ejército del Aire ha explicado hoy que los vuelos de aviones F-18 sobre Cataluña son los habituales de instrucción, dado que la base aérea de Zaragoza hace maniobras en el Mediterráneo y, por tanto, los aviones sobrevuelan Cataluña para ir y volver.

abc

El Ejército del Aire aboga por asumir la "acción aérea única del Estado

El jefe del Mando Aéreo General del Ejército del Aire, teniente general Fernando Lens Astray, ha abogado este martes por establecer una "acción aérea única del Estado", que contemple todos las misiones y medios de las diferentes Administraciones, y bajo coordinación y responsabilidad del Ejército del Aire, con el objetivo de evitar duplicidades.

europapress

Russian air force eyes L-410NG for training use

Russia's air force is interested in acquiring Aircraft Industries' modernised Let L-410NG as a multi-engined trainer suitable for crews of its future transport aircraft, the Czech company's parent UGMK said on 24 October.

flightglobal