Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China

Vietnam is in talks with European and U.S. contractors to buy fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and unarmed drones, as it looks to beef up its aerial defenses in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters.
The battle-hardened country has already taken possession of three Russian-built Kilo-attack submarines and has three more on order. Upgrading its air force would give Vietnam one of the most potent militaries in Southeast Asia.
The previously unreported aircraft discussions have involved Swedish defense contractor Saab, Eurofighter, and U.S. firms Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing,.
Vietnam has ordered about a dozen more Russian Sukhoi Su-30 front-line fighters to supplement a fleet of older Su-27s and Su-30s.
Vietnam had held talks over the Typhoon warplane made by Eurofighter as well as the F/A-50 light fighter jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed.
Lockheed had discussed its Sea Hercules, the maritime patrol version of its C-130 transport plane.
Boeing wanted to sell its maritime surveillance aircraft P-8 Poseidon.
Vietnam has already started moving slowly away from Russia in recent years, buying Canadian Twin Otter amphibious planes and Airbus C-212 maritime patrol aircraft for its coastguard and Airbus C-295 transport planes.
Airbus Defence had been in talks to offer maritime patrol and airborne early warning systems on the C-295.
reuters

Francia gana concurso y suministrará dos portahelicópteros a Rusia/ Russia, France to build two Mistral helicopters together

Los gabinetes presidenciales de Rusia y Francia han anunciado que un consorcio franco ruso formado por la DCNS y la Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation, construirán dos portahelicópteros para la Armada Rusa basados en la clase Mistral de Francia. Dos buques más se construirán en el futuro.
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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday, the Kremlin said. The presidents exchanged New Year greetings.
The two presidential administrations made a joint statement, which reads, “Russian President Dmitry Medvedev informed French President Nicolas Sarkozy that a consortium of the French company DCNS and the Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation won an international tender for the delivery of two helicopter ships to the Russian Defense Ministry announced on October 5.”
Two helicopter ships will be built jointly at first, and another two will be built in the future, the statement said.
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Rusia no se plantea la construcción de nuevos portaaviones/ Russia axes plans for new carriers

Un alto mando de las Fuerzas Armadas de Rusia ha anunciado que de momento no existen fondos para construir nuevos portaaviones, tal y como había promentido el Kremlin en fechas recientes, aunque si se empezaría la fase de diseño.
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A top Russian commander conceded Friday that Moscow lacked the funds to deploy a powerful new armada of aircraft carriers as promised by the Kremlin.
“The state armaments programme for 2011-2020 does not envision the construction of aircraft carriers,” an unnamed senior official in Russia's Defence Ministry told the Interfax news agency.
He said current funding plans allowed the military to come up with new designs but not proceed with actual construction.
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Rusia necesita 150 misiles balísiticos Bulava antes de 2020/ Russia to produce 150 Bulava missiles before 2020

Russia necesitará mas de 150 misiles balísticos Bulava antes de 2020 para dotar a los nuevos ocho submarinos clase Borey.
Actualmente no se dispone de esa capacidad, por lo que deberá reforzarse.
El desarrollo del Bulava ha estado lleno de problemas, aunque al parecer en el último lanzamiento se han solventado.
El misil fue lanzado desde el submarino Dmitry Donskoy desde el Mar Negro, alcanzando su blanco en el área de Kura, Kamchatka, en el lejano oriente ruso.
El Bulava (SS-NX-30), es un misil de tres etapas, de alcance intercontinental, con combustible sólido y líquido, diseñado par ser lanzado desde submarinos, y que ha sufrido siete fallos en trece lanzamientos.
Para 2010 se esperan dos pruebas más: una desde el submarino Dmitry Donskoy y otra desde el nuevo submarino Yury Dolgoruky de la clase Borey.
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Russia will need to build more than 150 Bulava ballistic missiles in the next decade, an expert on the Russian arms industry said on Friday.
Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, told RIA Novosti that at least 124 missiles would be required for the eight Borey class nuclear-powered submarines that will enter service over the next decade, and a further 30 or 40 will have to be set aside for test launches.
In order to reach that goal, the capacities of the only plant producing Bulava missiles, near the town of Votkinsk in the Urals, will have to be increased, he said.
The development of the Bulava has been beset by problems, but the latest test launch was successful.
The missile, which was fired from the Dmitry Donskoy submarine in the White Sea on October 7, hit its designated target in the Kura test range in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka region.
The Bulava (SS-NX-30), a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), has officially suffered seven failures in 13 tests.
Test launches were put on hold after a failed launch on December 9, 2009, which was caused by a defective engine nozzle.
Two more test launches are planned before the end of the year: one from the Dmitry Donskoy sub, and the other from Russia's newest strategic nuclear-powered submarine, the Borey class Yury Dolgoruky.
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Comienzan las pruebas del caza naval SU-33D/A Russia's Sukhoi begins Su-33 Flanker-D trials

El Su-33 Flanker-D, avión diseñado para portaaviones, ha comenzado las pruebas en tierra y en vuelo. Deriva del Su-27K Flanker, diseñado a finales de los ochenta.
Los trabajos se realizan en el lejano oriente ruso, en la ciudad de Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
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The Su-33 Flanker-D, a carrier-based warplane has begun ground and flight trials.
The Su-33 Flanker-D is a carrier-based warplane, originally known as the Su-27K Flanker, which first rolled off the production line in the late 1980s.
Modernization works and trials are being carried out in the Russian Far Eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a statement from Sukhoi said.
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Los buques franceses clase Mistrial vendidos a Rusia, portarán helicópteros KA-52/French warships for Russia may be armed with Ka-52 helicopters

Los helicópteros de fabricación rusa Ka-52 Alligator podrían equipar a los buques clase Mistral que Rusia pretende comprar a Francia.
Rusia negocia la compra de un buque clase Mistral de asalto anfibio, y la construcción local de tres mas.
(ria novosti)
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Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters may be the best choice to arm Mistral helicopter carriers, which Russia plans to purchase from France, the chief of Russian helicopter holding said.
Russia negotiates the purchase of at least one Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, worth 400-500 million euros (around $530-$660 million) and plans to build three more vessels of the same class in partnership with a French naval shipbuilder.
The director of the Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation in April told RIA Novosti the political decision on the Mistral's purchase had already been taken.
(ria novosti)

Rusia y Francia firmarán contrato por buques "Mistral" a finales de 2010/Russia: Mistral Deal To Be Signed By End Of 2010

Rusia espera firmar el contrato para la compra a Francia de cuatro buques clase Mistral a finales de 2010 según fuentes oficiales han confirmado a la agencia estatal de noticias rusa RIA-Novosti. Se espera comprar una unidad directamente de Francia, siendo los otros tres buques construídos en astilleros rusos.
Esta venta está siendo controvertida. Los países vecinos de Rusia, en particular Georgia y los países bálticos, además de congresistas norteamericanos, han protestado ante Francia por la venta de tecnología Militar a Rusia.
(www.defensenews.com)
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Russia has decided at a political level to buy a French Mistral-class warship and expects to sign the deal by the end of 2010 as told officales to the RIA-Novosti state news agency.
RIA-Novosti reported that Russia wanted to buy one finished vessel from France and then construct three more itself.
The sale has proved controversial among Russia's neighbors, particularly Georgia and the Baltic states, while some U.S. lawmakers have condemned France for selling military technology to Moscow.
(www.defensenews.com)

Rusia envía el crucero Moskva al Océano Índico/Russia sends additional missile cruiser to Indian Ocean

El crucero lanzamisiles Moskva ha sido enviado a un despliegue de larga duración, que culminará con ejercicios en el Océano Índico. El buque insignia de la Flota del Mar Negro, se unirá a otros buques ya presentes en la zona, como el crucero nuclear lanzamisiles Pyotr Veliky, de la Flota del Norte. El Moskva tiene entre la tripulación del buque algunos infantes de marina y realizará varias escalas en el Océano Índico. El Moskva es un buque de la clase Slava, cuya misión es de ataque y con algunas capacidades antiaéreas. El buque porta 16 misiles antibuque SS-N-12 Sandbox.
Rusia anunció en 2007 su intención de incrementar su presencia naval en el mundo, aunque no se actualmente el número desplegado es escaso.
Rusia desarrolla una misión antipiratería en la zona de Somalia.
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The Moskva missile cruiser will set sail on Friday on a long-range tour of duty, which will culminate with exercises in the Indian Ocean, a Navy official said.
The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet will join other Russian warships in the region, including the Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser, which left Russia's Northern Fleet headquarters of Severomorsk on March 31.
"During the tour of duty, the Moskva cruiser will cross the Mediterranean, pass through the Suez Canal and conduct joint exercises with warships from other Russian fleets, including from the Northern Fleet, in theIndian Ocean," a spokesman for the Black Sea Fleet said.
The cruiser, which has a compliment of naval infantry on board, will also make several port calls in the Indian Ocean.
The Moskva is a Slava-class missile cruiser designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-aircraft and ASW capability.
The ship has 16 SS-N-12 Sandbox supersonic anti-ship missiles, mounted in four pairs on each side.
Russia announced in 2007 that it was building up its naval presence in the world's oceans. Once one the world's most powerful navies, Russia now has few ships regularly deployed.
A Russian Pacific Fleet task force, comprising an Udaloy class missile destroyer, Marshal Shaposhnikov, a salvage tug and a tanker, is currently on an anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast.

Rusia modernizará portaaviones Kuznetsov/Moscow set to upgrade Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier

El buque insignia de la flota rusa, el Kuznetsov, el único portaaviones en servicio con la flota, será modernizado, según fuentes de la Armada. El buque entrará en dique seco en 2012, y será botado de nuevo en 2017. El Admiral Kuznetsov es posible que sea dotado de propulsión nuclear. Los tres lanzamisiles M45 P-700 Granit antibuque serán eliminados.
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The Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov, currently the only aircraft carrier serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy, will be upgraded, the media reported, quoting Navy sources. The aircraft carrier, due to enter a dry dock in 2012, will be re-launched in 2017. Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to be modernized with its gas-fired boilers and steam turbines replaced with gas turbines or nuclear unit.
The ship's 3M45 P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) anti-ship cruise-missile launchers will be removed.

Rusia lanza nueva corbeta furtiva/Russia set to launch new stealth corvette

Rusia está próxima a presentar su segunda corbeta Project 20380, con características stealth, la Soobrazitelny . La primera unidad entró en servicio en Octubre de 2008, con la flota rusa del báltico. Las corbetas tipo Project 20380 tienen como misión destruir buques enemigos, submarinos, aeronaves y proporcionar apoyo artillero en desembarcos. Utiliza tecnologías "stealth" (furtivas). Se prevee la construcción de 30 unidades mas. Cada corbeta desplaza 2.000 tm, tienen velocidad máxima de 27 nudos y una tripulación de 100.
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Russia is all set to roll out its second Project 20380 corvette featuring stealth technology. St. Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard will float out the “Soobrazitelny” designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, on Wednesday, a Russian Navy spokesman said. The new corvette features innovative solutions regarding hull design, armament, communications and electronics.
In October 2008, the Russian Baltic Fleet commissioned the first Project 20380 corvette, the Steregushchy. Two other ships of the same series, the Boyky and the Stoyky, are under construction. The Project 20380 corvette can be deployed to destroy enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft, and to provide artillery support for beach landings. It uses stealth technology to reduce the ship's secondary radar field, as well as its acoustic, infrared, magnetic and visual signatures. Russia plans to build 30 more vessels of this class to ensure the protection of its coastal waters, as well as its oil and gas transportation routes, especially in the Black and the Baltic seas. Each corvette has a displacement of 2,000 metric tons, maximum speed of 27 knots, and a crew of 100, the report added.

India dispondrá de un submarino nuclear ruso en leasing/India to get Russian nuclear submarine for 10-year lease - paper

Rusia ha confirmado su disposición a transferir submarino nuclear Nerpa, bajo un leasing de 10 años a la India. El pacto fue firmado discretamente tras la visita del primer ministro ruso Vladimir Putin a Nueva Delhi, la semana pasada.
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Russia has confirmed its readiness to transfer its Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine for a 10 year-lease to India.Russia and India quietly firmed up the 10-year lease of the K-152 Nerpa submarine during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi last week.

Nuevo submarino nuclear ruso en Mayo/Russia to launch new nuclear submarine on May 7

Un nuevo submarino nuclear ruso será botado el 7 de Mayo. Tiene el nombre de Severodvinsk, de la clase 885 Yasen (Graney): Su construcción comenzó en 1993 en un astillero al norte de Rusia, en la ciudad de Severodvinsk, y ha sido continuamente retrasado, acosado por los problemas financieros. Los submarinos clase Graney son capaces de lanzar misiles de crucero con cabeza nuclear con un alcance de 5.000 km. Puede portar hasta 24 misiles 3M51 Alfa SLCM, el SS-NX-26 Oniks SLCM o el SS-N-21 Granat/Sampson SLCM. Tiene ocho lanzadores de torpedos, minas y misiles antibuque SS-N-16. Su entrada en servicio está prevista a finales de 2010.
Last year, work started on the second sub in the series, the Kazan, which will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry.
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A new Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine will be launched May 7. Construction of the Severodvinsk, a Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, began in 1993 at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk but has since been dogged by financial setbacks. A floating out ceremony for Russia's new Severodvinsk nuclear submarine at the Sevmash shipyard has been scheduled for May 7.
Graney-class nuclear submarines combine the ability to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km) with nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets.
The submarine's armament includes 24 cruise missiles, including the 3M51 Alfa SLCM, the SS-NX-26 Oniks SLCM or the SS-N-21 Granat/Sampson SLCM. It will also have eight torpedo launchers, as well as mines and anti-ship missiles such as SS-N-16 Stallion.
Severodvisk is expected to enter service with the Russian Navy by late 2010.
Last year, work started on the second sub in the series, the Kazan, which will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry.