Saturday, March 5, 2011

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Sukhoi Company Adds To Flight Tests Program The Second PAK FA Prototype....NSI News Source Info # 1668

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Sukhoi Company Adds To Flight Tests Program The Second PAK FA Prototype....NSI News Source Info # 1668
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - March 5, 2011:

March 3. Today the first flight of the 2nd prototype of the fifth generation aviation complex (PAK FA) took place in Komsomolsk - on - Amur. The plane was piloted by distinguished test pilot of the Russian Federation Sergey Bogdan. The aircraft spent in the air 44 minutes and landed on the factory airfield runway. The flight was successful, in full accordance with the flight plan. Stability of the aircraft test was conducted during the flight as well as evaluation of the power plant systems’ performance. The aircraft proved itself well in all phases of the planned flight program.


Tests on the PAK FA program are in accordance with the approved program. Currently, a set of preliminary ground and flight operations has been completed involving all three prototypes, which underwent bench strength tests, ground tests of fuel systems and other work.

The first flight of the PAK FA took place on January 29, 2010 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Acceptance tests of the prototype were completed at the end of March 2010. On April 8, 2010 the first flight model of the fighter jet and a comprehensive ground stand for working out the equipment and systems to provide flight test program, were delivered to the flying test center of the Sukhoi Design Bureau in Zhukovsky near Moscow. Upon completion of the required volume of preliminary tests on the stands of systems and components, including static strength tests of the static prototype, ground tests of the aircraft stand and the flight model, on April 29, 2010 the aircraft had started flight tests in accordance with the preliminary tests program. The first flight model made 36 sorties in accordance with the flight tests program.

Compared to the previous generation fighters, the PAK FA features a number of unique capabilities, including the functions of a strike aircraft and fighter. The 5th generation aircraft is fitted with essentially new avionics integrating the function of “an electronic pilot” and with an advanced phased antenna array radar. This considerably reduces the pilot fatigue, enabling him to concentrate on performance of a tactical mission. The new aircraft’s onboard equipment makes it possible to exchange information in the real time mode both with on-land control stations and with aviation group aircraft. The use of composite materials and innovative technologies, and the aerodynamic streamlining ensure unprecedented radar, optic and infrared stealthiness. This significantly enhances the operational capability against aerial and ground targets in all weathers, day and night.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-sukhoi-company.html

DTN News - JAPAN NEWS: New Hayabusa Shinkansen Train Debuts On Tokyo-Aomori Line....NSI News Source Info # 1667

DTN News - JAPAN NEWS: New Hayabusa Shinkansen Train Debuts On Tokyo-Aomori Line....NSI News Source Info # 1667
(NSI News Source Info)

AOMORI, Japan (Kyodo)

- March 5, 2011:

The new Hayabusa bullet train debuted Saturday on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line following the route's extension in December to Aomori, the northernmost prefectural capital on Japan's Honshu main island.


The train is the first new model deployed by the service's operator, East Japan Railway Co., since December 1997. It can travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and it has the longest nose of any shinkansen at 15 meters.

It links Tokyo with Shin-Aomori Station in three hours and 10 minutes on its fastest run, taking 10 minutes less than the conventional Hayate train. JR East says it aims to raise the speed to up to 320 kph and shorten the time to three hours and five minutes in the spring of 2013.

Scheduled to make two round trips between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori and one between Tokyo and Sendai Station in the Miyagi prefectural capital every day, the 10-car trains began service after departure ceremonies at both Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations.

The Hayabusa, whose seats are all reserved, has 18 "Gran Class" seats, a new class likened to first class in airplanes, costing 26,360 yen. Ordinary and premium Green Car seats are priced at 16,870 yen and 21,360 yen, respectively.

Tickets on the first train departing from Tokyo were sold out within about 40 seconds after being put up for advance sale on Feb. 5, with Gran Class seats selling out in about 10 seconds. It took 90 minutes for all the tickets for the first train from Shin-Aomori to be snapped up, according to JR East.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-japan-news-new-hayabusa.html

Friday, March 4, 2011

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1666

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1666

Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters, wave the old Libyan flag as they shout anti-Gadhafi slogans during a protest after the Friday prayer at the court square, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, on Friday March 4, 2011. Fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi set up checkpoints in Tripoli, searching cars, ahead of planned anti-government protests Friday, raising fears of new bloodshed in the Libyan capital where a heavy crackdown the past week has spread fear among residents.

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1665

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1665

A Libyan woman steps inside a building which is dressed with a huge old Libyan flag, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, on Friday March 4, 2011. Fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi set up checkpoints in Tripoli, searching cars, ahead of a planned anti-government protests Friday, raising fears of new bloodshed in the Libyan capital where a heavy crackdown over the past week has spread fear among residents.

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1664

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1664

A soldier from the Tunisia army gestures, as men from Bangladesh, who used to work in Libya but recently fled the unrest, walk with their belongings alongside a road, as they head to a refugee camp after crossing the Tunisia-Libyan border, in Ras Ajdir, Tunisia, Friday, March 4, 2011. Bangladeshis were angry at their country's government for not doing more to get the refugees home Most of the Bangladeshis appear to have arrived in Tunisia penniless because their Libyan employers did not pay them or because they were robbed on the way.

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1663

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Is Libya On The Brink Of Civil War....NSI News Source Info # 1663
An anti Libyan government rebel carries a rocket launcher as they manage the last checkpoint at the west gate of the town of Ajdabiya 160 kms, west of Benghazi, Libya's second city, on March 04, 2011.

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: U.S. Military Aircraft To Aid Egyptians Leaving Libya....NSI News Source Info # 1662

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: U.S. Military Aircraft To Aid Egyptians Leaving Libya....NSI News Source Info # 1662
(NSI News Source Info)

WASHINGTON,

- March 4, 2011:

President Barack Obama announced today he has approved the use of U.S. military aircraft to help Egyptians who have fled to the Tunisian border get back home to Egypt.


Speaking from the White House, Obama said the United States and the world continue “to be outraged by the appalling violence against the Libyan people.”

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has ordered U.S. Africa Command to take the lead for defense planning regarding the situation in Libya, according to a Pentagon statement. The DOD will continue to work in close coordination with the State Department and other agencies as needed.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-libya-uprising-us-military.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: South Korean Air Force Deploys First Boeing E-737 Peace Eye....NSI News Source Info # 1661

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: South Korean Air Force Deploys First Boeing E-737 Peace Eye....NSI News Source Info # 1661
DTN Canada Source: DTN News
(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - March 4, 2011: The South Korean Air Force’s first airborne early warning and control aircraft, the E-737 Peace Eye, has been unveiled at Boeing’s factory in Seattle.


A taegeuk mark symbolizing Korea along with the letters of the South Korean Air Force were clearly seen on the side of the aircraft Thursday last week. The early warning aircraft detects enemy movements from a distance for reporting to a ground base and controls the combat planes of friendly forces.


Boeing will deliver the first “Peace Eye” to South Korea in June, a month earlier than planned. A total of four will be delivered by the end of 2012 at a cost of 2 trillion won ($1.85 bil.). The first will be built in the U.S. and the others will be fitted with radars and undergo final modification in Korea. South Korea will be the third country to deploy the E-737 after Australia and Turkey.

The E-737 is fitted with Northrop Grumman’s Multi-mode Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and an identification friend or foe (IFF) system. It performed flawlessly in several test flights under rainy, snowy and windy conditions. The planes fly at between 9 -12 km (5.6 – 7.5 mi.) and can detect low-flying infiltration aircraft seeking to exploit mountainous terrain.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-south-korean-air.html

Thursday, March 3, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 3, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1660

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 3, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1660
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 3, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 3, 2011 are undermentioned;


CONTRACTS

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

The Missile Defense Agency is announcing the award of a sole-source cost-plus-award-fee contract to Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz. The total award value is $75,000,000. Under this contract, Raytheon Missile Systems will serve as the all up round design agent providing the engineering development, testing, support and necessary material to complete the design and delivery of the SM-3 Block IB missile for flight test mission (FTM) 16 and support FTM-15. This undefinitized contract action will award contract lines items for in service engineering support and travel. The work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. The performance period is from February 2011 through May 2011. Fiscal 2011 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funds will be used to incrementally fund this effort in the amount of $20,000,000. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity (HQ0276-11-C-002).

NAVY

BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Inc., Louisville, Ky., is being awarded a $33,920,480 undefinitized firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for MK38 Mod 2 machine gun systems. The MK 38 Mod 2 machine gun system ordnance alteration (ORDALT) kit consists of two-axis stabilization with remote control capability and an on-mount day/night electro-optical suite along with an eye-safe laser range finder. This procurement is to acquire a quantity of up to 150 ORDALT kits spanning fiscal 2010 through 2013, with deliveries starting in February 2012. Additionally, there will be line items established for the procurement of installation and checkout spares; on-board repair parts; ORDALT kits; engineering and field services; training; and provisioning item orders. Work will be performed in Hafia, Israel (67 percent), and Louisville, Ky. (33 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity (N00174-11-C-0015).

Centurum Information Technology, Inc., Marlton, N.J., is being awarded a $15,593,018 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract to provide tactical cryptologic systems support for the Navy and the United Kingdom Navy shipboard and shore cryptologic systems worldwide in the areas of test and evaluation. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $82,000,000. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. If all options are exercised, work could continue until March 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Commerce Business Daily’s Federal Business Opportunities website, and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with two offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-11-D-6857).

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-u_03.html

DTN News: Pakistani Intelligence And The CIA: Mutual Distrust And Suspicion....NSI News Source Info # 1659

DTN News: Pakistani Intelligence And The CIA: Mutual Distrust And Suspicion....NSI News Source Info # 1659
DTN Canada Source: By Scott Stewart STRATFOR
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 3, 2011:

On March 1, U.S. diplomatic sources reportedly told Dawn News that a proposed exchange with the Pakistani government of U.S. citizenRaymond Davis for Pakistani citizen Aafia Siddiqui was not going to happen. Davis is a contract security officer working for the CIA who was arrested by Pakistani police on Jan. 27 following an incident in which he shot two men who reportedly pointed a pistol at him in an apparent robbery attempt. Siddiqui was arrested by the Afghan National Police in Afghanistan in 2008 on suspicion of being linked to al Qaeda.

During Siddiqui’s interrogation at a police station, she reportedly grabbed a weapon from one of her interrogators and opened fire on the American team sent to debrief her. Siddiqui was wounded in the exchange of fire and taken to Bagram air base for treatment. After her recovery, she was transported to the United States and charged in U.S. District Court in New York with armed assault and the attempted murder of U.S. government employees. Siddiqui was convicted in February 2010 and sentenced in September 2010 to 86 years in prison.

Given the differences in circumstances between these two cases, it is not difficult to see why the U.S. government would not agree to such an exchange. Siddique had been arrested by the local authorities and was being questioned, while Davis was accosted on the street by armed men and thought he was being robbed. His case has served to exacerbate a growing rift between the CIA and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence directorate (ISI).

Pakistan has proved to be a very dangerous country for both ISI and CIA officers. Because of this environment, it is necessary for intelligence officers to have security — especially when they are conducting meetings with terrorist sources — and for security officers to protect American officials. Due to the heavy security demands in high-threat countries like Pakistan, the U.S. government has been forced to rely on contract security officers like Davis. It is important to recognize, however, that the Davis case is not really the cause of the current tensions between the Americans and Pakistanis. There are far deeper issues causing the rift.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-pakistani-intelligence-and-cia.html

DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated March 3, 2011....
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including latest updates Defense News, Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News & Yahoo
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 3, 2011: Comprehensive daily news related to Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY.

*Comprehensive daily news related on Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY

Thursday March 3, 2011

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Sikorsky To Make Helicopters In India For Local, Overseas Markets....NSI News Source Info # 1657

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Sikorsky To Make Helicopters In India For Local, Overseas Markets....NSI News Source Info # 1657
**US company looking at manufacturing choppers by 2015-16; will design and make both civilian and military helicopters
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 3, 2011:

US-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. plans to design and manufacture civilian and military helicopters in India for the local and Asia-Pacific market in four years, the first time a foreign aircraft company will use the country’s aerospace know-how to make choppers for the overseas market.

“We are looking at manufacturing an indigenous helicopter by 2015-16. We already have the helicopters that are suitable for the Indian climate,” said Arvind Jeet Singh Walia, managing director (India and South Asia) at Sikorsky Aircraft. “We intend developing further technologies to cater to defence requirements for high-altitude and high-performance machines.”

A unit of United Technologies, the U.S. helicopter maker said it was in talks with a string of Indian companies to build Black Hawks.

"We will bring the Black Hawk here with the option to improve the horse power ...," Sikorsky Vice President Steve Estill said, adding that the additional power was being introduced to operate the helicopter between 14,000 and 15,000 feet.

He did not give details of the investment involved in the proposed manufacturing plan.

Sikorsky, a unit of American military contractor United Technologies Corp. and one of the world’s largest helicopter makers, has an existing tie-up with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, a Tata group company, to make helicopter cabins for the global market.

A boom in India’s civil aviation market, among the fastest growing in the world, and a military upgradation plan that may be worth $100 billion (Rs.4.5 trillion) in the next 10 years, is persuading global aircraft makers to form joint ventures with local companies to take advantage of the business opportunity. India has an offset clause for high-value defence purchases that requires overseas companies to base part of the manufacturing in the country.

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Factbox: China's Military Modernization....NSI News Source Info # 1656

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Factbox: China's Military Modernization....NSI News Source Info # 1656
(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - March 3, 2011:

n"> China's ambitious military modernization program and growing defense spending has caused alarm around the region and in Washington.

China says it needs to upgrade its outmoded forces and that its plans are not a threat to any country, pointing out its defense budget is far lower than the United States.

Here are some facts about China's defense capabilities, military modernization and some of the weapons systems that have attracted attention:

AIR FORCE:

- In January, China confirmed it had held its first test flight of the J-20 stealth fighter jet, a show of muscle during a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates aimed at defusing military tensions between the two powers.

- Some analysts have said the development of the J-20 is a strong sign that China is making faster-than-expected progress in developing a rival to Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor, the world's only operational stealth fighter designed to evade detection by enemy radar.

- However, deployment is likely to be years away and Gates said ahead of his visit to China that he thought there was some question as to "just how stealthy" it really was.

- Along with the development of its aeronautics industry, China is developing a formidable design capacity. Its most advanced aircraft in service, and for the United States potentially the most threatening, are Russian Su-30 and Su-27 fighters.

- Modernization has also included developing in-flight refueling capacity to give its fighters a greater reach, and early warning aircraft.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-china-defense-news-factbox.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: South Korea Accelerates Stealth Fighter Program....NSI News Source Info # 1655


DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: South Korea Accelerates Stealth Fighter Program....NSI News Source Info # 1655
*Boeing’s F-15SE, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 likely candidates for FX-III project
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 3, 2011:
South Korea is accelerating moves to purchase a high-end fleet of stealth fighter jets to counter North Korea’s asymmetrical threats and keep pace with neighboring countries seeking to secure their own radar-evading combat aircraft.

Under the FX-III acquisition project worth around 10 trillion won ($8.86 billion), the Seoul government is seeking to purchase some 60 next-generation fighters with an aim to have them delivered for operational deployment to begin in 2016.

The government is expected to draw up an acquisition strategy in the first half of this year, start receiving proposals from bidders early next year and determine which jet it will buy as early as August that year, according to Seoul officials.

As the Defense Ministry failed to secure 15.7 billion won, which it wanted to include in this year’s budget to get the acquisition work started, in the face of opposition from the National Assembly and budget authorities, it was expected that the military would not be able to start deploying new warplanes in 2016.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

DTN News: Pakistan - Latest Headlines News Dated March 2, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1654

DTN News: Pakistan - Latest Headlines News Dated March 2, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1654
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The News - Pakistan
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 2, 2011: Comprehensive daily news related to Pakistan - Latest Headlines Newsfor the world of TODAY.
*Comprehensive daily news related to Pakistan - Latest Headlines News for the world of TODAY
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