Iskander missile deployment in northwestern Russia incomprehensible – Estonian defense minister

The deployment of Iskander missiles in Russia's northwestern military district is incomprehensible in view of Russia's current relations with NATO, Estonian Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo has said.

On Saturday, the chief of Russia's Ground Forces, Col. Gen. Alexander Postnikov, said the Iskander missiles had entered service with the Armed Forces in the Leningrad Military District.

"During the past two decades, NATO has been seeking benevolent mutual understanding in relations with Russia. But benevolence does not mean naivety, that is why Moscow's decision to deploy Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region did not surprise us," Aaviksoo said.

"We do not comprehend such a step considering both modern security threats and current relations between Russia and NATO," he said.

The United States scrapped earlier plans last September for an antimissile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland. Moscow welcomed the move, and President Dmitry Medvedev said later that Russia would drop plans to deploy Iskander-M missiles in its Kaliningrad Region, which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

However, Washington has not given up on its European missile shield initiative. In May, the United States opened a temporary military base in northern Poland, just 80 km (50 miles) from the border of Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, in accordance with an agreement negotiated under former President George Bush in 2008 – a move which drew much criticism from Russia.

India to purchase two more AWACS planes from Russia

India will purchase two additional Russian-made airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, the Times of India newspaper said on Monday.

India ordered three A-50EI variants fitted with Israeli-made Phalcon radar systems in 2004. The first aircraft was scheduled to arrive in 2007-08, but was subject to delays.

India received the first plane in May 2009 and the second in March 2010. It is expected that the third aircraft will be delivered by the end of the year.

"We have already moved the case for two more AWACS," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told the Times of India.
"Phalcon AWACS are tremendous force-multipliers. We are having an excellent experience with them. They will get their final operational clearance by October-November," said Naik said.

The aircraft are to be deployed in Agra with the IAF's 50 Squadron under the Allahabad-based Central Air Command, but will be assigned tasks directly by Air Headquarters.

In many aspects, the A-50 is comparable to the U.S. Air Force's E-3 Sentry. It is fitted with an aerial refueling system and electronic warfare equipment, and can detect targets up to 400 km (250 miles) away.

In 2009, India also purchased eight Boeing P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from the United States, and signed a deal with Brazil to jointly integrate domestically developed AWACS systems into three Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft to be later commissioned with the Indian Air Force

Russia may purchase 20 An-124 transport planes before 2020

The Russian Defense Ministry may purchase some 20 An-124 Ruslan (Condor) heavy-lift transport aircraft according to the 2011-2020 state arms procurement program, a senior official said on Monday.

"We are now working on this issue... We intend to buy about 20 such aircraft," said Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin, who is in charge of arms procurement.

He said an agreement on the modernization of the Ruslan planes which are currently in service had been signed earlier this year.
"We plan to modernize two planes annually, and starting from 2015-2016, if the manufacturers are ready, we will start purchasing them," he added.

In June, Boeing said it may conduct the final assembly of Russian-Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan heavy-lift transport planes for the U.S. market - a move which drew much criticism from the Ukraine-based Antonov Design Bureau.

Russia and Ukraine reached a preliminary agreement to resume production of the An-124 in April 2008.

The An-124, which can be used both for domestic and military purposes, was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in 1982, and was produced in Ukraine's Kiev and Russia's Ulyanovsk until 1995. The plane has a maximum payload of 150 metric tons with a flight range of around 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles).

The cargo jet is the world's third largest after the An-225 and the Airbus A380F.

Italy Selects AAI's Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System

AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that Italy's Ministry of Defense (MoD) - Directorate of General Aeronautical Armament has selected AAI's Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) for the Italian Army.

Under this 51 million euro ($64 million) award, Italy will purchase four Shadow TUAS for deployment alongside NATO forces.

The Italian MoD's competitive procurement for TUAS identified several system requirements leading up to the selection of AAI's Shadow system. These features include a small system footprint; easy transportation using small vehicles or C-130 Hercules aircraft; ease of use; interoperability with other NATO forces; and the ability to take off and land from small, semi-prepared airfields.

"Our Shadow TUAS meet the mark for the Italian Army's surveillance and reconnaissance requirements -- and then some," explains Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid of AAI. "The system's compact logistics footprint makes it easy to transport and operate under evolving battlefield conditions, as proven during more than 500,000 flight hours. In addition, the vast majority of Shadow TUAS' flight hours have taken place in Iraq and Afghanistan, so our customers can see firsthand that our systems deliver the performance and robustness they need."

Shadow TUAS leverage AAI's interoperable One System(R) Ground Control Station architecture to receive and disseminate battlefield video. Its design also complies with NATO Standardization Agreement 4586, enhancing interoperability among international unmanned aircraft systems.

"AAI's Shadow TUAS are unmatched in their maturity," says Senior Vice President and General Manager Ellen Lord of AAI. "Not only do they deliver user-friendly and reliable intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communications relay capabilities, the systems set a benchmark for operational success among TUAS that is beyond compare."

AAI is taking advantage of select Italian defense suppliers to facilitate the delivery of the four Shadow systems to the MoD, including RIGEL International Engineering & Consultancy Agency, an experienced Italian defense contractor. System deliveries are expected to begin in 2011.


AAI Corporation and its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries Aerosonde Pty Ltd and ESL Defence Limited design, produce and support industry-leading aerospace and defense products and services, including unmanned aircraft and ground control technologies; high-fidelity training and simulation systems; automated aerospace test and maintenance equipment; armament systems; and logistical, engineering, supply chain and operational support services. AAI Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc.

Taiwan holds computerised wargame simulating China invasion

Taiwan on Monday started a computerised wargame simulating a D-Day style attack by China, the defence ministry said.

During the five-day drill, Chinese forces attack the island from Guangzhou and Nanjing, the military districts nearest Taiwan, while Taiwanese forces test counterattack strategies.

"The purpose of the drill is aimed to test our defence capabilities in case the People's Liberation Army launched an invasion," a defence ministry official said, declining to provide details.

Ties between Taipei and Beijing have improved markedly since President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang came to power in 2008, pledging to boost trade links and allowing more Chinese tourists to visit.

But Beijing
still refuses to rule out the use of force against the island should it formally declare independence, although Taiwan has governed itself since China's civil war ended in 1949.

Ma has vowed to build stronger armed forces to serve as a deterrent against aggression from Beijing, while also promising to push for a peace treaty to end more than six decades of hostilities

C-130 Future Bright Despite Cloudy AMP

In an annual look at the retrofit and modernization prospects for the Lockheed Martin C-130, Forecast International finds that the aircraft will continue to receive generous funding, even though its largest program is at risk of termination.

With a total estimated cost of $4.6 billion, the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) is intended to replace obsolescent and outdated cockpit avionics on 218 aircraft with modern, sustainable equivalents.

In addition to offering the usual benefits of a cockpit upgrade – reduced crew workload and increased functionality – the new avionics systems would interface more easily with future avionics retrofits. The upgrade program has been in active development since 2001 with Boeing as the prime contractor; however, development has not gone smoothly.

"The original United States Air Force requirement was for 434 aircraft, but is now down to 218,” said Adam Feld, Aerospace/Defense Retrofit & Modernization Editor at Forecast International. “The Navy is also seeking funding for 47 Navy and USMC aircraft, but the program has come under heavy fire due to its price tag. Even with Boeing trying to keep costs down, the Air Force just isn't sure there's room in the budget."

And the USAF has taken action on that uncertainty, calling for the program's termination in favor of a series of less ambitious upgrades that provide only the necessary functionality. According to USAF Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz, the AMP is simply too expensive.

"Congress doesn't appear all that enthusiastic about cutting the AMP," says Feld. "The United States has already spent about $1.5 billion on development and there's also international interest to consider. Saudi Arabia is looking to spend as much as $800 million upgrading its own C-130 fleet, for instance. For the time being, Congress is funding the program but also deferring it. According to the FY10 budget request, we're not going to see a real increase in production until 2015, which would give the global economy some more time to recover and may relieve some of the pressure to cut spending."

Yet even if the AMP does get terminated, that doesn't mean the C-130 will have to go without. Feld notes that "if a program is necessary, the United States will find a way to fund it. It may not be as extensive as intended in terms of number of aircraft or the quality of the upgrade, and it may take some time, but the minimum need will be met.

Even if the AMP is terminated in favor of smaller programs, the aircraft may still receive that extra functionality through follow-on programs over the coming years or decades. The overall cost in time and money will be higher, but it will get where it needs to be."

Even with the AMP at risk, the C-130 remains a popular platform that provides a wide array of services to more than 60 countries worldwide. It serves as a transport, aerial refueling tanker, electronic warfare platform, close air support gunship, and firefighting airtanker, and even flies search-and-rescue and special operations missions. Despite its age, demand is on the rise, and Lockheed Martin has had to boost production of the latest variant, the C-130J. The USAF is funding an ambitious electronic warfare modification for the aircraft known as "Compass Call," and the USMC is mounting weapons on its KC-130 tankers under the Harvest Hawk program. "The AMP is a big program, but it won't make or break the C-130," says Feld.

Forecast International, Inc. (www.forecastinternational.com) is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.

Israel To Deploy 'Iron Dome' In November

Israel will deploy in November its anti-missile system designed to combat threats from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the defense ministry said on July 19.

"The Iron Dome interceptor, in conjunction with air force and anti-aircraft systems, successfully downed a large number of threats in fully operational mode," the ministry said in statement.

"The first two batteries will become operational in November 2010," it said adding that "the defense ministry will soon place orders for additional batteries."

The system is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells, of which Hamas and the Hezbollah have fired thousands at Israel in the past.

The system is expected to be first deployed along the border of Hamas-run Gaza from where a daily barrage of home-made rockets fired at the Jewish state prompted Israel to launch a devastating 22-day offensive on December 27, 2008.

It will then be deployed on Israel's border with Lebanon, where the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired some 4,000 rockets into northern Israel during a 2006 war. Israel believes Hezbollah now has an arsenal of some 40,000 rockets.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the developers for the short timeframe in which they had managed to make the system operational.

"We will act to actively deploy the batteries in the field as soon as possible," he said in the statement.
In May, U.S. President Barack Obama asked Congress to approve giving Israel $205 million to develop the system, on top of the billions of dollars in aid it gives Israel each year.

The Iron Dome will join the Arrow long-range ballistic missile defense system in an ambitious multi-layered program to protect Israeli cities from rockets and missiles fired from Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Syria and Iran.
A third system specifically aimed at countering medium-range missiles is still in development.

Russia's defense corporation signs contract on helicopter supplies to India

Russia's state-owned defense corporation Oboronprom and India's Vectra Group have signed a $30 million contract on the supply of four Ka-32 Helix helicopters, the Russian company's CEO Andrei Reus said on Monday.
"I signed a contract with the Indian company Vectra on the supply of four Russian Ka-32 helicopters," Reus said.
"Although this is only four aircraft, it is important that it is actually the opening of the Indian market for Russian helicopters," he said.
The Ka-32 can be employed as a transport aircraft, for ice patrol, fire fighting as well as search and rescue operations.

Raytheon Awarded Radar Contract for P-8I Maritime Surveillance Aircraft for Indian Navy

Raytheon Company has received a contract from Boeing to develop an international version of the APY-10 surveillance radar.

The long-range, multimission, maritime and overland surveillance radars will be installed on the P-8I aircraft Boeing is building for the Indian Navy. This is the first international contract award for Raytheon's APY-10 program, extending the company's considerable presence in the international maritime surveillance market.

"Our APY-10 radar will provide the Indian navy with proven, low-risk technology built on generations of successful Raytheon radar systems," said Tim Carey, vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems. "We're committed to providing reliable systems that keep our customers safe and help them achieve mission success."

The APY-10 radar delivers accurate and actionable information in all weather, day and night, for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare and for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission support.

A member of the industry team that Boeing leads for the U.S. Navy's P-8A program, Raytheon is also under contract with Boeing to provide six APY-10 systems and spares for the P-8A, of which the P-8I is a variant. Four of the six have been delivered, and Raytheon remains on or ahead of the production schedule.


Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.

Raytheon Awarded $55 Million Contract to Deliver TOW Missiles to Saudi Arabia

Raytheon Company received a $55 million contract to deliver TOW (Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wireless-Guided) 2A Radio Frequency missiles to the U.S. government as part of a foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia's National Guard.

"TOW RF missiles are tremendous weapons because of their high mobility, rapid response and close-fire support capabilities," said Jim Riley, Raytheon's vice president of Land Combat. "This missile can give soldiers at the lowest tactical echelon immediate, precision firepower."

TOW RF missiles include an RF transmitter added to the missile case and an RF receiver located inside the missile. Since no launcher modifications were required for the transition to wireless, this growth in capability is transparent to TOW customers.

"On today's battlefield, potential targets are hiding in caves, behind boulders or in the mountains," said Shawn Ball, Raytheon's TOW international business development manager. "TOW RF missiles are more than capable of taking out these kinds of targets. The RF link enhances operations in urban environments by providing greater reliability and precision performance."

TOW missiles are the most used precision heavy assault weapons in war today. Available on more than 10,000 airborne and ground platforms, the missiles are used by 40 countries in combat operations around the world.


Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.

Air Show Kicks off With Small Flurry of Orders

Boeing Co. and European arch rival Airbus racked up billions of dollars worth of aircraft sales at the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday, raising hopes that the aviation industry has touched the bottom of a deep two-year downturn.

But the horizon remains clouded — major European airlines, which are still haunted by recession, mostly kept their hands in their pockets as Middle Eastern carriers and U.S. plane leasing firms made purchases to build up their fleets.
The optimism also isn't extending to the defense side of the sector where massive cuts to Western military budgets were the talk of the industry's premier event.

The biennial gathering at an airfield outside London — bringing together plane makers, airlines, government officials and military top brass — is considered by industry watchers a key test of the industry's health.

More than 1,000 exhibitors from 38 countries have signed up for Farnborough, with delegations from Egypt, Taiwan and Morocco attending for the first time. Organizers also cited stronger interest from major players China and Russia.

"We're gradually starting to see a slow recovery to a new norm," Owen MacFarlane, CEO of CAV Aerospace, told the AP from his exhibition stand at the show.

"So maybe it's not the same volumes as we saw in 2007 and 2008, but certainly an increase from where we have been," he said, noting he cut 25 percent of his work force over the past 18 months. "Everybody seems a lot more buoyant."

Analysts don't expect anything close to the record-breaking $88.7 billion worth of deals announced in Farnborough in 2008, but the gathering has already exceeded the slow orders for commercial planes at Le Bourget last year, where deals came in at around $7 billion.

The International Air Transport Association has forecast that global industry profits will reach $2.5 billion this year, an upturn from the huge $9.4 billion loss in 2009. Asia and North America are expected to lead the recovery, with Europe lagging behind. Strikes at some airlines, the debt crisis and the volcanic ash cloud that caused major disruptions this spring are all hurting Europe's recovery.

Russian Helicopters Showcases Perspective Projects and Current Range of Russian-made Rotorcraft at Farnborough International Airshow-2010

At the Farnborough International Airshow that took off today near London. Russian Helicopters rotorcraft-manufacturing holding presents its newest projects within the UIC Oboronprom display. Farnborough Airshow is considered one of the world’s largest and traditionally attracts key international aviation industry manufacturers showcasing their up-to-date achievements.

Andrei Shibitov, COO Russian Helicopters, states, “Farnborough trade show is very important to Russian Helicopters, an active player on the modern global rotorcraft market. Russian rotorcraft industry, including the Kamov and Mil design bureaus, has recently completed its consolidation, uniting into one holding structure. Russian Helicopters now offers the entire lineup of Russian-made rotorcraft, focusing on the demand of the international market, where we actively seek new partners from all continents”.

Among “Projects 2015” Russian Helicopters displays helicopters’ models Mi-34С1(С2), Ansat, Ка-226Т, Ка-62, Mi-171M, Мi-38, embodying the latest advancements in helicopter technology, including state-of-the-art avionics, noise reduction, and eco-friendly solutions.

At the UK Airshow Russian Helicopters demonstrates a brand new approach to manufacture and after-sale support of Russian-made helicopters throughout their lifecycle from production and delivery to scrapping. All companies that make part of Russian Helicopters carry on developing new technologies to allow rotorcraft performing various tasks with reduced operational expenses: transporting passengers and cargos, search and rescue, fire-fighting, special missions, VIP flights etc. Whilst meeting current demands of the world’s helicopter market the holding enterprises create the rotorcraft of tomorrow continuously improving their comfort and safety levels, making them more eco-friendly.

Now Russian Helicopters focus on having a minimum environmental impact, lower carbon, noise, heat emissions. As part of joint Russian exposition some currently produced helicopters in all weight categories are being demonstrated: civil medium Ka-32А11ВС, heavy Мi-26Т, as well as combat Мi-35М, Ка-52 Alligator, Мi-28NE Night Hunter and various modifications of Мi-17 type, including those updated for day-and-night combat missions along with its upgrading programs.

As a 21st century innovations’ concept Russian Helicopters presents the program of creating Advanced High-Speed Helicopter (AHSH), provisioning for two parallel Kamov and Mil projects, Ка-92 and Мi-Х1. Out of these two only one most prospective trend will be chosen to pursue in line with international rotorcraft market tendencies and Russian Helicopters marketing strategy. First pre-series AHSH is expected to debut in 2015-2017.

Russian Helicopters also pays much attention to global after-sale support of Russian-made helicopters. It creates and certifies service and repair/overhaul centers in various regions of the world with a view to set up integrated logistic support system in the nearest future.

The existing infrastructure of servicing centers fully corresponds to the Russian Helicopters sales’ geography. Particularly, the joint venture International RotorCraft Services, FZC was set up in Sharjah (UAE) to cater for Russian-made helicopters’ after-sale support. Indian service centre within Integrated Helicopter Services Pvt. Ltd. is under way. Several service centers and repair/overhaul facilities are to be certified shortly to make up European integrated logistic support system. Russian Helicopters service centers are available nearly in all CIS countries. 2010-2011 will witness establishing service centers in South-East Asia, Central and South Africa, as well as in Latin America.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is an affiliated company of UIC Oboronprom. It is the managing body of the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Vpered Moscow Machine-Building Plant, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM , Helicopter Service Company (VSK) and Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant.

UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. Its main tasks include helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters managing company), engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company), air defense systems and complex electronic systems (Defense Systems holding company), and other machine-building activities.

S. Korea Developing Longer-Range Missiles

South Korea has developed a longer-range cruise missile capable of hitting nuclear or military sites in North Korea, a report said July 17.

The state-run Agency for Defense Development has begun manufacturing the ground-to-ground Hyunmu-3C with a range of up to 937 miles (1,500 kilometers), Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified defense official as saying.

The Hyunmu-3C missile would also be able to reach parts of China, Japan and Russia. The previous version of the Hyunmu had a range of only 1,000 kilometers.
The report could not immediately be confirmed.

Under an agreement with the United States, which stations 28,500 troops in the country and guarantees a nuclear "umbrella" in case of war, Seoul limits its ballistic missiles to a maximum range of 300 kilometers.

But it is allowed to extend the range of its terrain-hugging cruise missiles as long as their payload stays under 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).


South Korea has pushed for longer-range weaponry to counter a threat from hundreds of North Korean ballistic missiles.

The North has about 600 Scud missiles capable of hitting targets in South Korea, and possibly also of reaching Japanese territory in some cases. There are another 200 Rodong-1 missiles which could reach Tokyo. In addition the North has three times test-launched intercontinental Taepodong missiles.

Tensions have risen since the South and the United States, citing the findings of a multinational investigation, accused the North of torpedoing a South Korean warship near the tense sea border in March.

The North angrily denies involvement and says a U.N. Security Council statement on July 9 - which condemned the attack without specifying the culprit - proves its point.
After the U.N. statement it reiterated conditional willingness to return to stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks.

Seoul's unification ministry, which handles cross-border ties, said the North appears to be preparing a diplomatic offensive to lessen tensions.
In a weekly newsletter the ministry said the North seems willing to "turn the critical mood around through active dialogue" following the U.N. statement, which Pyongyang claimed as a diplomatic victory.

The South says its neighbour must first apologize for the attack on the ship which cost 46 lives and punish those responsible.

Russian state arms exporter sees contracts worth $38 bln in 2010

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Friday its orders so far this year had exceeded $38 billion.
It said aircraft and airborne weapon systems accounted for over 50% of all export orders.

"Despite serious competition, demand grows from year to year," the company said in a press release.

"Our cooperation is expanding with leading foreign manufacturers, especially on new joint projects and R&D programs."
Rosoboronexport handles over 80% of Russian arms exports.

Russia will showcase an array of warplanes at the Farnborough Air Show (FIA), one of the most preeminent global aviation events, to be held on July 19-25 near London.

Russian products will include Su-35 Flanker and MiG-35 Fulcrum-F multirole fighters, the Su-32 fighter-bomber (an export version of the Su-34 Fullback aircraft) and MiG-29 Fulcrum combat aircraft.

Russian Vena automated self-propelled gun is unmatched anywhere in the world

The Russian Vena automated self-propelled gun is unmatched anywhere in the world, claim experts at Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

An armored floating vehicle with a tracked chassis can engage the enemy with a squall of high-precision mortar fire.


The Vena fires both Russian and NATO standard shells and is fitted with an onboard computer making it possible to carry out super-precision fire in any weather and at time of the day or night over long distances. The unit is intended to support infantry and armor. It engages the opponent’s armored vehicles, artillery positions and infantry. The mount is armed with a 120mm gun unit.

The ammunition load includes standard-type shells, mortar bombs and even Kitolov-2 guided ammunition, directed by a laser beam. 
Its distinctive features are high maneuverability and strong armor which protects the crew against small arms fire and shell and mortar fragments.

The Vena can negotiate steep slopes, ditches up to 2.5 m wide and water streams at a speed of up to 10 km/hr. 
Comparisons with foreign models of the same class show that Russia’s Vena performs two and a half time better than its rivalst

US, Malaysia launch exercise Keris Strike 2010

A bilateral command-post exercise sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific designed to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Malaysia officially got under way this week in Malaysia with an opening ceremony at Camp Kuantan, here.



Hosted by the Malaysian Armed Forces Keris Strike 2010 is designed to not only strengthen the U.S./Malaysian relationship but to build on the peace support operational capacity of all those participating.



Leading the U.S. effort for the fourth year is the U.S. Army Reserve's 9th Mission Support Command, which serves as executive agent for Keris Strike by providing operational control, logistical coordination planning, life support for participants, and key personnel for the 14th annual event

.

In addition to the 9th MSC, members of the Utah National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, the Guam National Guard's 1/294th Infantry Battalion, the 441st Military Intelligence Battalion, the 56th Theater Information Operation Group, the 411th and 413th Contracting Support Brigades, and U.S. Pacific Command play key roles in the training exercise.



Keris Strike will allow Soldiers to participate in academic training, a mini-staff exercise and a command post exercise. Participants from the U.S. and Malaysia will further strengthen their relationships by competing in sporting events and enjoying cultural activities.

"This is an excellent opportunity for us to continue to build on our relationship with the Malaysian Armed Forces," Brig. Gen. Michele G. Compton, 9th MSC commanding general said. "There's a lot we can learn from each other.

Both the U.S. and the Malaysian militaries each have a lot of experiences we can share which continue to deepen the friendships we've developed over the years."

The commanding general of Malaysia's 3rd Division expressed the same enthusiasm about strengthening the military-to-military bond between the U.S. and Malaysia.

"I am extremely pleased to note that both the United States and the Malaysian Army have been able to work closely in this exercise," Maj. Gen. Dato' Razali Bin Hj Ahmad said.

"The planning and the conduct of this exercise is a clear manifestation and expression of our intimate military ties in cooperation. I strongly believe that this special relationship will continue, and we will work hard to ensure it serves the interest of our countries."

Lt. Col. Kimo Dunn, commander of the 100th Battalion, 4-42 Infantry Regiment, 9th MSC, has participated in Keris Strike for at least five iterations. He says the relationships he has developed with Malaysians has grown stronger each year.

"I see some of the same faces each year I come back," Dunn said. "We've [the 9th MSC] been participating in Keris Strike for many years now.

Each year we get better at making the exercise more efficient, and each year we continue to further enhance our partnership with the Malaysian Armed Forces."



The deputy brigade commander for the 204th MEB, Lt. Col Karl L. Wright, Utah Army National Guard, feels Soldiers from both the U.S. and Malaysia are teamed up and ready for the mission.

"Our aim is to learn from our Malaysian counterparts and draw from each other's experiences," Wright said. "We are learning to fight the language barrier, have patience in learning each others' military decision making process, and figuring out how to come together and plan to achieve mission success."

Exercise Keris Strike 2010 is scheduled to conclude July 23.c

Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Arrive At Farnborough Airshow 2010

Indigenously developed aircraft by Pakistan with the help of China will make its maiden appearance at an international show being held in the United Kingdom.

In line to make their physical appearance in Farnborough Air Show 2010 along with other modern aircraft, being held 19-25 July in the UK, two JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft of PAF on Friday flew into the UK from a PAF Base.

These aircraft are manufactured at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. The JF-17s would be displayed for the first time in the Farnborough Air Show alongside other modern aircrafts of the world.

The JF-17 Thunder distinguishes PAF as the only air force in the world that manufactures combat aircraft. It is an all-weather, multi-role, combat aircraft that has the potential to be the mainstay of any modern air force.

Boeing first hydrogen-powered Unmanned Phantom Eye Demonstrator video

"Phantom Eye is the first of its kind and could open up a whole new market in collecting data and communications," Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works, said today at the unveiling ceremony in St. Louis. "It is a perfect example of turning an idea into a reality. It defines our rapid prototyping efforts and will demonstrate the art-of-the-possible when it comes to persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The capabilities inherent in Phantom Eye's design will offer game-changing opportunities for our military, civil and commercial customers."

Later this summer, Phantom Eye will be shipped to NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to begin a series of ground and taxi tests in preparation for its first flight in early 2011. That debut flight is expected to last between four and eight hours.

"The program is moving quickly, and it’s exciting to be part of such a unique aircraft," said Drew Mallow, Phantom Eye program manager for Boeing. "The hydrogen propulsion system will be the key to Phantom Eye's success. It is very efficient and offers great fuel economy, and its only byproduct is water, so it's also a 'green' aircraft."

Phantom Eye is powered by two 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engines that provide 150 horsepower each. It has a 150-foot wingspan, will cruise at approximately 150 knots and can carry up to a 450-pound payload.

Boeing at Farnborough 2010

The Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom is a great opportunity for Boeing's international business development team to interact with a multitude of customers - all in one place.

That's particularly important considering that Boeing Defense, Space & Security wants to increase international sales to 20 to 25 percent of revenue from 15 percent now. Unmanned systems could be part of that growth, which is one reason why Boeing will showcase its full portfolio of unmanned offerings during the show. Click on the video to hear Mark Kronenberg, vice president of international business development, discuss Farnborough and the international opportunities Boeing is pursuing.

Canada's Sole-Source Buy Boosts F-35

In a badly needed shot in the arm for Lockheed Martin's embattled F-35 fighter program, Canada will purchase more than five dozen Lightning IIs, with the first delivery slated for 2016, Ottawa and the company announced July 16.

The Canadian government said it plans to buy 65 Lightning II jets to replace its aging F-18 fighter fleet. Those fighters entered service in the early 1980s.

This announcement comes on the heels of a troubled spring for the program, which was completely retooled following numerous predictions by Pentagon planners that the jet's costs are at risk of skyrocketing out of control.
Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at the Teal Group, said the deal is important for the program because "it's the first export customer commitment for a production batch of F-35s."

The Canadian commitment "could also start a series of long-awaited orders from JSF partner nations," he said. "The production numbers also help stabilize program's economics. This is a program predicated on volume."
While Canada has been a partner in the JSF program for years, some Canadian lawmakers from the Liberal Party oppose buying the jet in a sole-source contract.

The version the Canadian Air Force is buying is the least expensive of the three variants and in today's dollars it will be around $60 million per aircraft, said Lockheed spokeswoman Kim Testa.

DoD officials told lawmakers in June that the F-35 fighter program could cost as much as $382.4 billion, with an average through-life per-plane price tag of $92.4 million.

That estimate assumes the program continues down the current path, but senior Pentagon officials say efforts are underway to move the overall cost of the F-35 program "as close as possible" back toward substantially smaller estimates crafted in 2002.
U.S. Air Force and Lockheed officials have said the airplane will cost less than the CAPE estimates.
Just weeks after last month's cost estimates for the jet came out the Air Force's top weapons buyer, David Van Buren told reporters that his negotiating team is not using the CAPE numbers as a guideline in hammering out a price tag for the air service's 1,763 F-35s.

Lockheed Martin has said for months that the Pentagon's initial offer for the latest batch of 32 low-rate initial production F-35s, known as LRIP-4, was 40 percent below the CAPE office's December 2009 cost estimate for the program, which at the time pegged the costs at roughly $76 million per plane.

Also speaking last month, Steve O'Bryan, Lockheed's vice president of F-35 business development said that he expects the final price of LRIP 4 to be more than 20 percent below the CAPE's numbers.

Along with the U.S. and its northern neighbor, several of Washington's top allies are involved in the fighter development effort and have said they will buy F-35s. The U.S. is leading development of three variants of the F-35, a conventional takeoff-and-landing model, a vertical takeoff-and-landing version, and a carrier-based jet.

"We're very pleased with the decision and are committed to supporting the government of Canada in moving forward with the F-35," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. "The Lightning II will help ensure Canada's national security, and also positions Canadian industry to immediately capture long-term work that will endure for the next 30 years." Designers say this was made possible by reducing the number of