Archive for May, 2008

Australian M113 upgrade project back on track

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Australia today announced that the M113 upgrade project was now back on track and estimated to meet its original schedule and specifications within budget.

The Land 106 project will deliver 350 upgraded M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicles with improvements in their protection, firepower, mobility and supportability.

“The M113 project experienced some well-known technical problems in the development phase, and it was feared these problems would impact on the cost and schedule of the project,” the announcement said.
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Pakistani Army distancing itself from Musharraf

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

PAKISTAN ARMY : “Iman, Taqwa, Jihad fi Sabilillah ” (”Faith, Piety, to strive in the path of Allah) .,
( They Dared, but Did He Care..? )
When the Bugles Fade ( Lament of Regular Pakstani Army Soldiers killed in Kargil 1999, in India’s Operation ” Vijay”)

Its taps, and the last note of the last post is a distant discord;

…… the bugles fade
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Boeing Flies A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft for 18 Hours

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

The Boeing Company successfully flew its A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft for 18.7 hours May 14-15 (flying un-refueled), claiming an unofficial world endurance record for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 1,102 and 5,511 pounds (500 to 2,500 kilograms).

During the flight at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona, the turbine-powered aircraft carried a 300-pound internal payload at altitudes up to 15,000 feet, landing with better than 90 minutes of fuel in reserve. The flight began May 14 at 8:55 p.m. (Pacific time) and ended May 15 at 3:36 p.m.
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Trident II D5 missiles achieve 122 successful test launches in a row

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test launch this month of two Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBMs). The Navy launched the unarmed missiles from the submerged submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) in the Pacific Ocean. The Trident II D5 missile now has achieved 122 consecutive successful test launches since 1989 - a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

The Navy launched the missiles as part of a Follow-on Commander Evaluation Test. The Navy conducts a continuing series of operational system evaluation tests to assure the safety, reliability, readiness and performance of the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System, as required by the Department of Defense’s National Command Authority. The tests are conducted under the testing guidelines of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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Indian Coast Guard commissions Advanced OPV CGS ‘Sankalp’

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Indian Coast Guard commissioned the 5th Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel of the. CGS ‘Sankalp’ 20 May 2008. The ICGS Sankalp has been designed and built indigenously by the defence PSU, Goa Shipyard Limited. The AOPV is designed to carry one twin engine helicopter, including the indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and five high speed boats for search & rescue, prompt interception and marine pollution response missions. It is equipped with sophisticated navigational and communication sensors.

The special features include an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), high power External Fire Fighting System and two indigenously built Gun Mounts. Besides, an Infra-Red Surveillance System will impart the AOPV with night vision capability.

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Exercise Aman Sena-08 begins with 18 countries in participation

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Exercise Aman Sena, an international exercise on United Nations mandated, multidimensional, Integrated, Peace Support Operations commenced at the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad on 21 May 08. This exercise is a pioneering effort by CDM under the aegis of HQ Integrated Defence Staff, where about 90 officers of the Armed Forces from 15 countries including India are participating for the next nine days.

The aim of Exercise Aman Sena is to provide an opportunity to the participants to share experiences of UN peace support operations, and to develop a common understanding of the framework and procedures in such operations. The exercise also intends to provide a platform to the participating countries for closer cooperation, synergy, meeting of minds and for working together in pursuance of larger international interests.
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Multiple kill Pathfinder carrier vehicle seeker calibrated, two additional seekers with infrared focal plane being built

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

On April 16, 2008 at the Space Dynamics Laboratory in North Logan, Utah, the Multiple Kill Vehicle team completed calibration of the pathfinder carrier vehicle seeker. Completion of pathfinder seeker calibration is a major milestone along the way to develop new technology required for target tracking and discrimination for the Multiple Kill Vehicle program. Completion of this milestone is the culmination of a multi-year effort to develop telescopes, structures, electronics, and software to meet the challenging requirements of mid-course threat sensing.

With successful calibration of the pathfinder seeker accomplished, the Multiple Kill Vehicle team is now building two additional seekers, each with a new technology infrared focal plane. Focal plane development is nearing completion with deliveries anticipated in June and July.
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Pratt & Whitney F135 Team Receives STOVL Flight Qualification

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Pratt & Whitney received a statement of qualification for the F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system from the F-35 Joint Program Office. This statement certifies Pratt & Whitney’s F135-PW-600 STOVL propulsion system for up-and-away flight operations. The F135-PW-600 STOVL propulsion system includes lift system components designed by Rolls-Royce and integrated into the STOVL propulsion system by Pratt & Whitney.

This milestone is one of many recent achievements for Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system. The F135 has previously completed sea level testing and accelerated mission testing for endurance and durability qualification.
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UK MoD announces manufacturing phase of new carriers

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

UK Ministry of Defence announced that it intends to proceed to the manufacturing stage in the project to build two new 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers (CVF) for the Royal Navy.

The carriers, to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. Once they enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively they are expected to remain in the fleet for up to fifty years.
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US admits violating Venezuelan Airspace

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

A U.S. military aircraft based in Curacao may have strayed inadvertently into Venezuelan airspace on May 17 admitted Sean McCormack, Spokesman of US State department. He said that while conducting a counternarcotics mission in international airspace, the pilot realized that a navigation error had occurred. He contacted a Venezuelan tower to report the error, stating that he would immediately return to international airspace. The exchange was polite and professional.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Maduro announced in a televised interview yesterday that he would ask to see Ambassador Duddy on May 20. Sean McCormack said that the US Embassy in Caracas has received no diplomatic communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Iranian-trained terrorist arrested in Gaza

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Alaa Jihad Ouad Abu Madif, a resident of Karara located near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, was arrested on 15 April in a joint IDF–ISA operation. Iranian-trained Abu Madif, a member of the Abu Rish faction which splintered from the PLO in the 1990s, was involved in rocket attacks against Israel and was an intended suicide-bomber against IDF forces. Abu Madif participated in a month-long military training course in Iran in May 2007, after being recruited to the Abu Rish faction a short time previously.

Abu Rish activists in the Gaza Strip are in constant contact with terror handlers in Lebanon , and are involved in the current conflict with Israel . Their main activities include high-trajectory rocket firing and laying of anti-personnel explosive devices.
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Boeing Begins Firing High-Energy Laser Aboard Advanced Tactical Laser Aircraft

Monday, May 19th, 2008

The Boeing Company has fired a high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130H aircraft in ground tests for the first time, achieving a key milestone for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program. The successful laser firing occurred May 13 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

After conducting a series of additional laser tests on the ground and in the air, the program will fire the chemical laser in-flight at mission-representative ground targets. The test team will fire the laser through a rotating turret that extends through the aircraft’s belly.
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U.S. Air Force’s Second KC-45 Tanker Airframe Completes Test Flights

Monday, May 19th, 2008

The second aircraft that Northrop Grumman Corporation has designated for the U.S. Air Force KC-45 Tanker program completed its final check flight May 15, illustrating the rapid production capability that will allow Northrop Grumman to quickly replace the aging KC-135 Tanker fleet. This aircraft, designated SDD-2, follows the first KC-45 Tanker airframe (SDD-1), which was completed in July 2007 and performed its maiden flight Sept. 25, 2007. Both SDD-1 and SDD-2 will be outfitted with in-flight refueling systems and additional military-specific equipment.

Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 is based on the Royal Australian Air Force’s KC-30B Multi-role Tanker, which is on schedule for delivery in early 2009. The United States is the fifth straight country to select the A330-based tanker for its Air Force.

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