December 2008 Worldwide Defence industries industry news military equipment armoured army defence wo

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31 December 2008

Israeli soldiers stand atop an armoured personnel carrier just outside the northern Gaza Strip December 30, 2008. Israel on Tuesday rejected any truce with Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip before cross-border rocket fire ceased and said its air strikes, the fiercest in decades, heralded "long weeks of military action". Israeli soldiers stand atop a tank outside the central Gaza Strip December 30, 2008. Israel hit the Gaza Strip with more air strikes on Tuesday and said its military action could last weeks, while rockets fired by Islamist Hamas struck deep inside the Jewish state.
31 December 2008

Many companies of Russia has received a contract around $200 millions for the delivery of the new ground-to-air anti-aircraft missile system Pechora-2M in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Myanmar, Vietnam, Venezuela and Turkmenistan, information write last week to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti. Two hundred Pechora-2M were ordered by Egypt, and will be delivery during the next three years, said a producing person in charge of a company of the spare parts for these systems. Although all the contracts were concluded by Rosoboronexport (The Russian Export Weapons Agency) with individual customers these last months. For the production point of view, they constitute only one contract concluded between a public intermediary and industry, the interlocutor specifies. After the modernization of S-125 conceived in 1960, this system became mobile, which makes it possible to use it to counter the first air attack of the adversary: “It results from it a system simple, but effective, like rifle Kalachnikov machine gunner: after having drawn, one can throw it”.
27 December 2008

Russia's deputy foreign minister on Thursday denied claims that Russia had supplied S-300 air defense systems to Iran. Iran's official news agency IRNA, quoting a senior Iranian MP, reported on Sunday that Russia had started supplying components for S-300 surface-to-air missile systems. The United States, also citing intelligence reports, demanded an explanation from Russia. "I am very surprised by the fuss this story has caused recently. I think this is due to a lack of interesting international news in the run-up to the holidays that many of our Western neighbors are celebrating. This causes an influx of interest in information, which has nothing to do with anything that is going on or will happen," Sergei Ryabkov told a news conference in Moscow. He said military and technical cooperation that Russia is developing with Iran was transparent, and complied fully with international and Russian laws. Esmaeil Kosari, deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission on national security and foreign policy told IRNA last week that Iran and Russia had held negotiations for several years on the purchase of S-300 systems and had finalized the deal. He said the Islamic Republic would deploy the surface-to-air missile systems to strengthen national defense on border areas.
25 December 2008

A complex of Topol-M (SS-27 Stalin) ICBMs entered service on Wednesday with another missile regiment in central Russia, a Strategic Missile Forces spokesman said. The SMF spokesman said the sophisticated Topol-M road-mobile missile system, which "has no match in the world," had been "put on combat duty" at the Teikovo missile unit in the Ivanovo region. The first two missile battalions were armed with six Topol-M systems at the 54th Strategic Missile Division near the town of Teikovo, about 150 miles (240 km) northeast of Moscow. Topol-M missiles are the mainstay of the ground-based component of Russia's nuclear triad. As of 2008, the SMF operated 48 silo-based and six road-mobile Topol-M missile systems. The missile, with a range of about 7,000 miles (11,000 km), is reportedly impervious to any current or future U.S. missile defenses. It is also shielded against radiation, electromagnetic attack, and nuclear blast, and is designed to survive an impact from any known weaponized laser system.
24 December 2008

Oshkosh Corporation, Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded a $176,328,868 fixed price delivery order #0025 under a previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028). This delivery order is exercise priced options for the purchase of 400 each Logistic Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) production cargo vehicle, 17 each LVSR Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 5TH Wheel Vehicles, 11 each LVSR LRIP Wrecker Vehicles, 275 production weapons mount kits, 110 engine arctic kits, and 171 add-on armor kits. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by May 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
23 December 2008

The DGA French procurement agency had placed an order with Nexter the 05 December 2008, for the delivery of 116 wheeled armoured vehicle VBCI. The number of vehicles ordered at this time is 298 VBCI. The first order of 41 vehicles was delivery of the initial schedule. With the VBCI, the French Army is optimally equipped for the full spectrum of future missions, ranging from humanitarian aid missions to participation in a large-scale conflict. The VBCI off-road wheeled 8x8 armored vehicle, is the successor of the old tracked armored vehicle AMX-10P, with more armor and armament.
18 December 2008

Nexter has just finished upgrading 108 AMX 10P tracked armored personnel carriers ahead of the initial schedule. This upgrade was carried out in six French Army infantry regiments. The last armored vehicle was returned to the 92nd Clermont-Ferrand Infantry Regiment on October 23, 2008. As a reminder, the DGA French procurement agency had placed an order with Nexter in September 2005, notably concerning the upgrade of these 108 armored vehicles and the delivery of 258 gearboxes. This operation increased the vehicle's protection with the installation of add-on armor. Its mobility was increased by fitting new suspension systems and a strengthened gearbox.
18 December 2008

Saab has received an order from the Finnish Defence Forces for an additional number of the new anti-tank weapon NLAW. The order is valued to approximately 200 MSEK. Finland ordered the anti-tank weapon system NLAW last year and became the first export customer for the short range anti-tank weapon. They have now ordered an additional number of the system which will be delivered to Finland during 2009. NLAW, Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon is originally developed for Sweden and Great Britain. The system meets the requirements for a modern anti-tank weapon system in international operations within an urban environment. It´s developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics, Sweden, and final assembly is carried out by Thales Air Defence Ltd. in Northern Ireland.
17 December 2008

Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT) announced that Force Protection Industries, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, has received two contract awards from Marine Corps Systems Command for 188 Cougar Exterior Ballistic EFP Kits. These add-on armor packages incorporate the company’s proprietary composite armor solution, Force Armor™. These undefinitized contracts carry a combined dollar value not to exceed $30 million with delivery scheduled for late 2008 and early 2009.
17 December 2008

KONGSBERG has been awarded a MNOK 350 order by the Swiss Army for the delivery of Protector weapon control systems, including logistics for the vehicle programs GMTF and ABC. Deliveries will commence in autumn 2009. PROTECTOR - Remote Weapon Station(RWS) is a remotely controlled weapon station for light and medium calibre weapons and can be installed on any type of vehicle. PROTECTOR has been in full scale production since December 2001. Since then more than 3000 systems have been delivered to several customers around the world. The Protector weapon control system protects military troops by allowing the vehicle's weapons to be operated from a protected position inside the vehicle.
17 December 2008

China would work with Pakistan to push forward the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership, said Vice President Xi Jinping here on Tuesday. Hailed the relations between China and Pakistan, Xi said the two nations enjoyed profound friendship, which had stood the test of international changes. China and Pakistan set up diplomatic ties 57 years ago. Xi said the two countries witnessed increasing mutual trust in politics and expanded cooperation in various areas. China valued the traditional friendship with Pakistan, and was ready to advance relations with the south Asia country, he noted. Majid said his country attached great importance to the relations with China, and would join in China to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
16 December 2008

According to the contract signed recently with NATO, Renault Trucks Defense is delivering the Sherpa 3 tactical vehicles as well as the heavy logistic trucks: Kerax 4x4, kerax 6x6 and 8x8 manufactured at Bourg-en-Bresse factory. Taking into account the operational urgency, those vehicles will be sent to the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
At the same time, Renault Trucks Defense awarded a contract for the delivery of armoured cabin for the tanker truck Kerax use by the French Army. This delivery order will procure 20 armoured cabin Kerax, with an option for 10 more This armoured was presented for the first time during the Eurosatory 2008 Defence Exhibition at Paris in June 2008.
15 December 2008

At the request of the Austrian Ministry of Defense and in cooperation with the Land Forces School, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (UAS) was tested for four days in early December 2008 in the military training area at Allentsteig north of Vienna. General routine test flights were conducted on the system throughout its flight envelope and its tactical operational use was practiced in a field exercise in support of the army. In addition, high-speed testing and altitude flights up to 6.000m (18,000ft) were successfully performed in the available airspace.
The system stands out for its ease of use, flexibility and stability of operation. The Army test team, as well as the attending international guests were convinced of these features that are essential requirements for the modern warfighter and of special importance in support of foreign expeditionary assignments.
With its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 200 kg, a typical payload of 50 kg and its range of up to 180 km, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 delivers persistence, with an endurance of up to six hours. Whether for force protection, projection or troop surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the proven CAMCOPTER® S-100 is best suited for a wide variety of tasks.
15 December 2008

After the successful completion of the trials phase, the Director of Defence Material Organisation (DMO), Lex Hendrichs, this morning handed over the first five vehicles to the deputy commander of the Land Forces, Major General Marcel van den Broek. The Ministry of Defence has chosen to procure a combination of modern vehicles to ensure that the Royal Netherlands Army is optimally equipped for the full spectrum of future missions, ranging from humanitarian aid missions to participation in a large-scale conflict. Thanks to its heavy weapons and armor, the CV90 can operate in the heaviest operational conditions. The Ministry of Defence will procure 192 CV90s, including those intended for training. Earlier versions of CV90 are already in operation with the armed forces of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Switzerland.
15 December 2008

The U.S. wants to support the reconstruction of the Iraqi Armed Forces with billions-worth weapon supplies. According to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Iraq wants to buy military equipment including Abrams tanks, Stryker wheeled vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft worth over $6 billion (€4.5 billion).
12 December 2008

Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $362,283,452 firm fixed priced delivery order #0010 under previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for the procurement of Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) vehicles with Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) upgrades for enhanced maneuverability with greater armor protection. This delivery order will procure 400 Category I MRAP MaxxPro DASH vehicles to provide protection for U.S. Military personnel currently in theater. Work will be performed in WestPoint, Miss., and work is expected to be completed by the end of May 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured.
11 December 2008

Venezuela army takes part in a mock invasion exercise during a ceremony to mark the nation's Aviation Day in the central state of Guarico, 200 miles (322 km) south of Caracas December 10, 2008.
10 December 2008

Top American ammunition supplier Alliant Techsystems, Inc in Independence, MO recently received an $86.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for 94.6 million rounds of various non standard ammunition for the Afghanistan national Army and Afghanistan National Police. By “nonstandard,” the military means non-NATO standard, such as the 7.62×54 caliber used by rifles like the AK-47 and its copies around the world. Work will be performed in Independence, MO with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. Bids solicited were via the Web and 14 bids were received by Army Research Sustainment Command at Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-09-C-0007).
10 December 2008

Mobility and firing tests of the 105mm HITFACT turret mounted on the 8X8 Pandur II armoured vehicle, manufactured by the Austrian company Steyr and already used by the Portuguese army in a troop transport version. This test was make to a few kilometres from Tomar is Poligono di Santa Margarida, Italy. Excellent results were achieved in all conditions, from stationary vehicle to stationary target to the more difficult situation of a moving vehicle shooting at a moving target. Spectacular scenes were also provided by the mobility demonstration, which included clearing a mud-filled trench and the steep slope of a dried-up gravelly riverbed, finished off with its return amidst sprays of muddy water. The turret represents a brand new concept in some principal subsystems (electrical control systems, new, special barrel steel, the latest generation of fire control systems and recoil brakes) and is the fruit of close on 50 years experience in the area of 105mm guns and follows the production of approximately 500 Centauro turrets. There to witness the tests was the National Armaments Director, a number of representatives from the Portuguese army and Defence Ministry, the Italian Military Attaché and representatives from the Italian Defence Ministry, not to mention an official American observer. The final day was dedicated to the press and local television channels, which were eager to find out all the technical details and the system’s special features.
08 December 2008

Militants blasted their way into two transport terminals in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan on Sunday and torched more than 160 vehicles destined for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, in the biggest assault yet on a vital military supply line.
07 December 2008

Anti-terrorist Special Forces, of the Chilean marines, train during a military exercise of the maritime interdiction operation in Valparaiso, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Santiago December 4, 2008. Armed forces of Latin America and the world are participating in the 6th International Maritime Exhibition and Conference for Latin America, under the name Exponaval 2008.
04 December 2008

Russia's Defense Ministry plans to deploy special mountain units at military bases in S. Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia and Tajikistan, as well as in the Urals and Far East, a ministry official said on Thursday. "All military contingents deployed in mountainous regions will have battalion-level units specially trained for mountain warfare," said Col. Vladimir Chabanov, deputy head of the Ground Forces combat training department at the Russian Defense Ministry. Russia has already deployed two mountain brigades in the North Caucasus republics of Daghestan and Karachayevo-Circassia. They are manned by contract soldiers and total about 4,500 personnel. Chabanov said the newly formed units would be equipped with special weaponry and equipment developed for combat at high altitudes in mountainous areas, including professional mountain-climbing equipment. Russia currently deploys a military base in Gyumri, Armenia and a military base near the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, which hosts the 5,000-strong 201st Motorized Rifle Division. Moscow is also planning to open one base in Gudauta, in the west of Abkhazia, and another in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, following a five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia in August.
04 December 2008

The Chinese and Indian military forces will hold a joint anti-terror military training from Dec. 6 to 14 in India, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday. The two armies will each dispatch an infantry company to take part in the joint training, code-named "Hand in Hand 2008", in south India's Belgaum District, said the ministry spokesman Huang Xueping. The group of 137 troops from the Chinese side arrived at the training camp in Belgaum on Thursday after eight hours' flight by two military transport planes, and a brief welcoming ceremony was held at the airport by the Indian side.The joint training is being carried out according to the Memorandum of Understanding for Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Defense signed in 2006 and is listed in the annual exchange plans for 2008 after discussion of the two sides, Huang said. The nine-day joint anti-terror military training will include display of weapons and equipment, communication of tactics, joint training and a comprehensive drill. The two countries held their first joint anti-terrorism military training in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province last year.
04 December 2008

British troops could get a major increase in firepower thanks to a revolutionary gun system and advanced turret destined for their armoured fighting vehicles. Senior officials from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its French equivalent, the DGA, saw the system in action on a Warrior vehicle at the Kirkcudbright range in Scotland. The BAE Systems MTIP2 turret and its Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) is already cleared to fire from a moving vehicle at a moving target. MTIP2 is a BAE Systems-funded project to de-risk both the Warrior Fightability and Lethality Improvement Programme (WFLIP) and the FRES Scout vehicle. The company’s offerings into the competitions for the two programmes use different turrets with a common architecture and many common systems, including CTAS, to reduce the training and logistics burden. During the trials, a number of users commented that the turret exhibited a step change in stabilisation performance from the Challenger 2 tank, widely regarded as the benchmark. Over the course of three trials open days, visitors saw the system perform static and moving firings against static and moving targets, using both training and armour-piercing rounds. 90 rounds were fired from the 40mm gun and 600 rounds from the chain gun, achieving high levels of accuracy and reliability.
03 December 2008

During the current visit of a Korean military delegation in Russia, the chiefs of general staffs of the two countries will examine the various aspects of the military cooperation and bilateral technique, entrusted to Wednesday to RIA Novosti a spokesman of the Russian ministry of Defense. At the time of her stay in Russia, which will last until December 5th, the delegation will visit troops of the military regions of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. “The president of the unified Committee of the chiefs of staffs of the Korean armed forces, the general Kim Dae-jong, will meet his Russian counterpart, the general Nikolaï Makarov, chief of general staff and first vice-minister of Defense, to discuss the military cooperation and technique between the two countries”, announced the interlocutor of the agency.
03 December 2008

India and Russia have taken a significant step to boost Defence Cooperation at their first meeting of the India-Russia High Level Monitoring Committee (HLMC). The two-day meeting, co-chaired by the Defence Secretary Shri Vijay Singh and Mr Mikhail Dmitriev, Director, FSMTC from the Russian side, ended here today. Both sides discussed issues related to ongoing projects such as Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, Multi-role Transport Aircraft, T-90 tanks, AWACS, SU-30MKI upgrade, aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and Medium Lift Helicopters. Cooperation between the defence forces of the two countries was also discussed.
03 December 2008

With deployment abroad and the continuous fight against terrorism, the German Bundeswehr faces great challenges. Nowadays the Bundeswehr is deployed in several missions worldwide to deal with international crises and conflicts such as in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Therefore, on 30 November 2008, the members of the German Bundestag adopted the 2009 Defence Budget Act with a total amount of €31.2 billion ($39.5 billion) for this year. Compared to 2008, the 2009 defence budget will increase by nearly 6 per cent or €1.75billion ($2.2 billion). According to the Budget Act the German defence budget will continuously raise over the next years. In the 2009 Defence Budget Act the investment quota go up 1.3 percent to 24 percent of the overall budget while operating costs decline.
01 December 2008

During the last year the military units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces received from Kharkiv 56 Bulat main battle tanks (MBT), which are an upgraded version of the T-64B battle tank. This was announced by Alexey Podgorniy, the acting director general of the Kharkiv-based State Enterprise Malyshev Plant. The next year is to see delivery of another 30 upgraded tanks. If provided with relevant financial support, the Malyshev Plant will be able to establish in the near future the facilities for production of the first ten Oplot MBTs. The Oplot MBT, which is to enter service with the separate tank brigade of the 6th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Army, is the first national tank of Ukraine. esides, it is planned to supply three Atlet armoured repair and recovery vehicles and ten BTR-4 armoured personnel carriers. These armoured vehicles, according to the General Designer of Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau Lt Gen Mikhailo Borysiuk, are in many aspects are on a par with the most advanced foreign vehicles.
01 December 2008

The Nigeria military has deployed more troops and amoured vehicles to contain the ongoing civil unrest in Jos after two days of post-election violence between Christians and Muslims that left hundreds dead. The clashes were triggered by a rumour on November 28, 2008 that the majority-Muslim All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) had lost in a local election to the mainly Christian Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to a police spokesman.
01 December 2008

Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meet with visiting Commander-in-chief of Columbia's Armed Forces Freddy Padilla de Leon here on Wednesday, agreeing to further boost bilateral military exchanges. Liang, also a Chinese state councilor, hailed the progress of bilateral military cooperation over the years. Regarding military relations as an important part of overall bilateral ties, he said the Chinese armed forces attached great importance to developing friendly relations with Columbia, and would like to join hands with the country to further deepen military exchanges and cooperation. In response, Padilla said the Columbian armed forces are confident about future cooperation with China, calling on both sides to explore new cooperation areas and projects. Besides Beijing, Padilla will also visit China's historic city Xi'an and economic hub Shanghai.
01 December 2008

Pakistani security officials stand near burnt military vehicles parked near trucks that were hit by rocket-propelled grenades fired by militants, on the outskirts of Peshawar December 1, 2008. Two drivers of trucks transporting supplies to Western forces in Afghanistan were killed on Monday in a grenade and gun attack near Peshawar, a transport company official said.
01 December 2008

Brazil wishes to acquire Russian weaponry, in particular aircraft and armored vehicle, entrusted to RIA Novosti Mikhaïl Dmitriev, director of the Russian Federal service for the military cooperation and technique (FSVTS). According to Mr. Dmitriev, Brazil “is interested by the helicopters and mobile systems of DCA”. “We also study the possibilities of delivery of armored vehicles and planes of drive. According to any probability, it will be of Yak-130”, announced the director of the FSVTS, adding that it was premature of speaking about the concrete contracts and their amounts. “An important preliminary work is to be carried out”, it concluded. Brazil has ordered 12 Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters from Russia, which has already supplied similar gunships to Venezuela.
01 December 2008

Swedish troops have on two occasions been subjected to rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks in Afghanistan. This is made clear in Army Inspector Berndt Grundevik’s analysis of the events of 7 and 8 November when Swedish soldiers found themselves under fire in northern Afghanistan. Major General Grundevik is now recommending that the Swedish Armed Forces should take new measures including the deployment of Combat Vehicle 90 (CV 90) to Afghanistan.
01 December 2008