It’s necessary that Russia continues to develop its systems of offensive armaments, declared Vladimir Poutine to the journalists in Vladivostok. “We must develop our systems of offensive armaments”, announced the Russian Prime Minister while explaining that would make it possible to maintain strategic balance with the United States which, unlike Russia, develops their anti-missile defense. “If we want to carry out information exchanges, the United States must pass to us the whole of information concerning their anti-missile shield, and us, in our turn, we are ready to transmit all those to them relative to our offensive armaments”, specified M.Poutine.It’s necessary that Russia continues to develop its systems of offensive armaments, declared Vladimir Poutine to the journalists in Vladivostok. “We must develop our systems of offensive armaments”, announced the Russian Prime Minister.

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Russia and Belarus will create a common air defense system in accordance with the agreement ratified by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, announced this 28 December 2009, by the press service of the Kremlin. Under agreement signed on February 3rd, the regional air defense system will be composed of the general command, several headquarters and Russian and Belarus military units whose list will be approved by the Ministers for Defense. The commander of the common system will be named by the Russian and Belarus Presidents. According to the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air force, the general Alexandre Zeline, the single air defense system will comprise five air force units, ten units of ground-to-air missiles batteries, five radio technologies units and an one war electronic unit. Last September, the assistant commander-in-chief of the Russian Air force, the general Sergueï Razygraïev, estimated that the fusion of Russian systems DCA and Belarus would make it possible to raise of it the effectiveness from 15 to 20%.Russia and Belarus will create a common air defense system in accordance with the agreement ratified by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, announced this 28 December 2009, by the press service of the Kremlin.

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IVECO Defence Vehicles announces that on December 18, 2009 the Czech Army placed order for a further batch of 90 Light Multirole Vehicles (LMV) in 3 different versions to be delivered between 2010 and 2013. The contract signed now, which also includes related logistics support, is part of a joint purchase project of the Czech and the Slovak army aimed to ensure a better cooperation in their common battle groups. Between 2007 and 2009, the Czech army had already ordered 24 vehicles (crew carriers and with 12.7mm Kongsberg remote weapon station). This contract results from theIVECO Defence Vehicles announces that on December 18, 2009 the Czech Army placed order for a further batch of 90 Light Multirole Vehicles (LMV) in 3 different versions to be delivered between 2010 and 2013.

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The US Air Force is replacing the AN/TPS-75 radar with the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) as the principal USAF long-range, ground-based sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aircraft and missiles through the Ground Theater Air Control System. The AN/TPS-75 radar has been in service since 1968. The primary mission of the 3DELRR will be to provide long-range surveillance, control of aircraft, and theater ballistic missile detection. The 3DELRR will correct AN/TPS-75 shortfalls by detecting and reporting highly maneuverable, small radar cross-section targets. Its improved resolution may allow it to classify and determine the type of non-cooperative aircraft that cannot or do not identify themselves. Once the Technical Development Phase is complete, the USAF intends to award the System Design & Development (SDD) to the winning team around 2011.The US Air Force is replacing the AN/TPS-75 radar with the Three-Dimensional Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) as the principal USAF long-range, ground-based sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aircraft and missiles through the Ground Theater Air Control System.

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The first deputy to Secretary of the National security and defense council Stepan Gavrish informed that on December 11 Ukraine concluded the first among a series of large-scale contracts for supply of armaments to Iraq to the amount of more than $550 mln. According to him, the contract envisages the supply of more than 400 BTR-4 armored vehicles within three to three and a half years. The contract has been concluded by the leading armored equipment production enterprise of Ukraine – State owned enterprise Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau through intermediary of the Foreign trade company Progress. Armored personnel carriers BTR-4 in several versions as well as special support vehicles, training facilities, service and support will be supplied to Iraq. The first deputy to Secretary of the National security and defense council Stepan Gavrish informed that the Company Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building will provide 400 armored vehicles BTR-4 to Iraq.

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KONGSBERG has signed a contract with the Czech company PRAGA-Export regarding the Protector Weapon Control System for the Czech Ministry of Defense. The Protector weapon control system protects military troops by allowing the vehicle's weapons to be operated from a protected position inside the vehicle. KONGSBERG has signed a contract with the Czech company PRAGA-Export regarding the Protector Weapon Control System for the Czech Ministry of Defense.

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BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) - French Armament Procurement Agency - for 53 BvS10 MkII vehicles, a new and improved version of the all-terrain vehicle in service with the Dutch and British armed forces. With options, the total value of the contract could reach €220 million for 129 vehicles. The contract is for three variants - troop carrier, command post and logistic vehicle - together with a comprehensive through-life support package. The project will be run in close cooperation with French partners, such as Panhard and EADS and deliveries are to commence 2010. "The French requirements were very challenging and so it was particularly rewarding to win this contract," said Jan Söderström, managing director for BAE Systems' Vehicles business. "The contract acknowledges the high performance and strong market position of our battle-proven BvS10 and secures the continued development of the vehicle." More than 35 years' experience of articulated vehicle design and production in Örnsköldsvik, and in-theatre experience from countries like Afghanistan and Chad, has fed into development of the BvS10. "The MkII version of the BvS10 completely fulfils the French Army's requirements in terms of protection, mobility and payload while maintaining the flexibility to perform across the spectrum of military operations," says Söderström.BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) - French Armament Procurement Agency - for 53 BvS10 MkII vehicles, a new and improved version of the all-terrain vehicle in service with the Dutch and British armed forces.

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The Brazilian Army and the Business unit Iveco Latin America had signed this, 18 of December, an agreement for the manufacture of 2.044 units of the basic model of the new family of wheeled armoured vehicle VBTP-MR (Vehicles Armored for the Transport of Pessoal Médio Sobre Rodas).

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The Supacat SPV400 development programme has passed a major milestone having successfully undergone blast testing on 3rd and 4th December. The full technical specification of these tests cannot be revealed for security reasons, however, a significant under-vehicle mine blast simulation was conducted as was a huge Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) simulation.The Supacat SPV400 development programme has passed a major milestone having successfully undergone blast testing on 3rd and 4th December.The full technical specification of these tests cannot be revealed for security reason.

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The creation of armaments for the single system of Russian ballistic defense, including S-500 missiles will be completed in 2015, announced Wednesday in Moscow Igor Achourbeïli, managing director of the Almaz-Anteï research department charged to develop S-500. “All the elements of the single system of ballistic defense must be set up in 2015 in accordance with the military program of State”, indicated the person in charge to the journalists. The Russian Company Almaz-Anteï Bureau plans to build “two new factories” which will produce ground-to-air missiles and land armaments of anti-aircraft defense, added M.Achourbeïli. The surface-to-air missiles S-500 are intended to replace S-400 Triumph able to organize the spread out defense of the sites against a massive air attack. The S-500 missiles will be able to destroy 10 targets against 6 for S-400.The creation of armaments for the single system of Russian ballistic defense, including S-500 missiles will be completed in 2015, announced Wednesday in Moscow Igor Achourbeïli, managing director of the Almaz-Anteï research department charged to develop S-500.

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US Marines deployed Assault Breacher Vehicles for the first time during the assault on Now Zad, a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, on December 3. (USMC photo)HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan --- A vehicle that looks like a hybrid of a tank and bulldozer comes to a stop. An enormous blast shrieks through the air and delivers 1,750 pounds of C4 on the road ahead. The Marine Corps newest vehicle, an assault breacher vehicle, has detonated a route clearing, line charge, making its first combat assault in Marine Corps history. The Marine Corps prepared the ABV crew and the vehicle for combat for approximately two years. On the morning of Dec. 3, the ABV fired its first line charge during Operation Cobra's Anger in Now Zad, Afghanistan. Due to mass amounts of roadside bombs expected around Now Zad, ABV's led the way for the operation by detonating numerous line charges on the path to the Taliban stronghold, Now Zad. US Marines deployed Assault Breacher Vehicles for the first time during the assault on Now Zad, a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, on December 3. (USMC photo)HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan

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The Russian consortium of defense Almaz-Anteï completed the preliminary tests of a new missile interceptor for the anti-aircraft system S-400, announced this 16 December 2009, the manager director of the research department of the consortium, Igor Achourbeïli. “We never had problems with the missile for S-400”, it declared, adding that its research department “had completed last November the preliminary tests of the missile especially designed for this system of long distance interception”. The system S-400 Triumph is intended to neutralize a new class of air targets: the aircraft, of which furtive planes, cruise missiles of low dimensions and the ballistic missiles of which the range does not exceed 3.500 km and speed 4.8 km/s.The Russian consortium of defense Almaz-Anteï completed the preliminary tests of a new missile interceptor for the anti-aircraft system S-400, announced this 16 December 2009, the manager director of the research department of the consortium, Igor Achourbeïli.

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BAE Systems has received a $59 million contract from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command for the production of 109 second-generation Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles (ILAV) and 10 Mine Roller Kits. These vehicles are being built for delivery to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Interior.BAE Systems has received a $59 million contract from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command for the production of 109 second-generation Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles (ILAV) and 10 Mine Roller Kits.

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Vladimir Poutine visited this 08 December 2008 the tests Metal Institute of Nijni Taguil (Ural) to familiarize himself with the performances of Russian modern armoured tanks, in particular, the armoured vehicle BMPT (Tanks support armoured vehicle), announces the correspondent of RIA Novosti. The chief of the Russian government attended the shootings carried out by armoured vehicle BMP-3 and tank T-90A. The shootings reached a tank being at a distance of four kilometres. The Prime Minister was particularly attracted by a BMPT, because it’s a new type of combat vehicle. The BMP-T is intended to destroy light armoured vehicles, but also main battle tanks with heavy armour.Vladimir Poutine visited this 08 December 2008 the tests Metal Institute of Nijni Taguil (Ural) to familiarize himself with the performances of Russian modern armoured tanks, in particular, the armoured vehicle BMPT (Tanks support armoured vehicle), announces the correspondent of RIA Novosti.

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Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, has been selected by the Colombian Ministry of Defense to produce and deliver 39 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) ASV M1117 for the Colombian Army. The Colombian Army's initial requirement for armored wheeled vehicles with associated logistics support will be contracted through the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales process. The total value of this procurement is $45.6 million. Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, has been selected by the Colombian Ministry of Defense to produce and deliver 39 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) ASV M1117 for the Colombian Army.

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Russia is seeking to equip its airborne troops with a variety of new weaponry in the coming years, including BMD-4M airborne infantry fighting vehicles (AIFVs) and new sniper rifles, the head of the service said on 8 December. "We are expecting to receive up to 200 BMD-4M AIFVs in the next few years to significantly increase the combat capability of our troops," said Lieutenant General Vladimir Shamanov, according to comments conveyed by state news service RIA Novosti. "Paratroopers will also get indigenous Shakhin infrared scopes, new sniper rifles, underwater assault rifles and other advanced weaponry and gear," he said.Russia is seeking to equip its airborne troops with a variety of new weaponry in the coming years, including BMD-4M airborne infantry fighting vehicles (AIFVs) and new sniper rifles, the head of the service said on 8 December.

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This December. 10th, 2009 was the first delivery of the Heron Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to the Canadian company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), and to the customer, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Heron UAS, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), includes an aircraft, mission payloads, Advanced Ground Control Station (AGCS), spare parts, and ground support equipment. The Heron was chosen from among a number of UAS competitors, after successfully completing a series of tests, for its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The Heron system delivered today will start operations in early 2010 for one year, with the option to extend for an additional two years. This December. 10th, 2009 was the first delivery of the Heron Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to the Canadian company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), and to the customer, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

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The troops of strategic missiles (RVSN) carried out this 10 December 2009, a successful firing of intercontinental ballistic missile RS12M Topol. “The firing was carried out successfully at 15:35 Moscow time (12H35 GMT) at the Kapoustin-Iar polygon, in the region of Astrakhan, indicated the military. Adding that “the factitious warhead of the missile reached with precision a target located on the polygon of Sary-Chagan (Kazakhstan)”.The troops of strategic missiles (RVSN) carried out this 10 December 2009, a successful firing of intercontinental ballistic missile RS12M Topol. “The firing was carried out successfully at 15:35 Moscow time (12H35 GMT) at the Kapoustin-Iar polygon.

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Ukraine will deliver a variety of military equipment to Iraq under a recent deal worth an estimated $2.4 billion, a Russian newspaper reported. According to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily, the deal between the state arms exporter UkrSpetsExport and the Iraqi defense ministry is the largest in Ukraine's history and could lift the ex-Soviet republic to the 4th or 5th place among the top arms dealers in the world from the current 14th. The new contract will ensure orders for over 80 Ukrainian firms, including the state-run Progress machine-building plant in Berdichev, which produced T-80UD tanks for Pakistan in the 1990s. Sources close to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry told the newspaper that the deal included the delivery of an unspecified number of armored vehicles, transport planes and high-precision weaponry. Ukraine will also provide repair and maintenance services for the sold equipment.Ukraine will deliver a variety of military equipment to Iraq under a recent deal worth an estimated $2.4 billion, a Russian newspaper reported. According to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily, the deal between the state arms exporter UkrSpetsExport and the Iraqi defense ministry is the largest in Ukraine's history

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The Russian Armed Forces will conduct large-scale Vostok military exercises in Siberia and the country's Far East in 2010, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, according to RIA Novosti. The exercises will be part on the annual training cycle in the Russian military, aimed at improving combat readiness and interoperability of the various branches of the Armed Forces. "The main event of the combat training in 2010 will be the Vostok-2010 strategic exercises, which will involve units of the Siberian and the Far Eastern military districts, the Air Force, Airborne troops and the Pacific Fleet," the ministry said in a statement. So far this year, the military has conducted the Caucasus 2009, Zapad 2009 and Ladoga 2009 strategic exercises, and 15 brigade-level and 161 battalion-level drills. Russia holds Vostok strategic command-and-staff exercises every two years. More than 8,000 troops took part in Vostok-2008.The Russian Armed Forces will conduct large-scale Vostok military exercises in Siberia and the country's Far East in 2010, the Defense Ministry said on 01 December 2009, according to RIA Novosti.

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The Russian land forces create a training center for the drones operators, announced to Monday in Moscow the chief of the department power station of the military formation of the Russian Armed forces Valeri Evnevitch. "The nad forces of Russian army plan to create the Training center of the specialists charged to control the drones at the time of military operations”, indicated the Evnevitch general. “The drones also took part in the exercises (Russo-Belorusses) Zapad 2009 (Occident 2009) which had proceeded in September in the presence of the president and Russian supreme leader of the armies” Dmitri Medvedev”, said the general.The Russian land forces create a training center for the drones operators, announced to Monday in Moscow the chief of the department power station of the military formation of the Russian Armed forces Valeri Evnevitch.

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Jordan is negotiating the purchase of an additional $388 million package of Javelin anti-tank missiles. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress the 30 November 2009 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Jordan of JAVELIN Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, Fly-to-Buy Missiles, JAVELIN Command Launch Units (CLUs) with Integrated Day/Thermal Sight and associated parts, equipment, training and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $388 million. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has requested a possible sale of 1,808 JAVELIN Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, 18 Fly-to-Buy Missiles, 162 JAVELIN Command Launch Units (CLUs) with Integrated Day/Thermal Sight, containers, missile simulation rounds, enhanced basic skills trainer (EPBST), rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, battery dischargers and chargers, and coolant units, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $388 million. Jordan is negotiating the purchase of an additional $388 million package of Javelin anti-tank missiles. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress the 30 November 2009 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Jordan of JAVELIN Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.

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Oshkosh Corporation marked the handoff of the 1,000th MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) to the U.S. Armed Forces on Nov. 30 at a ceremony with military leadership at the company’s facilities in Oshkosh, Wis. Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, commander of the Marine Corps Systems Command, and Lt. Col. Coll Haddon, M-ATV product manager for the MRAP Joint Program Office, were the keynote speakers at the event. Having exceeded the government’s delivery schedule for five consecutive months, Oshkosh is ramping up production to 1,000 vehicles per month in December and continuing at that level through April 2010. Since being awarded the production contract on June 30, 2009, Oshkosh has received four additional awards from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to supply a total of 6,219 M-ATVs. Oshkosh also has received orders for spare kits and to send its factory-trained field service representatives (FSR) to Afghanistan to provide training and maintenance support for the vehicles. The aggregate amount of the five awards is valued at $3.2 billion.Oshkosh Corporation marked the handoff of the 1,000th MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) to the U.S. Armed Forces on Nov. 30 at a ceremony with military leadership at the company’s facilities in Oshkosh, Wis.

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Eighteen LEMIR systems (Leurre Massique mécanique InfraRouge) are deployed in the Afghan theater with French forces operating as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The LEMIR Device system is fitted to the wheeled armoured vehicle VAB in Afghanistan, the French Command and Support Battalion (BCS) carried out its first resupply convoy between Kabul and Nijrab, in the Kapisa valley, using the LEMIR device. LEMIR is a counter-IED (improvised explosive devices) and counter-mine device which will detonate explosive devices that are activated by pressure, trip-wire or heat sources. Particularly flexible, it comes in the form of kits with adjustable length and width to fit all types of vehicles, of foreign or French design. The kits are installed on the VAB and BUFFALO, which are distributed throughout the French area of operations in Afghanistan. There are three LEMIR for each Groupement Tactique Interarmes (GTIA, or combined battle group) within the Task Force La Fayette in the Kapisa and Surobi valleys. Six additional LEMIR are provided to the Operational Liaison Monitoring Teams deployed in the French area of responsibility, and three are held in reserve. Eighteen LEMIR systems (Leurre Massique mécanique InfraRouge) are deployed in the Afghan theater with French forces operating as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

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Following the success with the first UAS ever to fly at the Paris Air Show in June 2009, Schiebel has now won a contract with the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA). The CAMCOPTER S-100 will be leased for a selection of comprehensive experimental trials in France by the French Army at a military camp, during a military exercise, as well as two weeks of demanding trials at a non European location, and on behalf of the French Navy at a Navy base. The trials will take place during the first half of 2010. The goal of these trials is it to assess the advantages of VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing). In order to fulfill the DGA’s requirements, Schiebel has sub-contracted Thales Aeronautical Systems to assist them with the arrangement and organization of the flight and frequency permits. The main payload for these trials will be the Thales Optronics Agile 2 Electro Optical and Infra Red (EO/IR) sensor.Following the success with the first UAS ever to fly at the Paris Air Show in June 2009, Schiebel has now won a contract with the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA).

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