Ukraine is to downsize its Armed Forces by some 20% to 150,000-160,000 personnel in five years, the government press service said on Thursday. The cuts are envisioned under a draft concept for the organizational development of the national Armed Forces. The country presently has about 200,000 servicemen. Alongside the cuts in personnel, the draft concept states that military spending should grow at a rate of 15-20% a year through 2015. The Armed Forces are also to sell off surplus military property, which should yield $188 million to $250 million. The concept also directs the Defense Ministry to make a more effective use of its internal resources, saving an additional $2.4 billion. Ukraine is to downsize its Armed Forces by some 20% to 150,000-160,000 personnel in five years, the government press service said. The cuts are envisioned under a draft concept for the organizational development of the national Armed Forces.

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The General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) team of General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General today delivered two Right-Hand Operation (RHO) Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), one companion trailer and supporting equipment on schedule to the U.S. government for Technology Development (TD) phase testing in support of the U.S. and Australia’s Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement (PA). The PA enables tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between the two countries. Delivery of the RHO JLTVs follows GTV’s previous ahead-of-schedule deliveries of armor samples, ballistic hulls, seven vehicles and four trailers and spare parts for the TD phase. Test and evaluation of the RHO JLTVs includes a five-month reliability and durability test and evaluation process at the Monegeetta Proving Ground in Monegeetta, Victoria, Australia. Test site management for GTV will be performed by General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia and supported by Australian in-country suppliers. The JLTV TD phase is intended to validate the integration of mature technologies as a complete vehicle system, rebalancing payload, protection and performance while maintaining transportability and expeditionary capabilities; give the Army, Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Force an accurate assessment of the technical and performance capabilities and risks associated with entering the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase; and establish a realistic set of requirements for the JLTV programThe General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) team of General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General today delivered two Right-Hand Operation (RHO) Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), .....

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BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman today announced additional members to their GCV team in their bid for the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) competition. "We have built a team that has extensive experience and innovation in the development and production of combat systems and subsystems," said Mark Signorelli, vice president and general manager of Ground Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. "With this team we bring more to our customer by providing a vehicle that will meet the Army's requirements for a highly survivable platform that can adapt to a constantly evolving and changing operational environment; from humanitarian relief to a full scale battlefield." Each teammate will bring a different capability to GCV that will help to strengthen the BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman team offering. As the prime contractor, BAE Systems will provide the overall program management and systems integration for GCV and will also be responsible for providing the vehicle design, structure, logistical support as well as the readiness and sustainment of the platform. Northrop Grumman will serve as the C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) lead. QinetiQ North America will provide the electric drive propulsion system or E-X-Drive™ for Ground Combat Vehicles. The E-X-Drive is the key component of the hybrid electric drive system, which minimizes electrical demand, saves on vehicle fuel costs, improves reliability, provides higher dash speed and acceleration and increased on-board and off-board power. Saft will provide the energy storage system for the GCV. The BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman GCV offering will be the first combat vehicle designed from the ground-up to operate in an IED-threat environment. The team's offering will provide survivability, mobility and versatility that will address the operational requirements of the customer. The GCV mine survivability will exceed that of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, while the enhanced mobility capabilities will allow the GCV to operate in urban and cross country environments. The team's vehicle will also have an integrated electronic network capability and embedded intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to connect the warfighters. The open architecture electronics will also be adaptable to future network upgrades as new technologies mature. The modular armor system will allow the unit commander to rapidly apply or remove kits in the field to adjust to the tactical situation. BAE Systems is the top producer of combat vehicles in the world and provides nearly 80 percent of the vehicles in the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT). The GCV program is a development effort headed by the U.S. Army to develop the first combat vehicle designed from the ground up to operate in an IED-threat environment. BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman today announced additional members to their GCV team in their bid for the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) competition.

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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. 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.

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The Israeli Defense Ministry has reported that tests of the Iron Dome air defense system have been completed and that interceptor missiles will soon be deployed. The final tests of the Israeli air defense system designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells were successfully carried out on Monday, the ministry said in a statement. First Iron Dome interceptor missiles are expected to be deployed by November. Israel moved to develop the Iron Dome air defense system following years of fighting against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The militants had fired thousands of short-range rockets at Israel until Operation Cast Lead in December 2008-January 2009 put an end to massive Palestinian attacks. The war claimed the lives of some 1,500 Palestinians. During a month-long war with Lebanon in the summer of 2006, militants of the Shiite armed group Hezbollah have fired some 4,000 short-range rockets at northern Israel. The cost of a single Iron Dome missile launch is estimated at tens of thousands of dollars, while a single launch of a Qassam rocket is ten times cheaper. The Israeli Defense Ministry has reported that tests of the Iron Dome air defense system have been completed and that interceptor missiles will soon be deployed.

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Defence and security company Saab has been awarded a new large contract for multispectral camouflage products and services. The order has a total value of approximately MSEK 670. Deliveries will start during 2010 and continue for four years. At the customer's request and due to the nature of the order, no details about the contract or the customer will be made public. “We are proud to be selected and it further proves Saab’s unrivalled position as the world-leader within signature management technology. We continue to attract new and existing customers around the globe,” says Tomas Samuelsson, head for Saab’s business area Dynamics. Saab Barracuda’s advanced camouflage technology products have until now been exported to more than 50 countries. Saab Barracuda offers a unique package of camouflage systems and force protection solutions with the purpose to decrease the enemy’s ability to detect and engage. These solutions protect camps, vehicles and personnel against hostile sensors and enemy target acquisition.Defence and security company Saab has been awarded a new large contract for multispectral camouflage products and services. The order has a total value of approximately MSEK 670. Deliveries will start during 2010 and continue for four years.

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Russia's new generation S-500 air defense system will resolve the country's missile defense problems when it enters service, Air Force Commander Colonel General Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday. "The S-500 air defense system is a system that will solve Russia's missile defense problems," Zelin said. Answering a question about the S-500's technical specifications, Zelin said: "I would not compare the S-500 with the U.S. missile defense since they have different technical characteristics". The S-500 is expected to have an extended range of up to 600 km (over 370 miles) and simultaneously engage up to 10 targets. The system will be capable of destroying hypersonic and ballistic targets. He also added that two S-400 long-range missile defense systems would be delivered to the Far East by the end of 2010. "We are planning to put two S-400s on combat duty at the Vostok strategic command," Zelin said.Russia's new generation S-500 air defense system will resolve the country's missile defense problems when it enters service, Air Force Commander Colonel General Alexander Zelin said. "The S-500 air defense system is a system that will solve Russia's missile defense problems," Zelin said.

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A top Russian military official said the S-300 defense system deal with Iran is pending the decision of President Dmitry Medvedev and has not been cancelled yet. "The contract on supplying S-300 air defense systems to Iran has not yet been cancelled," RIA Novosti quoted Sergei Chemezov, the chief of Russia's military conglomerate Rostekhnologii as saying. "The final decision on signing or dropping the contract must be made by the President." Moscow signed a contract with Tehran in 2007 to supply the powerful S-300 missiles to Iran but it has refrained from delivering the system to the county due to the US and Israeli pressures. The S-300 surface-to-air system, known as the SA-20 in the West, can track targets and fire at aircraft 120 kilometers (75 miles) away. It also features high jamming immunity and is capable of simultaneously engaging up to 100 targets. Meantime, an Iranian top military commander had announced several months ago that Tehran is able to replace the Russian-made anti-aircraft S-300 missiles with other air defense systems. "If they do not deliver S-300 defensive system to us, we have replacements and we can supply our operational requirements through innovative techniques and different designs," Deputy Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base for Coordination General Hassan Mansourian said in November. A top Russian military official said the S-300 defense system deal with Iran is pending the decision of President Dmitry Medvedev and has not been cancelled yet.

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Armenian Defense Minister Seiran Oganyan will visit Iran on July 17-18 on an invitation from his counterpart Ahmad Vahidi, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported. "During the visit, the minister will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart," the ministry said. "Meetings with Iran's military and political leaders are also planned," it said. The sides will discuss regional and international issues, as well as topics of bilateral interest. Iran and Armenia are neighbors. They have had long-lasting relations of a strategic partnership. Bilateral ties in particular develop in energy, trade, sports, tourism and transportation. On June 9, the UN Security Council passed a resolution imposing a fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo. The West suspects Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, but the Islamic Republic says it needs nuclear power solely for civilian purposes. Armenian Defense Minister Seiran Oganyan will visit Iran on July 17-18 on an invitation from his counterpart Ahmad Vahidi, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported. "During the visit, the minister will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart," the ministry said.

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The Iranian Air Force plans to deploy reconnaissance drones along the country's border, an Air Force commander announced on Sunday. Speaking in an interview with FNA, Deputy Lieutenant Commander of Army's Air Force for Operations General Majid Pirhadi underlined that Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) will cover all the country's border regions in the near future. "We are seeking to equip all the country's central (air) bases with long-range UAVs but for now equipping bases along borders sets a priority," Pirhadi stated. The commander highlighted the growing applications of UAVs in Iran's armed forces, and announced that the Air Force command headquarters plans to form a command-and-control center for UAVs. "Utilization of the UAVs plays a vital role in the strengthening of the Armed Forces' offensive and defensive capabilities. Accordingly, we seek to equip all the country's air bases with different types of drones," he noted. The commander added that all border bases in western and southern Iran will be equipped with UAVs by the end of summer (September 2010). He mentioned that these drones are currently tasked with intelligence and information gathering and reconnaissance missions and that the Iranian Army plans to use different types of drones for combat, reconnaissance, disruption and communication missions. Earlier in June, Lieutenant Commander of Iran's Air Force Mohsen Darrebaqi told FNA that the Iranian Air Force plans to form a battalion of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in all its bases across the country. Iran successfully tested a home-made radar-evading UAV with bombing capabilities last June. Also in 2008, the country's Defense Industries launched production lines of two well-known home-made fighter jets, namely Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) and Azarakhsh (Lightening). Iran had earlier started construction of a plant in the northern province of Mazandaran in 2008 to mass produce UAVs for different civilian and military missions. The Iranian Air Force plans to deploy reconnaissance drones UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) along the country's border, an Air Force commander announced on Sunday, 05 July 2010.

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