Chinese sub logs new depth milestone

A Chinese submersible conducted the country's deepest manned dive Tuesday in the latest technical milestone for China, which theoretically puts most of the ocean floor's vast resources within its reach.

The Jiaolong undersea craft -- named after a mythical sea dragon -- reached 5,057 metres (16,591 feet) below sea level in a test dive in international waters of the northeastern Pacific, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Though less than half as deep as a record 1960 dive by the US Navy, the achievement highlights a Chinese push to catch up with advanced nations in space, sea, and polar exploration, which has revealed fast-growing technical capabilities.

Wasp Prepares for Joint Strike Fighter

The crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) is preparing the ship to become the first at-sea test platform for the U.S. Navy’s test variant of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Recently, four members of Wasp’s Air Department traveled to one of the Navy’s premier test facilities at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to help give them a good idea of what WASP can expect when testing begins. The group consisted of Cmdr. Stephen McKone, Wasp’s Air Boss; Lt. Michael Curcio, Wasp’s Aircraft Handling Officer and F-35B Ship Integration Project Officer; Ens. Maguel Brooks, Wasp’s Air Bos’n; and Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) Richard McCray.

First Euro Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System Touches Down in Germany

Euro Hawk, the first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), signals intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk produced by Northrop Grumman for the German Bundeswehr, successfully touched down in Manching, Germany, today.

The Euro Hawk took off on July 20 at 2:50 PDT (11:50 Central European Summer Time) from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and landed at 10:06 Central European Summer Time July 21 in Manching Air Base.

The Euro Hawk will carry a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) and integrated in Manching, Germany.

Russia enters South Korean tender with 5th-generation fighter

Russia's Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter has been placed on a short list of a South Korean tender for the delivery of advanced fighter jets, a Russian arms industry think-tank said on Monday.

Korea is seeking to buy 60 fighters with advanced stealth capability from a foreign aircraft maker in the biggest arms-procurement deal ever for the country with an estimated budget of $7.86 billion under a program code-named FX-III.

Russia's Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade cited South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as saying that Sukhoi's fighter would compete with the F-15SE Silent Eagle from Boeing, the F-35 Lightning II from Lockheed Martin and the Eurofighter Typhoon from the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

Australian frigate takes part in multi-national exercise

BAB EL MANDEB STRAIT (BNS): A multi-national maritime exercise involving the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate, two Turkish naval vessels and French Mirage fighters has concluded in the Gulf of Aden.

Commanded by the RAN’s seventh Anzac class frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, exercise ‘Scimitar Exocet’ held between July 22 and 23, was aimed at contributing to maritime security in the Bab El Mandeb Strait in the Middle East.

Pakistan plans to add 24 nuclear-capable, short-range missiles

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan plans to add 24 nuclear-capable, short-range missiles to its arsenal this year, reflecting an urge in the security establishment to seek "strategic parity in the region", according to a media report Monday.

This will be the highest number of missiles Pakistan has ever produced in a year if the government achieves the target; The Express Tribune newspaper quoted its sources as saying.

The air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles will be able to hit targets at a distance between 700 km and 1,000 km, thus putting nearly all major Indian cities within their range, the report claimed.

IAF pushes for opening of aircraft bids to replace MIG 21s

NEW DELHI (PTI): Keen on getting 126 combat aircraft as early as possible, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is pushing for the commercial bids of the two contenders – Eurofighter and Dassault – to be opened before the end of this month.

“We are pushing the Defence Ministry to open the bids of these two companies by the end of this month,” a senior IAF official told PTI.

After the opening of the commercial bids, the Defence Ministry will work out the L-1 (lowest bidder) in the tender on the basis of the life cycle cost of operating the two aircraft. 

India successfully test-fires short-range Prahaar missile

CHANDIPUR–ON-SEA, ORISSA (PTI): India Thursday successfully carried out the first test-firing of its latest surface-to-surface quick reaction tactical missile `Prahaar', which has a range of 150 kms.

Prahaar is capable of carrying different types of warheads and will be operated by the Army as a battle field support system.

"The test-firing was conducted successfully at 0820 hours Thursday. Prahaar with a capability to strike targets at 150 kms, comparable to ATACMS missile of the United States, fills the vital gap between multi barrel rockets and medium range ballistic missiles," DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said.

Indian Navy's new frigate to be fitted with BRAHMOS

NEW DELHI (PTI): India will get a new frigate within six to eight months from Russia that will be equipped with the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system.

"During his visit to Russia, Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma reviewed the progress of the Talwar Class follow-on warships, under construction at the Yantar shipyard there and was reassured that the first ship 'Teg' would commence trials shortly and be delivered in six to eight months," the Navy said in a release here.
The Navy chief returned on July 18 from Russia after a six-day visit during which he took stock of all the major Indian navy projects undergoing there.

Small Tanker Cum Utility Ships (STUS) MADADGAR and RASADGAR were commissioned, PNS ALAMGIR was formally inducted in the PN fleet

PN Ships RASADGAR, MADADGAR & ALAMGIR.

PNS RASADGAR

PNS ALAMGIR was formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet during an impressive ceremony held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard on July 19th 2011.

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir in a group photograph with Naval officials at Pakistan Navy Dockyard as PN Ships MADADGAR and RASADGAR; the Small Tanker Cum Utility Ships (STUS) have been commissioned and PNS ALAMGIR formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet during an impressive ceremony.

Russian Navy to receive new air defense system

The Russian Navy will soon receive a new ship-based gun/missile air defense system, KBP Instrument Design Bureau, the developer of the system, said on Monday.

The system, dubbed Pantsyr-M, has been developed on the basis of the land-based Pantsyr-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound).

"Pantsyr-M will replace the Kortik air defense systems and will be installed on all new classes of Russian combat ships, from corvettes to cruisers," said Alexander Zhukov, a senior KBP official.

First F-35 arrives at Eglin Air Force Base

See The Department of Defense's first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter touched down at its new home here July 14, marking a major milestone in the nation's military history.
Upon arrival, the jet officially became part of the Air Force inventory. It now belongs to the JSF training unit, the 33rd Fighter Wing.
Flying it in was Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th Fighter Squadron, the first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot.
"It was a smooth ride in," said the colonel of the hour and 40 minute flight. "The jet behaved awesomely. I'm just so proud to bring it home to Eglin (Air Force Base)."

Pakistan drone crashes near oil refinery: navy

A Pakistani surveillance navy drone crashed near an oil refinery after hitting a bird on a routine flight, coming down in the country's largest city of Karachi on Tuesday, the navy said.

"A Pakistan Navy UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) crashed after a bird hit it. It fell near an oil refinery and there was no (other) damage," navy spokesman Commodore Irfan Ul Haq told AFP in Islamabad.

Fellow navy spokesman Commander Salman Ali told AFP that there were no casualties and that the drone had been on a surveillance flight when a bird flew into the aircraft and it came down in the Karachi suburbs.

UH-60M Blackhawk Helicopters for Thailand

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Tuesday of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Thailand for three UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $235 million.

The Government of Thailand has requested a possible sale of three UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters, eight T700-GE-701D Engines (six installed and two spares), Dual MXF-4027 VHF/UHF-AM/FM communication radios, AN/ARC-201E Export SINCGARS Airborne Radio, AN/AXP-117 CXP (Common Digital IFF Transponder), government furnished equipment, engineering change proposals, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, Aviation Mission Planning Station, Transportable Blackhawk Operations Simulator (TBOS), U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, aircraft warranty, Air Worthiness Release Support, Repair and Return Support, and other related elements of logistics support.

Two STUS and frigate join PN fleet

KARACHI: PN ships Madadgar and Rasadgar, the Small Tanker cum Utility Ships (STUS) have been commissioned and PNS Alamgir formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet during an impressive ceremony held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard here on Tuesday.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir graced the occasion as chief guest while the ceremony was also attended by officials from Ministry of Defence (MoD), Flag Officers from Pakistan Navy, senior management of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) and other distinguished guests.

France and India Look to deepen defence ties

The Indian government's long-delayed green light to French defence majors Dassault and Thales to undertake the Mirage-2000 combat fighter upgrade is yet another indicator of New Delhi forging stronger strategic links with Paris. 

Over the last decade, French defence vendors have bagged, or are the leading contenders to win a number lucrative Indian arms contracts, including the $11-billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft tender for 126 aircrafts for the Indian Air Force, and the estimated $2.4-billion Mirage-2000 upgrade. 

Eurofighter optimistic to win India's MMRCA contract

LONDON (PTI): As India prepares to open the commercial bids for the USD 10.8 billion tender for 126 medium range multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), Eurofighter hopes to make the country a partner in its Typhoon fighter jet programme which it says would be a game-changer.

"We are offering India to become a full participant in the programme...fully or partially whatever India chooses to do...get involved in future developments. Combat aircraft programme never stops. It will operate over decades," said Peter Maute, Senior Vice-President of Cassidian Air Systems, the security and defence company of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).

China launched latest amphibious warship

BEIJING (BNS): The Chinese Navy has launched its largest amphibious warship ‘Jinggangshan’ in Shanghai, according to media reports.

The vessel is the second Type 071 dock landing ship and has been built by the Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard. 

The warship was officially launched in Shanghai, the official China Daily said Tuesday quoting media reports. 

Pak Navy inducts guided missile frigate

 ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan's Navy has inducted a guided missile frigate provided by the US into its fleet, besides commissioning two small tanker-cum-utility ships.

The frigate PNS Alamgir and the small tanker-cum-utility ships PN Madadgar and PN Rasadgar were commissioned and inducted during a ceremony at the Karachi naval dockyard Tuesday.

PNS Alamgir, which was formerly the USS McInerney, is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate.

Irkut to supply 40 Su-30 fighters to Russian Air Force

Russia's Irkut aircraft holding is in talks with the Defense Ministry on the delivery of up to 40 Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighters to the Russian Air Force, the company said on Monday.

"We will sign a contract with the Defense Ministry next year," Irkut President Alexei Fyodorov said. 

The contract stipulates the initial delivery of 28 fighter jets and the supply of an additional 12 aircraft as an option.

The Su-30 Flanker-C is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. Russia currently operates four of these fighter jets.