Russian-Indian missile BrahMos to be tested in the Baltic Sea

Russia and India will carry out test launches of jointly developed cruise missile BrahMos in mid-2011 in the Baltic Sea, reports ITAR-TASS citing Executive Director, BrahMos Aerospace Sivathanu Pillai at the defense show IDEX-2011 held in United Arab Emirates. Launches will be performed by the first of thee Project 11356 frigates built by Russian shipyard Yantar for Indian Navy. 

According to Pillai, the missile has been already prepared for tests; certain date of launches will be set when the first Project 11356 frigate finishes mooring trials. The $1.6 bln contract for three Project 11356 frigates was tied in 2007. Yantar shipyard launched the first ship – INS Teg – in Nov 2009, and the second one – INS Tarkash – in June 2010. Expectedly, those ships will be delivered to Indian Navy in 2011-2012. 

Full displacement of Project 11356 frigates is 4,000 tons; hull length is 124.8 meters; max speed is up to 30 knots; fuel range is 4,500 miles. Frigates will be armed with BrahMos missile 8-tube bow launcher. 

Constructively, antiship cruise missile BrahMos is based on P-800 Onyx missile which was designed in the USSR late 80's. BrahMos missile's length is about 10 meters; all-up weight is 3.9 tons; payload weight is 300 kg; max flight speed is 3,500 kph; flight range is 290 km. The missile has been designed by Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace.

Super-stealth sub powered by fuel cell

The U212A is an ultra-advanced non-nuclear sub developed for the German Navy.Powered by a revolutionary hydrogen fuel cell, it is almost totally silent.Without the need for combustible fuel, the sub can remain submerged for weeks at time.

CNN's global series i-List takes you to a different country each month. In February, we visit Germany and look at changes shaping the country's economy, culture and social fabric.

Eckernfoerde, Germany (CNN) -- It is almost totally silent, radiates virtually no heat and is constructed entirely from non-magnetic metals.

US military to boost naval fleet in Asia

A top US naval commander said Monday that Washington plans to boost its military presence in Asia, while warning that China should expand its own forces in a "responsible and constructive" way.

The United States has expressed concerns about Beijing's military build up, with the Pentagon saying this month that China was developing "counter-space" weapons that could shoot down satellites or jam signals.

Beijing has become increasingly assertive in its ambitions on the high seas in recent years with plans to roll out its first aircraft carrier as the centerpiece in the emerging power's growing naval fleet.

The former Soviet aircraft carrier called the Varyag is currently being refurbished in the port city of Dalian in northeast China.

Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US Navy

Boeing today announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.

"The men and women of Boeing are honored to see this new capability directly benefit the nation’s brave service members around the world," said Kory Mathews, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 programs for Boeing. "The airborne electronic attack capability that the EA-18G brings to the fight is in high demand, so we are comitted to continuing to deliver these aircraft to the Navy on budget and on schedule , just as we have with every F/A-18E/F."

The EA-18G is the only air combat platform that delivers full-spectrum airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability along with the targeting and self-defense capabilities derived from the Navy's frontline fighter, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet.A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Block II, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to operate either from the deck of an aircraft carrier or from land-based airfields. It is replacing the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The EA-18G joined the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008, when it was introduced to fleet training squadron VAQ-129.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

Iran deploys two warships to Mediterranean

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday called the fact of two Iranian warships heading to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal a "provocation."

In a speech before the leaders U.S. Jewish organization in Jerusalem, Lieberman said that the two Iranian warships would pass through the Suez Canal overnight and then head to Syria, a country with which Israel is formally at war.

Lieberman referred that the deployment of the warships was "a provocation that proves Iran's nerve and self-esteem is growing from day to day."

According to Israel National News.com, Iran announced it has planned that the warships would be deployed near Israel and dock at a Syrian port for one year.

Iranian news agencies in January announced the beginning of the country's year-long drills that would deploy warships from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal.