Current Events in Mideast-Africa

From DefenseNews Posted 06/29/07 08:08 India to Announce Huge Fighter Jet Contract AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NEW DELHI Indian defense officials were meeting June 29 before handing out a contract for 126 war planes potentially worth up to $9 billion, officials said. Indian defense ministry officials and industry sources said the choice appeared to have narrowed down to Russian-built MiG-35 and MiG-29, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and Boeing’s F-18. The contract, described as the world’s biggest arms purchase in 15 years, will be the first time India’s huge defense establishment has bought fighters after evaluating rival bids through a global tender. “Defence Minister A.…

BBC story

From DefenseNews U.S. Mulls Maritime Interdiction Off Iran By barbara opall-rome Published: 1 March 2010 TEL AVIV - The Obama administration is considering using maritime levers to ratchet up pressure on Iran, from a modest expansion of existing international interdiction initiatives to the more extreme or less likely blockade of the Arabian Sea mouth and the Gulf of Aden. Implemented unilaterally or as part of an upcoming United Nations Security Council Resolution, such moves would complement the diplomatic drive to roll back Iran's nuclear program through sanctions. A senior U.S. government official said Washington was not willing to consider - "at lea…

Here's an interesting excerpt about how AIP works. Check out the full article at: DefenseIndustryDaily India Looks to Modify Scorpene Subs With MESMA AIP Propulsion Posted 01-Mar-2006 10:50 Back on September 19, 2005, DID offered in-depth coverage of India's $3.5 billion local-build deal for 6 SSK Scorpene Class ultra-quiet diesel-electric submarines between 2012-1017, as well as the present status and future plans of the rival Chinese and Pakistani submarine programs. Now the Times of India reports that India's Navy wants the last 3 submarines to include DCN's MESMA air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, changing them from CM-2000 to AM-2000 Scorpene desi…

From Defense Aerospace DoD Announces Activation Of Unified Geographic Command (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Oct. 1, 2008) The Department of Defense today announced the activation of United States Africa Command, the sixth unified geographic command within the DoD unified command structure. “It is, at its heart, a different kind of command with a different orientation, one that we hope and expect will institutionalize a lasting security relationship with Africa, a vast region of growing importance in the globe,” said Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. U.S. Africa Command will coordinate military-to-military contacts and focus on relationship…

From Defense Talk Pakistan successfully tests nuclear-capable missile Agence France-Presse | Feb 23, 2007 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Friday test-fired its longest range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, two days after signing a deal with rival India to cut the risk of atomic weapons accidents, the military said. The Shaheen II, or Hatf VI, missile with a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) was launched from an undisclosed location, military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told AFP. "The test was very successful. It was carried out to validate technical parameters and it hit the target with 100 percent accuracy," Sultan said. "It is a two-stage so…

From RIA Novosti Admiral Gorshkov contract in jeopardy over lack of funds - paper 14:18 01/ 08/ 2007 MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - The overhaul of a Russian-made aircraft carrier sold to India under a 2004 contract will be delayed indefinitely due to insufficient financing and poor management of the project, a Russian daily said Wednesday. The contract to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India, which state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed with the Indian Navy in January 2004, covers the modernization of the ship and equipping it with modern weaponry, including the MiG-29K Fulcrum aircraft and Ka-27 Helix-A and Ka-31 Helix-B anti-su…

From eDefense Indian Navy Preparing to Receive Nuclear Subs by Pulkit Singh Dec. 13, 2005 Indian Navy personnel have completed their training in Russia prior to the service taking possession of Akula-class nuclear submarines. According to Indian Navy sources, some 265 personnel, mostly from Vishakapatnam, were trained in Sosnovy Bor, west of St. Petersburg, for service onboard two Akula-class submarines (referred to as the Bars class in Russia) that India is negotiating to lease from Russia. Officially, Russia has yet to sign an agreement for the lease of two submarines, but the training of Indian Navy personnel suggests that such a deal between India and Russia…

From Jane's Intelligence Digest A partnership between Israel and NATO ? In a rapidly changing strategic environment, Israeli policy makers are recognising definite advantages, especially in security affairs, in developing closer ties with NATO. The present Israeli government's enthusiasm for this project can be seen in an ambitious set of proposals submitted to the Alliance. Highlighting the desirability of upgrading relations with NATO, the document proposes closer co-operation on counter-terrorism; combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; joint military training; in the field of logistics; and in the future joint development of weapons systems…

Read the IAEA report here (PDF). From the report: (emphasis mine)

I say "no", it's only a very bad ejecuted mock-up, absurd intake, absurd wings and wings tickness, absurd canopy .... http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshow/18305497.cms

Source: Naval Open Source Intelligence - http://nosint.blogspot.com/2012/02/iran-ma...hip-cruise.html Here's something to read as you enjoy your breakfast and morning coffee! The Zafar missile, as it is dubbed in the report, "is a short-range, anti-ship cruise missile capable of destroying small- and medium-sized targets with high precision." It can be mounted on speed boats and other light vessels, can withstand electronic warfare, and is able to fly in low altitudes to avoid detection, the report said. (rmks: Zafar (or another cruise missile) was recently tested from a Wellington class ACV during the last round of naval exercises). FWFS, Greg Emers…

From DefenseNews Posted 12/07/06 11:35 Israelis Piqued by Gates Nuclear ‘Confirmation’ By DAN WILLIAMS, REUTERS, JERUSALEM Robert Gates, the incoming U.S. secretary of defense, won plaudits in Washington this week for his candor on the Iraq war. Some Israelis were less pleased, however, to hear Gates mention with equal frankness what U.S. administrations have long avoided saying in public -- that the Jewish state has the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal. To be fair, it was pretty oblique. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Dec. 5, Gates mentioned why Iran might be seeking the means to build an atomic bomb: "They are surrounded by powers with nuclear …

Israel takes new torpedo into service (Jane's) Is this an indigenous design (seems unlikely?) or a variant or name for the DM2A4?

Looks like another step taken by India to become the Regional Dominance.

an offensive anti muslim cartoon published in many european papers have set of protest some of which has be violent accross the middle east Bellsouth News-AP Story

From Defence Talk Report On Israeli Iran Strike Incorrect Says Foreign Ministry Agence France-Presse | Jan 8, 2007 Jerusalem: Israel said Sunday that a report in The Sunday Times that the Jewish state had drawn up plans to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment facilities in a tactical nuclear strike was "incorrect." The story is "incorrect," foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev said. "Israel is 100 percent behind the international community's efforts to bring about an end to Iran's nuclear program. Israel totally supports Resolution 1737 and the international community must be ready to take even tougher measures against Iran," he said. Earlier Immigrant Absorpti…

From Haaretz Published 15:40 15.08.10 Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the purchase of 20 F-35 fighter planes for the Israel Air Force on Sunday. The planes, manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin, are expected to be delivered to Israel between 2015 and 2017. Barak's approval of the $2.7 billion deal came after more than two years of tough talks between the Israeli defense establishment, the U.S. Pentagon, and Lockheed Martin. The talks were complicated by the IAF's demand to install Israeli systems on the aircraft and the refusal of the Americans to allow those changes. In the end, the IAF's desire to be the first air force in th…

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

By Jonathan Saul JERUSALEM, April 1 (Reuters) - Iran is making defensive preparations for what it fears will be a U.S. military attack this summer, Israel's military intelligence chief said on Sunday. Major-General Amos Yadlin also told the Israeli cabinet that Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas and Syria believed they could be targeted in any U.S.-initiated war against Iran, an Israeli government official said, briefing reporters on his remarks. "What we are seeing is their preparation for the possibility of war in the summer. My assessment is that they are defensive preparations for war," Yadlin was quoted as saying, referring to Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. T…