Current Events in Mideast-Africa

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

The Syria Question (Air Force Magazine, March 2013)

DefenseNews U.S. Arms Sales to India Could Destabilize Region: EU Report By BROOKS TIGNER, BRUSSELS The European Union should quickly pursue a strategic relationship with India to strengthen political ties and counter the effects of potentially destabilizing U.S. arms sales to the region, according to a new report by the European Parliament. Adopted Sept. 29 by a large majority during the parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, the 30-page report, “EU-India Relations: A Strategic Partnership,” was authored by Emilio Menéndez del Valle, Spanish Socialist member of the European Parliament (MEP), who sits on the legislature’s Foreign Affairs Committee. I…

From Defence Talk Israeli PM warns of 'severe steps' against Iran Agence France-Presse | Jan 25, 2007 HERZLIYA, Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday warned that if the world's diplomatic efforts to stop Iran's nuclear programme fail, then "much more severe steps" should be taken. "It is clear to everyone that a diplomatic solution to the Iranian issue is the preferred solution. We also prefer such an outcome," Olmert said in a keynote speech on the last day of the annual conference on Israel's national security in the town of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. If the world turns "a blind eye now, while ignoring reality... those of us who wish…

From Aviation Week New Israeli Recon Sat Targets Iran Jun 25, 2010 By Michael A. Taverna Israel’s newest reconnaissance satellite is seen as boosting the country’s intelligence capabilities against Iran. With the observation satellite Ofeq-9 placed in low Earth orbit June 22, Israel now has six operational remote sensing satellites in space: the Ofeq-5 and 7 military observation satellites; ImageSat’s commercial/military EROS-A and EROS-B1, and Israel Aerospace Industries’ (AIA) TechSAR day/night all-weather synthetic aperture radar satellite, now designated Ofeq-8. “From now on, no country in the region will be able to conduct clandestine activities at …

From Defense Aerospace Israel - F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft (Source US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; dated Sept. 29, issued Sept. 30, 2008) WASHINGTON --- On September 26, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $15.2 billion. The Government of Israel has requested a possible sale of an initial 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft with an option to purchase at a later date an additional 50…

Iran warns Saudi, US against hindering Yemen aid ship (Stars and Stripes)

From DefenseNews Pakistan To Buy Four Warships from China By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ISLAMABAD Pakistan will buy four frigates for its navy from long-time ally China, the defense ministry said April 4, ahead of a visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. “Pakistan and China have signed four contracts for the construction of four F-22P frigate ships for Pakistan Navy,” a Pakistani defense ministry statement said. The frigates will be equipped with anti-submarine helicopters, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and other defense systems, the statement added. “These ships, after construction, will be inducted into Pakistan Navy which would not only e…

From Flight International DATE: 21/03/08 SOURCE: Flightglobal.com Cancer-causing substance halts F-16I training flights By Stephen Trimble Fears about a cancer-causing substance in the cockpit has prompted the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to suspend training flights for its 62-aircraft fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16I Sufas. “According to tests the substance is formaldehyde that recently was defined as causing cancer above certain concentration,” says the IAF spokesman. Formaldehyde is a known by-product of jet engine exhaust, but it’s not clear if the IDF detected uniquely high levels in the cockpit of the F-16I. By contrast, the IAF’s fleet of 125 F-16C/D…

The Middle East Has Four Minutes To Act If Iran Fires a Missile (Defense One)

Qatar to buy Eurofighter Typhoons (Jane's)

Britain to propose condemnatory UN resolution

CRS report, 6 December 2012 Irans Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Programs (pdf)

Sky News

From Aviation Week BREAKING NEWS -- Iran Set to Try Space Launch Jan 25, 2007 By Craig Covault/Aviation Week & Space Technology Iran has converted one of its most powerful ballistic missile into a satellite launch vehicle. The 30-ton rocket could also be a wolf in sheep's clothing for testing longer-range missile strike technologies, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine reports in its Jan. 29 issue. The Iranian space launcher has recently been assembled and "will liftoff soon" with an Iranian satellite, according to Alaoddin Boroujerdi, the chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. The move toward …

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 Aerospace Submarine Training for South African Navy (Source: India Press Information Bureau; issued Oct. 11, 2005) INS Satavahana, the submarine training school of Indian Navy, undertook basic submarine training for officers of the South African Navy (SAN) on the Type-209 submarine, from 31st Jan 05. With this, INS Satavahana has joined the league of elite training establishments under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command, that provide training to friendly foreign navies. This has also opened up a new chapter in the role and responsibility of this premier submarine training establishment. The training capsule has been designed for comb…

From RIA Novosti India, Russia develop airborne supersonic cruise missile 16:49 | 20/ 06/ 2008 NEW DELHI, June 20 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian-Indian BrahMos Aerospace joint venture has finished the development of the airborne version of an advanced supersonic missile, the company's managing director has said. Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace designs, produces, and markets supersonic missiles, whose sea-based and land-based versions have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and Navy. "For the airborne version...we had to reduce the mass of the missile and to ensure aerodynamic stability after its separation from the airc…

From DefenseNews Iran To Launch Navy War Games in Gulf By REUTERS, TEHRAN Iran will launch a week of naval war games in the Gulf and Sea of Oman on March 31 involving more than 17,000 troops and 500 large and small naval vessels, the official IRNA news agency reported. It quoted Admiral Morteza Saffari as saying on March 29 that the maneuvers would extend from the northern Gulf coastline to Chabahar on Iran’s southern coast on the Sea of Oman, IRNA reported. The naval war games were aimed "to display the Islamic system’s defensive capabilities", IRNA reported, adding that the maneuvers would start with firing a Shahab-2 missile. Air and ground forces would also…

Israeli Defense Chief Sounds Ready to Hit Iran, Thanks in Part to Iron Dome (Wired's Danger Room blog)