CV32

Welcome HarpoonD. I'm sure Herman or one of the ANW players will give you a battle soon enough. As for Canadians taking over, he who controls the beer ...

From Defense Aerospace India Acquires Capability for Air Defence Against Incoming Ballistic Missile Threats (Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued Nov. 27, 2006) The country today achieved a significant milestone in missile defence system. It acquired the capability for air defence against incoming ballistic missile threats, at 1025 hrs this morning. A Target Missile (modified Prithvi) simulating adversary's missile was launched from Interim Test Range, Balasore. The trajectory of the target missile was continuously tracked and the information was compiled in the Mission Control Centre (MCC) and transmitted to Launch Control Centre (LCC) for launching the interceptor missile. The interceptor missile had Inertial Guidance in Mid Course and Active Seeker Guidance in terminal phase. The target missile was successfully intercepted. Many technologies relevant to interceptor missile developed by the country got validated through this successful mission. The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has conveyed his heartiest congratulations to the entire DRDO Scientific Community and its Programme Director and Chief Controller of Research and Development Dr. VK Saraswat for the success of the mission. (ends) DRDO Scientists Successfully Intercept Missile (Source: ddi Indian Government news; issued Nov. 27, 2006) (Edited for accuracy) For the first time, India's defence scientists successfully experimented with the coordinated launch of two missiles from two different test ranges on the Orissa coast. The Prithvi-2, as a target missile, was first launched from the launch complex No. 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, 15 km from Balasore, at around 1015 hours. A second missile was fired from launch complex No. 4 located on the Wheeler's Island off the Bhadrak district coast in the Bay of Bengal about 60 seconds later to successfully intercept the first, the sources said adding all data were being analysed. The interception occurred over the Bay of Bengal, the source said. Confirming the success, a senior scientist at the ITR said: "It is a great success. It is a moment of pride for the people of the entire country". The experiment, which was to be held on Sunday, was deferred till today. [The interceptor missile is unspecified, and at first thought, I have no idea what SAM in the Indian arsenal would have been used. As always, any information you can dig up is appreciated.]

From DefenseNews Posted 11/24/06 13:25 Pakistan, China Agree To Jointly Develop AWACS By REUTERS, ISLAMABAD Pakistan and China on Nov. 24 signed a memorandum of understanding for a long-term collaboration in defense production including development of an airborne early warning surveillance system. The announcement came during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Pakistan. China has been the main supplier of military hardware to Pakistan for decades. A statement from Pakistan’s air force said the two countries agreed on collaboration and co-development of aircraft manufacturing and related fields. Pakistan, concerned over rival India’s growing defense capabilities, in May approved plans for the purchase of a $1 billion airborne early warning surveillance system from Swedish firms Saab and Ericsson to boost its air defenses. The system includes Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft equipped with airborne radar from Ericsson. Pakistan has made down payment for the Swedish system and expects the delivery to begin by 2009 at the latest, a military official said. Pakistan’s air force is already collaborating with Chinese aviation company, CATIC, in the co-development and co-production of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft. Pakistan is set to get the first batch of eight medium-technology fighter jets from China next year and the country will start manufacturing the aircraft locally from January 2008, officials said. Nuclear-armed Pakistan and India have continued to focus on building their military capabilities despite a peace process they launched in early 2004.

Silly rabbit, have you been reading blogs again ?

The expenditure of that very expensive Harpoon missile, 20mm ammo and maybe even a Mk 48 torpedo means that we're all going to have to do a little belt tightening around here. Herman, that means you are going to have cut back on the Blizzards.

Hard on the heels of the story about the Song diesel sub getting the better of the Kitty Hawk CSG (which, although inflated in importance, does serve to remind us of the growing capability of the PRC to project power), comes more rumours of an impending sale by Russia to China of up to 48 Su-33 Flanker carrier based fighters. More here.

Here a few pics of the French Navy missile tracking ship FS Monge which was in port here this week ...

From Defense Aerospace [it's been (and I'm sure, will continue to be) interesting to watch Japan's shifting attitude towards its constitution, the concept of self-defence and the role of nuclear arms. See, for example, my post on Oct 31/06. Stay tuned ... ] Japan Can Hold Nuclear Arms for Self-Defence: Govt (Source: ddi Indian Government news; issued Nov. 14, 2006) Japan has said that its constitution allows it to possess nuclear weapons as long as they are kept to a minimum level necessary for self-defence. However, the country has no intention of holding such arms, the government said in a statement. The statement, written in response to a question from an independent lawmaker, comes amid controversy over whether the country should debate holding nuclear arms -- an emotive issue in the only nation to have suffered nuclear attacks. ''From a purely legal standpoint, even Article Nine of the constitution does not bar our country from possessing minimum capabilities necessary for self-defence,'' the statement said, repeating a position the government has made clear in past parliamentary debate. ''Even with nuclear weapons, we've understood that possessing them would not necessarily violate the constitution as long as it is kept within such limits,'' it said. But the statement said Japan would stick to its self-imposed ''three non-nuclear principles'' banning the possession, production and import of nuclear arms and that the government had no plans to debate a change in that stance. It also said that Japan's basic law on atomic energy limits research, development and use of such power to peaceful purposes, while the country is bound under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty not to receive or manufacture nuclear weapons. Controversy over debate on nuclear arms erupted last month when Shoichi Nakagawa, the policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Japan should discuss if it should acquire nuclear weapons after North Korea conducted a nuclear test. The foreign minister has also said debate should not be ruled out, prompting opposition lawmakers to call for his resignation. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said repeatedly that Japan would maintain its decades-old ban on nuclear weapons, denying that the government would even discuss the topic. Article Nine of Japan's US-drafted 1947 constitution renounces the right to go to war and prohibits the maintenance of a military, although it has been interpreted as allowing armed forces for purely defence purposes. Analysts say Japan is capable of producing nuclear weapons with its high technology and a stockpile of plutonium from its nuclear power plants, but they add that it is highly unlikely to do so, given opposition both at home and abroad.

From Defense Aerospace Department of Defense and Netherlands Sign Next Stage Joint Strike Fighter Agreement (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov. 14, 2006) Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and the Netherlands Deputy Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to begin future cooperation in the Production, Sustainment, and Follow-On Development (PSFD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. The Dutch, who are already contributing $800 million to the JSF Program’s development phase, plan to buy 85 conventional take-off and landing variants of the Joint Strike Fighter during the production phase. “This is a major milestone in the long-standing friendship and partnership between the Netherlands and the United States, and I thank the Dutch military and government for the strong leadership and close friendship,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England. “Our shared investment in the Joint Strike Fighter will pay important dividends for the security and freedom of both our Nations for many years in the future.” The PSFD MOU provides a framework for future JSF Program efforts in production and beyond, and will extend cooperation beyond the current JSF System Development and Demonstration MOU among the United States and the other eight JSF partner nations, the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Australia. The Netherlands joined the SDD MOU in June 2002, and has been part of the JSF program since 1997. This agreement further strengthens the commitment between the United States and The Netherlands as the JSF program moves forward into the production and support phase. It will also impact across the entire spectrum of the US-Dutch defense relationship in terms of air dominance, interoperability, defense transformation, modernization, cost reduction, acquisition excellence, and the health of U.S and Dutch industrial bases. Other JSF partner nations are anticipated to sign the PSFD MOU between now and the end of December 2006. This will support commencement of cooperative production, sustainment, and follow-on development efforts by all nine partner nations in January 2007. The Joint Strike Fighter, the largest ever US DoD acquisition program, continues to set new standards in development of manufacturing technologies, acquisition and business practices, technology transfer, and export licensing. The first flight test is expected for December 2006. Once the PSFD MOU signing process is completed, the partners will cooperatively develop, produce, test, train and operate a Lightning II JSF Air System that will enhance the interoperability, survivability, and affordability of allied future forces. (ends) Netherlands Presses Ahead with JSF (Source: Radio Netherlands; issued Nov. 14, 2006) Deputy Defence Minister Cees van der Knaap has signed an accord in Washington agreeing to continue cooperation on the Joint Strike Fighter, JSF. The project, a collaboration between the United States, the Netherlands and seven other countries, is now moving from development to production. The 2002 decision to participate in the JSF project was, and remains, an extremely controversial issue. Opposition parties and the Auditor General say final costs will be far higher than expected. The Christian Democrat-led governing coalition denies this. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Dutch opposition parties, currently favorites to win the Nov. 22 general elections, have said they would reconsider JSF participation, and might pull out, if they are voted into office. It was widely expected that, in light of their position, the current government would not sign the new MoU before the election. (ends) Remarks by Dutch State Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap (Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence; issued Nov. 14, 2006) Dear Deputy Secretary of Defense, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased that the Netherlands is the first country to sign and that we are having this ceremony here and now. It marks an important new chapter in our bilateral cooperation, and underscores our commitment to enhancing security. This important MOU covers forty-five years. The negotiation process has taken almost three years of intense discussions between nine chief negotiators and their teams. Each of the countries had the challenge of achieving their goals and, at the same time, having to reach consensus on an acceptable MoU text. Together with Denmark and Norway, we have learned important lessons from our successful co-operation in the F-16 program. These lessons have been of great help in the preparations for the memorandum we are committing to today. Our industrial participation on the JSF (Executive) Steering Board is very important to the Netherlands. Together with Italy we have been working diligently to give the JSF a substantive European flavour. I foresee that the European footprint activities will be an important selling point. A special word of appreciation for Mr. Frank Kenlon, the U.S. chief negotiator: My staff informed me that the Dead Lobster Award currently resides in the Pentagon under your control. Maybe you can explain to me later what the story is behind this award? Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the complete U.S. negotiation team for their co-operation and support. The bilateral signatures on the SDD-MoU, and the new partnership between nine countries, will propel the JSF to take flight in the very near future. Thank you. -ends-

I don't know about the Soviet era, but certainly there continue to be regular "incidents" in this area (Belarus/Russia/Baltic states), usually in the context of border intrusions. With NATO minding the Baltic states' (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) airspace, there's always potential for scenario fodder.

From Defence Talk S.Korea won't join arms interdiction Reuters Nov 13, 2006 - 5:47:06 AM SEOUL (Reuters): South Korea will not join a U.S.-led plan to intercept North Korean ships suspected of carrying arms cargo as a part of sanctions on Pyongyang for conducting a nuclear test, reports said on Monday. South Korea has reviewed whether to expand its participation in the plan after the North's October 9 nuclear test, but it has been wary that such an operation near the Korean peninsula could escalate military tension with the North. "The government will express support for the goal and principles of the (plan) but will not formally join for the time being considering the special situation on the Korean peninsula," the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper quoted an official as saying. The decision was reached at a meeting of government officials and ruling Uri Party leaders at the weekend, the JoongAng Ilbo said. Foreign ministry officials were not able to confirm the report. The plan, known formally as the Proliferation Security Initiative, was announced by President George W. Bush in 2003, and aims to halt trade that facilitates the construction of weapons of mass destruction and includes stopping and searching ships on the high seas. It is a voluntary program not based on any international treaty but instead draws on the political decisions and domestic laws of participating countries. South Korea has been an observer of various exercises under the program. South Korea has said it has a bilateral maritime agreement with North Korea that allows for inspection of ships that sail between the ports of the two Koreas. But opposition lawmakers have criticised the government, saying no such inspections have been conducted since the agreement was signed in 2004.

From Defence Talk Moscow Sends Missiles To Belarus After Warsaw Gets US Warplanes Agence France-Presse Nov 13, 2006 - 5:41:38 AM Russia has sent anti-aircraft systems to Belarus in retaliation against the delivery to Poland of U.S.-made F-16 warplanes, a source in the Moscow-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) said Nov. 10. ”Anticipating the arrival of the F-16s in Poland, Russia has sent to Belarus four S-300 anti-aircraft systems which have already been put into service,” according to a source at the headquarters of the anti-aircraft defense alliance of the CIS, quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency. The CIS is made up of the former members of the Soviet Union less the three Baltic states. The alliance was set up in 1995 by 10 CIS members (all bar Azerbaijan and Moldova) to protect the air borders of the former Soviet republics. On Nov. 9 Poland took delivery of the first four of the 48 F-16 fighters it has ordered from U.S. plane-maker Lockheed Martin. ”The delivery of the F-16 fighter aircraft to the Polish armed forces will have no effect on the security of the air borders of the CIS,” said a senior figure at the air defense headquarters who did not wish to be named. ”The headquarters of the CIS anti-aircraft defense alliance keeps a close eye on actions by NATO aimed at widening (its) possibilities in the Baltic states and in Poland.” The four F-16s landed at the Polish military base of Krzesiny, near Poznan in western Poland, where they will be based.

From Defence Talk Iran to reply 'destructively' to any Israeli attack Agence France-Presse Nov 13, 2006 - 5:58:08 AM Iran has vowed it would deliver a "destructive" response to any Israeli military attack on its atomic sites and said it would continue trying to boost its capacity for sensitive nuclear work. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Iran was still seeking to install 3,000 centrifuges by March 2007 at an atomic plant to enrich uranium, a process the West fears could be diverted to make nuclear weapons. His comments came after a top Israeli official refused to rule out a strike on the Islamic republic to halt the progress of its atomic programme, with the United Nations still unable to agree on sanctions against Tehran. "Israel does not have the means and the capability to dare threaten Iran... if it commits such a stupidity the Islamic republic and its defenders will give a destructive response within a second," Hosseini said Sunday. Israel -- widely considered to be the Middle East's sole nuclear power -- is within the range of Iran's ballistic missiles and sees Tehran as its chief enemy, after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map". "I am not advocating an Israeli preemptive military action against Iran... I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort," Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said in comments published Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview published Sunday branded Ahmadinejad a "dangerous man", saying "Iran must start to fear" and understand it will "pay dearly" if it does not compromise. Despite the looming threat of sanctions, Hosseini indicated that Iran intended to press on apace with its nuclear drive. "Iranian officials and experts are seeking" to install 3,000 centrifuges -- reaffirming a target which would allow Iran to enrich uranium on an industrial scale. He added that the work would take place under the supervision of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Enriched uranium lies at the center of the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, as it can be used both to make nuclear fuel and the core of a nuclear bomb. Tehran vehemently rejects US allegations that its nuclear program is aimed at making nuclear weapons, saying the drive is solely aimed at providing energy for civilians. At present Iran has two cascades of 164 centrifuges on a research level enriching uranium to levels up to five percent -- rich enough for nuclear fuel but way off the 90 percent levels required for a nuclear bomb. Major powers at the UN Security Council are mulling a resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran after it refused to suspend enrichment in return for an international offer of incentives. The Security Council's five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany will resume talks Monday on how to censure a defiant Iran. Iran's chief nuclear negotatior Ali Larijani, on his return from talks in Moscow, said adopting a resolution against Iran would show a change of direction and that world powers had no desire for negotiations with Iran. "If the Westerners show another behavior regarding Iran's nuclear issue, it should be made clear who is renouncing on their commitments," the IRNA agency quoted him as saying. "The passing of a resolution of the nature that is being discussed means a disruption of talks and it is the Westerners who have disrupted the talks. This means saying 'no' to the talks." Ahmadinejad on Sunday called the United Nations Security Council "incompetent, and pressured by domineering powers". "It is disgraceful that the UN Security Council, which must defend countries' rights and interests, threatens and makes a dossier against the states that are legally seeking nuclear fuel," he said on state television. World powers will be discussing a European-proposed draft resolution mandating nuclear industry and ballistic missile-related sanctions against Iran. But Russia and China, which have major energy and trade ties with Tehran, view the European draft as too tough and unlikely to bring about Iranian cooperation.

From Defense Aerospace Air Force Selects Developer for Combat Search And Rescue Replacement Vehicle (Source: US Air Force; issued Nov. 9, 2006) WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Honorable Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force, announced today the selection of Boeing Co., Boeing Helicopter, Ridley Park, Pa. to provide the new Combat Search and Rescue Replacement Vehicle, also known as CSAR-X. The announcement comes at the end of a fair and open competition, and thorough evaluation of multiple proposals allowing the Air Force to fulfill its number two acquisition priority. "The Air Force is the only service with forces dedicated to the critical mission of combat search and rescue," said Gen Moseley. "We take that mission seriously and this new CSAR platform will greatly benefit all service members who perform vital work deep in hostile, uncertain or enemy territory." The CSAR-X is a medium-lift helicopter that will replace the Air Force's fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which are quickly approaching their useful service life limit. The primary mission of the CSAR-X will be to recover downed aircrew and isolated personnel in a combat environment. Rescue forces may also conduct missions such as non-conventional assisted recovery, evacuations of non-combatants, civil search and rescue, international aid, emergency medical evacuation, disaster/humanitarian relief, and insertion/extraction of combat forces. "The increased capabilities that CSAR-X will provide our joint force commanders and future civil disaster needs is tremendous," said Gen Moseley. "From Operations in Iraq, to Afghanistan, to civil support during Hurricane Katrina, Air Force rescue forces do amazing things to ensure that others may live." The CSAR-X will be designed to deploy quickly and to operate out of austere locations worldwide. Additionally, the Combat Search and Rescue mission requires the helicopter to operate in the day or night during adverse weather conditions and in a variety of spectrums of warfare to include Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) environments. On-board defensive capabilities with armor will permit the CSAR-X to operate and survive in a higher threat environment than legacy systems. The CSAR-X program office plans to procure 141 HH-47 aircraft with associated training and logistics support. The Air Force plans to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with its first ten new CSAR aircraft by the end of 2012. (ends) Pentagon Contract Announcement (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov. 9, 2006) Boeing Co., Boeing Helicopter, Ridley Park, Pa., is being awarded a $712,156,535 cost-plus-award fee/incentive fee contract. This initial contract award is for Block 0 System Development and Demonstration (SDD). The Combat Search and Rescue Replacement Vehicle (CSAR-X) program is an evolutionary acquisition of a non-developmental, medium lift, vertical take-off and landing aircraft that replaces the HH-60G pave Hawk Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) aircraft and its attendant training and support systems. The CSAR-X weapon system will correct the shortfalls of the HH-60G, be rapidly deployable, and be capable of operations at a main base or austere locations worldwide. At this time$3,000,000 have been obligated. Solicitations began October 2005 and negotiations were complete September 2006. This work will be complete fourth quarter FY 2012 initial operational capability. Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8629-07-C-2372). (ends) Boeing Awarded U.S. Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Contract (Source: Boeing Co.; issued Nov. 9, 2006) ST. LOUIS --- The Boeing Company's HH-47 helicopter has been selected by the U.S. Air Force as the winner of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) program competition. "The CSAR award is a vote of confidence by the Air Force in the ability of Boeing to provide them the rotorcraft they need for this very important mission," said Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "Backed by our decades of experience in rotorcraft design, production and systems integration, the HH-47 will rapidly deploy versatile rescue capability to even the most challenging combat rescue situations." The CSAR program calls for initial operational capability of the HH-47 aircraft in 2012. Under the program, which is valued at up to $10 billion, Boeing will build 141 production aircraft and four test aircraft at its Rotorcraft Systems manufacturing facility in Ridley Park, Pa., also home to the MH-47G Special Operations and CH-47F Chinook programs. "Boeing is delighted that the Air Force has selected the HH-47 for its new Combat Search and Rescue platform," said Mike Tkach, vice president and general manager of Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. "We believe our proposal provided the best combination of capability and cost." "We are ready to produce and deliver this outstanding aircraft to the Air Force, on-time and on-cost," said Rick Lemaster, CSAR program manager. CSAR-X is a U.S. Air Force initiative to procure more capable and survivable aircraft able to recover isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory. The tandem rotor, heavy-lift, high-altitude HH-47 is based on the CH/MH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, with performance capabilities that have been widely demonstrated in the ongoing global war on terrorism and in numerous U.S. and international humanitarian relief operations. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.

Attended the Remembrance Day parade and memorial service today. Always moving.

This can be a problem when you need to add a lot of SAM systems to a scenario. What I have been meaning to do is simply increase the number of available units for each type of SAM system.

From Marine Corps Times November 01, 2006 24th MEU trains in India By John Hoellwarth Staff writer A company of infantrymen from the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is in the middle of a three-day training exercise with the Indian army in Karnataka, India, according to a release from India’s Press Information Bureau. The exercise, which ends Thursday, is intended to streamline military cooperation between the two countries during counterterrorism and urban-combat missions by requiring each to share intelligence, communications, weapons and equipment, according to the release. It was unclear whether the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 15th MEU is training with India’s army as well, but its spokeswoman, Capt. Leticia Reyes, said her unit has been doing “distributed exercises” in Malabar and Shatrujeet, India, since Oct. 22. She said those exercises are slated to run until Sunday. The Corps has trained with India’s army since June 2005, when India first sent troops to an exercise at Pendleton, the release said.

From DefenseNews Posted 11/01/06 10:04 U.S., France In Fierce Debate On Role of NATO Ahead of Riga Summit By PASCAL MALLET, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BRUSSELS A fierce debate is raging in the heart of NATO, with the United States and France in opposing corners, ahead of a summit in Riga, Latvia this month. The disagreement centers on the future role of the North Atlantic military alliance, especially over transforming it into a global force. That row became very public on Oct. 30 with the publication of a plea from French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie against diluting NATO’s role into that of a global partnership engaged in ill-defined missions. On the same day U.S. ambassador to NATO, Victoria Nuland voiced much wider aspirations for the military alliance. ”We want NATO to be able to demonstrate that we have an alliance that is taking on global responsibilities, that it increasingly has the global capabilities to meet those challenges and is doing it in concert with global partners,” Nuland said. The French view was encapsulated in a bylined opinion piece by Alliot-Marie published in the French daily Le Figaro. ”Nowadays some people talk of the possibilities to extend NATO missions in two directions,” she wrote, “one is geographic, developing new partnerships with countries, the other functional, operating in the civilian domain, notably in the reconstruction of countries emerging from crisis.” For Alliot-Marie, whose article was entitled “NATO should remain a Euro-Atlantic organization,” the contribution of countries such as Australia and Japan in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under NATO command in Afghanistan should be recognized. But that “should not change the fundamental nature of NATO which should be... a Euro-Atlantic military alliance.” The development of global partners for NATO will “dilute the natural solidarity between Europeans and North Americans,” and give the impression of “a campaign ... of the West against those who don’t share its views.” Her views contrast sharply with those held in Washington which wishes to hand NATO reconstruction missions in Afghanistan. This tactic, the French minister said, meant replacing “organizations which are competent to carry them out, in particular the U.N. and the European Union.” ”To transform NATO into an organization whose mission is to reconstruct economies and democracies all at once does not correspond to its legitimacy or its means,” she added. This year ISAF forces have been involved in fierce fighting with Taliban militiamen in Afghanistan, particularly in the south of the country. NATO has called on its allies to provide reinforcements, to relieve British, Canadian and Dutch troops, but without much success due to operations elsewhere. US NATO ambassador Nuland, in her comments just hours after the publication of the Figaro article, opined that between now and the November 28-29 summit in Riga “allies are going to spend a lot of time on wrestling and mud wrestling about the words that we use in our NATO documents and communiqués”. ”This is going to be a tense conversation,” Nuland warned, recognizing the differing opinions between the United States and some of its European allies, which she did not name. ”I would argue that the reality of what’s going on in NATO is outstripping our ability to encapsulate in the NATO doctrine and theory here in NATO headquarters,” she continued, during a conference at the center for European Policy Studies. The situation on the ground is “outstripping theory most importantly where it counts, in Afghanistan,” said Nuland, describing the situation there as NATO’s most challenging and most important undertaking. ”So as we struggle at NATO headquarters to reflect in communiqué language our global partnership ideas, remember that global partnership is a reality and out-of-area is a reality today in Afghanistan.”

From DefenseNews Posted 11/01/06 09:51 Iran To Fire Ballistic Missiles In War Games By AGENCE FRNACE-PRESSE, TEHRAN Iran’s Revolutionary Guards will fire ballistic missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) during war games this week, state television reported Nov. 1. The air, land and naval maneuvers will take place in 14 provinces starting Nov. 2 “with the focus on the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea,” army chief General Rahim Safavi was quoted by the television as saying. ”Missiles Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 with cluster warheads and range of over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) will be shot as well as hundreds of rockets and other missiles such as Fateh and Zolfaghar,” Safavi said. ”The first and main goal of this maneuver is to demonstrate power and national determination to defend the country against any possible threat,” he added. The exercises, titled “Great Prophet 2” will mark the first time the Islamic republic fires its Shahab-3 missile during maneuvers. Iran’s military games follow maneuvers launched Monday by a US-led naval force comprising warships from Australia, Bahrain, France, Italy and Britain in the Gulf near Iranian waters aimed at fighting weapons proliferation. ”That is a propaganda and political maneuver without military values,” Safavi said, referring to the U.S.-led exercise. ”If forces from out of the region want to jeopardize Iran’s security and interests, the Revolutionary Guards and the (volunteer militia) Basij will use all their capabilities to blow enemies and their interests,” he warned, as quoted by the semi-official news agency Fars. ”Heliport operations will be carried out in the Hormozgan region (an area of Straits of Hormuz) and some of the Persian Gulf islands.” The Straits of Hormuz serves as the main passage for oil exports of the Gulf oil countries. Elaborating on the objective of the operations, Safavi made reference to “defense of sensitive centers, strategic bottlenecks and confrontation of possible troubles.” He also said that “new equipment” will be employed in the operations. ”This maneuver is no threat for the region and neighbors,” he said, adding that “neighbors are our friends and enemies of our neighbors are considered as our enemies.” This round of war games will be the country’s third this year. In August, Iranian armed forces held a massive cross country military maneuver, called “Zolfaghar Blow,” to test new weapons and tactics against a potential enemy. The first stage of the “Great Prophet” war games was held in April.

From Defence Talk Japan says it can go nuclear but won't Agence France-Presse Oct 31, 2006 - 5:28:02 AM TOKYO: Japan said Tuesday it has the legal right to develop nuclear weapons despite its pacifist constitution but has no intention even to consider the long-taboo idea. Prominent lawmakers have called on Japan, the only nation to suffer nuclear attack, to debate the nuclear option after communist neighbor North Korea on October 9 said it had tested its first atom bomb. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki argued that the US-imposed pacifist constitution allows Japan "the right to possess minimum capability" for self-defense. "Theoretically and technically, nuclear weapons might be included in this, but this is different from the government's policy," said Shiozaki, the top government spokesman. "The government has no intention of changing its three-point non-nuclear principles, nor the intention of discussing the issue," he told a news conference. He was responding to the latest remarks by Shoichi Nakagawa, the policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who wants Japan to discuss going nuclear in light of the North Korean threat. "The government sticks to its policy of not having nuclear weapons, but the government also says that it is allowed to have nuclear weapons under the constitution," Nakagawa said Monday. Nakagawa is a close aide to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who strongly supports revising the constitution to give Japan a more active military role. But Abe has repeatedly ruled out discussing the nuclear option. The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were obliterated by US nuclear bombs at the end of World War II that killed more than 210,000 people. The United States has ensured Japan's security since then and forced it to renounce its right to a military.

HCDB-061026 Aircraft: CF-188A/B - Canada CH-47SD Chinook - Intl Chinook HC.2 - UK H-6H Badger - PRC KJ-200 (Y-8 AEW) - PRC KJ-2000 - PRC MH-47E Chinook - USA Q-5E/F Fantan - PRC Sea Harrier FRS.51U - India Ships/Mobile Land Units: Dokdo (LPX) LHD - ROK FARP - Intl M class (ex Doorman) FF - Belgium SBX-1 - USA Submarines: Kilo (636 Batch 2)(PRC) SS - PRC

A new version of the Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition (HCCE) Database (HCDB-061026) is now available. Get it at HarpGamer via the DB Share button. New additions (or overhauls of existing entries) include: Aircraft: CF-188A/B - Canada CH-47SD Chinook - Intl Chinook HC.2 - UK H-6H Badger - PRC KJ-200 (Y-8 AEW) - PRC KJ-2000 - PRC MH-47E Chinook - USA Q-5E/F Fantan - PRC Sea Harrier FRS.51U - India Ships/Mobile Land Units: Dokdo (LPX) LHD - ROK FARP - Intl M class (ex Doorman) FF - Belgium SBX-1 - USA Submarines: Kilo (636 Batch 2)(PRC) SS - PRC Enjoy.

Not really a new situation, but definitely a developing one and certainly good scenario fodder. The Cyclone PC's have found a new lease on life performing in the security role in the northern Persian Gulf. (Look for them in the next iteration of the HCDB).

From DefenseNews [That little ship some people love to hate is attracting attention again ... ] Posted 10/26/06 13:57 Lockheed’s LCS Draws International Interest By CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS, LE BOURGET, France A steady stream of uniformed and civilian visitors from many countries stopped by the Lockheed Martin desk during Euronaval, the biannual European naval show here that showcases the latest in naval concepts and hardware. And while the American company touted its Aegis combat system and approaches to open architecture, the majority of visitors wanted to know about the flashiest thing on the Lockheed stand — the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). “There have been a lot of people coming by. Lots of excitement, lots of questions,” David Broadbent, general manager of the Lockheed Maritime Systems and Sensors (MS2) group that’s handling development of the LCS, said on Oct. 26 after three days of showing off the concept. Officials from at least 20 countries have expressed interest in LCS, Broadbent said. “Countries want a multimission ship,” he said, noting that the modular concepts built into the design make it possible to fit the ship with vertical launch systems for missiles as well as the SPY-1F version of the Aegis system. In that configuration, Broadbent said, the 3,000-ton LCS is “ton for ton, the most powerful surface ship in the world.” One visitor was Rear Adm. D.A. Al-Wagdani, vice chief of the Saudi Arabian Navy. Al-Wagdani and the group of officers with him listened intently while Broadbent described the details of a small model of an Aegis LCS, after which the admiral spent some time driving the full-scale LCS bridge simulator that Lockheed also had on display. Al-Wagdani, like other international officers who spent time at the exhibit, declined to comment publicly on his reaction to the ship. But Saudi Arabia is seriously interested in acquiring an Aegis version of either Lockheed’s ship or the competing General Dynamics (GD) trimaran design. Both companies have prepared Aegis LCS designs, and sources have told DefenseNews.com that the Saudis are leaning toward the GD version of the Aegis LCS. General Dynamics did not set up a display at the Euronaval show, although Austal, the Australian parent company of Mobile, Ala.-based Austal USA, which is building GD’s LCS ships, did have a model of the GD LCS. Lockheed, though, prominently displayed a large poster of an Aegis-equipped LCS it is offering to Israel. The company is working on a $5 million U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command contract to develop design concepts for an Israeli version of LCS and is due to complete the study in December, Lockheed officials said. At least three alternative designs have been prepared for the Israelis, company officials said, with and without Aegis. The concepts for Israel also show two eight-cell vertical launch systems and a variety of guns, including one concept fitted with the Lockheed Martin/Oerlikon Contraves 35mm Millenium Gun.

From Defence Talk Bushehr Nuclear Plant Exempted In UN Sanctions Draft Agence France-Presse Oct 27, 2006 - 5:24:37 AM The Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran is specifically exempted from nuclear and missile-related sanctions against Tehran proposed by three European powers, according to their draft resolution seen here Thursday. The draft, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, was crafted by envoys of Britain, France and Germany in consultations with the United States and presented to their Russian and Chinese colleagues late Tuesday. It calls on UN member states to "take necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale or transfer directly or indirectly from their territories or by their nationals ... of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs." The states are also asked to take steps to bar "the provision to Iran of technical assistance or training, financial assistance, investment brokering or other services and the transfer of financial resources or services related to Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile programs." The text also provides for a freeze on assets related to Iran's nuclear and missile programs as well as travel bans on nuclear and weapons scientists involved in those programs. But in an apparent bid to mollify Moscow, the text specifically stresses that the proposed sanctions "shall not apply to supplies of items, materials, equipment, goods and technology, nor to the provision of technical assistance or training, financial assistance, investment, brokering or other services and the transfer of financial resources related to the construction Bushehr I, where these are being provided directly by the Russian federation." It also states that the travel bans "shall not apply where such travel, directly between Iran and the Russian Federation, is necessary for the construction of Bushehr I." Similarly, the assets freeze "shall not apply to funds, other financial assets or economic resources payable to the Russian Federation by Iran, related to the construction of Bushehr I," it noted. Last month, Russia and Iran officially agreed on a 12-month deadline for completing the controversial Bushehr project, despite earlier pressure from Tehran that the station be completed in half that time. Delays have plagued the project ever since the two countries entered into an initial agreement in 1995, with US officials pressing Russia to suspend the program. The Bushehr contract is worth about one billion dollars to Russia. Western powers suspect Iran is covertly trying to build nuclear weapons. But Tehran has repeatedly ignored UN Security Council demands that it halt uranium enrichment, a process which, if extended, can provide the raw material for a nuclear warhead. It insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and solely geared toward generating electricity.