07/12/2012 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

Armed forces from two continents are closing in on North Korea ahead of its forthcoming rocket launch, scheduled for later this month.

The North Korean rocket firing - apparently a satellite launching mission - could take place any time between 10 December and 22 December. In advance of this, a US Navy warship fleet is being repositioned to gain what US military officials term ‘the best situational awareness'.

Meantime, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces now has MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile launchers deployed in Tokyo, Okinawa and other sites, pointed towards North Korean soil.

In addition, there are three Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force warships currently positioned in the Sea of Japan. Each of these warships is fitted with the Aegis BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) system, designed to be launched to counter incoming ballistic missiles.

North Korean officials are adamant that the rocket launch is a peaceful exercise but, elsewhere, there's growing concern that it's linked to North Korea's long-suspected nuclear weapons development programme. "This is a very dangerous situation and we do not support those actions by North Korea", Lieutenant General Salvatore Angelella - the commander of Japanese-based US forces - commented yesterday, adding: "We are monitoring the situation closely."

North Korean Rocket Launch

Other nations have also taken steps to prepare for the North Korean rocket launch. For example, South Korea has its armed forces on high alert, while the Philippines has urged North Korea "to reconsider its planned launch and abide by these resolutions, which call for the abandonment of its ballistic missile programme in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."

In general, there's a growing wave of concern over Asia-Pacific security going downhill after the North Korean rocket's been launched and, right now, much of the rest of the world is closely watching the situation.

To date, North Korea hasn't carried out a successful three-stage rocket launch, having tried to do so four times over the past 14 years. Most recently, the Unha-3 rocket experienced an unsuccessful launch earlier this year.

Armed Forces International will revisit this topic in upcoming news coverage.

10 décembre Romandie.com (AFP)

SEOUL - La Corée du Nord s'active à remplacer les pièces défectueuses de sa fusée, afin de pouvoir l'envoyer dans les airs aussitôt que possible, et est aidée dans ses préparatifs par des experts iraniens, affirme lundi la presse sud-coréenne.

Pyongyang avait annoncé dimanche retarder le lancement de la fusée, prévu initialement entre le 10 et le 22 décembre, en raison de problèmes techniques.

Mais le quotidien Chosun Ilbo s'appuie lundi sur de nouvelles images satellite pour signaler que la pièce défectueuse est en train d'être remplacée.

On a vu un nouveau troisième étage de la fusée à trois étages Unha-3 être transporté dimanche après-midi d'une usine (...) vers la station de lancement, indique le quotidien, citant une source du gouvernement sud-coréen.

L'agence sud-coréenne Yonhap cite une autre source gouvernementale, selon laquelle une pièce détachée d'une nature non précisée était transportée. Nous devons analyser pour voir s'il s'agit du troisième étage de la fusée, ou d'autres parties, a déclaré cette source.

Le Chosun Ilbo, réputé pour sa couverture de la Corée du Nord, un des pays les plus fermés de la planète, indique également qu'un groupe d'experts iraniens est actuellement sur le site de lancement pour aider aux préparatifs.

Une voiture (...) a été aperçue effectuant les trajets entre la station de lancement et des logements à proximité. Il semble qu'elle transportait des experts iraniens, indique le quotidien, citant là aussi une source gouvernementale sud-coréenne.

Il semble que le lien entre la Corée du Nord et l'Iran en matière de (développement de) missiles, qui remonte aux années 80, est plus étendu que supposé jusqu'à présent, a ajouté cette source, sous couvert de l'anonymat.

Selon le quotidien, les experts ont été invités par Pyongyang, après l'échec du lancement d'une fusée par le Nord en avril dernier.

Début décembre, l'agence japonaise Kyodo citait une source diplomatique occidentale affirmant que l'Iran avait envoyé du personnel militaire en Corée du Nord depuis octobre, afin de renforcer leur coopération dans le domaine des missiles et du nucléaire.

Téhéran et Pyongyang sont tous deux sous le coup de sanctions internationales, car soupçonnés de poursuivre un programme nucléaire à visée militaire. Les deux pays nourrissent également une forte animosité envers les Etats-Unis.

Des responsables américains estiment que l'Iran a acquis auprès de la Corée du Nord du matériel pour mettre au point des missiles balistiques, selon des câbles diplomatiques américains de 2010.

Pyongyang a annoncé le prochain tir d'une fusée pour mettre sur orbite un satellite civil, un projet condamné par une large partie de la communauté internationale, qui y voit un nouvel essai de missile balistique, interdit par les sanctions de l'ONU.

Dimanche, le Nord a indiqué que le tir, initialement prévu pour les prochains jours, était repoussé, en raison de problèmes techniques.

L'Iran est soupçonné par les grandes puissances de chercher à fabriquer l'arme atomique sous couvert de son programme nucléaire civil, condamné par six résolutions du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU dont quatre assorties de sanctions.

Téhéran a toujours vigoureusement rejeté ces accusations.

(Aus DoD)

Dec 4, 2012 ASDNews Source : CAE

Today at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), CAE announced it has won a series of military contracts valued at more than C$70 million. They include a contract from the United States Navy to develop two MH-60R tactical operational flight trainers (TOFTs) for the Royal Australian Navy under a foreign military sale program, a contract from the Australian Defence Force to provide King Air 350 simulator services, and a contract from the Royal New Zealand Air Force to provide C-130 training.

"CAE has a long history of providing the Australian Defence Forces with world-class flight simulators and training services, and we are pleased our MH-60R training systems will play a role in preparing the aircrews who will operate Australia's next-generation multi-role naval helicopter," said Gene Colabatistto, Group President, Military Products, Training and Services, CAE. "Our strong position on programs that have long-service lives ahead of them, such as the MH-60R helicopter, will continue to drive opportunities for CAE's comprehensive portfolio of simulation-based products and services. In addition, our established presence in Asia and the Pacific will provide for growth opportunities as these regions become more important to defence customers worldwide."

US Navy/Royal Australian Navy

CAE was awarded a contract to develop two MH-60R tactical operational flight trainers (TOFTs) for the Royal Australian Navy under the United States foreign military sale (FMS) program. CAE USA will be the prime contractor responsible for the design and manufacture of two MH-60R TOFTs that will be delivered in 2015 to HMAS Albatross, located near Nowra in New South Wales and home of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

The MH-60R TOFTs include both a full-motion operational flight trainer (OFT) that will be used to train Royal Australian Navy MH-60R pilots and co-pilots as well as a weapons tactics trainer (WTT) to be used for training rear-crew sensor operators in the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. The MH-60R operational flight trainers for the Royal Australian Navy will include the CAE True electric motion system, motion seats, 220-degree by 60-degree Barco visual display, and the CAE Medallion-6000 image generator. The MH-60R OFT and WTT can be operated as standalone training devices, or networked to become an MH-60R tactical operational flight trainer to provide a total aircrew mission training system. The MH-60R TOFTs for the Royal Australian Navy are based on the MH-60R TOFTs that CAE is delivering to the U.S. Navy.

CAE Australia will support CAE USA in the development of the Royal Australian Navy's MH-60R TOFTs by customizing and leveraging Australian-specific common databases (CDB) already developed by CAE Australia for other programs in Australia.

The Commonwealth of Australia selected the U.S. Navy's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter as their new multi-role naval combat helicopter last year to fulfill the Australian Defence Force's AIR 9000 Phase 8 requirement. Australia is acquiring a fleet of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters via the U.S. Government's FMS program. This is the first-ever procurement of the U.S. Navy's most advanced anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter outside the United States. The U.S. Navy is supported by Team Seahawk, which consists of MH-60R airframe manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, mission systems integrator Lockheed Martin, engine manufacturer GE, sensor supplier Raytheon Corp., and training supplier CAE.

Royal Australian Air Force

CAE has signed a contract with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to provide Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350 training until 2018. CAE will deploy a CAE 5000 Series full-flight simulator (FFS) representing the King Air 350 with Proline II configuration to a training facility in Sale, Victoria. Under terms of the contract, CAE will provide simulator services for Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) King Air 350 aircrew who train on the aircraft for a range of missions, including tactical support, maritime surveillance and light transport.

"The simulator services provided by CAE will play a key role in the cost-effective training of RAAF pilots, air combat officers and RAN aviation warfare officers," said GPCAPT Gregory Hoffmann, Officer Commanding Training Aircraft Systems Program Office (TASPO).

The CAE 5000 Series King Air 350 FFS will be qualified to Level D, the highest certification for flight simulators, by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The King Air 350 simulator services will support the RAAF's No. 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale, as well as the School of Aviation Warfare (SAW). This will be the second King Air 350 FFS that CAE has deployed in Australia, following the inauguration in July this year of a King Air 350 ProLine 21 FFS in Melbourne. CAE has commenced delivery of training services to the RAAF's No. 38 Squadron using this simulator.

RNLAF/RNZAF

CAE has signed an agreement with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (NLMoD) to market and sell third-party training services on a CAE-built C-130 Level D full-mission simulator. The C-130 full-mission simulator, which CAE delivered for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) in 2010, is currently housed at CAE's Amsterdam Training Centre in Hoofdorp. In addition, CAE has signed a contract with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) to provide comprehensive C-130 training. The RNZAF C-130 aircrews will receive simulator instruction from CAE at the Amsterdam Training Centre, including training on the RNLAF C-130 simulator that closely matches the configuration of the RNZAF's upgraded fleet of C-130H aircraft. The RNZAF also trains in-country on a CAE-built C-130H flight training device, which CAE delivered to the RNZAF base in Auckland under the C-130 Life Extension Program (LEP) and is currently upgrading for the RNZAF.

TOKYO, 5 décembre - RIA Novosti

Un exercice d'alerte aérienne s'est déroulé mercredi sur l'île d'Ishigaki (sud du Japon), la région du pays la plus rapprochée de la trajectoire éventuelle du lanceur nord-coréen censé placer sur orbite un satellite d'observation de la Terre.

Le Japon a testé mercredi le système national d'alerte aux catastrophes naturelles et aux situations d'urgence J-alert. Dix secondes après avoir reçu le signal d'alarme en provenant de Tokyo, l'administration d'Ishigaki a annoncé un exercice d'alerte aérienne à l'aide de haut-parleurs installés dans les rues.

La Corée du nord a déclaré qu'elle s'apprêtait à lancer une fusée porteuse d'un satellite entre le 10 et le 22 décembre. Le Japon et ses alliés occidentaux estiment qu'il s'agit du tir dissimulé d'un missile balistique. Bien que les étages consommés ne doivent pas tomber sur le territoire japonais, il existe néanmoins un risque d'accidents susceptibles de faire dévier la trajectoire de la fusée.

Lundi dernier, les dispositifs de la DCA, les troupes radiotechniques et les unités de missiles sol-air déployés dans l'Extrême-Orient russe ont également été mis en état d'alerte afin de parer à toute éventualité.

December 04, 2012 rediff.com (PTI)

The United States on Tuesday agreed to step up efforts to provide defence equipment needed by Pakistan to maintain security along its border with war-torn Afghanistan and to continue discussions on the provision of military aid to Islamabad .

The decisions were made during the two-day meeting of the US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group, which concluded in the Defence Ministry in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

This was the first meeting of the DCG since May 2011, when ties between the two sides were hit by the unilateral American military raid that killed Osama bin Laden [ Images ] in Abbottabad.

A joint statement issued after the talks said: "Recognising the enduring security requirements on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the two delegations agreed to cooperate on a prioritised set of Pakistan's defence requirements which will inform follow-on consultations on security assistance."

Pakistan has projected a requirement for military hardware needed for ongoing anti-terrorism operations along the Afghan border.

Another meeting of officials from both sides is expected to be held early next year in the US to discuss the supply of the equipment, official sources told PTI.

The joint statement further said: "The US and Pakistan also discussed the importance of the Coalition Support Fund and Security Assistance Programs, and agreed to continued consultations on the way forward."

The US had held up military aid to Pakistan, including payments from the Coalition Support Fund to reimburse Islamabad for its expenses on the war against terror, after bilateral ties plunged to an all-time low last year.

The Pakistani delegation at the meeting of the DCG was led by Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retired) Asif Yasin Malik while the US side was headed by Under Secretary of Defence for Policy James N Miller.

"Both delegations welcomed the resumption of bilateral security cooperation and agreed that relations between the two countries should be based on the principles of strategic desirability, political sustainability, trust, and mutual respect," the joint statement said.

The two sides further "acknowledged that bilateral counterterrorism cooperation has been critical to weakening violent extremists and underscores the importance of continuing cooperation to complete the defeat of Al Qaeda and its affiliates in the region".

They also "affirmed their mutual commitment to a strong defence relationship which they stressed should focus on achieving common objectives".

The DCG is the main forum between Pakistan and the US for coordinating defence policy to strengthening cooperation to support each country's security interests.

During the plenary session the participants shared their respective assessments of the bilateral relationship, discussed each side's strategic priorities, and agreed on areas for future defence cooperation.

The Pakistani side "provided an update on its military campaign along its western border" with Afghanistan and the US side made a briefing on the International Security Assistance Force's activities in Afghanistan, including efforts to give a leading role in security matters to Afghan forces.

In light of the cross-border NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November 2011, both sides appreciated the efforts by their militaries to improve operational coordination.

They two sides also reviewed the "numerous challenges facing regional security".

The two countries said they are committed to continue working together to implement a "framework for defence cooperation based on areas of convergence" to promote peace and stability in the region.

(The Star)

TOKYO, 04 déc 2012 marine-oceans.com  (AFP)

Un navire gouvernemental chinois est brièvement entré mardi dans les eaux territoriales d'îles administrées par le Japon en mer de Chine orientale, ont annoncé les garde-côtes nippons.

Vers midi heure locale (03H00 GMT), ce bateau de surveillance maritime est entré dix minutes dans la zone de 12 milles nautiques (22 km) entourant Minamikojima, une des îles de la chaîne des Senkaku revendiquées avec force par Pékin sous le nom de Diaoyu.

Des navires officiels chinois croisent depuis plus de deux mois dans les eaux territoriales ou les environs de ces îles situées à quelque 200 km à l'est des côtes de Taïwan, qui les revendique également, et à 400 km à l'ouest de l'île d'Okinawa (sud du Japon).

Le différend territorial autour de cet archipel inhabité, dont les fonds marins environnants pourraient renfermer des hydrocarbures, s'est envenimé en septembre après la nationalisation d'une partie de ces îles par le Japon.

D'importantes manifestations antinippones, émaillées de violence contre des intérêt japonais, ont eu lieu à la mi-septembre dans des dizaines de villes chinoises, avant que Pékin n'y mette le holà.

La Chine et le Japon, respectivement deuxième et troisième puissances économiques mondiales, sont d'importants partenaires mais ce conflit territorial pèse sur les échanges commerciaux et les investissements entre les deux pays.

04 December 2012 Pacific Sentinel.

December 4, 2012 Saurabh Joshi - stratpost.com

"ONGC Videsh is engaged in three (oil and gas) blocks in the maritime zone of a country (Vietnam) in that area. The Indian Navy has a mandate to secure our country's interests in the maritime domain wherever there is a requirement, which we will execute," said Admiral D.K. Joshi.

Oil blocks operated by ONGC Videsh Limited in the South China Sea

 

India’s Navy chief, Admiral D.K. Joshi, on Monday indicated a hardened stance towards the increasingly belligerent attitude adopted by China and its navy over jurisdiction over the South China Sea, saying the Indian Navy was prepared to protect oilfields of the Indian ONGC. While calling the modernization of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ‘truly impressive’ and a ‘major, major concern for us’, he said, “When the requirement is there – for example in situations where our country’s interests are involved ONGC, ONGC Videsh etc, we will be required to go there and we are prepared for that.”

Now are we preparing for it, are we having exercises of that nature? The short answer is yes.”

Referring to the three oil blocks that India’s state oil and gas exploration company, ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), was exploring in the South China Sea, Joshi said, “Our country has economic interests in that area. ONGC Videsh is engaged in three (oil and gas) blocks in the maritime zone of a country (Vietnam) in that area. Production has already started in one of those three blocks. And as I’ve said before, the Indian Navy has a mandate to secure our country’s interests in the maritime domain wherever there is a requirement, which we will execute.”

If the navy were not to protect the nation’s sovereign interests then what are we there for?”

Admiral Joshi outlined emphasized freedom of navigation to be a priority interest for India in the ‘complex’ situation in the South China Sea at the annual press conference held to mark the Navy Day on Tuesday.

“We would like the international regime under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea) to remain uninterrupted over there. Freedom of navigation is not stand-alone – it is a derivative. The maritime zones outlined in the international regime – what are territorial waters, what is an exclusive economic zone – these should be followed on the basis of international norms. So freedom of navigation over there is our primary concern and it’s a concern for the whole world, not just us.”

Authorities in China’s Hainan island recently announced an assumption of the right to board and search foreign vessels illegally entering what they consider to be Chinese waters. Countries littoral to the South China Sea have protested the move.

Referring to the Indian Navy’s rules of engagement in the event of a challenge from the PLAN in South China Sea, Joshi said, “We do not hope and expect that a situation would come where an issue of engagement comes into play. Secondly rules of engagement are constant. They are not – they do not change from one area to the other.”

And in essence, it is wherever your right of self-defense – if it is impeded into there are certain options provided.”

China had recently sparked a row with neighboring countries with which it has disputes over land or maritime borders when it began issuing new passports with maps that marked disputed territory as its own. In India’s case, it had marked the Aksai Chin region, which it occupies, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its own territory. India has since responded by stamping visas on Chinese passports with an map outlining the official territory of India.

December 3, 2012 by Ritu Sharma - defenceeXpress

2013 end is the new delivery date for the much delayed Russian-built aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. In his address ahead of the Navy Day on December 4, Admiral DK Joshi said that the warship should be in the Indian Navy's flotilla.

"Amongst the overseas projects, there has been a delay in the delivery of Vikramaditya, which has sailed for more than 100 days in the recent past and completed a majority of her equipment and aviation trials. The revised schedule envisages the delivery of the ship in the last quarter of 2013," Admiral Joshi said.

04 December 2012 By Alexis Romero – Pacific Sentinel.

PEKIN, 03 déc 2012 Marine & Océans (AFP)

La Chine a affirmé lundi son "opposition résolue" à un amendement voté par le Sénat américain qui reconnaît l'administration japonaise sur l'archipel des Diaoyu/Senkaku, revendiqué par Pékin mais contrôlé par Tokyo.

L'amendement, contenu dans un projet de loi relatif à la défense nationale des Etats-Unis, ne prend toutefois pas position sur la souveraineté de ces îles situées en mer de Chine orientale.

"La Chine exprime sa vive préoccupation et son opposition résolue à l'amendement du Sénat américain", a déclaré le porte-parole du ministère chinois des Affaires étrangères, Hong Lei, lors d'un point de presse régulier.

"Les îles Diaoyu et les îles adjacentes font partie intégrante de la Chine depuis les temps anciens. La Chine a sur elles une souveraineté incontestée", a souligné M. Hong.

Il a également indiqué que Pékin ne souhaitait pas que la question des îles disputées entre dans le cadre du traité de sécurité nippo-américain que Tokyo et Washington veulent moderniser face à la montée de la puissance militaire chinoise dans la région.

"Le traité de sécurité nippo-américain est un produit de la guerre froide et ne devrait pas outrepasser le cadre bilatéral ou saper les intérêts d'une tierce partie", selon le porte-parole chinois.

"Nous espérons que les Etats-Unis vont tenir compte des intérêts plus larges de la paix et de la stabilité dans la région, tenir leur parole et s'abstenir d'envoyer des signaux contradictoires et erronés", a encore dit M. Hong.

Plusieurs navires chinois croisent depuis plus d'un mois dans la zone de l'archipel revendiqué par Pékin et Tokyo. La tension est forte entre les deux géants asiatiques depuis le mois de septembre et la nationalisation par le Japon de ces îles, qui sont inhabitées mais dont les fonds marins environnants pourraient renfermer des hydrocarbures.