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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 16:40
Escadre russe en Méditerranée: combattre la piraterie et la drogue

MOSCOU, 6 juin - RIA Novosti

 

L'escadre russe en Méditerranée, qui comprendra une dizaine de navires, aura pour mission d'assurer la défense antimissile et de combattre la piraterie, le terrorisme et le trafic de stupéfiants, indique un communiqué du ministère russe de la Défense.

 

La formation de ce groupe naval sera évoquée lors d'une réunion qui se déroulera jeudi au ministère sous la présidence de Vladimir Poutine.

 

Selon le communiqué, l'escadre sera également chargée de la lutte anti-aérienne et anti-sous-marine, ainsi que de missions humanitaires et d'opérations de sauvetage.

 

"Dans certaines circonstances, le groupe pourra coopérer avec les forces navales étrangères en vue d'assurer la stabilité en Méditerranée", souligne le document.

 

La nouvelle formation méditerranéenne comprendra deux croiseurs, un grand bâtiment anti-sous-marin, deux patrouilleurs et trois bâtiments de débarquement. Deux à trois navires auxiliaires (ravitailleurs er remorqueurs de haute mer) seront également engagés.

 

"Le nombre de bâtiments pourra augmenter en fonction des missions fixées à l'escadre", affirme le ministère russe de la Défense.

Marine de guerre russe

Marine de guerre russe

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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 16:20
Raytheon Wins $80M for JSOW Production

June 6, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued June 5, 2013)

 

Pentagon Contract Announcement

 

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded an $80,497,513 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 200 full rate production Lot 9 AGM-154C-1 Unitary Joint Stand-Off Weapon missiles, including associated support equipment.

 

In addition, this contract provides for one AGM-154C-1 for performance characterization test.

 

Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (44 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (24 percent); Tucson, Ariz. (22 percent); and McAllester, Okla. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2015.

 

Fiscal 2013 Weapons Procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $80,497,513 is being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.

 

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-13-C-0011).

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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 12:30
Patriots, F-16s May Remain in Jordan After Eager Lion Exercise

Jun 6, 2013 ASDNews Source : AFPS

 

The United States could leave Patriot anti-missile batteries and F-16 fighter jets in Jordan following the end of Exercise Eager Lion, a Pentagon spokesman said here today.

 

Jordan has requested the batteries, but Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has not yet reviewed it, Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters. Hagel is returning from NATO meetings in Brussels today.

 

“When the secretary receives the request, he will favorably consider it,” Warren said. “Jordan is a strong partner with us. We have a longstanding and strong relationship with the Jordanians, and we want to do what we can to support their security requirements.”

 

The fighting in neighboring Syria has raised concerns in Jordan. The Patriot batteries and F-16s are going to Jordan to take part in Eager Lion – an annual exercise that this year encompasses 19 nations and about 8,000 service members. It is scheduled to start June 9 and to run through June 20.

 

About 200 U.S. soldiers of the 1st Armored Division based at Fort Bliss, Texas, deployed to Jordan in April to provide a nucleus of command and control capabilities if the fighting in Syria spills over into Jordan. About 120,000 Syrians have fled to Jordan to escape the country’s civil war.

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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 12:20
A Minuteman III Transporter-Erector (TE) is shown on-site at launch facility A-06 - photo USAF

A Minuteman III Transporter-Erector (TE) is shown on-site at launch facility A-06 - photo USAF

 

 

Jun 6, 2013 ASDNews Source : DRS Technologies Inc.,

 

DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced that it received a $25 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for the design, development and delivery of two Transporter Erector Replacement Vehicles to support the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Minuteman III fleet. If all options are exercised by the Air Force, the total program value for up to 26 mobile vehicles under this contract could reach over $92 million.

 

The Transporter Erector is a vehicle used for transporting, positioning and removing the Minuteman III booster at launch facilities at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; Hill AFB, Utah; and Vandenberg AFB, California.  The current Transporter Erector used by the Air Force was fielded in 1988.  The Air Force Global Strike Command, overseeing this replacement, requires a modern and forward-looking system that will sustain booster handling operations through 2030.

 

Under the Air Force Transporter Erector Replacement Program, DRS Environmental Systems in Cincinnati, Ohio, will redesign and build new transport vehicles that will fully modernize the operational system.

 

The design and development of the first two Transporter Erectors to be used in system qualification are due to be completed in November 2015.  If all production options are exercised, 26 Transporter Erectors will be delivered to the Air Force through September 2019.

 

"DRS will draw upon its 40 years of experience with system engineering, design, and production of mission-critical mobile shelters and transport trailers for the military," said Roger Sexauer, president of DRS Power and Environmental Systems.  "The Environmental Systems Team has been supporting the Air Force ICBM program office for over 20 years and is committed to providing continued support to a critical part of the our Nation's strategic deterrent forces," according to Sexauer.

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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 07:50
Poland To Acquire Middle-Range Missile Systems

Jun. 5, 2013 - By JAROSLAW ADAMOWSKI – Defense News

 

WARSAW — The Polish Ministry of Defense is aiming to purchase middle-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, the ministry’s Armament Inspectorate said in a statement. The procurement is part of Poland’s plans to overhaul its missile defense system from 2014 to 2023.

 

The ministry invited interested manufacturers to participate in a dialogue through which they will be provided more detailed information on the technical and strategic requirements of the procurement. The deadline for applications is June 21, the statement said.

 

In addition to middle-range systems, the Polish ministry is planning to acquire short-range missiles. Under the plan, deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017.

 

Poland’s National Security Bureau estimates that acquisition of a new missile defense system could be worth between 8 billion zloty and 12 billion zloty (US $2.5 billion to $3.75 billion).

 

In April, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski signed a bill on modernizing and financing the Polish Armed Forces that secured a separate stream of funding to overhaul its missile defense system. According to the bill, the funds will be set aside from the country’s defense budget from 2014 to 2023.

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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 07:30
S-300 pour la Syrie: aucune livraison jusqu'à présent (Poutine)

EKATERINBOURG, 4 juin - RIA Novosti

 

Le contrat de livraison de missiles sol-air S-300 à la Syrie n'a pas été réalisé pour l'instant, a déclaré mardi à Ekaterinbourg le président russe Vladimir Poutine.

 

"Quant aux missiles sol-air S-300, c'est effectivement l'un des meilleurs systèmes de DCA au monde, sans doute le meilleur. C'est certes un armement sérieux. Nous ne voulons pas rompre l'équilibre des forces dans la région. Le contrat a été signé il y a plusieurs années, mais n'a pas été mis exécution pour l'instant", a indiqué M.Poutine lors d'une conférence de presse à l'issue du sommet Russie-UE.

 

La semaine dernière, les médias ont affirmé que la Russie avait déjà livré un premier lot de missiles sol-ail S-300 en Syrie dans le cadre de contrats signés encore avant le conflit.

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6 juin 2013 4 06 /06 /juin /2013 06:20
Aide: House Approps Bill Has Funds for US East Coast Missile Site

Jun. 5, 2013 - By JOHN T. BENNETT – Defense News

 

WASHINGTON — A US House subcommittee wants to give the Pentagon $70 million next year to begin construction of a controversial missile shield, moving it one step closer to becoming reality.

 

A House Appropriations Committee aide told Defense News on Wednesday that the 2014 defense appropriations bill prepared by its defense subcommittee contains $70.2 million for the GOP-proposed site, which last year was partially blocked by Senate Democrats.

 

If included in the final version of the 2014 defense appropriations act, the monies “would, in theory, be spent this year,” the aide said.

 

If adopted in the final bill, the Pentagon would have the funds to begin erecting the site. The Pentagon is completing a congressionally mandated study of potential sites, with several under consideration in the northeast United States.

 

Senate Democrats last year slowed the East Coast plan, rejecting GOP’s effort to include it in 2013 defense authorization legislation. Instead, Republicans and Democrats opted to order the study of potential sites.

 

But an actual appropriation would give the Defense Department funds to begin moving dirt and installing missile interceptors. Senate Democrats say there is no requirement for the system, and charge it would be too expensive in an era of declining Pentagon budgets.

 

It remains unclear whether Democrats will block the plan again this year. Some Democrats, including the No. 3 Senate Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, already are lobbying for part of the shield in their home states.

 

If erected, the site could provide an unexpected boost for US firms that make missile interceptors, radars and other missile defense components.

 

The House Armed Services Committee is expected to take up at least one amendment on Wednesday or early Thursday morning that would give the East Coast site congressional approval, sources say.

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5 juin 2013 3 05 /06 /juin /2013 10:55
Tir opérationnel sur le système d’arme "Mamba"

Tir opérationnel sur le système d’arme "Mamba"

04/06/2013 Armée de l'air

 

Le 3 juin 2013, l’escadron de défense sol-air (EDSA) 2/95 «Sancerre» d’Avord a validé son premier tir opérationnel sur le système d’arme «Mamba», lors d’une campagne de tir multi-système sur le site d’essais missile des Landes, à Biscarosse.

 

Après une année de préparation et de prise en main du système sol-air moyenne portée "Mamba", l’EDSA 2/95 «Sancerre» et l’escadron de soutien technique sol-air 2E950 d’Avord ont validé à 11h30, leur 1er tir ASTER à partir du "Mamba". Ce tir a été réalisé dans un environnement complet mettant en œuvre l’ensemble de la chaine de commandement de théâtre avec le déploiement, à côté de la section Mamba, d’un centre de détection et de contrôle déployable (CDC/D) d’Évreux et d’un centre de management de la défense dans la troisième dimension (CMD3D), tous communicant par liaison 16 (L16).

 

Validation du tir au cœur d’un scénario complexe

 

Le scénario d’engagement reposait sur les capacités de discrimination ami-ennemi du système. La séquence mettait alors en œuvre deux cibles simulant un chasseur «ami» menacé par un chasseur «ennemi», les deux évoluant à une altitude de 2000 mètres et à 450 nœuds (environ 230 mètres par seconde). L’identification et la classification des cibles ont été transmises du CDC/D au CMD3D, lequel ordonna le tir. Au départ du missile, la cible ennemie se trouve à 50km. Elle sera interceptée à 40 km. Le tir est validé.

Système sol-air moyenne portée (SAMP) "Mamba"

Système sol-air moyenne portée (SAMP) "Mamba"

L’EDSA 2/95 «Sancerre» d’Avord est donc le nouvel escadron opérationnel sur "Mamba". Il a démontré le parfait fonctionnement du système dans une chaine de commandement complète sous L16.

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3 juin 2013 1 03 /06 /juin /2013 22:30
Les S-300 pour la Syrie menacent l'équilibre militaire (Kerry)

WASHINGTON, 3 juin - RIA Novosti

 

Les livraisons de missiles sol-air russes S-300 à Damas pourraient rompre l'équilibre militaire dans la région et empêcher la tenue de la conférence internationale sur la Syrie, a déclaré lundi  le secrétaire d'Etat américain John Kerry.

 

"Le possible transfert des S-300 pourrait rompre l'équilibre militaire avec Israël et […] mettre en péril la convocation de la conférence", a indiqué M. Kerry aux journalistes à l'issue d'une rencontre avec le ministre polonais des Affaires étrangères Radoslaw Sikorski à Washington.

 

La Russie a conclu un contrat de livraison de S-300 à la Syrie avant le conflit entre le gouvernement et l'opposition dans ce pays. Moscou affirme qu'il ne voit aucune raison de renoncer à ses engagements.

 

Selon M. Kerry, l'opération des troupes syriennes à Qousseir, où elles mènent une opération d'envergure contre les groupes armés de rebelles, risque elle aussi de mettre en danger la convocation de la conférence internationale.

 

Les Etats-Unis reprochent en outre au mouvement chiite libanais Hezbollah de soutenir le régime de Damas.

 

M. Kerry a également évoqué l'entretien qu'il a eu vendredi avec son homologue russe Sergueï Lavrov. Le chef de la diplomatie américaine s'est dit persuadé que M. Lavrov "restait profondément attaché" à l'idée de la conférence sur la Syrie.

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3 juin 2013 1 03 /06 /juin /2013 21:30
Syrie: Washington va déployer des missiles Patriot et des F-16 à Amman

03 juin 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

 

WASHINGTON - Les Etats-Unis vont déployer des missiles Patriot et des avions de combat F-16 en Jordanie, pays frontalier de la Syrie, pour des manoeuvres militaires, après lesquelles certains de ces équipements pourraient rester sur place, ont annoncé lundi des responsables américains.

 

Les lanceurs de missiles Patriot et les avions F-16 ont été autorisés à être déployés en Jordanie pour l'exercice dénommé Eager Lion, a indiqué le porte-parole du CentCom (commandement central) américain, le lieutenant-colonel T.G. Taylor dans un communiqué.

 

Pour renforcer la capacité et la position défensive de la Jordanie, certains de ces équipements pourraient rester sur place au-delà de l'exercice, à la demande du gouvernement jordanien, a-t-il précisé.

 

Cette décision de maintenir des équipements en Jordanie pourrait alimenter à nouveau les spéculations sur une éventuelle intervention militaire des Etats-Unis en Syrie, ce que la Maison Blanche considère comme la dernière des options possibles.

 

Les responsables américains n'ont pas précisé combien de F-16 participeraient aux manoeuvres ou combien resteraient ensuite dans le royaume.

 

Les Etats-Unis ont déjà soutenu une opération similaire au début de l'année en Turquie, quand l'Otan a déployé des lanceurs de missiles Patriot le long de la frontière turque, mitoyenne de la Syrie.

 

Ce déploiement en Jordanie intervient après plusieurs avertissements de Washington au régime du président syrien Bachar al-Assad à propos de livraisons d'armes au mouvement chiite libanais Hezbollah, soutien de Damas.

 

Israël a mené des raids aériens en Syrie pour tenter d'empêcher ces transferts d'armes.

 

La Jordanie, qui accueille plus de 500.000 réfugiés syriens, elle aussi s'inquiète d'un débordement du conflit syrien.

 

En avril, le secrétaire américain à la Défense, Chuck Hagel, avait révélé que quelque 150 militaires américains avaient été déployés en Jordanie depuis l'an dernier, portant à plus de 200 hommes la présence militaire américaine dans le royaume.

 

Les missiles Patriot peuvent abattre des missiles Scud ou d'autres missiles de courte portée, qui font partie de l'arsenal du régime d'Assad. Ils peuvent aussi être utilisés pour une zone d'exclusion aérienne ou d'autres opérations aériennes.

 

Les combats continuaient de faire rage lundi en Syrie. Un missile sol-sol a tué 26 personnes dans le nord de la Syrie, au moment où l'offensive menée par l'armée syrienne, épaulée par le Hezbollah, contre la localité rebelle de Qousseir (ouest) entrait dans sa troisième semaine.

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3 juin 2013 1 03 /06 /juin /2013 19:40
Bouclier: pas de concessions américaines envers la Russie (Kerry)

WASHINGTON, 3 juin - RIA Novosti

 

La décision des Etats-Unis de renoncer à la quatrième étape de déploiement du système de défense antimissile en Europe ne constitue pas une concession faite à Moscou, a déclaré lundi le secrétaire d'Etat américain John Kerry  à l'issue d'une rencontre avec le ministre polonais Radoslaw Sikorski à Washington.

 

"En ce qui concerne la défense antimissile, les Etats-Unis ont consenti zéro de concessions à la Russie. Aucune discussion n'a été engagée avec Moscou concernant la décision que nous avons prise relativement à la quatrième étape. Ceci a été fait spécialement pour éviter les accusations d'arrangements ou de concessions", a répondu M. Kerry interrogé par un journaliste polonais.

 

Les Etats-Unis avaient auparavant notifié à la Russie leur décision de ne pas réaliser la quatrième étape de déploiement du bouclier antimissile en Europe, tout en indiquant qu'ils pouvaient accélérer la mise en place de la troisième étape.

 

Moscou estime que le projet américain de défense antimissile constitue une menace pour la sécurité nationale de la Russie, car il peut avoir pour but de neutraliser le potentiel stratégique russe et non de contrer le programme balistique iranien.

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3 juin 2013 1 03 /06 /juin /2013 07:35
China maintains no-first-use nuclear pledge: general

Singapore (AFP) June 02, 2013 –  Spacewar.com

 

China is maintaining its pledge not to be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict, a top Chinese general said Sunday.

 

Omission of the "no-first-use" pledge in a recently released defence white paper had created ripples in military circles and sparked speculation that China may have dropped the policy.

 

"I want to make a solemn statement that the Chinese government will never discard our pledge of no first-use of nuclear arms," Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo told the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

 

"We have been sticking to this policy for half a century, and its facts have proven that it is not only in the interest of the Chinese people but also of the people of all the world."

 

Qi, deputy chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army, was queried about the omission after giving a speech at the two-day conference that ended Sunday.

 

He said the white paper released in April did not go into details which was why the pledge was not explicitly mentioned.

 

Qi however said that a portion in the paper referring to the tasks of the Second Artillery Corps, China's strategic missile force, referred to the no-first-use pledge.

 

"I want to clarify that," he said.

 

After testing its first nuclear weapon in 1964, China promised to never be the first one to use atomic weapons.

 

China does not disclose the size of its nuclear arsenal, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said the rising world power had an arsenal of about 200 operational nuclear weapons for delivery mainly by ballistic missiles.

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2 juin 2013 7 02 /06 /juin /2013 07:35
Agni architect is new DRDO chief

Jun 1, 2013 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

HYDERABAD: Scientist Avinash Chander, programme director, Agni and chief controller (missiles & strategic systems) has been elevated as scientific advisor to raksha mantri, secretary of department of defence R&D and director general of DRDO from June 1, 2013 for a period of three years. He succeeds Dr V K Saraswat following his superannuation.

 

"I feel honoured on being entrusted with such a responsible position. Dr Saraswat has set a good course for DRDO and I will continue to steer the organization to higher levels," he said after taking charge on Friday.

 

Avinash Chander, an eminent missile scientist, is the chief architect of the long range ballistic missile system Agni. He envisioned and evolved strategies for long range missiles and led the team in the design and development of the Agni missile systems (Agni A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5), thus providing cutting edge and strategic weapon systems to the armed forces. He played a key role in the development of the 5,000 km range Agni-V, propelling India into an elite club of five advanced nations.

 

Avinash Chander joined DRDO in 1972 after completing graduation in electrical engineering from IIT Delhi. He did MS in spatial information technology from JNTU, Hyderabad. The development of Agni range of missiles under highly restrictive international control regimes was possible due to his technology forecast, perspective planning and relentless efforts.

 

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2 juin 2013 7 02 /06 /juin /2013 07:20
Pentagon Works To Expand Aegis BMD’s Reach

May 31st, 2013 by Kris Osborn  -defensetech.org

 

Stellar Avenger successful ballistic missile defense intercept.The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy are developing next-generation Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) hardware and software along with a longer-range interceptor missile engineered to massively increase the protective envelope against intermediate and long-range ballistic missile threats, service officials said.

 

The Navy and Lockheed Martin are now developing and testing computer code for what’s called Aegis BMD 5.0 and 5.1 Weapons Systems, the next iterations of technology designed to provide Aegis destroyers and cruisers with advanced radar, intercept and signal processing capabilities, said Navy Capt. Jim Kilby, Deputy for Aegis BMD.

 

The hardware and software for these systems are now being tested and refined at a Combat Systems Engineering Development Site in Moorestown, N.J.

 

“The code is now in test. Instead of having a normal ballistic missile signal processor, 5.0 will have a multi-mission signal processor,” said Kilby. “Lockheed Martin is testing this code in the final stages right now for stability and endurance.”

 

Aegis BMD destroyers routinely patrol waters in the Pacific Ocean, using cutting-edge radar technology to scan the surrounding skies for potential missile threats.

 

These routine patrols, part of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet’s regular deployments and maritime security routines, have taken on additional importance in light of recently escalating tensions and potential threats emanating from North Korea.

 

“The purpose of the Aegis ships on patrol in the Pacific is a mission called Long Range Surveillance and Track and they act as sensors for homeland ballistic missile defense,” Kilby said. “In simple terms, their job is to provide an early detection of intercontinental ballistic missiles[ICBM] and provide fire control quality tracking data to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system.”

 

This tracking data would enable Ground-based Interceptor (GBI) missiles, from either Fort Greeley, Alaska, or Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, to intercept the ICBM before it could reach targets in the United States, said Kilby.

 

Overall, this kind of scenarios speaks to the broader multi-layered aspects of the U.S. missile defense posture, Kilby explained.

 

In total, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet is home to 16 Aegis BMD ships.

 

“The capability our AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) ships provide is in great demand. Longer, more frequent deployments have become more common. The Navy is busy. We expect to continue to be busy into the future as the operational requirements for our naval forces continues,” said Navy Lt.  Anthony Falvo, spokesman for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

 

Aegis BMD ships are known, in large measure, for their AN/SPY-1 radar system which surveys the surrounding atmosphere for potential threat objects in a 360-degree envelope, electronically scanning around the ship and up to high altitudes every twelve seconds, Navy officials indicated.

 

Then, once a threat is located by the radar, the ship’s MK 72 booster fires one of several possible Standard Missile-3’s out of what’s called a MK 41 Vertical Launch System, propelling the interceptor into space to collide with and destroy an approaching missile threat.

 

Aegis BMD Weapons Systems are designed in “increments” such that each new iteration is designed to build upon and add to substantial existing capability.  The new systems are engineered to build upon the progress of the recently tested Aegis BMD 4.0 Weapons System technology.

 

“4.0 has a ballistic missile signal processor called the BSP and the SM-3 Block IB has a two-color seeker. These two things give you more discrimination ability from the kill vehicle and more discrimination from a tracking or radar perspective,” he added.

 

 

Discrimination ability is described as having the technological capability to discern an incoming missile from surrounding debris, decoy objects or even fuel waste, Kilby explained.

 

Aegis BMD Weapons System 5.0 is now being integrated on the USS John Paul Jones, a guided-missile destroyer based at Naval Homeport, San Diego, Calif.

 

“The USS John Paul Jones has commercial-off-the-shelf computing technologies such as blade servers that are more similar to what is out in industry right now,” said William Doud, BMD special assistant.

 

In fact, the first sea trials involving the integration of an engineering load of Aegis BMD Weapons System 5.0 were completed earlier this month, a Navy official said.

 

“After the industrial portion of her availability ends this September, she [USS John Paul Jones] will have about a year of testing and certification trials to certify this combat system for installation in other ships,” the Navy source indicated.

 

Once complete in 2016, the Aegis BMD Weapons System 5.1 will be ready for installation, testing and certification aboard the USS John Paul Jones; Initial Operational Capability for Aegis BMD Weapons System 5.1 is currently slated for 2018, a Navy official said.

 

“The USS John Paul Jones will become the BMD test ship year from now,” Kilby added.

 

The Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor, to be ready by 2018, is being designed to integrated with the Aegis BMD Weapons System 5.1; the missile will travel much further above the earth’s atmosphere compared to prior missiles and bring an improved ability to identify, discriminate and destroy incoming enemy ballistic missiles, said Kilby.

 

The SM-3 Block IIA, and it predecessor, the recently tested SM-3 Block IB, are designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles during the Midcourse phase of their trajectory — essentially that period of time during which the missile is traveling through space above the earth’s atmosphere, Kilby explained.

 

The SM-3 Block IIA, currently being co-developed by the U.S. and Japan, has a 21-inch nose cone, large-diameter kinetic warhead and what’s called an advanced discrimination seeker, Kilby explained.

 

“The Block IIA has much more room for fuel and a bigger warhead. It goes faster and farther,” said Doud — comparing the SM-3 Block IIA to the SM-3 Block IB which recently intercepted a dummy warhead above the Pacific Ocean during a test-firing from the USS Lake Erie.

 

The May 15 test was conducted by Navy sailors aboard the USS Lake Erie, a guided-missile cruiser, which detected and tracked the missile with its on-board AN/SPY-1 radar, according to an MDA press statement.

 

The development of the SM-3 Block IIA and test of the MDA’s BMD system utilizing the Aegis Weapon System 4.0 as well as the SM-3 Block IB are also significant with regard to the Pentagon’s longer term Aegis Ashore program, referred to as a European Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA).

 

Both of the SM-3 Block IB and the SM-3 Block IIA missiles have a more advanced seeker and more advanced “Throttleable Divert/Attitude Control System (TDACS),” when compared with prior models of the missile such as the SM-3 Block 1A missile.

 

“Once it is ejected from the missile in space, the TDACS points the Kinetic Warhead’s (KW) IR sensor in the expected direction of the incoming ballistic missile, acquires it, and then diverts the KW so as to cause a hit-to-kill collision with the incoming threat missile,” a Navy official explained.

 

The Aegis Ashore plan calls for an effort to build and insert land-based SM-3 Block IB missiles at fixed sites in Romania and Poland, by 2015 and 2017, respectively.

 

The concept is for the “fixed” or land sites to work in tandem with Aegis ships within range in order to widen the BMD protective envelope across wider swaths of the globe, improving protection for the continental U.S. and key U.S. allies, Kilby explained.

 

“Aegis sites ashore and Aegis ships at sea will be connected via satellite data link and share both sensor and engagement data just as when ships are operating together at sea,” he said.

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1 juin 2013 6 01 /06 /juin /2013 22:30
S-300: l'Iran pas au courant d'un accord amiable proposé par Moscou

MOSCOU, 31 mai - RIA Novosti

 

L'Iran n'est pas au courant de l'intention de Moscou de conclure avec lui un accord à l'amiable pour régler le litige relatif à des systèmes anti-aériens S-300 russes qui ne lui ont pas été livrés, a confié vendredi à RIA Novosti une source au sein de l'ambassade d'Iran à Moscou.

 

"Nous ne sommes pas au courant des démarches entreprises par la partie russe pour résoudre ce litige. Nous ne pouvons donc pas confirmer la signature d'un accord à l'amiable entre les parties", a déclaré l'interlocuteur de l'agence.

 

L'Iran a intenté à la Russie un procès d'arbitrage en raison de l'annulation par Moscou d'un accord de livraison de S-300 à Téhéran. La République islamique réclame quatre milliards de dollars d'indemnités. Le président du consortium russe de hautes technologies Rostec, Sergueï Tchemezov, a déclaré jeudi que la Russie n'espérait pas gagner ce procès et qu'elle tentait de "régler l'affaire à l'amiable".

 

Le contrat de livraison de systèmes russes S-300 capables de protéger l'Iran contre d'éventuelles frappes aériennes a été signé en 2007. Les Etats-Unis et Israël se sont vivement opposés à son exécution. En septembre 2010, Dmitri Medvedev, alors président russe, a signé un décret interdisant la livraison des S-300 à l'Iran. En octobre de la même année, la Russie a annulé le contrat.

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1 juin 2013 6 01 /06 /juin /2013 16:35
Asie-Pacifique: ABM unilatéral, risque de rupture de l'équilibre stratégique

SINGAPOUR, 1er juin - RIA Novosti

 

Un déploiement unilatéral d'éléments de la défense antimissile stratégique en Asie-Pacifique est susceptible de provoquer une polarisation des forces dans la région, a estimé samedi à Singapour le vice-ministre russe de la Défense Anatoli Antonov.
 
"La situation stratégique en Asie-Pacifique est sous l'impact d'un déploiement unilatéral d'éléments de la défense antimissile stratégique qui ne manque pas de nous préoccuper. Nous estimons que cela peut saper les bases d'un équilibre stratégique et déboucher sur une polarisation les forces dans la région", a déclaré M.Antonov lors du 12e Dialogue Shangri-La.
 
Et d'ajouter qu'il fallait "des garanties solides attestant que le potentiel de l'ABM correspond aux objectifs déclarés et ne perturbera pas les équilibres dans la région et le monde".
 
En mars dernier, les Etats-Unis ont annoncé leurs projets de renforcement de la défense antimissile d'ici 2017, en raison des menaces émanant de la Corée du Nord. Il s'agit notamment de déployer à l'Alaska 14 missiles intercepteurs supplémentaires (44 en tout) et d'installer un radar supplémentaire au Japon.
 
Le dialogue Shangri-La, qui a eu lieu la première fois en 2002 à Singapour sur une initiative de l'Institut international des études stratégiques (IISS), est devenu depuis un événement annuel. Cette année, il réunit 31 pays de la région Asie-Pacifique dont les dix membres de l'ASEAN. Ce forum consacré à la défense et à la sécurité de la région Asie-Pacifique tire son nom de l'hôtel Shangri-La à Singapour, où il se déroule depuis sa création.

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1 juin 2013 6 01 /06 /juin /2013 11:35
Is China’s “Carrier Killer” Already Operational?

June 1, 2013 By Zachary Keck - Flashpoints

 

Every Friday, The Diplomat looks out across the net to find the best articles and analysis involving defense, strategic affairs, and foreign policy. From America’s pivot to Asia, China’s growing military power, important defense trends, to the various territorial spats across the region, The Diplomat has you covered with what you need to know going into the weekend.

Here is our top ones this Friday. Have we missed something you think should be included? Want to share an important article with other readers? Please submit your links in the comment box below! Happy Friday!

Several nuclear and missile experts are accusing the U.S. Air Force of exaggerating the nuclear threats posed by North Korea and China’s cruise missiles in order to gain funding for its own nuclear modernization ambitions. Global Security Newswire has the story.

In a new occasional paper for the Jamestown Foundation, Andrew Erickson says that “China’s anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), the DF-21D, has reached the equivalent of Initial Operational Capability. Although it probably has been deployed in small numbers, additional challenges and tests remain.”

The Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College released a new strategic assessment of the Asia-Pacific. Written by Dr. David Lai, the studies major conclusions include “The U.S. strategic shift toward Asia-Pacific is… not a choice but a necessity” and “the most dangerous blind spot [in the U.S. pivot] is that the Asia-Pacific nations disputing with China can misread U.S. strategic intention and overplay the ‘U.S. card’ to pursue their territorial interest.”

Similarly, the Center for National Defense Policy (CNDP) under the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) released its own strategic assessment this week, which concluded that the Asia-Pacific has become a “new global center" of competition.

Taiwan plans to launch a fourth cyberwarfare unit on July 1st that will try to counter cyber-attacks on government websites. 

Plus, the BBC looks at how you scrap an aircraft carrier.

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31 mai 2013 5 31 /05 /mai /2013 16:40
Misiles balistiques intercontinentaux (archives)

Misiles balistiques intercontinentaux (archives)

MOSCOU, 31 mai - RIA Novosti

 

Les Troupes balistiques stratégiques russes (RVSN) effectueront 16 tirs de missiles balistiques intercontinentaux en 2013, a annoncé vendredi à Moscou leur porte-parole Igor Egorov.

 

"Au total, 16 tirs de missiles intercontinentaux de différents types sont programmés pour 2013", a indiqué le colonel Egorov devant les journalistes.

 

Le commandant des Troupes RVSN Sergueï Karakaïev avait antérieurement déclaré que 11 tirs étaient prévus pour 2013.

 

Selon le colonel Egorov, il s'agit de tirs d'essai et d'entraînement qui sont notamment destinés à prolonger la durée d'exploitation des missiles en service. Parmi ces tirs figurent également des lancements de satellites dans le cadre de programmes de démantèlement de fusées militaires. Huit tirs spatiaux seront notamment effectués depuis la base militaire de Yasny, dans la région d'Orenbourg, et depuis le cosmodrome russe de Baïkonour.

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31 mai 2013 5 31 /05 /mai /2013 12:30
La Russie pourrait ne pas livrer de S-300 à la Syrie cette année

31 mai 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

 

MOSCOU - La Russie n'a pas encore livré de missiles sol-air S-300 à la Syrie contrairement à ce qu'a laissé entendre le président Bachar al-Assad et elle pourrait ne pas le faire cette année, ont rapporté vendredi plusieurs médias.

 

Dans une interview à la chaîne Al-Manar du Hezbollah libanais diffusée jeudi, M. Assad, interrogé sur la livraison de ces missiles promis par Moscou, a répondu: tous les accords passés avec la Russie seront honorés et une partie l'a déjà été dernièrement.

 

Mais selon des sources au sein du complexe militaro-industriel russe, citées par les quotidiens Vedomosti et Kommersant, ces missiles n'ont pas encore été livrés.

 

Selon Vedomosti, il n'est pas certain que ces systèmes d'armes, objet d'un contrat signé en 2010 pour un milliard de dollars et portant sur quatre batteries de missiles d'après sa source, seront livrés cette année.

 

La livraison de six batteries S-300, prévue dans un contrat signé en 2010, n'aura lieu qu'au deuxième trimestre 2014, écrit pour sa part Kommersant.

 

Il n'était pas possible d'expliquer la différence des chiffres avancés par les deux journaux.

 

Kommersant souligne qu'en outre six mois seront nécessaires pour former le personnel syrien et tester les missiles avant qu'ils ne soient opérationnels.

 

Une source a confirmé vendredi matin à l'agence Interfax que les délais de livraison n'étaient pas encore fixés.

 

Nous avons avec nos partenaires syriens régulièrement des entretiens sur les contrats déjà signés. En ce qui concerne les livraisons de S-300, elles ne pourront pas commencer avant l'automne, a déclaré cette source au sein des structures chargées des exportations d'armes.

 

Techniquement c'est possible, mais cela dépendra beaucoup de la situation dans la région et de la position des pays européens sur la question du règlement du conflit syrien, a-t-elle poursuivi.

 

Cette source n'a par ailleurs pas exclu que les livraisons soient suspendues comme cela avait été le cas en 2005 avec des missiles tactiques Iskander, après qu'Israël avait fait pression sur Moscou.

 

La Syrie voulait vraiment recevoir ces systèmes, était prête à payer n'importe quel prix, mais la Russie avait décidé de renoncer à ces livraisons pour ne pas déstabiliser la situation dans la région, a dit cette source.

 

Moscou avait défendu mardi la livraison à Damas de S-300, des systèmes sol-air sophistiqués capables d'intercepter en vol des avions ou des missiles téléguidés, équivalents russes du Patriot américain, comme un facteur de dissuasion contre une intervention extérieure en Syrie.

 

La source citée par Vedomosti a toutefois indiqué que même si les autorités russes insistaient officiellement sur leur volonté d'honorer ce contrat, cela ne signifiait pas que les livraisons auraient forcément lieu.

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31 mai 2013 5 31 /05 /mai /2013 12:20
Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW)

Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW)

Jun 1st 2013 Technology Quarterly – economist.com

 

Hypersonic weapons: Building vehicles that fly at five times the speed of sound is amazingly hard, but researchers are trying

 

ON AUGUST 20th 1998 Bill Clinton ordered American warships in the Arabian Sea to fire a volley of more than 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles at suspected terrorist training camps near the town of Khost in eastern Afghanistan. The missiles, flying north at about 880kph (550mph), took two hours to reach their target. Several people were killed, but the main target of the attack, Osama bin Laden, left the area shortly before the missiles struck. American spies located the al-Qaeda leader on two other occasions as he moved around Afghanistan in September 2000. But the United States had no weapons able to reach him fast enough.

 

After the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001, American officials decided that they needed to obtain a “prompt global strike” capability, able to deliver conventional explosives anywhere on Earth within an hour or two. One way to do this would be to take existing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and replace the nuclear warheads with standard explosives. The hitch is that ballistic missiles are usually armed with nuclear warheads. A launch could therefore be misconstrued as the start of a nuclear strike, says Arun Prakash, a former Chief of the Naval Staff, the top job in India’s navy.

 

Moreover, ICBMs carrying conventional explosives towards targets in Asia or the Middle East would at first be indistinguishable from those aimed at China or Russia, according to a paper issued by the Congressional Research Service, an American government-research body. This uncertainty might provoke a full-scale nuclear counterattack. In the years after 2001 funding for non-nuclear ballistic missiles was repeatedly cut by Congress, until military planners eventually gave up on the idea. Instead, they have now pinned their hopes on an alternative approach: superfast or “hypersonic” unmanned vehicles that can strike quickly by flying through the atmosphere, and cannot be mistaken for a nuclear missile.

 

These hypersonic vehicles are not rockets, as ICBMs are, but work in a fundamentally different way. Rockets carry their own fuel, which includes the oxygen needed for combustion in airless space. This fuel is heavy, making rockets practical only for short, vertical flights into space. So engineers are trying to develop lightweight, “air breathing” hypersonic vehicles that can travel at rocket-like speeds while taking oxygen from the atmosphere, as a jet engine does, rather than having to carry it in the form of fuel oxidants.

 

The term hypersonic technically refers to speeds faster than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5, equivalent to around 6,200kph at sea level and 5,300kph at high altitudes (where the colder, thinner air means the speed of sound is lower). Being able to sustain flight in the atmosphere at such speeds would have many benefits. Hypersonic vehicles would not be subject to existing treaties on ballistic-missile arsenals, for one thing. It is easier to manoeuvre in air than it is in space, making it more feasible to dodge interceptors or change trajectory if a target moves. And by cutting the cost of flying into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, the technology could also help reduce the expense of military and civilian access to space.

 

All this, however, requires a totally different design from the turbofan and turbojet engines that power airliners and fighter jets, few of which can operate beyond speeds of about Mach 2. At higher speeds the jet engines’ assemblies of spinning blades can no longer slow incoming air to the subsonic velocities needed for combustion. Faster propulsion relies instead on engines without moving parts. One type, called a ramjet, slows incoming air to subsonic speeds using a carefully shaped inlet to compress and thereby slow the airstream. Ramjets power France’s new, nuclear-tipped ASMPA missiles. Carried by Rafale and Mirage fighter jets, they are thought to be able to fly for about 500km at Mach 3, or around 3,700kph.

 

It’s not rocket science

 

But reaching hypersonic speeds of Mach 5 and above with an air-breathing engine means getting combustion to happen in a stream of supersonic air. Engines that do this are called supersonic-combustion ramjets, or scramjets. They also use a specially shaped inlet to slow the flow of incoming air, but it does not slow down enough to become subsonic. This leaves engineers with a big problem: injecting and igniting fuel in a supersonic airstream is like “lighting a match in a hurricane and keeping it lit,” says Russell Cummings, a hypersonic-propulsion expert at California Polytechnic State University.

 

One way to do it is to use fuel injectors that protrude, at an angle, into the supersonic airstream. They generate small shock waves that mix oxygen with fuel as soon as it is injected. This mixture can be ignited using the energy of bigger shock waves entering the combustion chamber. Another approach is being developed at the Australian Defence Force Academy. In a process known as “cascade ionisation”, laser blasts lasting just a few nanoseconds rip electrons off passing molecules, creating pockets of hot plasma in the combustion chamber that serve as sparks.

 

Scramjet fuel must also be kept away from the wall of the combustion chamber. Otherwise, it might “pre-ignite” before mixing properly, blowing up the vehicle, says Clinton Groth, an engineer at the University of Toronto who is currently doing research at Cambridge University in England (and who has consulted for Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, two engine-makers). To complicate matters further, scramjets move too fast for their internal temperature and air pressure to be controlled mechanically by adjusting the air intake. Instead, as scramjets accelerate, they must ascend into thinner air at a precise rate to prevent rising heat and pressure from quickening the fuel burn and blowing up the combustion chamber.

 

In other words, igniting a scramjet is difficult, and keeping it going without exploding is harder still. Moreover scramjets, like ramjets, cannot begin flight on their own power. Because they need to be moving quickly to compress air for combustion, scramjets must first be accelerated by piggybacking on a jet plane or rocket. There are, in short, formidable obstacles to the construction of a scramjet vehicle. Even though the idea has been around since the 1950s, it was not until the 1990s that a scramjet was successfully flight-tested by Russian researchers, working in conjunction with French and American scientists—and some experts doubt that those tests achieved fully supersonic combustion.

 

HyShot goes supersonic down under - photo The University of Queensland

HyShot goes supersonic down under - photo The University of Queensland

 

 

The next step forward came in July 2002, when a British-designed scramjet vehicle was successfully flown in Australia by researchers at the University of Queensland. The HyShot scramjet flew at Mach 7.6 for six seconds. But this was not controlled flight of a scramjet vehicle: instead the HyShot was launched on a rocket into space, and its engine was then ignited as it fell, nose pointing downwards, at hypersonic speed back towards the ground.

 

More recently America’s space agency, NASA, has made progress with two experimental scramjet vehicles, both of which are dropped from a carrier plane and then accelerated using a rocket booster. The unmanned, hydrogen-fuelled X-43A scramjet accelerated to a record Mach 9.68 in November 2004. This was the first fully controlled flight of a scramjet-powered vehicle, though it lasted only ten seconds.

 

NASA is now concentrating on another test vehicle, the X-51A Waverider. In its first test, carried out in May 2010, the X-51A reached Mach 5, but not a hoped-for Mach 6, during a flight lasting roughly 200 seconds. Subsequent tests in June 2011 and August 2012 both failed. In a test flight on May 1st 2013, however, the X-51A maintained a speed of Mach 5.1 for four minutes, in the longest scramjet flight on record.

 

The unsheltering sky

 

In 2010 the head of America’s Pacific Command, Admiral Robert Willard, said that a Chinese programme to convert a nuclear ballistic missile into an aircraft-carrier killer, by packing it with conventional explosives, had reached “initial operational capability”. The DF-21D, as it is called, is designed to descend from space at hypersonic speed and strike ships in the Western Pacific. Even though the accuracy of the DF-21D’s guidance system is unknown, the missile is already altering the balance of power within its range, says Eric McVadon, a consultant on East Asian security and a former US Navy rear-admiral.

 

Having ruled out such systems due to the “nuclear ambiguity” a launch would cause, and with powered hypersonic vehicles descended from the X-51A still years away, America has begun testing yet another approach. As part of an effort called Project Falcon, the US Air Force and DARPA, the research arm of America’s armed forces, have developed hypersonic “boost-glide” vehicles that piggyback on a modified ICBM and achieve hypersonic speeds simply by falling from a high altitude, rather than using a scramjet.

 

The “hypersonic cruise vehicle” (pictured on previous page), is carried on an ICBM into the lower reaches of space where it separates, and, rather than following an arching ballistic trajectory, glides back to Earth at more than 20,000kph. The first vehicle, tested in April 2010, successfully separated from its ICBM, but about nine minutes later contact was lost. “They were getting good data and then the skin peeled off and it went boom,” says Brian Weeden, a former air-force captain and nuclear-missile launch officer stationed in Montana. A test in 2011 also failed.

 

In spite of such setbacks, research into hypersonic weapons will continue. Building a vehicle capable of gliding at Mach 16 is difficult, but not impossible. America’s space shuttle used to re-enter the atmosphere at Mach 25, so fast that friction heated air molecules into a layer of plasma around the craft that radio signals could not penetrate. New “ceramic matrix composites” show great heat-shielding promise, says Sankar Sambasivan, the boss of Applied Thin Films, a company in Illinois that makes parts for military aircraft.

 

Testing equipment is also improving. Heat and pressure sensors, and even video cameras, can be embedded in vehicles to gather data as they fly, providing “a level of detail and fidelity that we’ve never had before,” says Ken Anderson, head of hypersonic air vehicles at Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Better wind tunnels help, too. The one at Belgium’s Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics can generate short blasts of air at Mach 14. This is done by cooling the test chamber, reducing the speed of sound and thereby increasing the Mach number of air forced in with a piston.

 

Last year a DARPA statement noted that America is gradually losing the “strategic advantage” that its stealth warplanes have long provided, as other countries’ stealth and counter-stealth capabilities continue to improve. Instead, DARPA suggested, America will need “the new stealth” of hypersonic vehicles. Similarly, Russia’s deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, remarked last year that the design of hypersonic missiles had become a priority for the country. Getting anything to work at all under hypersonic conditions is extraordinarily difficult—but the effort continues even so.

 

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31 mai 2013 5 31 /05 /mai /2013 12:20
photo Raytheon

photo Raytheon

May 31, 2013 ASDNews Source : Raytheon Corporation

 

    Engagements validate defensive weapon's upgrades

 

The U.S. Navy completed the first series of developmental and operational testing (DT/OT) of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2.

 

In at-sea tests conducted from the U.S. Navy's Self-Defense Test Ship, RAM Block 2 missiles engaged two targets in tactical dual-salvo scenarios designed to demonstrate the advanced missile's defensive capabilities. The DT/OT tests successfully engaged high-speed, maneuvering and sub-sonic, maneuvering targets with all four RAM Block 2 missiles meeting test objectives.

 

"RAM Block 2's success in these developmental tests follows the completion of a series of guidance test vehicle flight tests," said Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Naval and Area Mission Defense product line. "RAM Block 2's increased kinematic capability and its advanced guidance system will continue to give the warfighter an unfair advantage in the fight."

 

Raytheon and its manufacturing partner RAMSYS of Germany were awarded the second U.S. Navy RAM Block 2 low-rate production contact for 61 missiles in December 2012. In addition, as previously reported, the company received a $155.6 million Block 2 production contract for the German navy earlier this year.

 

The RAM Block 2 upgrade includes a four-axis independent control actuator system and an increase in rocket motor capability, increasing the missile's effective range and delivering a significant increase in maneuverability. The improved missile also incorporates an upgraded passive radio frequency seeker, a digital autopilot and engineering changes in selected infrared seeker components.

 

RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile providing defense against anti-ship cruise missiles, helicopter and airborne threats, and hostile surface craft. The missile's autonomous dual-mode, passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design provide a high-firepower capability for engaging multiple threats simultaneously. RAM is installed, or planned for installation, aboard more than 165 ships as an integral self-defense weapon for the navies of Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

 

About RAM

 

    Extremely high reliability resulting from years of development, testing and design improvements.

    Four-axis independent control actuator system with increased rocket motor capability.

    Upgraded passive radio frequency seeker, a digital autopilot and improved infrared seeker.

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31 mai 2013 5 31 /05 /mai /2013 07:30
Syria : Another Showdown Between Russia And Israel

May 29, 2013: Strategy Page

 

Russia is using the threat to deliver S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems (similar to the U.S. Patriot) to Syria to get the West to back away from openly supporting the Syrian rebels. This is not working, nor are any of the other Russian efforts to support the Assad government. Meanwhile, Israel is determined to prevent the S-300s from becoming operational if they do arrive. The S-300s are a threat to Israeli aircraft and Israel will continue its air raids in Syria to stop any new weapons from getting to Lebanon and Hezbollah and to halt activation of the S-300. If the S-300 did show up in Syria (or Lebanon) Israel would probably attack it right away, before these systems could become operational. If Syria wanted to get the S-300s operational quickly they would need the help of the Russians, who would probably become casualties from the Israeli air attacks. The Russians might risk it because they have seen their weapons used on the losing (Arab) side in the Middle East for over four decades. Sure would be nice to turn this around. An attempt at this would tempt Russia to introduce more than a few troops and technicians to help activate the S-300 systems. Even then, the Russians would be up against more experienced and determined troops and risking another embarrassing defeat. This game of bluff has been played out in private by Russian and Israeli diplomats for years. The three Israeli air raids on Russian weapons in Syria this year were the Israeli response to Russians flying in more missiles (anti-ship and less capable anti-aircraft systems). The Russians keep changing their minds on the S-300s, which, if operational, can detect and attack aircraft 200 kilometers away, deep inside Israel. Against this threat Israel has electronic protection on its warplanes, but these defenses are not perfect and commercial aircraft are unprotected. In short, Israel cannot afford to allow S-300s into the region, not with terrorist groups like Hezbollah or al Qaeda standing by to get their hands on these missile systems. The Russians could have delivered the S-300s three years ago, when they were ordered, but have not. The delay is all about the Russians understanding the Israeli situation and not wanting to trigger a response that would hurt Russia. The continued threats to deliver S-300s is, however, much less risky.

 

Russian diplomats believe they have a chance to make a deal with the rebels to keep the Assads in power. This all depends on the rebels continuing to be divided and uncooperative with each other. There are no problems with the Assads remaining united. The core Assad supporters, about a quarter of the population (Alawites, other minorities and the many families whose businesses have benefitted from Assad support for decades) stand to lose everything (or mostly everything) if the Assads are driven out. Some have accepted their fate and fled, but most are willing to fight on as long as there is a chance of victory. Russia and Iran are willing to put up a lot of money and such to help the Assads. Russia is willing to risk its diplomatic and military reputation in this effort and Iran is spending billions of dollars and ordering its Lebanese Hezbollah ally to send thousands of gunmen to help the Assads. Along with the soldiers and militias loyal to the Assads, this might be enough to defeat the various rebel factions one at a time. It is possible, but risky. So far the Assad supporters have been willing to give it a try. But if there are not some victories over the rebels in the next month or so, more Assad supporters are going to cut and run. That means you save your lives and some of your assets rather than risk getting caught in Syria by the victorious rebels and massacred. Russia is trying to arrange peace talks with the rebels, in part to see if getting the Assads out, but not the Assad supporters, is viable. This is a tricky subject to even bring up, as it means supporting a coup by some Assad supporters to remove the Assad clan from power and accept a real democracy. Some Assad supporters would support that, but many others are not sure the rebels can be trusted to not go for revenge later.

 

At the moment Hezbollah is heavily engaged in trying to take a border town (Qusair, 10 kilometers from the Lebanese border) from the rebels. This battle has been going on since May 18th, with the Assad forces making progress but unable to take the entire town. The rebels are bringing up reinforcements and the battle appears likely to drag on. This is not good for the Assads or Hezbollah. There are secular and Islamic radical rebels defending the town, and that means the Assad soldiers and their Hezbollah allies are facing some fanatic opponents. Thus the first lesson from this battle is that the Assad/Hezbollah alliance cannot blitz (hit hard, demoralize, and roll over) the rebels, at least if the defenders have some of these fanatics among them. Most of those involved at the moment appear to be Hezbollah and rebel, with Syrian army infantry largely withdrawn. Syrian army artillery and air power are still present, mostly killing civilians (there are over 20,000 of them still in the town). There have been several thousand casualties so far, including fifty or so Hezbollah men.

 

Undeterred, the Assads are reinforcing their forces in the north in order to counterattack the rebels who have taken most of Aleppo. Hezbollah is less likely to be a factor here, as the Hezbollah forces would have to travel through some rebel held territory to reach the Aleppo area. Hezbollah operations in Syria have caused a negative reaction in Lebanon, where the non-Shia majority (which tends to be anti-Syria and anti-Iran) and even some Shia groups are threatening another civil war to bring Hezbollah to heel. Anti-Hezbollah forces have been more active inside Lebanon and more violence is threatened. Since the 1980s, Hezbollah has largely used bluff and threats of another civil war to force the non-Shia (mostly Christian) majority to back down and let the Iran-backed Hezbollah have its way. Billions in Iranian aid was spent to hire a lot of Shia and improve the lives of Shia supporters. A lot of this loyalty will go away if a lot of Hezbollah fighters are killed in Syria. Most Lebanese, including a lot of Hezbollah supporters, are hostile towards Syria (which considers Lebanon part of historic “Greater Syria”) and are not comfortable about supporting any faction in the current civil war there. Whoever wins will still have a hostile attitude towards Syria.

 

The Syrian rebels continue to have leadership problems. The basic problem is the different goals of the nationalist and Islamic radical groups. The nationalists (political and tribal groups, along with moderate Islamic groups like the Moslem Brotherhood) want a democratic Syria while the Islamic radicals (al Qaeda and the like) want a religious dictatorship and strict lifestyle rules. This is unpopular with most Syrians, but the Islamic radical militias contain the most radical fighters. Islamic terrorist fighters are a minority among the rebels and many of them are foreigners.

 

Russia is trying to organize a peace conference and the rebels are having a difficult time putting together a united delegation. None of the nations supporting the rebels will tolerate (at least officially) the Islamic terrorists among the rebels, but you can’t have a true “rebel delegation” without some Islamic radical members.

 

May 28, 2013: The Syrian rebel leader threatened Hezbollah with more violence inside Lebanon if Hezbollah did not withdraw its forces from Syria. This is not a new threat, and Lebanese supporters of the Syrian rebels (mainly Sunnis) have been fighting Hezbollah gunmen in Lebanon for over a year. This violence has, so far, been small scale (more brawls than battles). If it escalates Hezbollah could find itself with a two front war. When 2,000 Hezbollah gunmen entered Syria earlier this month they said they were there to defend 17 villages just across the border that contained a lot of Lebanese Shia. Hezbollah has since said it is doing more than that and is at war with the Syrian rebels.

 

May 27, 2013: The EU (European Union) agreed to continue economic sanctions against the Assads, while dropping an arms embargo against the Syrian rebels. This move made the Assads, Russia, and Iran very mad. The EU arms embargo ends on June 1st, but the rebels are already getting a lot of weapons from their Arab supporters (the oil-rich Gulf states). What the rebels want from the EU and NATO is air support or more modern portable anti-aircraft missiles (that could bring down a lot more Assad helicopters and warplanes).

 

May 26, 2013: Outside the capital a car bomb went off, killing six Assad supporters.

 

In Lebanon two rockets hit a Hezbollah neighborhood in Beirut, the first bit of anti-Hezbollah violence there in a long time.

 

May 25, 2013: Iraq moved some 20,000 soldiers to the 600 kilometer long Syrian border and began attacking Sunni terrorists and blocking their movement across the border. The main objective of this operation is to halt support for Syrian rebels from Iraqi Sunni and to keep the road to Syria open for Iranian supply convoys (for Syrian government forces and pro-government militias). The Iraqi troops are attacking known Sunni terrorist and smuggler bases along the border.

 

In Lebanon the leader of Hezbollah made a televised speech in which he admitted that Hezbollah was at war with the Syrian rebels and would continue that fight until the rebels were defeated.

 

May 24, 2013: The Syrian rebels said they would attend the upcoming Russian sponsored peace conference only if the Assads agreed to quit the government at the end of the conference. The Assads have already said they would not voluntarily give up power.

 

In northern Lebanon (Tripoli) fighting between backers of the Syrian rebels and the Assads finally tapered off after five days. In that time at least 24 have died and over 200 were wounded. The Lebanese army has been unable to shut down all this violence, which has been going on for over a year.

 

May 22, 2013: The head of the Israeli Air Force openly warned that Israel could go to war over Syria on very short notice. If Israel determined that something was happening in Syria that was a serious threat to Israel (like the arrival of S-300 missile systems from Russia or more attacks across the Israeli border) Israel would respond quickly and forcefully.

 

May 21, 2013: In north Lebanon eleven were wounded when rockets were fired at funerals for two Hezbollah men killed in Syria.

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30 mai 2013 4 30 /05 /mai /2013 21:30
Livraison d'armes russes à la Syrie: mise en garde de la Maison Blanche

30 mai 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

 

WASHINGTON - La Maison Blanche a mis en garde jeudi la Russie sur de nouvelles livraisons d'armes à Bachar al-Assad, affirmant qu'elles ne feraient que prolonger la violence en Syrie.

 

Fournir des armes supplémentaires à Assad, dont des systèmes de défense aérienne, ne fera que prolonger la violence en Syrie et provoquer une déstabilisation de la région, a déclaré la porte-parole du Conseil de sécurité nationale (NSC), Caitlin Hayden.

 

Mme Hayden a refusé de commenter spécifiquement une livraison d'armes anti-aériennes par Moscou, soulignant qu'elle ne pouvait pas faire de commentaire sur des envois d'armes particuliers.

 

Peu auparavant, M. Assad avait reconnu implicitement avoir reçu des missiles sol-air sophistiqués S-300 de la Russie, dans une déclaration rapportée par Al Manar, la chaîne du mouvement libanais chiite Hezbollah allié de Damas.

 

Interrogé sur la livraison de ces missiles promis par Moscou, M. Assad a répondu: tous les accords passés avec la Russie seront honorés et une partie l'a déjà été dernièrement.

 

Notre inquiétude vis-à-vis de la poursuite du soutien du régime syrien par la Russie via la fourniture d'armes et l'accès aux banques russes est de notoriété publique, a souligné Mme Hayden.

 

Nous voulons oeuvrer avec la Russie à tenter de résoudre cette crise et parvenir vite à une solution politique, a-t-elle expliqué, en estimant que c'est à la Russie de convaincre Assad de nommer une équipe dotée de pouvoirs réels pour négocier le transfert total de ses pouvoirs exécutifs à une instance gouvernementale de transition, tout comme nous le faisons avec l'opposition.

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30 mai 2013 4 30 /05 /mai /2013 17:30
Syrie: Israël empêchera le déploiement des missiles S-300 russes (journal)

TEL AVIV, 30 mai - RIA Novosti

 

Israël juge impossible d'empêcher la livraison de missiles russes S-300 à Damas, mais compte les neutraliser avant leur mise en service, rapporte jeudi le journal israélien Haaretz se référant à des sources proches du dossier.

Le quotidien cite des diplomates européens ayant participé à une réunion à huis clos avec le conseiller pour la Sécurité nationale israélienne Yaakov Amidror, qui a selon eux fait savoir que l'Etat hébreu envisageait d'empêcher les missiles S-300 de "devenir opérationnels" sur le sol syrien.

Les autorités israéliennes estiment que les batteries S-300, un des complexes de défense antimissile les plus avancés du monde, permettront aux Syriens de contrôler l'ensemble de l'espace aérien israélien. Dans le même temps, Israël redoute que les missiles russes ne tombent entre les mains des extrémistes opérant en Syrie.

D'après le journal, lors de sa récente visite à Sotchi, le premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahu a tenté, sans succès, de dissuader les dirigeants russes de fournir des complexes S-300 à Damas.

 

Plus tôt dans la semaine, M.Netanyahu a interdit à ses ministres de faire des commentaires sur les éventuelles livraisons de missiles antiaériens russes en Syrie.

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30 mai 2013 4 30 /05 /mai /2013 12:55
A la pêche aux débris du M-51: une prime pour les marins bretons

29.05.2013 par P. Chapleau - Lignes de Défense

 

Interdits de pêche dans certains zones au large du Finistère depuis l'auto-destruction d'un missile M-51, les pêcheurs bretons n'auront peut-être pas tout perdu. Ils pourront recevoir une prime au cas où ils remonteraient dans leurs filets des débris de l'engin.

Dans un courrier adressé au président du comité départemental des pêches du Finistère, le préfet maritime de l'Atlantique, le vice-amiral d'escadre Jean-Pierre Labonne, assure que les pêcheurs pourront se voir attribuer "une prime de signalement et de récupération" si l'objet remonté "est reconnu comme un équipement constitutif du missile M51". "Les modalités d'attribution de cette prime seront formalisées par un texte officiel en cours d'élaboration", ajoute la lettre datée de mardi et publiée sur le site du comité des pêches.

L'engin, tiré d'un sous-marin nucléaire, avait explosé en plein vol le 5 mai à quelque 25 km des côtes finistériennes. L'incident, classé "secret défense", fait l'objet d'une enquête minutieuse de la Marine nationale et de la Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA), qui ont déployé de lourds moyens pour retrouver les débris.

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