source Ria Novisti

July 29, 2011 Spacewar.com

Norway will fly its last combat mission in Libya on Saturday, two days before the official end of its role in the NATO-led air war, an alliance official told AFP.

Norway, one of eight NATO members that have conducted air strikes in the four-month-old operation, was the first to set an end-date for its participation when it decided last month to withdraw on August 1.

"The last day Norwegian aircraft will fly on July 30," the NATO official said.

"We appreciate and respect the decisions of all contributing nations to provide what they can to the mission," the official said. "Norway has done a great deal but, at the end of the day, the mission continues."

Norway originally deployed six F-16 fighters to the mission before reducing it to four last month. The government explained that its small air force could not sustain a large air contribution for a long period of time.

Only eight of NATO's 28 member states have flown bombing missions since the alliance took command of the operation on March 31: Norway, Britain, France, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Italy and the United States.

London has increased its contribution by adding four Tornado jets, effectively making up for the loss of the Norwegian planes.

NATO officials say Norway's departure will not affect the tempo of air operations, which have averaged more than 100 sorties per day including around 50 missions aimed at hitting targets.

The Scandinavian country, beset by a bombing and shooting spree committed by a confessed far-right extremist, will continue its involvement in the operation with 10 officers posted at the Libya air command centre based in Italy.

26/07/2011 by Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert

A C-130H Hercules transport aircraft has crashed in Morocco, according to breaking news reports.

Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the C-130 crash killed some 78 people and occurred as the aircraft was on the approach to land.

The incident saw the C-130H fly into a mountain located in Guelmine and, according to Moroccan armed forces officials, was caused by weather conditions.

The Moroccan Air Force C-130H had a total of 81 people on board, including 60 soldiers and 12 civilian personnel. As this article was being written, the recovered body count had reached 42, leaving tens more unaccounted for at this stage.

The Hercules had earlier taken off from Dakhla Airport in the Western Sahara and was due to have landed, later on, at Kenitra Air Base in the north of the country.

Moroccan Hercules Crash

The Moroccan Hercules crash now figures among the nation's worst aircraft incidents of the past 20 years - already producing higher fatality levels than the 1994 airliner crash, which claimed 44 lives.

The C-130 Hercules is the RMAF's most numerous transport type, with 12 in service prior to today's fatal crash. These serve alongside other variants of the basic design, including KC-130 tankers and RC-130 reconnaissance platforms.

The Hercules itself is a legend among post-war aircraft designs. First flown in 1954, it remains in widespread service around the world. No other type has enjoyed such a long production run and, in 2009, the 2,300th C-130 was rolled out.

Moroccan Air Force C-130 Crash

While the C-130, in very general terms, is regarded as reliable and safe, the sheer length of its military career has produced a substantial number of crashes over the years.

Prior to the Moroccan Air Force C-130 crash, the most recent occurred in California in October 2009 and involved a US Coast Guard airframe, which collided with a helicopter.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force was established in 1956 and its operational engagements have included the Western Sahara Conflict.

28.07.2011 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

La marine sud-africaine, parent pauvre de l'armée de terre et l'Air Force (elle ne dispose que de trois sous-marins et de quatre frégates modernes), a lancé une Request for Information (un appel à manifestation d'intérêt) pour remplacer les chasseurs de mines et les patrouilleurs rapides achetés dans les années 1970.

Il s'agirait, dans le cadre du Projet Biro, d'équiper la marine de 3 patrouilleurs hauturiers (des OPV, offshore patrol vessels), de 6 patrouilleurs côtiers (inshore patrol vessels), de 2 navires de soutien et de 3 navires de transport (strategic sealift and sustainment vessels). Le montant d'un futur contrat n'est pas connu mais le gouvernement sud-africain a déjà boosté le budget « équipement » de la marine en l'augmentant de 52,3 % à compter d'avril 2013.

Les OPV, selon l'amiral Teuteberg, pourraient être des unités de 85 m de long, équipées d'un hélicoptère, de pièces d'artillerie (76 mm et 30 mm), d'équipements de lutte anti-sous-marine. Une description qui concorde avec l'OPV Gowind de DCNS. L'équipementier français a d'ailleurs répondu à la demande sud-africaine et présenté sa famille de patrouilleurs hauturiers Gowind (Gowind Control, Gowind Presence, Gowind Combat).

Le premier exemplaire de cette famille, L'Adroit, navigue déjà (sous pavillon français) et a commencé sa phase d'essais en mer, avant d'être prêté à la marine française pour une durée de deux ans. Une première sortie de longue durée jusqu'au Cap démontrerait parfaitement ses capacités hauturières...

La pression de la piraterie

D'ici à la signature d'un contrat avec les Sud-Africains, la route sera longue et la concurrence féroce. Mais de récentes déclarations de la ministre sud-africaine de la Défense, Lindiwe Sisulu, démontre qu'il y a urgence.

Lundi 25, elle a pris part à un sommet extraordinaire de la Communauté de développement d'Afrique australe (SADC) consacré à la lutte contre la piraterie. L'Afrique du sud, qui dispose de la seule marine de la sous-région, déploie une frégate au large du Mozambique dans le cadre de la lutte contre la piraterie.

La ministre a rappelé que la piraterie était un problème africain, pas seulement somalien (les attaques s'intensifient actuellement dans le golfe de Guinée), que la sécurité des 31 000 km de côtes africaines est essentielle pour le commerce maritime africain (qui représente 91 % du volume total du commerce continental), pour l'extraction pétrolière, pour la pêche... Elle a aussi rappelé que la route de l'Afrique australe était devenu un itinéraire de diversion pour de nombreux navires qui préfèrent éviter les eaux yéménites et somaliennes. D'où la nécessité de nouveaux moyens navals pour lesquels tous les pays de la SADC pourraient être mis à contribution (financière).

25/07/11 ANGOP

Luanda – L’éventuelle ratification de ‘‘l’accord de Défense et Sécurité de la région des Grands Lacs’’ par l’Angola  a été l'un des principaux sujets abordés lundi, à Luanda, par le ministre angolais des Relations Extérieures, Georges Chikoti, avec la secrétaire exécutive de la commission interrégionale des Grands Lacs, Liberatha Mulamula.

L’Angola n’a pas encore ratifié cet accord parce qu’il n’existe que deux versions: la française et l'anglaise, et ainsi le pays ne pouvait pas ratifier cet accord, a assuré le chef de la diplomatie angolaise. 

Il a informé que la secrétaire exécutive lui a remis, lors de leur entretien, la version en portugais, ce qui permettra à l’Angola  de le ratifier.

Georges Chikoti a affirmé qu’il avait abordé avec Liberatha Mulamula, la situation de la paix et sécurité dans la zone des Grands Lacs, ainsi que les perspectives de son développement.

Il a argumenté que la conférence des Grands Lacs a été créée due vu les situations de crises connues dans cette région, comme les génocides, d’où la raison d’envisager une perspective d’avenir pour la région en travaillant aujourd’hui de manière globale.

Pour sa part, Liberatha Mulamula a souligné que la rencontre avec Chikoti leur a permis d’échanger d’expériences sur plusieurs aspects liés à la région des Grands Lacs, surtout les situations au Burundi, en République Démocratique du Congo et des groupes rebelles en  République Centrafricaine.

Ils ont également parlé du prochain sommet de la Conférence des Grands Lacs, prévu pour Décembre de l’année en cours.

La secrétaire exécutive de la commission interrégionale des Grands Lacs s'est félicitée de la contribution de l’Angola à la  stabilité et  au développement de la région.

ACCRA, Ghana, July 22 (UPI)

The decision by the National Democratic Congress government to acquire five new aircraft for Ghana's armed forces at a cost of $102 million has been debated in Parliament.

Both Parliament's majority and minority factions were involved in the discussions, The Ghanaian Chronicle reported Friday.

The proposed purchase includes a Brazilian-made Embraer E 190 jet with hangar facilities, two Italian-built Breda BA 42 Guardian Surveillance jets and another two CT95 aircraft.

Parliament's Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu accused the government of hypocrisy and corruption in the purchase of the military jets and claimed he "smelled a rat" in the purchases.

The minority abstained from the voting, which approved the purchase of the Embraer E 190 jet.

The Embraer E 190, which has a passenger capacity of 100, will be used to carry military personnel on peacekeeping missions and its proposed hangar facilities include an ambulance and a bus.

The issue has been roiling Ghanaian politics for three years.

In opposition and in the run-up to the 2008 general elections, the ruling National Democratic Congress, then the Parliament's opposition party, had questioned the propriety of the purchases of only two foreign-built jets, accusing President John Kufuor of engaging in profligate expenses when the country was wracked by poverty, with workers demanding salary increases.

During his first State of the Nation address to Parliament in 2009, President John Mills announced he would reconsider the purchase of the aircraft proposed by Kufuor.

"I will impose austerity measures throughout the government machinery, to ensure that we realize significant savings," Mills said. "As part of these measures we will review the decision to purchase … aircraft. Ghana simply cannot afford the expenditure at this time."

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in floor debate, quoted extensively from 2008 parliamentary records noting that the National Democratic Congress had mounted a crusade against the aircraft purchases.

Parliament's Finance Committee moved a motion for the approval of the aircraft. In support of the motion Deputy Minister of Energy Alhaji Fuseini Inusah read part of the committee's report on the agreement, which noted an "urgent need" to replace the aging fleet of aircraft of the Ghanaian air force. The replacement plans would allow for some current aircraft to be "phased out in line with the Air Force's strategic plan," the committee's report said.

In a gauge of popular opinion on the proposed purchase, radio and television stations in Accra have been swamped with calls and text messages, with most people expressing displeasure with the cost of the five aircraft.

source AiréCosmos - photo DGA

20.07.2011 GS - Air&Cosmos

Le ministère de la défense dresse un premier bilan des frappes, quatre mois après le début de l'offensive.

Quatre mois après le lancement de l'opération "Harmattan" le 19 mars dernier, le ministre de la défense Gérard Longuet a livré ce matin quelques éléments chiffrés permettant de mieux estimer l'impact des frappes de l'aviation française en Libye. Ainsi, depuis le début des bombardements, "12.000 à 14.000 heures de vol" ont été enregistrées par l'ensemble des aéronefs français.

Au total, "2.500 cibles" ont été détruites, d'après le ministre. Un bilan qui comprend l'action des chasseurs mais aussi celle des hélicoptères engagés par la France. Le ministre précise toutefois qu'une "grande majorité" de ces objectifs ont été traités par des bombes à guidage laser. Ce bilan est à rapprocher de celui dévoilé il y a quelques jours par le MoD britannique, qui a largué près de 500 munitions guidées sur la Libye, dont environ 370 bombes guidées laser (Paveway IV et Enhanced Paveway II) ainsi qu'une centaine de missiles Dual Mode Brimstone.

Gérard Longuet a également confirmé que le groupe aéronaval embarqué devrait "se reconfigurer à l'automne", ce qui nécessitera de compenser l'absence des chasseurs navalisés par le déploiement d'appareils de l'armée de l'Air supplémentaires. Le ministre a ainsi déclaré avoir "les moyens de suppléer une quinzaine d'appareils marins par des chasseurs de l'armée de l'Air", et ce tout en maintenant les autres engagements des aviateurs, dont le détachement chasse de six avions à Kandahar, en Afghanistan. Ces appareils de l'armée de l'Air supplémentaires seraient déployés "au plus près des opérations", à Souda ou à Sigonella.

photo raf.mod.uk

July 20, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

Britain is increasing its Tornado fighter force operating over Libya, from 12 to 16. The four additional aircraft will be used mainly for reconnaissance, to keep a better eye on the complex Libyan battlefield. The four new Tornados will be equipped with four of the eight RAPTOR digital photo recon pods the Royal Air Force (RAF) owns. RAPTOR can spot targets at 72 kilometers daylight and at 36 kilometers at night using infrared sensors.  The digital images can be seen by the pilot, and transmitted to other aircraft, ground units or ships, in real time.

The recon Tornados will not just be looking for hostile troops. The rebel forces do not always let NATO know where they are, which leads to friendly fire incidents. But there is also the problem with Libyan government forces adapting to NATO control of the skies. The government troops have come up with ways to remain hidden, or look like rebel forces (taking advantage of NATO eagerness to avoid accidentally hitting rebel fighters by mistake.)

Four more Tornados are not needed for bombing largely because Britain has a small guided missile (Brimstone) that enables fighters to carry a dozen of them, and hit a dozen individual targets with high accuracy. Originally developed as an upgraded version of the American Hellfire, Brimstone ended up as a Hellfire in general shape only. Weighing the same as the Hellfire (48.5 kg/107 pounds), Brimstone was designed to be fired by fighter-bombers, not just (as with Hellfire) from helicopters and UAVs. Aircraft can carry more of these lightweight missiles. These are perfect for small targets, including vehicles, that need to be hit, without causing injuries to nearby civilians or friendly troops.

Three years ago, Britain added a dual-mode (radar and laser) seeker to its Brimstone missiles. Originally, Brimstone was to be just an American Hellfire with a British seeker (a miniature, millimeter wave, radar) and configured to be launched from jets. Brimstone did that, but never got a chance to show how effective it was until Afghanistan and Libya. The performance of Brimstone was particularly impressive, and that got the Americans and French interested in using it as a highly effective anti-vehicle weapon for fast-movers (jet fighter-bombers).

Hellfire was first developed three decades ago as an helicopter launched anti-tank weapon, but has proved to be very useful against enemy infantry hiding out in buildings or caves. Hellfire later proved to be an ideal weapon for use by larger UAVs. The current version has a range of eight kilometers, while Brimstone has a range of 12 kilometers.

The Brimstone radar seeker makes it easier to use the missile in "fire and forget" mode. The laser seeker is more accurate (to within a meter or two of the aim point.) When used on jet fighters, like the Tornado, there is a special launcher that holds three Brimstone missiles (instead of one larger missile). The launcher hangs from one of the Tornado hardpoints. This launcher will also be used on the new Eurofighter. The nine kilogram (20 pound) warhead is sufficient to destroy vehicles, without causing a lot of casualties to nearby civilians. British fighter pilots have become quite good at coming in low and taking out individual vehicles with Brimstone missiles. Carrying a dozen Brimstones, a fighter-bomber can easily use all of them in one sortie, all the while staying out of range of ground fire.

July 20th, 2011 By USArmy, DEFENCE TALK

At the request of the Burundian military, U.S. Army Africa’s Africa Deployment Assistance Partnership Team, or ADAPT, conducted a deployment capability training event with uniformed members of the Burundian Defense Forces June 6-10, 2011, at the Bujumbura Military Airfield in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Traffic Management Specialists Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Shaw and Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Labugen of the 21st Theatre Support Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany, along with Ammunition Specialist Sgt. 1st Class Luis Febles and Theater Security Cooperation Program Manager Alexander Menzies from U.S. Army Africa, or USARAF, Logistics Directorate in Vicenza, Italy, taught and monitored the training event.

ADAPT is a U.S. Africa Command, or USAFRICOM, program managed and executed by USARAF. The team was in Bujumbura to share best practices on deploying personnel and equipment via aircraft, and to enhance force projection capabilities of African militaries to better support peace keeping operations, humanitarian relief operations and UN missions.

“This is our first ADAPT with the Burundian military,” Menzies said. “This event was based off of a pre-deployment site survey we conducted last year so the lesson plan was specifically tailored to meet existing Burundi training requirements.”

Menzies said another focus of the training is to foster positive relationships between the U.S. and African military forces.

“This successful military-to-military ADAPT event demonstrates the important partnerships between U.S. Army Africa and African partner nations in increasing deployment capabilities and capacity,” Menzies said.

Increasing deployment interoperability with U.S. forces in joint/combined operations, training and exercises is a focal point of this military-to-military training opportunity.

“Training and having the capability to deploy personnel and cargo are crucial enabling components to a deploying force. As a matter of fact, Burundian forces soldiers are already applying the ADAPT training to their real world operations,” Febles said.

During the graduation ceremony before students and instructors parted, Burundi ‘s Air Base Commander Col. Jean Claude Niyongeko’s commented, “Africa Command said it would help Burundi and they followed-through and did what they said. Not every country can say that.”

ADAPT is a four phase program, that occurs every 12 months and USARAF has already conducted training in Rwanda, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Botswana, and Ghana.

18 July 2011 by defenceWeb

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has upped its bill to keep the venerable Lockheed Martin C130BZ flying by another R23.769 million. The SAAF last week awarded Denel Aviation an extension of an existing contract to provide product support services for the aging aircraft.

The SAAF C-130 fleet consists of seven platforms (401 - 407) purchased in 1963 before a US arms embargo was imposed on South Africa's apartheid government and five received in 1997/8 from the US (two ex-United States Air Force C-130B's – 408 and 409 – and three ex-US Navy C-130F's – 410 to 412 as part of their Excess Defence Articles programme. The two ex-US C-130B 's and a C-130F (411) were subsequently put in service, but the C-130F was retired soon thereafter.

Various modifications have been accomplished on the original SAAF aircraft, the most significant being a centre wing replacement and outer wing refurbishment from 1969 to 1972 done under the auspices of Lockheed, an engine upgrade (from Allison T56-A-7 to T56-A-15) during the early 1970s and a basic avionic upgrade during the early 1980s.

The two ex-USAF C-130B's had already been modified with the fitment of H-model outer wings and a centre wing similar to that of the other SAAF aircraft. The fleet underwent a major refit from December 1996, when Marshall Aerospace of Cambridge in the UK and Denel was contracted to upgrade the aircraft as part of Project Ebb, fitting inter alia digital avionics in the place of the electromechanical. The upgrade was not without delay and infighting between Marshalls and Denel and ran seven years past its expected date of completion, set for June 2002: the project wrapped up as late as July 2009.

Aircraft 402's brakes caught fire during a landing after a test flight in early 2005 at the then-Johannesburg International Airport. Damage estimated in the millions of rand was inflicted on the aircraft and an equally damaging dispute then erupted between Denel and Marshalls as to whom had to carry the cost of the repairs. It is unclear why the taxpayer paid the R6 579 134 for the repair as well as a further R3 686 241.08 for hangarage at Denel Aviation before and during the repair.

Another aircraft was also damaged while undergoing testing after upgrading - its fuel tanks were over-pressurised.

Seven of the nine were grounded in 2005 on the recommendation of the manufacturer after metal fatigue was discovered on the main spars and outer wing structures of several US C130Bs. As part of this the outer wings of aircraft 407 were removed. Lockheed Martin subsequently allowed three aircraft to resume flying, but in May 2006 the remaining four underwent a further battery of tests.

According to the Armscor Bulletin System, the cost of keeping the Hercules flying – fuel and crew excluded - now stands at at least R213 812 679 since early 2007 in addition to some a minimum of R3 686 241.08 charged in hangarage for the damaged aircraft #402 from 2005 until last year.

Product support services for the Hercules C130 aircraft - extension of ELGS/2003/553

LGS/S2011/4782 14 Jul 2011 R23 769 819,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

LGS/S2010/4663 17 Mar 2011 R9 500 000,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

LGS/S2010/4528 18 Nov 2010 R10 404 045,14 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Aerospace Group

LGS/S2010/4505 22 Sep 2010 R9 812 323,86 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Aerospace Group

LGS/S2009/4242 10 Mar 2010 R39 377 194,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

LGS/S2009/4139 8 Oct 2009 R9 500 000,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

LGS/S2008/3933 26 Mar 2009 R485 607,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

Provision of materiel supply support services for the South African Air Force C130B aircraft

ELGS/2010/199 9 Dec 2010 R90 000 000,00 Tau Aerospace (Pty) Ltd

Service, rectification and engineering support during recovery of the SAAF C-130BZ aircraft 402 - extension of EVLI/2007/378

VLI/S2010/1811 21 Jul 2010 R22 028,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

VLI/S2010/1797 13 Jul 2010 R200 000,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

VLI/S2008/1746 28 May 2009 R1 075 583,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

Hangarage of Project EBB C130Bz Aircraft 402 - Extension of ELGS/2005/413

LGS/S2009/1781 12 Jan 2010 R393 595,92 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

VLI/S2009/1774 29 Oct 2009 R655 993,20 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

LGS/S2009/1763 21 May 2009 R511 852,86 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

VLI/S2008/1726 26 Jun 2008 R523 008,61 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

LGS/S2007/1679 2 Aug 2007 R1 601 790,49 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

Interim support for the SA Air Force C-130 BZ avionic system - extension of EVLI/2006/228

VLI/S2008/1743 11 Dec 2008 R2 000 000,00 Thales Division Aeronautique

VLI/S2007/1711 4 Sep 2008 R2 877 253,20 Thales Division Aeronautique

VLI/S2007/1673 28 Jun 2007 R990 236,00 Thales Division Aeronautique

Pyrotechnic fire extinguisher cartridges for the SAAF transport aircraft

EDWU/2008/190 9 Oct 2008 R97 414,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a PMP

Service, rectification and engineering support during the recovery of SAAF C-130BZ Aircraft 402

EVLI/2007/378 29 May 2008 R5 281 523,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

Repair of 59 line replacement units - extension of EVLI/2003/680

VLI/S2008/1731 10 Jul 2008 R502 276,90 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

VLI/S2007/1709 15 May 2008 R18 415,35 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Denel Aviation

VLI/S2007/1663 11 May 2007 R1 500 000,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a Aerospace Group

Power cartridges for SA Air Force transport aircraft 2007/2008

EDWU/2007/126 23 Aug 2007 R172 316,00 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a PMP

Interim support of the South African Air Force''s C-130 BZ avionic system (Thales Avionics Top Deck)

EVLI/2006/228 12 Apr 2007 R6 075 607,56 Thales Division Aeronautique

Fire extinguisher cartridges for SAAF transport aircraft

EDWU/2006/505 9 Feb 2007 R151 037,10 Denel (Pty) Ltd t/a PMP

18 July 2011 by defenceWeb

The development the 105mm LAV III Light Self-Propelled Howitzer (LSPH) has taken another leap forward with the certification of the system as safe for manned firing tests. To date, the system has been remotely fired. The LSPH is a joint project between General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), Denel Land Systems (DLS) and Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM).

Work on the development resumed last year after the cancellation of the US Army’s NLOS-C (non-line-of-sight, i.e indirect fire, cannon) programme the year before. DLS in a statement say the LSPH during the week of July 4 fired high explosive projectiles at a maximum range of 31km from a manned turret at Armscor's Alkantpan Test range in the Northern Cape.

“This marks a significant advance in maturing the technology of this revolutionary artillery system,” the statement added of the weapon that has the logistic footprint of a 105mm howitzer but the range and terminal performance of a 155mm system, “but with better precision”.

Work on the 58-calibre LSPH started during the 1990s under Project Musuku, a South African Army/Armscor research and development programme, where a Denel/Armscor project team was tasked to develop a 105mm artillery system with range, accuracy and lethality similar or better than 155mm 39-calibre artillery systems. “This resulted in the Light Experimental Ordnance (LEO) gun [Advanced Multi-Role Light Artillery Gun to the SA Army] that achieved all these objectives.

Since its unveiling as the “LEO 105” at the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (AAD) in 2000, the 105mm Artillery System continues to generate a considerable amount of international interest. At the request of the US GDLS, the LEO was repackaged into a Denel Land Systems-designed turret, and fitted on a GDLS [ex-Mowag] LAV III [Piranha] vehicle that was demonstrated to the US Army between 2004 and 2006, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Ft. Sill Field Artillery School in Oklahoma.

The 105mm LSPH demonstrator has a crew of three (driver, commander/gunner and loader). As the system fires off its wheels (no outriggers necessary), it provides for faster in- and out of action times than comparable systems. The system weighs 18 200 kg with 36 rounds of ammunition on board and is air-transportable in a Lockheed Martin C130 Hercules aircraft. During combat the on-board ammunition could be increased to 60 rounds, depending on storage configuration.” It matches the strategic and tactical mobility and protection requirements of the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT’s). The final configuration and weight of the system is still evolving.”

DLS adds that its turret is also be able to fire from the Patria AMV 8X8 vehicle chosen as the platform for the South African Army's Badger family of armoured infantry fighting vehicles. “Studies will continue to establish turret compatibility with other 8X8 vehicle platforms.” Denel has also completed conceptual designs for a light towed howitzer (LTH), which will have the same ballistic capabilities as the self-propelled howitzer.

The LTH prototype has a mass of 3800kg, although the objective was 2700kg. In position the LTH is 6.9m long, 2.02m wide and less than 2.1m in height. The LTH would have a crew of five, who would be able to deploy the weapon in two minutes and take it out of action in three minutes. It would have a maximum rate of fire of six rounds a minute for eight minutes at maximum charge and a sustained rate of fire of two rounds a minute. Two LTH can be fitted into a single C130.

Some years ago it was reported the budget for Project Musuku was R134 million, with a project study report and specification for a towed variant due by February 2007. At the the system's foreseen commissioning in the South African Artillery was 2012. This is now unlikely.

The turret currently incorporates a single semi-automatic chain-type push rammer, which rams the projectile and the charge; as well as a fully automatic laying and navigation system, based on the Denel Arachnida II Weapon Management System and the Selex Fin 3110 Inertial Navigation Unit.

The breech is a semi-automatic swing- and slide block type, similar to the tried and tested breech that is used in the Denel 155mm 52 calibre guns.

The system was man-rated with RDM XM24A42 uni-modular charge system, which is now cleared for manned firings. “With a minimum charge of two modules and a maximum of five, this charge system allows for more than the required 20% range overlap between modules. The charges are used in combination with the standard M82 percussion primers. No brass cartridge case, as used in traditional 105mm howitzers, is required.”

RDM also developed the Igala range of munitions for the LEO/LSPH. For this month's tests, the M0125A2 IHE PFF (Insensitive High Explosive Pre-Formed Fragmentation) projectile and the XM2019A2 Practice round were fired in both the BT (boat-tail) as well as the BB (base-bleed) configurations. With the BT configuration, a maximum range of 24 km was achieved, while BB has a maximum proven range of 30km at sea level. “At the Alkantpan Test Range (which is 1000m above sea level), ranges of about 25km and 33km respectively, were achieved.”

The M0125A2 IHE PFF projectile has a lethal area of 1600m2, “which is 66% larger than the typical lethal area of the 155mm M107 projectile”. The safety distance for the XM0125A2 IHE PFF projectile is typically 50% smaller than that of the M107, which makes the 105mm PFF projectile more suitable for close fire-support. The M0125A2 IHE PFF projectile achieved US Army Safety certification in September 2008 as part of the Foreign Comparative Test Programme sponsored by the US Department of Defence. “Once the M0125A2 was Safety Certified, it was given the US designation M1130 for the fixed base bleed projectile, and M1131 for the fixed boat tail projectile. Both the M1130 and M1131 projectiles are in the final stages of Type Classification, a process that has taken almost a decade.”

The Igala range of projectiles also include a natural fragmenting HE and IHE projectile, a visual illumination carrier projectile, a bi-spectral screening smoke carrier projectile and an infra-red illumination projectile. “These projectiles are ballistically matched (as it fires with the same range tables). Although they have been fired from this system at maximum range, they are not currently included in the man-rating status of the system.”

DLS says the precision of the system is exceptional. “During the firings leading up to the man-rating of the system, a Probable Error (range) value of less than 0.3% for range was consistently achieved at maximum range with both BB and BT projectiles. This is substantially better than any other known 155mm or 105mm systems at the same, or their respective maximum ranges. The deflection error is typically less than 0.5mil. This kind of performance was achieved through the system engineering approach followed during development of the gun, with the charges and projectiles as an integral part of the system.”

The power of the direct firing capability was demonstrated on the final day of the man-rating at Alkantpan. Members of the South African defence community witnessed three shots that were fired through the same hole in a wall at one kilometre distance.

July 19, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

An international fleet of 35 aerial tankers is supporting the 150-200 sorties a day NATO and Arab aircraft are flying over Libya. The tankers (from eight nations, but most are American) deliver 1.1 million liters (over 900 tons) of fuel at day. This allows fighter-bombers to stay over Libya longer, waiting for a target. A typical refueling provides an aircraft with 5-10 tons of fuel. These operations usually take place at about 7,000-8,000 meters (22,000-26,000 feet) and at speeds of 500-560 kilometers an hour.

Jul 15, 2011 London (UPI) spacewar.com

Britain is sending four more Tornado warplanes over Libya to support NATO military operations as an international contact group explores ways of ending the stalemate pitting the U.N.-backed armed rebels against loyalist forces of Moammar Gadhafi.

The military measures were announced amid intensive mediation at different levels on securing an end to five months of an inconclusive campaign in support of the rebels' Transitional National Council.

The council received formal support from the contact group of NATO and Arab diplomats meeting in Istanbul but China and Russia stayed away.

The rebels are receiving weapons and ammunition from France, logistical and medical support from Britain and substantial quantities of unspecified weapons and backup operations from Qatar and other Arab countries.

British military experts are helping rebels in and around Benghazi and other British teams of mostly undercover special agents are reportedly on the ground but not acknowledged in official reports.

The dispatch of the additional four British air force Tornado warplanes takes to 16 the total number of the attack and surveillance aircraft active over Libya. British officials have said the Tornado's 3,000-mile missions to carry out attacks on Libyan military sites were the longest range bombing missions conducted by the air force since the Falkland Islands conflict with Argentina in 1982.

British air support for the Libyan rebels has also included laser-guided bombs, deployed with the LITENING targeting pod, and Brimstone missiles.

British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said the aircraft were well-equipped for surveillance and reconnaissance.

"It is important to have this capability available," he said.

The British announcement followed a plea from NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for more aircraft to support operations protecting Libyan civilians against government forces' assaults on rebel-held communities.

NATO warplanes have conducted more than 5,000 air missions since the action began in March, officials said.

European concerns over the escalating costs of the military operations in Libya resurfaced at the Istanbul meeting. However, diplomatic analysts suggest some of the costs could be defrayed by NATO accessing Libyan state funds frozen at the start of the crisis.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at least $3 billion could be released to cover the cost of humanitarian assistance to tens of thousands of Libyans displaced by the conflict or trapped in battle zones.

The actual NATO costs in Libya are mired in mystery amid conflicting statements, some designed to deflect public criticism of the campaign.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, frequently queried over the British spending, has yet to give any updated total after early reports that about $40 million-$50 million was spent. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said British operational costs in Libya were "tens rather than hundreds of millions" of dollars.

NATO Supreme Allied Commander U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis told the U.S. Senate "hundreds of millions" could already have been spent in the NATO operation.

U.S. officials said the military intervention cost the Pentagon alone at least $608 million in bombs, missiles and logistics. Pentagon estimates set the monthly cost of the air campaign to the United States alone at $40 million.

French military costs in Libya were estimated by Parisian defense analysts at more than $600 million.

BRUSSELS, July 15 (RIA Novosti)

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on the alliance’s members to send more aircraft to deliver surgical strikes on Libyan targets, Western media said on Friday.

"I encourage all allies that have aircraft at their disposal to take part in that operation as well," French news website 20minutes.fr quoted Rasmussen as saying during his meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Rasmussen said it was impossible to protect civilians in Libya effectively without “carrying out strikes against critical military units on the ground that can be used to attack civilians.”

The NATO-led military operation against Gaddafi began on March 19, following a UN resolution authorizing countries "to take all necessary measures" to help protect Libyan civilians from attacks by Gaddafi’s forces, and was later extended until late September.