LONDON, April 4 (RIA Novosti)

Britain is considering supplying Libyan rebels with non-lethal equipment, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday. "We are prepared to supply non-lethal equipment which will help with the protection of civilian lives and the delivery of humanitarian aid," Hague told the House of Commons. Both Britain and the United States have suggested arming the Libyan rebels to fight forces loyal to President Muammar Gaddafi. No consensus has been reached on the issue among coalition forces, currently enforcing a no-fly zone and arms-embargo on the North African country. Hague also said the United Nations and European Union may consider dropping sanctions against some members of Gaddafi's regime if they abandon their support of him. "In the case of anyone currently sanctioned by the EU and U.N. who breaks definitively with the regime, we will discuss with our partners the merits of removing the restrictions that currently apply," Hague said. "Sanctions are designed to change behavior and it is therefore right that they are adjusted when new circumstances arise." The foreign minister said the EU would discuss this week the possibility of removing sanctions imposed on Former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, who fled Tripoli for Britain on Wednesday. Thousands have died in a civil war that emerged in Libya after forces loyal to Gaddafi violently suppressed anti-government protesters in mid-February.

03.04.2011 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

Les soldats français de la force Licorne (ici en photo lors d'une patrouille. photo: EMA) ont pris dimanche matin le contrôle de l'aéroport d'Abidjan, tenu depuis vendredi par des Casques bleus. Selon le colonel Thierry Burkhard, porte-parole de l'état-major, "les forces de l'ONUCI et de Licorne assurent la sécurité de l'aéroport et le contrôle aérien". Cette mesure est destinée "à permettre aux appareils civils et militaires de se poser sur l'aéroport afin que les ressortissants étrangers qui le souhaitent puissent quitter le territoire ivoirien".

Des rebelles libyens préparent leurs armes, le 29 mars, non loin de Syrte © Aris Messinis / AFP

02/04/2011 Par Michel Colomès Le Point.fr

Les États-Unis redoutent que des combattants islamistes soient infiltrés dans les rangs des opposants à Kadhafi.

"Entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre", dit la sagesse populaire. Entre la soldatesque de Kadhafi et les terroristes d'al-Qaida, va-t-on devoir faire un choix ? Car c'est semble-t-il ainsi que le dilemme risque de se présenter alors que l'offensive des insurgés piétine et que les frappes aériennes destinées à les soutenir montrent qu'elles ne sont pas la panacée.

Une situation à laquelle les réponses possibles sont limitées. Soit on accepte un statu quo bâtard, moitié enlisement, moitié partition du pays entre l'Est soutenu par les opposants et l'Ouest aux mains du dictateur, soit on franchit un pas décisif, mais risqué, aussi bien sur le plan militaire que sur le terrain diplomatique, et la coalition ou l'Otan, qui a maintenant pris la main, envoie des troupes au sol pour aider les insurgés à renverser une bonne fois Kadhafi. Soit, enfin, on fournit à la troupe disparate des anti-kadhafistes l'armement lourd qui lui fait cruellement défaut et dont on voit bien qu'il lui est indispensable pour remporter la victoire.

Combattants islamistes infiltrés

Mais c'est là que le bât blesse. Les Américains, toujours traumatisés par le 11-Septembre, ont tiré la sonnette d'alarme lors de la réunion de la commission du Congrès chargée de contrôler les opérations secrètes et en particulier l'action de la CIA. Le président de cette commission, le républicain Mike Rodgers, a révélé que Hillary Clinton, la secrétaire d'État, Robert Gates, le ministre de la Défense, et Mike Mullen, le chef d'état-major, avaient manifesté plus que des réserves à l'idée d'armer les insurgés. Rodgers a résumé ainsi l'analyse de la commission : "Nous ne savons pas qui ils sont, nous savons contre qui ils sont, mais nous ignorons pour qui et pour quoi ils sont." En clair, les Américains redoutent que des combattants islamistes, probablement d'obédience al-Qaida, soient infiltrés dans les rangs des opposants à Kadhafi. Et que ce soient eux qui profitent des armes que les Occidentaux feraient parvenir aux rebelles.

Les Américains ont encore en mémoire "le coup" de l'Afghanistan. Au moment de l'invasion soviétique, ils avaient fourni aux talibans des armes en grande quantité et notamment des missiles individuels Stinger capables de descendre des avions ou des hélicoptères. Cela avait certes permis aux moudjahidine de venir à bout des soviétiques, mais dans la foulée ils ont transformé le pays en état islamiste et en camp d'entraînement pour tous les apprentis terroristes de la planète. Aujourd'hui, ils utilisent les Stinger qui leur restent contre les Américains ou leurs alliés en Afghanistan.

"Des clignotants se sont allumés"

Cette prudence affichée des États-Unis à l'égard des opposants à Kadhafi peut donc paraître justifiée. Une quarantaine de djihadistes ayant combattu en Afghanistan et au Pakistan dans les rangs d'al-Qaida ont d'ailleurs été repérés sur le front libyen. "Des clignotants se sont allumés", a dit un général américain. Mais on voit bien que, vraie ou supposée, cette menace arrange aussi une administration qui continue décidément à traîner les pieds pour aider les insurgés. Les États-Unis n'ont-ils pas annoncé cette semaine qu'ils abandonnaient les frappes aériennes à leurs alliés de l'Otan et se contenteraient pour leur part de vols de reconnaissance et de brouillage des systèmes de transmission de l'adversaire ?

Quant à l'envoi d'armes aux défenseurs de Benghazi, Barack Obama a eu cette semaine une phrase dont on espère qu'elle restera dans les annales du courage politique : "Je n'exclus pas de leur envoyer des armes", a déclaré le président à NBC. "Mais je n'exclus pas non plus le contraire." Il n'y a pas de problème, cet homme-là ne ressemblera jamais ni à Bush, ni à Reagan, ni non plus à Clinton.

source defence.pk

01/04/2011 UNIVISION.com  AFP

South African defence firm Denel handed its new Rooivalk armed helicopter over to the military Friday, a project 27 years in the making touted as a boost to national pride. The Rooivalk programme, which cost an estimated 613 billion rand ($91 billion, 64 billion euros) from its launch in 1984 under the apartheid regime, had often been derided as a waste of money in a country whose military mission had changed radically during that time. But air force leaders and defence contractors said Friday the handover of five combat-ready helicopters was a proud day for South Africa and a sign of the country's robust industry. "It proves that South Africa has the capacity for design, engineering and manufacturing to compete effectively in the global environment," said Antonie Visser, chief of defence materiel for the South African defence department.

01 April 2011 by defenceWeb

The Institute for Maritime Technology (IMT), part of the Armscor Defence Institutes, has been awarded a R3 million contract to provide undisclosed submarine underwater torpedo support services to the South African Navy. The IMT is located just south of Simon's Town harbour, the country's main naval base. The work was awarded last week and appears to be the second such contract in six month. A R307 955.83 deal was announced in late September last year. The AEG SUT 264 heavyweight torpedo is the main weapon of the Manthatisi-class diesel-electric submarine fleet of the SA Navy. The 533mm (21 inch) diameter German submarine torpedo was deployed in the SAN from 2006. The wire-guided weapon features active/passive onboard terminal guidanceand has a range of 28km at 23 knots or 12km at 35 knots. The torpedo carries a 250kg RDX warhead initiated by magnetic field or contact.

31/03/11 By Craig Hoyle Flight International

Work has started under a project to provide the South African Air Force's Hawk 120 advanced jet trainers with upgraded navigation equipment and simulated weapons functionality. Eight aircraft are receiving the "operational capability 4" package of enhancements at the air force's Makhado air base. A key element of the work will be the introduction of new software to simulate the use of infrared- and radar-guided missiles, says BAE. A joint effort with local partner Advanced Technologies and Engineering, the upgrade "enables the Hawk 120 to share simulated radar data across multiple platforms", says BAE. This will enable the type to be used more effectively by students during training sorties, including those flown alongside South Africa's new frontline fighter, the Saab Gripen. "Integrating these upgrades on to the South African Air Force's Hawks will significantly enhance the training capability of the aircraft," says Mike Swales, BAE's international training director. Work to modify the remainder of South Africa's Hawk fleet should be completed before the end of this year. The nation's air force has 24 of the type, as listed in Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.

30 Mar 2011 DefenseNews AFP

BRUSSELS - NATO on March 30 began to take command of Libyan air bombing operations from a U.S.-led coalition, as warplanes and other assets from several allies came under the military organization's control. "NATO aircraft are flying under NATO command in the Libyan sky," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said. "This is a phased process, which will be completed as soon as all allies and partners have transferred authority for their assets." The 28-member alliance is gradually replacing the United States at the helm of aerial missions that have been conducted by U.S., French, British and other coalition planes since March 19 to protect civilians from Moammar Gadhafi's ground forces. Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands placed all or part of their military assets under NATO's authority on March 30, an alliance official said on condition of anonymity. NATO's combined air operations centre in Poggio Renatico, northern Italy, transmitted flight plans to units involved in the aerial campaign, the official said. A NATO diplomat has said that the alliance would effectively be in full command of the operations on March 31. NATO has enforced an arms embargo off Libya's coast since last week and also is policing Libya's skies to prevent hostile jets from flying. NATO agreed to take on the broader mission - strikes against forces threatening civilians - on March 27 after overcoming Turkish concerns about the air strikes and French reluctance to hand the lead to the alliance.

30/03/2011 MER et MARINE

L'US Navy et l'US Air Force ont mis hors de combat, lundi, une petite force navale libyenne. Celle-ci était composée de la vedette de 12 mètres et de deux autres embarcations, qui ont été observées en train de tirer sur des navires marchands dans le port de Misrata, où s'opposaient les rebelles et les forces fidèles au colonel Kadhafi. Les forces américaines sont intervenues avec un avion de patrouille maritime P-3 C Orion, qui a tiré sur la vedette des missiles AGM-65F Maverick. En feu et victime de plusieurs explosions, le navire libyen s'est jeté à la côte. Dans le même temps, un raid d'A-10 Thunderbolt (le célèbre « tueur de chars ») était lancé sur les deux autres bateaux, qui ont essuyé des tirs de 30mm. Une embarcation a été détruite et l'autre abandonnée. L'ensemble de l'opération était suivie, au large, par le destroyer lance-missiles USS Barry, qui assurait le contrôle aérien et maritime de la zone.

29 March 2011  by defenceWe

The South African Air Force has awarded Denel a further R87.7 million order for the development of the Denel Dynamics A-Darter 5th generation short-range air-to-air missile, taking the known amount spent to date to over R1 billion. The work follows on a R8 million contract to conduct a scope of work, optimisation, and risk reduction study for the integration of the A-Darter onto the BAE Systems Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainer and to complete a provisional definition for Project Kamas. Also awarded this last month was a further R1 333 792.40 to prepare A-Darter CFE Data and hardware items for integration onto the Saab Gripen advanced fighter. In addition, EOH Abantu subsidiary Highveld PFS was awarded a R560 000 contract to provide staff support for the SAAF's procurement of the missile system, under development by Denel Dynamics in a joint South African-Brazilian programme with a R1 billion budget. Denel Dynamics CE Jan Wessels last year April told defenceWeb the weapon, under development since March 2007 was on track and on target for delivery to the SAAF and the Brazilian Air Force from early 2013, now two years away. Wessels added training missiles will be delivered from net year. The SAAF is to fit the missile to its fleet of 24 workhorse BAE Systems Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainers in addition to integrating it on to the 26 more sophisticated Saab Gripen C and D advanced lightweight fighter. Brazil wants the weapon for its FX-2 future fighter programme. According to the Armscor Bulletin System, South Africa has to date spent at least R1 048 648 321.44 on the programme, Project Assegaai. This includes R973 965 663.29 spent on development and R64 709 038.43 on preparing the missile for integration onto the Gripen.

A Harrier jet aircraft assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps’ 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returns

to the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge for fuel and ammunition resupply on March 21

while conducting air strikes in Libya. (Lance Cpl. Michael S. Lockett / U.S. Marine Corps)

29 Mar 2011 DefenseNews AFP

WASHINGTON - U.S. military strikes on Libya have cost $550 million so far, the Pentagon said March 29, adding that the tab was likely to increase another $40 million in the next few weeks. Between March 19 and 28, the Defense Department spent more than 60 percent of the funds on munitions, such as missiles and bombs, with the rest going toward deploying troops and covering the costs of combat, including additional fuel needed for U.S. aircraft and ships. U.S. troops fired at least 192 of the 199 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched against Libyan air defenses and command centers. Each Tomahawk missile costs about $1.5 million, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Adm. James Stavridis told a congressional hearing, bringing total expenditures for munitions alone to nearly $300 million. The United States has also launched 455 of the 602 laser-guided weapons used by the coalition over the same period. "Future costs are highly uncertain," said Navy Cmdr. Kathleen Kesler, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

Publié le 29 mars 2011 par Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (BRUXELLES2)

Même si leur désir est d’assurer un rôle plus discret de soutien (ravitaillement, renseignement, guerre électronique…), les Américains sont encore très engagés dans l’action militaire en Libye. Ils ont effectué la moitié des frappes (« strike ») depuis le début de l’opération. En témoigne le compte-rendu fait par le vice-amiral Gortney, le 28 mars.

Sur un total de 735 sorties pour frappes, 370 sorties de frappes ont été assurées par les Américains et 365 par les partenaires de la coalition. Et l’opération monte plutôt en puissance qu’elle ne diminue: 91 sorties (41 Us / 50 alliés) vendredi (25 mars), 88 sorties (40 Us / 48 alliés), samedi (26 mars) et 107 sorties (52 Us / 55 alliés) dimanche (27 mars). NB : De leur coté, les Français ont effectué 200 sorties au total.

Parmi les cibles atteintes, carte à l’appui, on apprend ainsi que les Belges ont frappé à Mesdah/Mizdah sur un dépôt d’armements (frappes US, danoises, canadiennes, belges). D’autres frappes ont eu lieu à Misrata, Syrte/Surt, et Ras Lanuf (Us et Uk sur des forces en manoeuvre), Sabha (US sur des bunkers d’armements) et Tripoli (Us sur des forces en manoeuvre et batteries anti-aériennes de missiles SAM). Les Américains ont notamment visé, dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, le quartier-général de l’unité d’élite de Kadhafi, la 32e Brigade. Six missiles Tomahawk (TLAM) ont été tiré sur des installations sur cette unité d’élite du régime, dirigée par Khamis, un des fils Kadhafi.

Si on prend le total des sorties (chasse, surveillance, ravitaillement, commandement et frappes), on arrive à un total de 1602 sorties, dont 983 assurées par les Américains et 619 par la coalition. Le Qatar ayant rejoint la coalition le 25 mars et la Belgique le 27 mars.

source www.nationspresse.info

Mar 28, 2011 By David A. Fulghum, Robert Wall AviationWeek.com

Establishing a no-fly zone over ­Libya may not be a massive challenge for the coalition trying to enforce ­United Nations Security Council Resolution 1793, but the operation has nevertheless exposed serious military and political pitfalls. One of those surprises is the unexpected and elusive threat from a sophisticated surface-to-air missile (SAM) that Libya fielded virtually unnoticed—the NATO-designated SA-24 “Grinch.” Its presence on the battlefield underscores the need for coalition partners to draw on the full spectrum of electronic warfare capabilities to prosecute their air campaign. The missile also poses a latent threat to low-flying cargo aircraft once relief, medical, evacuation and rebuilding missions begin. Expectations are that these much-sought-after weapons will slip into the black market and into the hands of lawless groups that will want to stop aid to any of the sides involved in the Libyan conflict. The presence—not announced yet—of the jam-resistance weapon was a surprise to U.S. and international military analysts because there have been only rumors of a possible Igla-S/SA-24 sale to Libya and no mention of it in officials sources, such as the U.N. Arms Register. Pictures of the SA-24 have appeared on television since the start of the war, but were not publicly identified by the intelligence community. “The SA-24, or Igla-S, is an improved variant of the SA-18 ‘Grouse’—or Igla—with better performance, lethality and countermeasures resistance,” says Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies. “It is believed to have a maximum slant range of up to 6,000 meters [3.7 mi.] and a maximum engagement altitude of 3,500 meters. Development of the system appears to have been completed early in the last decade. The SA-24 represents a credible threat to aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles operating within its engagement envelope.”