11 juillet 2011 NR 11.077 – Ministère de la Défense du Canada

OTTAWA – L’honorable Peter MacKay, ministre de la Défense nationale, a aujourd’hui  mis un terme à deux jours de rencontres au Moyen-Orient et a supervisé la signature, entre le Canada et le Koweït, d’un protocole d’entente sur le soutien logistique des opérations canadiennes en Afghanistan.

Le Canada et le Koweït entretiennent une amitié de longue durée et une relation bilatérale étroite.

« Le Canada a été fier de déployer plus de 4 000 membres des Forces canadiennes à la campagne qui a mené à la libération du Koweït durant la guerre du Golfe de 1991, a déclaré le ministre. Notre amitié s’est renforcée depuis les vingt dernières années. Le Koweït est un partenaire influant dans la région, et nous sommes très heureux de la conclusion de cette entente dans l’intérêt de nos deux pays. »

Le déplacement de l’équipement et des véhicules utilisés en Afghanistan requiert l’accès à un aéroport et à un terminal maritime, à partir desquels le matériel peut être transbordé vers le Canada. L’établissement de cet accord de soutien avec le Koweït permet de réaliser ces activités dans un lieu sûr et contrôlé.

Durant sa rencontre au Koweït, le ministre Mackay a été accueilli par le cheik Jaber Al‑Moubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, qui cumule les fonctions de premier vice-premier ministre et de ministre de la Défense du Koweït, et a rencontré le cheik Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, vice-premier ministre et ministre des Affaires étrangères du Koweït.

« Cette visite m’a donné l’occasion de rencontrer le cheik Jaber et le cheik Mohammad et d’établir avec le Koweït une bonne collaboration et un partenariat fructueux », a précisé le ministre MacKay.

11 juillet 2011 par Optro & Défense

En 1996, Elbit Systems et Rockwell Collins fondèrent une coentreprise (les anglo-saxons parlent de JV, Joint Venture) pour développer, produire et assurer le soutien technique de visiocasques pour les appareils à voilure fixe. Vision System International (VSI) est devenu depuis un fournisseur de premier plan de viseur/visuel de casque binoculaire, ayant fournit plus de 4 000 systèmes de repérage mixte monté sur casque pour des appareils F-15, F-16 et F/A-18.

A la frontière entre une simple jumelle intensificatrice de lumière de type HELIE et les systèmes complexes HMD (Helmet Mounted Display) comme le TopOwl, VSI a développé le système NVCD/ANVIS (Night Vision Cueing and Display / Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System (NVCD/ ANVIS).

Description du système

Le système utilise une jumelle de vision nocturne standard (JVN) AN/AVS-9(V) (anciennement nommée ANVIS-F4949), basée sur des tubes intensificateurs de lumière de troisième génération. Avec un champ de vue classique de 40°, un grossissement de 1 et une focalisation de 41 cm à l’infini, ses 550 grammes permettent de récupérer le flux du visible jusqu’à 0,9 µm avec une résolution limite à 1,3 cy/mr.

Cette JVN est modifiée par VSI avec un kit variomètre, offrant au pilote la symbologie complète JHMCS (de l’anglais Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) et les indications de repérage pendant les opérations nocturnes, le tout asservi à la ligne de visée. Des renseignements essentiels comme le repérage des cibles et les paramètres de performance de l’appareil s’affichent ainsi directement sur les oculaires du pilote.

Grâce à ce système, le pilote dispose de la capacité de combat « tir à vue » pour les armes à grand pointage angulaire. Ce système lui permet de manœuvrer avec précision les armes et les capteurs à bord contre toute cible aérienne ou terrestre, sans avoir à manœuvrer son appareil de façon à présenter la cible dans le champ de vision du collimateur tête haute de pilotage (HUD) pour l’identifier.

Premiers vols opérationnels

Le premier vol opérationnel pour les NVCD/ANVIS a été effectué dernièrement par les forces aériennes danoises (Royal Danish Air Force, RDAF) dans le cadre de l’Opération Unified Protector en Libye, où les RDAF participent à l’application de la zone d’exclusion aérienne. Les vols ont été effectués par les F16 danois dans le standard MLU M5 sans nécessiter aucune modification de l’appareil.

« Les pilotes se fient au JHMCS pour effectuer avec succès des missions air-air et air-sol de jour. Tel que validé par les pilotes des RDAF, notre système NVCD/ANVIS est désormais prêt à élargir cette capacité essentielle aux missions nocturnes », explique le président de VSI.

En plus de la production de systèmes JHMCS et NVCD, VSI est tenu par contrat à livrer des visiocasques avancés pour les avions d’attaque interarmées JSF F-35 et fabrique également des visiocasques Targo destinés aux avions d’entraînement, aux avions d’assaut léger et aux appareils de transport militaire. VSI produit aussi le visiocasque Display and Sight Helmet (DASH) de IVe génération en vertu de divers contrats.

Sources :
- communiqué de presse du 4 juillet 2011 sur le site officiel de VSI
- systèmes NVCD sur le site officiel de VSI
- fiche technique de la JVN ANVIS-F4949 de ITT Night Vision & Imaging
- article du 5 juillet 2011 sur RP Défense

source defencetalk.com

July 11th, 2011 By German Radio – DEFENCE TALK

Germany's tank deal with Saudi Arabia has caused outrage, drawing criticism from across the political spectrum. But while the government maintains its silence, critics say it marks a sea change in arms export policy.

The anonymous Saudi source probably had no idea what trouble he was causing. On Monday, the informant told a Reuters reporter about Saudi Arabia's deal to buy 200 2A7+ Leopard tanks from Germany.

The news caused outrage throughout Germany. Memories of Saudi troops suppressing Bahraini democracy protestors are still fresh, and the mood was not improved by a video posted to Youtube apparently showing how the 2A7+ can be used to break up demonstrations.

The video showed a German army demonstration of a prototype Leopard, and came complete with a voiceover explaining how the tank can be fitted with a water cannon.

Such deals don't raise an eyebrow in larger arms exporters like the US and Russia, but the German government has now spent three days reaping a popular whirlwind. And it's come from unexpected parties.

Renke Brahms, peace commissioner for the Evangelical Church in Germany, told the Passauer Neuen Presse newspaper, "If German Leopard tanks are being used to clear barricades and suppress demonstrations, then we carry some responsibility for violating human rights."

Concerns were even raised by prominent members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's own party, the Christian Democratic Union. According to media reports, the chairman of the foreign policy committee Ruprecht Polenz, Bundestag President Norbert Lammert and CDU human rights spokeswoman Erika Steinbach all argued against delivering the Leopards during a party meeting on Monday.

Jürgen Grässlin, spokesman for the campaign "Action Outcry: Stop the Weapons Exports" - the biggest-ever alliance of German peace organizations and churches - told Deutsche Welle: "Apart from Libya, Iran and maybe North Korea, I can't think of a country with a worse human rights record than Saudi Arabia. To export weapons there just because it is western-orientated and because it has oil is almost illegal. I would almost call it an act of barbarism."

A new precedent

This deal with Saudi Arabia is significant for historical reasons. As Grässlin points out, Germany has been exporting other weapons there for some time, and is also part of a much bigger deal to export Eurofighters to the country.

"Even Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government delivered patrol ships, military vehicles, machine pistols and sniper rifles there," he says. "Merkel's government has exported even more weapons to Saudi Arabia, but with the export of the tanks the last taboo has been broken."

"The tanks are different," Grässlin explains. "By traditional thinking, the Leopard is a German combat tank, and the big companies involved in its manufacture are German - Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann."

"In the history of the German arms trade, combat tank exports were always very controversial. Saudi Arabia has been asking for German tanks since the 1980s, but up until now all the German governments - from Chancellor Helmut Kohl onwards - have refused to allow them," he added.

Why now?

It seems particularly egregious that Germany should suddenly approve a major sale of heavy weaponry to a Middle Eastern dictatorship when the region is in massive turmoil. Grässlin points out that, were it not for this week's leak, reports of the exports would probably not have emerged until next year, which may have been a factor.

And Germany has large economic incentives for approving the deal, according to Mark Bromley, a researcher with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). "The Free Democrats have argued that Germany is more restrictive than other European countries, and is missing out on business opportunities," he told Deutsche Welle. "Also, Germany, like other European countries, is facing falling defense budgets, leaving less money for domestic procurement from industry. This may be leading to more pressure to find markets abroad."

And there may be another motivator lurking in the background. In the past, permission to sell large weapons to Saudi Arabia was refused for two reasons, says Grässlin: "Firstly, so as not to pour gas onto the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and secondly, because Saudi Arabia was always one of the arch-enemies of Israel, and we can't supply them with weapons because of German history."

There is speculation, therefore, that Israel's attitude to Saudi Arabia may have been changed by the "Arab Spring." "It seems that with the German tank deal, there was contact with the Israeli government, so apparently objections weren't raised," says Bromley. "Obviously there's a change in Germany, but presumably Israel has voiced opposition to these deals in the past and is not doing so now, so maybe there's a re-calculation in Israel as well."

Secret council

For the past few days, the German government has been avoiding questions about the deal, which was allegedly green-lit last week by the Federal Security Council, the cabinet sub-committee that deals with all arms exports. This committee, which meets behind closed doors, comprises Chancellor Angela Merkel, Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and other members of the cabinet.

According to official government policy, the council is supposed to veto all weapons deals with countries that have questionable human rights records. The principle, agreed by the cabinet in 2000, reads, "Armaments exports are categorically not approved if there is 'sufficient suspicion' that the armaments in question are being used for internal repression or other continuing and systematic human rights abuses."

But Merkel, Westerwelle and de Maiziere have a perfect excuse for not answering awkward questions about the council's decision - it would be illegal. According to government regulations, all cabinet sub-committee meetings are state secrets.

This allows the government to maintain silence in the face of vehement demands for information from opposition parties. In a parliamentary question and answer session on Wednesday, Hans-Joachim Otto, parliamentary state secretary at the Economics Ministry, said the Federal Security Council always met confidentially. "That is why the government cannot take a position on the press reports about the council's alleged decisions. That has always been the case," he said.

So far, the government has not yet confirmed that the Leopard deal even took place, but as Grässlin says, the fact that they have not denied it speaks volumes.

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI)

Egypt has asked the United States for 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits under the Foreign Military Sales program.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the deal would be worth an estimated $1.329 billion.

In addition to the tank kits for co-production, Egypt also requested 125 M256 Armament Systems, 125 M2 .50-caliber machine guns, 250 M240 7.62mm machine guns, 125 AGT-1500 M1A1 series tank engines and transmissions, 120mm test cartridges, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, special tool and test equipment, personnel training and equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics support services.

"The additional M1A1 tanks will provide Egypt with a modern tank fleet, enhancing its capability to meet current and future threats," the agency said in its notification to Congress. "This will contribute to Egypt's goal to update its military capability while further enhancing interoperability between Egypt, the U.S., and other allies.

"Egypt, which has co-produced the M1A1 Abrams tank, will have no difficulty absorbing the additional tanks."

The prime contractors would be General Dynamics in Sterling Heights, Mich., Honeywell International Inc. in Phoenix and Allison Transmission Motors in Indianapolis.

ATHENS, July 8 (RIA Novosti)

Greece is planning to expand military-technical cooperation with Israel, Defense Minister Panos Beglitis said.

"We will soon sign an agreement on military cooperation which will mainly involve defense industry and supply of armaments," Beglitis said at a session of the Greek parliament on Thursday.

The minister emphasized the importance of closer military ties with Israel, but said bilateral cooperation with Tel Aviv would not affect Greece's relations with Turkey and Arab countries.

Greece has recently improved relations with Israel, exploiting the rift between Tel Aviv and Ankara over the Israeli attack on the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla last year. The raid killed nine people, all Turkish nationals.

This year, Greek authorities have already intercepted the attempts of three ships from Freedom Flotilla II to break through Israeli sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, while several other vessels from the flotilla have been detained in ports.

Greece offered pro-Palestinian activists to use other options to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2006.

7 Jul 2011 By UMIT ENGINSOY and BURAK EGE BEKDIL DefenseNews

ANKARA - Although Turkey still plans to buy about 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, it has not formally committed to the U.S.-led program. To do so, it needs to submit a purchase order for a first batch of six aircraft before the end of this year.

"We will have talks [with the Americans] in the months ahead in an effort to resolve some matters," said Murad Bayar, chief of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, the government's defense procurement agency. "If we manage to reach an agreement, we expect to order the first six aircraft this year. We expect to reach a deal."

The F-35, whose production is led by Lockheed Martin, will be built by a consortium of nine countries, including Turkey. Other members of the consortium are Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Norway and Denmark.

A few years ago, when Turkey's planned buy of about 100 jets was expected to cost approximately $10 billion, Turkish companies grabbed project work worth up to $5 billion. But the unit price has gone up over the past two years, exceeding $12 billion, according to Turkish officials.

Now Turkish companies seek to raise their share to around $6 billion to stay near the planned 50 percent figure. In addition, the U.S. remains reluctant to share millions of lines of source code that make the plane's flight possible. But Turkey wants access to part of the source code related to operational needs.

But placing an order for the first six aircraft before the end of this year is related mostly to early deliveries, around 2014 and 2015, and failure to do so would not undermine participation in the program, Bayar said.

"If we don't place the first purchase order by the year end, it would not necessarily mean that we have failed to agree. It may mean that we, at this point, may not have the finances," Bayar said. "Anyway, we hope that none of this happens."

The F-35 comes in three variants for conventional takeoff and landing, short takeoff and vertical landing, and for aircraft carrier operations.

Photo: USAF

Jul 6, 2011 By Alon Ben-David, Amy Butler, Robert Wall aviation week and space technology

Le Bourget - A major obstacle blocking Israel’s purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been cleared, perhaps signaling that the U.S. is relaxing its hard-line approach to exporting JSF technologies that may be crucial to securing additional foreign sales.

The U.S. has been cautious about sharing sensitive technologies for the stealth fighter, but existing program partners and international competitions—­such as in Japan—are increasing pressure on it to do so. The breakthrough comes as more international JSF partners near buying decisions. However, the added numbers will likely have only little impact on the debate about the F-35 unit cost, since initial procurement numbers for non-U.S. buyers are relatively small compared to the Pentagon’s purchases.

By far the most contentious fight over F-35 technology has centered on Israel, which wants to adapt the aircraft to use indigenously developed electronic warfare (EW) equipment. After strongly resisting this for some time, Washington now has agreed to allow Israeli F-35s to be rewired so that Israeli EW systems can be installed on the aircraft. That would allow Israel to gradually add indigenous EW sensors and countermeasures on its fighters once it receives its first squadron.

With that deal in hand, officials for both the Israeli air force and Lockheed Martin expect the $2.7 billion contract for the procurement of 19 or 20 F-35As will be signed by early next year.

“I believe that Israel could receive its first F-35s in late 2016,” Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin’s general manager of the F-35 program, tells Aviation Week. A senior Israeli air force official, who until recently was concerned about delays in the program, says the schedule agreed upon is “very satisfactory.”

The Israeli air force initially presented a long list of unique and costly requirements for the JSF, but it has accepted that its first F-35s will be almost identical to those of the U.S. Air Force, with only Israeli command, control, computers, communications and intelligence (C4I) systems installed in them. The plans to add Israeli EW systems, air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions as well as an external fuel tank, were approved in principle but will be deferred in order to protect the budgetary framework and delivery schedule.

Until recently, Israel insisted that only its own EW systems would be suitable to meet the developing anti-aircraft threat in the region, such as the deployment of SA-17 and SA-22 air defense systems in Syria. But now, claims the Israeli air force official, “the F-35s we will receive will be more than ready to meet those threats.”

According to the program schedule, Israeli F-35s will be manufactured within the seventh and eighth low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot. The LRIP 5 cost is being negotiated by the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin. “Israel could still be the first international customer to receive the JSF,” says Burbage.

One issue that remains to be settled between the two countries is when Israeli air force crews will begin training on the F-35s and on whose platforms. Burbage says training could commence in 2016, but it is for the Pentagon to decide which aircraft will be made available for Israeli training.

Facing a series of tectonic shifts in the region, some perceived as threatening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are drafting a new work plan for 2013-17. The underlying assumption of the plan is that the dramatic changes in the Middle East could turn peaceful neighbors to the country’s south, such as Egypt, and to the east, such as Jordan, more hostile to Israel. The IDF consequently aim to build a larger, more flexible force that will be capable of dealing with more than the traditional northern front of Syria and Lebanon. The Israeli air force claims to be the only service with that flexibility, and it calls for accelerating the plan to procure 75 F-35s by 2030.

In the coming years, the air force will begin decommissioning dozens of its aging fighters, such as F-16A/Bs and F-15A/Bs, and with only 20 new F-35s, its fighter fleet will reach its lowest point ever.

However, there is strong competition for funding. Israeli ground commanders argue that because of the potential threat that the giant and modern Egyptian army would be turned against Israel, it is necessary to establish an additional mechanized division, equipped with Merkava tanks and the new Namer armored personnel carrier. The production of the Merkava-based Namer was moved to General Dynamics Land Systems in the U.S. in order to enable Israel to procure them using U.S. military aid funding, the same funding source used to acquire the F-35s.

Still unclear is whether the U.S.-Israeli deal means Washington is recognizing that it needs to be more pragmatic in terms of JSF technology controls to secure international deals. Program officials do note that any foreign buyer will have the same level of stealth with which the U.S. will operate.

A key test of how much the technology transfer approach has changed will come in Japan, which recently issued a request for proposals for new fighters. Japan has specified a high degree of technology transfer and work on the program, with an expressed interest in a domestic assembly line. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. C.D. Moore, deputy director of the JSF program, says the government is working closely with Lockheed Martin and engine provider Pratt & Whitney to put together an attractive deal. However, he also points out that Japan has ranked capabilities as the most important source selection criteria, even ahead of industrial participation and life-cycle cost.

Australia and Italy are expected to be among the next countries ready to commit to buying JSFs, likely placing their first contracts as part of next year’s LRIP 6 package. Turkey is expected to come soon after. Although the Norwegian government recently put forward a proposal to buy the first four F-35s of its larger procurement, the actual contract for that deal may not be signed for another three years.

Meanwhile, Denmark is planning a fighter competition and is expected to make a choice quickly. Pending elections in Copenhagen could even see an acceleration of the competitive time line. The F-35 would face stiff competition from the Boeing F/A-18E/F, Saab Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon. 

6 Jul 2011 By PIERRE TRAN DefenseNews

PARIS - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now talking with Lockheed Martin about buying more F-16 fighter aircraft because France's offer of an advanced version of the Rafale combat jet is seen as too expensive, said a source familiar with the negotiations in the gulf.

In the 1990s, the UAE bought 80 F-16 E/F fighters under a $7.3 billion foreign military sales contract. (Wikipedia)

"The UAE is finding the Rafale offer to be too costly compared to the capabilities of aircraft and other technologies on the market," the source said. "The negotiations with France are still ongoing and both sides are looking for a compromise."

The UAE has been seen as a potential first export buyer of the Dassault Rafale in a deal estimated at $10 billion. Meetings on the Rafale sale were held at the Paris Air Show, which ended June 26.

But price resistance has led UAE officials to open discussions with Lockheed Martin to buy more F-16s with the latest "weaponry and targeting sensors," the source said.

Last year, UAE officials asked for technical information on the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, following a political chill at the highest levels between Abu Dhabi and Paris.

In negotiations with the French, the elements said to be stretching the UAE's planned budget are the co-development costs for a more powerful "special" Rafale version, plus maintenance and spare parts. The UAE wants its Rafales powered by uprated Snecma M88 engines, whose 9 tons of thrust provide 1.5 tons more than the version flown by the French Air Force. Other improvements requested include a longer range active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and a more capable Spectra electronic warfare suite.

The upgrades previously have been estimated at 2 billion euros ($2.9 billion) by then-French Defense Minister Hervé Morin.

Dassault Aviation declined to comment.

Shortly before the Paris Air Show, Dassault Chief Executive Charles Edelstenne said of the Rafale offer to the UAE, "the talks are advancing."

The gulf source said, "Lockheed Martin is offering a very attractive financial package."

A UAE sale might help Lockheed keep its F-16 assembly line open, after India rejected the U.S. fighter from its short list for the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft competition.

Lockheed officials were unable to comment by press time.

France badly needs export success on the Rafale, a showcase of military technological competence, as the national defense budget assumes foreign contracts to help pay for a steady rate of production.

Dassault has said it must build 11 Rafale units a year to keep the line working at an economic rate.

Large companies depending on the Rafale include Safran subsidiaries Sagem, for the forward looking infrared gear, Snecma for the twin engines, Thales for the electronics and RBE2 AESA radar, and MBDA, which hopes to sell the Meteor long-range missile.

In the 1990s, the UAE bought 80 F-16 E/F fighters with distinctive conformal fuel tanks, under a $7.3 billion foreign military sales (FMS) contract, of which a reported $3 billion went to co-develop the Block 60 Desert Falcon, widely viewed as the most capable of the F-16s worldwide. As co-developer, the UAE is co-owner of some of the sensitive military technology on the Block 60 version. As part of the deal, UAE personnel worked on the co-development program, and Lockheed trained Emirati nationals to service the Block 60 aircraft.

The 1990s also saw the UAE buy Dassault Mirage 2000-9 fighters, which were more advanced than the 2000-5 version flown by the French Air Force. Older Mirage fighters were also upgraded to the more capable variant.

The Mirage 2000-9 fleet still has a long life ahead of it, but the UAE could start taking delivery of the new F-16s in under five years while keeping the existing Mirage aircraft, the source said.

France has previously offered to buy back the Mirage fleet and resell the fighters in export markets to encourage the sale of the Rafale to the UAE.

The UAE has purchased the Black Shaheen cruise missile for the Mirage. In long-range strike, the UAE also has the Hakim, which was shown under the wing of a Rafale model displayed on missile manufacturer MBDA's stand at the IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi in February.

The Zelzal short-range missiles at the parade in Tehran

© REUTERS/ Morteza Nikoubazl

MOSCOW, July 6 (RIA Novosti)

Iran tested on Wednesday domestically-designed anti-ship missiles as part of annual large-scale military exercises in the Persian Gulf, Iranian media said.

According to Al-Alam television, two Khalij Fars missiles were launched from a military base near the Strait of Hormuz and hit their designated targets.

The Khalij Fars is a single-stage solid-propellant, anti-ship ballistic missile with a range of 300 kilometers based on the Fateh-110 missile. It was unveiled in February 2011.

The 10-day Great Prophet 6 land-and-sea war games of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard started on June 27.

Last Tuesday, Iran fired nine Zelzal missiles, two Shahab-1 missiles, two Shahab-2s and one upgraded Shahab-3 missile, and the next day tested a new radar.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that the annual Great Prophet exercises display Iran's "defensive and deterrent power," and send a message of "peace and friendship" to regional states.

However, Western powers and some of their allies in the Middle East claim that Iran could be preparing for future aggression against neighboring countries.

photo rada.com

Israel Military Industries "Iron Fist" Which Incorporates RADA Developed Radar Completed Evaluation Trials Conducted by the US Office of Secretary of Defense

July 6, 2011 defpro.com

NETANYA, Israel | RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. announced that "Iron Fist," an active protection system (APS) for armored vehicles, developed by the Israel Military Industries (IMI) and for which RADA developed the radar, successfully completed trials conducted by the US Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD). This trial was part of a congressionally mandated evaluation of domestic and foreign APS.

Iron Fist is designed to handle a wide range of threats to tanks including Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) as well as armor piercing kinetic energy projectiles. RADA designed the radar for this system for threat detection, situational awareness and fire control. When the system detects an impending threat, it disrupts it by operating countermeasures (in case of ATGM) or actively intercepts and destroys the threat before it hits the target.

The trial required that the Iron Fist be integrated onto a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) and was conducted in two phases, which included "soft kill" or countermeasures tests, as well as "hard kill" or active interception tests. Following the tests Iron Fist demonstrated full interception of armor piercing kinetic energy projectiles. Iron Fist demonstrated the required performance capabilities for each phase.

Zvika Alon, RADA CEO, commented: "We were very pleased witness Iron Fist successfully complete the testing conducted by the US OSD. This achievement will serve as an important step in our continued development of radar systems as well as other applications we have developed in the area of radar systems for threat detection and warning."

July 5, 2011 Berlin (AFP) - spacewar.com

German opposition parties and even some members of the ruling parties were up in arms Tuesday over reports that the government wants to overturn its export rules and sell hundreds of tanks to Saudi Arabia.

This followed press reports that Saudi Arabia is about to buy 200 Leopard-2s, Germany main battle tank which is also produced under licence in Spain.

Germany has declined for over 20 years to sell such heavy weapons to Saudi Arabia because of concerns over human rights and fear for Israel's security.

To date, the government has refused to confirm the reports, saying such matters are discussed confidentially within the federal security council which determines export guidelines.

"The federal security council meets secretly. Therefore we can comment neither about its deliberations, nor about its decisions," foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke has told reporters.

But opposition leaders have demanded a parliamentary debate on the matter.

"The government must explain itself at some stage," Green parliamentary leader Juergen Trittin told ARD television Tuesday.

"Such decisions cannot be taken at a time when people are fighting for democracy in the Arab world," he added.

"And now one's trying to say such heavy weapons can simply be sold to dictators -- and that is the case in Saudi Arabia," he added.

"The government's readiness to sell 200 modern German tanks at a time of tension in the near East and the Arab peninsula denotes a frightening lack of judgment," the social-democrat parliamentary deputy leader Gernot Erler told the Welt newspaper's online service.

Such a policy demonstrates that Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westewelle "only pay lip service to supporting democratic movements in the Arab world," he added.

Selling tanks to Saudi Arabia at a time when that country has sent armoured vehicles to help put down a peaceful protest movement in neighbouring Bahrain is "a slap in the face for freedom movements in the whole region," Erler added.

The tiny but strategic Gulf archipelago, joined by a causeway to Saudi Arabia, has experienced repeated bouts of unrest between its Shiite majority population and its Saudi-backed Sunni ruling family.

Even in Merkel's government ranks, news of the possible deal has ruffled feathers.

Ruprecht Polenz, a Christian-Democrat who heads parliament's foreign affairs commission, suggested such a sale would go against all previous rules about exporting weapons to countries in turmoil, and even the parliament's Christian-Democrat president, Norbert Lammert, expressed concern about the timing of such a deal given the crackdown in Bahrain, newspapers reported.

The Saudi order for Leopard-2A7+ -- a 55 to 62-tonne tank equipped with a 120 mm gun -- could be worth billions of euros to the companies Kraus-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall, Der Spiegel magazine reported.

The Saudi kingdom has been in talks with the Spanish subsidiary of General Dynamics about buying their version of the Leopard tank, but the major portion of the order would land with the Germans, the magazine suggested.

The Saudis are also in talks with US companies for 60 billion dollars worth (41 billion euros) of defence equipment that would become the largest US contract ever.

Die Welt newspaper, in an editorial, defended the government's bid to sell the tanks saying Saudi Arabia needed to be able to defend itself against Iran.

With Iran threatening to acquire nuclear weapons "the only way to avoid a nuclear arms race (in the region) is to help the Saudis develop a strong conventional deterrence," it said.

The Leopard 2 A7+ Debut on Eurosatory 2010.

Photo: Noam Eshel, Defense-Update

July 5, 2011 By David Eshel DEFENSE UPDATE

According to a report from the German magazine Der Spiegel, the German Government will soon approve a sale from the latest version of the Leopard A7+ to Saudi Arabia, which is interested in purchasing about 200 units of this advanced version tank, possibly for its Royal National Guards armored unit. Should this sale be realized, it would signify a change of the traditional Bundestag policy, preventing massive military hardware to the authoritarian- ruled Arab kingdom.

The German weapons industry, including  the Munich-based armor building firm Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and the second largest land system manufacturer Rheinmetall are hoping for a multi-billion dollar business with the Saudis. Riyadh, which has been involved in putting down the Shia uprising in Bahrein, is looking for suitable heavy weapons to use against similar incidents, which might even evolve in the Kingdom itself. They consider the new Leopard A7+, built for urban warfare as excellent for crowd control and anti-riot task. The Saudi Government had previousley negotiated with Spain to purchase Leopard tanks built under licence, but decided later to contact Germany directly instead.

The German Government, which has sofar not ratified the sale, has for many decades refused similar sales in regard for Israeli concerns, but recently reached the conclusion that a presence of Leopard tanks in Saudi Arabia will not jeopardize Israel’s security.

The Leopard 2 is a heavyweight Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed to replace Leopard 1 in the German Army countering the soviet-made T-72. The Leopard 2 features high mobility, protection, improved survivability over previous main battle tanks and a 120mm smoothbore gun. More than 3,000 Leopard 2 have been produced to date for 11 European nations. Due to this fact the Leopard is truly called the Euro Leopard 2.

The Leopard 2 main battle tank is the result of cooperation between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. As the proven Leopard 1 technology follow-on, the Leopard 2 features high availability and low life cycle costs. It can operate day/night and in all-weather conditions.

The Leopard 2 modular design clears the way for rapid and easy modernization and upgrading programs. It was deployed for the first time in the 1990s during the former Yugoslavia conflict. It has not been involved in military campaigns, like the M1 Abrams and the British Challenger, but it is considered as one of the best main battle tanks currently in service.

The Leopard 2 A7+ is a further development of the successful Leopard 2 main battle tank incorporating a modular protection kit, increased mobility, improved sustainability, enhanced reconnaissance abilities and a more precise fire control system. As of mid-2010, it had successfully been tested and qualified by the German Army. The Leopard 2 A7+ modular design allows operations in urban terrain as well as high intensity operations. The same modular design also provides unmatched Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mine protection. An urban operations kit offers a 360-degree protection against Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) while a duel-kit protects the crew from Kinetic Energy (KE) and Shaped Charge (SC) projectiles especially on the frontal arc in classical duel-situations.

 

The Leopard’s main gun can fire a 120mm High Explosive (HE) round that enables the crew to engage targets behind cover and within buildings. Besides, the FLW 200 remote weapon station is operated under protection avoiding exposing the tank’s commander and gunner to hostile fire in urban terrain operations. The Leopard 2 A7+ also features a new final drive, new track, enhanced torsion bars and improved brake system and an adaptable dozer blade to clear obstacles. A new high performance cooling unit and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) allows to accomplish continuous operations for 24-hour. The tank’s situational awareness has been enhanced thanks to the third generation ATTICA thermal sight for the commander and gunner and day/night cameras for the driver.

 

the FLW 200 remote weapon station is operated under protection avoiding exposing the tank's commander and gunner to hostile fire in urban terrain operations. Photo: Noam Eshel, Defense-Update

5 juillet 2011 Dominique Bourra, CEO of NanoJV

INNOVATION Dans un pays comme l’Angola, des centaines de milliers de mines restent enfouies sur de vastes zones. Le cas n’est malheureusement pas isolé en Afrique et les Nations Unies estiment qu’il faudrait au rythme actuel des centaines d’années et des milliards de dollars pour déminer la planète. Concerné par le problème dans sa région Nord, Israël, l’un des leaders mondiaux en imagerie spectrale a mis au point une solution efficace pour localiser avec une grande précision les mines éparses.

Grâce à la technologie développée par la société de défense Geomine, fondée par Avi Buzaglo-Yoresh, la signature chimique des mines est détectée à partir d’images satellites avec une précision de un mètre carré. Au fil du temps, les mines enfouies se dégradent et libèrent en effet des substances qui modifient légèrement la couleur des sols et des végétaux contaminés.

Le génie de la solution consiste à rendre visible ce qui ne l’est pas avec les procédés classiques. Aux côté de la société Geomine ltd, les laboratoires spécialisés de l’université de Tel-Aviv travaillent sur la modèlisation et la customisation des capteurs permettant de détecter certaines substances chimiques.

En général, les recherches s’opèrent à proximité des zones urbaines et dans les anciennes zones de combat. L’expérience menée autour de la ville de Malanje dans le nord de l’Angola couvre un territoire de 100 kilomètres carré. Le procédé israélien a rapidement mis en évidence les zones sûres, entièrement déminées. Une information précieuse pour les populations et qui permet aux autorités de rationaliser les recherches et en se concentrant uniquement sur les zones problématiques. Une fois la cartographie effectuée, les démineurs doivent en effet intervenir sur la phase très délicate de neutralisation des explosifs et les volontaires ne sont pas légion.

Source (1) NanoJV (Copyrights)