MOSCOW, June 20 (RIA Novosti)

Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko from the Northern Fleet will make a port call at the U.S. naval base Norfolk on Monday in preparation for joint naval drills with NATO warships.

Admiral Chabanenko, an Udaloy II class destroyer, and rescue tug Shakhter will take part in the FRUKUS 2011 exercises, which will be held on June 23-30 in the North Atlantic off the east coast of the United States.

The annual naval drills, which traditionally involve France, Russia, Britain and the United States, practice interoperability for future joint anti-piracy operations under a UN mandate.

"The goal of the exercise is to practice interoperability between warships in a multinational task force fighting piracy and protecting convoys," a spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The FRUKUS 2011 exercise will consist of several stages including joint maneuvering, repelling attacks of fast-speed boats, boarding operations, and helicopter landings.

Previously called RUKUS, the exercises were launched in 1988 to promote dialogue between the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States. The name was changed to FRUKUS in 2003, when France formally joined the group.

Admiral Chabanenko was on a two-month anti-piracy duty in the Gulf of Aden in Dec. 2009 - Jan. 2010, and successfully escorted a number of commercial convoys through pirate-infested waters off Somali coast.

Mi35-M - photo RIA Novosti

June 17, 2011 defpro.com

The 49th Paris Air Show is held at the suburbs of Paris, in Le Bourget, in the period from 20th to 26th June 2011. This air show is rightfully considered the oldest and most prestigious venue among other the aerospace exhibitions. The first display of aircraft in the French capital took place as early as in 1908. This year the exhibition in France will be the first to cross a historical centennial landmark.

Paris Air Show enters into its second century by breaking records in both numbers of participants and exhibits put on display.

At the Le Bourget exhibition site there are 28 national pavilions erected, and the Russian exposition is among ten biggest ones. On static display will be put Russian full-scale exhibits such as the newest Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner and Be-200 amphibian aircraft, as well as a full-scale mock-up of the MS-21 airliner. Russian pilots plan to fly the Be-200 aircraft with a spectacular dropping of 12 tonnes of water in Russian flag colours.

Rosoboronexport, the sole Russian trade company for export and import of the whole range of military and dual-purpose end products, technologies and services, has been a regular participant in Paris air shows for many years. Its share in Russia's military exports currently amounts to 80 percent. Rosoboronexport is a leading exporter to the world arms market. It has built partner relations with more than 70 countries all over the world.

This year Rosoboronexport will present the best items of Russian weapons and military equipment to thousands of exhibitors, specialists and guests visiting Paris Air Show through multimedia presentations, mock-ups, promotional events, videos, leaflets and posters.

Rosoboronexport firmly holds leading positions in the world combat aircraft market thanks to cutting edge products of the Russian aviation industry. Russia is the world's second exporter of combat aircraft judging by numbers of new and upgraded multi-role fighters delivered for export. Last year the largest amount of foreign military sales made by Rosoboronexport fell as usual to air systems. Their share exceeded 43 percent of the total sales.

While implementing the ongoing aviation contracts with India, China, Indonesia and Vietnam, Rosoboronexport tries to establish mutually beneficial contacts with new partners.

Russian arms have always been distinguished by their reliability, effectiveness, fire power, and quality. These features are the main drivers making products of the Russian defence industry attractive to states in nearly all continents.

It is not without reason that today’s leading international experts consider the Su-35 aircraft to be Russia's main military air system for export in the next decade. It is a multi-role super-manoeuvrable fighter of the fourth-double-plus generation. The aircraft is designed to gain air superiority and engage ground and surface targets under any weather conditions both day and night. Its design and production make use of the 5th generation air technologies providing a leading edge over foreign fighters of the same class. Russia has already begun series production of these unique aircraft, and will soon enter them into service with air force units.

One of the most important competitive advantages of the Su-35 fighter is its cost. Compared with competing bids, cost parameters for this aircraft are more attractive to customers because of better cost effectiveness.

The Russian Air Force continues successful adoption of the Yak-130 new combat trainer aircraft. This aircraft is a highly efficient low-cost training facility designed for preparing modern fourth-plus/fifth generation fighter pilots.

The Yak-130 cockpit equipped with large (6x8 inch) multifunctional colour displays is fully compliant with the "glass cabin" concept, while its controls conform to the HOTAS specification.

The Yak-130 aircraft has an important capability of simulating real combat situations. Its multifunctional display presents simulated real-time radar target markers, equipment failure warnings, and so on.

The Yak-130 airframe has service life of 10,000 flight hours, and its calendar lifetime is 30 years. The aircraft is operated according to the on-condition criteria, which allows a significant reduction in operational costs. For example, the Yak-130 operational cost is six to seven times lower than that of the MiG-29UB aircraft. The Yak-130 trainer can be employed also as an effective light combat aircraft.

The Be-200 amphibian aircraft has earned an excellent reputation of the most efficient and capable airborne fire-fighter with devastating forest fires. It demonstrated its advanced capabilities for the first time abroad as early as in 2001. Since then it has been frequently used to fight fires in many countries, such as Italy, Greece, Indonesia, Portugal, Malaysia (Kalimantan), and others. Three Italian pilots who flew together with Russian crews can testify to the reliability, manoeuvrability and robustness of the Be-200 aircraft. This amphibian can take in its water load (12 tonnes) not only when stationed at the airfield, but also when gliding over a water basin at a speed of 200 km/h and scooping water within a few seconds. It drops water in volleys precisely onto seats of fire.

Russia has long been considered a leader in helicopter building. Since 1950 65,000 helicopters have been produced in the world overall. Our country has manufactured 26,000 helicopters and exported 6,000 of them.

Modern production of Russian helicopter grows annually by 20-30 percent, and according to realistic forecasts by 2015 Russia will come to control up to 15 percent of the world helicopter market.

At present Russian helicopters are delivered under Rosoboronexport's contracts to India, Azerbaijan, Venezuela, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Indonesia, and other countries.

Customers show great interest in the Mi-28NE helicopter which is capable of performing assigned missions day and night in any weather conditions. The helicopter is equipped with a new-generation integrated avionics suite. Reliable armour protection of the flight cabin and vital assemblies as well as redundancy of major onboard systems allow the Mi-28NE helicopter to operate with great effectiveness under intensive enemy counteraction. Thanks to the powerful armament the Mi-28NE helicopter can render strong fire support to ground units by engaging enemy armoured materiel and manpower, hardened installations as well as above-water and low-speed aerial targets.

The Mi-35M will become one of the world's best multi-purpose combat helicopters in the years to come. More than 1,250 helicopters of this type have been exported to nearly 40 countries for the last 20 years, and this fact testifies to their world popularity.

Versatility is the main feature of the Mi-35M helicopter. Besides combat missions, it can effectively perform assault, transport, medical evacuation, air reconnaissance and other tasks.

In the assault version the helicopter can carry up to eight fully equipped troops, and in the medevac version - four patients (two in seats and two on stretchers) with one medical assistant. In the transport version it can ship cargoes weighing up to 2,400 kg on the external sling suspension, or up to 1,500 kg inside the cargo compartment.

The Mi-35M helicopter performs combat missions with high effectiveness thanks to the powerful weapons arsenal carried on board. It is on a par with the Western counterparts in this respect, but greatly outperforms them in cost effectiveness.

The Mi-26T2 is a new modification of the world-famous Mi-26T transport helicopter. This is a heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport troops and cargoes, evacuate casualties and fight fires, as well as mount bulky equipment and erect bridges, electric power transmission lines, oil derricks, and so on. The Mi-26T2 helicopter can carry equipment and bulky cargoes weighing up to 20 tonnes inside its cargo compartment and on the external sling, up to 82 persons in seats or up to 60 casualties on stretchers. It is the world's heaviest-lift transport helicopter whose capabilities are comparable to those of the US C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.

The Mi-26T2 helicopter features a glass cabin fitted with five multifunctional liquid crystal displays, two control panels and a set of electromechanical backup instruments. Its advanced integrated avionics suite enables day/night operations of the helicopter in fair and restricted weather conditions. This has allowed crew reduction from five to two persons. The crew is complemented with one additional operator for transporting cargoes suspended on the external sling.

The Ka-226 light multi-purpose helicopter is designed for carrying out day and night reconnaissance/surveillance, artillery fire adjustment, target acquisition/designation in cooperation with attack helicopters, transportation of rapid deployment forces and cargoes, evacuation of wounded personnel, air patrolling, and column escorting missions.

The Ka-226T helicopter co-axial rotor system provides advanced flight characteristics and gives an edge over other helicopters, especially when flying in highland areas. Small-diameter main rotors and high-rated power plant enable the helicopter to fly effective missions even in confined spaces.

The helicopter features a modular design allowing its fast retrofit to specific missions. It takes 20-30 minutes at the most for two persons to replace modules in field/aerodrome conditions.

The Ka-226T helicopter is a simple air platform designed for convenient and comfortable transportation of cargoes and passengers. It is flown by one pilot, and there is one workplace onboard provided for second pilot.

"First of all, Paris Air Show is a meeting point for businesses to discuss matters of international cooperation in combat and civil aviation areas, - said Sergei Kornev, head of the Rosoboronexport delegation. - Our delegation has a tight schedule of business meetings and discussions with foreign partners at which we will consider a wide range of issues on military technical cooperation. I am confident that our work will contribute to the progress and furthering of our relations with Russian arms buyers, and will lay the foundation for concluding new contracts".

SAINT-PETERSBOURG, 17 juin - RIA Novosti

L'accord sur l'achat par Moscou de deux porte-hélicoptères français Mistral sera signé ce vendredi dans le cadre du Forum économique international de Saint-Pétersbourg, a annoncé aux journalistes le président du groupe russe unifié de construction navale (OSK), Roman Trotsenko.

Selon le porte-parole du groupe, Alexeï Kravtchenko, le contrat définitif sera signé entre l'agence russe d'exportation d'armements Rosoboronexport et le groupe français DCNS.

Le coût total du contrat s'élève à plus de 1,1 milliards d'euros.

Le bâtiment de projection et de commandement (BPC) de classe Mistral est long d'environ 200 m et peut transporter six hélicoptères, quatre vedettes de débarquement ou deux aéroglisseurs de faible tonnage, ainsi que 450 soldats.

Des négociations sur l'acquisition par Moscou de quatre navires de classe Mistral, deux construits en France et deux construits en Russie, sont en cours depuis plusieurs mois. Elles buttaient notamment sur le problème du transfert des technologies équipant les bâtiments.

La fourniture à Moscou d'un tel navire est une première pour un pays de l'Alliance atlantique. Elle a suscité des critiques de Washington et des pays baltes, ainsi que de la Géorgie.

17/06/2011 Benjamin Quenelle à Moscou avec A. R., Les Echos

Le contrat franco-russe portant sur la vente du porte-hélicoptères « Mistral » doit être signé cet après-midi lors du Forum économique de Saint-Pétersbourg en présence du chef du Kremlin, Dimitri Medvedev. Annoncé en marge du G8 de Deauville, il porte sur la construction de deux navires à Saint-Nazaire chez STX, sous maîtrise d'oeuvre de DCNS, pour 1,2 milliard d'euros environ (« Les Echos » du 27 mai). C'est la première fois qu'un pays de l'Otan vend du matériel militaire à l'ex-Union soviétique.

« Ces deux porte-hélicoptères seront produits en France, avec un pourcentage de contenu russe de 20 % pour le premier et de 40 % pour le second. Pour les deux suivants, sous maîtrise d'oeuvre des chantiers navals russes, de nouvelles négociations devront être lancées dans un second temps », explique-t-on de source proche à Moscou.

Vives critiques

Les technologies exigées par Moscou, qui portent sur le mode de construction, des outils de communication et le système de navigation, seront intégrées dans les deux premiers navires. Paris et Moscou se sont finalement accordés sur un transfert a minima, après de longues négociations.

« Les négociateurs russes ont mis une pression terrible sur les prix », témoigne cette même source. «  Ils souhaitaient le transfert de technologie dès le début et exigeaient des garanties de la partie française sur la fabrication des deux appareils produits en Russie, ce qui n'était pas possible. » Le contenu français sera de 40 % pour le troisième appareil et 20 % pour le dernier.

Long de 200 mètres et jaugeant 21.600 tonnes, le « Mistral » est capable de transporter des hélicoptères, des chars et des troupes. Il est actuellement déployé au large de la Libye. Les négociations avec Moscou ont provoqué de vives critiques en Géorgie et dans les pays Baltes, inquiets que leur puissant voisin se dote d'un outil d'intervention loué pour sa souplesse d'emploi.

17 juin 2011 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Selon certaines informations, une compagnie russe installée à Omsk fournirait probablement des équipements radio-électroniques destinés aux porte-hélicoptères de la classe Mistral achetés par la Russie.

Le ministère russe de la défense a recommandé que certains équipements, fabriqués par l’Omsk Instrument Engineering Institute soient installés sur les porte-hélicoptères Mistral achetés à la France.

Le principal équipement est un récepteur radio numérique HF qui dotera les bâtiments d’un système de communication très fiable.

Comme cela a été précédemment indiqué, la France a refusé de fournir à la Russie les systèmes électroniques qui équipent ses propres BPC Mistral. En ce qui les concernent, les scientifiques russes se disent prêts à fournir aux porte-hélicoptères un système de communications sécurisées.

« Au cours des 5 dernières années, nos produits et innovations ont été largement utilisées par les services secrets. En particulier, le ministère de la défense russe nous a acheté des récepteurs bande étroite, » a déclaré le chef du bureau d’études de l’institut, Madhad Valeyev.

Référence : RusNavy (Russie)

Les autorités russes ont retenu l'offre française pour la construction de quatre porte-hélicoptères à la Russie. © Emmanuel Lelaidier / Maxppp

16/06/2011 Le Point.fr

Le ministère de la Défense se veut confiant quant à la vente de quatre porte-hélicoptères à la Russie.

La signature de la vente par la France de quatre porte-hélicoptères de type Mistral à la Russie "est imminente", a déclaré jeudi le porte-parole adjoint du ministère de la Défense, le général Philippe Pontiès, qui a ajouté ne pas savoir ni "où" ni "quand" elle aurait lieu.

"Je ne sais pas où ni quand, mais je vous confirme que la signature est imminente", a-t-il répondu à un journaliste qui l'interrogeait lors du point de presse hebdomadaire du ministère. "C'est pour le nombre de bâtiments qui était prévu dans l'accord" entre Paris et Moscou, c'est-à-dire quatre, a-t-il ajouté.

Le Premier ministre russe Vladimir Poutine a prévu de venir en France la semaine prochaine, où il devrait notamment se rendre au Salon du Bourget, qui démarre le 20 juin. Paris et Moscou avaient annoncé, peu avant l'ouverture du sommet du G8 à Deauville le 26 mai, la signature d'un "accord définitif" sur la fourniture controversée de ces quatre navires, au terme de délicates négociations sur le prix et les transferts de technologies exigés par les Russes. Selon les deux parties, le premier navire, qui sera construit à 80 % par STX à Saint-Nazaire, devrait être livré en décembre 2013.

MOSCOU, 15 juin - RIA Novosti

La Russie n'introduira pas les standards de l'Otan pour ses armements et matériels militaires, a déclaré mercredi le ministre russe de la Défense, Anatoli Serdioukov.

"Nous ne passerons pas aux standards de l'Otan. Et nous n'achèterons pas de chars Léopard", a indiqué le ministre devant les journalistes après son intervention à huis clos devant les députés à la Douma (chambre basse du parlement russe).

A la question d'un journaliste voulant savoir avec quoi l'armée russe allait donc combattre, le ministre a répondu: "Avec ce que nous avons".

Les projets d'achat russes de porte-hélicoptères Mistral à la France, pays membre de l'Otan, ont poussé à supposer que les forces armées de la Russie puissent en perspective passer aux standards de l'Otan.

Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant has delivered a new batch of six Mi-8AMTSh multirole helicopters, derived from the Mi-171, to the Russian Ministry of Defense. (Rushelo photo)

June 14, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Russian Helicopters; issued June 14, 2011)

ULAN-UDE --- Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, JSC (UUAP), a part of Russian Helicopters holding, made a scheduled delivery of a batch of Mi-8AMTSh helicopters to the Russian Ministry of Defence. As announced previously, the plant delivered the first batch to the military department in December 2010.

The new delivery falls under the Government Defence Order (GDO) 2011. All helicopters were accepted by the customer's representatives in Ulan-Ude in mid-May. Then the helicopters went through preparation procedures to perform ferry flights to the Air Force military units. The rotorcraft left UUAP territory end-May. Same as the previous batch of helicopters, the new machines covered over 5000 km on their way.

The Mi-8AMTSh helicopter was passed into service by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in 2009. The helicopters delivered in 2009 and 2010 were praised by the military units operating them. The Ministry of Defence took this appraisal into account when placing a new Government Defence Order for helicopters.

According to operators the Mi-8AMTSh has outstanding performance and is very reliable and easy to operate. It can also perform a wide range of missions and can be operated in different climatic zones, any weather conditions, and any time of day. This model outperforms the regular Mi-8 and allows the Air Force to improve combat operations efficiency.

Mi-8AMTSh deliveries to the Russian Air Force under GDO 2011 are expected to be continued in the second half of 2011. The Ministry of Defence is currently evaluating the possibility to place a long-term GDO with UUAP.

The Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) is a military transport helicopter based on the Mi-171 (Mi-8AMT) platform. The Mi-171Sh can be equipped with guided missiles (Shturm-B system), unguided rockets, canon armament, and defence systems. The helicopter can carry up to 37 troops, up to 4000 kg of cargo, 12 wounded on stretchers, and perform search and rescue operations (including CSAR).

The helicopter can destroy armor, firing points such as permanent firing position and earth-and-timber emplacements, enemy personnel under cover and other moving and stationary targets. Ulan Ude Aviation Plant's fixed wing aircraft technologies are applied to the manufacture of the Mi-171Sh, and this is one of the helicopter's key features.

Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, JSC is a Russian Helicopters enterprise. The modern manufacturing and technological capacities of the plant makes it possible to quickly start production of new aircraft types and combine the manufacture of prototypes and mass production. Over 8000 aircraft have been built over the 70-year history of the plant. Today it produces the Mi-171, Mi-171A1, and Mi-171Sh helicopters.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is the subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, a part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. It controls the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company named after N.I. Sazykin, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM, Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant and Helicopter Service Company.

MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti)

The governments of Russia and France have signed a protocol of intent on the purchase of Mistral class helicopter carriers, but not a final contract, a source close to the talks said on Tuesday.

Mistral class ships are equipped with a NATO-standard SENIT-9 naval tactical data system and SIC-21 fleet command system. France is strongly opposed to delivering the SENIT-9 to Russia with a production license, and apparently does not want to include the SIC-21 at all.

Earlier this month media reports said that the agreement was signed on June 10.

"A protocol of intent to sign such an agreement was signed," the source is quoted as saying.

The first two helicopter carriers will be built in France and will cost 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion), Kommersant said, citing a source. The ships will be equipped with SENIT-9, the source told the Russian daily, but the technology will not be transferred to Russia.

Russia completely replaced its team of negotiators on May 5 hoping to change the course of the talks by starting from scratch.

Experts believe that the controversial issues of such a highly-publicized and politically charged deal could be resolved only through a compromise between the Russian and French leaders.

Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

June 14, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

Both Greece and China have bought Zubr type hovercraft from Russia and Ukraine, and came to regret it. The bad news began last year when Greece decided to retire two of its four Zubr class hovercraft. These vessels entered service between 2001-5. One came from Ukraine and three from Russia. They turned out to be more expensive, than expected, to maintain, and spare parts were difficult to obtain. Because of this, often only one of the Zubrs were fit for service most of the time. So, to solve the spare parts problem, and save money, two of the Zubrs were retired early.

Earlier this year, the first Zubr built for China was badly damaged in an accident, and now China is looking into just buying the technology and trying to improve on it, while building all the hovercraft itself.

These 555 ton watercraft were developed by the Soviet Union during the 1980s. But when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, three years after the first Zubr entered service, the shipyard that built the Zubrs went to Ukraine, where it was located. After years of marketing the Zubr, Ukraine finally got its first export sale, to Greece, in 2000. Russia helped out with this by providing three of the four Zubrs it had. Before the Greek sale, only four Zubrs were in service (two in the Russian Navy, and two in the Ukrainian.) These craft are expensive. The Greeks paid $50 million each for four of them. Chinese order was to be completed by 2013, and that would make 12 Zubrs in service, if the reliability and spare parts problems had not shown up.

The Zubrs can carry about 150 tons of cargo, including tanks (three of them). Alternately, ten smaller armored vehicles can be carried, or trucks, or up to 500 troops. The big advantage of the Zubr is that it moves over coastal waters at speeds of up to 110 kilometers an hour (nearly a hundred kilometers an hour sustained.) Range is short (about 480 kilometers), mainly because a craft like this consumes enormous quantities of fuel. Armament consists of a 30mm autocannon for defense against anti-ship missiles, and two quad launchers with SA-N-5 anti-aircraft missiles (with 6,000 meter range.) Zubr is also designed to carry 140mm unguided rockets, or up to 80 naval mines. Zubrs have a crew of 31, and usually stay at sea for less than six hours per sortie.

The Chinese were buying two Zubrs to be built in Ukraine, and another two built in China, with the help of Ukrainian engineers and technicians. Apparently the Chinese are actually buying, licensing or stealing the Zubr construction technology. China is paying about $80 million each for their Zubrs. China has a long coast, and the Zubrs will have plenty to do. The Zubrs will be something else for Taiwan to worry about, and would come in handy if the communist government in North Korea collapsed, and China wanted to rush in forces to seize ports along the west coast of the Korean peninsula.

But now it looks like it may be a while before Zubrs are perfected, and can then reliably prowl the Chinese coast.

June 13th, 2011 By Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty DEFENCE TALK

A senior Russian defense industry executive says Armenia wants to acquire Russian rocket artillery systems that have a firing range of up to 90 kilometers.

Nikolay Dimidyuk of the state-run Rosoboronexport company was quoted this week by the Moscow-based magazine "Voenno-Promyshlenny Kurier" as saying that Armenian officials showed an interest in the BM-30 Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems during a recent international arms exhibition in Minsk.

Dimidyuk said that Armenian authorities as well as military officials from Kazakhstan held "interesting negotiations" with Rosoboronexport representatives in the Belarusian capital. "These were not mere courtesy visits, we discussed concrete issues," he said.

"We have not cooperated so closely with members states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) before," Dimidyuk said.

The Armenian Defense Ministry declined to confirm or deny this information. "Armenia's armed forces are constantly supplied with new and modern weaponry," ministry spokesman Davit Karapetian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service. "It is not expedient to divulge details of our arms purchases."

A Defense Ministry source, who asked not to be identified, said in that context that the Armenian army already possesses Smerch systems.

Developed in the early 1980s, Smerch is arguably the most powerful multiple-launch rocket system in the world. It can fire 12 300-milimeter rockets in a single salvo that lasts for less than a minute.

The truck-mounted systems are estimated to cost $12 million each. It is not clear whether Armenia can acquire them at a lower price or even for free thanks to its membership in the CSTO or according to a Russian-Armenian defense agreement signed last August. The agreement commits Moscow to supplying the Armenian military with "special military hardware."

A possible purchase of Smerch rockets would highlight Armenia's intensifying arms race with Azerbaijan, whose armed forces reportedly have at least 12 such systems.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said in February that the Armenian military received "unprecedented" quantities of modern weapons last year and will continue its military build-up in 2011. Ohanian gave no details of those deliveries.

Yerevan officially confirmed in late December that it possesses Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles, which are widely regarded as one of the most potent antiaircraft weapons.

Earlier in December, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and his National Security Council approved a five-year plan to modernize the armed forces. It envisages, among other things, the acquisition of long-range, precision-guided weapons.

Jun 11, 2011 brahmand.com

MOSCOW (PTI): The BRAHMOS cruise missile is a "shining" example of contemporary Indo-Russian defence cooperation and captures several aspects of bilateral military ties, Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra said today.

Congratulating the people involved in the joint project on the 10th anniversary of the maiden launch of the deadly supersonic missile, which is coinciding with 'Russia Day' national holiday being celebrated tomorrow, Ambassador Malhotra said, "The BrahMos project is a shining example of contemporary India-Russia defence cooperation.

"It captures several aspects of our defence cooperation, which has moved from a buyer-seller relationship into one involving joint research, development and production of advanced and world-class systems."

He underscored that the project has combined Indian and Russian technological capabilities with manufacturing expertise available in public and private industries of the two strategic partners.

He said it has help in the prosperity of tens of cities and towns in both countries involved in the joint project.

"It has benefited industries located in cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad in India as well as those in places such as Orenburg, Miass, Reutov, Perm and Safinova in Russia," Malhotra said in an interview to Voice of Russia radio.

He noted that a conference on "Joint Ventures and Technology Collaboration in Defence" will be held Sunday in New Delhi to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the BrahMos launch.

Moreover, a Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Chair would be established at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and a Dr H A Yefremov Chair at the Moscow Aviation Institute, Moscow in honour of the two outstanding scientists, who were behind the inception of the project.

He said the Chairs will serve to build Centres of Excellence for High Speed Aerodynamics at the two prestigious institutes.

The BRAHMOS missile, which gets its name from the two great rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva, is built by BrahMos Aerospace which is a joint venture established in 1999 by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia.

Over the years the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile has been further developed for launch from multiple air, ship, submarine and land based platforms.

Ambassador Malhotra recalled that several other India-Russia projects presently underway, such as the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft project, the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft project, and those for the manufacture of T-90 tanks and SU-30MKI fighters in India, also go beyond a traditional buyer-seller relationship.

"The pattern of cooperation we have developed has brought benefits to vital sectors in India and Russia. India has benefited from access to technology and materials that have contributed to its security and development, while Russian industries in these sectors have prospered from having India as a reliable and preferred partner," he said.

11/06/2011 Michel Cabirol Source : La Tribune.fr

Selon nos informations, Paris et Moscou ont signé vendredi l'accord scellant la vente de quatre Bâtiments de projection et de commandement (BPC) de type Mistral à la Marine russe.

Enfin, une bonne nouvelle pour l'industrie de l'armement française en panne de grands contrats emblématiques depuis plusieurs mois. Alors que plusieurs dossiers restent enlisés dans les méandres des négociations (modernisation des Mirage 2000 indiens, vente de Rafale aux EAU et au Brésil, frégates en Grèce et au Brésil), la France a signé vendredi avec la Russie, selon nos informations, le contrat de vente de quatre Batiments de projection et de commandement (BPC) de type Mistral. Un succès à mettre à l'actif des équipes de DCNS, qui après avoir remporté le contrat des sous-marins au Brésil, fait un nouveau joli coup à l'exportation.

Ces bâtiments seront équipés (sans transfert de technologies, selon nos informations) du Système d’Exploitation Navale des Informations Tactiques (SENIT 9), sur lequel Paris et Moscou ont eu de très longues négociations. Les deux premiers exemplaires seront fabriqués pour 1,2 milliard d'euros par le chantier naval de Saint-Nazaire (STX) tandis que les deux autres BPC seront construits par OSK, le Groupe unifié de construction navale russe associé à des sous-traitants français.

Comme l'avait révélé mi-mai "La Tribune", le Premier ministre russe viendra le 21 juin à Paris, et plus précisément au salon aéronautique du Bourget, pour officialiser cet accord entre la France et la Russie. Début mai, des sources proches des négocations avaient révélé à " La Tribune " que la Russie et la France était proche d'un dénouement. Tout en notant que « l'environnement en Russie restait compliqué.  Les luttes d'influence à Moscou autour du contrat n'ont pas facilité les négocations. Le limogeage par le président russe d'un des principaux négociateurs du contrat, le vice-amiral Nikolaï Borissov, qui s'était rapproché des positions françaises, avait ainsi quelque peu ralenti les discussions.

Mais au-delà de ces péripéties, la tendance restait toutefois à la conclusion du contrat, qui avait été annoncé par le président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy en décembre 2010. « Tout va dépendre de l'attitude des Russes au moment du sommet du G8 fin mai à Deauville, expliquait-on alors à "La Tribune". Mais la venue fin mai au sommet du G8 du président russe Dmitri Medvedev à Deauville a effectivement permis à Nicolas Sarkozy de donner un coup d'accélérateur aux négociations, en marge du sommet. Et de d'annoncer le 26 mai que la France et la Russie étaient parvenues à un accord définitif sur la fourniture à la marine russe de quatre porte-hélicoptères de type Mistral, ou BPC.