04/07 Benjamin Quénelle, Les Echos

Après avoir souffert, dans ses finances et son amour-propre, de la chute de l'URSS, l'armée russe se réforme. Vladimir Poutine a promis un « réarmement sans précédent ». Mais le complexe militaro-industriel peine à se moderniser...

Face aux Occidentaux, notre armée tient à nouveau la comparaison ! » Sergeï Skorniakov, commandant adjoint du « Iaroslav Moudrï », fleuron de la flotte de la Baltique, s'enthousiasme. Amarré à un quai de la base navale de Kaliningrad, l'enclave russe coincée entre Pologne et Lituanie, où le Kremlin menace de déployer ses missiles de courte portée Iskander et ses nouvelles batteries antiaériennes S-400, ce navire de guerre est présenté comme le symbole de la « renaissance » de la marine nationale. La majorité des hommes y sont désormais sous contrat, et non plus des appelés. Les salaires ont doublé, pour le commandement comme pour les marins sur le pont. A bord, tous le répètent : ils se sentent enfin respectés grâce aux réformes de l'armée lancées par Vladimir Poutine, l'ex et nouveau chef du Kremlin.

Mais, à lui seul, le « Iaroslav Moudrï » résume aussi les limites de cette modernisation. Carcasse de 4.500 tonnes, ce navire lourdement armé, sorti des chantiers navals en 2008, a été conçu sur un modèle datant de l'URSS... A l'image de cette salle des commandes encore décorée d'étoiles rouges, symboles du régime soviétique. Ici, rares sont les ordinateurs. Et les instruments de communication paraissent venir d'un navire musée.

« La modernisation est en cours. Progressivement, nous nous équipons avec de nouveaux armements », se défend pourtant le commandant général de la flotte baltique, le vice-amiral Viktor Tchirkov. Une priorité à l'échelle de toute l'armée. Vladimir Poutine a en effet promis un « réarmement sans précédent ». Quelque 23.000 milliards de roubles, soit près de 600 milliards d'euros, seront dépensés d'ici à dix ans dans le complexe militaro-industriel russe. Plus de 10 % de cette somme seront consacrés à la seule modernisation de ses usines. Le chef du Kremlin, dont la réforme vise à transformer une armée de 1 million d'hommes sous-payés, mal équipés et démotivés en une armée professionnelle devant passer à 145.000 soldats en 2020, s'est fixé des objectifs ambitieux : pour les dix ans à venir, 400 missiles balistiques modernes devront être livrés, ainsi que 8 sous-marins stratégiques, 20 sous-marins polyvalents, 50 navires de surface, une centaine d'appareils spatiaux à fonction militaire, 600 avions modernes, 1.000 hélicoptères, 28 nouvelles batteries antiaériennes...

Le frein de la corruption

Des chiffres qui laissent les experts perplexes. La plupart d'entre eux louent pourtant les réformes voulues par Poutine, et orchestrées par le ministre de la Défense, Anatoli Serdioukov. Mais, dans les faits, le plan de marche est tout bonnement « impossible » à respecter, tranche Alexandre Konovalov, expert indépendant. « Le complexe militaro-industriel vit encore trop sur les ruines de l'époque soviétique, incapable de satisfaire une armée moderne », explique-t-il. « Pour obtenir un réarmement d'une telle ampleur, Poutine devra répéter au sein du complexe ce qu'il a fait dans l'armée : réformer de fond en comble ! », prévient Alexandre Golts, autre commentateur militaire réputé.

« Poutine le reconnaît lui-même : le problème, ce n'est pas l'argent, c'est notre capacité de production », s'inquiète Ruslan Pukhov dont le think tank, Cast, est proche des milieux industriels. « Nous sommes sur la bonne voie. Poutine veut 70 % d'armes nouvelles d'ici à 2020. Aujourd'hui, le niveau est de 15 %. Si on passe à 50 %, cela sera déjà bien », estime Igor Korotchenko, rédacteur en chef de « Natsionalnaia Oborona » (« Défense nationale »). Avant de prévenir : « Tout dépend de l'efficacité des contrôles sur les dépenses... » Une manière de pointer du doigt l'un des principaux freins à cette modernisation : la corruption, que le procureur militaire a lui-même qualifiée d' « astronomique ».

Car les procédures particulièrement peu transparentes de fixation des prix lors des commandes militaires profitent à l'enrichissement personnel de beaucoup. Pour mettre un peu d'ordre, le ministère de la Défense exige désormais, avant de payer, que lui soient communiqués en détail les coûts de fabrication. Et, afin d'éviter les abus, le Kremlin veut limiter la rentabilité des entreprises d'armement à 20 % (25 % dans le secteur marin). « Il faut des règles claires. La corruption a déjà diminué grâce la régularisation de la pratique des offres d'achat », assure Ivan Konovalov, autre journaliste spécialisé dans les questions de défense. « Mais la tentation est d'autant plus grande que le gouvernement met sur la table d'importantes sommes pour financer la modernisation. Les lobbies sont puissants. Et, comme trop souvent, ceux qui commandent des équipements sont proches de ceux qui contrôlent les procédures d'achat... »

Les problèmes sont aussi structurels. A l'époque de l'URSS, de très nombreuses industries fournissaient d'une manière ou d'une autre l'armée, les usines civiles fabriquant souvent sur des lignes parallèles des pièces à finalité militaire. Ce système fonctionnait sous un régime qui, prêt à mener des guerres sur plusieurs fronts, ne jurait que par la production en masse d'armes. Ce n'est plus le cas. Désorganisées, les chaînes de livraison souffrent aujourd'hui de défaillances chroniques dans les systèmes de contrôle de qualité. Victime parmi d'autres : le missile intercontinental boulava qui, censé incarner la nouvelle haute technologie des forces stratégiques, doit devenir le fleuron des équipements nucléaires. Entre 500 et 1.000 fournisseurs, selon les évaluations, ont été impliqués pour la production des premiers exemplaires. Mais les déficiences du contrôle sur cette longue chaîne d'approvisionnement ont abouti à de retentissants échecs lors des tirs tests.

Missile mer-sol d'une portée de 8.000 kilomètres et pouvant être équipé de 10 ogives nucléaires, le boulava est désormais prêt. D'ici à la fin de l'été, le premier des 8 nouveaux sous-marins construits pour en être équipés doit entrer en fonction. « C'est une réussite, mais les succès de ce type sont encore rares », s'inquiète Ruslan Pukhov. « Pour le moment, nos entreprises sont bonnes soit pour le développement, soit pour la production, mais rarement pour les deux à la fois. C'est un handicap... »

Insuffisance de cadres

Ces problèmes ont plusieurs causes. Après la chute de l'Union soviétique, l'industrie s'est éclatée en de multiples entreprises dont on ne sait pas toujours identifier les propriétaires. Le Kremlin a tenté de les regrouper au sein de vastes conglomérats. « Mais ces intégrations verticales ont été menées de force. Sans vraie évaluation des capacités de production. Et, surtout, sans contrôle sur les finances », regrette Alexandre Golts. « La solution : privatiser, mieux définir les priorités et financer des projets plutôt que des conglomérats. Sans céder à la pression des lobbies poussant à un réarmement tous azimuts pour satisfaire tout le monde », conseille Alexandre Konovalov.

Autre explication : entre les jeunes recrues inexpérimentées et les préretraités post-soviétiques, le complexe militaro-industriel souffre d'une insuffisance de cadres de 30-40 ans parmi les ingénieurs et les techniciens. Sans parler du manque de bons managers. Alors que beaucoup de spécialistes sont partis vers des secteurs mieux rémunérés, le secteur de l'armement n'attire plus comme sous l'URSS les meilleurs diplômés de l'Académie des sciences. Résultat : peu d'innovations. C'est pour attirer de nouvelles recrues que le gouvernement songe à créer une agence qui servirait de laboratoire à idées. « Une solution bureaucratique à un problème de fond... », craint, sceptique, Alexandre Golts.

Certains grands chantiers ont certes été lancés, tel Armata, qui, confié au producteur de tanks Uralvagonzavod, doit aboutir à des modèles entièrement robotisés. Mais, pour le moment, le parc industriel vit en majorité sur ses modèles et ses usines soviétiques. Et, régulièrement, éclatent au grand jour des conflits entre le ministère de la Défense et ses fournisseurs. Sur la fin des achats du vieux char T-90, faute d'une modernisation technologique suffisante, par exemple. Sur le prix d'un nouveau sous-marin, jugé deux fois trop élevé par les militaires. Ou sur le sort des kalashnikov, dont l'armée ne sait que faire (elle en possède 11 millions d'unités, selon certaines estimations) mais que l'usine d'Izhmash veut continuer de produire.

La commande à la France, l'an passé, de deux porte-hélicoptères Mistral a aussi créé des tensions. Car le message du ministère était clair : si les industries ne se modernisent pas, l'armée est prête à acheter à l'étranger. Pour le complexe, cette leçon a été d'autant plus dure que la Russie, peu habituée à importer ses armes, est au contraire l'un des leaders mondiaux sur les marchés d'exportation. Avec, l'an dernier, un nouveau record de ventes : plus de 12 milliards de dollars.

Les ambitions de Sukhoï

Ces marchés à l'export ont sauvé plusieurs entreprises russes, les commandes extérieures leur ayant permis de survivre pendant dix années, malgré l'absence de commandes nationales après la chute de l'URSS. Parmi elles : Almaz Antey, avec ses systèmes de défense antiaérienne (dont désormais le S-400). Un groupe qui, aujourd'hui, n'a pas assez de capacités de production pour satisfaire la nouvelle demande intérieure et qui, du coup, envisage la construction de deux usines supplémentaires.

Autre exemple parmi les géants soviétiques qui ont jusque-là bien survécu grâce aux exportations vers la Chine, l'Inde et d'autres pays en voie développement aujourd'hui saturés de modèles post-soviétiques et demandeurs d'armements plus modernes : Sukhoï, avec ses légendaires avions de combat. C'est lui qui est derrière le développement du T-50. Présenté en concurrent du F-22 américain, cet avion de chasse de cinquième génération doit équiper les forces aériennes à partir de 2016. Avec des ambitions déclarées de quelque 1.000 appareils sur le marché international.

Echecs cuisants

Mais le complexe a connu aussi de cuisants échecs. Quelque 5 milliards de roubles (125 millions d'euros) ont ainsi été engloutis par la société Vega pour concevoir un nouveau drone. Le projet a finalement dû être confié à une entreprise issue du civil privé et, en attendant un hypothétique avion russe, Moscou a été contraint de se fournir en Israël. La guerre contre la Géorgie, en août 2008, avait pourtant révélé cette défaillance, l'une parmi tant d'autres d'une armée en manque d'équipements modernes à la hauteur de ses ambitions : la Russie avait certes gagné, mais en combattant à l'ancienne. « La majorité des guerres aujourd'hui sont pourtant régionales », rappelle Alexandre Golts. « L'armée doit donc se réarmer en fonction des conflits auxquels elle doit se préparer. Avec pour priorités : drones, "smart weapons" et moyens de communication. » Un message qui a encore du mal à passer dans la hiérarchie militaire et, plus encore, dans un complexe industriel trop marqué par l'époque soviétique.

June 25, 2012 defpro.com

NEW DELHI | A new stealth frigate built for the Indian navy by Russia arrived in the port of Mumbai on Friday, a diplomat said, according to RIA Novosti.

The ceremony for the arrival of INS Teg involved senior Indian navy officers as well as Russian officials and diplomats, said a spokesman for the Russian consulate in Mumbai.

INS Teg is the first of three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates being built at the Yantar Shipyard under a $1.6 billion deal signed in 2006.

The other two vessels will follow in about a year, a Yantar spokesman said in April.

The 3,970-ton frigate incorporates stealth technologies and is armed with eight 290-km BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

The Indian navy already has three Russian-built Talwar class frigates. (RIA Novosti)

June 8, 2012 defpro.com

Russian enterprises will promote a number of their newest developments at the Eurosatory 2012 International Land Security and Defence exhibition held in Paris, France, on 11-15 June 2012. Major items of interest are the T-90S MBT upgrade, BMPT tank support combat vehicle, Kornet-EM antitank missile system based on the Tigr armoured car, and Ural 6x6 hardened truck.

Specialists will focus their attention on the T-90S upgrade in the first place. They consider it a virtually new tank judging by the number of innovations introduced, and one of the best in the world arms market by the cumulative combat performance criteria.

The BMPT tank support combat vehicle is another development that has no equals in the world. Its powerful weapons set and heavy armour protection correspond well with the Russian nickname "Terminator".

The Kornet-E antitank missile system is quite popular on the world arms market is perceived as a modern anti-armour weapon system. However, Russian developers have succeeded in substantially extending range of fire of its new modification - the Kornet-EM. The Kornet-EM antitank missile system can also engage small-size aerial targets.

The Ural type trucks are actively employed in many countries and have proved their reliability and effectiveness not only in combat actions but in peace-keeping and rescue operations as well. The new Ural truck is designed with due account of experience gained in modern conflicts, is heavily armoured and fitted with enhanced anti-mine protection.

Air defence systems make up an equally important part of the exhibition. For many years Russia has been maintaining leading positions in this area. Year by year there is a growing demand for air defence systems such as Tor-M2E, Pantsir-S1, Buk-M2E, Igla-S. Lessons drawn from recent military conflicts show that a state-of-the-art air defence system is an important prerequisite to upkeep national security and sovereignity. Russia is among few countries which produce all kinds of air defence equipment, and is capable of building a nationwide air defence system for a customer country on the integrated approach basis.

Rosoboronexport, JSC believes that Russian exposition will be one of the most attractive and memorable at this exhibition. "We have been participating in the Eurosatory exhibitions since 1996, but this year's show is special. Russia has never brought such a number of full-scale new items. They are from the latest developments that clearly demonstrate a huge potential of the Russian defence industry", - says Igor Sevastyanov, deputy director general of Rosoboronexport, JSC and head of the joint delegation of the Russian Technologies State Corporation and Rosoboronexport.

Exports of Russian defence equipment for land forces have been steadily rising in recent years. According to forecasts, this trend will be sustained. Which is particularly true regarding Russian heavy armoured vehicles, multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems, infantry combat vehicles, guided munitions. Russian-made armoured personnel carriers and small arms are in constant demand as well.

At Eurosatory 2012 Rosoboronexport will conduct a great number of talks with both traditional and potential partners. Many meetings are planned also with representatives of European companies. Special emphasis will be made on contacts with leading French defence manufacturers.

Military technical cooperation with France has been growing fast in recent years. We are interested, first of all, in joint research and development. This kind of cooperation does not fall into the 'buyer-seller' category: it demands a wider cooperation to develop effective self-defence assets, including those for third countries. By combining our efforts we obtain a very strong synergistic effect. It is well seen, for example, in our projects with Thales, Safran and Sagem companies", - notes Igor Sevastyanov.

At the end of the last year a dedicated workgroup was set up to facilitate expansion of the Russian-French cooperation into the land forces equipment area. Its first meeting took place in January 2012, and the next one is scheduled for this June-end. «Rosoboronexport» wants as many as possible Russian developers and manufacturers to get involved in the workgroup activities to help define most prospective projects and ways of their implementation.

Rosoboronexport also pays special attention to upgrading earlier supplied materiel. At present there are hundreds of land forces equipment items repaired and upgraded under contracts in various countries. Russia offers an integrated approach to upgrading the materiel with several options for consideration at a time depending on customer requirements.

At Eurosatory 2012 «Rosoboronexport» provides detailed information on nearly 200 items of Russian weapons and equipment presented in total at Eurosatory 2012.

Close combat weapons:

• Assault rifles: Kalashnikov assault rifles of the hundredth series, AK-74M, AN-94, AKMS

• Machine guns: RPK-74M, RPK-201, RPK-203, Pecheneg, PKMS, PKM

• Sniper rifles: SVD, SVDS, SV-98, 6S8, 6V7, OSV-96, VKS

• Pistols: PM, PMM, PSM, Yarygin pistol

• Grenade launchers: AGS-17, RPG-7V1, RPG-26, RPG-27, RPG-28, RPG-29

• ATGW: Kornet-EM, Kornet-E, Metis-M1

• Hand-held flame throwers: RPO-A, RPO-D, RPO-Z, Shmel-M

• Land systems: T-90S MBT upgrade, Tigr armoured car, BMPT tank support combat vehicle, BMP-3M infantry combat vehicle, BTR-80A armoured personnel carrier, Smerch and Grad multiple launch rocket systems, Khrizantema-S self-propelled antitank system, Msta-S self-propelled howitzer with automated aiming and fire control system, Nona-S/Nona-SVK self-propelled artillery guns, BREM type armoured recovery and repair vehicles, various engineer equipment.

• Air defence systems: air defence missile systems: Antey-2500, Buk-M2E, Tor-M2E (in three versions: Tor-M2E on tracked chassis, Tor-M2K on wheeled chassis, Tor-M2KM in modular configuration); Pantsir-S1 air defence missile-gun system, Igla-S man-portable air defence missile system.

• Air systems: Ka-52 and Mi-28NE combat helicopters, Mi-171Sh military transport and Mi-35M combat transport helicopters, Mi-26T2 heavy-lift helicopter, Ka-226T light utility helicopter.

«Rosoboronexport» also offers a wide range of simulators, including those intended for training crews of the T-72, T-80B and T-90S MBTs, as well as of other armoured vehicles such as BMPT, BMP-3M, BTR-80A.

In the spotlight:

• T-90S MBT upgrade: Tank designers improved all combat characteristics of the famous T-90S MBT including its fire power, command and control capability, mobility and protection. Its redesigned turret features an upgraded 125-mm gun, an advanced fire control system, new communication, positioning and interoperation facilities, as well as a remotely controlled 7.62-mm machine gun. The designers managed to retain the tank's relatively small weight while increasing substantially its protection. The tank turret provides protection against all existing munitions thanks to the efficient layout, differentiated armour and new explosive reactive armour application. The upgraded tank features a steering wheel type turn drive and an automatic gearbox which allow improving its controllability. The tank engine is also seriously modified and has its power uprated to 1,130 hp.

• BMPT tank support combat vehicle: The BMPT tank support combat vehicle combines powerful weapons with heavy armour protection which facilitate armour support operations, in particular by defeating tank-dangerous targets of an antitank missile system crews type, as well as autonomous operations to reinforce infantry units, protect troop columns and installations, and defeat terrorist groups. The BMPT weapons set includes two 30-mm 2A42 automatic guns, two Ataka-T supersonic antitank missile launchers, two AG-17D automatic grenade launchers, and one 7.62-mm machine gun. The vehicle's fire control system includes a multichannel sight and a panoramic low-level light television (LLTV) sight, providing detection and identification of small-size targets at long ranges by day and night in adverse weather conditions. Three operators in the BMPT provide quick detection and engagement of three different targets in the all-round sector.

• Kornet-EM antitank missile system based on the Tigr armoured car: Integration of the automatic target tracker allows the Kornet-EM to realise the fire-and-forget principle with enhanced target tracking accuracy and kill probability in the entire range envelope. The Kornet-EM's range of fire extends from 8 to 10 km depending on ammunition type. Its missile with shaped charge warhead can penetrate up to 1,100-1,300 mm thick armour plates. The new weapon system is also capable of engaging air targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, diving attack aircraft, which qualitatively increases combat potential of units on the battlefield. The Kornet-EM antitank missile system presented at the exhibition is mounted on the chassis of the Tigr armoured car which is successfully operated in Russia by power agencies and exported abroad. Its main features are reliability, good cross-country ability, large capacity, and high level armour protection.

A press conference of the Russian delegation will be held on 12th June at 11:00 in the Hall 5A, meeting centre 5 – ground floor, room 501.

(crédit : Commission européenne)

Juin 5, 2012 Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (BRUXELLES2)

Près de St Petersbourg, lors du Sommet UE-Russie, Herman Van Rompuy en a profité pour dénoncer une situation en Syrie « épouvantable » et appeler le régime syrien à « cesser immédiatement toutes formes de violence et de donner son plein appui à la Mission des Nations Unies de surveillance (MisNus) ».

Evaluations divergentes

Cependant, lors des discussions avec les Russes, le président du Conseil européen n’a pu que reconnaître que l’Union européenne et la Russie avaient sur la situation en Syrie « des évaluations divergentes ». En fait, ils ne sont d’accord que sur un seul point : « le plan Annan dans son ensemble fournit la meilleure occasion de briser le cycle de la violence en Syrie, en évitant une guerre civile, et pour trouver une solution pacifique durable. ». Un point relativement faible au moment où le consensus semble se faire que la plan Annan a, pour l’instant, connu un certain échec, pour ne pas dire un échec certain. Tout l’effort des Européens reste d’essayer convaincre les Russes de faire pression sur leur allié syrien dans ce but. « Nous devons conjuguer nos efforts en vue de cela, et trouver des messages communs sur lesquels nous sommes d’accord. Nous avons besoin de travailler à un arrêt immédiat de toutes les formes de violence en Syrie, et vers un processus de transition politique » a précisé ainsi H. Van Rompuy.

Comment convaincre la Russie ?

Commentaire : Le problème est aujourd’hui de convaincre la Russie qui campe pour l’instant sur une position inflexible au Conseil de sécurité, soutient sans état d’âme son allié syrien, d’évoluer. Mais la notion de respect des droits de l’homme, d’arrêt des violences n’est sans doute pas vraiment pour percuter l’esprit du président russe qui n’a pas lésiné en Tchétchénie. Poutine souhaite redonner à son pays tout l’éclat et le poids sur la scène internationale qu’il estime perdu par des années d’affaiblissement (notamment sous la présidence d’Elstine). Et il semble plutôt concevoir les pays du monde selon une analyse classique, réaliste du découpage en zones d’influence : russe, américaine, chinoise, mixte… Le coup de force de l’OTAN au Kosovo, puis en Libye, ne sera pas répété en Syrie qui est un de ses alliés, qu’il inscrit dans sa zone d’influence, sur fond de contexte de guerre larvée entre chiites et sunnites, où la Russie a plutôt choisi le camp des premiers (Iran, Syrie, Hezbollah) contre les seconds. On pourrait se croire ainsi revenu aux meilleurs moments de la guerre froide. L’Europe n’est cependant pas dépourvue d’arguments : le président russe veut la libéralisation des visas, prépare son entrée dans l’Organisation mondiale du Commerce. Il doit conserver une certaine aura dans le camp arabe. Il aspire à une certaine légitimité. Encore faut-il être prêt au coup de force. Je ne suis pas sûr qu’une gentille aubade à St Petersbourg suffira à le faire changer d’avis…

Sukhoi Su-30MK2 #8573 delivered in December 2011

(photo : ttvnol, image : mars.slupsk)

24.04.2012 DEFENSE STUDIES

 

One of the Su-30MK2 aircraft  that had been delivered by Russia to the Vietnam Air Force has a new color scheme.  The color not blue-dark blue as before, but the Su-30MK2 with number 8573 has green-brown color.

 

 

Vietnam has received the Russian-made Su-27 and Su-30 aircrafts. Based on 1995 contracts Vietnam has ordered seven Su-27SK (6001, 6002, 6003, 6004, 6005, 6006, 6007), and based on 1997 contracts Vietnam has ordered five Su-27UBK (8521, 8523, 8525, 8526, 8527), the contract was fulfilled.

 

Russia also has fulfilled the contract for orders in 2003 of four Su-30MK2 (8531, 8532, 8533, 8534), also for the order of eight Su-30MK2 in 2009 (8535, 8536, 8537, 8538, 8539, 8540, 8541, 8542).

In 2010, Vietnam has ordered 12 Su-30MK2, four Su-30MK2 (8544, 8548, 8551, 8555) were delivered in June 2011 and four Su-30MK2 (8573, 8577, 858X, 858X) were delivered in december 2011.

 

Vietnam will receive another four Su-30MK2 in 2012, but one aircraft crash while testing in february 2012.

 

(Defense Studies)

Apr 11, 2012 by Ilya Kramnik - Voice of Russia

Moscow - India's army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh said in March that the Indian army had been rendered inefficient, slamming the defense ministry for corruption, which can help Russia get its foot in the door of the secluded Indian anti-missile market.

The recent letter by Gen. VK Singh to the Indian Prime Minister, leaked by Daily News and Analysis, didn't focus on the Indian anti-missile defenses alone. The army chief criticized most of India's armed forces for their lack of fighting capacity and stigmatized the country's military procurement system as highly corrupt.

According to General Singh, most of the Indian armed forces are underequipped with cutting-edge weapons and ammo. The air defense, with 97% of its hardware being obsolete, has revealed the biggest holes.

Russia dominates Indian military imports, supplying armored vehicles, aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, multi-purpose fighters and helicopters. For more than four decades, India has been leading the pack of Soviet and Russian weapon buyers.

Still, Russian anti-aircraft manufacturers haven't been able to tap into any major Indian air defense deals for several years now, being figuratively 'locked out' of the Indian medium and long range air defense market.

"Russia has offered India a number of modern anti-aircraft systems," Said Aminov, editor-in-chief with the VestnikPVO military news site, told The Voice of Russia. "It was actively offering India its S-300 and the "Buk" missile system, also known as Gang.

But India showed no interest in them. As a result, its air defense is currently outfitted with the "not so cutting-edge" 2K22 "Tunguska" system, as well as with "Shtil" and "Shtil-1" naval anti-missile systems, supplied by Russia since the Soviet collapse," the military maven said.

The reason the Indians are shunning Russian modern air defense hardware, says Said Aminov, lies in Israel's influence and in India's reliance on its own powers. "Israel has already supplied them with its "Spyder" and "Barak" systems.

The Israelis have also talked the Indian military into developing a joint "Barak-8" missile system, which covers a range of up to 85 km. Moreover, India is now developing its own medium-range "Akash" anti-missile complex, based on the 1960s "Kvadrat" of the Soviet origin. But the system has been under development way too long and already became morally obsolete."

Experts believe that modern India possesses no air defense capable of protecting it from Pakistani (or Chinese) medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM). It's striving to build an interceptor missile based on its own research, which will take them a while.

The Israeli "Arrow" system isn't likely to secure the Indian skies either, since it was built with a considerable help from the US, which doesn't tolerate such military secrets being passed on to non-satellite states. In 2002, America has already blocked a similar deal, which left India with nothing but a "Green Pine" radar complex instead of the whole "Arrow."

The Pakistani missile threat is meanwhile too high for India to ignore. That's why India has no other alternative today than the Russian Antei-2500 or S-300VMD, the export variant of the S-300V system.

Taking into account India's course towards localization of foreign military research, it may be interested in diversifying its air defense with imported Russian systems (the S-300VMD, for one) and a joint anti-missile system deal, which it could then export to third countries.

The Indian Defense Ministry scandal is only gaining pace but it has not yet affected the Russian military industry. With the right approach, Russian weapon-makers could get a firm foothold in the Indian market. The only question is whether they are ready for a long and hard talk.

MOSCOU, 6 avril - RIA Novosti.

La nomination du vice-ministre russe des Affaires étrangères Alexandre Grouchko au poste de représentant permanent de la Russie auprès de l'Otan permettrait d'améliorer les relations entre Moscou et l'Alliance, a déclaré vendredi le directeur du Centre de prévisions militaires Anatoli Tsyganok.

"Peut-être sera-t-il en mesure d'améliorer les relations avec l'Alliance. (…) A la place du mauvais Dmitri Rogozine (représentant permanent de janvier 2008 à décembre 2011, ndlr), se trouvera un diplomate normal qui négociera avec l'Otan d'une manière plus diplomatique. Franchement (…), au cours de ces dernières années, l'Alliance considérait M.Rogozine comme un épouvantail qui se fait sa propre idée de la Russie", a estimé M.Tsyganok, interviewé par RIA Novosti.

"L'Otan souhaite actuellement coopérer avec la Russie. Le problème crucial à résoudre, c'est l'utilisation de l'espace aérien russe lors de son départ d'Afghanistan", a annoncé l'expert, avant d'ajouter que Moscou et l'Alliance coopéraient dans la lutte contre la drogue, le terrorisme et la piraterie.

Une source informée a auparavant fait savoir que M.Grouchko pourrait être nommé représentant permanent de la Russie auprès de l'Otan. Aucun autre détail n'a été pour le moment fourni.

Yak-130

SANTIAGO, March 29 (RIA Novosti)

South American air force chiefs have shown interest in Russia’s Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten trainer/light attack aircraft, the plane’s maker said on Thursday.

“We have conducted negotiations with the Air Force chiefs of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay,” Urkut Vice President for Marketing Vladimir Sautov said at the FIDAE-2012 International Air Show.

They showed interest not only in a two-seater but also one-seat version, he said, adding the latter could only be manufactured if there was a firm order from a large customer.

Irkut started exporting the planes in 2011. Foreign market capacity is estimated at 250 machines.

In December, Irkut and the Russian Defense Ministry signed a contract for the supply of 55 Yak-130 by 2015.

March 22, 2012: STRATEGY PAGE

The South African government is investigating a local firm that was planning to buy American Bell 212 helicopters from a Canadian company, change their documents and ship them to Iran via Russian transport aircraft. Last year Spanish police broke up a similar scheme when they arrested five local businessmen and three Iranians. The eight were accused of trying to illegally export nine used Bell 212 helicopters to Iran.

The Bell 212 is a civilian version of the 1960s era U.S. Army UH-1 ("Huey"). The five ton 212 has two engines (the UH-1 had one) and normally carries twelve passengers, and no weapons. But some have been armed. The nine Spanish Bell 212s were formerly owned by the Israeli Air Force, but were sold to a Spanish firm in the 1990s, when they were replaced in Israeli service by UH-60s.

The eight Spanish smugglers had disassembled the nine 212s and were putting them in containers for shipment to Venezuela and Iran, labeled as aircraft parts. The cost of the sale was $140 million, including a quantity of spare parts (which are also illegal to send to Iran.)

Many Western nations, in addition to the United States, have become more aggressive in going after Iranian technology and hardware smuggling. Australia recently stopped a shipment of pumps that, it turned out, were capable of being used in nuclear power plants (as well as for more benign uses). Iran has been quite blatant about buying dual use equipment, and then openly using the stuff for military purposes. That bravado is backfiring.

Ever since the U.S. embargo was imposed in 1979 (after Iran broke diplomatic protocol by seizing the American embassy), Iran has sought, with some success, to offer big money to smugglers who can beat the embargo and get needed industrial and military equipment. This is a risky business, and American and European prisons are full of Iranians, and other nationals, who tried, and often failed, to procure forbidden goods. The smuggling operations are currently under more scrutiny, and attack, because of Iran's growing nuclear weapons program. But the Iranians simply offer more money, and more smugglers step up to keep the goodies coming.

The U.S. has gotten more aggressive, and successful, at shutting down Iranian smuggling operations. Not just by bribing the smugglers themselves, but also by getting the cooperation of nations the smugglers operate out of. This has been so successful that most of these smugglers no longer feel safe working out of Arab Persian Gulf nations (especially the United Arab Emirates). As a result, more smugglers are operating out of Malaysia, and the U.S. is trying to shut down that activity. America also monitors the international banking network, seeking signs of smuggler activity, and leaning on the banks involved, to step back.

The smuggling effort has been a mixed success. The Iranian armed forces are poorly equipped, because new tanks, warplanes and ships could not be sneaked in. Thus major weapons acquired in the 1970s are falling apart for want of sufficient replacement parts.

March 11, 2012– Defense Update

Following the delivery of the first four batteries of S-300 PMU2 surface to air missiles from Russia, Algeria has begun inducting the systems, partly replacing former S-125 (SA-3) systems. In the following satellite images taken recently by the Eros B spy satellite operated by the geospatial services company ImageSat International, two of the SA-3 sites are seen converted to serve the S-300.

In 2010 Algeria also has acquired the S-300 PMU2 from Russi as part of $7.5 billion arms package struck between the prime minister of Algeria and Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2006. Other elements of this arms package included Su-30 multirole fighters and modern submarines. The Air Defense command received the first unit in 2008; four units are currently delivered. The delivery of the remaining four is included under the original contract options.

 

The SA-3 SAM site at Ouled Fayet has been upgraded into a S-300 PMU2 site in the past 3 years. The color image shows the SA-3 site as it was seen in 2007 while the larger image shows the completed upgraded infrastructure prepared to deploy the new S-300 PMU2. Photos: Google Earth and Imagesat International.

 

When compared to past images available on Google Earth, the scope of the Algerian preparations can be appreciated. These images show the Algerians spent significant efforts in upgrading and protecting their new sites, with infrastructure preparations previously unfamiliar with similar sites in other countries. The sites apparently being fortified with underground installations and overhead shields hiding each launcher position from aerial or space observation.

 

 

The SA-3 site at Reghaia, east of Algiers was converted into S-300 PMU2 between 2008 and 2011. Photos: Google Earth

 

 

The four images that appears on the right shows how the empty SA-3 site at Reghaia, east of Algiers, as it was in 2007. The following images record its transformation into the modern, highly protected S-300 PMU2 site. The second image shows the same site as seen on August 2008, The third image shows the same site a year later, in August 2009 with another image taken two years later, by September 2011. This exclusive Eros B photo shown here shows the completed site, with the six bunkers protecting the launchers completely buried underground, along with sheltered exits, leading to adjacent lunch pads. All launch pads are interlinked, enabling rapid access and relocation of launchers.

 

 

Another SA-3 site located west of Algires at the suburb of Ouled Fayet, has been upgraded into a S-300 PMU2 site in the past 3 years. The extent of the fortification works is visible in this Google Earth satellite view from April 2009, showing the erection of four concrete bunkers that were buried in the ground, with little visible signs on the massive buildings underground.

 

Training activity has also been identified at Boudouaou, few kilometers to the east. The image shows an S-300 PMU2 unit training with 64N6 Big-Bird and 30N6 Flap Lid radar systems deployed separately from the S-300 launchers. This feature is enabled by the radio-link, connecting the fire units to the radars and fire control, enabling more flexible dispersal of firing units and improved survivability for the entire site. In fact, a possible deployment technique would be to keep the radars apart from the site and move launchers out of shelters for firing, thus maintaining the majority of the unit protected underground.

 

Training activity has also been identified at Boudouaou, few kilometers to the east. The image shows an S-300 PMU2 unit training with 64N6 Big-Bird and 30N6 Flap Lid radar systems deployed separately from the S-300 launchers. Photo: Imagesat International

 

The sites retain the launch positions for other SAM assets, obviously some S-125 capablities. However, another possibility is that these positions could be occupied by the new SA-22 (Pantsir 1), protecting the bunkers from attacks by precision guided weapons.

 

In May 2010 Algeria and Russia concluded another contract for the delivery of 22 SA-22 Pantsir-S mobile air defense systems. The system has already been delivered to Syria and the UAE. The Pantsir-S unit combines 12 surface-to-air guided missiles with two 30mm air defense automatic guns. Pantsir-S is an autonomous, tracked low-level, mobile air-defense system that can protect mobile forces or augment the defense of strategic sites and medium-long range SAM sites with low-to-medium altitude air defense. The weapon is considered effective against guided weapons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, March 2 (RIA Novosti)

Russia’s modernized Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A aircraft, also known as the Il-476, will conduct its maiden flight by the end of June, Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar aircraft maker said on Friday.

The Il-476 is an extensively modified variant of the Il-76 freighter, with new engines, reinforced wing, modernized cockpit, and heavier payload. The aircraft will be primarily built for the Russian Armed Forces and Emergencies Ministry.

“Project 476 is our future,” Aviastar General Director Sergei Dementyev said.

Aviastar, which also manufactures super-heavy Antonov An-124 transport planes, expects to build up to ten of the Il-476 aircraft per year and is in talks with export customers including India and China as well as commercial customers.

China canceled a contract agreed earlier with Russia for delivery of around 38 Il-76 transport and Il-78 tanker aircraft, after TAPO, the Uzbekistan-based Il-76 airframe producer said it could no longer deliver the airframes as production had slowed.

Russia then had to move production to Aviastar in order to complete the Il-476 modification programs for the Russian Air Force.

The Russian Defense Ministry wants to buy up to 100 of the aircraft over ten years to replace existing Il-76s.

SVERDLOVSK, Russia, Feb. 29 (UPI)

Russia's UralVagonZavod armaments factory is to create the first prototype of Russia's new main battle tank built on the Armata platform by 2013.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and UralVagonZavod Chief Executive Officer Oleg Sienko reported to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that production of the new tank and deliveries to the Russian armed forces are expected to start in 2015, Sverdlovsk's Oblastnaia Gazeta reported Wednesday.

Until then, the Defense Ministry will continue to upgrade its armored vehicles.

Hinting at the new design last April, Lt. Gen. Yuri Kovalenko, former senior deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Motorized Armor Directorate said, "The Russian armed forces will have a new main tank with fundamentally new characteristics by 2015."

Sienko said UralVagonZavod and military experts are running trials of the new tank's main units and components but released no other information about the new design.

The Defense Ministry has a $205 million contract with UralVagonZavod for upgrading the Russian military's 170 T-72 main battle tanks.