for now, but not all parts, some still come from india!

it is until we can manufactured our own parts!

if we buy rafale, indon scare meh... 2nd hand f16 vs brand new rafale? no way!

The First Self Guided Bullet

Sandia National Laboratories have invented a small caliber self guided bullet. The bullet contains an optical sensor, CPU, battery and electromagnetic actuated fins. It is able to track laser designated targets out to 2,000 meters.



The CPU tracks laser designed targets using the optical sensor in the nose and can make changes to its flight as often as 30 times per second. The below photo shows a nightime field test in which they attached a LED to the base of the bullet.



Reading in between the lines of the Sandia press release this invention is a long way from actually being able to hit targets at long distances. Computer simulations indicate that the bullet could theoretically get within 8" of a target at 2,000 meters. Sandia is looking to license the technology to a commercial partner to develop the technology.


sosej

Hard negotiations lie ahead for Dassault after Rafale's Indian selection

With its attainment of "L1 vendor" status in India's medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contest for 126 fighters, the Dassault Rafale is one step closer to securing its first overseas deal, but the road to a final agreement is still long.

Dassault on 31 January confirmed that the Rafale had been selected ahead of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The Indian defence ministry, however, told Flightglobal that it has yet to make a formal announcement of the company's L1 status, and was uncertain about the timeframe for this. "Nothing is official yet," a defence ministry source said.

Assuming the formal granting of L1 status, final negotiations between Dassault and the Indian government's Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC) could take between six months and one year, said an industry source familiar with Indian defence procurement policy.

The process can be a tortuous one. According to defence ministry tender guidelines, a CNC should be comprised of individuals representing the stakeholders involved in an acquisition. In the case of MMRCA, the source believes the Indian air force, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and other key parties will be represented.

The CNC will conduct a two-stage negotiation. The first will deal with details such as contract language and deliverables, and the second with pricing.

On clearing the CNC, the contract will need the approval of the Defence Acquisition Council and India's finance ministry. Finally, the package will go before India's Cabinet Committee on Security, which will give the final sign-off.

"The L1 price is not necessarily the price you will win with," said the source. "There will be multiple stakeholders involved in the decision and negotiations."

Industry observers estimate the value of the MMRCA deal at between $10 billion and $20 billion - India's largest foreign arms purchase. Under the terms of the award, 18 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition, with 108 to be built under licence by HAL.

Although the Rafale has struggled in late-stage negotiations in Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, recent French wins on the subcontinent bode well for the successful conclusion of Dassault's MMRCA campaign.

In July 2011, Dassault won a long-awaited $2.2 billion deal to upgrade the Indian air force's Mirage 2000H fighters to the 2000-9 standard. In early January, European firm MBDA confirmed a deal to equip the modified aircraft with Mica air-to-air missiles, although an official contract has yet to be signed.

sosej

Backwards parachutes ground some F-35s

At least 15 Lockheed Martin F-35s are grounded for about 10 days to repack improperly installed parachutes, according to the programme office.

The grounding suspends all high-speed ground and flight tests at Edwards AFB, California; Eglin AFB, Florida and Fort Worth, Texas, the F-35 programme said.

Eight F-35s based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, remain flightworthy.

The grounded aircraft are equipped with new versions of the Martin Baker US16E ejection seat, the F-35 programme said.

The wrong packing instructions were sent to the ejection seat manufacturer, the F-35 programme said. As a result, Martin-Baker packed the parachutes backwards, the programme said.

The ejection seats must be sent back to Martin Baker in the UK to reverse the parachutes.

The problem only involves newer ejection seats designated as -21 and -23. The F-35Bs and F-35Cs stationed at Patuxent River have older ejection seats with parachutes that were packed correctly, the programme said.

Despite two fleet-wide grounding orders last year, the programme completed all flight tests for 2011 in mid-November, although the number of test points accomplished lagged slightly behind.

sosej

EADS Cassidian responds to India's Typhoon rejection

EADS company Cassidian has voiced its disappointment after the Eurofighter Typhoon's defeat in India's medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) competition, but appears to have accepted New Delhi's choice of Dassault's Rafale.

"India has taken the decision to select our competitor, although this is not yet a contract signature and the negotiations are still ahead," Cassidian said. "We are disappointed. However, we respect the decision of the Indian Ministry of Defence," it added.

Dassault officials were informed on 31 January that their Rafale bid had been judged the lowest-priced compliant proposal in a two-way battle with the Typhoon. The announcement provided a major boost for the French manufacturer, which has long sought a launch export buyer for its "omnirole" combat aircraft. Exclusive negotiations between the Rafale team and the Indian defence ministry for the planned 126-aircraft deal are expected to take place over the coming months.

"Based on the Indian government feedback we will now carefully analyse and examine this situation, together with our European partner companies and their respective companies," said Cassidian.

The Indian decision represents the third disappointment for the Eurofighter team in a little over a month, with the Typhoon having also been rejected in competitions in Japan and Switzerland during December. The aircraft lost out along with the Rafale to the Lockheed Martin F-35 and Saab Gripen NG, respectively.

Prospects for further sales of the Typhoon exist in countries including Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Previous export buyers include Austria and Saudi Arabia, with Vienna having acquired 15 examples and Riyadh having so far fielded 24 from a 72-aircraft deal.

sosej

Seoul kicks off F-X III competiton

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has issued a request for proposals for its F-X III fighter requirement, paving the way for the acquisition of around 60 fighters.

The submission guidelines were issued at a meeting in Seoul yesterday. The contenders for the requirement are the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Sukhoi PAKFA was previously mentioned as a contender, but media reports in South Korea and Russia indicate that Sukhoi did not attend the meeting. The reports suggest that Saab, which produces the JAS 39 Gripen, was in attendance, although it is unclear if the Swedish firm will submit a bid.

According to Seoul's Yonhap news agency, the aircraft will be judged by four primary criteria and 150 secondary criteria. The four main criteria are cost, capability, interoperability with South Korean forces and industrial benefits. Seoul is likely to require the F-X III winner to provide significant help with its indigenous KFX fighter programme.

Bids for the F-X III competition are due by 18 June, with a decision possible by late 2012. DAPA did not specify the number of aircraft it intends to obtain under F-X III, but in the past industry sources have said the number is around 60. The aircraft will replace the Republic of Korea Air Force's McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms.

Industry observers feel the race is primarily between the F-35 and F-15SE. The F-35 programme scored an important victory in the region recently when it won Japan's F-X competition for 42 aircraft, where it beat another Boeing aircraft, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, and the Typhoon.

Boeing's F-15 programme also received a major boost recently with the confirmation of an order for 84 F-15SA aircraft from Saudi Arabia, which also included upgrades to 70 F-15S aircraft.

At the Seoul Air Show in October 2011, Lockheed and Boeing representatives stressed the respective merits of their aircraft. Lockheed highlighted the ability of the stealthy F-35 to penetrate enemy airspace, while Boeing emphasised the F-15SE's heavy weapons payload coupled with new low observable features that would be of great utility in the early days of a war.

"We're moving forward with all the Silent Eagle's core capabilities," said Howard Berry, Boeing vice-president for sales "Silent Eagle is a bundle of new capabilities brought to the existing F-15."

Windtunnel tests will start by March or April on a scale model of the F-15SE with conformal weapons bays. The weapons bays, which are modified conformal fuel tanks, allow the F-15 to store weapons internally and lower the aircraft's profile to radars.

sosej

Italy committed to F-35 programme but may cut order

Italy is aiming to slash €1.45 billion ($1.9 billion) from its defence procurement spending in 2012, with its plan to acquire 131 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs likely to be in the firing line.

It previously indicated it would order a total of 131 of the type - 69 conventional take-off and landing F-35As and 62 of the short take-off and vertical landing variant F-35B. However, more recently, defence sources have suggested a reduction to the total order of between 20-30 units, with the majority of these F-35Bs.

The procurement has come under fire in the Italian parliament for its anticipated total cost of €17.4 billion, with €2 billion already spent on the acquisition.

Despite the possible cuts to its purchase, Italy remains a key stakeholder in the Joint Strike Fighter's industrial team.

Giampaolo di Paola, the country's defence minister, on 30 January visited the site of the final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility for the JSF under construction at Cameri air base, near Novara in the north of the country.

The previous week, a Lockheed team headed by Tom Burbage, F-35 executive vice-president and general manager of programme integration, visited Rome to meet with Italy's industrial and government representatives.

The 60,000m² (646,000ft²) FACO, which incudes 20 new buildings and attendant infrastructure, is planned to be operational by the end of 2012. It will deliver the first Italian JSF, an F-35A, roughly two years later, said Burbage. The aircraft will then transfer to the USA to support the training of Italian air force pilots.

The site is earmarked to assemble and deliver around 80 F-35As for the Royal Netherlands Air Force in addition to those for Rome. It will also have the capacity to develop a maintenance, repair and overhaul and upgrade capability at a later stage.

The facility will also include Alenia Aermacchi's assembly line for wing section units, which is expected to produce around 1,200 kits for the nine-nation programme through to 2023.

Including Alenia Aermacchi, around 20 Italian companies are due to be involved in the F-35 programme.

sosej

Prototaip AV8 8x8 akan Dipamerkan pada DSA 2012


Turret Denel LCT30 30mm yang akan dipasang pada kendaraan AV8 8X8(photo : Malaysian Defence)

850 Syarikat Pertahanan Dan Keselamatan Sertai DSA 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, (Bernama) -- Sebanyak 850 syarikat industri pertahanan dan keselamatan dari 45 negara mengesahkan penyertaan mereka pada Persidangan dan Pameran Perkhidmatan Pertahanan (DSA) 2012 ke-13, April ini.

Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata seramai 25,000 pelawat perdagangan termasuk lebih 300 tetamu kenamaan dari 35 negara dijangka berkumpul pada pameran itu yang diadakan di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini dari 16 hingga 19 April.

"Sebanyak 220 buah syarikat pertahanan dan keselamatan tempatan dijangka mengesahkan penyertaan mereka dalam acara tahun ini, dengan syarikat DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) akan menjadi peserta pameran terbesar di DSA 2012 nanti," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini pada Khamis.

Turut hadir, Panglima Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) Jeneral Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Panglima Tentera Darat Jeneral Datuk Zulkifli Zainal Abidin dan Pengerusi DSA Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin.

Ahmad Zahid berkata pada pameran itu, replika kereta perisai (APC)8x8 AV8 oleh Deftech akan juga dipamerkan.

"Saya tak fikir pada ketika itu prototaip 8x8 dah siap, tapi mock-up ada. Kita jangka AV8 akan siap menjelang hujung tahun ini," katanya.

Antara pengguna prototaip AV8 itu adalah unit perisai, inventori dan pasukan perubatan.

Kereta perisai AV8 adalah hasil peralihan teknologi dari syarikat pertahanan antarabangsa, FNSS dari Turki dan Denel Land Systems dari Afrika Selatan bagi membolehkan Malaysia mempunyai APC buatan sendiri yang pertama.

Ahmad Zahid berkata satu pembaharuan pada pameran pada kali ini iaitu acara kemuncak Forum Putrajaya 2012, akan diadakan pada 17 hingga 19 April anjuran Institut Pertahanan dan Keselamatan Malaysia (MIDAS) dan Kementerian Pertahanan.

Forum yang bertemakan "Meningkatkan Multilateral untuk Pertahanan dan Keselamatan Rantau" itu adalah Forum Putrajaya kedua yang dianjurkan MIDAS.

Ia adalah forum dialog pertahanan dan keselamatan yang akan menghimpunkan lebih 300 peserta yang terdiri daripada pakar tempatan dan antarabangsa, pegawai tentera dan agensi keselamatan, penggubal dasar, penyelidik dan peserta industri bagi menangani dan membincangkan isu-isu yang berkepentingan strategik bersama Asean dan negara-negara yang mempunyai kepentingan terhadapnya.

sosej

LM Team Visit TAI to Asses RTAF's F-16 Upgrade


F-16 MLU program at Thai Aviation Industries (all photos : TAI & Thaifighterclub)

Representatives from Lockheed Martin Aero, USAF, and DCMA to visit and assess the repair of the F-16 Mid Life Update.





On 9-11 January 2555 representatives from Lockheed Martin Aero, USAF, and DCMA visit the F-16 Mid Life Update program at Takhli Aircraft Maintenance Co., Ltd.



This visit is a continuation of the visit on May 20, 2011 where the team of Lockheed Martin and USAF is also seen in the TAI's aircraft maintenance capacity in Takhli, Nakhon Sawan Province, to prepare the F-16 MLU program.

sosej

Indonesia Berencana Beli 8 Helikopter Tempur Amerika


Helikopter tempur Apache buatan Amerika (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

Jakarta - Pemerintah berencana untuk membeli sejumlah helikopter tempur jenis Apache dari Amerika Serikat. Hal itu dilakukan untuk menambah kekuatan alat utama sistem persenjataan (alutsista). "Kalau tidak salah sebanyak delapan unit," kata Wakil Menteri Pertahanan Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin di kantornya, Kamis, 9 Februari 2012.

Menurut dia, pengadaan delapan unit helikopter tempur jenis Apache itu bukan karena ditawarkan begitu saja oleh pihak Amerika kepada pemerintah Indonesia. Rencana pembelian pesawat sejumlah itu dilakukan sesuai dengan kebutuhan Indonesia. "Mereka tidak menawarkan, kita yang mencari," ujar Sjafrie.

Namun, ia menambahkan, hingga kini belum ada deal antara pemerintah Indonesia dengan Amerika Serikat ihwal pembelian helikopter tempur tersebut. Sejauh ini, yang sudah disepakati adalah pembelian pesawat tempur jenis F16 dari Amerika Serikat. "Kita semua tahu yang F16 sudah deal," katanya.

Sebelumnya, Menteri Pertahanan Purnomo Yusgiantoro menyatakan saat ini banyak proyek pengadaan alutsista. Jenis alutsista yang dibeli Indonesia pun beragam, ada yang bergerak dan ada yang tidak bergerak. Yang jelas, pemerintah mengusahakan agar pembelian senjata tersebut sesuai dengan kebutuhan. "Prosesnya dari user (TNI AD, TNI AL atau TNI AU), ke Mabes TNI, baru ke Menhan. Dari situ (baru) ada pembelian," kata Purnomo.

sosej

Feb 7, 2012 U.S._Thailand Cobra Gold 2012 Military Exercise

Cobra Gold 2012, a U.S.-led annual multinational exercise and the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, started Tuesday in east Thailand.

A total of 13,180 personnel from Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia participated in the exercise. In the ranks were some 9, 000 Americans and more than 3,600 Thais.

Australia, France, Canada, Britain, Bangladesh, Italy, India, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam had their observers at the military drill.

The 10-day exercise will engage the participants in such missions as anti-terrorism, humanitarian rescue, amphibious assault and peacekeeping, in a bid claimed to strengthen cooperation in safeguarding border and regional security.

In addition, the United States and Thailand also cooperated on concrete programs such as the construction of Thailand’s infrastructure and the restoration of water conservancy facilities.

The Pentagon said that this was the largest multinational military exercises in the Pacific region so far. It would become commonplace to engage multinational efforts to tackle regional emergency. The United States will cooperate with friends and alliance in strengthening action capacity.

The Cobra Gold, which was first held in 1982, now has developed into a multinational military exercise. The 2012 event marked the 31st military exercise.
sosej

France to Help Malaysia in Defence Research

KUALA LUMPUR: France is enthusiastic about playing a bigger role in Malaysia's research and development in the defence industry, said its visiting Defence and War Veterans Minister Gerard Longuet.

"We are keen to provide French expertise and technology and work together as a global partner," he said at a joint press conference with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Defence Ministry yesterday.

Longuet also praised Malaysia for demonstrating its capabilities as a stabilising force in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia has also supported French initiatives by sending United Nations peace-keeping troops to Lebanon and medical teams to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-led mission in Afghanistan.

He also commended Malaysia for ensuring the safe passage of its commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden, by deploying naval auxiliary combat ships, to ward off Somali pirate attacks.

Zahid touched on the acquisition of assets like the EC-725 Eurocopters, Scorpene submarines and the Airbus A400M medium-lift air- craft from France.

"Although many of these products and services are French in nature, they meet our quality and specifications at the right price," said Zahid.

Malaysia is due to take delivery of 12 EC-725 helicopters from next year and the four A400M from 2015, both for the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The two Scorpene submarines have been in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy the past two years.

sosej

IN FOCUS: Southeast Asia’s helicopter market spirals upwards

One of the themes certain to run through this month's Singapore air show is the vibrancy of Southeast Asia's helicopter market. Major suppliers such as Eurocopter, AgustaWestland, Bell and Sikorsky will all have a major presence at the event.

"The Southeast Asian helicopter market is resistant to the world economic crisis," says AgustaWestland chief executive Bruno Spagnolini. "In the region's offshore, utility and commercial helicopter market the crisis does not appear to be so huge. We're continuing to enjoy strong sales of the AW139, which is very well suited to this market."

At December's LIMA air show in Langkawi, the world's helicopter heavyweights signed a raft of deals and agreements with Malaysian companies. And although top executives of major fixed-wing airframers delegated LIMA to regional colleagues, the cream of the world's helicopter executives were on hand to entertain Malaysian customers in expansive chalets.

AgustaWestland and Malaysia's Weststar Aviation produced one of the show's few hard news stories. On 7 December, the companies disclosed a $150 million contract for 10 helicopters: five AW139s configured for offshore transport, one AW139 for VIP transport, two AW169s, and two AW189s. This was the first sale of the AW169 and AW189 in Malaysia. One rationale AgustaWestland gave for the multi-type deal was the common cockpit layout and maintenance concepts.

Eurocopter also signed several deals at the show, including two EC225 sales. Malaysia's MHS Aviation ordered its sixth EC225, to be delivered in 2014, while Awan Inspirasi ordered an EC225 for offshore operations.

It was at LIMA that Eurocopter revealed plans to develop a helicopter centre at Subang in conjunction with Malaysia Airports Holdings. The centre will open in 2012 and offer maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, a heliport and a parking hanger.

The manufacturer had opened a new MRO facility in Singapore in January 2011. Located in Seletar Aerospace Park, this is designed to support operators through the region. It can house 24 helicopters, compared with 12 at the previous facility, and incorporates Eurocopter's Singapore Helicopter Training Centre.

Eurocopter also used LIMA to disclose a letter of agreement with Malaysia's BHIC Defence Technologies to develop an EC225/EC725 regional flight simulator centre. The simulators will be located at the new helicopter centre at Subang. The deal stems from the July 2011 offset plan for the 12 EC725s the Royal Malaysian Air Force is acquiring.

Finally, Eurocopter signed an agreement with Malaysian firm CTRM, which will build the fenestron (ducted tail fan) of the EC130. Under the CTRM deal, Eurocopter will help the company develop helicopter systems integration competencies.

Southeast Asia's helicopter market extends far beyond Malaysia and Singapore. Fast-growing nations such as Indonesia and Vietnam have a huge demand for new rotorcraft, as does the Philippines. In the case of Indonesia and Vietnam, a major growth segment is offshore supply and mining support. In the Philippines there is also a strong VIP transport market.

DYNAMIC MARKETS

"The Southeast Asian market is not homogenous," says Bernhard Brenner, the Singapore-based chief executive of Eurocopter Southeast Asia. "There is not a single market. We serve 15 countries from Singapore, but all are different. Many of them are very dynamic."

At LIMA, Eurocopter chief executive Lutz Bertling highlighted the company's dominant market share in several of the region's civil and parapublic helicopter markets. Eurcopter claims a 64% market share in Thailand, 82% in Malaysia, 58% in Indonesia and 58% in the Philippines. The offshore clientele includes Vietnam's Southern Service Flight Company, Indonesia Air Transport, Indonesia's Pelita Air and Malaysia's MHS Aviation.

Brenner says Eurocopter's strongest market in Southeast Asia is probably Vietnam, "the most global and complete market - and all segments are strong, [especially] the energy and military market".

Vietnam has been a particularly strong market for the EC225 Super Puma, a contender in Vietnam's MiL Mi-17 replacement market. Southern Service Flight Company already operates two EC225s and four EC155s, and has ordered a third EC225. Eurocopter also sees opportunities in Vietnam's VIP segment.

Russian Helicopters is also strong in Vietnam owing to the historic ties between Moscow and Hanoi. In December, Russian Helicopters opened a representative office in Hanoi to provide better access to the Southeast Asian and Australian markets.

"As one of the rapidly developing countries of the region and a long-term partner of Russia, Vietnam is an important aviation market for the company and a firm foothold for further development of business and the popularisation of Russian rotorcraft in Southeast Asia," says Russian Helicopters.

From its Hanoi office Russian Helicopters will support parts delivery, leasing and maintenance services in Vietnam and regionally. It says 300 Mil and Kamov helicopters are operated in Southeast Asia and Australia. Sixty are in Vietnam, where Russian helicopters comprise 50% of the civil market and 90% of the military market.

The other huge helicopter market in the region is Indonesia, with a resources sector comprising mines as well as offshore oil and gas fields. It is inefficient to take highly skilled personnel to offshore platforms by sea, and mining areas are often difficult to access by road.

Reflecting the importance of helicopters in Indonesia's economic growth, local airframer PT Dirgantara Indonesia produces both the Bell Helicopter 412-EP and Eurocopter's NAS332 Super Puma under licence. The Bell 412 has an especially strong position in Indonesia, with about 70 in operation throughout the archipelago. In early December, Bell announced five firm orders and two potential follow-on orders for Bell 412s in the country.

INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATION

"Bell Helicopter has had a long partnership with PTDI in Indonesia," says Larry Roberts, senior vice-president of Bell Helicopter's commercial business. "The sale of these helicopters is part of the framework of an ongoing industrial collaboration between our two companies. We believe our partnership will continue to grow and possibly expand in the future." Under the arrangement, PTDI transported the helicopters to Bandung, Indonesia, where it added local systems and mission equipment.

Mirroring Eurocopter and AgustaWestland's investments in the region, in June 2011 Bell and its sister company Cessna broke ground on a new service and support center at Seletar in Singapore. The location will house a range of operations, including sales, technical support, spare parts distribution and MRO.

Wealthy Indonesians are also waking up to the convenience a personal helicopter offers, particularly in Jakarta, a city blighted by standstill traffic. One helicopter sales executive says his company frequently gets enquiries from people with no helicopter background. He refers them to existing customers so that they can gain a sense of the complexity and issues involved in operating rotorcraft.

But the Philippines has a more established VIP market. "The Philippines is a strong, major and stable market in terms of VIP transport," says Eurocopter's Brenner. "People are used to flying helicopters, and the market is predictable." In 2011, Eurocopter sold several single-engined Ecureuil family helicopters in Indonesia. It is now seeing more interest in larger, medium-twin Dauphin types.

Southeast Asia's parapublic market is also strong, particularly for coastguard operations and police work. While individual orders tend to be small, Southeast Asia's parapublic operators buy sophisticated, flexible helicopters. As the region become richer, the need for helicopters can only continue to grow.

sosej

there weren't any mention of F22s but i do hope it'll be there.

i'd take F22 anytime than f35

maybe some flybys from the USAF in F22s