ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss army said one of its Boeing F/A-18 jets crashed in France on a training mission on Wednesday, injuring the pilot.

The single-seat aircraft - one of a 31-strong fleet - took off from a Swiss air base in Payerne and came down in an uninhabited area east of the French city of Besancon, the military added.

The defence ministry said it did not know what caused the accident.

SHAH ALAM: AIRBUS Defence and Space Spexer 2000 Coastal AESA radar has been selected as part of a new Coastal Surveillance System (CSS) in the AOR of ESSCOM in eastern Sabah. The new radar will complement the current CSS 1206 radars, according to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today.

The CSS 1206 is of course the radar system which was given as a grant by the United States in 2006. Hence it is designated the 1206. For more on the CSS 1206 go here.

The CSS 1206 radars have a range of 20km while the new Spexer radar range is up to 40km. However, Hishammuddin who released the details of the new radar in a press release, did not revealed when the new system will become operational.

The new Spexer radars which will be funded by Petronas, according to Hishammuddin are part of the on-going programme to enhance the security of eastern Sabah following the 2013 Lahad Datu incursion.

According to Airbus, the SPEXER radars are the first operational land-based surveillance radars worldwide using Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology as well as innovative Digital Beam Forming (DBF) technology benefiting from our experience gained in the military sector.

As for the Spexer 2000 Coastal, the company stated that the high-performance coastal surveillance radar for the automatic detection, classification and tracking of sea, ground and low-flying air targets up to 40 km (24.9 mi; 21.6 NM) – even under extreme climatic conditions. Developed for the specific requirements of security scenarios with asymmetric threats.

Detection Ranges:

Swimmer (0.1 m² RCS): 1 km (0.5 NM)
Small boat, rubber dinghy, jet ski (1.5 m² RCS): 20 km (10.8 NM)
Pedestrian (0.5 m² RCS): 18 km (11.2 mi)
Light vehicle (2.0 m² RCS): 22 km (13.7 mi)
Truck (10.0 m² RCS): 36 km (22.4 mi)
Vessel, large boat (100 m² RCS): 40 km (21.6 NM)
Light aircraft (3.0 m² RCS): 27 km (16.8 mi)
Low-level helicopter (5.0 m² RCS): 36 km (22.4 mi)
UAV (0.2 m² RCS): 9 km (5.6 mi)

Among the others items being funded by Petronas for the ESSCOm – which was created following the incursion – are two sea bases. One of the sea bases is a decommissioned oil rig designated as Pengkalan Laut Tun Sharifah Rodziah and Pengkalan Laut Tun Azizan, a converted former cargo ship. Hishammuddin visited the Tun Sharifah Rodziah today.

Both sea bases have been operational since May. They served as the forward operational bases for units involved in operations to prevent incursions from southern Philippines, from smugglers to terrorists.

AIRBUS Defence and Space Spexer 2000 Coastal AESA radar for ESSCOM--Malaysia Defence
SPEXER 2000 COASTAL

it seen PETRONAS contribute quite a lot for ESSCOM.

For the first time ever, Iranian television has broadcast footage of a secret underground tunnel, stocked with missile and launcher units. Officials have said it is one of several such bases in the Islamic republic.

Located at a depth of 500 meters under the mountains, the footage shows a very long tunnel which appears to be about 10 meters high. It is one of many missile bases in Iran, according to the Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards' aerospace division.

"The Islamic republic's long-range missile bases are stationed and ready under the high mountains in all the country's provinces and cities," he said as quoted by the Guards' website.

"This is a sample of our massive missile bases," he said, adding that "a new and advanced generation of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles" will replace the current weapons in 2016.

Cukup je endurance rating if only 2.7hours?
If mission is about an hour away
2hours return, then left about 40minutes for mission?

The level of interest with which various Muslim (Sunni) leaders have shown toward Moscow has become very noticeable in the last few months. Some such attempts were undertaken earlier, but they were either lacking in boldness or ended badly before they could yield some positive results (as in the case of Saudi prince Bandar bin Sultan). Now, after the demonstration of Russian power in the Middle East, the situation could change.

In the real world there are no “friends”, there are only interests, compromise, blackmail, threats, bribery, and deception. That’s the whole range of possible interaction among countries. Friendship and enmity do not belong on that list. That which is usually described as “friendship” is simply a temporary coincidence of interests. “Enmity” is by the same token a temporary conflict of interests. And we are not talking about national interests, but rather the interests of the countries’ political and economic elites which do not always coincide.

Putin found an offer which represents an ideal lock pick for entering the world’s most complex regions. There is only one problem–the lock pick only works if the elites with whom he negotiates have a brain. If the brain is missing (e.g. Yanukovych) the approach doesn’t work. Putin is brilliantly using one of the strengths of US strategy turning it into weakness. The Americans never bet on only one politician. In every country in question, the ambassador holds several political forces on the leash thus simultaneously controlling both the authorities and the opposition. The example closest to us is Ukraine: Poroshenko, Yatsenyuk, Turchinov, Lyashko are all politicians who hate one another but who are connected to one and the same US-held control panel.

That system has one vulnerability. Every pro-US politician who has an IQ larger than his shoe size understand he can be gotten rid of at any moment and, no matter how servile he is, he will be deprived of his stolen money and tarred and feathered to placate the crowd. That’s how they all end. With no exception. Mubarak and Hussein were one-time big friends of the US.

Prince Mukhammad ibn Salman Al-Saud who recently came to Moscow is not the first Saudi elite who realized the tragedy of his position in the context of US plans to spread “controlled chaos,” but perhaps he will be luckier than Prince Bandar who was “winged” by the Americans last year. Prince Mukhammad ibn Salman is not a lone wolf but the de-facto ruler of the country who is taking advantage of the monarch’s incapacity and of support by several other reasonable representatives of the House of Saud.

It doesn’t mean that Saudi Arabia will become Russia’s ally tomorrow, but the drift toward Moscow is already visible. An “Arabian Maidan” is already being prepared against the Crown Prince, with the participation of local pro-US aristocrats. It’s entirely possible that it was his desire to preserve his own life and power that led him to come visit Putin.

Though details are scarce, unnamed U.S. and Asian officials told The New York Times U.S. allies were being briefed on the plans, which reportedly involve traveling near one or more of China’s recently constructed or expanded outposts. Daniel Kritenbrink, the new senior director for Asian affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, reportedly told a closed-door meeting the decision to go ahead was already made.

3 key areas in Russia-Indonesia ties

October 15, 2015 Aleksandr Ilyutochkin, RBTH

RBTH looks at the most important areas in Russia-Indonesia bilateral relations, which have been on the upswing over the last 10 years.


A Russian-built, Kilo-class diesel submarine.‏ Source: Reuters

Defense
In September 2015, the Indonesian government said it would buy a squadron of Sukhoi Su-35 fighters to replace its outdated U.S.-made F-5 Tigers. Jakarta also plans to buy 5 Russian submarines.

Initially Indonesia looked at buying Kilo-class diesel electric submarines, but later chose the more advanced Amur-class submarine, which is the export version of the Lada-class.

Russia is ready to loan Indonesia $3 billion for these purchases.

According to industry analysts, Indonesia may also be looking to buy medium-range anti-aircraft missiles. The country already has a number of Sukhoi fighter jets, Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters, BMP-3 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, one BTR-80 wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier and Kalashnikov AK-101 and AK-102 rifles.

Nuclear energy
In June 2015, the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of large nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power stations.

In an interview with RBTH Indonesia, the country's ambassador to Russia Djauhari Oratmangun said nuclear power plants could help meet Indonesia’s growing demand for electricity.

Infrastructure
Russian Railways has a 50 percent stake in the Kalimantan Rail Company, which is building a 300 km-long railway line linking Central and East Kalimantan provinces.

By 2019, the company plans to finish around 190 km of the railway line and construct a seaport terminal in East Kalimantan for coal exports.
During his visit to Moscow in September 2015, the governor of East Kalimantan Awang Faroek Ishak said his province would also like to use the railway to export palm oil, timber and other resources. Passenger services are also under consideration.

Despite much domestic and international hysteria that Japan could now be drawn into foreign conflicts, and potentially even launch a war, closer scrutiny reveals it still has a long way to go to cast off its pacific post-War legacy.
For one thing, under the new legislation, the JSDF can only come to the aid of an ally under three conditions:

Japan's survival is at stake

all other non-military options have been exhausted

the use of force is limited to the minimum necessary to deter aggression

In addition, the JSDF can come to the rescue of other UN peacekeeping troops and Japanese civilians in danger and would be allowed to use their weapons first, not just strictly for self-defence.

I love the fact the guy don't even bother to adjust his elbow pad in place as it keep slipping down his arm! 

I bet his knee pads are already at his ankles.

The Russians are mostly “bombing from medium altitude with unguided munitions,” said Michael Kofman, a public policy scholar at the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute. That said, he cautioned, Moscow may not care: “All they need is close enough” when hitting targets tied to al-Nusra Front and other groups battling Syrian President Bashar

Russia’s use of these precision weapons in actual combat has been minimal, however, and some analysts believe Moscow has different motives in trying to convince the world otherwise. “Using precision-guided munitions are more expensive than traditional gravity bombs, and Moscow may prefer to lose some precision in its airstrikes to save money on what is an already expensive military intervention in the Middle East,” said Jorge Benitez of the Atlantic Council.

One thing Russia does care about deeply, however, is making its military appear to be as modern and powerful as that of the United States. The wars in Crimea, eastern Ukraine, and now Syria have been a great opportunity for Putin to showcase some of his newest and most advanced equipment, even if the Russian military only possess them in limited numbers. In Ukraine, advanced spy planes and electronic warfare equipment have completely shut down communications for Ukrainian forces, while sophisticated Russian signals-intelligence vehicles have been rushed to Syria in recent weeks to tap into rebel communications and bolster Assad’s offensive against his enemies.

One more capability that the Syria deployment — however modest — has brought to light is the ability of the once lethargic Russian military to do multiple things at once. “Russia’s air force has been buying more airplanes than any Western country, and its pilots flying more hours” than any other country in Europe, Kofman said.

At the same time, thousands of troops are deployed in Crimea and Kaliningrad, while other units have been conducting snap exercises along the Ukrainian border and in the Arctic. Wartime PR aside, modernization has started to come to the Russian armed forces, just not in the way they may like to post it on Twitter.

Deftech AV4, Blackhawks In; Mark V SOC Out

Marhalim Abas
October 15, 2015
Malaysia -Armed Forces

SHAH ALAM: ITS now confirmed, the Armed Forces are getting the Deftech AV4 and the Blackhawks for use by units operating in ESSCOM AOR. Unfortunately, the procurement of the ex-US Navy Mark V Special Operations Craft (SOC) also for ESSCOM has been shelved.

Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkifeli Zin today confirmed reports that the Deftech Av4 was being procured for units operating in ESSCOM. He did not specify numbers but it was reported recently that Deftech will be supplying the 20 of the MRAP-like 4X4 vehicle the Army.

Five will be completed by its Thai partner, Chaiseri Metal and Rubber Co., Ltd while the rest will be assembled at the Deftech plant in Pekan, Pahang. The Thai-built vehicles will be delivered to the Army in the first quarter of 2016.

It is likely that the AV4 will replaced the 18 KIFVs for patrol duties.

In my original report, I called the vehicle as the Deftech MRAP (the name which was used during the visit to the Gempita unveiling ceremony) but checks at the company’s website showed that it had been renamed the AV4 (like the old vehicle of the same name)

Meanwhile, Zulkifeli said the first S-70A Blackhawk gifted by Brunei was expected to be handed-over to Malaysia by year end. It was expected the transfer will be completed by April, with one Blackhawk to be transferred every month.

Asked whether the United States had given permission for the transfer, Zulkifeli said there was no difficulty in getting the approval as the helicopters will be used “to hunt terrorists”. He said the Blackhawks will also be made available to Brunei in emergencies.

Asked who will be operating the Blackhawks, Zulkifeli said it will be operated jointly by the RMAF and the Army. Asked on talks that the VIP Blackhawks will also be converted for non-VIP use, Zulkifeli replied in the negative.

Meanwhile, Joint Force Commander Lt Jen Datuk Baharum Hamzah said the planned procurement of the Mark V Special Operation Craft (SOC) had been shelved. In fact, the offer from the US under its Excess Defence Articles (EDA) programme had lapsed in September. The offer from the US was made on Jan 12, 2014, according to the EDA database accessed yesterday by Malaysian Defence.