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May 31, 2014

Italian Navy tests Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial vehicle






The Italian Navy is conducting a series of technical and tactical evaluations on the Camcopter S-100 remotely-piloted aircraft by Scheibel of Austria.The testing comes on the heels of the rotorcraft drone completing tests in the North Sea by the Netherlands.The Camcopter S-100 has a top speed of 138 mph, a range of 112 miles and is designed for military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and for civilian tasks such as search and rescue and disaster relief.The Italian Navy is testing the vehicle from its San Giusto amphibious warfare ship. The vehicle set was leased from Schiebel and consists of two aircraft, a piloting unit and a control station.

The navy said the sea trials have to date evaluated the vehicle's interoperability with the ship, its takeoff and landing capabilities and sensor capabilities.Tests also involved measuring noise levels and its optical visibility parameters.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2014/05/30/Italian-Navy-tests-Camcopter-S-100-unmanned-aerial-vehicle/3041401476026/#ixzz33IWbiniS

ROKAF Receives Additional C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft



Two additional  C-130J Super Hercules aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) ferried from the Lockheed Martin facility here today.These C-130Js will join the ROKAF’s other two Super Hercules aircraft, which were delivered in March. ROKAF aircrews also currently operate a fleet of C-130H legacy aircraft.

The ROKAF’s new Super Hercules is the longer fuselage or “stretched” combat delivery variant. Lockheed Martin is also contracted to provide a two-year support program, including C-130J aircrew and maintenance training. South Korea is the 14th country to fly the proven C-130J.


http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/may/140530ae_rokaf-receives--additional-c-130js.html

Chinese PLAN to up number of Type 041 submarines to at least 60 in 10yrs

Wikipedia

Experts have predicted that China is likely to increase the number of its type 041 conventional submarines to 60 or 70 over the next decade. The Japanese navy also plans to increase the number of its Soryu-class diesel-electric powered submarines from 16 to 22 in response to a perceived threat from China, reports our Chinese-language sister newspaper Want Daily.Soryu-class diesel-electric powered submarines are the latest model of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. The vessel has a displacement of 2,000 tonnes and is equipped with an air-independent propulsion system. Japan will purchase another five of the submarine and will get delivery of one per year, increasing the total number of its Soryu-class submarines to ten.

China is preparing to test its latest type-041 diesel-electric submarine in the water recently. The vessel is similar to Germany's new submarine and equipped with an extra sonar system. Its displacement is likely to reach 3,500 tonnes.US Pacific Command commander Samuel Locklear also said in March that China plans to increase the number of its type 041 conventional submarines to 60 or 70. The country has been building a nuclear-powered submarine that can carry JL-2 ballistic missiles. So far, the main carrier of the missiles has been the type-094 nuclear submarine, which China has four of.

British military magazine Jane's Defense said the Chinese navy has at least four nuclear-powered submarines that can launch ballistic missiles and 53 slightly outdated diesel-electric submarines. US Lieutenant General Michael Flynn said in February that China's ballistic missile nuclear submarines have carried out missions regularly and been spotted in the Indian Ocean.


http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140531000058&cid=1101&MainCatID=0

Beijing may call Hanoi's bluff and start war: Duowei




Vietnam is taking a big gamble by inflaming its territorial dispute with China as Beijing could very well consider starting a war, reports Duowei News, an outlet run by overseas Chinese.
More than 7,000 Chinese citizens have already been evacuated from Vietnam since anti-China riots broke out as a result of a standoff between Chinese and Vietnamese naval ships near a Chinese oil rig in disputed waters off the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on May 4. Reports say at least 25 people have died during the riots, which targeted Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong factories across the country, with many forced to shut down due to damage and fires.

Vietnamese prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung has since sent out three mass text messages to citizens urging them not to participate in further protests, but only after widespread accusations that his government tacitly encouraged them in the first place.Vietnam's diplomatic efforts to garner support against China's oil rig have not stopped. Vietnam first compelled ASEAN to release a statement condemning China on May 10, with Le Luong Minh, the secretary-general of ASEAN and a Vietnamese national, adding to the criticism on May 16. Vietnam's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Pham Binh Minh, spoke with US secretary of state John Kerry on May 19, then visited Japan on May 21, on the same day prime minister Dung sought the views of the Philippines over the dispute. Minh will soon visit the United States, while Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida will visit Vietnam.

Beijing's South China Sea policy has traditionally been hard on the Philippines and soft on Vietnam due to the latter's reliance on the Chinese economy. Bilateral relations appeared to be on the way up after Chinese president Xi Jinping was appointed last March, with the countries signing an agreement on how to handle maritime issues in June 2013. In October, Chinese premier Li Keqiang visited Hanoi and set up development, infrastructure and financial working groups. For nine consecutive years since 2004, China has been Vietnam's largest trade partner.

However, the recent anti-China protests and efforts to team up with the US, Japan and the Philippines against China indicates a major change in attitude by Vietnam, says Duowei, meaning China must come up with new strategies and avenues to resolve the dilemma.Beijing has been equally unwilling to cede ground in the dispute, repeatedly blaming the Vietnamese government for condoning the riots and calling for severe punishment during foreign ministry press conferences.Chinese defense minister Chang Wanquan has warned Vietnam not to make repeated mistakes and to look at the bigger picture of Sino-Vietnamese friendship. During a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh last week, Chang condemned Vietnam's recent disruption of China's "routine" and "legitimate" oil drilling and called on Hanoi to "respect history" and "face reality."

In a visit to the United States earlier this month, PLA general Fang Fenghui also declared that the disputed territory had been "passed down by our ancestors" and that China would not concede "an inch" in the dispute.

If Vietnam does not back down, China may need to start a war to diffuse growing external obstacles to its expansion, Duowei says, adding that the such a war with Vietnam would be preferable to one with Japan or the Philippines, both of which are also embroiled in territorial disputes with China.While Japan's military might cannot compare to China's, Tokyo has the backing of Washington and could complicate matters by dragging the US into the conflict. Furthermore, the mutual reliance on bilteral trade between the two countries means it is unlikely China would use military force at this stage.

In any potential conflict with the Philippines, China would be seen as a bully as the People's Liberation Army Navy would dominate in any maritime face-off. The Philippine Navy has only 26,000 soldiers and 66 surface ships, 17% of which are old ships from the World War II era. The PLA's South Sea Fleet alone, on the other hand, has more than 350 vessels, including 9 guided missile destroyers, 17 frigates, three nuclear submarines and 21 conventional submarines. The Philippines is also reliant on trade with China, its third largest trade partner, whereas for China the Philippines only accounts for 1% of its global trade volume.According to Duowei, Vietnam would be a much more formidable foe than the Philippines and would pose a lower risk of US involvement compared with Japan. The Vietnamese military has 412,000 soldiers with a 42,000-strong navy that possesses more than 100 vessels. While its air force has just 15,000 people it owns a total of 427 jets.

Vietnam appears to be hoping to still rely on China for its economy but is seeking protection from the US in terms of security, a strategy that is doomed to failure, Duowei says, adding that starting a war with Vietnam would not only be a guaranteed victory, it would also strike hard at US momentum in the region and stun neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Japan into backing off.


http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140529000116

New deal to protect UK helicopters




BAE Systems has been awarded a £16.7 million ($27.9 million) contract to produce its third-generation common missile warning system (CMWS) equipment for a range of UK military helicopters.Intended to replace current equipment and also to be installed on new-build helicopters, the system integrates “hostile fire indication, missile warning and data recording capabilities into a single unit”, BAE says. This will provide UK pilots with “enhanced detection [and evasion] of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, improving their safety and mission effectiveness”, says Bill Staib, the company’s director of threat management solutions.

Platforms protected by BAE’s existing second-generation CMWS and the new-standard system include the British Army’s Boeing/AgustaWestland Apache AH1 attack helicopter and Royal Air Force Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport (below), plus AgustaWestland AW101s and AW159 Wildcats.“This contract will ensure that our armed forces will have around 300 systems in total,” says minister for defence equipment, support and technology Philip Dunne.BAE has already started delivering its new CMWS equipment to the US Army, which in January 2014 placed a $39 million order for 300 systems. The service plans to eventually acquire around 1,300 aircraft sets to protect its personnel.


http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/new-deal-to-protect-uk-helicopters-399820/

Russian Paratroopers Receive Newest Verba Shoulder-Fired Missiles



The Russian Airborne Forces have started receiving the newest Verba man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) equipped with an automated fire control system that has no foreign rival, military spokesman Yevgeny Meshkov said."The surface to air-missile regiment of the Ivankvsky Airborne Forces division is the first to have started receiving and studying the modern system of air defense battle," Meshkov said.

The systems automatically provide information on the air environment, fix the target and command a strike against the target within several seconds. "This gives time to an AA sniper armed with the Verba MANPADS to prepare for the meeting and hit the target beforehand," he said.
These systems exclude the human factor, while saving ammunition and increasing the effectiveness of air-defense sub-elements. "An automated control system over the battle allows finding an air target, defining its characteristics and sharing targets between AA snipers and fire means, taking into consideration their location," Meshkov said.

A commander of the SAM regiment, Col. Andrei Musiyenko said modern air defense battles are highly mobile and dynamic confrontations with the usage of aerial warfare weapons, demanding modern armament and operational control."Until now, the control over air defense battle in Airborne Forces divisions was not automated and the time elapsed following the major commander finding the target and ordering an AA sniper to launch the missile took from 3 to 5 minutes," he said.The process has become more than 10 times faster with the new systems.

http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140530/190242026/Russian-Paratroopers-Receive-Newest-Verba-Shoulder-Fired.html

Russia to Launch Fleet of Mini Satellites in June




Russia will launch a cluster of about three dozen mini-satellites aboard a converted Soviet ICBM in late June as part of a Russian-Ukrainian joint project, contrary to reports that the crisis in Ukraine had jeopardized the program, a top space official said.
The satellites will be launched from a RS-20 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, or ICBM,  that has been converted into a Dnepr rocket. The Moscow-based Kosmotras International Space Company sells these rockets for commercial launches under a 1997 project by the Russian and Ukrainian governments to convert Soviet-era missiles for commercial and scientific purposes.

Earlier Russian media reports said that Ukrainian enterprises — such as Yuzhmash, which converts the missiles — could stop working with their Russian counterparts due to the ongoing crisis in east of the country.On Wednesday Sergei Ponomaryov, deputy head of the Russian space agency, dismissed these concerns, saying that Ukrainian companies have continued to fulfill their contracts, Itar-Tass reported.He warned, however, that Moscow could fill the void left by Ukrainian enterprises within two to three months.

If Ukraine pulls out of the Dnepr program, missile conversion could be handled by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau, a state-run entity that builds Russia's submarine launched ICBMs.This year, the Dnepr rocket is set to launch more than 34 mini-satellites  — which are typically single-purpose machines that are cheap to make and easy to replace.
Yuzhmash is involved in a number of cooperative projects with the Russian space industry,  not just the Dnepr project. It builds Zenit rockets for Sea Launch using a large proportion of components imported from Russia.


http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-to-launch-fleet-of-mini-satellites-in-june/501107.html

F-35 Achieves Three Major Flight Test Milestones On Same Day



In three separate flight tests on May 27, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft demonstrated air-to-air combat capability, completed the first flight test with the next level software load and accomplished a landing at the maximum test speed and drop rate.In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet’s air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.
Test pilot Lt. Col. Andrew ‘Growler’ Allen tracked two maneuvering drone targets, making the very first dual AMRAAM shot from any F-35 variant, and the first live AMRAAM shot from the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.

“The U.S. Marine Corps, which operates F-35Bs, will be the first military service branch to attain combat-ready Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2015,” said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35 Test & Verification. “This Weapon Delivery Accuracy test highlighted the air combat capability that will give Marine aviators a decisive combat edge in contested airspace.”
 The F-35’s internally-carried AIM-120 AMRAAMs are a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations and considered a “fire-and-forget” missile using active target radar guidance.

Flying from Edwards Air Force Base, an F-35A flew a 1.9 hour mission with the first-ever load of Block 3i hardware and software. Block 3i is the next level of capability and is planned to support U.S. Air Force F-35A IOC in 2016.    
The F-35C, designed for aircraft carrier operations, completed a landing at its maximum sink speed to test the aircraft’s landing gear, airframe and arrestment system at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.  “Five sorties were conducted, building up the maximum sink rate test condition of 21.4 feet per second, which represents the maximum sink speed planned for this test,” McFarlan said. During the tests, the F-35C did three arrestments, several touch and goes and one bolter. The landings were to demonstrate structural readiness for arrested landings on an aircraft carrier at sea.
Fleet-wide, the F-35 has, to date, amassed more than 17,000 flight hours, with all three variant aircraft at the F-35 Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB, Florida, surpassing the 5,000 sorties milestone this week.

The F-35 Lightning II, a 5th generation fighter, combines advanced low observable stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 10 other countries. Following the U.S. Marine Corps’ planned 2015 IOC, the U.S. Air Force and Navy intend to attain IOC in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/may/150529ae_f-35-achieves-three-milestones-on-same-day.html

Last warship built in Portsmouth is handed over to Royal Oman Navy




A CEREMONY has been held to mark the handing over of a warship to the Royal Navy of Oman.
Al Rasikh is the third and final Khareef class corvette built by BAE Systems in Portsmouth.
She is the last warship to be constructed in Portsmouth after the company’s announcement that shipbuilding will end in the city.The handing over ceremony took place at Portsmouth Naval Base this morning, attended by local dignitaries as well as families of the crew.Mick Ord, managing director of BAE Systems, said: ‘The Interim Acceptance of Al Rasikh, is a significant milestone in the Khareef project and reflects a culmination of the long and successful relationship that BAE Systems has enjoyed with the Royal Navy of Oman for over 35 years.’


http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/business/local-business/last-warship-built-in-portsmouth-is-handed-over-to-royal-navy-of-oman-1-6085444

Russia May Begin Constructing Advanced Military Drones in 2014 – Defense Ministry



Photo: Anton Denisov


Russia may begin to develop advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UAV) with longer flight endurance in 2014, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters Thursday."We are ready to consider starting a development work this year with plans to complete it and move on to the official tests or experimental military use of future devices in 2017," Borisov said.The project is being developed by the Ministry of Defense together with the Kazan-based Sokol company, recently renamed after prominent Russian aircraft designer Mikhail Simonov. The deputy minister noted that the company had listened to critical comments, and in the past year and a half the program was revised and positive changes are already noticeable.
"I am convinced that all of the components for the future project and the results of the research work, which is almost finished, may allow us to start the development with minimal risk. We have already decided that we will start our work this year," Borisov stated.The deputy defense minister stressed that reconnaissance and assault drones are in high demand today, and that the Russian Ministry of Defense pays special attention to this area.In the future, UAVs will be able to solve strategic military problems due to their stealth and greater combat stability compared to manned aircraft, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said.The Russian Defense Ministry said on May 20 that it would spend some $9.2 billion on UAVs in the period to 2020, and that defense experts would train the country’s soldiers to operate those drones.

http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140529/190223169/Russia-May-Begin-Constructing-Advanced-Military-Drones-in-2014-.html

US spy drones flies in UK airspace for the first time


A US spy drone has flown through UK airspace for the first time, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The unarmed and unmanned Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft was taking part in a Nato exercise and flew in segregated airspace.The drone entered UK airspace on three occasions in the last month.It travelled from a base in Italy, through southern Europe and on to Norway via UK airspace before returning, the MoD said.Officials said the flights will help studies into the future of remotely-piloted air systems (RPAS).Air Vice Marshal Phil Osborn said: "It is good to see existing airspace procedures enabling the seamless integration of remotely-piloted air systems, such as the unarmed Global Hawk aircraft, within European airspace.

"This trial will have helped with the development of the Nato alliance ground surveillance system (AGS) and the future airspace integration of RPAS."The drones flew at 50,000 feet, which is well above the cruising altitude of commercial airlines, the MoD said.The trial, codenamed Unified Vision, comes ahead of the Nato summit in Wales in September, where world leaders will gather to discuss issues including terrorism, piracy and cyber attacks.


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27626879

Jindalee Operational Radar Network Achieves Final Operational Capability



The Jindalee Operational Radar Network, provided by Joint Project 2025 Phase Five, has achieved Final Operational Capability (FOC) Defence Minister David Johnston said today.
Senator Johnston said the successful delivery of JP 2025 Phase Five has improved JORN’s over-the-horizon-radar performance and its integration with the wider Defence command and control and intelligence networks.“The Jindalee Operational Radar Network contributes to Australia’s security environment by providing wide area surveillance of Australia’s northern approaches, Senator Johnston said.

“Achieving Final Operational Capability means the system’s components are now fully operational and fully developed and they meet the final standards required by Defence to operate effectively.
“FOC takes into account all elements required to sustain and operate a capability with the necessary support, maintenance, training, personnel and operational arrangements in place.”
The enhancements to JORN under JP 2025 Phase Five have provided greater integration and connectivity between the JORN radar sites, its control systems and wider Defence command and surveillance networks.JORN consists of a network of three radar sites located at Longreach, QLD, Laverton, WA, and Alice Springs, NT, and is operated by 1 Radar Surveillance Unit (1RSU) located at RAAF Edinburgh, SA.The prime contractors for JP 2025 Phase Five were Lockheed Martin and British Aerospace Systems – Australia.


http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2014/05/28/minister-for-defence-jindalee-operational-radar-network-achieves-final-operational-capability/

Vietnam Navy Received Third FAC-Gun TT400TP




On the morning of 28/5, Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company held a gun ship handover TT400TP HQ274 number (the number 3) for Vietnam Navy.HQ-274 gun ship was the number 3 Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company completed, handed over to the Navy after 2 handed gun ship HQ-272 and HQ-273 before the Navy to ensure quality, schedule, consistent with the requirements set forth.
Before organizing the ceremony, HQ-274 gun ship has undergone these tests as: Acceptance of Phase 1, the long road test, test coaching crew finished the 2 train ... period, and council level assessment test is required to achieve the design, quality, aesthetic as well as putting into operation and use.TT400TP class ship cannon produced by Vietnam based on the preliminary design from foreign buyers. TT is an abbreviation of the word "patrol", also from TP stands for "gun boat".

TT400TP class is automatically controlled gun ships on the sea with four tasks: destroy all amphibious ships and escort ships of the enemy; based protection and amphibious fleet escort fleet in the operation of forces and ships serving the scanning force mine; protecting civil ships at sea and tactical reconnaissance planes of the water.The first of class ship is TT400TP HQ-bearing number 272 dated 22.04.2009 boot, formally transferred to the Navy Vietnam dated 16/1/2012.
The second unit bearing number 273 HQ-handed Navy Vietnam dated 31/08/2012. Vessels of 413 tons displacement when no load is 446 tons and the average load of 480 tons at full load.
Longest length 54.16 m, width 9.16 m widest, draft 2.7 m. Maximum speed 32 knots / h, range 2500 nautical miles when the train runs at economical speed 14 knots / hour.Train continuous operation 30 days and nights at sea, capable of combat in wave conditions in run level 5 and level wind conditions 9, 10 and 8 wave level.Regarding weapons, ships equipped with 14.5 mm air defense guns, gunboats automatic AK-176 76 mm automatic cannon and a 6-barreled 30 mm AK-630 radar lead shot to destroy targets at sea, overhead. Ship is also equipped with anti-aircraft missile system MANPAD SA-N-14 Grouse 2 tubes.



http://baodatviet.vn/quoc-phong/quoc-phong-viet-nam/suc-manh-tau-phao-hai-quan-viet-nam-vua-tiep-nhan-3039869/

Royal Australian Navy Acquires Damen Vessel for Aviation Training





The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is to acquire a 90 m vessel, built by Damen Shipyards, for naval aviation training.Speaking at the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Asia Pacific 2014 conference on 17 March, Piet van Rooij, Damen's manager for Design and Proposal, Offshore and Transport, said that the vessel will be based on the company's OPV 2400 platform.

The full-functional vessel is expected to be used for training RAN aviators on rotary aircraft such as the MH-60R.A contract with Australian company Defence Maritime Services, which will manage the acquisition for the RAN, is expected to be signed towards the end of March.


Indonesia Plans to Open Maintenance Centre for Russia-Made Helicopters





Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia, plans to open a maintenance centre to service Russia-made helicopters. Four civil helicopters Mil Mi-171 were delivered to Indonesia in early May, the Russian embassy in that country told ITAR-TASS on Wednesday.

Helicopters will be used by several Indonesian agencies and companies, including the National Agency of Emergency Situations. “Creation of a maintenance centre to service this type of Russian aircrafts is on agenda. Its delivery is planned to enlarge to Indonesia,” the Russian diplomatic mission noted.

Meanwhile, supplies of one more type of Russian machinery began to Indonesia in early May. Four trucks KAMAZ were delivered to the country on the order from Indonesian company Tehnika Ina to pass certification. Certification of Russian vehicles is expected to be finalized in September.


http://en.itar-tass.com/world/733624

Royal Navy takes over Culdrose air base Hawk jets






Fast jets operating out of the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose in Cornwall have been returned to full military control.The 14 Hawk T1 jets now make up 736 Naval Air Squadron and are flown by military and civilian pilots.Until recently the aircraft were operated by private contractor SERCO which still provides three of the civilian pilots.Their role includes acting as target aircraft to train ship crews.Lt Cdr Tim Flatman, the squadron's commanding officer, says they will also help train pilots for the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier."We pretend to be enemy aircraft and missiles, primarily working with the ships in the south coast danger areas," he said."Whatever they need us to simulate we try our best to do that for them."The Hawk is the same type of aircraft as those flown by the Red Arrows air display squadron.


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-27584899

Diehl signed a cooperation agreement with Elbit Systems on A400M protection system



Diehl Defence signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with Elbit Systems, to equip the Bundeswehr´s Airbus A400M transport aircraft with its self-protection system. The agreement was signed at the International Aviation and Space Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin on May 20.

Diehl combines three of Elbit System´s J-MUSIC™ (Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasure) systems into a multi-turret DIRCM (Directed Infrared Counter Measure) system ensuring complete 360° protection of the aircraft. J-MUSIC is designed to protect large military and commercial aircraft against terrorist attacks by infrared-guided missiles.

Elbit Systems completed extensive testing of the J-MUSIC™ system and has delivered systems to equip several aircraft for customers this year.

The cooperation agreement between Diehl and Elbit Systems provides the Bundeswehr with an optimal, operationally-ready DIRCM solution. Diehl would be able to deliver the first DIRCM protection system for the A400M in 2015

http://www.diehl.com/en/diehl-group/press/diehl-signed-a-cooperation-agreement-with-elbit-systems-on-a400m-protection-system/190.html

Australia : GM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-Off Missile (JASSM) achieves Final Operational Capability



Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, today announced Final Operational Capability (FOC) had been achieved for Project AIR 5418, the AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-Off Missile (JASSM).“The Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-Off Missile is now fully in service and is an extremely capable, long range missile that meets the future requirements of Air Force,” Senator Johnston said.

“Successful JASSM integration forms a key piece of the strike capability and ensures that Air Force can meet future operational demands.”Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO, said the JASSM was designed to attack high-value, heavily defended targets such as hardened bunkers, or pinpoint objectives such as radar and communications sites.“This is a great achievement for Air Force and is a major milestone for our air combat capability,” Air Marshal Brown said.
“This long range, highly accurate missile can be released far from enemy targets, keeping RAAF aircrew out of harm’s way without compromising mission objectives.”

JASSM is a ‘military-off-the-shelf’ long range guided missile developed by the United States Air Force, with a 1000-pound penetrator/blast fragmentation conventional warhead, capable of precisely striking targets from over 300 kilometres away.The Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for JASSM was declared in 2011, following successful test firings at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia.