Aerial view of Russian MAKS-2015 air show - 1

Benefits of Socialism in Venezuela based on oil sales

Populism, socialism, entitlements and  freebies.

Venezuelan soldiers being attacked by the public for food and govt. office scrap.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuelas-food-shortages-trigger-long-lines-hunger-and-looting-1440581400?mod=trending_now_3

2 Indian Naval Warships INS Betwa and INS Beas dock at Iranian port

In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties with Iran, two Indian Naval Warships - INS Betwa and INS Beas - today sailed into the Bandar-e-Abbas port and will hold joint sea exercises. The visit comes days after an Indian warship anchored at Israel's Haifa port. During their five-day stay in Iran, the ships will hold various interactions with their Iranian Navy counterparts and joint exercises at sea.

During their five-day stay in Iran, the ships will hold various interactions with their Iranian Navy counterparts and joint exercises at sea. The visit would also include training and sports events between the two navies. This deployment would add another chapter to the cordial relations and defence cooperation between India and Iran, an Indian Navy statement said. INS Betwa and INS Beas, both are indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Frigates of the Brahmaputra Class.

The 125-metres long ships displace 3,600 tonnes and are capable of operating at extended ranges, with speeds up to 30 knots. They have state-of-the-art sensor suites and an impressive weapon package, including long range surface-to-surface missiles and anti-missile defence systems. Their combat capability is further augmented by the capability to embark two multi-mission capable Seaking helicopters. The ships have completed over a decade of service with the Indian Navy. INS Betwa is presently commanded by Captain KM Ramakrishnan and INS Beas is commanded by Captain Deepak Bhatia. Iran and India relationship is centuries old and contemporary relation is characterised by interactions in the fields of commerce, energy and education.

"It has been India's national objective to ensure a secure and stable regional environment, which is conducive for economic and social development not just at home, but also in immediate and extended neighbourhood. "The Indian Navy, while shouldering its security responsibilities, is committed to these objectives and has been contributing towards humanitarian assistance, capacity building and capability enhancement of friendly foreign countries when so needed," the statement said.

Airbus Helicopters to demo Tiger combat aircraft in Poland

Airbus Helicopters reports its Tiger aircraft will perform a flight demonstration in Poland prior to the start next week's MSPO defense exhibition.The Tiger HAD chosen for the demonstration is from the French Army, which has used Tigers in operations in Afghanistan and the Sahel.

"With its flat and narrow silhouette, the Tiger HAD's advantages include low detectability, low vulnerability, high survivability, high agility and maneuverability making it the attack helicopter best adapted to both symmetric and asymmetric battlefields with unique capabilities whether for air-to-ground or air-to-air combat," France-based Airbus Helicopters said.The company is offering the Tiger in its bid for a Polish Army contract.The Tiger is a twin-engine aircraft with an all-composite structure, a glass cockpit and a full range of armament, including a 30mm turret cannon and a range of wing-mounted missiles and rockets.

It has a maximum speed of 196 miles per hour without mast and a combat range of 500 miles, which can be extended through additional fuel tanks.It is flown by the military forces of France, Germany, Spain and Australia.

More - New Sukhoi T-50 fighter jet debuts at MAKS-2015 air show

PLA tests missile to protest Japan's second helicopter destroyer

In protest over the launch of Japan's second Izumo-class helicopter destroyer, China test-launched its Sunburn supersonic anti-ship missile during a naval exercise held in the disputed East China Sea on Aug. 27, according to the state-run China News Service.

More than 100 warships, including the Russian-built Sovremennyy-class destroyer from the PLA's North, South and East Sea fleets were mobilized for the war game. In addition, PLA Air Force aircraft taking part in the exercise provided the warships an opportunity to coordinate with aircraft and submarines in an environment close to real combat.

It is the third-largest exercise the PLA Navy has launched within the last two months, according to state news agency Xinhua. Some of the hardware mobilized for the exercises are likely to be demonstrated to the public during the military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day.

Beijing decided to launch the exercise out of anger over the launch of Japan's second Izumo-class helicopter destroyer on Aug. 27, according to the China News Service.

Designed by Russia to sink aircraft carriers, the Sunburn supersonic anti-ship missile has an attacking range of 120 kilometers. Fuzhou, the PLA NAvy's second Sovremennyy-class destroyer, was responsible for the test-launch of the missile during the drill.

China has a total of four Sovremennyy-class destroyers introduced from Russia, said the report.

Nigerian Air Force Do 228 crashed

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has set up a panel to investigate circumstances surrounding the crash of Nigerian Air Force Dornier-228 aircraft.This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Dele Alonge.According to the statement, the panel is headed by an Air Vice Marshal.

The statement said the chief of air staff has aborted his official trip to Port Harcourt and would visit the crash site and families of some of the deceased personnel.It said the chief would be accompanied by the Air Officer Commanding Training Command, AVM Alikali Mamu, during the visit.According to the statement, the aircraft crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, on Saturday, killing all passengers on board.“A Nigerian Air Force Dornier-228 aircraft, with call sign NAF030, has crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna.

“Though no casualty was recorded on ground, there were no survivors among the passengers on board the aircraft,” the statement said.It said the aircraft was Abuja-bound and had taken-off at about 6.45am from the Kaduna Military Airfield before the tragedy.Alonge said the bodies of the passengers were recovered while firefighters were mobilised to the crash site to curtail fire from spreading to buildings.

Saab offers Erieye to Indonesia

Swedish defense and security giant Saab AB has signed two technology cooperation agreements that will mainly help foster the defense and aeronautics sectors in Indonesia.On Thursday, Saab chief technology officer Pontus de Laval signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) which was represented by deputy chairman for industrial technology design and engineering, Erzi Agson Gani.

Under the terms of the MoU Saab and BPPT will cooperate broadly on defense technology such as aerospace, naval and sensor technology. The collaboration will also create projects that support autonomous development of defense technology in Indonesia, the company said in a media statement.
Saab is employing the Triple Helix Model, in which the company and Sweden in general have extensive experience, in the MoU with BPPT.The Triple Helix Model calls for a strong alliance between academia, the business sector and the government.

De Laval said Saab’s development of combat air systems was one example of the implementation of the Triple Helix Model.“Efficient development of new capabilities driven by customer demands would not be possible without the cooperation with academia and government,” de Laval said.
“This cooperation will strengthen both parties and contribute to innovation.”Earlier on Wednesday, de Laval signed another MoU with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), which was represented by Rector Kadarsah Suryadi.The MoU with ITB will create cooperation within innovation and entrepreneurial development. The agreement also includes supporting scientific cooperation within areas such as aeronautics, logistics, transportation, infrastructure, “Smart City” programs and urban development.

De Laval said that Saab was happy to share its Triple Helix Model experience with ITB.“It also gives the parties an opportunity to meet, which encourages new ideas that could benefit everyone involved,” he said.In late June, Saab also signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Indonesian Defense University (Unhan).The cooperation with Unhan focuses on academic collaboration in innovation, research and development, as well as knowledge exchange.Indonesia already uses a number of systems made by Saab such as the RBS70 short range air defense missile and the G40 Giraffe Radar.
Saab has also offered its light, single-engine JAS39 Gripen to replace ageing, American-made Northrop F-5 E/F Tiger II planes operated by the 14th Squadron, based at the Iswahjudi Air Force Base in Madiun, East Java.

Other contenders are the Eurofighter Typhoon, made by a consortium consisting of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK; the French-made Dassault Rafale; and the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35, which are heavy, dual-engine jet fighters. Another contender is the light, single-engine American-made Lockheed Martin F-16.

Each contender has offered a significant industrial participation scheme to sweeten the deal.

In addition to industrial participation, Saab has also offered its multirole Erieye airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) to improve Indonesia’s air defense capacity. The radar system can be installed on Saab 340 and 2000 twin turboprop regional aircraft as well as the Embraer regional jet.

Saab has also sealed cooperation deals with state-owned land system maker PT Pindad to modernize RBS 70 missiles and with shipbuilder PT Lundin Industry Invest to work on stealthy Fast Attack Craft