Iran’s radars can detect UAVs - commander

Iran's national defense system has been equipped with advanced radars capable of detecting UAVs

Iran's national defense system has been equipped with advanced radars capable of detecting unmanned aerial vehicles, a senior military commander said on Saturday.

“No unauthorized unmanned aircraft now dares fly over the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said, according to Press TV.

Iran’s Air Defense Forces are ready to destroy any unmanned aircraft in the country's air space, he said.

Esmaili announced last month air defense specialists had designed a space radar capable detecting and tracking cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft and objects located at a distance of several thousands kilometers.

Source: Ria Novosti

Air Force Drones Infected With Unknown Computer Virus That Won't Go Away

No matter what military computer technicians do, they can’t seem to remove a virus from the computer systems that control military drones.

The virus infecting ground control stations at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada was identified by military’s Host-Based Security System two weeks ago. It is reported the virus is tracking everything the drones do as they fly over areas like Afghanistan.

Drone pilots at ground control station use joysticks to remotely operate drones. (Photo: Wired)

Wired’s Danger Room released an exclusive report:

“We keep wiping it off, and it keeps coming back,” says a source familiar with the network infection, one of three that told Danger Room about the virus. “We think it’s benign. But we just don’t know.”

Military network security specialists aren’t sure whether the virus and its so-called “keylogger” payload were introduced intentionally or by accident; it may be a common piece of malware that just happened to make its way into these sensitive networks. The specialists don’t know exactly how far the virus has spread. But they’re sure that the infection has hit both classified and unclassified machines at Creech. That raises the possibility, at least, that secret data may have been captured by the keylogger, and then transmitted over the public internet to someone outside the military chain of command.

[...]

The Air Force declined to comment directly on the virus. “We generally do not discuss specific vulnerabilities, threats, or responses to our computer networks, since that helps people looking to exploit or attack our systems to refine their approach,” says Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis, a spokesman for Air Combat Command, which oversees the drones and all other Air Force tactical aircraft. “We invest a lot in protecting and monitoring our systems to counter threats and ensure security, which includes a comprehensive response to viruses, worms, and other malware we discover.”

Even still, the virus has not grounded any of the drones from continuing missions and no incidents have been reported of information being lost or sent to other sources, although experts are unsure how far it has spread. Wired goes on to report that drones have been known for security flaws:Many Reapers and Predators don’t encrypt the video they transmit to American troops on the ground. In the summer of 2009, U.S. forces discovered “days and days and hours and hours” of the drone footage on the laptops of Iraqi insurgents. A $26 piece of software allowed the militants to capture the video.

MQ-1 Predator (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

The virus, sources believe, were spread through removable drives, the use of which has became restricted by the military after the agent.btz worm was introduced into defense computers with this method. So far, technicians have had to completely erase the hard drives of infected systems to remove the virus and painstakingly rebuild them from scratch.

Source: The Blaze

Azeris get Israel UAVs built under license

UAV Searcher MK. II

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Azerbaijan is expected to acquire 60 small Israeli-designed unmanned aerial vehicles built under license in the oil-rich former Soviet republic that's moving closer to the Jewish state as the Baku government modernizes its military.

The burgeoning military and intelligence alliance between the countries is causing growing concern in Iran, Azerbaijan's southern neighbor, and in nearby longtime rival Armenia.

Chinook choppers grounded after computer problem

Two of Australia's Chinooks are based in Afghanistan

The Australian Army has grounded its CH-47D Chinook helicopters after finding possible problems with the aircraft's flight control systems.
The Defence Department says the suspension of flying operations is a precaution to ensure safety and is consistent with procedures.

The Chinooks will remain grounded while a technical analysis by Defence and Boeing is carried out.

Senior NATO commander to talk Euro missile shield in Moscow

NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, U.S. Admiral James Stavridis

NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, U.S. Admiral James Stavridis and Russia's Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov will make another attempt to overcome the deadlock in Russia-NATO talks on European missile defense during their meeting in Moscow on Monday.

Makarov and Stavridis are expected to discuss "the current state and prospects of Russia-NATO cooperation in the military sphere," including the creation of the European missile shield, and address "relevant regional and international security issues," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Bulgarian Navy Finally Gets 1st Panther Helicopter in Troubled Eurocopter Deal

(Left) Bulgaria's PM Borisov, Defense Minister Angelov, Read Admiral Manushev are among the guests at the ceremony for receiving the first Eurocopter 'Panther' helicopter (right) by the Bulgarian Navy. Photo by Defense Ministry

The Bulgarian Navy has formally received the first out of a total of three Pantherhelicopters in a highly troubled supply deal that Bulgarian Defense Ministry made with Eurocopter.

The first "Panther" was welcomed at a ceremony at the naval helicopter base "Chayka" near the Black Sea city of Varna by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov,Defense Minister Anyu Angelov, the commander-in-chief of the Bulgarian NavyRear Admiral Plamen Manushev, Varna and Great Preslav's Bishop Kiril, as well as representatives of the French Embassy and the supplier, Eurocopter.

With Russian help, India to join ICBM big league soon

Agni Missile

India is all set to join the select group of nations capable of launching nuclear strikes across continent. With Russia ready to provide the cutting-edge “seeker” technology for India’s Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the country is ready to flaunt its nuclear might in a big way by year end when the ICBM will undergo its maiden launch.

The development of the ICBM had been delayed because no country was ready to provide India the crucial ‘seekers’ technology, which enables the missile to home in on the target with pinpoint precision. The ICBM will be capable of carrying nuclear payload and has a strike range of 10,000 km.

Stingers for Egypt and Turkey, 2011

Avenger, firing

In fall 2011, Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $26 million firm-fixed-price contract from Egypt and Turkey for 174 Stinger FIM-92H Block 1 missiles, 10 Electronic Component Assemblies, and spare parts. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-09-C-0508).

LockMart's JLTV Meets Mine-Resistant Vehicle Protection Levels at 40 Percent Less Weight

The results verified Lockheed Martin's JLTV can protect soldiers from powerful blasts and still be transported by vertical lift, a new mobility option for the Army and Marines at this protection level. Previous U.S. Army and Marine Corps tests showed JLTV can be transported by CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters.

Recent government blast tests demonstrated that Lockheed Martin's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) meets protection standards for IED-protected vehicles, while weighing approximately 40 percent less than other all-terrain models deployed in theater.

Lockheed Martin's JLTV succeeded in its blast tests, which used explosions commonly tested against many existing mine-resistant fleet vehicles.

Big New Chinese Order for Russian Fighter Engines

Russia has now sold nearly 1,000 AL-31 engines to China, where they power J-10 and J-11 fighters.

China has placed additional orders for Russian AL-31-series fighter engines. State arms trade agency Rosoboronexport clinched two big contracts earlier this year. One is for more than 150 AL-31Fs as replacements for earlier engines of same type that power the Su-27/Su-30MKK/MK2 fighters, that are designated J-11 in China. Engines under this contract will be assembled by the Ufa-based UMPO factory.

Vietnam launched K122 Navy ships

K122 ship at launch ceremony.

Morning 5 / 10, General Factory Z189 defense industry has celebrated and successful launch passenger K122 by factory closed. Tau K122 is a modern passenger ships and the largest current Navy Vietnam by design and construction. 

PT DI, Spain's EADS-CASA to Produce C-295 Planes

NC-295 Landing at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) and European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS)-CASA Spain are to cooperate in producing C-295 light military transport planes, a DI official said.

"The C-295 plane is the result of CN-235 development with its fuselage extended by three meters while the wings are the same and the engine is bigger," PT DI president director Budi Santoso said after meeting with Airbus Military CEO and deputy minister of defense Domingo Urena Raso here on Tuesday.

U.S. Navy May Cut Carrier's Life in Half To Save Money

THE CARRIER GEORGE Washington could become a victim of large-scale Pentagon budget cuts. Navy officials caution that no final decisions have been made.

Under heavy pressure to find real cuts, U.S. Navy officials are considering decommissioning a nuclear aircraft carrier halfway through its planned lifespan, two Pentagon sources said.

The USS George Washington's three-year-long refueling overhaul, scheduled to begin in 2016, would be canceled under the scheme, and the ship would be decommissioned as its reactor fuel ran out.

Indonesian defense budget up by 35% next year

Iron eagles: Several Sukhoi fighter jets of the Indonesian Air Force in a fly past during the 66th celebration of the Indonesian Military (TNI) at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta on Wednesday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday that the defense budget would increase to Rp 64.4 trillion (US$7 billion) in 2012, from Rp 47.5 trillion this year.

“Due to the importance and strategic roles of the military, the government is focusing on developing it,” Yudhoyono said during an event held to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the Indonesian military (TNI), in Jakarta.

1st PHL-made navy vessel unveiled in PICMW

The Philippine Iron Construction and Marine Works (PICMW) located in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental has completed the construction of the first Philippine-made Navy vessel, a 579-ton Landing Craft Utility (LCU).

The ship’s hull and fixtures were made fully by PICMW while the engine and propulsion system was created by Propmech Corporation, a known Philippine marine dealer for Caterpillar propulsion sytems on seacrafts.

Israeli tech uses lasers to protect civilian aircraft

Courtesy of Elbit System

Reports of 20,000 missing shoulder fired anti-aircraft rockets in Libya have sent shivers down the spines of many airline security officials, who fear they may find their way into the hands of terrorists. US Senator Barbara Boxer has already called for hundreds of American jetliners to be outfitted with protection from such threats.

No such commercially available protection system exists, yet. But an Israeli company has developed the world’s only civilian system that can be mounted on a passenger liner, which detects incoming missiles and -- without shooting them down -- deflects them with laser technology.

Ukraine ‘ready’ to join Euro missile shield project agreed with Russia

Ukraine is ready to contribute to the creation of the European missile shield if the program is developed in cooperation with Russia, Ukrainian envoy to NATO Igor Dolgov said on Thursday.

“It is obvious that this project would be of a special interest for Ukraine if the NATO system is built together with Russia,” the Ukrainian Unian news agency quoted Dolgov as saying in Brussels.

“If a system is built that would cover parts of Europe on either side of Ukraine,” the diplomat added, “this is in our natural interest.”

Report: Israel is world's No. 3 arms exporter, trailing only U.S. and Russia

Elbit System Unmanned Weapon

The Congressional Research Service said Israel became the third biggest arms exporter in the world in 2010. In a report, CRS said Israel followed only the United States and Russia and signed agreements for $2 billion worth of orders last year.

The report, titled "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2003-2010," did not cite Israel's major defense clients in 2010. But author Richard Grimmett said Israel beat out such major suppliers as Britain, China, France and Italy in arms transfer agreements.

Russia,U.S. to hold naval anti-terror exercises

Russian missile cruiser Varyag

The Russian and the United States navies will carry out joint anti-terrorism exercises in late October near the Mariana Islands, a Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman said.

Exercise Pacific Eagle will simulate Russian and U.S. ships liberating a vessel seized by terrorists.

First prototype of the new Russian air defense missile system S-500 will be ready and tested by 2015

Russian S-500 TEL (77P6) launcher vehicle air defense missile system line drawing

The development of Russia's formidable S-500 air defense system is lagging behind schedule by at least two years, the Izvestia daily said on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, citing a defense industry source. According to the source, the first prototypes will be ready and tested by 2015, while the deliveries to the Russian army could start in 2017 at the earliest.

Spain To Host U.S. Ships for NATO Missile Defense

AT THE OCT. 5 announcement were, from left, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. (Win McNamee / Getty Images via AFP)

BRUSSELS - Spain and the U.S. have announced that Spain will provide a base for U.S. ships in support of NATO's missile defense system.

The Oct. 5 agreement was announced by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at NATO headquarters in the margins of a meeting of NATO defense ministers here Oct. 5 and 6.

South Korea threatens to cancel all defense deals with Israel

South Korean T-50 Light Attck Trainer

The purchase of the Israel Air Force's new training plane is causing serious diplomatic tension between Israel and South Korea: Fearing that Israel has already decided on a rival plane made in Italy, the Koreans are now threatening in return to cancel all their deals for purchasing Israeli defense systems.

In recent years, the South Koreans have purchased an average of $280 million a year in such defense products.

THAAD Weapon System Achieves Intercept of Two Targets at Pacific Missile Range Facility

THAAD is the only missile defense system with the operational flexibility to intercept in both the endo- and exo-atmospheres to provide versatile capability to the warfighter.

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Army conducted a flight test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system today, challenging the system to track, detect and intercept two different targets utilizing two THAAD interceptors - a first for the system.


The flight test, known as FTT-12, was designated an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation test by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation and the Army Test and Evaluation Command will also independently evaluate the operational effectiveness of the system. It was conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii.

United States U.S. Army to Procure 56 AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radars From ThalesRaytheonSystems

ThalesRaytheonSystems AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel three-dimensional air defense radar

ThalesRaytheonSystems today announced that the U.S. Army will procure 56 Improved Sentinel Battlefield Air Defense AN/MPQ-64 Radars. ThalesRaytheonSystems has already delivered more than 220 radars to customers worldwide. The company is working with several allied nations to leverage the current production to meet their sensing requirements.

Made-in-Vietnam battleship unveiled

The artillery ship TT400TP was unveiled on September 27

On the morning of September 27, Colonel Nguyen Van Dac, political commissar of the Hong Ha ship-building plant, received a phone call saying: “Dear political commissar, all weapons and equipment on the battleship successfully shot their targets.”

He immediately informed the good news to others in happy tears.

Cabinet approves 2 new Black Hawks

Blackhawk UH-60M

The cabinet has approved the Defence Ministry's proposal to buy two new Black Hawk helicopters at a cost of 2.841 billion baht, using a previously tied-over budget for 2011-2013, deputy government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said on Tuesday.

The purchase will be funded from the previously tied budget over three years.

Spain ready to help AFP modernization

C-295

MANILA, Philippines - Spain is ready to support the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and is willing to provide equipment to boost the military’s capabilities.

Constantino Mendez Martinez, Spain’s Vice-Minister of Defense, said yesterday they are willing to give second-hand defense articles if requested by the Philippine government.

“A government-to-government transaction is possible subject to existing laws. I must stress that it is the Philippine government that should enumerate its needs,” Martinez told The STAR.

“It is every country’s right to state its needs and our role is to facilitate the (acquisition) process so we could hasten it,” he added.

Navy pushes for sub plan

Type 216 Submarine

New navy chief Surasak Runroengrom still hopes the plan to buy used submarines from Germany will be considered by the cabinet today despite opposition from the Defence Ministry.

The expectation is based on his retired predecessor Kamthorn Phumhiran's claim that he met a phu yai (influential person) in the government who agrees in principle to the deal with Germany.

"I will push ahead with the plan," Adm Surasak said yesterday, adding that the navy has asked the German defence ministry to extend the deal settlement period again after the Sept 30 deadline.

PCG needs P5B for 7 helicopters

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will tap financial institutions to finance the acquisition of seven helicopters and additional infrastructure and equipment amounting to P5 billion.


Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo said at the sidelines of yesterday’s Maritime Forum that PCG’s new acquisition will help strengthen its capability to enforce its functions now that they already have the PCG Law or the Republic Act (RA) 9993.

Tamayo said the proposal to acquire new choppers is being reviewed by the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC).


The PCG hopes that NEDA would fast track the approval and realize the urgency to purchase in order to help save more lives in case of sea disasters.