Tuesday, July 13, 2010

DTN News: UK Unveils Taranis Unmanned Combat Jet Prototype

Defense News: DTN News: UK Unveils Taranis Unmanned Combat Jet Prototype
Source: DTN News - this article / report compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BBC News & BAE Systems
(NSI News Source Info) WARTON/LONDON, U.K. - July 13, 2010: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled a prototype of its first unmanned combat aircraft.
The plane will test the possibility of developing a stealth jet fighter with no pilots.
The MoD says the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) would be able to precisely strike targets at long range and would be controlled by military crews on the ground.
Speaking at its unveiling in Lancashire, minister for international security strategy Gerald Howarth said: "Taranis is a truly trailblazing project."
"The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation's advanced design and technology skills and is a leading programme on the global stage." Flight trials of the prototype unmanned combat aircraft will start next year.
Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the concept demonstrator will test the possibility of developing the first ever autonomous stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent.Should such systems enter into service, they will at all times be under the control of highly trained military crews on the ground.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire, Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth said: “Taranis is a truly trailblazing project. The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation’s advanced design and technology skills and is a leading programme on the global stage.”
Representing the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design, Taranis is an informal partnership of the UK MoD and industry talents including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation.
Speaking on behalf of the industry team, Nigel Whitehead, Group managing director of BAE Systems' Programmes & Support business, said: "Taranis has been three and a half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours. It represents a significant step forward in this country's fast-jet capability. This technology is key to sustaining a strong industrial base and to maintain the UK's leading position as a centre for engineering excellence and innovation."
The Taranis prototype will provide the UK MoD with critical knowledge on the technical and manufacturing challenges and the potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems.
or further information, please contact:
Sqn Ldr Bruno Wood at UK Ministry of Defence Press
Office Tel: +44 (0) 207 218 1534,
Tim Foreman at the DE&S Press
OfficeMob: +44 (0) 7990 506591
Adam Morrison, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 852714
Mob: + 44 (0)7525 390393
Leonie Foster, BAE Systems plc
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 383777
Mob: +44 (0) 7540 630168
Email: leonie.foster@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 38394724
hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
http://www.baesystems.com/
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DTN News: China Seals Y-12 Light Aircrafts Deal With Venezuela

Defense News: DTN News: China Seals Y-12 Light Aircrafts Deal With Venezuela
Source: DTN News - compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - July 13, 2010: The China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) has concluded a delivery contract with Venezuela on twenty five multi-purpose Y-12 light aircraft and two helicopters, the China Daily said on Tuesday.
The aircraft will be used by a new airline company to be established by the South American state. An AVIC source denied the Chinese side planned to invest $300 million in the new air carrier.
The contract was concluded on Friday between the AVIC subsidiary the AVIC International Holding Corp and Venezuela's Fundagrial fund and the Sireca company. The financial details of the contract have not been revealed.
The Chinese company will supply other six planes to Venezuela over the next five years.
The contract is expected to enhance aviation ties between the two countries and improve the level of air carrier services in South America.
China is Venezuela's second-largest trading partner, while Venezuela is China's fifth-largest trading partner in South America.

DTN News: Russia To Deliver 21 Mi-17 Transport Helicopters To Afghanistan

Defense News: DTN News: Russia To Deliver 21 Mi-17 Transport Helicopters To Afghanistan
Source: DTN News / Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - July 13, 2010: Russia will supply Afghanistan with 21 Mi-17 Hip military transport helicopters, an Afghan television channel reported on Monday.
According to Tolo television, the contract is worth $300 million and was concluded with the approval of the с command in Afghanistan.
Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin told RIA Novosti on Monday that NATO had yet to agree on the exact delivery date of some time in July, although the alliance has voiced the need for Russian transport helicopters a long time ago.
The Mi-17 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship.
The Afghan Air Force currently has 25 Mi-17 helicopters, which are widely used for troop and cargo transport, rescue and evacuation missions in the fight against Taliban militants.
Afghanistan plans to increase the number of Mi-17 helicopters to 56 by 2012. The majority of Afghan helicopters pilots were trained in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Andrei Avetisyan told reporters on Monday that Moscow was ready to supply Russian-made weaponry to the war-ravaged Central Asian state.
"We have repeatedly stated our readiness to deliver military equipment to Afghanistan," the diplomat said.
In December 2002, Russia's Defense Ministry signed a contract with Afghanistan to provide military-technical assistance to Kabul with deliveries of motor vehicles, fuel and lubricants, communication equipment, topographic maps, truck-mounted repair workshops and automobile and armor equipment spare parts.
However, deliveries of Russian weaponry to Afghanistan were suspended in 2005 allegedly in order to avoid "the duplication" of U.S. aid to the country, which that year totaled over $929 million, more than 80% of which was earmarked for the military and police.
Avetisyan said the Western supplies of copycat versions of Russian weaponry to Afghanistan negatively affected the combat capabilities of the Afghan armed forces.
"We are mainly talking about the Kalashnikov assault rifles, which are manufactured under expired licenses in several East European countries," the ambassador said.

DTN News: Russian Warship To Visit British Port Ahead Of FRUKUS 2010 Drills

Defense News: DTN News: Russian Warship To Visit British Port Ahead Of FRUKUS 2010 Drills
Source: DTN News / Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - July 13, 2010: The Severomorsk destroyer from Russia's Northern Fleet will make a port call in Plymouth from July 16-23 before joining NATO warships in the FRUKUS 2010 naval drills.
"The visit will continue until July 23 and is linked with the ship's participation in the FRUKUS 2010 international exercises," a spokesman for the Russian Navy said on Monday.
The FRUKUS 2010 exercises will be held from July 22-25 in the North Atlantic.
The annual naval drills, which traditionally involve France, Russia, Britain and the United States, practice interoperability for future joint operations under a UN mandate.
Previously called RUKUS, the exercises were launched in 1988 to promote dialogue between the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States. The name was changed to FRUKUS in 2003, when France formally joined the group.
Severomorsk is an Udaloy class guided-missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and two Ka-27 Helix helicopters.
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