Le système de missiles Kornet-EM au salon MAKS-2011

Source: Ria Novosti

Kornet-EM

Le système ultramoderne de missiles polyvalents longue portée Kornet-EM est présenté au salon aéronautique et aérospatial MAKS-2011, qui a ouvert ses portes mardi à Joukovski, près de Moscou.

Le système Kornet-EM est destiné à atteindre des cibles aériennes et terrestres à une distance de 150m à 10 km. Il peut être monté sur un véhicule blindé de type Tigr, mais peut également être installé sur d’autres véhicules pesant jusqu’à 1,5 tonne.

Le Kornet-EM est équipé d’un système intégré de contrôle avec un suivi automatique des cibles.

Le destroyer russe Maréchal Chapochnikov à la loupe

Source: Ria Novosti

South Africa showcases latest Armour Developments to Armoured Vehicles Industry

Source: Defence IQ

The newest techniques and technologies developed by the South African armoured vehicles industry will be discussed at Defence IQ’s Armoured Vehicles South Africa event, taking place this month in Pretoria.

For more than a decade the country’s defence industry has played a leading role in pioneering survivability technology for armoured vehicles, through research into new armour materials, developing MRAP programmes and remaining at the forefront of V-shaped hull expertise.

Led by Major General M. R. Notshweleka of the South African National Defence Force, the conference speaker faculty will be exploring new trends in regional and international armour vehicle technology, as well as looking at the critical themes of survivability, turret accuracy and through life support. The expert speaker faculty also includes:

• Brigadier General Chris Gildenhuys, Chief of the South African Armour Formation, South African Army
• Brigadier General Paul Operha , Chief of the Gabonese Army, Gabonese Armed Forces
• Major General Sunday Idoko, Commander, 3 Armoured Division, Nigerian Army
• Dr Grace Bochenek, Director of TARDEC, US Army
• Lieutenant General Antonio Gucciardino, General Manager of the Procurement Agency for Land Systems, Italian Army

Armoured Vehicles South Africa is the first regional event of its kind and will enable delegates to enhance their understanding of the country’s defence sector and its role in the armoured vehicles market today. Attendees will also benefit from hearing operational feedback on current armoured vehicle programmes as well as  insight into the South Africa’s upcoming armoured vehicle procurement decisions

Defence IQ is offering all serving members of the South African National Defence Force, local military and employees of ARMSCOR a free pass to attend the conference.  Passes can be requested from Calum Jeffray at armouredvehicles@iqpc.co.uk.

Light Air Transports for Ghana

Source: Defense Industry Daily

C-27J SPARTAN

In September 2009, a US DSCA request for 4 C-27J aircraft plus ancillaries and support, at a price of up to $680 million, sparked considerable controversy in Ghana. As we noted at the time, a DSCA request is not a contract. It’s a legal notice under American export laws, and if Congress does not block the sale within 30 days, negotiations may begin.

Ghana is a West African country located on the Gulf of Guinea. Its parliament was chosen to host President Obama’s 2009 Africa speech, and the DSCA describes the country and the sale as ”…a U.S. Government partner which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and democracy in Africa.” As of 2011, however, Ghana is not listed or cited among the C-27J’s buyers or operators. On the other hand, it has become a confirmed buyer of Airbus Military’s rival C-295…

Ghana Needs Transports

Ghana is looking to supplement or replace its 3 aged Fokker F27 transports, whose production line closed in 1987. Note, also, that Ghana’s Air Force uses its assets in a number of quasi-civil roles as well, some of which would be well suited to the C-27J’s capabilities. The DSCA cited their need to “deploy troops to protect its borders against turmoil spreading from neighboring countries,” adding that light transports “will enhance Ghana’s ability to participate in peacekeeping operations by increasing its cargo, material, and troop transport, maritime patrol, tactical operations, and medical evacuation capabilities.”

Alenia Aeronautica’s C-27J Spartan won the USA’s Joint Cargo Aircraft competition, via a partnership with L-3 Communications Integrated Systems of Greenville, TX. L-3 was slated as the prime contractor for Ghana’s C-27J sale, hence the DSCA request, but much of the manufacturing would have taken place in Italy, with final assembly at at Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, FL.

In the end, however, Ghana appears to have bought its transports from a vendor that wasn’t subject to disclosure rules.

Russie: Véhicule chenillé articulé Vityaz DT-30PM

Source: Ria Novosti

South Africa: Germans paid R300m for SA submarines

Source: iol news

U209/1400 submarine

German industrial company Ferrostaal allegedly paid R300 million to secure the sale of submarines to South Africa, the Citizen reported on Friday.

This was among the claims made by an internal audit of the company by American-based law firm Debevoise and Plimpton.

The law firm was hired to “clean up” Ferrostaal following a series of corruption scandals and the arrest of one of its board members by the German Public Prosecutions Authority last year.

Ferrostaal said it would not release the Debevoise and Plimpton report.

On Thursday a German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, claimed it had a copy of the report.

“I would…like to state that Ferrostaal has been taking great efforts to clear up allegations of non-compliant behaviour in the past,” Ferrostaal spokeswoman Maria Lahaye-Geusen said.

In the article, Lahaye-Geusen did not deny the allegations that payments were made to South Africa in return for arms deal contracts but the company has previously denied the claims.

She said Ferrostaal would co-operate with and assist South African prosecutors if approached.

In 2008 the Sunday Times reported that Ferrostaal allegedly gave former president Thabo Mbeki R30 million in bribes and that, after sharing this with Jacob Zuma, before he became president, Mbeki gave some of the money to the ANC as a donation.

Mbeki has also denied the claims. – Sapa

Presentation du Blinde Russe BMP-3

Source: Ria Novosti

Blindé russe BMP-3

Morocco takes delivery of F-16 jets

Source: AFP/Yahoo news

Morocco took delivery on Thursday of a first batch of 24 F-16 fighter jets from the United States as part of its air force modernisation programme, a senior US officer said.

Four F-16s were delivered to Morocco, Major General Margaret Woodward of the US Air Force told reporters in the southern city of Marrakesh.

Another seven would be delivered at the beginning of 2012 and the remaining 13 in the following months, she added.

The 24 F-16s, the CD block 50-52 model, were among the most modern versions available, said Woodward.

The contract with the US, which includes the sale of equipment, services and pilot training, is worth an estimated $2.4 billion (1.7 billion euros).

The F-16s competed with the Rafale jet produced by France’s Dassault to win the Moroccan deal.

The Benguerir air base north of Marrakesh took delivery of the aircraft in a ceremony attended by senior officers of the Moroccan and US military, the MAP news agency reported.

Ghana orders two Airbus Military C295 aircraft

Source: EADS North America

EADS C-295 of the Mexican Air Force

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of two C295 aircraft. The aircraft are to be delivered from the beginning of 2012. His Excellency Minister of Defence Lt Gen. JH Smith, said the C295 will enable the Air Force to move troops and other security agencies across the country and within the West African sub-region. The aircraft will also be used for medical evacuation, paratrooping, training and humanitarian operations including assistance to organizations such as National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the peace mission of the United Nations. The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana is a new Airbus Military customer.

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana selected the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven operational capabilities in any environment, including desert areas. Furthermore, its versatility and adaptability to the most varied type of conditions and operations were other key elements in the selection of the Airbus Military C295.

Including this new order, today, 85 C295s have been ordered by 14 customers. Over 75 C295s currently in operation in 11 countries have accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours.

About the C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defense and civil assistance missions to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, environmental surveillance missions, search and rescue, aerial photography, amongst others. All these special versions are already proven in service, confirming the C295 as the most versatile aircraft in its class. Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides wide versatility and flexibility, necessary for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties or certified air-dropping capabilities. The C295 has the longest cabin in its class, allowing the transport of 71 troops, 50 paratroops or five standard cargo pallets. All these capabilities are complemented with the lowest maintenance and fuel costs in its class, thanks to efficient design and efficient engines.

Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical missions, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms.

About Airbus Military

Airbus Military is the only military and civic/humanitarian transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. An Airbus daughter company, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A330 and for further military derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft. Together with the smaller “Light & Medium” C295, CN235 and C212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market for military transport, tanker and surveillance aircraft able to perform the most varied missions. Altogether, Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft to some 130 military, civilian and governmental customers. More than 800 of these aircraft have been delivered. Airbus is an EADS company.

Test comparatif des casques de l’armée russe et de l’Otan

Source: Ria Novosti

Test Comparatif des casques de l\’Armee Russe et de l\’OTAN

Algerian Navy orders landing and support vessel amidst naval expansion

Source: Defenseweb

The Algerian Ministry of Defence has ordered a landing and logistical support vessel from the Italian company Orizzonte Sistemi Navali as the Algerian Navy modernises and expands its fleet.

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali is a joint venture between Fincantieri (the controlling shareholder) and Selex Sistemi Integrati. Fincantieri made the announcement yesterday, but did not give any further details regarding the order. Fincantieri has built three San Giorgio class amphibious transport dock ships for the Italian Navy, and this may be the type that Algeria will receive – last month Africa Intelligence reported that Algeria was examining the idea of buying a San Giorgio class vessel.

Each ship can carry a battalion of troops, up to 36 armoured vehicles or up to 30 tanks, three landing craft in the floodable stern dock, and several helicopters, including three Sea King or EH 101 Merlin helicopters or five AB 212, from a carrier-style flight deck. The San Giorgio and San Marco were laid down for the Italian Navy in 1985 and 1986 while the third vessel in the class, San Giusto, was ordered in 1991. The two oldest ships will soon be replaced by two amphibious assault ships.

The ships are armed with an Oto Melara 76/62 gun on the gun deck at the bow of the ship and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons for close defence.

The San Giorgio class are powered by two GMT A 420.12 diesel engines supplied by the Diesel Engine Division of Fincantieri and providing 16 800 hp. The propulsion system provides a maximum continuous speed of 21 knots. At the economical speed of 16 knots the maximum range of the ship is 7 500 nautical miles.

Algeria is enhancing its Navy and last year took delivery of two Kilo submarines from Russia. At the end of June, Algeria signed a deal with Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation and state arms exporter Rosoboronexport for two new Tiger class corvettes.

Jane’s noted that Algeria has been interested in acquiring Tiger ‘missile frigates’ since early 2006. The Tiger corvette (Project 20382) is an export model of the Project 20380 Steregushchy class, which is the Russian Navy’s newest corvette class. Russia plans to buy at least 30 Steregushchy class vessels for all major fleets. The first was commissioned in November 2007, according to Jane’s Naval Forces News.

The Tiger was designed to destroy enemy submarines, surface ships and aircraft and be able to guard borders and patrol exclusive economic zones. Although the hull and superstructure are made of steel, the vessels do feature stealth materials and technologies.

Powered by diesel engines, the vessel has a maximum speed of 27 knots and an economical speed of 14 knots, which gives a range of 4000 nautical miles and an endurance of 15 days, according to Rosoboronexport.

The vessel can be equipped with a variety of weaponry, including 100 or 76.2 mm guns, 14.5 mm machine guns, 533 mm torpedoes and a variety of surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles (e.g. P-800 Oniks, Uran-E or Yakhont).

In addition, the vessels have capacity for a helicopter such as the Kamov Ka-27, which is carried on the Russian vessels.

The Algerian Navy has been undergoing expansion in recent years as it faces problems such as smuggling, illegal migration and indigenous terrorism. These threats mainly affect Algeria’s harbours and maritime communication routes and ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Consequently, the Algerian Navy maintains a well trained and well equipped fleet to provide security to more than 1000 km of coastline.

According to the IISS’s The Military Balance 2011, Algeria’s surface fleet comprises of three 1970s-era Koni class antisubmarine frigates, six corvettes, 22 patrol and coastal combat vessels, three amphibious vessels and three logistics and support ships.

In June 2006 Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Algerian Navy for the construction of two Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines under a roughly US$400 million contract.

Construction of the first submarine started in 2006 and the second began in 2007. They were handed over to the Algerian Navy in March and September last year where they joined two Project 877EKM Kilo diesel electric submarines, which Algeria received in 1987-1988.

S. Africa Reopens Probe Into Gripen Bribes: Report

Source: Defensenews

South African police have reopened their investigation into a controversial arms deal after Swedish defense group Saab admitted bribes were paid to clinch a contract, according to a July 31 report.

Officials will approach authorities in Sweden and Britain to find out what their investigations have uncovered about allegations of corruption in the 1999 deal for 26 JAS Gripen fighter jets, South Africa’s Sunday Times reported.

Saab last month admitted that 24 million rand ($3.6 million, 2.5 million euros) in bribes had been paid to secure the deal, but blamed its former British partner BAE Systems for making the payoffs.

The Sunday Times said the head of South Africa’s elite investigative squad, the Hawks, had sent a letter to parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts indicating the investigation would be reopened, 10 months after the Hawks were sharply criticized for dropping the politically sensitive probe.

"I have already instructed two officials… to approach the relevant authorities in both Sweden [National Anti-Corruption Unit] and the UK [Serious Fraud Office]," Hawks chief Anwar Dramat wrote.

"Subject to approval by these authorities, [we] will assess the available information with a view to determine whether there is information which points to crime[s] in South Africa."

The chair of the parliamentary committee, Themba Godi, said reopening the investigation was "a brave and correct decision."

"Unless justice is being done and is seen as being done on this matter, it’s going to continue to cast a cold shadow over the political landscape of the country," Godi told the Sunday Times.

Saab’s admission came after Sweden’s TV4 television channel said it had evidence the defense group had promised to pay Fana Hlongwane, then advisor to the South African defense minister, millions of euros in bonuses if Pretoria did not back out of the Gripen deal.

Saab said bribes had been paid in the form of bonuses and salaries between 2003 and 2005 by its South African subsidiary Sanip, which was then controlled by BAE Systems.

The deal provided for the sale of 28 Gripen fighters for 1.6 billion euros, later trimmed to 26 planes. The last is due to be delivered next year.

Claims of corruption in the multi-billion-dollar program to modernize South Africa’s military after apartheid have threatened to damage the careers of some of the country’s top politicians.

In 2005, President Jacob Zuma’s former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for charges that included soliciting bribes to Zuma from French arms company Thomson-CSF. He has since been released on medical parole.

Efforts to put Zuma on trial for corruption have collapsed, but questions over the arms deal continue to hang over his presidency.

After Zuma won control of the African National Congress in 2007, the ruling party made a successful push to disband the predecessor to the Hawks, the Scorpions, an investigative unit that led the probe against Shaik and also implicated Zuma in questionable deals.

Ukrainian Arms Exports to Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo

Source: Army Technology

Ukraine has exported almost $1bn worth of weaponry, according to data released by the State Service for Export Control.

The Kommersant newspaper quoted the release as saying, "The portfolio of contracts signed by state-run arms exporter Ukrspetsexport increased in value from $799.5bn in 2009 to $956.7bn in 2010."

The weaponry, purchased by major buyers Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, included a total of 250 T-55 and T-72 tanks, Grad multiple rocket launchers and 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers.

Both countries also purchased 152mm 1S3 Akatsia self-propelled howitzers, D-30 howitzers, 82mm mortars and a variety of small arms, including 10,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Ukrspetsexport former director Sergei Bondarchuk, however, disagreed with the data revealed by the government authority.

Mauritanie: acquisition prochaine de Super Tucano pour la lutte contre Aqmi

Source: Points Chauds Online

Selon un site électronique espagnol, " Atena Digital" publié à Madrid, les forces de l’air mauritaniennes vont bientôt se doter d’avions de combat brésiliens. Plusieurs de pilotes seraient actuellement en stage de formation pour manipuler ces aéronefs sophistiqués.
Les fores mauritaniennes de l’air vont désormais être plus présentes dans la guerre que livre le pays à l’Aqmi. C’est ce que pense un site électronique espagnol, assez informé, qui précise que la France avait déjà doté l’armée mauritanienne l’année dernière de quatre avions de ce type pour des stages d’entraînement. L’armée de l’air française avait cédé ses appareils prématurément malgré leur opérationnalité en cours, souligne le site qui indiquée d’autre part que des pilotes de l’air viennent d’achever une formation dans une académie située au Sud de l’Espagne.
Les quatre appareils de type "Tucano" cédés par la France auraient été modifiés, retapés puis immobilisés à l’aéroport Merignac, au Sud de Marseille, avant d’être remis à la Mauritanie fin 2010. Ce seraient des instructeurs français qui dirigeraient actuellement la formation des officiers et sous-officiers de l’armée de l’air mauritanienne.

Dans le registre de ce plan de formation, des vols seraient organisés entre la France et la Mauritanie, avec des arrêts techniques parfois à l’aéroport de Torrejon de Ardoz, une base militaire espagnole non loin de Madrid.
L’entraînement des stagiaires mauritaniens à bord des appareils "Tucano" serait, selon la source espagnole citée par le site ANI, une étape avant l’acquisition par la Mauritanie d’avions de combat brésiliens de type Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, une forme améliorée de l’avion Tucano. Il s’agirait d’un appareil hautement efficace pour l’attaque de cibles au sol. C’est ce qui expliquerait selon la même source la grande perfection de l’armée de l’air colombien qui l’utilise dans sa guerre contre les révolutionnaires et les narcotrafiquants. Plus connu sous le nom de Super Tucano, cette version améliorée du Tucano serait le tombeur des deux leaders des forces révolutionnaires colombiennes, Raoul Rais et Victorio Suarez Roquas.
Le site espagnol de mettre en exergue le rôle éminemment important de l’armée de l’air mauritanienne dans la guerre contre Al Qaïda au Maghreb Islamique. Aussi, ajoute le site, la Mauritanie qui a des difficultés sur ce plan se rabattrait pour le moment sur quatre appareils légers de type Marchetti/Aermacchi SF-260-E SIAI. Ainsi, l’acquisition d’avions Super Tucano de fabrication brésilienne renforcera grandement la puissance militaire de l’armée de l’air, une arme indispensable dans sa nouvelle guerre contre Aqmi.
Il faut dire que malgré ses moyens limités, l’armée de l’air mauritanienne a toujours joué un rôle de premier plan dans la guerre contre l’Aqmi. Dernier acte en date, son intervention la semaine dernière lors de l’assaut lancé par des groupes terroristes contre le camp militaire de Bassiknou où elle a dérouté les assaillants, réduisant à néant, l’impressionnante batterie qu’ils destinaient à leurs cibles.
Pour autant, tout le monde est d’avis qu’avec une telle flotte de l’air, la Mauritanie serait de fait dotée d’une armée qui " pèse dans la sous région ".

Egypt Orders More M1A1 Tank Kits

Source: Defense Industry Daily

In the modern era, Egypt was a Soviet client for a long time, and its arsenals still contain their share of Soviet weaponry. Military assistance relations took a sharp turn for the worse in the early 1970s, and the country has used the US military aid program that accompanied the 1979 Camp David Accords to replace much of that equipment with American items.

One of the most prominent replacements has occurred in Egypt’s fleet of main battle tanks. Some T-55 tanks survive as greatly-upgraded “Ramses II” machines, and a handful of T-80s were bought in the late 1990s, but American M60A3 Patton and M1 Abrams tanks now make up the vast majority of Egypt’s fleet. The country began a co-production program for M1 Abrams tanks in 1988, which involves kit assembly in Egypt but outsources sensitive functions like adding the M1’s special armor. By 2007, this program had produced 880 tanks, a total that would rise to 1,130 M1 tanks if the latest request goes through, making Egypt one of the globe’s largest M1 fleets…

Berlin valide un gros contrat avec l’Algérie

Source: Theatrum Belli

Tpz Fuchs

Le conseil de sécurité du gouvernement allemand a donné son feu vert à la vente de matériel militaire à l’Algérie pendant 10 ans, a déclaré dimanche une source industrielle.

Sont concernés quatre projets représentant au total une dizaine de milliards d’euros, a ajouté la source.

Rheinmetall et MAN doivent construire des véhicules blindés de transport Fuchs. Daimler compte vendre des camions et des tout-terrains. ThyssenKrupp compte construire des frégates et former les personnels navals.

Les autorisations d’exportation doivent encore être délivrées mais ce n’est plus considéré comme un obstacle, a encore dit la source.

Welfare for Dictators: how Pentagon billions are flowing to strongmen in the Middle East.

Source: Newsweek

WITT-SIPA-APThe tarmac at the Al Dhafra military base in the United Arab Emirates.

Officially, the U.S. does not pay other governments for rights to military bases. The logic is straightforward: funneling money to the treasuries of foreign dictators cannot form the foundation of genuine strategic alliances. Yet, to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while staring down the mullahs in Iran, over the last decade the Pentagon has come to rely in an unprecedented way on a web of bases across the Middle East. And a NEWSWEEK investigation of Pentagon contracting practices in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Bahrain has uncovered more than $14 billion paid mostly in sole-source contracts to companies controlled by ruling families across the Persian Gulf. The revelation raises a fundamental question: are U.S. taxpayer dollars enriching the ruling potentates of friendly regimes just as the youthful protesters and the Arab Spring have brought a new push for democracy across the region?

Take a look at Abu Dhabi. The wealthiest of the United Arab Emirates, it hosts a U.S. Air Force base at Al Dhafra, which is a vital refueling hub in the region. As is the case in most Gulf states, Abu Dhabi is ruled by a single family that dominates both government and business. Here it is the Nahyan family, and the emir is 63-year-old Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is known for his interest in camel racing, is worth $15 billion, and controls the country’s national oil company, ADNOC. As it turns out, every drop of fuel America buys for its planes at Al Dhafra—more than 200 million gallons a year, costing $5.2 billion since 2005—is purchased from the Al Nahyan–-controlled ADNOC.

Yet, according to contract documents, that money has bypassed the competitive bidding process that is supposed to accompany any -purchase—of firearms, flak jackets, or fuel—by the Pentagon.

In Abu Dhabi, “we may be essentially buying our presence,” says Alexander Cooley, a professor at Barnard College who studies U.S. basing strategy. The U.S. regularly pays rents to foreign landowners, but those payments are separate from base rights, which are government-to-government agreements. On bases, Cooley says, “there is a quid pro quo that is tacit.”

Nearly three decades ago, after a spree of spending scandals—there was a $436 hammer and a toilet seat that cost $640—Congress passed the 1984 Competition in Contracting Act requiring competitive bidding. The principle is simple: competition drives down prices and increases quality. According to Charles Tiefer, a member of the federal Commission on Wartime Contracting, “The law mandates competition with very limited exceptions.”

Abu Dhabi has exploited one of those exemptions brilliantly. Five years ago, at the height of the Iraq War, an American fuel contractor based in Florida called IOTC challenged a $500 million sole-source contract teed up for ADNOC. The award “must be open to full competition,” a contract lawyer, Ronald Uscher, wrote in a protest letter to the federal Government Accountability Office. The Pentagon fought back, citing what it said was U.A.E. law, but IOTC’s lawyer says the military “was unable to produce any such law or decree.”

Internal Pentagon emails obtained by NEWSWEEK under the Freedom of Information Act show confusion even inside the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which handles procurement for the military. After a colonel questioned the sole-source process with ADNOC in 2008, the acting division chief of the agency responded, “Basically, it’s the only company we are allowed to source fuel from as per the local gov’t.” Later, a U.S. contracting officer asked, “Is there any documentation or history” about the Abu Dhabi law? Even the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi said that it could not actually find a copy of the law. Only a few months later, the Pentagon issued another $918 million sole-source contract to ADNOC. In Tiefer’s estimation, “you are turning the keys to the treasury over to the sheikdom.”

The Pentagon says it did what it had to. “We have an option,” a DLA official told NEWSWEEK. “Do you want to be in that country and fly out of the airfield and use the fuel they provide, or not?” (ADNOC would not comment.) As Ronald Neumann, a former ambassador in the Middle East, says, the dilemma is “a potential effect of doing business in nondemocratic countries.”

Ruling families hosting other U.S. bases in the Gulf seem to be profiting in the same way. Consider Kuwait, where Arifjan, the major U.S. base, serves as the chief military supply route to Iraq. Like the Al Nahyan family in Abu Dhabi, the al-Sabah clan runs Kuwait, as well as its national oil concern, Kuwait Petroleum Co., which has received some $4 billion in Pentagon contracts since 2005, much of it in sole-source contracts. The DLA explains, “Contracts providing fuel destined for Iraq are sole source due to Kuwaiti restrictions.”

Or look at the kingdom of Bahrain, where Arab Spring protests have raged this past month. It’s also home to the 60-acre headquarters of the U.S.’s Fifth Fleet. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa rules the country, and as it happens, Bahrain is also host to the regional headquarters for the DLA’s energy operations—the office that buys all fuel for the U.S. military in the first place. Every year Bahrain’s national oil company routinely wins a chunk of a huge Pentagon contract, called WestPac, to provide fuel to U.S. military operations in the western Pacific. Bahrain’s national fuel company has achieved a rare status: the kingdom, which has a population of barely more than 1 million people, has became one of the American military’s chief fuel suppliers, taking in billions. The DLA points out that Bahrain’s fuel sales are not a sole-source contract like the ones in Abu Dhabi. Instead, the Pentagon says, Bahrain always wins because its bid is low; it offers vast quantities of fuel; and it has few, if any, competitors among the “traditional suppliers” in the region. David Kirsh, a director at the oil–consulting firm PFC Energy, says, “The Bahrain Petroleum Co. probably would not be winning these contracts if not for the base.” The official at the DLA says the agency does its best to provide fuel at low cost to U.S. forces around the world.

The question remains whether these strategic alliances are floating on more than a fast-flowing river of taxpayer money.

By Aram Roston

Roston is an investigative journalist based in Washington, D.C.

La Russie construira deux corvettes pour l’Algérie

Source: Ria Novosti

Salon international de la défense maritime (IMDS-2011) à Saint-Pétersbourg

Moscou construira deux corvettes Tigre pour l’Algérie et trois corvettes Eclair pour un membre de la Communauté des Etats indépendants, a annoncé jeudi aux journalistes Roman Trotsenko, président du Groupe unifié de construction navale russe (OSK).

L’OSK a conclu des accords appropriés lors du Salon naval de Saint-Pétersbourg avec le soutien de l’agence russe d’exportation d’armements Rosoboronexport.

"Ce Salon est un succès. Les clients étrangers sont très intéressés. Deux accords ont été conclus avec la participation de Rosoboronexport sur la vente de deux corvettes à l’Algérie et de trois autres à un pays membre de la CEI", a déclaré M.Trotsenko.

"Le montant total des contrats signés dans le cadre du Salon s’élève actuellement à 1 milliards 300 millions de dollars", a ajouté le responsable.

US offers Shs120b to Amisom

Source: Daily Monitor

BACKING: A Burundian soldier keeps watch in Mogadishu recently. PHOTO BY RISDEL KASASIRA

The US is offering spy drones among a huge military consignment to AMISOM to help bolster its capability to decimate the al- Shabaab, foreign media reported yesterday.

The package includes four shoulder-launched Raven drones, other surveillance systems, body armour, night-vision gadgets, generators as well as communications and heavy construction equipment, according to the New York Times. This aid package will cost Washington nearly $45 million (Shs111b).
Secret documents Associated Press news agency obtained from Pentagon show Uganda will separately receive unspecified military communication and engineering gadgets worth $4.4 million (Shs10.9b). “I am not aware. The consideration may still be at policy level. We have not yet received anything,” Uganda’s Defence and Military Spokesman, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, said yesterday when contacted.

News of the military aid comes six weeks after Gen. Carter Ham, the new commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Uganda and held talks with President Museveni at his home in Rwakitura, Kiruhura District, on May 10 about Somalia’s hazardous situation.

Mr John Dunne, the deputy public affairs officer at the US Mission in Kampala, said last evening that they have increased their military spending on AMISOM in line with US commitments made during the July 2010 AU summit in Kampala as “the situation in Mogadishu remains difficult”.

Difficult situation
“It is important that these attacks are defeated and that AMISOM and the Transitional Federal Government together restore stability in Mogadishu so that political development and humanitarian operations can continue,” he wrote in an email reply.

Uganda and Burundi, the only countries contributing some 9,000 soldiers on behalf of the African Union to fight al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist group, claim to now control 70 per cent of Mogadishu following gains in past weeks.

The US, however, maintains that the situation there “remains difficult” and outgoing Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director and Defence Secretary-designate, Leone Panetta, recently warned that al-Shabaab was getting stronger and linking with Yemen-based al-Qaeda elements in the Arabian Peninsula.

In yesterday’s email, Mr Dunne wrote: “We have and will continue to provide equipment, training, and some logistical support to Ugandan and Burundian soldiers.” To date, Washington has directly committed $185 million to support AMISOM operations in Mogadishu beside its other assessed contributions to the United Nations that provides logistical assistance to the continental force.

The latest Pentagon aid is part of a $145.4 million package that its officials approved and sent to Capitol Hill last week as part of a notification process before the equipment can be delivered. The plan aims to build the counter-terrorism capabilities of Uganda and Burundi.

AMISOM Spokesman Paddy Ankunda, promoted yesterday to Lt. Col, said from Mogadishu that the equipment, when it arrives, will be “force multiplier”. He said al-Shabaab has lost the enthusiasm to fight but still maintain some capability to harm civilians through suicide bombings.

Morocco Boosting its Air Defense System

Source: DID

AN/MPQ-64F1 Improved Sentinel

The US DSCA announces [PDF] Morocco’s official request to buy 8 AN/MPQ-64F1 Improved Sentinel radars, 8 M1152 HMMWV Sentinel transports, 8 accompanying AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS Vehicular Dual Long-Range System Radios, plus Sentinel Software, HMMWV support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, and U.S. Government and contractor support.

The DSCA says that “The Government of Morocco is modernizing its armed forces and expanding its air defense architecture.” They could certainly use that…

Morocco’s air force is receiving some much-needed upgrades these days, but it’s still heavily inferior to neighboring Algeria.

The country’s air defenses, which are operated by its Army, have very few modern components, and are very much in need of medium range options. A handful of Russian self-propelled Tunguska M1/SA-19 gun-missile systems provide their most advanced option, but are limited to short range coverage. Their American Chapparal counterparts, which use an AIM-9 Sidewinder variant, offer the same limitations, with a less advanced missile. Most of their air defenses are actually guns, from 20mm Vulcan fixed and mobile gatling gun systems to the self-propelled, 4-barreled 23mm Russian ZSU-23.

The Sentinel radars can be used on their own, but they’re also a key component of medium range SL-AMRAAM/NASAMS systems. The addition of medium-range surface-to-air missile systems would significantly improve Morocco’s air defense network. So would tying some or all of their existing systems into better radars and command systems. The 2 moves have obvious synergies if Morocco decides to take the next step, but even on their own, mobile Sentinel radars can be helpful.

The estimated cost is $67 million, and prime contractors would be Thales Raytheon Systems in Fullerton, CA (Sentinel), ITT in Fort Wayne, IN (SINCGARS), and AM General in South Bend, IN (HMMWVs). Implementation of this proposed sale will require up to 10 U.S. Government or contractor representatives in Morocco for a period of 8 weeks, for equipment checkout and training.

L’Iran tire 14 missiles balistiques lors de manœuvres

Source: Ria Novosti

Missiles balistiques iraniens

L’Iran a lancé mardi matin au moins 14 missiles balistiques de différents types lors de manœuvres d’envergure, rapporte l’agence IRNA.

Ces exercices annuels ont débuté lundi, dans la région du Golfe. D’après l’agence iranienne, neuf missiles Zelzal, deux Shahab-1, deux Shahab-2 et un Shahab-3 ont été tirés. On ignore où se trouvent les polygones et si les missiles ont atteint leurs cibles.

D’une portée de près de 400 km, le Zelzal est en mesure d’emporter une charge de 600 kg. Le Shahab-1 a une portée de 500 km à 700 km. Celle du Shahab-2 s’élève à 1.000 km. Quant au Shahab-3, elle se situe à 2.000 km.

Les manœuvres ont un caractère défensif, selon Téhéran, et ne présentent aucun danger pour la paix dans la région. Les derniers exercices similaires ont eu lieu à la fin avril 2010.

Centrafrique: Bozizé lance des opérations de désarmement d’ex-rebelles

Source: AFP

Photo courtoisie RCA magazine

Le président centrafricain François Bozizé a lancé à Bocaranga (nord-ouest) des opérations de désarmement de 350 ex-combattants de la rébellion de l’Armée populaire pour la restauration de la démocratie (APRD), a-t-on appris auprès de la présidence.

"Ces opérations ont été lancées (samedi) sur fonds propres du gouvernement qui a déboursé 35 millions FCFA (53.000 Euros), pour le désarmement de 350 ex-combattants de l’APRD à raison de 100.000 FCFA (environ 150 euros) pour chaque ex-combattant", a déclaré le directeur de la presse présidentielle, Lord-Esaïe Nganamokoï.

"Enfin le désarmement commence en Centrafrique", a déclaré samedi le président Bozizé, cité par M. Nganamokoï.

"Mon désir est d’aller vite à la paix et respecter nos engagements", a affirmé le président Bozizé, précisant avoir instruit le gouvernement de procéder de la sorte "pour ne pas abuser de la confiance des ex-combattants".

Avant le lancement officiel des opérations, le commandant des opérations de l’APRD, Henri Tchebo Wanfio, a demandé au gouvernement "de respecter ses engagements pour faire aboutir le processus du désarmement", a affirmé M. Nganamokoï.

Le ministre du Désarmement, le général Xavier-Sylvestre Yangongo, a expliqué que ces opérations s’inscrivent dans le cadre des accords de paix conclus par Bangui avec quatre rébellions en 2008 et visant au désarmement, à la démobilisation et à la réinsertion de quelques 6.000 combattants.

Elles doivent s’étendre ensuite aux autres régions centrafricaines où les ex-combattants d’autres rébellions doivent être également désarmés, selon la presse présidentielle.

Le 12 juin, la dernière grande rébellion encore active en Centrafrique, la Convention des patriotes pour la justice et la paix (CPJP) a signé un accord de cessez-le-feu avec le gouvernement devant déboucher sur un accord de paix.

US taps $45M in gear for terror fight in Somalia

Source: The Associated Press

The Pentagon is sending nearly $45 million in military equipment, including four small drones, to Uganda and Burundi to help battle the escalating terrorist threat in Somalia.

The latest aid, laid out in documents obtained by The Associated Press, comes as attacks intensify in Somalia against the al-Qaida-linked terror group al-Shabab, including an airstrike late Thursday that hit a militant convoy, killing a number of foreign fighters, according to officials there.

No nation immediately took responsibility for the latest airstrike, though U.S. aircraft have attacked militants in Somalia before.

U.S. officials, including incoming Pentagon chief Leon Panetta, have warned that the threat from al-Shabab is growing, and the group is developing stronger ties with the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. Panetta told lawmakers earlier this month that as the core al-Qaida leadership in Pakistan undergoes leadership changes, with the killing of Osama bin Laden, the U.S. needs to make sure that the group does not relocate to Somalia.

The Pentagon plan is aimed at helping to build the counterterrorism capabilities of Uganda and Burundi, two African Union nations that have sent about 9,000 peacekeeping forces to Somalia. The military aid includes four small, shoulder-launched Raven drones, body armor, night-vision gear, communications and heavy construction equipment, generators and surveillance systems. Training is also provided with the equipment.

In addition, the Pentagon will send $4.4 million in communications and engineering equipment to Uganda.

Somalia has not had a fully functioning government in two decades. The government had controlled just a small slice of the capital Mogadishu, but officials have said that the peacekeeping offensive is enabling them to wrest swaths of territory in the city and in southern Somalia from the insurgents.

The aid is part of a $145.4 million package that Pentagon officials approved and sent to Capitol Hill last week as part of a notification process before the equipment can be delivered.

Up to $350 million in military aid can be distributed this year to support counterterrorism operations in other countries. The Pentagon routinely releases the military aid in three or four installments each year, and the first package approved earlier this year was for about $43 million. So far, none of the assistance this year has gone to Yemen — which has been a top counterterrorism priority for the U.S.

Last year, the Pentagon allocated $155 million for aid to Yemen, and military leaders had proposed as much as $200 million for this year. But U.S. officials have become increasingly alarmed about the violent anti-government protests and unrest rocking the country.

Protesters are demanding that President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s powerful sons and other members of his inner circle leave the country, even as Saleh remains in Saudi Arabia receiving treatment for injuries he suffered in an attack on his palace earlier this month.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that aid to Yemen has been interrupted by the chaos there, and once that ebbs the U.S. will consider what next steps to take. But U.S. officials consider AQAP in Yemen one of the most serious and immediate terrorist threats, fueled in part by radical American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has been linked to a number of terror attacks in the U.S., including the Christmas Day 2009 attempted airliner bombing.

The Pentagon aid package also includes funding for a number of other North African countries, including several where there is a continuing terror threat from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. The plan includes:

—$22.6 million for Mauritania for a turbo prop aircraft for troop transport and surveillance, and necessary maintenance and training; and $8.1 million for airfield systems and construction and communications equipment to develop a forward operating base in the country.

—$17.7 million for an aircraft for Djibouti, where the U.S. has its only Africa military base.

—$12.1 million for helicopter upgrades and training for Kenya.

—$1 million for Mali for mine detector kits.

Also included in the aid package is $12 million for small boats and communications equipment for Maldives; $12 million for six patrol boats and trailers, body armor and communications equipment for Philippines; $8.4 million for communications equipment and weapons for Bangladesh; $900,000 for biometric data collection devices for Oman; and $850,000 for radar installation services for Malaysia.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

US pays European groups $1 million to hunt for anti-aircraft missiles in Libya

Source: The Washington Post National

The U.S. is paying two European mine-clearing groups nearly $1 million to hunt and dispose of loose anti-aircraft missiles that could make their way from Libyan battlefields to terror groups.

The hiring of weapons demolition experts hardly dampens concerns about anti-aircraft missiles still in the hands of the Gadhafi regime’s military, which amassed nearly 20,000 of the weapons before the popular uprising started in March.

The State Department’s hiring of British and Swiss weapons demolition teams in Libya was prodded by fears that terrorists could use scavenged man-portable air defense systems, known as MANPADS. The action came after American and allied authorities made it clear to Libyan opposition figures that their cooperation on the missile launchers would be a factor in future assistance, said U.S. and United Nations officials familiar with the discussions.

“From the U.S. point of view, it was an issue of paramount importance,” said Justin Baker, officer-in-charge of the U.N. Mine Action Service, which is overseeing the weapons disposal effort in Libya. “The Libyans seemed to get the big picture of what was necessary to present a credible international face.”

The move has no effect on the massive numbers of mostly Russian-built anti-aircraft launchers and missiles still in the hands of Moammar Gadhafi’s forces. While some shoulder-held and truck-mounted launchers were pillaged by rebel forces when they seized Libyan ammunition stocks, the vast majority are still held by the regime.

“I can’t imagine the U.S. can do anything about Gadhafi’s inventory until they defeat him or negotiate his exit,” said Matthew Schroeder, an arms expert with the Federation of American Scientists in Washington. “But even without that, securing any MANPADS loose in Libya is a good thing.”

The Obama administration listed the nearly $1 million anti-MANPADS effort this week in a report to Congress defending the legality of its intervention in Libya. The report included classified documents detailing a “threat assessment of MANPADS, ballistic missiles and chemical weapons in Libya.”

Most U.S. warplanes have electronic evasion systems and can fly above the range of the missiles, but most passenger jets are vulnerable. Reports have surfaced in recent weeks from officials in Algeria and Chad, and recently from Russian media, that several anti-aircraft missiles and launchers looted from Libyan government caches have already wound their way to the North African terror group, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. American officials have yet to confirm any of the reports.

Officials with the two firms hired by the State Department, the British-based Mines Advisory Group and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, said almost all of the Libyan weapons depots they surveyed in recent weeks showed clear signs of looting. Libyan opposition forces took almost any useful weapon from Gadhafi regime stocks in the opening weeks of the conflict, and search teams have found few inventory documents, so it is impossible to trace which are missing and whether any were sold to terrorists or criminal gangs.

“The ammo dumps we’ve seen are either partially destroyed or picked clean,” said Alexander Griffiths, director of operations for the Swiss group, which now has 35 disposal experts working in rebel territory under a $470,000 U.S. grant. “We haven’t seen MANPADS so far and my guess is we won’t see many because they’re such a high-value item. They would be the first items to go.”

The British mine disposal group located and destroyed two of the portable missile systems near the northeastern Libyan opposition-controlled town of Ajdabiya last week, spokeswoman Kate Wiggans said. The group also found two other stray anti-aircraft missiles in May and destroyed them. All four were SA-7s, Russian-made portable missiles that date to the 1970s. Experts say many Libyan MANPADS are probably of similar vintage and some may be too decayed to use.

 

The Mines Advisory Group has three workers in Libya but plans to expand to at least 20, operating with $486,000 in State Department funding and $290,000 in British government aid, Wiggans said. Both she and Griffiths said that their demolition experts were taking care to avoid hot battle zones, coordinating with U.N. officials overseeing relief efforts in opposition-held turf.U.S. officials would not say whether the funding would continue beyond the end of the year. The U.S. has been the lead player in efforts to round up and destroy stray missiles, hiring contractors like the two European firms to scour battlefields and, in some cases, discreetly paying armed governments like Yemen to turn over missile stocks. The U.S. programs have destroyed 32,500 missile systems in 30 countries since 2003, but officials say thousands more still pose a hazard among the estimated 1 million manufactured since the late 1960s.

Passenger flights have never been targeted inside the U.S. Nearly a dozen lethal strikes have brought down passenger and cargo planes over the past decade in Africa and Asia.

 

Des hélicoptères russes pour Alger

Source: TTU

		Mi-28NE Crédits: OKB Mil

Le groupe russe Rosvertol a recemment indiqué, que les négociations avec l’Algérie pour la vente de son hélicoptère de combat Mi-28NE Havoc étaient en bonne voie.

Un contrat qui pourrait porter sur une vingtaine de machines et aboutir à une livraison entre 2012 et 2017. Une offre commerciale du groupe russe a été faite à Alger et les négociations devraient débuter cette année, indique le directeur général de Rosvertol, Boris Slyusar.

Le contrat avec Alger, évoqué depuis 2007, marquerait le second succès à l’export pour l’hélicoptère russe, dont une dizaine d’exemplaires ont été acquis par le Venezuela en 2010. L’Algérie dispose d’une flotte importante de près de 70 Mi-24/Mi-25, dont une trentaine ont été modernisés par le sud-africain ATE (SuperHind MkIII).

Hélicoptère de combat de douze tonnes biplace, le Mi-28NE est doté d’un mât radar et d’une conduite de tir par ondes millimétriques permettant l’emploi de missiles guidés de type 9M120 Ataka-V et 9K-121 Vikhr d’une portée de 10 km. L’appareil dispose d’un canon 2A42 de 30 mm (approvisionné à 250 coups) et les quatre points d’emport permettent la mise en œuvre de 16 missiles antichars, de pods roquettes et de missiles air-air Igla.

 

Ukraine-Ethiopie: signature de contrat de livraison de 200 chars a l’Ethiopie

Source: Ria Novosti

La compagnie d’Etat ukrainienne Ukrspetsexport (exportations de matériel militaire) a signé avec le ministère éthiopien de la Défense un contrat de livraison de plus de 200 chars de combat, a annoncé jeudi l’agence UNIAN.

Selon la compagnie, ce contrat d’un montant de plus de 100 millions de dollars, fait partie des huit plus gros contrats conclus par Ukrspetsexport depuis 15 ans.

Ukrspetsexport estime que le contrat aura une portée économique et sociale importante pour l’Ukraine, permettant d’occuper les entreprises et de créer de nouveaux emplois. Grâce à ce contrat, la compagnie espère obtenir dans l’avenir des commandes de réparation et de modernisation du matériel livré.

Armes nucléaires: plus de 20.000 ogives stockées dans le monde (SIPRI)

Source: Ria Novosti

Armes nucléaires: plus de 20.000 ogives stockées dans le monde (SIPRI)

Actuellement, les arsenaux des huit pays (Etats-Unis, Russie, Grande Bretagne, France, Chine, Inde, Pakistan et Israël) comptent plus de 20.500 ogives nucléaires, soit près de 2.000 de moins qu’en 2009, a annoncé mardi le service de presse de l’Institut international de recherche pour la paix de Stockholm (Sipri).

Selon le rapport annuel du SIPRI, sur cette quantité d’ogives, "plus de 5.000 sont déployées et prêtes à l’emploi, dont 2.000 sont maintenues dans un état de haute alerte opérationnelle".

Le rapport indique que  les cinq Etats reconnus officiellement comme nucléaires et signataires du Traité de non prolifération (TNP) de 1968, c’est-à-dire les Etats-Unis, la Russie, la Grande-Bretagne, la France et la Chine, "soit déploient de nouveaux systèmes d’armes nucléaires, soit ont annoncé leur intention de le faire", souligne le rapport.

"Les Etats nucléaires modernisent et investissent dans leur armement nucléaire existant. Il semble donc peu probable qu’il y ait un véritable désarmement nucléaire dans un avenir prévisible" et ce, malgré les accords américano-russes START sur la réduction des armes nucléaires.

Entré en vigueur en février 2011, le Traité de réduction des armes stratégiques offensives (START) prévoit un maximum de 1.550 ogives nucléaires déployées pour chacun des deux pays, soit une réduction de 30% par rapport au niveau établi par le Traité de désarmement nucléaire conclu le 24 mai 2002 à Moscou.

Beechcraft Reconnaissance Planes for Egypt

Source: DID

Raytheon Co. in McKinney, TX receives a $24 million firm-fixed-price contract award to buy 2 used commercial Beechcraft airliners, then refurbish the airframes, add special mission equipment and components, and cover spare parts, accessories and other material and services for the Arab Republic of Egypt. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX, and Egypt, with an estimated completion date of July 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the US Army’s AMCOM Contracting Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-11-C-0084).

Raytheon spinoff HawkerBeechcraft’s King Air twin-turboprops have found a niche as affordable, long endurance manned reconnaissance airplanes. Used commercial aircraft are likely to be the King Air B200/ 300, which have been bought and refurbished for Canadian use under the MARSS program, rather than the new King Air 350ERs in use by Iraq and the USA. Malta operates King Air B200s as maritime patrol craft, and private firms like ASSI (SkyEye 350) and Dynamic Aviation own King Air ISR planes that are available for lease.

In all of these variants, a belly “canoe” fits the required surveillance gear, which can involve surface-viewing radars, surveillance and targeting turrets like Raytheon’s own MTS, and more. Inside, workstations in the plane receive the data; depending on the communications gear and available bandwidth, that information can be sent on to command sites. The net effect is similar to a Predator level UAV, but with more sensors and more flexibility, in exchange for less endurance in the air.

France-Senegal: cession de l’EDIC Sabre à la marine nationale sénégalaise

Source: EMA FR

Cession de l’EDIC Sabre à la marine nationale sénégalaise

Le 17 mai 2011, sur décision du ministre de la Défense, les armées françaises ont procédé à la cession de l’EDIC (Engin de Débarquement d’Infanterie et de Chars) Sabre à la marine nationale sénégalaise. Les armées françaises livrent ainsi un bâtiment opérationnel et particulièrement adapté aux missions de surveillance des approches maritimes et de soutien logistique opérationnel que souhaite assurer la marine nationale sénégalaise.

La cérémonie officielle était présidée, du côté français, par S.E. M. Normand, ambassadeur de France au Sénégal, accompagné du général Paulus, commandant les Forces Françaises du Cap-Vert et, du côté sénégalais, par M. Diop, ministre d’Etat et des Forces Armées. Les ultimes couleurs françaises ont été descendues avant la première montée du pavillon sénégalais, rendant effective la cession.

Cette cession intervient au moment où se finalise le nouvel accord de partenariat en matière de coopération. Le signal est d’autant plus fort que la transformation prochaine du dispositif militaire français (31 juillet 2011) s’est construite autour de cette volonté de coopération militaire afin de préserver et renforcer le lien d’amitié entre la France et le Sénégal.

 

Somalia bans trading in weapons

Source: All Headline News

Kalashnikov assault rifles on sale in a Mogadishu open-air market. Photo courtesy The Guardian UK

The interim federal government of Somalia on Tuesday banned trading in weapons.

While the government controls only half of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the minister of interior and home security of the transitional government, Abshakur Sheikh Hassan Farah, said his government will take strict action against anyone seen trading in weapons.

“Right now, we [are] sending a warning message for all businessmen who are involved in weapon trade…The government would no longer tolerate harmful business. Our people are dying, injuring and displacing because of that,” Farah told reporters in a news conference.

The minister also warned government soldiers against carrying their assault rifles in the populated areas after returning from Mogadishu battle zones.

Farah noted that business sectors should register their weapons with the ministry of interior.

The trading ban comes on the heels of a deadly suicide attack on African Union peacekeepers and Somali forces in Mogadishu. Two African Union peacekeepers and a Somali soldier have been confirmed dead and four others injured Monday afternoon after Al Qaeda-inspired militants disguised as Somali soldiers attacked a military base in the capital.

It is not known how this ban from Somalia’s fragile government will take affect, as the government has failed to stamp its authority over the whole of Somalia.

In 1992 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 733 imposing sanctions on Somalia in response to the deterioration of the conflict in Somalia, the heavy loss of life and the widespread damage resulting from the conflict. The sanctions have been modified and extended by a number of subsequent UNSC resolutions.

Somalis believe the UNSC weapons embargo is frequently violated and that is why fighting continues after 19 years.

EAC is no-go area for illegal arms – Kiraso

Source: Ministry of Defence Rwanda

The East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation), Beatrice Kiraso, has reiterated the regional bloc’s strong commitment to the fight against proliferation of illegal arms in the region.

The EAC official was speaking during the Moroto Peace Race dubbed “Empowering and Talents Tapping for Enhanced Livelihood Options, the Path to Peace” that took place in Moroto, Uganda over the weekend.

“We are opening up borders and if anybody is armed illegally, they shall not be accepted to enter any of the partner states,” Kiraso said. The race attracted people from across border countries including runners, conflict and peace building practitioners and provincial administration to address conflict issues.

Kiraso added that the regional bloc has already made efforts towards marking arms from institutions like army, police, and prisons in all partner states of the region. “We shall also make markings of arms in individual hands,” she added.

Officials at the meeting largely blamed the proliferation of illegal arms in the region to conflict ridden countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and Sudan.

On how to improve the livelihoods of East Africans, Kiraso called on societies living near borders to shift from cattle rearing and participate in many other income generation activities like agricultural production. “The land should be better utilised, there are other opportunities other than cattle rearing,” she said.

“Peace has to be brought by you and not people from outside. This can only be done if you stop involving yourself in cattle rustling and build your communities,” Tegla Loroupe, a six time winner of marathons across the world, told warriors in Moroto.

The Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation hopes that through this race, it will continue to address the marginalised pastoralists and agro-pastoralists problems, learn and share with them new and innovative ways of changing the perspectives and priorities of their communities.

This will have to include programs that care for their children, women and are of socio-economic benefit to the general society as a whole.

L’Ouganda achète des chasseurs à la Russie pour 740 M USD

Source: Ria Novosti

Le chasseur russe Su-30

L’Ouganda achète à la Russie des chasseurs, probablement des Su-30, pour un montant de 740 millions de dollars, rapporte mercredi le site internet Defenceweb.co.za en référence au porte-parole des Forces armées ougandaises, le colonel Felix Kulayigye.

"Le renforcement de la puissance aérienne militaire fait partie de la politique de défense de l’intégrité territoriale et des ressources du pays. Quoi qu’il en soit, je tiens à souligner que cela ne menace en rien nos voisins", a déclaré le colonel, ajoutant que la politique de son pays était strictement "défensive et non offensive ni agressive".

L’Ouganda envisage d’entamer prochainement la mise en valeur de gisements de pétrole dans la région du lac Albert (nord-ouest) à la frontière avec la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) et achète des armements afin de les protéger.

"Chaque pays doit être bien équipé pour pouvoir défendre ses intérêts stratégiques", a souligné le ministre ougandais de l’Information, Kabakumba Matsiko.

L’Ouganda est préoccupé par l’instabilité au Sud-Soudan et à la frontière avec la RDC.

En avril 2010, les médias russes ont rapporté que l’agence russe d’exportation d’armements Rosoboronexport avait conclu un contrat de livraison de six Su-30MK2 à l’Ouganda, mais M.Kulayigye a alors démenti cette information. Selon ce dernier, le prix du contrat s’est avéré trop élevé, et l’Ouganda s’est limité à envoyer en Russie six chasseurs MiG-21 pour modernisation.

China Provides Arms to Sierra Leone

Source: Army Technology

Sierra Leone has received arms from China to strengthen ties between the two countries and boost its defence capabilities.

Agence France Presse reports that Chinese ambassador Kuang Weilin presented small arms, rockets and artillery valued at $4m to the African nation.

The arms also included assault rifles, rocket launchers, mortars and anti-aircraft artillery, together with ammunition.

A six-man Chinese contingent also provided training to a number of Sierra Leone military personnel in the use of the weapons.

Sierra Leone Defence Minister Paolo Conteh said, "This is part of the agenda to reform the military in Sierra Leone to make it a force capable of performing its mission and tasks."

China has been maintaining good ties with Sierra Leone and has contributed to its military since 1987.

Bouclier européen: Moscou prône la création d’un centre de contrôle unifié

Source: Ria Novosti

Nikolaï Makarov

La Russie propose de créer un centre de contrôle unifié pour le bouclier antimissile européen et de procéder à un échange de technologies antimissiles entre Moscou et l’Otan, a déclaré vendredi le chef de l’état-major russe Nikolaï Makarov.

"Nous voudrions entamer un échange de technologies concernant la défense antimissile et créer un centre de contrôle unifié. Si cette approche n’est pas satisfaisante, nous sommes prêts à considérer d’autres variantes, mais à condition qu’elles ne menacent pas la Russie", a indiqué M.Makarov lors d’une conférence consacrée au bouclier antimissile européen.

L’implantation d’un bouclier antimissile à longtemps provoqué les protestations des Russes qui y voyaient une menace pour leur territoire. Le projet a été remanié par l’administration Obama. Les travaux visant à la création conjointe d’un bouclier antimissile européen ont démarré en novembre 2010 lors du sommet Russie-OTAN à Lisbonne.

L’Alliance atlantique insiste sur la mise en place de deux systèmes de défense antimissile indépendants, mais coordonnés: l’un russe, l’autre otanien. Moscou propose pour sa part de créer un système indivisible intégrant les dispositifs des deux parties.

Morocco’s Air Force Reloads

Source: DID

French Mirage F

12 of 24 T-6Cs have arrived; DSCA request to buy AIM-9X Block II missiles. (May 19/11)

Morocco’s combat air force currently flies 2 squadrons of old F-5s, and 2 squadrons of only slightly newer Mirage F1s; T-37 light jets serve as key transitional trainers. Their neighbor and rival Algeria flies MiG-23s of similar vintage, but the Force Aérienne Algérienne also flies SU-24 Fencer and SU-25 Frogfoot strike aircraft, even more modern and capable MiG-29s, and is receiving multi-role SU-30MKs as part of a multi-billion dollar weapons deal with Russia.

Morocco can’t beat that array. Instead, they’re looking for replacement aircraft and upgrades that will prevent complete overmatch, and provide a measure of security. Initially, they looked to France, but key reversals have handed most of this modernization work to the United States…

Venezuela is hosting Iranian missile

Source: Hot Air Green Room

Missile complex location

We knew a missile base was on the way; Die Welt reported on Venezuela’s missile deal with Iran back in November, and numerous Western analysts wrote it up.

Die Welt has a new report this month, however, recounting details like the visit of an Iranian engineering team to Venezuela in February, and the prospective site of the missile complex on the Paraguana peninsula off the northwestern coast.  (English write-up based on the 13 May Die Welt article here.)  I use the expression “missile complex” for a reason.  Details in the Die Welt report indicate that what Iran and Venezuela are planning to construct is not just a base for a missile battery; it’s a complex of underground silos for the Shahab-3 medium-range missile.

The report refers to constructing missile silos 20 meters deep, and the need to provide for fueling the missiles underground, and for the release of toxic gases.  These factors in combination mean that the plan is to deploy missiles in underground silos, from which they will be launched.

Counter-missile tactics for Venezuela’s potential targets – e.g., Colombia (or the US) – will therefore not be solely a matter of the “Scud-hunting” process readers may automatically think of:  reconnaissance aircraft and satellites searching for mobile launchers.  (The Shahab-3 is moved on a “TEL” – transporter-erector-launcher – that is more elaborate than a Scud launcher but allows mobility on a similar principle.)  Mobile Shahab-3s could well be provided to Venezuela, but there will apparently be an underground launch complex as well.  It is likely to be hardened and ingeniously designed.

Iran began using underground silos for the Shahab-3 in 2008, with the first silo complex near the city of Tabriz.  That complex is designed quite simply, however.  Reporting in 2009 revealed a more elaborately constructed – and hardened – complex at the Imam Ali base near Khorramabad.  (The video simulation of the launch silos at Imam Ali is worth checking out.)  Presumably the complex in Venezuela will be built based on the design of the one at Khorramabad, with adjustments for local terrain conditions.

When Iran tested an extended-range Shahab-3 in 2009, US and other defense analysts indicated the missile’s range was up to 2000km, an improvement over the 1600km demonstrated by the baseline Shahab-3.  The difference that makes to the missile base in Venezuela is that using the Shahab-3 ER would put Miami in the threat envelope.

The base is to be jointly operated, according to the original reporting from Die Welt last year.  Iran probably won’t hesitate to deploy newer missiles like the longer-range, solid-fueled Sejjil (in testing since 2008) when they become operational.  The 13 May Die Welt article states that the missile-base agreement provides for Iran to be able to attack her enemies from the base – presumably referring to the US.

Meanwhile, Iran and Venezuela will jointly develop a medium-range missile, apparently for Venezuelan production.

Analysts were quick last fall to allude to 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis.  But we don’t want President Obama negotiating as JFK did in 1962.  JFK was maneuvered into giving up NATO’s new-generation missile deterrent in Turkey as the price of getting Soviet missiles out of Cuba, a reality that was owned up to by mainstream historians only in the 1990s.  In the aftermath of the crisis, moreover, the only thing that left Cuba was the land-based missiles.  The Soviets used the island as a military base, maintaining a listening post and a secretive ground-forces brigade, and bringing in strategic bombers and missile-equipped submarines, for the next 30 years.

It will not be a good outcome for Iran to acquire a bargaining chip, with a missile base in Venezuela, and use it to extort the US as the price of “removing the missiles” from it.  That prospect is preventable now, without quarantines, standoffs, and brinkmanship.  It would take some serious regional arm-twisting, but that’s what “smart power” is for.

Once the missiles are in Venezuela, however, the probability is high that we would have no way of verifying compliance with any agreement on their removal – even one disadvantageous to us.  This problem, if not headed off at the pass now, will only get bigger.

BY J.E Dyer

Seuls cinq pays capables de créer un missile intercontinental (état-major)

Source: Ria Novosti

Missile intercontinental

Seuls les Etats-Unis, la Russie, la France, la Grande-Bretagne et la Chine sont aujourd’hui en mesure de produire un missile intercontinental, estime l’Etat-major général russe.

"A l’heure actuelle, aucun pays du monde sauf les Etats-Unis, la Russie, la France, la Grande-Bretagne et la Chine, qui possèdent déjà des armes nucléaires et des missiles intercontinentaux destinés à les véhiculer, n’est capable sur les plans technique et organisationnel de concevoir et de tester un engin répondant aux critères d’un missile balistique intercontinental", a déclaré vendredi un représentant de l’Etat-major général russe, Viatcheslav Kondrachov, lors d’une conférence sur la défense antimissile à Moscou.

Airbus Military and Pretoria in ongoing talks on A400M programme

Source: Creamer’s Media Engineering

In Madrid, on Wednesday, Airbus Military CEO Domingo Ureña expressed confidence that his company and the South African government will come to a mutually beneficial agreement regarding the A400 programme and the work packages currently assigned to South African companies.

Local companies Aerosud, a private sector enterprise, and predominantly State-owned Denel Saab Aerostructures (DSA), produce significant and essential components for the A400M as a result of South Africa joining the programme as a partner and ordering eight of the military transport and air to air refuelling aircraft.

But South Africa later cancelled its order, raising questions about the future of the local industrial participation in the A400M.

"We continue to work with the South African government," Ureña said. "Contact and talks never stopped. We have people in South Africa looking at the possibilities we still have. We still believe that South African needs this capability. The communications have never stopped. We are keeping communications with South Africa on opportunities."

"Aerosud and DSA provide key parts of the aircraft," he added. "I need to protect my programme. I need everything [every component] and we continue to have both companies in our supply chain. From the industrial side, we have no need to change this. We do not have anything against DSA and Aerosud. They are an essential part of the A400M as such."

However, with more and more countries demanding offset work for their local industries in return for orders, and with Airbus Military eager to sell the A400M beyond the core European partner countries (only by winning such exports will the company make a profit on the A400M programme; however, export marketing will only really start once the aircraft is fully certified) there could one day be pressure on the South African work packages.

"At the end of the day, if the negotiations [with Pretoria] are closed, then we may have to make a decision [about the work packages]," stated Ureña. "[But] we have no cu- off date for our talks with South Africa. That is not a good way to treat a customer."

The Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF) recently indicated that the Service could extend the operational life of its current main transport aircraft, refurbished and modernised Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules, but that it needed strategic transport as well, a role the A400M is designed to fulfill.

In addition, the project to acquire new maritime surveillance aircraft for the SAAF has been accelerated, and Airbus Military can offer two types for this role, namely the CN235 and the C295.

"I think we have the best [maritime surveillance] product in the world and I believe we could win the programme if we are given the chance to compete," asserted Ureña. "We will be ready to compete."

It might be possible for A400M work to serve as offsets for a CN235 or C295 buy by South Africa. "We are the same company, whether we talk about CN235s or A400Ms," he pointed out.

By Keith Campbell

Airbus Military offering SA choice of two aircraft types for maritime surveillance

Source: Creamer’s Media Engineering News

European aerospace company Airbus Military is offering South Africa dual role aircraft for the country´s Project Saucepan maritime surveillance aircraft programme.

Saucepan is being accelerated because of the spread of Somali piracy to Southern African waters.

The company can offer the CN235 or C295 aircraft for maritime surveillance.

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has already indicated that it is looking at quite small aircraft to fulfill the maritime surveillance role, and wants to receive them as soon as possible after placing any order.

A type cited as an example is the Beechcraft King Air 350.

"The [King Air] 350 is a very good plane," Airbus Military senior VP: commercial Antonio Rodriguez Barberán told Engineering News Online in Seville, Spain, on Tuesday.

"Typically, what we would present to the SAAF are aircraft with a dual role. A CN235 could be a preferred solution for South Africa. Even a C295."

The two roles these aircraft can execute are maritime surveillance and transport whereas, as he pointed out, the King Air 350 has limited transport capability.

Although the CN235 is larger than the King Air 350, it is not a large aircraft.

It is already in service in the maritime surveillance role with a number of customers, including the US Coast Guard.

The C295 is larger than the CN235, but offers even greater flexibility.

With the C295 "you can have a mixed configuration in which you can use the front half for maritime surveillance (systems) and the rear half for transport, or for anti-pollution equipment," he highlighted. "This offers huge benefits for an air force."

The SAAF´s current maritime surveillance aircraft, refurbished and modernised Douglas C-47TP Dakotas, are also operated in the transport role (although different aircraft are assigned the maritime surveillance and transport missions).

Airbus Military could deliver the first maritime surveillance configured CN235 or C295 24 months after the contract was placed. For aircraft configured only in the basic transport role, the time period from contract signing to first delivery would be 12 months.

Regarding industrial participation packages should South Africa order an Airbus Military aircraft type, Barberán stated "we have not put forward any offset programme (yet) but we have held discussions with Denel and Aerosud".

He added that Airbus Military was in a better position that any other company to offer offsets to South Africa, citing the work packages already placed with Denel and Aerosud under the A400M transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft programme.

(Separately, A400M programme head Cédric Gautier gave the assurance that the company had no intention, at this time, of removing any A400M work packages from South Africa.)

The SAAF currently operates both the CN235 and King Air in the transport and communications roles respectively.

By Keith Campbell

(Keith Campbell is attending the Airbus Military Trade Media Briefing in Spain as a guest of the company.)

South Africa Ordering Umkhonto Mk.2 Air Defense Missiles

Source: Defense Industry Daily

Valour Class frigates

In mid-April, South Africa’s DefenceWeb reported an R 49.2 million ($7.3 million) in contracts to begin resupplying its MEKO-derived Valour Class frigates with Umkhonto Mk.2 short range air defense missiles, perform Umkhonto Mk.2 testing, and support existing South African missile stocks.

Umkhonto Mk.1 missiles are currently in service on South Africa’s new frigates, and the South African Army’s Project Protector uses Umkhonto as a land-based SAM system. They are not its only customers…

Each South African warship is fitted with a 16-cell vertical launch system for Denel’s Umkhonto missiles, which use radar cues and datalink guidance to approach their targets, but home in using infrared.

The Mk.2 version produced under these recent South African contracts had been developed for Finland’s use, aboard its Hamina Class missile boats and Hameenmaa Class minelayers. Compared to the Mk.1s, Umkhonto Mk2 missiles have a longer range (15km vs. 12km), and better seeker-head algorithms to distinguish targets from background clutter.

Umkhonto has also been selected by Sweden to equip its Visby Class stealth corvettes.

Umkhonto’s range and attack mode places it in an interesting category, between shoulder-fired missiles like the MBDA Mistral or Saab’s RBS-70, and medium range naval options like MBDA’s Aster-15 or Raytheon’s RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow. Other naval missiles in its category include include IAI’s Barak-1, Thales’ Crotale NG/Mk.3, Russia’s 3K95/SS-N-9, and the forthcoming Thales/MBDA CAMM/FLAADS-M. With the exception of CAMM/FLAADS-M, all are radar-guided.

Northrop Grumman Unveils Latest Spy Plane

Source: Defense Tech

About a week ago I noticed a post over at The DEW Line talking about the appearance of a strange looking new aircraft in the vicinity of Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The plane looked, at first, like a new class of UAV. The fact that it was operating close to the home of the service’s U-2 and RQ-4 Global Hawk spy planes backed up this theory. It turns out the airplane is Northrop Grumman’s latest spy plane, the Firebird. The optionally-manned plane consists of a Scaled Composites-built airframe carrying everything from high-def video cameras and radars to electronic eavesdropping gear, according to a Northrop announcement.

The spy systems can be operated all at once or swapped out depending on mission needs.

From the announcement:

Firebird’s universal interface is similar to plugging a memory stick into a personal computer that is automatically recognized without needing to load additional software.

“Not only have we increased the number of ISR sensors working simultaneously in an aircraft of this size, but we can also incorporate various sensors that complement each other – greatly enhancing Firebird’s information-gathering value for warfighters,” said Rick Crooks, Northrop Grumman’s Firebird program manager. “Firebird is an adaptable system that makes it highly affordable because of the number of different missions it can accomplish during a single flight. It’s a real game changer.”

Now, the real question is, what’s it’s role in the market? The relatively slow, prop-driven plane will pretty vulnerable to all sorts of threats meaning it’s best suited for use in places where the U.S. controls the airspace such as Afghanistan. Northrop’s new plane resembles a beefed up, purpose-built version of MC-12 Liberty ISR plane flown by the U.S. Air Force in what can almost be described as a manned-UAV role in Iraq and Afghanistan. Demand for this type of aircraft that can carry a ton of sensors while staying aloft for hours is certainly growing around the globe. The Firebird can carry more than 1,200-pounds of payload and stay aloft for as long as 40 hours. Keeping the manned-option gives it some flexibility to be used in situations where having a pilot on scene is required. If Northrop can keep costs down, who knows, we may see the orders rolling in. The bird is set to fly in Joint Forces Command’s Empire Challenge exercise later this month. We’ll see how well it does there.

Armements: Moscou préoccupé par la concurrence chinoise

Source: Ria Novosti

Armements: Moscou préoccupé par la concurrence chinoise

La concurrence de la Chine sur le marché mondial d’armements constitue le principal problème pour le complexe militaro-industriel russe, a déclaré à RIA Novosti le directeur du Centre d’analyse de stratégies et de technologies de Moscou, Rouslan Poukhov.

Selon lui, le principal avantage de Pékin "consiste non seulement dans l’ampleur plus importante de l’économie chinoise par rapport à l’économie russe, mais aussi dans une complémentarité accrue entre les économies de la Chine et des importateurs potentiels d’armes chinoises".

L’expert souligne également que "la Russie et la Chine se disputent les mêmes marchés: ceux des pays en développement pratiquant une politique militaire relativement indépendante vis-à-vis de l’Occident".

Tandis que "la Chine devient l’un des consommateurs principaux des matières premières provenant des pays du Proche-Orient, d’Amérique latine et d’Afrique", la Russie, au contraire, est en concurrence sur le marché des matières premières avec les consommateurs de ses armes: l’Algérie, le Turkménistan et le Venezuela, estime l’interlocuteur de l’agence.

D’autre part, constate-t-il, "la politique de Pékin suscite une inquiétude grandissante chez les Etats du Sud-est asiatique, ce qui ouvre de nouveaux horizons aux exportateurs d’armements russes".

Mistral: Moscou insiste sur la vente sous licence du système Zenith-9

Source: Ria Novosti

Le porte-hélicoptères français Mistral

La Russie signera un contrat sur l’achat de porte-hélicoptères français de classe Mistral uniquement si les Français acceptent de lui fournir la licence de construction du système de combat Zenith-9, a appris vendredi RIA Novosti d’une source au sein de l’industrie de la défense russe.

"Lors des négociations, nous avons compris que les militaires français considéraient le système Zenith-9 comme le plus sensible. Ils se sont montrés hostiles à sa remise à la Russie bien qu’on ait initialement examiné la possibilité de livraison de ce système sans licence de construction. Mais la Russie, qui souhaite obtenir de nouvelles technologies avec le navire, insiste sur la licence et la décision des Français scellera le sort du contrat", a indiqué le responsable.

Le bâtiment de projection et de commandement (BPC) de classe Mistral est long d’environ 200 m et peut transporter six hélicoptères, quatre vedettes de débarquement ou deux aéroglisseurs de faible tonnage, ainsi que 450 soldats.

La fourniture à Moscou d’un tel navire est une première pour un pays de l’Alliance atlantique. Elle a suscité des critiques de Washington et des pays baltes, ainsi que de la Géorgie.

IDEF 2011: la Russie présentera plus de 100 armes et matériels

Source: Ria Novosti

Mi-35

La Russie exposera plus de 100 armes et matériels présentant un intérêt pour les pays méditerranéens au Salon international de défense IDEF 2011 qui se déroulera à Istanbul, en Turquie, du 10 au 13 mai, a annoncé jeudi l’agence russe d’exportation d’armements "Rosoboronexport".
"Nous comprenons que plusieurs pays de la région sont membres de l’OTAN. Mais nos armements répondent parfaitement aux normes de l’Alliance. D’autant plus qu’ils surpassent sensiblement leurs concurrents sur certaines caractéristiques ou sont tout à fait uniques", a indiqué Anatoli Aksenov, chef de la délégation russe au salon.

Le stand russe présentera notamment l’hélicoptère Mi-171Ch, très populaire sur le marché international, les hélicoptères de combat Ka-62, Mi-28NE, ainsi que l’hélicoptère de transport et de combat Mi-35 que la Russie exporte déjà vers le Venezuela et le Brésil.

Les hélicoptères Ka-62, Mi-28NE et Mi-35 sont blindés, dotés d’armements puissants et d’équipements radioélectroniques permettant de les utiliser par tous les temps, de jour comme de nuit.

Par ailleurs, Rosoboronexport exposera le blindé de combat d’infanterie BMP-3M, les blindés de transport de troupes BTR-80/80A, les véhicules de dépannage BREM et le char T-90S qui a déjà démontré sa fiabilité et son efficacité.

Les visiteurs du salon pourront obtenir des informations sur les missiles de moyenne et longue portée Tor-M2E et Bouk-M2T, ainsi que sur le système mobile anti-aérien de longue portée Antei-2500.

Beaucoup de pays méditerranéens possèdent une longue ligne côtière et peuvent donc s’intéresser aux vedettes et navires de débarquement russes, aux missiles sol-mer et aux sous-marin à propulsion diesel-électrique. La Russie présentera la frégate Gepard-3.9, la corvette Tigr, la vedette d’artillerie Tornado, le sous-marin à propulsion diesel-électrique de 4e génération Amour-1650 et le simulateur Laguna destiné à former les officiers à la  manœuvre.

China Sierra Leone:Artillery weapons and ammunition for RSLAF

Source: Awoko

The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) last Friday received artillery weapons and ammunition from the Peoples Republic of China at the Joint Forces Command Headquarters, Cockrill.
The Chairman of the program, Brigadier Daniel Yapo Sesay stated that such an event is not new, especially as it is related to the continuous assistance by the Peoples Republic of China to RSLAF in its strive towards developing a professional and well-balanced force. He added that Chinese donation to RSLAF started in 1987 with two offshore patrol boats. The vessels formed the nucleus of the Sierra Leone Navy and played a pivotal role in ECOMOG operations in Liberia and in fisheries protection, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations.
According to Brigadier Yapo Sesay, RSLAF recently received a substantial quantity of AK 47 rifles, rocket grenade launchers, anti-aircraft guns and mortar, and a large quantity of their appropriate ammunition.
Mr. Joseph Bandabla Dauda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the gift is yet another demonstration of the special bond of friendship and tremendous good will that has always characterized the excellent bilateral relationship between the Government of Sierra Leone and the People’s Republic of China throughout the forty (40) years of diplomatic history.
Mr. Kuang Weilin, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, stated that according to the agreement signed during the visit of the Minister of Defense to China, they agreed to provide RSLAF with equipment for establishing an artillery battery. He added that the equipment arrived in Freetown in Mid-April this year with a six member Chinese handing over and training team and they have been here for ten days to train the military officers.
He further stated that military cooperation is an important component of friendly cooperative relations between China and Sierra Leone. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two Countries, China has been providing military assistance to Sierra Leone within its capacity so as to help enhance defensive capabilities of RSLAF and show China’s understanding and support for the unremitting efforts made by the government and the people of Sierra Leone in safeguarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that presently eleven military officers from RSLAF are currently undergoing training in China.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of RSLAF, the Minister of Defense, (rtd) Major Alfred Paolo Conteh, stated that in November last year he headed a delegation from his Ministry to visit his counterpart and colleague Minister of Defense of China who informed him that the government of the People’s Republic of China has given RSLAF twenty-five million Chinese Yuan which amount was equated to a battery of six guns of 122 millimeter howitzer guns.
Further, he said, this was part of his agenda for reforming the RSLAF to make it a force that is capable of performing its mission and tasks. He added that as Sierra Leone celebrates its fifty years anniversary with the theme: “A New Sierra Leone-50 forward,” the possession of these artillery pieces has made RSLAF a new security force that is part of the transformation process of the country.
He finally extended profound gratitude to the government and people of China for this magnificent gesture. China continues to play a great role towards the transformation of RSLAF by providing equipment and technical training support to the force.
By Alhaji Manika Kamara

Bresil salon de l’armement LAAD 2011

Source: TTU

	Inauguré par le ministre de la Défense, Nelson Jobim, la huitième édition du Salon brésilien LAAD, s’est ouverte le mardi 15 avril à Rio dans un contexte national ambigu. Alors que le Salon affiche complet, la période est aux doutes concernant le budget de la Défense. La présidente Dilma Rousseff a annoncé une coupe franche de 4 milliards de reals sur l’équipement des armées, mais aucune annonce n’est encore intervenue sur les programmes affectés par cette réduction. Malgré ce contexte morose, LAAD 2010 a connu une de ses plus fortes augmentations depuis sa création, confirmant son statut de plus grand Salon d’Amérique Latine. Plus de 600 exposants issus de 35 pays, alors que l’édition précédente en comptait à peine 500, et près de 20 000 visiteurs attendus, soit près du double que l’édition 2009. Conséquence, la surface d’exposition a presque doublé. Salon à l’origine dédié aux équipements militaires, l’augmentation de la présence industrielle concerne essentiellement le secteur de la sécurité publique. Un besoin qui s’explique par l’organisation de la Coupe du Monde de Football en 2014 et des JO en 2016, deux évènements d’importance pour Brasilia. Mais le marché sécuritaire brésilien va bien au-delà de ces deux rendez-vous. Gigantesque pays, les 27 Etats qui le constituent ont de très forts besoins en moyens de surveillance, de transports ou de secours. La petite trentaine de secrétaires de sécurité publics de ces Etats s’étaient donnés rendez-vous à LAAD, afin de discuter de ces enjeux (surveillance des frontières, narcotrafics….). Mais, selon les industriels, malgré la forte croissance du pays, le marché sécuritaire n’est cependant pas encore mature, et les besoins en équipements pas encore définis et encore moins exprimés. Reste que les nombreux nouveaux industriels présents pressentent un marché gigantesque en devenir, et viennent à Rio afin d’établir des premiers contacts et sonder ces besoins. Outre les rencontres de délégations officielles (une cinquantaine), l’objectif pour les industries étrangères est aussi de sonder le paysage industriel et trouver des partenaires locaux sérieux, passage obligé afin de pouvoir pénétrer le marché brésilien. Parmi les nouveaux arrivants, certains français, dont Renault Truck Defense, le cluster Eden, RUAG, mais aussi des industriels américains (Oshkosh…) qui comptent sur le réchauffement des deux pays acté par les bonnes relations entre Obama et Dilma Rousseff. Mais, fait intéressant, de très nombreuses sociétés venues de Chine, d’Europe de l’Est ou de la Corée du Sud apparaissent sur le marché brésilien avec des solutions à bas coût. La présidente Rousseff effectue au même moment une visite en Chine, un partenaire stratégique, notamment bon client d’Embraer. Autre tendance, le fort développement des industries locales. Embraer continue sa croissance sur le secteur aéronautique, mais aussi sur la défense, avec l’annonce d’achat de 50 % du capital de la société brésilienne Atech, spécialisée dans les systèmes de communications et de commandement, ou encore avec la signature d’un accord stratégique avec l’israélien Elbit sur les drones, qui pourrait aboutir à la création d’un société commune.

	Iveco, partenaire stratégique de l’armée de terre brésilienne Suite au contrat de codéveloppement signé en 2007 entre Iveco et l’armée de terre, c’est pas moins de 2 200 véhicules blindés Guarani que fournira l’industriel italien (groupe Fiat) à l’armée de terre brésilienne. Iveco a annoncé, durant le Salon LAAD, la création d’une filiale, Iveco Veiculos de Defesa, qui aura en charge la construction de ce nouveau véhicule, spécialement développé avec les Brésiliens et pour le besoin de son armée de terre. L’industriel italien a investi 35 millions d’euros pour ces nouvelles installations, qui vont devenir le plus grand centre Iveco en dehors d’Europe. Véhicule blindé moyen de transport de troupe/combat d’infanterie, type VBTP, le Guarani est un engin 6×6 amphibie de la classe des 18 tonnes, pour 6,9 m de long, que le constructeur italien a prévu de décliner en plusieurs versions (les trois premières en configuration transport de troupe, poste de commandement et sanitaire), dans le cadre d’un programme étalé sur vingt ans. Aerotransportable, le nouveau véhicule de l’armée brésilienne doit embarquer un groupe de combat à neuf fantassins en plus de l’équipage de trois personnes. Le premier prototype présenté à l’occasion du salon LAAD sera suivi de 16 autres courant 2012, avant le début de la production en série. Une campagne d’essais réalisée par l’armé brésilienne va bientôt débuter, pour ce véhicule, qui, à terme, remplacera une partie de la flotte vieillissante de blindés Urutu. Première pour RTD Renault Truck Defense a participé, pour la première fois, au Salon LAAD. L’industriel français présentait deux véhicules, le Sherpa Light APC et le Kerax 6×6. Le Sherpa, qui a été sélectionné notamment par la France et la Namsa (Otan), pourrait répondre aux besoins de la police d’Etat et de la police fédérale brésiliennes. Selon l’industriel, il y aurait un besoin important des Brésiliens pour des véhicules protégés à très forte mobilité, vu la configuration du pays. Une consultation pour plus d’une centaine de véhicules de cette gamme pourrait être lancée dans le moyen terme. Des essais du Sherpa doivent avoir lieu cet été au Brésil. Le Kerax 6×6, quant à lui, pourrait répon­dre aux besoins logistiques de l’armée de terre brésilienne. LAAD était aussi l’occasion pour RTD d’identifier des partenaires locaux, la réglementation nationale exigeant une participation jusqu’à 60 % de contenu brésilien pour les marchés publics remportés par des groupes étrangers. Le Spexer d’EADS Conscient des très forts besoins du Brésil en surveillance côtière et des frontières, un dossier jugé prioritaire par Brasilia, EADS présentait durant LAAD son dernier-né, le Spexer 2000. Cette gamme comprend un radar courte portée, le Spexer 1 500, d’une portée de 40 km, jusqu’à de la détection longue portée de 80 km pour le Spexer 2000. Basé à terre, la gamme Spexer peut à la fois faire de la surveillance terrestre ou maritime. Grâce à la technologie à antenne active, le radar est capable de détecter des cibles très petites, comme un piéton ou un nageur à longue distance.

Inbra : l’émergence d’un nouvel acteur Créé en 1979, le groupe brésilien Inbra a dévoilé à LAAD, pour la première fois, un véhicule blindé léger 100 % brésilien, baptisé le Gladiador. A l’origine, spécialisé dans le textile, lnbra s’est imposé dans le blindage, à la fois dans les équipements personnels (gilets, casques…) et le blindage de véhicules ou d’aéronefs. Les solutions du groupe se sont largement imposées au Brésil ainsi qu’en Amérique latine (Colombie…). C’est à la demande des forces armées et de la police brésiliennes qu’Inbra a lancé le développement, il y a cinq ans, du véhicule Gladiador, assuré que l’industrie de défense terrestre a de fortes perspectives de croissance vu le potentiel du marché brésilien. Le Gladiador est en fait une version militarisée d’un châssis civil. Véhicule très protégé, avec une forte mobilité (4×4), il est destiné au transport de troupes (8 personnes) pour le marché parapublic, militaire et des forces de police. Le véhicule blindé de 7 tonnes peut atteindre une vitesse de 130 km/h, avec une autonomie de 700 km, grâce au moteur MWM 4.12 TCE turbo diesel développant 185 chevaux. Il est prévu pour recevoir une tourelle de 25 mm en version recon­nais­sance. Des négociations sont en cours avec l’armée de terre pour une commande qui pourrait atteindre 300 véhicules. Autre domaine d’excellence, le blindage d’aéronefs, pour lequel Inbra travaille avec Eurocopter. Dans le cadre du transfert de technologie du contrat EC725, Inbra est en charge de la réalisation de certaines parties du fuselage. Les ambitions de Thales Thales est présent au Brésil depuis déjà quelques années, notamment via la société Omnisys, société brésilienne dont il détient 87 % du capital. Thales a annoncé durant le Salon LAAD qu’il développerait de manière importante cette entreprise brésilienne. Le premier axe de développement est de faire d’Omnisys, un centre d’excellence mondial pour les radars longue portée, en transférant la production du radar de défense aérienne tri-dimensionnel GM400. Le Brésil devrait bientôt lancer une consultation pour le renouvellement de ses radars. Par ailleurs, dans le cadre de la compétition FX2, Thales, en cas de victoire du Rafale, ferait d’Omnisys une deuxième source de production du radar à antenne active du Rafale, le RBE2. Enfin, autre source de développement de la présence au Brésil, la guerre électronique navale. Omnisys va développer des compétences dans le segment des contre-mesures électroniques. La société française a par ailleurs noué des partenariats avec des industriels locaux pour les programmes de surveillance des frontières. Thales, qui a été sélectionné pour la sécurisation de la ville de Mexico, a aussi de forts espoirs dans ce secteur. RUAG s’implante au Brésil La société suisse, dont c’était la première participation au Salon LAAD, va bientôt ouvrir un bureau au Brésil. Le groupe est par ailleurs en phase exploratoire pour la construction d’une usine de munitions à São Paulo. Car les perspectives de marchés sont nombreuses. Ainsi la société a de forts espoirs pour le marché de renouvellement des Embraer 110 EMP Bandeirantis. Cette flotte d’une centaine d’avions, en service depuis plus de trente ans, assure des missions de transport mais surtout de surveillance du territoire et de patrouille maritime. RUAG se positionne avec le bi-moteur à hélices Do-228 NG. Pouvant transporter une vingtaine de passagers, l’avion peut atteindre une vitesse de 260 nœuds ou voler très lentement à moins de 70 nœuds pour effectuer de la détection plus précise. Avec une autonomie de neuf heures, le Dornier peut se poser sur des pistes très courtes ou non préparées. En cas de sélection, Ruag propose d’ouvrir une usine d’assemblage au Brésil. L’appel d’offres pour le renouvellement des Bandeirantis est attendu dans les mois à venir. Enfin, Ruag va présenter à l’armée de l’air brésilienne une offre de maintenance des avions F-5, dont 57 exemplaires sont en service au Brésil. EDEN présent Le cluster rhônalpin des PME défense a participé pour la pre­mière fois au Salon LAAD. Fort d’un accord signé avec l’ABIMDE (Groupement des industriels bré­siliens de défense) durant le Salon Milipol en 2009, une entreprise du cluster va s’implanter au Brésil. Cette société conçoit et produira localement des équipe­ments de protection individuelle (gants…) pour le secteur indus­triel ou para­public (pompiers). Une première entreprise membre d’EDEN, Nicomatic, a ouvert il y a six mois une filiale au Brésil. Nicomatic produit des connectiques militaires. La société Sunaero était parmi les PME représentées sur le stand d’EDEN. Spécialisé dans des solutions de détection et de colmatage de fuite de combustible Sunaero fournit ses solutions à la base militaire de Rio. Annoncé au Salon LAAD, la PME du cluster Eden, 01DB-Metravib, fournira aux hélicoptères des forces de la police de Rio son système de détection et de localisation acoustique de tir PILARw. Il y a deux ans, la police de Rio avait perdu un hélicoptère abattu au-dessus d’une favela. Les hélicoptères brésiliens recevront deux antennes fixées sur les patins, pour avoir une couverture à 360 degrés. La version airborne du PILARw donne l’alerte de tir (pas toujours identifiable depuis l’hélicoptère), la distance de tir ainsi que le calibre de l’arme. De nombreuses armées ont déjà fait le choix du système de Metravib (Belgique, Royaume-Uni, forces spéciales américaines…). FX-2 : Dassault confiant Au Brésil, Dassault continue son cycle de présentation de son offre Rafale BR dans les grands Etats du pays. Ainsi, trois à quatre rendez-vous sont déjà fixés. Alors qu’un premier jet du paquet de transfert de technologies (TOT) de l’industriel français a été remis aux autorités brésiliennes il y a plus d’un an, le dossier des TOT a, depuis, beaucoup évolué. Le but de ces réunions d’information, visant les industriels et les établissements scientifiques locaux, est de sensibiliser les entreprises brésiliennes aux TOT, un mécanisme souvent méconnu, mais aussi d’identifier des partenaires potentiels en cas de “victoire” du Rafale. Grâce à ces réunions, Dassault a déjà signé plus de soixante accords avec une quarantaine de sociétés locales. Les partenaires du “Rafale Team” sont aussi des sources importantes de TOT. Snecma vient ainsi de signer un accord avec une entreprise locale pour la production du moteur M88, tandis que les discussions entre Dassault et l’avionneur brésilien Embraer continuent. Des israéliens très présents Elbit Systems et Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) continuent de se livrer une guerre sans merci au Brésil. IAI a ainsi conclu un accord pour créer une société conjointe avec le conglomérat brésilien Synergy pour développer et produire des drones. IAI a ainsi répondu à Elbit, qui a également signé un contrat du même genre, par l’intermédiaire de sa filiale brésilienne Sistemas, avec le groupe aéronautique Embraer pour développer des avions sans pilote destinés aux marchés brésilien et sud américain. Avec ces accords, IAI et Elbit misent sur des commandes militaires, mais aussi pour la sécurité civile, notamment pour la Coupe du Monde de football en 2014 et les Jeux Olympiques de 2016, qui se dérouleront à Rio. Grâce à son accord avec Synergy, IAI espère reproduire le «modèle de business» utilisé avec succès par le groupe israélien en Russie et aux Etats-Unis. IAI fournira des kits de drones produits en Israël, qui seront ensuite assemblés par son partenaire brésilien en attendant l’ouverture d’une ligne de production locale. En janvier, IAI avait signé un contrat pour la fourniture de drones de type Heron à la police brésilienne.

China donated Y-12 to Seychelles

Source: China Military news

Following last week’s working visit to China by Vice President Danny Faure and his meeting with Mr. Ma Zhiping, President of CATIC (China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation), the Seychelles Resident Ambassador to China Mr. Philippe Le Gall has been invited to visit Harbin where four Seychellois are now undergoing training on the two Y-12-E aircrafts expected to be handed over to the Seychelles government in June this year.

While speaking of his visit, Amb. Le Gall said he was reassured that Seychelles would get “an excellent general-purpose aircraft, ideal for inter-island transportation needs, especially with the company’s commitment to provide first-class, after-sale technical support."

During the visit on April 25, Amb. Le Gall had talks with Mr. Li Xianzhe, Vice Chief Engineer of AVIC, production branch of CATIC for Y-12 aircrafts, who made a presentation on the twin turboprop light general purpose aircraft powered by Canadian Pratt & Whitney engines. Reliable, comfortable, cost effective, and reputed for its high performance, the Y-12 E aircraft can be used for passenger/cargo transportation, maritime patrol and surveillance, emergency medical service, geological survey, and aerial photography, among other uses.

This donation from the Chinese government follows an agreement signing held in March this year during the visit of a the Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Wang Qishan.

After the initial agreement signing, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Jean-Paul Adam said that having strong partners like China that react to the needs of Seychelles has allowed the country to achieve things which would not otherwise have been possible without this high level of support.

The four Seychellois currently undergoing training in China include two pilots and two technicians.

Angola and Kenya might get the Heron UAV

Source: Flight International

Heron UAV

Angola’s defence ministry is negotiating the purchase of a number of Israel Aerospace Industries Heron 1 unmanned air systems, according to African sources.

IAI has within the past few months conducted flight demonstrations with the Heron in Angola and Kenya, which is also looking for a UAS capability, the sources say. A lease deal involving the type is believed to be one option available to the first country, they add.

IAI declines to comment about its marketing efforts with UAS in Africa.

The Heron 1 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance air vehicle designed to perform strategic reconnaissance and surveillance operations. Capable of automatic take-off and landing, it has a 30,000ft (9,150m) maximum altitude and can be fitted with a variety of payloads.

Angola has previously used an Israeli company to meet some of its surveillance needs. In 2003 Aeronautics Defense Systems-supplied Aerostar UAS were operated to patrol oil installations for Chevron/Texaco.

By Arie Egozi

Botswana signs deal for Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainers

Source: Flight Global/Flight International

Botswana is to receive five new PC-7 Mk II turboprop trainers from Swiss manufacturer Pilatus.

Signed in the Botswanan capital Gaborone on 13 April, the roughly SFr40 million ($44.8 million) contract also includes the provision by Pilatus of a ground-based training system, plus spare parts, logistics support and training for pilots and technicians. The aircraft and all associated equipment should be delivered by early 2013, the company says.

The Botswana Defence Force operates a fleet of six PC-7s, as listed in Flightglobal’s Milicas database. The most recent of these entered use in 1990, it says.

"The decision confirms the continued trust that the Botswana Defence Force places in Pilatus and the Pilatus aircraft as a training system," the company says.

Botswana’s order will lead to a resumption of production of the PC-7 Mk II, which MiliCAS says is already flown by the air forces of Brunei, Malaysia and South Africa.

© Pilatus

Pilatus is performing a glass cockpit upgrade to the South African Air Force’s 35-strong fleet of the type, with 10 aircraft having been modified by the end of 2010.

The company could also be the recipient of a follow-on order to equip Malaysia with a further 12 examples, an industry source suggested late last year.

By Craig Hoyle

Tweaked helmet would better protect troops

Source: Los Angeles Times

A slightly larger helmet with more foam padding would better protect soldiers and Marines from traumatic brain injury, researchers find. The Department of Defense says that more than 130,000 military personnel have suffered such injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Kevlar military helmet (photo : fesu)

It is the "signature wound" of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: traumatic brain injury from the blast of the enemy’s improvised explosive devices. Now two researchers say that minor changes in the military’s combat helmet could reduce the incidence and severity of these injuries.

Using complex computer modeling to determine the impact of such blasts on helmets, physicist Willy Moss and mechanical engineer Michael King of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Northern California concluded that soldiers and Marines would be better protected by wearing a slightly larger helmet with 1/8 inch more foam padding.

"I’m almost embarrassed," King said, that the finding was so simple.

The two researchers had been selected by the Army and its Joint IED Defeat Organization, which is looking for better ways to protect military personnel against improvised explosive devices, to perform the yearlong, $540,000 study based on previous work on blast-induced traumatic brain injury.

The assignment was to test which kind of helmet liner provided the most protection: two pads used by the Army, two used by the National Football League, and one used in other sports equipment. The pads had different configurations and hardness of foam, and different spacing and design of air pockets.

King and Moss found that the Army pads worked the best — but could work even better with just a slight change in thickness. "What we found amazing was that our results suggested a very low-cost strategy," Moss said.

The NFL pads, the two researchers found, didn’t work as well because they were more rigid than the Army pads and thus allowed forces to be "transferred" to the head. The Army pad, 3/4 of an inch thick, absorbs a larger amount of the force.

The results of their tests have been forwarded to the Army and the Marine Corps for review and possible further testing.

At a Pentagon news conference Tuesday, officials said the findings would be included in the continuing research in several Army commands to design the safest possible helmet. A meeting is set for next month for military researchers involved in helmet design.

"This is a ‘physics’ answer — now we’re trying to tie it back to the head," said Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, program executive officer with an Army command dedicated to developing improved equipment.

Traumatic brain injury is defined as a concussion that can occur even without the skin being broken. The Department of Defense says that more than 130,000 military personnel have suffered traumatic brain injury in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Symptoms include headaches, loss of balance, difficulty driving, visual distortions, memory loss and trouble sleeping.

Earlier testing had suggested that the Army helmet, which is designed to cushion against a direct impact, was less suited to a blast-wave from an explosion, King and Moss said.

They found that if soldiers were to wear a helmet one size larger, with additional padding, their chances of avoiding traumatic brain injury would be improved by 24%. Helmets come in small, medium, large and extra-large.

However, the increased weight could be a stumbling block. Half of all soldiers and Marines wear a large-size helmet. The next size up is 9 ounces heavier, at 3 pounds 14 ounces.

Col. William Cole, a specialist in individual protection equipment, said soldiers at Ft. Benning, Ga., objected to adding even a single ounce to their helmets, let alone 9 ounces. A heavier helmet, he added, could also restrict maneuverability — although using a lighter material for the helmet could offset the added weight from the larger size.

Cole’s experience at Ft. Benning differed from that of Moss when he went to Tampa, Fla., to meet with U.S. Special Forces soldiers. He said he was buoyed by their positive response to wearing slightly larger helmets.

"I used that as my sanity check," he said. "I trust those guys."

This is not the first time researchers have suggested that a change in the military helmet could better protect troops. Last year, a team from MIT suggested that a face shield could provide protection because the face is the "pathway" through which pressure from a blast travels to the brain.

Best known for its weapons design work, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory does research projects for the departments of Defense, Energy and Homeland Security. Among its recent projects are environmental cleanup and cancer research.

The helmet project is just one of several attempts by the military to find solutions to the traumatic brain injury problem:

• The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the U.S Military hospital in Germany, this year opened a Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center with specialists in neurology, optometry, audiology, physical therapy, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, psychology and nursing. All patients brought to the medical center from Iraq and Afghanistan are tested for traumatic brain injury, which Air Force Major Megumi Vogt, medical program chief there, likens to "when something knocks the wheels out of alignment on your vehicle."

• The Marine Corps last year established a Concussion Care Center at Camp Leatherneck, the Marines’ major base in Afghanistan, staffed by Navy doctors, a psychologist and a chaplain.

Marines and soldiers with symptoms of traumatic brain injury are evaluated and treated there. Only when they have not experienced a symptom for seven days are they allowed to return to their unit. In some cases, "even reading a book is too much strain for the brain in the first few days" after an injury, said Navy Cmdr. Earl Frantz, a doctor specializing in sports medicine.

• Studies are planned by the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate various evaluation and rehabilitation strategies for traumatic brain injury. One study plans to look at 1,200 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan over 15 years.

By Tony Perry