Brazil launch KC-390 Medium transport aircraft program

Embraer has signed a US$1.3 billion contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for the KC-390 military transport aircraft program. In a ceremony held yesterday (April 14) at the LAAD exhibition the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Brazil's aerospace manufacturer Embraer launched the KC-390 medium weight transport aircraft program. The new jet, will replace some 22 Lockheed Martin C-130E/H and KC-130 transport aircraft currently in service with FAB. Like the Hercules, the new transporter will have a cargo bay equipped with an aft ramp capable of carrying about 18 tons of cargo. It will be capable of transporting a wide variety of types of cargo, including armored vehicles. The aircraft will also be configurable for aerial refueling missions. Unlike most current turboprop powered transporters, KC-390 will be powered by two turbofan engines. The new aircraft is expected to enter service in 2015.

The company embarked on the preliminary development of a future medium weight cargo plane in 2007. Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO described the program as a 'historical strategic partnership' between the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer, and affirmed his conviction that this "cargo and tanker aircraft for the FAB … shall also become another successful export platform for both Embraer and Brazil.” He indicated that the participation of other countries in this program will be evaluated, in conjunction with the FAB.

The development of KC-390 is based on requirements established by the Air Force, following a process that has been proven to be a successful business formula for Embraer, with earlier programs including the Bandeirante EMB-110 light transport and maritime patrol aircraft, and the Tucano trainer and Super Tucano trainers and light attack aircraft. The conversion of Embraer's ERJ-145 jet transports to special mission aircraft also originated from a similar cooperation. These aircraft are operated as aerial surveillance and remote sensor platforms, used in the Amazon Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia – SIVAM).

The event was attended by the Minister of Defense, Nelson Jobim, Chief of the Navy, Admiral Júlio Soares de Moura Neto, the Brazilian Air Force Commander, General Juniti Saito, and Embraer President & CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.

U.S.Navy receives new and improved amphibious assault ship

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding delivered the eighth Wasp class amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) to the U.S. Navy on April 16, 2009. Second only to aircraft carriers in size, LHDs are the largest amphibious warships in the world. The vessel will commissioned in October 2009 and based in the West Coast, at the port of San Diego.

The Makin Island is 844 feet long, can reach speeds of more than 20 knots, and has a displacement of more than 41,000 tons. Wasp-class amphibious assault ships are specifically designed to remain off shore near troubled areas of the world, ready to send forces ashore quickly by helicopters, tilt rotor aircraft and Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft.

Makin Island is distinguished from its predecessors in the class by its fuel-efficient combined gas turbine and electric hybrid drive known as 'auxiliary propulsion system' (APS). Instead of using main propulsion engines to power the ship's shaft, the APS uses two induction-type auxiliary propulsion motors powered from the ship's electrical grid. The ship will be able to use its APS approximately 75% of the time, replacing the less-efficient gas turbines. According to calculation done by the Navy, APS could save the Navy more than $21 million in fuel costs over the ship's lifecycle.

The ship employs new 'watermist' fire suppression systems, and a new fiber-optic Machinery Control System, the two systems integrated with the damage control systems. Other new features include the SPQ-9B radar and Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC).

As the centerpiece of a Navy expeditionary strike group, LHDs are fully capable of conducting and supporting amphibious assaults, advance force and special purpose operations, non-combatant evacuation, and other humanitarian missions. LHDs, along with the other ships of an Amphibious Ready Group, embark, transport, deploy, command and fully support a Marine Expeditionary Unit of 2,000 Marines with their gear.

Iran S-300 missile deal with Russia on track

There are no obstacles to the delivery of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Tehran, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.

"There are no problems with this [S-300] contract," Mehdi Safari said at the end of his visit to Moscow.

He offered no specifics about the contract's implementation, but dismissed concerns voiced by a number of countries over possible S-300 deliveries to Iran.

"After all, these are purely defensive weapons, and any country has the right to buy them. I believe this could only worry those states that have plans to attack others," he said.

A Russian arms export official said last month Iran had not yet received any S-300 air defense systems.

Iranian media, citing senior security officials, have repeatedly reported that Russia has started delivering elements of the advanced version of the S-300 missile to Tehran under a 2007 contract.

The latest version of the S-300 family is the S-300PMU2 Favorit, which has a range of up to 195 kilometers (about 120 miles) and can intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles at altitudes from 10 meters to 27 kilometers.

It is considered one of the world's most effective all-altitude regional air defense systems, comparable in performance to the U.S. MIM-104 Patriot system.

Iran recently took delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense missile systems under a $700-million contract signed in late 2005. Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders. The S-300 system is significantly superior to the Tor-M1.
(RIA Novosti)

Russia to keep SS-18 ballistic missiles in service until 2019

Moscow -- The RS-20V Voyevoda-M (SS-18 Satan) intercontinental ballistic missile, introduced almost 21 years ago, will remain in service until 2019, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) said on Friday.

"The extension in the service life of the [Voyevoda-M] missile will allow us to keep these missiles, the most powerful in the world, in the SMF for another eight-10 years," Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said.

"We have no technical difficulties in accomplishing this task," he added.

The general also said Russia was developing a new ICBM comparable to the SS-18, and would gradually decommission older versions of the missile "in order to ensure nuclear safety."

According to publicly available sources, Russia currently has 88 SS-18 missile silo launchers, most of them deployed at the Dombarovsky missile base in the Orenburg Region, southern Urals.

The missile is armed with a warhead fitting 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) with a yield of 550 to 750 kilotons each.

It has a maximum range of 11,000 km (6,800 miles) with a launch mass of over 210 tons and a payload of 8.8 tons. (RIA Novosti)

Finland fund midlife upgrade for F/A -18s

HELSINKI - The Finnish government has confirmed $280 million in funding to enable the Finnish air force to upgrade its 63 F/A-18 Hornets. Provision for about 40 percent of the capital cost of the program was written into the 2009 defense budget.

The upgrade means that Finland is under less pressure to select new combat fighters and is unlikely to do so until after 2020. This contrasts with Nordic neighbors Norway and Denmark, which decided to buy new aircraft rather than engage in further upgrades.

Significantly, the upgrade will include fitting Hornets with long-range air-to-surface missiles by 2014, with the U.S.-made Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) the leading contender in a contest that also includes the Swedish-German Taurus missile. Other weapons under investigation include glide bombs, AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon and GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition "smart" bombs.

The $280 million funding program has been approved by the government's Financial Affairs Committee. The upgrade forms part of a 17-year development project that will cost $1.3 billion over the full term. Under the plan, the Finnish air force's entire fleet of Hornets is slated to be upgraded by the end of 2016.

Under an agreement with Boeing, the Hornet's manufacturer, much of the upgrade work will be carried out in Finland under contract with the state-controlled defense group Patria and subsidiary, Patria Aviation.

The upgrade will deliver a NATO-compatible aircraft with a superior flight-navigation capability, better pilot situation awareness, improved firepower and a combat aircraft better able to take part in international operations with NATO-aligned nations.

The midlife upgrades are to be carried out in two stages by 2016. Estimated cost is about $510 million for Phase 1 and $990 million for Phase 2.

Finland notified the U.S. government of its interest to acquire JASSMs since 2007, and informal discussions have been ongoing with manufacturer Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems. (By GERARD O'DWYER/defensenews)

Chinese aircraft carrier capability unlikely before 2015

China continues to pursue ambitions to deploy fixed-wing air power at sea but is unlikely to have an operational aircraft carrier before 2015, according to projections in the US government's latest annual report to Congress on China's military capability.

Released on 25 March, the report, 'Military Power of the People's Republic of China', suggests that there is now strong political backing for the build-up of a carrier force, with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) "considering building multiple carriers by 2020".

It states: "Beginning in early 2006 with the release of China's Eleventh Five Year Plan, [Chinese]-owned media reported high-level government and military official statements on China's intent to build aircraft carriers," adding: "In December 2008, China's Ministry of National Defense spokesman Senior Colonel Huang Xueping said, 'China has vast oceans and it is the sovereign responsibility of China's armed forces to ensure the country's maritime security and uphold the sovereignty of its coastal waters as well as its maritime rights and interests.'"

Col Huang added that China is "seriously considering" adding an aircraft carrier to its fleet, because "the aircraft carrier is a symbol of a country's overall national strength, as well as the competitiveness of the country's naval force".

PLL05 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar-Howitzer

The PLL05 (or Type 05) is the self-propelled mortar-howitzer system based on a WZ551 6X6 wheeled chassis. The system combines features of the conventional mortar and the howitzer, firing projectiles at both short-range, high-arcing ballistic trajectories and longer-range, less steep ballistic trajectories for indirect fire. The PLL05 has been equipped by the 127th Light Mechanised Infantry Division of the 54th Group Army since 2008. A track-based version of the system is currently in development.
The Chinese-designed mortar-howitzer system was first revealed by the NORINCO for the export market in 2001, but the system did not receive any order. An improved variant with a redesigned turret was adopted by the PLA under the designation PLL05. The artillery system can be found in the artillery regiment organic to a light (wheel-based) mechanised infantry division, with 18 vehicles organised into a mortar-howitzer battalion.
The PLL05 uses a 6X6 wheeled chassis derived from the ZSL92/WZ551 armoured personnel carrier (APC) with steeled hull. The combat weight is 16.5 tonnes, enabling the vehicle to be airlifted by a Y-8-sized transport aircraft. A crew of four (commander, driver, gunner, and loader) are protected inside the hull with collective NBC protection system.The main armament is a 120mm rifled gun, which has an elevation range of -4°~+80°, and an azimuth range of 360° (in contrast to the +/-35° azimuth range of the 2S23). The artillery system has a maximum range of 9.5km when firing the howitzer projectile, and 8.5km when firing the mortar projectile. The artillery could also fire the rocket-assisted mortar projectile, which has a maximum range of 12.8km. While the 2S23 is manually loaded, the PLL05 is equipped with a semi-automatic loader, which gives a rate of fire of 6~8 rounds/minute (howitzer projectile), 10 rounds/minute (mortar projectile), and 4~6 rounds/minute (HE-AT projectile). The turret is fitted with a cylinder-shape electro-optical device, which may allows the use of smart ammunitions like the Russian KBP Gran laser-guided mortar round. 36 rounds are carried inside the turret and hull.The main armament is a 120mm rifled gun, with no muzzle break or fume extractor. The gun has an elevation range of -4°~+80°, and an azimuth range of 360° (in contrast to the +/-35° azimuth range of the 2S23). The maximum range is 9.5km when firing the howitzer projectile, 8.5km when firing the mortar projectile, and 1.2km when firing the HEAT projectile. The artillery could also fire the rocket-assisted mortar projectile, which has a maximum range of 12.8km. The artillery is capable of both in-direct and direct firing. Fire accuracy is attained by a fire-control system, which allows three aiming methods: automatic, semi-automatic, and manual.

While the 2S9/2S23 is manually loaded, the PLL05 is equipped with a semi-automatic loader, which gives a rate of fire of 6~8 rounds/minute (howitzer projectile), 10 rounds/minute (mortar projectile), and 4~6 rounds/minute (HE-AT projectile). The turret is fitted with a cylinder-shape electro-optical device, which may allows the use of smart ammunitions like the Russian KBP Gran laser-guided mortar round. 36 rounds are carried inside the turret and hull.

Secondary weapon includes a Type 85 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander copula. There are two sets of smoke grenade launchers in group of three, with one fitted on each side of the turret.