Thursday, May 31, 2012

F-35 Reduces the Dutch F-16






The reason for limiting the number of purchased Lightning II Allies the United States is the rising price of these planes. In the case of the Netherlands an additional factor that determines the reduction of the order, the financial crisis and severe cuts in military spending.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

JF-17 Tunder Export Opportunities

 



China and Pakistan plan over the next five years to sell, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, at least 300 fighters Chengdu / PAC JF-17 Thunder.

Monday, May 28, 2012

China 056 Class Corvette, a closer look



Chinese forums I visit are disappointed by the design. Some of them were expecting a 2,500+ tons ship like India's Kamorta class. This 056 is probably no more than 1,200-1,500 tons. Others are complaining about not enough ASW or not enough guns (just one 76mm gun, no AK-630 CIWS or smaller guns). No helo hangar is another complaint.






















Saturday, May 26, 2012

China naval marine corps training



 China and Thailand concluded joint military training for the two countries' naval marine corps on Friday.



Friday, May 25, 2012

USS Mahan in China


I really don’t think this is what Dr James Holmes and Dr Toshi Yoshihara had in mind when they wrote their “A Chinese turn to Mahan” essay. 






Thursday, May 24, 2012

Iran New Attack Helicopter




Iran’s indigenous all-weather attack helicopter, Shahed 285 (file photo)
The Iranian Army has announced plans to showcase the country’s first domestically-built helicopter gunship in an upcoming specialized military exercise.

Iranian Army's Ground Forces Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said the “Cobra Melli” (National Cobra) helicopter gunship will be deployed for the first time in a specialized military drill by the Army’s airborne units in the near future, Fars News Agency reported Wednesday. 


The commander did not offer a specific date for the drill but described it as “a showcase of military self-sufficiency in the field of helicopters.” 





He also emphasized that all the design and development process for building the helicopter gunship has been carried out in the country, adding that in some respects its capabilities are superior to the US-built Apache helicopters. 


He reiterated that in the upcoming army drill, indigenous military helicopters will be armed with a variety of domestically-manufactured precision arms and missiles. 


Heidari stated as well that a number of advanced anti-helicopter and anti-armor weaponry would also be examined in the upcoming drill.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

China Zhoushan Naval Base

 China Navy.    The 6th is scheduled to take on the fourth Type 052C destroyer  Zhengzhou DDG151 later this year after the completion of her sea trails.

Monday, May 21, 2012

India MiG-29Ks for Carrier Operations




Fifteen new Russian-made MiG-29K fighter jets have been inducted for Indian Navy carrier-borne operations, Indian Defence Minister, A.K. Antony told the country’s Parliament. These aircraft will operate from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, formerly called the Admiral Gorshkov when in Russian service, which is planned for induction in December.

India placed an order for 16 MiG-29Ks for $650 million in 2004 to be used on the Russian-made Vikramaditya. A repeat order for $1.5 billion was placed in early 2010 to purchase the 29 additional MiG-29Ks. The Vikramaditya is undergoing a refit in Russia
A trainer version of the MiG-29K, which was part of the aircraft carrier deal, crashed June 23, 2011, in southern Russia, killing its two-member crew. Although no details are known of the probe into the crash. the finalization of the contract for additional MiG-29Ks suggests Indian officials are satisfied with the aircraft, said an Indian Defence Ministry official.

U.S Sell New F-16C/Ds to Taiwan



United States to sell 66 new fighter-jets to Taiwan, with lawmakers saying the deal would close a growing military gap with China. The House of Representatives voted to force the Obama administration to authorize the sale of F-16 jets in addition to plans underway to upgrade existing planes.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Chinese M99 Anti-Materiel 12.7mm Rifle




The M99 rifle is offered as anti-materiel / anti-sniper weapon, and is available in two calibers - 12,7x108 (M99-I)and 12,7x99 / .50BMG (M99-II). Chinese standard issue ammunition. This is way below Western "sniping" standards but more or less enough for anti-materiel work or short-range enemy snipers suppression.
Not much information is available on internals of this rifle, although it is believed that it uses gas operated action with tipping bolt locking. Top of receiver is fitted with Picatinny style rail which will accept a variety of sighting equipment on appropriate mounts. Typical sighting set-up includes either a 10X fixed power telescope or 4-12X or 7-22X variable power telescope sights.

Caliber(s): 12,7x108 (M99-I) or 12,7x99 / .50BMG (M99-II)
Operation: gas operated semi-automatic
Barrel: mm
Weight: ~12 kg (unloaded, less telescope sight)
Length: 1500 mm
Feed Mechanism: 5-round detachable box magazine

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Marine Of China Navy

 










Delays and Increased Costs Push UK MoD to Returning to F-35B STOVL Choice






The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) will move away from the Carrier Variant (CV) JSF and the Armed Forces will instead operate the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant. 

India M777 Howitzer




According to information, India signed with BAE Systems' long-awaited agreement to acquire 145 M777 lightweight towed howitzer 155 mm caliber. Its details remain to be negotiated.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

China Warns US Against Selling Taiwan Radars


China objected Friday to a U.S. plan to supply radar equipment to Taiwan's air force, even though the sale was far short of the F-16 fighter jets the island's president urged Washington to provide last week.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said earlier this week that the U.S. sale includes defense services, technical data, and defense articles" for Taiwan's air defense system, and radar equipment for the island's Indigenous Defense Fighter jets.

Crowley did not put a monetary figure on the deal or identify the American companies involved. The U.S. is obligated by its own laws to provide Taiwan defensive weapons
.
Beijing opposes any military sales to Taiwan as interference in its internal affairs, and the issue has often strained U.S.-China relations.

"China resolutely opposes the United States selling weapons and relevant technical assistance to Taiwan," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.

"
Taiwan's Defense Ministry has not commented on the planned sale, but the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, a private advocacy group based in suburban Washington, called it "a small move.

For years the island has been pressing the U.S. to sell it 66 F-16 C/D fighter jets to help counteract a long-standing Chinese military buildup, much of which has been aimed at providing Beijing the wherewithal to invade across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait.


Some Taiwanese defense officials fear that the threat of additional Chinese pressure has already convinced Washington to take the F-16 C/D sale off the table.

However, they continue to hope that the Obama administration might agree to a substantial upgrade of the F-16 A/B fighters currently in the island's inventory as a kind of consolation prize.

Last week after the release of a Pentagon report criticizing the secrecy surrounding China's military expansion, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou urged Washington to sell the advanced version of the F16 fighter. Beijing said the report was "not beneficial."

In contrast to F-16s, the Indigenous Defense Fighter at the center of the new radar deal is widely regarded as a relatively unsophisticated aircraft, incapable of holding its own against the fourth generation fighters now in the possession of the Chinese air force.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Great Wall 349 (Type 033) Romeo class SS decommissioned.


This old rusty basket is being cleaned up at the Jiangshan Dao yard destined to be a tourist attraction in the Taizhou military theme park near by (here). GW 349 drifted around for 20 years in an unremarkable career – with Wang Fushan, the current deputy commander of the North Sea Fleet, as its skipper being the only bright spot.

New Version of the K-POS



with secure 300x229 Fab Defense K.P.O.S


The K-POS system, which is intended to provide pistols with submachine gun characteristics, FAB Defense is releasing an improved version of the system based on the lessons learned from the operational use of the original.
stock folded1 Fab Defense K.P.O.S
Developed in 2008 after a demand from the German security forces, the K-POS system is characterized by its precision. Mounting rails, a five-point weapon grip, its modern design, small dimensions that allow for concealment, a silencer option, simple operation, safe movement with a bullet in the barrel, simple and swift assembly without the need for special tools.

The system is suited for most Glock models (including "C" models) and for two Sig Sauer models. With more than 10,000 units sold worldwide to law enforcement units, military units, security forces, and private customers at a worth of $6.5 million, by all accounts the gun is a success.

The changes to the structure allow shooters to utilize a wider range of optic scopes while decreasing the amount of combustion gas emitted towards the shooter, and at the same time, hardens the system’s structure.
Ido Solomon, marketing and sales manager at FAB Defense, says, “The improved system is an operational necessity, stemming from the conclusions that we drew from the operational use of the initial system.”