China conducts missile interception test

Jan 30, 2013- China's Defense Ministry reported Sunday that China conducted a land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory. The report came through state-run Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

It said the military carried out a "land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory".

The report did not mention whether or not any missile or object was destroyed in the test.

An unnamed Defense Ministry official was quoted saying the test was only for defensive purposes and "targets no other country."

China is involved in a bitter territorial dispute in the East China Sea with Japan and in the South China Sea with several Southeast Asian nations. A land to air missile test will undoubtedly unnerve many of them.

YouTube/ JDUS2020

India displays its Military Strength | A warning to China and Pakistan

Jan 26, 2013- India used its annual Republic Day parade to display its first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile, just hours after the country's president made loaded comments about its relationship with long-time antagonist Pakistan.

Republic Day, nominally a national holiday celebrating the introduction of a constitution following independence, is traditionally a display of nationalistic fervor, capped by a massive procession showing off all the latest military hardware.

The pride of place this year was taken by Agni-V, a new-generation missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads as far as China and central Russia, which has been developed at a cost of more than half a billion US dollars. Although the missile underwent a successful test launch in August last year, this was the first time it has been shown to the wider public.

With a range of at least 5,500 km (with some experts claiming its true "classified" reach is actually 8,000 km) the project puts India in an elite club of nuclear superpowers with intercontinental capabilities. The only other countries with such weapons are the US, Russia, UK, France and China (Israel also produces long-range missiles, but does not officially possess nuclear weapons).The display was covered closely by Chinese media, which have previously reacted warily to India's desire to develop a longer-range weapon.

Meanwhile, tensions with neighboring Pakistan, with whom India has long had a simmering conflict over the disputed region of Kashmir, was ratcheted up by comments from new President Pranab Mukherjee.

"We believe in peace on the border and are always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship... but this hand should not be taken for granted," warned Mukherjee in a speech that was televised twice on the eve and the day of the parade.

The two countries agreed a tentative ceasefire last week after a spate of shootings, killing several border guards in recent months.

Last year India invested nearly $50 billion into its armed forces -- making it the world's seventh biggest national defense spender.

Other prominent display items included a scale model of INS Vikramaditya, a converted Soviet-era aircraft carrier that will enter into service later this year, and Arjun tanks, the mainstay of the country's modern armed forces.

China to train Cambodian army

Jan 25, 2013- China has signed a contract to train the Cambodian army and to supply Phnom Penh with new and updated weapons, starting with 12 helicopters.

Chinese Gen Jianguo, deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army (left), shakes hands with Deputy Defence Minister Moeung Samphan after signing the agreement on Wednesday. (Photo by Phnom Penh Post)

The ground-breaking deal, certain to shake up regional relations, was signed Wednesday in Phnom Penh at a low-profile ceremony held Wednesday in Phnom Penh.

It was signed by Moeung Samphan, Cambodian deputy defence minister and secretary of state of the defence ministry, and Gen Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh looking on.

The military training and the 12 helicopters "will help to boost the (Cambodian) military's capabilities," said Mr Tea Banh at the ceremony, according to an account from Phnom Penh carried by the People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party.

"This will contribute to assisting the RCAF to increase capacity in national defense sector."

There was no immediate reaction to the low-key report from either Thailand or Vietnam. Hanoi, in particular, is likely to view the military training of the Cambodian army with major scepticism, if not outright opposition.

The move comes at a delicate time, with China under close examination for its huge territorial claims in and near the Asean region. Vietnam and the Philippines have been particularly suspicious of what they view as Chinese overreach in the region.

China has been increasingly active in military and economic affairs in Cambodia during the past several years. In 2012, Chinese companies have pledged to invest $8 billion in Cambodia, a figure equivalent to almost two-thirds of its entire economy.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Hun Sen inaugurated an extension of the Combined Arms Officer School, funded entirely by China.

As for Thailand, any upgrade to the Cambodian army will almost certainly result in both increasing hostility from the ultra-nationalist "patriots" involved in the dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. There are likely to be calls from the military to upgrade Thai forces facing Cambodia, the only country with which Thailand has had armed conflicts in recent years.

On Thursday, top officials of the Chinese government's railways ministry signed a deal in Phnom Penh to design, fund and build a new seaport and 404km railway from Preah Vihear to Koh Kong, the island province just off the Thai coast. The railway will virtually shadow the the entire eastern border of Thailand with Cambodia.

China agreed to train, equip and upgrade the Royal Cambodian Armed Force (RCAF) after the United States considered, then rejected a request by Phnom Penh, a separate report by the Washington-based Radio Free Asia service.

"China has played a key role in improving Cambodia's dilapidated military inventory since 2010, when Beijing donated 250 jeeps (sic) and trucks to Cambodia's army after the US scrapped a similar plan," the RFA reported.

The US opposition to Cambodian military aid was a direct result of the decision by Cambodia to send 20 ethnic minority Uighur asylum seekers back to China for virtually certain imprisonment or worse.

Bangkok Post

Sukhoi Delivers 5 Su-34 Bombers to Russian Air Force

Jan 25, 2013- NOVOSIBIRSK, January 25 (RIA Novosti) - The Novosibirsk aircraft plant, part of the Sukhoi holding, delivered five multirole Su-34 strike aircraft to the Russian Air Force on Friday, the manufacturer said.

Sukhoi Delivers 5 Su-34 Bombers to Russian Air Force

The jets will make a nonstop ferry flight from Novosibirsk to an air base in Voronezh, southwest Russia, a distance of over 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles).

Six Su-34s were delivered to the Air Force in 2011, as part of an initial contract signed in 2008 for 32 aircraft. The Voronezh base received its first five Su-34 warplanes in late December.

Last year, the Defense Ministry said it would take delivery of 10 Su-34s in 2012, all of them to be deployed in the Western Military District.

The Air Force is due to get 92 Su-34s by 2020, in a contract signed in March 2012.
Together with the 2008 contract, the Air Force will eventually have a total of 124 Su-34s.

A two-seat derivative of the Su-27 fighter, the Su-34 can carry a payload of up to eight tons of precision-guided weapons over 4,000 kilometers.

The aircraft will eventually replace all of the ageing Su-24 strike aircraft in service with the Air Force and Navy.

The first Su-34s were manufactured in Novosibirsk in 2006, with series production starting in 2008.

RIA Novosti

Third Indonesia-made missile ship delivered

Jan 26, 2013- The Defense Ministry of Indonesia accepted its third locally made KCR-40 fast missile boat on Friday, adding to the push to strengthen both the Indonesian Navy and local defense industries.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro officiated the ceremony for the KRI Beladau-643 at Batu Ampar Port in Batam, Riau Islands.

Also attending the ceremony were Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Agus Suhartono, Navy chief of staff Adm. Marsetyo, and vice president director of Bank Mandiri, Riswandi.

Pride of the nation: Soldiers attend the launch of the warship KRI Beladau at Batu Ampar quay, Batam, on Friday. With a maximum speed of 30 knots, the 44-meter vessel is billed as one of the most sophisticated, domestically built war machines. (Antara/Maha Eka Swasta)

Purnomo said the Beladau was the third KCR-40 to enter the Navy’s service after the KRI Clurit-641 and KRI Kujang-642.

The three vessels were part of a series of acquisitions of 16 KCR-40s until 2014. A fourth vessel will be delivered in November while the remaining 12 KCR-40s will be delivered by 2014.

Earlier this month, the ministry, which has a budget of Rp 81 trillion (US$8.42 billion) this year, revised down its target to reach the required level of weapons systems from three Strategic Plans (Renstra) to two five-year plans.

By procuring the KCR-40s at home, the ministry is maximizing local defense industries through requiring a transfer-of-technology with every purchase of a foreign weapons system.

Manufactured by PT Palindo Marine Shipyard, the KCR-40 will be equipped with Chinese made C-705 anti-ship missiles that have a range of some 150-kilometers. State aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia is expected to locally produce the C-705 missiles by 2017 or 2018.

Meanwhile, Agus expected the new vessel would increase the Navy’s capabilities in safeguarding Indonesia’s vast territorial waters.

The three KCR-40s will be operated by the Western Fleet in the shallow waters around Sumatra, parts of Java and Kalimantan.

Agus also touched on the plan to create a Central Fleet in addition to Eastern and Western Fleets.

“We are studying the organization. We will also create the Sea Defense Command [Kohanla] which will supervise the fleets,” he said, without elaborating on the time frame.

Commenting on the plan to establish the third fleet and Kohanla, Iis Gindarsyah from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said that it was a sign of Indonesia’s aspiration for a green water navy.

“The projection is likely about the security of Indonesia’s maritime borders and strategic sea-lanes,” he told The Jakarta Post. He added that the current situation in the South China Sea had placed greater external pressures on Indonesia.

A green navy is often described as a navy with greater coverage than a traditional littoral brown water navy, but stops short of the expansive power of a blue water navy, which contains aircraft carriers.

In addition to having another fleet, the Navy is also preparing the Third Marines, who will be based in Sorong, West Papua.

The Navy has been modernizing its weapons systems in the past few years with acquisitions and plans to further acquire major weapons systems such as submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, light frigates and guided missile destroyers.

The Jakarta Post

Taiwan to receive first P-3C anti-submarine aircraft by year end

Jan 26, 2013- (CNA) Taiwan will take delivery of the first batch of 12 submarine-hunting aircraft purchased from the United States by the end of this year, which will beef up the country's anti-submarine capabilities, the Navy said Saturday.

The P-3Cs will be delivered to Taiwan starting this year, with the last aircraft in the arms deal scheduled to arrive here by the end of 2015, the Navy said.

The P-3C, the most capable Orion version, has advanced submarine detection capability.

In 2007, the U.S. government approved the sale of the P-3Cs with T-56 turboprop engines, and other associated equipment and services at an estimated cost of US$1.96 billion.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has taken delivery of the UGM-84L sub-launched Harpoon missiles purchased from the U.S. and is equipping them on two of Taiwan's submarines, the Navy confirmed.

The new weapons will bolster Taiwan's defense capabilities, the Navy said.

Focus Taiwan

China Successfully Tests 'Carrier Killer' Missile In The Gobi Desert

Jan 26, 2013- China's PLA "sunk" a U.S. aircraft carrier during a war game in remote China using its DF-21D "Carrier Killer" missile, reports Taiwan paper Want China Times

Satellite image with carrier deck for comparison. WCT

The China Times is a 63 year old Taiwanese paper slightly slanted toward unification, but with a solid reputation and accurate reporting.

The Times report originates with a Google Earth image published at SAORBOATS Argentinian internet forum.

The photo shows two big craters on a 600 foot platform deep in China's Gobi desert that Chinese military testers used to simulate the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

There has been talk of the DF-21 for years with estimates of its range, threat, and theater changing implications, but this could be the first known test of the rocket.
The Dong-Feng-21D ballistic missile is expected to ring China's coast on its truck-mounted launcher, posing a significant threat to U.S. Naval forces in the region.

The 21D is particularly deadly in that it streaks to the atmosphere guided by satellites and possibly GPS enabled drones, and then drops faster than sound straight down on its target.

Lacking a horizontal flight path could make it much more difficult to defend against and with the Navy's new carrier's running at $13 billion plus per ship, losing one would be as great a financial blow as it would be psychological and tactical.

But Defense analyst Roger Cliff points out to The Diplomat that the DF-21 faces a greater challenge than what it faced in the Gobi.

"The thing to keep in mind is that, in order for China to successfully attack a U.S. navy ship with a ballistic missile," Cliff told The Diplomat, "it must first detect the ship, identify it as a U.S. warship of a type that it wishes to attack ... [then] over-the-horizon radars used to detect ships can be jammed, spoofed, or destroyed; smoke and other obscurants can be deployed ... and when the missile locks on to the target its seeker can be jammed or spoofed."

Which is good news for U.S. troops as they're now facing a greater number of deployments to the region than at any time since WWII.

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