A popular TV show on the model of the "Indian idol" coupled with the annual Gajaba Super Cross motor race had distracted the Sri Lankan forces on duty at the Anuradhapura airbase so much, that the LTTE could easily infiltrate and destroy at least eight military aircraft costing US$ 30 to 40 million in the wee hours of October 22, media reports said.
The Gajaba Super Cross was a major event on Sunday, October 21, and the armed forces personnel were in the thick of it all. The same night, there was the Super Star Singer competition on Sirasa TV, one of the most popular programmes, which no Sri Lankan would miss, and the troops at the Anuradhapura base were no exception.
Russia’s government is raising money to complete the upgrade of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier that was ordered by India. Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko has proposed to Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to cover a portion of costs by another export contract. Simultaneously, India has been notified of the need to reconsider the Admiral Gorshkov contract in view of increasing its value. Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko has addressed Defense Minister
A senior Israeli air force source has confirmed that Bell Boeing's V-22 is on the service's equipment wishlist, as Israel Aerospace Industries appears poised to secure a first subcontract on the tiltrotor transport.
The Sri Lankan security forces could not avert the LTTE attack on Anuradhapura air base which claimed over 30 lives earlier this week, despite the Indian installed radar system providing timely warning about the light rebel aircraft hovering over area, officials said.
Defence Ministry officials here said the LTTE's light aircraft were spotted by the Indian installed radar system in Vavuniya in the island's embattled north, but in the prevailing confusion, no aircraft was able to intercept the two LTTE planes which managed to drop bombs in the Air Force base.
President Vladimir Putin on Friday evoked one of the most dangerous confrontations of the Cold War to highlight Russian opposition to a proposed U.S. missile defense system in Europe, comparing it to the Cuban missile crisis of 45 years ago.
The comments made at the end of a summit between Russia and European Union that failed to resolve several festering disputes were the latest in a series of belligerent statements from the assertive Putin.
Emboldened by oil- and gas-fueled economic clout, Russia is increasingly at odds with Washington and much of Europe on issues ranging from Iran and Kosovo to energy supplies and human rights.
The programme to weaponise the indigenous fly-by-wire Light Combat Aircraft Tejas crossed a major milestone on Thursday with a close air combat missile being flawlessly test-fired from the aircraft.
Taking off from INS Hansa, the Naval air station in Vasco (Goa), Prototype Vehicle 1 piloted by the Chief Test Pilot of the National Flight Test Centre Group Captain N Harish, reached an altitude of 6.5 km and a speed of 0.6 mach before the R73 E Russian-made missile was fired in “the autonomous mode” from the aircraft’s left wing tip.
The firing of the ‘find, fire and forget’ air-to-air missile also demonstrated the health and handling of the aircraft during the actual firing, the dealing of unwanted frequencies that occur not just during flutter disturbances and while pulling through G, but even when a missile leaves the aircraft, effects of missile plume on engine air-intake and on composite structures like the wing surface, and missile separation aspects. The structural test proved the successful mating and circuitry between the aircraft and the missile.
Korea Aerospace Industries has delayed the submission of a proposal for its F/A-50 light combat version of KAI's T-50 advanced jet trainer by about six months, but the company remains optimistic that it will receive a development contract from the government in 2008.
KAI says that the proposal is being fine-tuned, and the company must also secure US government approval due to the T-50's use of some sensitive equipment derived from the Lockheed Martin F-16.
Three test examples of the F/A-50 are likely to be ready by the end of 2007, and the company is hoping for a development contract in 2008. If it gives the nod, the air force is likely to commit to about 60 aircraft for delivery from 2013.
France, conceding defeat in a bid to sell advanced fighter jets to Morocco, has decided on a radical overhaul of the way it handles major arms export negotiations, French officials said on Wednesday.
The shake-up comes after talks to sell advanced Rafale fighter jets to the kingdom broke down amid reports of a fumble over the cost of the 2 billion euro ($2.85 billion) deal and its financing. Morocco will buy U.S. F-16s instead, industry sources say.
The shake-up was disclosed by officials accompanying French President Nicolas Sarkozy on a three-day trip to Morocco. The visit yielded rail, frigate and energy deals for France but not the sale of 18 Rafale fighters that Paris had wanted.
Russia’s Air Force will be completely rearmed by Mi-28 helicopters by 2015, RIA Novosti reported. It is Rostov Helicopter Works that serially manufactures Mi-28 helicopters.
Fair Use Notice
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding arms trade activities, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000107----000-.html
This is a completely non-commercial site for private personal use. No fee is charged, and no money is made off of the operation of this site - we have limited ads to cover our operational cost we don't have a donation button neither we accept any. All material that is not produced by the individuals who use this site will be placed under the directory /fair-use or /media under this domain.
Comments (0)
