European Missile Defence

[A.V.]

UAE plans 'world class' military defence system

The Emirates was determined to modernise its armed forces and to establish an “advanced” deterrent system, said the UAE president on the eve of the opening of a defence conference in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Khalifa reiterated the UAE’s plans to modernise its military, first set out in a speech on the federation’s 37th anniversary in December, and to protect its people using the world’s most sophisticated equipment.


Speaking before Sunday's opening of the IDEX annual conference and exhibition he said:“The military strategy of the UAE and its plans for building an integrated, strong defence system are based on determination to protect its higher interests, defend the nation," according to WAM news agency.

“We will forge ahead with our drive to back our strategic plans and modernisation of our armed forces…..with the most sophisticated equipment and weaponry ever produced by the world defence industry,” Sheikh Khalifa added.

Modernisation plans for the military have been drawn up in response to regional threats, with particular emphasis on anti-missile defence technologies, plus upgrades for the navy and land forces, he said.

In December the UAE signed deals totalling nearly $4bn with two major US defence firms, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, according to UAE daily The National.

The deals include an advanced version of the Patriot anti-missile system that will be up and running by the UAE Air Force by 2011.

Defence experts say anti-missile systems are vital for the UAE and other GCC states because a the number of countries in the Middle East that have large stocks of ballistic missiles.

Increased naval power is also seen as important to ensure the security of the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which sees 20 to 40 percent of the world’s daily oil shipments.

The UAE has been developing a 72-metre battleship destined to be at the forefront of country’s naval power and six Baynunah class missile corvettes are being built by Abu Dhabi Ship Building company

http://www.daily.pk/world/middle-east/9508-uae-plans-world-class-military-defence-system.html

 

[A.V.]

UAE to get AIM120C-7

ABU DHABI - The United Arab Emirates has struck a deal with the U.S. government to become the first regional user of Raytheon's latest version of the advanced medium range air-to-air missile, the AIM-120C-7.

The governments have signed a letter of agreement that will see just over 220 C-7s delivered to the UAE, said Rico Rodriguez, Raytheon Missile System's business development manager for air warfare programs.

Related TopicsAmericas
Middle East & Africa
Air Warfare
The AIM-120 sale was the first major deal of the IDEX defense show, which opened here Feb. 22.

The new weapon will equip the already formidable Lockheed Martin F-16 Bock 60 fighters now in service with the air force here.

The air force currently operates the less-capable C-5 version of the weapon on the F-16s.

The new weapon offers an upgraded and repackaged guidance system. The weapon has sufficient growth opportunities to meet emerging threats, Rodriguez said.

Aside from the U.S. military, the C-7 is used by Greek and Taiwanese air forces. Finland and South Korea are also in line to operate the weapon.

The missile sale was the second deal announced by Raytheon in the Middle East in the last couple of weeks.

Earlier this month, the company announced its infrared upgrade kits were to equip a variety of Egyptian and Iraqi armored vehicles.

The value of the Foreign Military Sales deal was put at $173 million.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3958758&c=AME&s=AIR

 

[pyromaniac]

Seoul says North Korea can hit target as far as Guam

A South Korean report claims that North Korea has deployed a new type of ballistic missile capable of reaching the US Pacific territory of Guam.

The defense ministry report, released on Monday, said the new missile has a range of at least 3,000km and has been deployed "recently".

The reported striking range of the missle would reach Guam, the northern tip of Australia, much of Russia and India.

The ministry report also said the North began developing the missile in the late 1990s, but did not offer further details, including how many have been deployed.

The report comes as the North is believed to be preparing to test-fire its most advanced missile, the Taepodong-2, which is allegedly capable of reaching Alaska.

South Korea also claims the North is "presumed" to have secured about 40kg of atom bomb-making plutonium from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods from its Yongbyon reactor.

Pyongyang carried out its first atomic test in October 2006, but it is not known whether it could manufacture a nuclear warhead.


The report also claims that the size of the North Korean military had grown to 1.19 million, an increase of 20,000 from 2006, while the number of its lightly-equipped special forces trained to infiltrate South Korea had increased 50 per cent to 180,000.

Monday's published assessment came amid mounting tensions between the two countries, which are still technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended only in an armistice.

The North is angry with the government of Lee Myung-Bak, South Korea's president, who has scrapped a policy of largely unconditional aid and engagement.

It has cancelled all military and political agreements with Seoul, including one recognising their disputed sea border as an interim frontier.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/02/20092238714241633.html

 

[pyromaniac]

The World's Heaviest Infantry Fighting Vehicle Goes To War

February 19, 2009: Last month, Israel used several of its new Nemer IFV (infantry fighting vehicle) in Gaza. This was the first combat experience for the Nemer , and it performed as expected. One was used for a forward command post, enabling officers to get close to the fighting and, using several radios and sensors in the Nemer, to quickly shift forces and call in air support.

The Nemer is based on the chassis of older Merkava I and II series tanks that are being retired. Thus Nemer will have the thick armor of the Merkava. With the turret removed, a remotely controlled (from inside the vehicle) heavy machine-gun has been added. The Merkava lends itself to this kind of modification, because the engine is mounted in the front and there is already a door in the back of the vehicle.

While the Israelis liked the speed of the Stryker, which they considered ordering, they felt they will still be fighting in urban areas, against Palestinian terrorists, in the next ten years. There, the Nemer has an edge, because of its thicker armor. Out in the open, the Stryker has an edge. If the Israelis cannot afford to build enough Nemers, they will add armor to their existing supply of M-113 APCs. But based on tests, and the first experience in Gaza, troops prefer the Nemer.

The Nemer carries eleven people (a driver, gunner, vehicle commander and eight infantry). The passenger compartment is also equipped with a stretcher, that enables one casualty to be carried along with a full load of 11 troops. In addition to the remotely controlled 12.7mm machine-gun, there is also a roof hatch on the left forward part of the vehicle, for the commander to use, and also operate a 7.62mm machine-gun. The vehicle also has the Merkava battle management system, as well as four cameras providing 360 degree vision around the vehicle. The remotely controlled machine-gun has a night vision sight. The vehicle also has a toilet, an addition based on troop feedback (and many missions where they had to stay on board for up to 24 hours at a time in combat zones.)

Israel has over two hundred Merkava I tanks, the oldest are at least 25 years old. Removing the turret leaves you with a 44 ton Nemer, the heaviest IFV ever built. Earlier, Israel had experimented with using T-55 and Centurian tanks as IFVs. This did not work because the engines in these vehicles were in the rear, where the exit doors of AFVs usually are. Thus troops had to enter and exit via top hatches. This was not a good idea in combat. When the older Merkavas became available, IFV conversions were an obvious application. Israeli troops were not happy with their elderly and poorly protected M113 APCs (Armored Personnal Carriers), and were eager to get a safer vehicle.

Nearly 40 Nemers have already been delivered, and now Israel plans to produce over a hundred more, in order to equip two combat brigades. The existing Nemers are being used for training. Note that Nemer is sometimes spelled Namer, in case you want to go searching for more information on the subject.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/20090219.aspx



India should do something like this with the Arjun if all else fails

 

[pyromaniac]

Underwater Collisions not So Rare At All

February 20, 2009: The recent collision between a British and French nuclear submarine is not as rare as most people think. Four years ago a U.S. SSN (nuclear attack sub) collided with an underwater mountain. The sub survived, but its sonar dome was smashed in, and one sailor died.

The Golden Age of submarine collisions was during the Cold War (1948-91). Once Russia began building nuclear subs in the 1960s, and putting them to sea often and for long periods, there were lots of collisions. Well, about one every two years. Most involved at least one Russian boat. The problem was that the Russians had pretty poor sonar, so they were the equivalent of half blind under water. From the 1970s on, the U.S. has increasingly superior sonar compared to the Russians. This led to the more collisions involving Russian and U.S. boats. It also saw the invention, by the Russians, of the "Crazy Ivan" maneuver. This occurred when an American sub was stalking a Russian one (often an American SSN keeping tabs on a Russian SSBN). The U.S. boat would stay in the Russian subs "blind spot" (behind its propeller). But sometimes the Russians would suspect they were being stalked, or just wanted to make sure they were not, and would perform the "Crazy Ivan" maneuver, which involved upping speed and making a sharp turn. The U.S. sub would have to quickly get out of the way, or there would be, and sometimes was, a collision.

Most of the collisions during this period involved Russian subs bumping into other Russian subs, or inanimate objects (icebergs, oil rigs). Western boats had far fewer collisions because they had better sonar, and better trained and more experienced crews.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20090220.aspx


lol @ the crazy Ivan

 

[A.V.]

Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 126th Successful Test Flight

The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test flight Feb. 13 of a Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) built by Lockheed Martin. The Navy launched the unarmed missile from the submerged submarine USS Alabama (SSBN 731) in the Pacific Ocean. The Trident II D5 missile now has achieved 126 successful test flights since 1989 - a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

The Navy launched the missile as part of a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) to certify USS Alabama for deployment, following a shipyard overhaul period and conversion from Trident I C4 to Trident II D5 configuration. For the test, a missile was converted into a test configuration using a test missile kit produced by Lockheed Martin that contains range safety devices and flight telemetry instrumentation.

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile is currently aboard OHIO-class submarines and British VANGUARD-class submarines. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.
http://frontierindia.net/trident-ii-d5-missile-achieves-126th-successful-test-flight#more-3576

:hmmthink:

 

[LETHALFORCE]

NKorea preparing to launch satellite: state media

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NKorea_preparing_to_launch_satellite_state_media_999.html

NKorea preparing to launch satellite:

North Korea
said Tuesday it was readying to launch a satellite, a move that the United States and its allies believe could actually be a long-range missile test that would deepen global tensions.

Just days after new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Pyongyang to avoid any provocations, the secretive country said preparations were under way for a rocket launch to put a communications satellite into orbit.

South Korea has said it regards the North's nuclear and missile capability as a serious threat and indicated a new round of sanctions would follow if the country, one of the poorest in the world, goes ahead with a launch.

Pyongyang has previously tested missiles under the guise of launching a satellite, and analysts have said recent comments from the North indicated it was on the verge of another attention-grabbing test.

"When this satellite launch proves successful, the nation's space science and technology will make another giant stride forward in building an economic power," the national space committee announced.

North Korea first tested its longest-range Taepodong-2 missile in 2006, the same year it shocked the world by testing an atom bomb, but the missile -- said to be capable of reaching Alaska -- blew up after just 40 seconds.

South Korean Defence Minister Lee Sang-Hee challenged the North to present evidence it was launching a satellite, not a missile.

"Regardless whether the North launches a satellite or tests a long-range missile, it would pose a security threat to the South as the technology involved is about the same," he told parliament.

South Korea will "trace its trajectory, assuming it is a long-range missile," Lee added.

Some analysts said the North would indeed launch a satellite but that the technology could easily be applied to a long-range missile. Experts are unsure whether it has the technology to fit a nuclear warhead to its missiles.

"If you put a warhead instead of a satellite, it's a long-range missile. The North is now seeking to show off its delivery capability," Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses told AFP.

The North did not say when the launch would be made but Baek said it may take place around the time of the North's parliamentary elections on March 8.

North Korea sent regional tensions soaring when a missile overflew Japan's main island in 1998. At the time, Pyongyang described it as an attempt to launch a satellite.

"The primary objective is to water down UN Security Council resolutions," said Lee Chung-Min, a professor at Yonsei University.

Japan said Tuesday it was ready for any possible emergency. South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan was headed to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on nuclear and missile issues.

China said it had taken note of the North's satellite launch and called for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

South Korea said Monday that the North had completed deployment of new medium-range missiles capable of travelling up to 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) -- far enough to cover most of Asia.

Years of six-party talks with the North, intended to convince the country to give up its atomic programmes, have repeatedly stalled.

The communist country has shut down its plutonium-producing complex in exchange for energy aid as part of a landmark 2007 pact agreed with its talks partners -- China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

But negotiations on the next stage -- full denuclearisation in return for diplomatic ties with Washington and a formal peace treaty -- have been held up by disputes over how to verify its nuclear activities


this has serious military implications

 

[.v0id]

Norway Opts for BAE Systems Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo

The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation has selected BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo to meet the requirements of its Norwegian Antisubmarine Torpedo (NAT) programme.

Sting Ray Mod 1 will arm the new Fridtjof Nansen class frigates and will be integrated with the new NH90 Anti Submarine Warfare helicopter and the Orion P3-C Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The £99 million contract, won in competition against other leading defence companies, marks the first export success for Sting Ray Mod 1.

Commenting on the success, Rory Fisher, Managing Director of BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies said “I am delighted that Norway has decided to select Sting Ray Mod 1, which is widely recognised as one of the world's most sophisticated lightweight torpedo weapon systems. We can now set about delivering our commitments in programme delivery and ensure we become the dependable partner of choice for our Norwegian customer.”

In winning the competition, BAE Systems campaign manager for Sting Ray Mod 1, Bob Moran, acknowledged the support provided by UK customer partners, in particular the Torpedoes integrated project team within the Ministry of Defence procurement agency DE&S, and the UK Defence Storage and Distribution Agency based at Gosport, Hampshire.

“Across the team the support for Sting Ray Mod 1 has been outstanding. Our UK customer/industry partnership approach was responsible for establishing a logistic support and maintenance commitment to Norway which was a key factor in our success”, Moran said.

The Sting Ray Mod 1 system is currently in production for the UK Ministry of Defence at BAE Systems facilities in Portsmouth and Waterlooville, Hampshire, under a Main Production Order placed in 2003.

Moran added: The Norway order will extend Sting Ray Mod 1 production until the end of 2012 and help safeguard up to 50 manufacturing and engineering jobs at BAE Systems over that time.”

http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4246

 

[pyromaniac]

F-22 Magic Backfires

February 24, 2009: The U.S. Air Force's new F-22 aircraft is proving more difficult to maintain than planned. Because of the time required to maintain the stealth features of the aircraft, only 60 percent of them are available for service at any given time. Non-stealth fighters have a readiness rate of 70-80 percent. This is not a new problem.

As recently as three years ago, only about seven of the U.S. Air Force's 21 B-2 bombers were ready to go at any time. The air force was already trying to solve the problem, using a combination of robots, sprayers and quality control in an attempt to double the readiness rate. This was essential, because the B-2 was frequently getting called a "Hangar Queen" (an aircraft that spends too much time in the hangar for maintenance or repairs).

Five years ago, the U.S. Air Force introduced the use of robots to reduce the maintenance efforts required to keep their B-2 bombers flying. The B-2 uses a stealth (anti-radar) system that depends a lot on a smooth outer skin. That, in turn, requires that the usual access panels and such on the B-2 must be covered with tape and special paste to make it all smooth. The F-22 uses a similar system. After every flight, a lot of this tape and paste has to be touched up, either because of the result of flying, or because access panels had to be opened. All this takes at lot of time, being one of the main reasons the B-2 required 25 man hours of maintenance for each hour in the air. Since most B-2 missions have been 30 or more hours each, well, do the math. The readiness rate of the B-2 fleet (of 21 aircraft) has been about 35 percent, which was less than half the rate of most other aircraft. This means, that whenever there is a crises that requires the attention of B-2s, there are not many of these bombers ready to fly.

The main base for B-2s is in Missouri, and over a thousand maintenance personnel were assigned to take care of 21 aircraft there. A team of four robots were installed, to liquid coating to B-2s, thus cutting maintenance hours in half. But there were quality control problems with the liquid coating, often forcing maintenance crews to go back to tape and paste. Eventually, the quality control problems were solved, and, readiness rate of B-2s went up to over 50 percent.

B-2s still require a special, climate controlled hangars. There are some portable B-2 hangars, that can be flown to distant bases, thus keeping the bombers in the air less, and reducing the amount of maintenance needed. B-2 quality hangars were built at Guam, in the Pacific, and Diego Garcia in the Indian ocean

Still, the cost to operate the B-2 is over three times that of the B-52. If stealth is not an issue (not much enemy opposition), than it's a lot cheaper to send a B-52. This is exactly what the air force does most of the time. But in a war with a nation possessing modern (or even semi-modern) air defenses, the B-2s can be very valuable. Costing over two billion dollars each to buy, and very expensive to operate, the B-2s provide that extra edge. No other nation has anything like the B-2s, although many are working on ways to defeat it's stealth and knock them down. When equipped with over a hundred of the new SDB (250 pound, GPS guided Small Diameter Bomb), the B-2 can be a formidable one-plane air force.

F-22 do for air-superiority what the B-2 does for defeating enemy air defenses. While many nations claim they can defeat the American stealth capabilities, no one has proven it yet, and no one really wants to be the first to try.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20090224.aspx

 

[pyromaniac]

The US-China contest

We are truly going to rise or fall together," remarked Hillary Clinton, when she went begging America's Pacific neighbour. In need of cash, Washington embraced China as a necessary partner. It even seemed to censor itself regarding human rights and other thorny issues. Economically ravaged and militarily overstretched, America needs a strategic break. Highlighting interdependence and down playing frictions, however, will not save the Sino-American relationship.

Since the Nixon administration, Washington has been consistently following a two-track approach in dealing with China's rise. On the one hand, it has tried to socialise China and to make it a responsible stakeholder in international affairs. On the other hand, it applied a divide-and-rule strategy in which it continued to back other regional powers such as Japan, India, and Australia. Most of the China-watchers in Obama's team favour the continuation of this policy, but temporarily soft-pedalling China's rise because of the current crisis will complicate relations in the future.

First, there is no domestic backup for going too easy on China. As many as 52 per cent of Americans consider China a potential threat, while only 22 per cent see China's influence as a positive thing. Equally important it is the fact that despite that traditional "panda huggers" like the Fed, State, and Commerce became more determined in currying favour with Beijing; many industrial groups and labour unions invoke the economic turmoil to bash China even harder.

Congress continues to table anti-Chinese bills and resolutions - eight since the beginning of this year. Fearful of decreasing defence expenditures, the US military refers to "creeping extension of China's military range" to defend the purchase of new advanced combat aircraft, surface combatants, and submarines. The strong incentive to cooperate economically is not convincing enough, and if Obama's re-launch plan fails or materialises too slowly, there is a serious risk of an anti-Chinese backlash.

Cajoling Beijing raises the expectation that the US will give it the respect that is commensurate with its self-esteem and the scope needed to defend its interests. This will make China even more prickled when it finds out that Obama approves his first meeting with the Dalai Lama, green-lights new military support for Taiwan, or fiats laws that negatively affect China's economic development. China's growing expectations, challenged by inevitable American provocations, will lead to more sensitivity and harsher reactions.

America's economic hardship aggravates the Asian security dilemma. Now that its economic leverage of the US is weakening, its attractiveness as a model for liberal growth will dwindle too. China will benefit from this evolution. It uses its economic clout to gain diplomatic influence, and funds its military modernisation. China is gradually building a new regional order with only a marginal role for America. If the Asian balance of power continues to favour China, Washington will have to respond.

From another angle, the current chill is making many states in the region hesitant about America's reliability as an offshore balancer. If the US continues to weaken, it will either instigate countries to invest more in their own military capabilities, or to move closer to Beijing. In that case there will be "balancing", but no "checks" anymore.

"Pakghanistan" forms another sources of conflict. President Obama favours a regional approach for stabilising this hotspot. It will try at least to coordinate with China on the economic rebuilding of Afghanistan. In the past years, Beijing has not hampered American operations in Afghanistan. But now China prefers a free ride. Afghanistan remains an American war, but with the new administration coming in, China is pressing for a clear exit scenario. China is also deeply concerned of America's plans in Pakistan which will affect the core of China's geopolitical interests in South Asia and inflame distrust.

Interdependence is not going to neutralise the Sino-American contest. It is not reversing or mitigating the security dilemma. For all the optimism, "Chimerica" remains a chimera.


http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/world/10289080.html

 

[A.V.]

UAE to buy THAAD

A $6.9 billion purchase of the Theater High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system by the United Arab Emirates will probably take around 18 months now that the U.S. Congress has cleared a sale of the antimissile weapon, Lockheed Martin’s Denis Cavin vice president of international air and missile defense said Feb. 23 at the IDEX arms show.The normal process for getting a letter of authorization (LOA) for a sale takes around 18 months, Cavin said on the sidelines of a press conference. It could be quicker or longer but that was the time it generally took, he said.


“We see no obstacle to meeting the timeline the UAE has asked us to meet,” he said.The baseline THAAD system has been largely completed, although tests were still continuing. Cavin said. That meant there would be no scope for the UAE to take part in R&D on the present baseline product.


But a spiral development and prospects of technology insertion opened the possibility of the UAE taking part in future R&D work and to adapt the missile to local requirements, he said. That had happened with the F-16 Block 60 combat aircraft bought by the UAE air force.But for the UAE to participate in any R&D activity, the baseline product had to be on the ground here, he said.


A UAE official said now congressional approval had been granted, there would be detailed negotiations on terms and conditions of the purchase agreement, aimed at allowing the UAE access to the R&D program, required to develop its defense technological capabilities.The U.S. government is extremely cautious on releasing sensitive defense technology, and although some transfer might be granted, it was unlikely all would be released to the UAE, a U.S. executive said.


European company MBDA is keen to develop an extended air defense system based on a planned Block 2 version of the Aster 30 medium range missile, which would be comparable to the THAAD system. Lockheed Martin executives, however, believe an extended range Aster would need to change to a kinetic, hit to kill technology to be able to destroy missile warheads carrying bacterial, chemical or other toxic materials, rather than conventional explosive payloads. The UAE signed a contract in December 2008 with the U.S. government to buy the PAC-3 version of the Patriot air defense missile

 

[LETHALFORCE]

They must be the first buyer? Didn't know USA was willing to sell?

 

[A.V.]

They must be the first buyer? Didn't know USA was willing to sell?

yes it seems to be a big surprise.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

We need it even more than them.

 

[A.V.]

We need it even more than them.

i am sure we can bargain this for the mrca deal but india is developing its own missile sheild so they may want to wait.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

we can have a THAAD type shield or better if we added X-band radar to our present program.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

US can wipeout China in one second by not honoring all the debt(shit) they hold from USA worthless China is only as rich as the debt they have and US treasury notes they have. Currently USA is paying almost 0% interest on the treasury notes and the bonds have value only if there is a market and currently the debt market is almost frozen no buyers and the hard cash they hold US dollar has depreciated 40% so USA has China by the balls no matter what power China thinks they have, USA can place trade sanctions and China would be back to their straw hat days in a hurry.

 

[A.V.]

AMRAAM C7 for U.A.E.

February 25, 2009: The (UAE) United Arab Emirates is buying 224 AMRAAM radar guided air-to-air missiles. The UAE wants the latest, C7, version, which contains electronics that can better deal with jamming and deception. These missiles will cost about a million dollars each. The UAE will use them on its F-16E fighters (the most advanced air-superiority version of the F-16).
AMRAAM entered service in 1992, more than 30 years after the first radar guided air-to-air missile (the AIM-7) came into use. Vietnam provided ample evidence that AIM-7 wasn't really ready for prime time. Too many things could go wrong. Several versions later, the AIM-7 got another combat test during the 1991 Gulf War. While 88 AIM 7s were launched, only 28 percent scored a hit. The AIM 9 Sidewinder did worse, with 97 fired and only 12.6 percent making contact. That said, most of these hits could not have been obtained with cannon, especially when the AIM 7 was used against a target that was trying to get away. AMRAAM was designed to fix all the reliability and ease-of-use problems that cursed the AIM-7. But AMRAAM has only had a few opportunities to be used in combat, although 77 percent of the 13 launched have hit something.

UAE has also ordered nine U.S. Patriot air defense batteries, plus 288 PAC-3 anti-missile missiles, and 216 PAC-2 anti-aircraft/anti-missile missiles. All this will cost the UAE about $9 billion. The Patriot PAC 2 missiles cost about $3.3 million each and have a range of 70 kilometers. The Patriot launchers also fire the smaller (in diameter) PAC 3 anti-missile missiles. A Patriot launcher can hold sixteen PAC 3 missiles, versus four PAC 2s. A PAC 2 missile weighs about a ton, a PAC 3 weighs about a third of that. The PAC 3 has a shorter range, of about 20 kilometers.

The F-16s and Patriot give the UAE a layered defense against any air attack from Iran. The Patriot PAC-2 missiles give some protection from Iranian ballistic missiles

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20090225.aspx

 

[A.V.]

Growler Lite

February 25, 2009: Now that the U.S. Navy is receiving the first of 85 EA-18G "Growler" electronic warfare aircraft ready, the manufacturer. Boeing, has developed an export version, nicknamed "Growler Lite". This model would not ship with its normal ALQ-99 radar jamming pod, because that technology is top secret. In place of ALQ-99, there would be the ALQ-218(V)2 radio frequency receiver (for eavesdropping) and the ALQ-227 communication countermeasures system (for messing with enemy comms). This would turn the EA-18G into an electronic monitoring system. Meanwhile, there are some radar jamming pods on the international market. What nations really require is jammers that will work against the neighbors they feel they might have to fight someday. The export EA-18G will also ship with a APG-79 phased array (AESA) radar, which also has some jamming capability (with the right software.)
In U.S. service, the EA-18Gs are replacing the aging EA-6Bs that now provide electronic protection against enemy radars and missiles for navy and air force aircraft. The air force retired their EF-111 electronic warfare aircraft in 1994, on the assurance that the navy would get the EA-18G into service before the EA-6Bs died of old age. The older 27 ton EA-6B carries a crew of four, while the highly automated 29 ton EA-18G will have only two people on board. The EA-18G carries up to five electronic warfare pods, plus two AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and two anti-radiation (HARM) missiles. It may be the last manned aircraft to handle the EW job. UAVs are becoming more capable, and will eventually take over this dangerous task.

In 2007, the navy received its first operational (as opposed to developmental) EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. The navy will receive 52 EA-18Gs over the next four years, and another 30 after that (at the rate of about five a year). The U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps are planning on developing an electronic warfare version of the new F-35, or use a UAV, if the EA-18Gs are not plentiful, or powerful enough to provide all the electronic protection needed in future wars.

Despite the high expense all the electronic gear, the F-18G is not the most expensive combat aircraft out there. The F-22 costs $355 million each. The low budget F-18E costs $94 million each, while the F-18G goes for $105 million. The F-35 costs $122 million. Even unmanned aircraft are pricy, with the Global Hawk costing $182 million each (with high end sensors). Older fighters, like the F-16, cost $60 million, and an F-15E goes for about $100 million. The price of the export EA-18G hasn't set yet, but it will probably be under $100 million.

These prices constantly fluctuate because of the need to incorporate a share of the development cost for each aircraft built. While most development expense occurs before mass production begins, there is sometimes considerable additional development expense, or major refurbishment, later in the lifetime of an aircraft. Many modern warplanes cost more than most warships, and have the same high maintenance (periodic refurbishment and development of new components) expenses.

 

[A.V.]

UAE orders COBRA Radar

Euro-Art International EWIV announced today the award of a contract from the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces for the supply and commissioning of 3 Counter Battery Radars (COBRA). Adapted to battlefields, COBRA high mobility weapon location radar will protect UAE Armed Forces on the move.

COBRA was developed for France, Germany and UK as the first multifunctional counter battery radar in the world with a fully active phased array antenna, enabling accurate multiple targets detection within a short reaction time. Its modular architecture provides high reliability and system availability. During all live fire trials to which COBRA participated, including desert trials in UAE during summer 2005, in competition with other weapon locating radars, COBRA achieved performance (location range as well as detection and location accuracy) were far better than the COBRA Specifications.

Deployed in several out-of-area operations including UN missions, German systems are involved in the Defence Against Mortar Attacks (DAMA) initiative that is part of the NATO Conference of National Armament Directors’ Programmes of Work for the Defence against Terrorism. French systems are in operation in Lebanon, UK’s systems in Iraq.