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Page 1 Daily News
by Gail Helmer
Friday, January 12, 2001
Jane's Defence Weekly
India's LCA prototype finally takes to the sky
The prototype of India's locally designed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has completed its first flight following years of delay, cost-overruns and technical problems.
Space Imaging gets .5m go ahead
The US government has granted Space Imaging a licence to sell .5m imagery, the first time such high resolution satellite photography will be commercially available.
Corrosion causes Canadian MLVW withdrawal
The Canadian armed forces have withdrawn its fleet of 2.5 ton trucks from service because of corrosion in the wheel assemblies.
MRTT order to boost German capabilities
The German Air Force's ability to participate in multinational operations such as NATO's 1999 'Allied Force' campaign against Yugoslavia will receive a significant boost in late 2003, when the service is scheduled to take delivery of its first of four Airbus A310 multi-role tanker-transports (MRTTs).
UK special forces seek new SRV
The UK Defence Procurement Agency has opened up an international competition for a new 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 vehicle called the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Vehicle (SRV) for special forces use.
France releases cash for next stage of M-51 missile
France's Délégation Générale pour l'Armement armaments board said in late December it had disbursed E2.85 billion ($2.6 billion) for the next stage of work on France's M-51 nuclear missile, ending a long dispute over funding with prime contractor EADS.
Mongolia-India defence pact
Mongolia and India are due to sign their first bilateral defence co-operation agreement this month during the planned visit to New Delhi by Mongolian President N Bagabandi.
China offers training facility to Singapore
China has discreetly offered Singapore a military training base on Hainan Island in an apparent effort to stifle the latter's longstanding defence links with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Taiwan training project in USA
Military personnel from the Republic of China (Taiwan) have been undergoing 'net assessment' training in the USA, according to the Ministry of National Defence in Taipei.
GCC states sign defence pact
The leaders of the six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states signed a much-delayed mutual defence agreement during a 30-31 December summit meeting in Manama, Bahrain. Iran quickly said it wanted a role within the pact.
Jane's Defence Upgrades
Pakistan considers Al Zarrar MBT options
The Pakistan Army has completed extensive trials of the three different prototype upgrades of the NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) Type 59 main battle tanks. They were upgraded to the varying Al Zarrar configuration at the facilities of Heavy Industries Taxila, where all Pakistan Army MBTs are overhauled.
Canadian comms upgrade restricted.
Not all of Canada's Iroquois-class destroyers are receiving the planned communications upgrade. Only the two east coast ships, HMCS Iroquois and HMCS Athabaskan, have received the full upgrade, which included an HF replacement programme, a Super High Frequency capability, UHF Have Quick radios, Air Intercept Communications, VLF receivers and an upgraded INMARSAT system. HMCS Algonquin will receive an 80% upgrade and HMCS Huron will not be upgraded.
CMS offers new trucks for old.
Within the US, the rebuilding of elderly military trucks has become something of a major industry, AM General being a leading player. Another company with the ability to renew old truck fleets is Commercial & Military Systems (CMS) of Augusta, Georgia. Current projects involve the M715, M35/M44 series and M813 vehicles.
USAF complete Sidewinder upgrade
The Missiles Division of the US Air Force's Space and Special Systems Management Directorate at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center has completed a major upgrade of the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile to AIM-9M-9 configuration, improving the weapon's ECCM capability.
UPGRADE OVERVIEW: US Navy deploys secure intranet at sea.
A US Navy Battle Group, led by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS George Washington (CVN -73), deployed into the Mediterranean in June last year, was fully equipped with the latest e-communications, including the fully integrated secure intranet, known as 'Fireside Chat'. Georg Mader reports on the development of what is turning out to be an alternative communications system.
Jane's Intelligence Watch Report and Jane's Terrorism Watch Report
Egypt
- Senior Egyptian officials on 8 January accused the UK government of allowing London to be used as Europe's largest base for terrorists who were convicted in absentia in Egypt, Electronic Telegraph reported on 9 January. The charge came as two Egyptian terrorist organisations broke off ceasefires and renewed their support for the overthrow of the government of President Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian government was stung by the Islamic Jihad's announcement on 7 January that it is still committed to overthrowing the regime as a means of "liberating Palestine." A UK official in the capital Cairo admitted on 8 January that there were certain "loopholes" in UK asylum law that prevented the Egyptian government from extraditing convicted terrorists. However, he denied that the laws were under review.
Israel
- The Israeli government has confirmed its policy of systematically targeting and killing Palestinians deemed to be "security threats," Washington Post reported on 8 January. However, such a policy is also targeting peace activists such as Thabet Thabet who was gunned down as he was leaving his home in the Tulkarm area of the West Bank on New Year's Eve. A crack team of soldiers using long-range machine guns assassinated the middle-aged dentist who was also a senior local leader of Yasser Arafat's Fatah political faction. The Israeli military believed that Thabet was involved in plotting attacks against Israelis.
Algeria
- Four Russians who worked for a steel manufacturing plant were found murdered in a forest in eastern Algeria, AP reported on 8 January. They had gone mushroom picking on 7 January in the massive forest of Edough, 370 miles (600 km) east of the capital Algiers. The men were found with their throats slit.
India- Jammu and Kashmir
- An explosion at the gate of the main telephone exchange in the state's summer capital Srinagar wounded at least 30 people waiting to pay their bills, AP reported on 9 January. Five of those wounded were hospitalised. The bomb, hidden in a handcart, exploded against the wall of the building as nearly 800 people crowded outside the main gate to pay their telephone bills.
Indonesia - Aceh - Free Aceh Movement (Gerakin Aceh Merdeka (GAM))
- The government has ruled out extending the 15 January ceasefire with separatist rebels in Aceh province, BBC reported on 9 January. Defence Minister Muhammad Mahfud also warned that police would soon begin arresting those carrying guns or involved in clashes in the province. Mahfud made his comments after a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid in the capital Jakarta and as both sides entered a second day of peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland. (see TWR of 8 January)
Iran - Mujahideen-e Khalq Organisation (MEK or MKO)
- MEK rebels claimed responsibility for a mortar attack on state security headquarters in the capital Tehran, Gulf Daily News reported on 8 January. The official IRNA news agency said that five mortar rounds were fired north of Vanak Square, a residential and business district that is also home to the headquarters of the state security forces. However, there were no reports of casualties.
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