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Daily News
by Gail Helmer
Jane's News Briefs
Friday, August 10, 2001Jane's Defence Weekly
UK unveils hypersonic experiment The UK Ministry of Defence is poised to launch a hypersonic test programme which is expected to result in the construction of a subscale flightworthy air vehicle in three years' time and a first flight around the middle of the decade.
US Navy to start Ohio conversion
The US Navy plans to start work in October 2003 on its $2 billion project to convert two Trident-armed Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines - USS Michigan and USS Georgia - into conventionally-armed submarines, following the completion of preliminary design work.
France details spending programme
France intends to spend slightly more than E80 billion ($69.6 billion) on new defence equipment during the 2003-2008 defence programme.
German Navy is looking to life beyond Tornado
The German Navy is considering replacing its land-based Panavia Tornado maritime strike and reconnaissance aircraft by a carrier-capable future combat aircraft.
Russian consolidation plan meets opposition
The Russian Duma is likely to pass a plan from Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov to shrink and consolidate the Russian arms industry, but many experts doubt it can realistically be adopted.
More M1A1 Abrams MBTs for Egypt
The US Department of Defense is considering a request from Egypt to add an additional 100 General Dynamics Land Systems M1A1 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) worth an estimated $590 million to its co-production programme.
Singapore to donate trainers to Indonesia
Singapore is to donate 19 Aermacchi (SIAI-Marchetti) SF.260 primary trainer aircraft to Indonesia under the terms of an agreement currently being concluded between the two countries, according to industry sources in Jakarta.
Jane's Defence Upgrades
Poland offers upgrade package for SKOT APC
Poland's PCO (Przemyslowe Centrum Opyyki) has been one of the leading manufacturers of electro-optical equipment in Eastern Europe, especially for new-build armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) of all types, tracked and wheeled. The company is now turning its attention to the upgrade market and is offering a complete electro-optical upgrade suite for its SKOT (Srendi Kolowy Opancerzny Transporter) 8x8 armoured personnel carrier (APC) also designated OT-64.
Improved SA-N-6 offered for export
Designated V601 Fort by the Russian Navy, the SA-N-6 'Grumble' is an area-defence weapon system. Its 5V55RM or 3M41 missile has a range of some 50mm (93km) is launched from either a B203 0r B204 launcher system and supported by a 3R41 Volna ('Top Dome') radar. An improved version with the 48N6 missile is in service as Fort-M. Both versions are now available for export.
Improving the PK-series
The 6P41 Pecheneg version of the PK (Pulemet Kalashnikova) series of 7.62mm machine guns - developed by Tznitochmash of Kilmovsk - has reportedly, seen action in Chechnya. The PK series is well established in the former Eastern Bloc and, since 1961, has been the standard general-purpose machine gun in use. It was difficult to determine how this weapon could be improved but with the 6P41 Pecheneg, Tznitochmash seems to have achieved just that.
Green light for Italy's Tornado MLU
The Italian Air Force (AMI) has launched the long-awaited Mid-Life Update (MLU) for its Panavia Tornado fleet. Alenia Aerospazio's Aeronautics Division received the first of a series of contracts that form the upgrade package from the Italian Minister of Defence in early June.
US reportedly objects to export of Israel's F-16A/B ACE upgrade
The US has reportedly raised technology proliferation concerns over the export version of the Avionics Capabilities Enhancement (ACE) upgrade designed and being developed in Israel for F-16A/Bs, according to Israeli industry sources. David C Isby reports that export could be limited to individual components approved on a case-by-case basis rather than the complete package.
New command vehicle for Slovak SA-6 units
A new mobile command post for the control of 2K12 Kub (SA-6 'Gainful') air-defence missile units has been developed in Slovakia by the Trencin based ales company in close co-operation with the VTU military technical institute in Liptovsky Mikulas. Miroslav Gyurosi describes the upgraded vehicle.
Jane's Foreign Report
Is Russia heading for a boom?
LUCK matters. It matters especially to politicians who dream of being the right person in the right place at the right time. Few politicians have had so much luck as Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Virtually unknown to the outside world, he used his personal friendship with Boris Yeltsin to parachute himself into the Kremlin. He held a snap presidential election, which he won handsomely. Just as importantly, however, Putin's assumption of power coincided with an unexpected boom in Russia's economy which almost no-one predicted.
Whatever happened to Poland?
ONE YEAR ago, Central Europe's largest country was riding high: the economy was booming (many analysts dubbed it 'Eastern Europe's tiger'), living standards were rising fast and opinion polls showed that, with Nato membership secured, Poles were dropping their traditionally gloomy outlook on life as membership of the European Union (EU) drew ever closer. Today, with parliamentary elections due on September 23rd, things couldn't look gloomier for Poland. Not only has the country's 'tiger' status been stolen by Hungary, with the Czechs and Slovaks catching up fast, but virtually every indicator suggests economic crisis. FOREIGN REPORT has the details.
Will Simeon's gamble succeed?
THE 19th century founder of the Bulgarian monarchy used to be known throughout Europe as 'Foxy Ferdinand'. His vulpine qualities did not prevent him from losing both the First World War and his throne. His son, Boris was equally clever but similarly unlucky: he died tragically, perhaps assassinated on Hitler's orders at the end of the Second World War. But Foxy Ferdinand's grandson, Simeon, may yet outsmart his predecessors by out-foxing an entire Bulgarian political elite and succeeding where two royal generations failed.
India's illegal immigrants
INDIA, which annually sends thousands of emigrants to the West, is itself receiving thousands of immigrants from the East. These illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have changed the demography of the Indian states of Bengal, Assam and Tripura. What next?
Jane's Intelligence Watch Report and Jane's Terrorism Watch Report
Israel - General Security Service (GSS) [Sherutha-Bitachon ha Klali (Shin Bet)]
- Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet on 6 August arrested two Palestinians suspected of being associates of Hamas leader Omar al-Madari, who was assassinated on 5 August by Israeli helicopter gunship missiles, Ha'aretz reported on 7 August. Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said that al-Madari was killed in his car, which contained a large quantity of explosives he was bringing to two suicide bombers who were planning attacks in Tel Aviv in the near future. The IDF set up an impromptu roadblock near the village of Bil'a in the Tulkarm area, and arrested Hamas activist Nihad Abu-Kishak. During interrogation, Abu-Kishak allegedly confessed that he was supposed to transfer the explosive devices prepared by al-Madari to two suicide bombers. Another member of the alleged Hamas cell, Nidal Abu-Sa'adeh, was arrested a few hours later near the village of Beit-Djan, near Nablus.
United States - Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- Robert Steele, a former CIA case officer turned open-source intelligence entrepreneur, criticized a panel of outside experts selected by CIA Director George Tenet to conduct a "comprehensive review" of the US intelligence community, calling the panel members "good people with old ideas" but not eager for radical change, Washington Post reported on 7 August. Steele said he would have preferred to see the panel include people such as Loch Johnson, a former member of the Senator Church committee that first investigated the CIA in the 1970s; Harlan Cleveland, a former ambassador to NATO and author of "The Knowledge Executive;" and Keven Kelly, executive editor of Wired Magazine. However, Jack Devine, a former top CIA operations official with a reformist's bent, said the panel headed by retired Gen. Brent Scowcroft is more than a rubberstamp for the status quo, particularly with people such as former CIA deputy director Richard Kerr and retired Adm. David Jeremiah. Other members of the panel are former undersecretary of state Stapleton Roy; former deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick; John Foster, a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1973 to 1990; Jeong Kim, an information technology expert who serves on the board of In-Q-Tel, the CIA's nonsecret venture capital fund; and William Schneider, a businessman who heads the Defense Science Board.
India - National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT)
- The BBC reported on 7 August that eight estate officials have been kidnapped from two tea plantations in Tripura and Assam. Authorities stated that the abductions were carried out by NLFT rebels, who have demanded a ransom of $212,590 (10,000,000 rupees) from each plantation. In neighbouring Cachar province, a manager and his deputy were kidnapped from the Binakandi tea estate by unidentified militants; no ransom demand has yet been received. Authorities suspect that the rebels have retreated with their captives to bases in Bangladesh.
Macedonia - National Liberation Army (NLA)
- The BBC reported on 7 August that five NLA rebels were killed during a police raid in the capital Skopje. The raid occurred in the mainly ethnic Albanian suburb of Bergino. Among the NLA dead was a rebel commander codenamed Teli; five suspects were also detained during the operation.
The Philippines - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
- The BBC reported on 7 August that the Philippine government has signed a peace agreement with MILF rebels during President Gloria Arroyo's state visit to Malaysia. The peace accord follows an understanding reached last week between the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996. The pact leaves only the Abu Sayyaf Group Muslim separatists fighting the government; Arroyo has refused to negotiate with them.Is Russia heading for a boom?
LUCK matters. It matters especially to politicians who dream of being the right person in the right place at the right time. Few politicians have had so much luck as Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Virtually unknown to the outside world, he used his personal friendship with Boris Yeltsin to parachute himself into the Kremlin. He held a snap presidential election, which he won handsomely. Just as importantly, however, Putin's assumption of power coincided with an unexpected boom in Russia's economy which almost no-one predicted.
Whatever happened to Poland?
ONE YEAR ago, Central Europe's largest country was riding high: the economy was booming (many analysts dubbed it 'Eastern Europe's tiger'), living standards were rising fast and opinion polls showed that, with Nato membership secured, Poles were dropping their traditionally gloomy outlook on life as membership of the European Union (EU) drew ever closer. Today, with parliamentary elections due on September 23rd, things couldn't look gloomier for Poland. Not only has the country's 'tiger' status been stolen by Hungary, with the Czechs and Slovaks catching up fast, but virtually every indicator suggests economic crisis. FOREIGN REPORT has the details.
Will Simeon's gamble succeed?
THE 19th century founder of the Bulgarian monarchy used to be known throughout Europe as 'Foxy Ferdinand'. His vulpine qualities did not prevent him from losing both the First World War and his throne. His son, Boris was equally clever but similarly unlucky: he died tragically, perhaps assassinated on Hitler's orders at the end of the Second World War. But Foxy Ferdinand's grandson, Simeon, may yet outsmart his predecessors by out-foxing an entire Bulgarian political elite and succeeding where two royal generations failed.
India's illegal immigrants
INDIA, which annually sends thousands of emigrants to the West, is itself receiving thousands of immigrants from the East. These illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have changed the demography of the Indian states of Bengal, Assam and Tripura. What next?
Sudan - Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)
- Sudan TV carried a report on 5 August that SPLA rebels launched an attack against Sudanese armed forces in the western Nuer region. The guerrillas had attempted to infiltrate into Mayom to unite with their forces deployed along the Tamar-Wankay road, but were intercepted and repelled. Is Russia heading for a boom?
LUCK matters. It matters especially to politicians who dream of being the right person in the right place at the right time. Few politicians have had so much luck as Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Virtually unknown to the outside world, he used his personal friendship with Boris Yeltsin to parachute himself into the Kremlin. He held a snap presidential election, which he won handsomely. Just as importantly, however, Putin's assumption of power coincided with an unexpected boom in Russia's economy which almost no-one predicted.
Whatever happened to Poland?
ONE YEAR ago, Central Europe's largest country was riding high: the economy was booming (many analysts dubbed it 'Eastern Europe's tiger'), living standards were rising fast and opinion polls showed that, with Nato membership secured, Poles were dropping their traditionally gloomy outlook on life as membership of the European Union (EU) drew ever closer. Today, with parliamentary elections due on September 23rd, things couldn't look gloomier for Poland. Not only has the country's 'tiger' status been stolen by Hungary, with the Czechs and Slovaks catching up fast, but virtually every indicator suggests economic crisis. FOREIGN REPORT has the details.
Will Simeon's gamble succeed?
THE 19th century founder of the Bulgarian monarchy used to be known throughout Europe as 'Foxy Ferdinand'. His vulpine qualities did not prevent him from losing both the First World War and his throne. His son, Boris was equally clever but similarly unlucky: he died tragically, perhaps assassinated on Hitler's orders at the end of the Second World War. But Foxy Ferdinand's grandson, Simeon, may yet outsmart his predecessors by out-foxing an entire Bulgarian political elite and succeeding where two royal generations failed.
India's illegal immigrants
INDIA, which annually sends thousands of emigrants to the West, is itself receiving thousands of immigrants from the East. These illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have changed the demography of the Indian states of Bengal, Assam and Tripura. What next?
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