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Daily News
by Gail Helmer
Jane's News Briefs
Friday, December 14, 2001Jane's Defence Weekly
Afghanistan offensive boosts US munitions procurement The US Navy (USN) has resumed taking full-rate production deliveries of the Raytheon AGM-154A JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) GPS/INS-guided submunitions-armed glide bomb, writes David C Isby. Deliveries of the initial full-rate production batch were suspended - though low-rate initial production (LRIP) deliveries continued - following problems experienced with its aerodynamic surfaces (see Jane's Missiles & Rockets, August 2001, p14). A previous problem with JSOW guidance software's wind compensation function, which led to reduced accuracy during the 14 February 2001 attack on Iraq, has already been addressed.
US bomb and missile attacks focus on Afghan tunnel network
The US is engaged in a major campaign to deny the Taliban and Al-Qaeda use of the extensive network of caves and tunnels in which its leadership is believed to be sheltering. In many cases this is being done by attacking and collapsing the entrances to underground facilities. Asked if the US intended to use ground forces to explore and, if necessary, fight in tunnels, Gen Peter Pace, vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said on 21 November, "Our specialised approach to caves and tunnels is to put 500 lb bombs in the entrance".
Countdown begins for closer co-operation between NATO, EU
With the threat of a Turkish veto over the EU's use of NATO military assets lifted, officials from the two organisations have accelerated work on detailing the formal relationship between the two organisations.[Jane's Missiles and Rockets - 14 December 2001] Afghan administration to request multinational force
Afghanistan's new interim administration headed by tribal leader Hamid Karzai will formally ask for the deployment of multinational security force in and around Kabul, soon after taking office on 22 December.
War on terrorism spurs closer NATO-Russia ties
With unexpected swiftness, NATO has taken the decision to identify areas of common interest with Russia that could be dealt with around a table of 20, possibly for the first time bringing Moscow into a circle of debate with the 19 allies.
Mergers, Teamings and Acquisitions - abaXX Technology AG
abaXX Technology AG, one of the leading suppliers of high-end e-business solutions for Online Relationship Management, has announced it has joined the Siebel Alliance Program as a Strategic Software Partner. Siebel Systems Inc. is the world's leading provider of e-business applications software. The partnership will enable dedicated functionality of the abaXX E-Business-Suite to be integrated into Siebel eBusiness Applications, allowing both companies to offer flexible portal solutions to customers.
Canada revitalizes defence research and development
The formation of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) in July 2000 as a special operating agency of the Department of National Defence (DND) has had "a fundamental effect" on the way the Defence Research Establishment Valcartier (DREV) conducts business, according to its director general, Dr Denis Faubert. DREV is the largest of the country's five such research facilities, which have established a closer relationship with each other to pursue an increased emphasis on a "system of systems" approach.
Dutch develop technology in SPADES
Fokker Space of the Netherlands, in partnership with the country's National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) and parachute supplier Aerazur of France, is developing a family of Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided parafoil autonomous delivery systems.
VESTA ramjet completes static ground runs
A final ground test of the VESTA new-generation ramjet has cleared the way for a first flight test this summer. Developed by Aerospatiale Matra Missiles (a subsidiary of EADS), the new propulsion system is intended for use on the French nuclear-armed ASMP-A (Air-Sol Moyenne Portee Ameliore/ Improved Medium Range Air-to-Ground Missile).
LAND FORCES
US Army proposes upgrade terminations
The US Army, its long-running funding problems now compounded by the costs incurred by the response to the 11 September terrorist attacks, is proposing to terminate a large number of upgrade programmes starting with the Fiscal Year 2003 (FY03) budget request.
AIR FORCES
CANADA - En-route GPS for Hercules
Spar Aerospace Ltd has received a C$6 million (US$3.8m) contract to supply, install and integrate a new Global Positioning System (GPS) into Canada's 32 CC-130 Hercules aircraft, writes Sharon Hobson.
USAF outlines plans for 'military space plane'
The US Air Force (USAF) is defining the requirements, potential missions and acquisition timeline for a military space plane (MSP) that would provide a next-generation 'responsive spacelift' capability to place military payloads into orbit readily. It would also give the USA, if necessary, the ability to project power to and from space.
EH 101 to fill Portuguese SAR requirement
The Portuguese government on 29 November confirmed its selection of 12 AgustaWestland EH 101 utility helicopters for search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue and fishery protection duties under a procurement worth EUR320 million ($286.5 million).
The US Navy announced that the MH-60 Common Cockpit received certification for flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), following a series of rigorous tests undertaken by the Lockheed Martin, Naval Air Station and Naval Rotary Wing Test Squadron Team. These totalled 106 hours and 55 flights. Naval Aviation Systems Multimission Helicopter program manager, Captain Bill Shannon, said that achieving IMC certification was a significant step in preparing the Sikorsky NH-60S for operational evaluation by the US Navy's Operational Test Squadron in October.
Chinese multi-faceted industrial group China Rich Holdings has been reported as planning to set up a direct scheduled helicopter link between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Chairman Robert Yip Kwong has set up CR Airways, which will be operating the service with a Sikorsky S-76C+, once it has received an operating certificate.
Derlan Industries lost $942,000 in the third quarter to 30 September 2001, compared to a profit of $1.05 million in the same period the year before. Revenues were, however, up to $61.1m from $44.8m. The reversal was due to a $2.6m write-off of development costs on transmission parts for the US Army's Apache attack helicopter.
NAVAL FORCES
RUSSIA - Novella for upgraded Il-38N 'May' The Leninets holding company of St Petersburg presented more details of the new Novella mission system (export name: Sea Dragon) for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) at the MAKS 2001 show earlier this year, writes Piotr Butowski.
SAN corvettes and submarines on time and within budget The hulls of the first of four MEKO A200 patrol corvettes and of the first of three German Submarine Consortium Type 209 1400 submarines for the South African Navy (SAN) will be completed by the end of this year, according to SAN Chief Vice Adm Johan Reteif. Both ship projects are also on schedule and within budget, he said.
US Navy proposes variable-power missile warheads
As warfare becomes more focused on isolating and destroying specific targets while limiting the damage to any adjacent area, the destructive effects of a missile warhead need to be more closely matched to the target. As an alternative to fielding missiles with a range of warhead weights and destructive effects, the US Navy (USN) proposes the use of variable-power warheads.
US Navy takes first TB-29A thin-line array
Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems (NE&SS)-Undersea Systems has begun low-rate initial-production (LRIP) deliveries of the TB-29A thin-line towed-array (TLTA) low-frequency sonar to the US Navy's (USN's) submarine force.
USN restructures DD-21 programme
The US Navy (USN) has re-structured its DD-21 land-attack destroyer programme to focus on the development of a "family of advanced technology surface combatants" rather than a single ship class. Re-cast as the Future Surface Combatant Program or 'DD(X)', the emergent effort will seek to develop a modular series of surface combatants which use similar technologies applicable across a family of vessels.
MEKO makes its mark in Malaysia
The Royal Malaysian Navy's aspirations for a new generation offshore patrol vessel are now taking shape in Hamburg. Kathryn Shaw and Richard Scott report.
SECURITY
Who rules Georgia?
Georgia's wily President Eduard Shevardnadze knows the cost of winter. Brought to power by a military coup in the chaos of Georgia's first post-Soviet winter a decade ago, he has yet to make good on his many promises to restore stability and prosperity. The annual disappearance of electricity supplies in November reminds Georgians of the unreliability of politicians' promises and provokes street protests against the government. in Tbilisi. Russia's leaders have not forgotten the role of the former Soviet foreign minister in dismantling the Soviet empire. They would like to see the back of him. However, the former first secretary of the Georgian Communist Party and boss of the Georgian KGB, now a capitalist, is a gifted survivor. How much longer can he remain in power?
Forced labour in Burma
Despite a call by the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the international community to address the issue of forced labour in Burma, little seems to have been done. And little has been achieved. More action might, however, be in the pipeline. A new ILO report discussed in Geneva on November 15th could lead to stiffer measures. Here are the details.
Saudi Arabia: feeling the heat
One of the less expected results of the coalition against terrorism and the US bombings in Afghanistan was the uncomfortable new spotlight placed on Saudi Arabia. For the House of Sa'ud it has not been a pleasant ride of late.
A question of language
Bush's use of the word 'crusade' was misunderstood, exactly like the word 'jihad' is misunderstood. It is now a purely secular term. English speakers use it every day when referring to a vigorous campaign in favour of a cause."
Macedonia peace deal falters amid war fears
The conflict that rocked Macedonia this summer has yet to be resolved with fighting breaking out in the Tetovo region in mid-November.
Caucasus wars collide in the Kodori Corridor
The conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia and the war in Chechnya appear to be meeting in Abkhazia's Kodori Corridor. A rocket, probably Chechen, struck a UN helicopter in the Kodori Corridor on 8 October, killing five UN observers and four others. Fighting was also reported in the villages of Noa and Geogievskoe. Reports suggest that the perpetrators, a group of 'Chechens and Georgians,' were trapped in the vicinity of Sugar Mountain, the site of the downed helicopter.
Islamist terror trial set to start in Egypt
Egyptian military prosecutors say they broke up the Organisation of Revenge, a terrorist cell with an international scope, in May. While no date has been set for the trial, lawyers say it is likely to begin soon in a military court.
Nuclear reprocessing fears mount in Russia
Since President Vladimir Putin and the State Duma approved legislation allowing for the import of nuclear waste and other radioactive materials for storage and reprocessing, there has been growing concern that the law could turn Russia into a nuclear dump.
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