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Page 1 Daily News
by Gail Helmer
Friday, February 23, 2001
Jane's Defence Weekly
AgustaWestland joint venture starts trading
The helicopter joint venture AgustaWestland between Italy's Finmeccanica and GKN of the UK became fully operational on 12 February.
France and Italy sign agreement on satellite sharing
During a Franco-Italian summit in Turin on 29 January, the two countries concluded a co-operation agreement on the military and civil use of multi-sensor earth observation satellites..
Austria moves ahead on new fighters
Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Scheibner recently confirmed that Requests for Information (RFIs) for 24-plus new aircraft to replace Austria's fleet of Saab J 35ö Draken fighters were sent out in December 2000.
French arms exporters report a booming order book
France's arms exporters received orders worth around FFr45 billion ($6.4 billion) in 2000, a 48% jump over the previous year's figure.
Hungary opts for F-16s and drops MiG update plan
Hungary's National Security Cabinet has opted to acquire surplus Lockheed Martin F-16s to serve as the backbone of the country's air force and has abandoned earlier plans to modernise its ageing fleet of MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: 'Fulcrum') fighters.
India to buy Russian T-90S MBTs
India has signed a contract to buy 310 Russian T-90S main battle tanks (MBTs) for an estimated $600 million-$700 million after protracted talks over pricing. The Indian Army will be the first export customer for the T-90S, which has been in Russian Army service since the mid-1990s.
Satellite system contracts awarded
The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 15 February that three small US companies have been awarded contracts to augment US military satellite communications capabilities under the department's Defense Information System Network - Global programme..
Bush reveals vision of a mobile and stealthy force
US President George Bush provided the first indication of his vision for a reorganised military on 13 February, noting that he envisions a mobile and stealthy force capable of projecting power over long distances.
Jane's Defence Upgrades
US Army considers upgrading FMTV 'A0' fleet
US Army planners at the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command are discussing possible upgrade packages for the initial production models ('A0' versions) of the M1078/M1083 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, in service since January 1996.
Sea RAM fitted to HMS York
The UK Royal Navy Type 42 Batch 3 destroyer HMS York is due to return to sea at the end of this month (February) to begin a 10 month Fleet Weapon Trial with the Raytheon Systems Sea RAM inner-layer missile defence system. The York has been equipped with an Operational Suitability Model of Sea RAM in place of one of the ship's Vulcan Phalanx 20mm close-in weapons systems..
Slovakia orders RM-70 MRL upgrade
Diehl Munitionssyteme has now signed an agreement to upgrade 50 out of the existing 87 RM-70 40-round 122mm MRL systems of the Slovak Army. The package will include work on the launcher, fire-control system, navigation system and communications. A new fuze will be fitted to the rockets and, possibly a new motor
India to approve MiG27 upgrade
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited expects to receive a contract before April to overhaul and modernise 40 MiG-27M 'Flogger-J' strike aircraft for the Indian Air Force. HAL officials said that all modernisation work should be completed by 2007, but declined to disclose the project's potential contract value.
TECHNOLOGY INSERTION: Canada extends Hercules avionics modernisation.
Spar Aerospace is in final discussions with Canada's Department of National Defence for a C$16 million (US $10.5m) contract to equip the CC-130 Hercules transport fleet with an Airborne Collision Avoidance System and a radar altimeter. Sharon Hobson reports.
UPGRADE OVERVIEW: Bid evaluation for UK's BGTI programme
The UK Defence Procurement Agency is now evaluating bids from three domestic contractors for the British Army's key Battle Group Thermal Imaging (BGTI) programme for Warrior and Scimitar vehicles. The BGTI contract is worth about £250 million (US$366m) over a 15-year period. Christopher F Foss looks at the three bid proposals.
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: New paint stripper for aircraft
A new aircraft paint stripper has been developed by Solvent Kleene of the USA. Scott R Gourley reports on what is claimed to be a more environmentally safe alternative to conventional paint strippers.
Jane's Foreign Report
Bargaining with intelligence
The Bush administration grapples with Europe's new security arrangement
THROUGHOUT the presidential election campaign last year, the Republicans criticised new European military structures, which do not have a place for the United States, for endangering transatlantic security links. But American officials have hit upon a new idea: let the Europeans try to increase their military might and their own military brigades. This does not matter. When it comes to intelligence, the key to any future military operation, the Americans are destined to retain their primacy. They will decide what American intelligence other governments or military organisations receive.
The battle for Barrancabermeja
GUSTAVO BALBUENA was riding his motorcycle down this Barrancabermeja's main street last month when someone began shooting at him from a pursuing car. Desperate to get away, the 25-year-old took a corner too sharply and lost control. Before he could pick himself up, a man in the pursuing vehicle fired a shot into his head. Balbuena, a suspected guerrilla sympathiser, became the 10th murder victim in the city in less than 24 hours and the 50th in January.
Pseudo-communists in Slovenia
WHEN the communists ruled Yugoslavia, Slovenia, one of its federated states, was ruled by cynical pseudo-communists, many of whom were competent. Now, democracy and the free market have come to Slovenia yet the country is still run by the same people, generally referred to as 'ex-communists'. The genuine anti-communists, who had no experience in the exercise of power, had their chance in government - and they botched it. The ex-communists, on the other hand, knew all about power and they made haste to introduce their own version of privatisation, which should help them to retain power for some time. Foreign Report takes a closer look at this tiny, rich corner of what was once Yugoslavia.
China's mobile nightmare
CHINA has always had an awkward relationship with foreign technology. Its leaders have tended to see it, on one hand, as a dangerous influence capable of eroding their grip on power and on the other hand as essential if China is to compete economically and militarily with the 'barbarians' on its doorstep. Take mobile telephones. Foreign Report has been told a quiet revolution is taking place.
Israel's secret weapon and target
THE recently elected prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, is taking office amid widespread demands that he keep his election promise to impose a regime of security on the rebellious Palestinians. He will have no 'honeymoon:' Israeli voters want quick action. This could come in Gaza and the West Bank. at any time. It could also come in Iraq, whose leader, President Saddam Hussein, has been threatening to attack Israel..
Jane's Intelligence Watch Report and Jane's Terrorism Watch Report
United Kingdom - Security Service (MI5)
The Observer reported on 18 February that a former Algerian journalist seeking asylum in the UK was "blackmailed" by MI5 to illegally collect information from Islamic groups in the country. Reda Hassaine said that during his two years as an informer, MI5 as well as the police Special Branch asked him to steal scores of documents from senior preachers at mosques in north London. Some of the documents were statements from extremist groups abroad, while others were "seemingly innocuous." Hassaine also said that his handlers advised him on how to defraud the UK welfare system to enhance his meagre earnings from them.
United States - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Committee on State Security (Komitet Gosudarstvennoi Bezopasnosti (KGB)) and Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) (Sluzhba Vneshnogo Razvedky (SVR))
Robert Philip Hanssen, a 27-year veteran FBI agent, was arrested on the night of 18 February and charged with spying for Russia, CNN reported on 20 February. Hanssen was taken to the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia on the morning of 20 February and ordered held without bond. He was accused of providing classified information to Russian intelligence for more than 15 years. The FBI said that it had been watching him for four months after obtaining documents from the Russian KGB and its successor the SVR, indicating that he was spying for them. He was picked up after putting classified information into a dead drop in a Virginia park from where it allegedly was to be picked up by his Russian contacts. A second dead drop seized by the FBI was apparently $50,000 in cash left by his Russian contacts. Hanssen is said to have received at least $600,000 in cash from Russian intelligence. Other forms of payment were through diamonds and deposits in Swiss bank accounts. He was allegedly recruited by the KGB in 1985 and never disclosed his FBI connection. Hanssen spent the last 25 years in counter-terrorism operations intended to catch spies. His most recent job was at the State Department to help ferret out Russian spies.
Afghanistan - Taliban and Northern Alliance
- The Taliban's Bakhtar news agency said Taliban fighters are ready to attack Hezb-e Wahdat supporters of the Northern Alliance in the Shaheedan region on the outskirts of Bamiyan after having driven opposition forces from the city on 17 February. Bakhtar chief Abdul Manan Hemat said that three helicopter gunships were standing by at the Bamiyan airstrip to assist Taliban ground operations. However, Wahdat spokesman Mohammad Alizadah said Taliban soldiers, backed by jets, attacked their bunkers in Shaheedan on 18 February but were repulsed. Alizadah said his troops had withdrawn from Bamiyan on 17 February in an "orderly way" to avoid civilian casualties and were now entrenched on the city's western fringes.
Iran - Mujahideen-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO))
- According to a MEK statement faxed to AP on 20 February, the rebels launched extensive attacks on Iranian forces in the western city of Ilam. They claimed to have attacked a headquarters of the Intelligence Directorate and killed a "Revolutionary Guards strike force" commander as well as other troops. The rebels also stated that "extensive clashes in the city left behind dozens of dead and wounded" but admitted to losing three men killed and several others wounded. Iranian state-run radio confirmed the attack, putting the casualty count at one civilian killed and seven injured, and said that various weapons, including assault rifles and hand and rocket-propelled grenades, were seized from the MEK.
The Philippines - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has suspended military operations against the MILF rebels in order to "lay the proper environment for the reconstruction of peace talks," CNN reported on 20 February. She also urged the rebels to reciprocate. However, Arroyo rejected a rebel demand to withdraw government forces from bases they occupied during the summer of 2000 and ruled out the possibility of establishing a separate Islamic state on the southern Mindanao island. "The important parameter there is we would be working within the framework of the constitution," she said. However, she stated that she is also considering halting military action against communist rebel groups.
United Kingdom
- New Terrorism Act legislation that came into force on 19 February has extended the definition of terrorism from an exclusively "political crime" to one that also includes religious or ideologically motivated acts, Electronic Telegraph reported on 19 February. The new legislation also targets "cyber terrorists" who cause serious disruption by attacking computer installations or hacking into electronic data to undermine governments or threaten lives. The law replaces the Prevention of Terrorism Act, introduced in 1973 after a series of pub bombings by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which had to be regularly renewed by Parliament. The Home Secretary will now be able to add groups involved in overseas terrorism to the current list of 14 proscribed organisations, all Irish.
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