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Jane's Defence Weekly
For 14 June 2000

http://jdw.janes.com

Russia's rearmament proposals
The Russian Ministry of Defence has submitted to the government a proposal to replace 50% of military equipment over the period 2001-2010 with new or modernised systems.

THEL hits 'Katyusha'-type rocket in first test
The USA and Israel have completed a successful test of the Tactical High- Energy Laser (THEL) system planned to protect Israel from 'Katyusha'-type rockets fired from inside Lebanon.

Israel blocks manufacture of Python 4 in USA
Israel's Ministry of Defence is blocking an effort to produce the Rafael Armament Development Authority Python 4 short-range air-to-air missile in the USA, Israeli defence industry officials have said.

US study urges tougher fight against terrorism
A Congress-mandated report advises the US government to focus more attention on the threat of catastrophic terrorism, giving the effort a greater role in the budgetary process and relaxing controls on the recruitment of operatives.

US Marine Corps to get lightweight howitzers
BAE Systems RO Defence will deliver the first of eight 155mm/39 calibre XM777 Ultralightweight Field Howitzer to the US Marine Corps later this month.

Versatility is key to UK's Future Surface Combatant
The UK Royal Navy's planned Future Surface Combatant (FSC) will be a versatile, multirole vessel providing a wide range of capabilities to meet a post-Strategic Defence Review (SDR) concept of operations, according to the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) official leading the programme.

Brimstone pushed for ground-launched role
Although currently being developed by Alenia Marconi Systems to meet the UK Royal Air Force's Staff Requirement (Air) 1238 as a replacement for the current Hunting Engineering unguided BL755 cluster bomb, the Brimstone air-launched missile is now being promoted as a multi-role weapon suitable for a variety of air, land and sea applications.

RAAF's Hornet upgrade takes off
Work has begun on the upgrade of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) 71 F/A-18A/B Hornet multirole fighter aircraft under the A$1.25billion (US$725 million) Project Air 5376. It is the first upgrade of the type since it entered RAAF service in 1985.

China revives Yuting-class ship programme
The Chinese People's Liberation Army/Navy has revived its production programme involving the Yuting (Type 074)-class landing ship-tank, with four platforms built over the past year and more considered likely.

$734m Russian air defence system for UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a contract worth $734 million with Russia's KBP Instrument Design Bureau for the development and delivery of 50 96K6 Pantzyr-S1 self-propelled air defence system.

Ghana gets Tactica
Earlier this year, Alvis Vehicles of the UK announced it had won a contract from an African country worth £6 million ($9 million) for the supply of an undisclosed quantity of Tactica vehicles for use in peacekeeping operations.