jERUSALEM - Israel put its navy on high alert and said it would respond immediately to any "provocation" as two Iranian warships sailed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean on Feb. 22.
The Iranian vessels entered the southeastern Mediterranean...
KMW, Ashok Join to Produce Armored Vehicles
ABU DHABI - Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has struck a deal with Ashok Leyland Defence Systems to partner in the development of armored vehicles for Indian and other markets.
The two companies used the IDEX defense show here to announce they have signed...
U.S. Navy: Cost of Ohio Class Subs Down $1 Billion
The Navy has been able to reduce the expected cost of its Ohio Class submarine replacement by more than $1 billion with an overall goal of trimming more than $2 billion per vessel, according to the Pentagon's top weapons...
Russia says S-300 deliveries to Venezuela delayed
Deliveries of S-300 missile defense systems to Venezuela have been delayed, but will go ahead, an official at Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms export monopoly, said on Tuesday.
In November,...
Arrow Weapon System Intercepts Target During Missile Defense Test
The joint U.S.-Israel Arrow Weapon System successfully intercepted a ballistic target missile during a flight test conducted today. This test is part of the Arrow System Improvement Program (ASIP)...
Embraer Unveils EMB 145 AEW&C Platform for India
Embraer presented the first of three EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms today to representatives of the Indian government at a ceremony held at its headquarters in Sao...
German Troops Admit Fears Over Partnering With Afghan Soldiers 1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet) Loading ... Loading ... By German Radio on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011 More Army News * 3rd ACR, Iraqi Army practice basic combat skills * France Orders New-Gen Sperwer Drones and Remote Video Terminals * Peru to receive Russian Mi-35 helicopters to fight rebels * Army Special Ops Continues to Grow, Increase Optempo * Russia to Unveil New Combat Vehicle at IDEX 2011 The bodies of three German soldiers killed in northern Afghanistan last week by an Afghan colleague have been flown home. The attack has led to fears over the safety of 'partnering' German and Afghan soldiers. The three soldiers were flown back to Germany on Monday. They had been part of a partnering protect set up by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in which the Bundeswehr works closely with Afghan army and police units. The soldier, from the Afghan National Army, opened fire on German troops inside a base in Baghlan province on Friday, killing the three soldiers and wounding six others. The shooting occurred as the soldiers were carrying out maintenance on a vehicle; the attacker had apparently been part of their group and entered the compound with the German soldiers. The ISAF established the "partnering" strategy last year in an effort to prepare Afghans to take charge of security in their country after 2014. It called for joint patrols and jointly conducted missions against the Taliban. It was the first time that German soldiers were targeted within the framework of ISAF's partnering project. But several British and American military instructors have also been killed in Southern Afghanistan by members of Afghan security forces while on partnering operations over the past two years. Worst attack on Bundeswehr in a year The incident has shocked German troops in Afghanistan. Several German soldiers have been quoted anonymously on the Spiegel Online website as saying they were wary of their Afghan colleagues and no longer wanted to work with them. "We are expected to train them, but they regard us as infidels who shouldn't be in their country in the first place," said one soldier. The German Army has begun an investigation into the shooting. But German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg warned against questioning the entire concept. "We believe this is the right way to achieve the goal of handing over responsibility," the minister said. Most security experts agree that there is no alternative. "It is an essential element in strengthening and reforming Afghan security forces," Cornelius Friesendorf, a researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt told Deutsche Welle. But Friesendorf conceded that the scheme could be problematic. "The Taliban and other armed opposition groups are very smart, they try to infiltrate the Afghan security forces, they also bribe people to work for them," he said, and pointed out that many Afghans don't really trust international forces so they hedge their bets. "This makes them be very cautious to work with international forces and then be described as traitors in their own communities." To minimize the obvious risk, Friesendorf said, prospective Afghan soldiers should be more carefully vetted before being given a uniform and, more importantly, a weapon. Diplomatic skills The German researcher pointed out that partnering also requires cultural sensitivity and understanding on the part of the international forces. He said it was different from simply being a combat soldier: "In Afghanistan, it is important to make sure that trainees do not lose face. That means if someone doesn't know how to handle a weapon, or acts inappropriately, the partner should take that person aside and tell him, face to face, without his colleagues being able to overhear the conversation." That might be asking too much. One German officer told Spiegel Online that he thought the partnership wouldn’t work. "The chemistry between them and us simply doesn't work," he said. Training the Afghans is necessary and possible, he added. But rather than using soldiers from the West and America, it would be preferable if they were from countries where the cultural differences aren’t as great. "I am certain that Turkish soldiers would be better equipped," he said. About 5,000 German troops serve in northern Afghanistan as part of the US-led NATO force of 140,000. Friday's attack brings the number of German soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of the mission in 2001 to 48. Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/german-troops-admit-fears-over-partnering-with-afghan-soldiers-32302/#ixzz1Em1SkM6h
The bodies of three German soldiers killed in northern Afghanistan last week by an Afghan colleague have been flown home. The attack has led to fears over the safety of 'partnering' German and Afghan...
Air traffic advisers aim high for Iraq’s future
-Air, are tasked with ensuring their Iraqi air force partners are trained and equipped to gradually take over the ATC towers at bases throughout the country in the coming months.
"Our goal is to...
Afghan air force C-27 fleet halfway to goal
The Afghan air force received an addition to its forces with the arrival of the 10th C-27A Spartan at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul Feb. 20, marking the half-way point in the AAF's C-27 fleet...
3rd ACR, Iraqi Army practice basic combat
Iraqi Army soldiers in Wasit province are continuing to make progress toward being a capable security force for their nation. Regularly working with United States Forces, the IA is retaining vital...
3rd ACR, Iraqi Army practice basic combat
Iraqi Army soldiers in Wasit province are continuing to make progress toward being a capable security force for their nation. Regularly working with United States Forces, the IA is retaining vital skills that will serve them well in the future.
With...
Air Force has new weapon in fight against Spice
By Air Force News Agency on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
Air Force officials began drug testing Airmen Feb. 22 to determine whether they are using Spice -- the street term for a range of designer synthetic-cannabinoid products.With the implementation...
Pakistans 45 F-16 Fighter Jets Being Upgraded in Turkey: Pakistan Air Force Chief
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has appreciated the role of police in war against terror, Geo News reported on Thursday.
Talking to media after a ceremony in police lines Islamabad,...
Chinese J-10 Fighter Aircraft Won’t Grace Bangalore Skies
China which had participated in the last show is not making its presence felt this time, confirmed Sujata. This is attributed to the growing trade rivalry between India and China.
“India is estimated...
Raytheon Eyes International Contract Award for its F-16 AESA Radar
EL SEGUNDO, Ca: Raytheon Company moved closer to its first international sale of RACR (Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar) following approval for the company to move forward with technical discussions with...
Eurofighter and Euroradar to Develop Latest Generation AESA Radar
HALLBERGMOOS, Germany: An innovative cutting edge AESA radar system, reconfirms Eurofighter as the most advanced aircraft available on the market.
Eurofighter GmbH and Euroradar, together with...
Production Begins on New Radar for B-2 Bomber
PALMDALE, Calif: The nation's fleet of B-2 stealth bombers will all receive a new Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed radar system following the U.S. Air Force's decision to authorize full-rate...
Advanced Radar Improves Iraqi Air Surveillance
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq: The Iraqi air force significantly enhanced its air defense capabilities recently with the arrival of a digital air surveillance radar system.
The DASR system,...
20th Erieye Radar System Delivered
With 20 systems produced, Erieye is by far the most successful modern AEW radar on the market today.From the Saab plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 20th Erieye radar system has rolled out, ready...
USAF Officials Launch Digital Airport Surveillance Radar
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE: Ellsworth Air Force Base officials recently completed the installation of a digital airport surveillance radar system to be used with the Dakota Air Traffic Control Facility...
India Is Now Major Market for U.S. Defence Products
The United States has finally decided to treat India, the world’s largest democracy, as an equal when it comes to defense trade. In a continuation of its efforts to forge closer ties...
Sino-Turkish Strategic Partnership: Implications of Anatolian Eagle 2010
Turkey’s annual hosting of its "Anatolian Eagle" aerial military exercises at Konya air base in the central Anatolian region of Konya have been central to its efforts to preserve military preparedness...
Chinese Air Force New UAV Design
During the Airshow China here at Zhuhai, Avic Defense and one of the country's aeronautics academic institutions, launched a competition with the Chinese air force for new UAV designs. The prize is...
Indian Army Get 4 Indigenously Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAV's.
After completing successful flight trials in Rajasthan, Indian Army recently took delivery of four indigenously designed and developed 'Nishant' Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
"Nishant...
India Will Get Harpoon Block II Missiles From US
BANGALORE: India has signed an agreement with the US government to purchase 24 Harpoon Block II missiles for its Jaguar strike aircraft.
Boeing country head, defence, space and security, Mr Vivek...
US offers top of the shelf weapon systems to India
Washington, DC: The US today offered India top of the shelf and top of the line defence weapon systems and said three agreements were being negotiated which would allow the country to share key American...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)