Russia Says Foreign Power Behind The Loss Of Country's Most Modern Military Satellite Geo-IK-2

The Russian Space Agency Says On Monday that a Foreign Power  behind the space accident that disabled one of the country's most modern military satellites earlier this month.

Russia on February 1 launched a high-tech Geo-IK-2 craft to help the military draw a three-dimensional map of the Earth and locate the precise positions of various targets.

News reports said the satellite was a vital part of Russia's effort to match the United States and NATO's ability to target its missiles from space.

But the craft briefly went missing after its launch only to re-emerge in a wrong orbit that left the craft unable to complete its assigned task.

The Russian military and space agency set up a joint task force to probe the accident but it has presented no official results thus far.

One unnamed space official told Interfax however that initial evidence suggested that the craft went off target after one of its booster rockets inexplicably reversed course.

"The probable cause may involve electromagnetic intrusion on the automatic controls," the unnamed space official said.

The official did not identify the country he suspected of trying to derail the Russian military mission. But Moscow frequently accuses Washington of attempting to "militarise" space.

The space official conceded that there may have been other reasons for the launch failure. These included the wrong operations being programmed into the guidance system and other software mistakes.

But the Russian source stressed that the accident occurred between the first and second burns of the Briz-KM upper-stage booster rocket -- an area in which the craft makes no contact with ground control.
The official suggested that the electromagnetic pulse may have been aimed at the Russian craft "from a land, sea, air or space vehicle."

The Geo-IK-2 mishap came less than five weeks after President Dmitry Medvedev fired two top space officials for a launch failure caused Russia to delay the deployment of its own navigation system.

Investigators said that accident was caused by a basic fuel miscalculation that made the craft too heavy to reach its required height.

The three Glonass satellites would have completed a system whose research had been started by the Soviet Union in 1976.

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Iran Accelerates Space And Missile Launch Projects

Iran is rapidly and significantly expanding capabilities to accommodate larger missiles and satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), including the Simorgh 3 SLV in construction at Semnan space centre, according to Jane’s analysis of satellite imagery of the site.

The construction begun in mid-2010 is aggressive even by Iranian standards, with a number of very complex facilities nearing external completion only months after they were started. The site is likely to assume operational readiness by 2013, judging by the pace of construction. Rapid construction – which prevents extended overhead analysis – could underscore the secretive nature of the site, the strategic importance of the facilities, and Iran’s inclinations towards space readiness.

The first new project is at the launch/engine test facility, where a launch pad or engine test stand is in the early stages of construction. The flame trench that funnels rocket blast exhaust away from the tower is roughly the same size and shape as one first identified by Jane’s in 2010, but is situated 73 m to the north.

Elements at the second site are identical to the flame trench and auxiliary pad at the first, but construction of the second tower had not commenced as of 9 March 2011. The first tower is still under construction but should be finished by the end of the year; that pace suggests that the second tower will likely be completed by 2013.

Although Jane’s previously suggested that this tower could be either a launch facility or engine test site, the towers will likely be used primarily for testing.

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Turkey Moves To Centralize Electronic Surveillance

Turkey’s intelligence operations and increasing cooperation between the country’s military and civilian intelligence gatherers is under way but will take as long as two years to complete, according to a senior security official.

A senior security official said over the weekend that the General Staff had agreed to a proposal from the civilian government to transfer the administration of the division to the National Intelligence Organization, or MİT.

“A protocol between the military top command and MİT was signed recently,” the official said. “The protocol orders that the military will completely abandon the [surveillance] garrison and the intelligence agency will take over.”

In a landmark move on March 8, Turkish authorities announced they were bringing the military’s electronic surveillance under the management and operational control of MİT, which effectively means a civilian control over such capabilities.

The official added that it could take up to two years before the takeover is complete. “MİT’s surveillance unit is a huge department, and it will take several months before these assets can be appropriately moved to the Bayrak garrison,” he said. “The entire technical infrastructure will be moved, the military and intelligence personnel will be oriented for work under the same roof, and all that means a couple of years before everything runs perfectly.”

During the Cold War, the Bayrak garrison in Gölbaşı, near Ankara, was established as the military’s top electronic surveillance and intelligence asset. Known as the military’s “ear,” the garrison operated under the command of the Turkish General Staff.

The garrison employs more than 50 civilian and well-trained personnel who also will be transferred to MİT’s disposition. It also operates two vessels for electronic surveillance; these too will be transferred to the intelligence agency.

Some of the garrison’s tasks included critical radio operations as well as interceptions. Meanwhile, MİT, which reports directly to the prime minister, has its own Electronic and Technical Intelligence Unit, or ETI. The security official said ETI would completely move to the Bayrak garrison, together with its personnel and intelligence-gathering assets. “The protocol means that MİT’s ETI will take over the control of the military’s main intelligence-gathering and interception unit,” he said.

Cutting costs

A military official said the transfer and takeover is the result of lengthy deliberations that led to the idea that running a separate electronic intelligence unit meant duplication, overlapping and unnecessary costs for the military.

“We trust that MİT will run the garrison as efficiently as the military, and a centralized unit will mean savings in an extremely costly work,” he said. “MİT has the capabilities to perform all kinds of electronic surveillance duties. It would have been a waste of resources if we ran a separate network for the same purpose.”

The security official said the new system would make sure that the military collects intelligence from MİT. “MİT has several clients, and now the military is on the list. In a way, for the military, this is outsourcing for better efficiency,” he said.

“In any case, both institutions work for a single goal. Single-source intelligence gathering for military and/or nonmilitary intelligence purposes will not hinder efforts for the common goal,” the security official said.

The Bayrak garrison is not the Turkish military’s only intelligence asset. The General Staff also will rely on a soon-to-be operational military satellite, the country’s first, for intelligence-gathering missions. Under present provisions, the Gokturk military satellite will remain under the General Staff’s control.

Turkey two years ago signed a nearly $345 million contract with the Italy-based Telespazio for the construction of Gökturk, which is scheduled to be launched in 2013. The Italian defense giant Finmeccanica owns 67 percent of Telespazio, and the rest of the shares belong to France’s Thales.

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Israel Aerospace Industries Gets Contract For Ehud Training Kit

Israel Aerospace Industries' MLM division has received a $13 million contract to supply Elbit Systems with components for its Ehud air combat manoeuvring instrumentation system.

The award supports a follow-on deal recently placed with Elbit by an undisclosed Asian air force.

  The Ehud system supports live training sorties by providing real-time, high-fidelity weapon simulation, hit/miss assessment and debriefing capabilities. IAI says it can also enhance flight safety by providing anti-collision warnings.

Under the deal, MLM will provide systems for use during air-to-air and air-to-ground training, plus the technology for a future live virtual and constructive training mode.

"This follow-on order reflects the customer's satisfaction," says MLM general manager Uri Sinai.

Ehud systems are currently used by the air forces of 18 European and Asian countries.

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China eyes closer aerospace cooperation with Russia

 China is keen to deepen cooperation with Russia in the aerospace sector, especially in manned space flight and deep space exploration programs, a Chinese aerospace entrepreneur said Tuesday.
Yin Liming, president of the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), said his company has kept extensive contacts with Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos and major aerospace enterprises in recent years, as the two countries are seeking closers ties in the field.
In accordance with the 2010-2012 China-Russia Space Cooperation Outline, China and Russia will continue to strengthen their cooperation in the field, in particular in the creation of a satellite navigation system, joint deep space research, moon exploration and manned space missions, Yin told Xinhua in an interview at the 10th MAKS air show.
"China and Russia have great opportunities for deeper cooperation. We can jointly implement space projects for scientific and peaceful purposes," Yin said.
On the prospects of manned space programs, Yin said China, which has already successfully launched its self-developed Shenzhou manned spacecraft, would delve into the development of space labs and space stations.
But to achieve this goal, China needs more international cooperation and coordination, Yin said, adding that leading countries including Russia should be more open in technology sharing.
Established in 1980, the CGWIC is the sole commercial organization authorized by the Chinese government to provide satellites and commercial launch services and to carry out international space cooperation.
The CGWIC mainly presented Long March serial launch vehicles, including the LM-3B and LM-4B, at this year's MAKS international air show, the largest and most important air show held every other year in Russia.
At the 2009 MAKS air show, the CGWIC unveiled China's first Mars probe YH-1, which, as part of the China-Russia joint Mars probe program, was originally scheduled to be launched that fall together with Russia's Phobos-Grunt probe. The launch was later postponed to November 2011.
The CGWIC president said the Mars program has showcased the two countries' joint efforts in the space industry in the past four years.
"Through such cooperation, the scientists and researchers of our two nations can make more contribution to human efforts in space exploration," he said.

(China Military News cited from Xinhua) --

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