WORLD DEFENCE: SAM

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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, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that Russia had agreed to lend his country over $4 billion to buy weapons.
"There is a contract with Venezuela but it's not yet being implemented," Rosoboronexport special programs director Nikolai Dimidyuk told reporters.
"Venezuela has rescheduled the dates several times, but now we have agreed on a timeframe for the deliveries," he added.
Venezuela is one of the biggest buyers of Russian arms.

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) and was conducted jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division-Pt. Mugu Sea Range.
At 10:30 p.m. local time (Pacific Standard Time), the target missile was launched from a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) off the coast of California, within the Pt. Mugu test range. The target was representative of potential ballistic missile threats facing Israel.
The Arrow Weapon System’s Green Pine radar successfully detected and tracked the target and transferred information to the Citron Tree battle management control system. The Arrow Weapon System launched an interceptor missile which performed its planned trajectory and destroyed the target missile. The test represented a realistic scenario and all the elements of the weapon system performed in their operational configuration.
The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and U.S. Department of Defense officials conducted the flight test. The main contractor for the integration and the development of the Arrow Weapon System is the MLM division of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The “Green Pine” Radar is developed by ELTA Industries and the “Citron Tree” BMC is developed by Tadiran Electronic Systems, Ltd.
The success of the test is a major milestone in the development of the Arrow Weapon System and provides confidence in operational Israeli capabilities to defeat the developing ballistic missile threat.

Russian will Unveil a New Mobile short-range air defense system based on the Strelets launcher At the Upcoming India 2011 air show.

"The [Kolomna-based] Engineering Design Bureau will present for the first time details of a new ultra short-range air defense system based on the Strelets launcher for the portable Igla missiles," Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said in a statement on Friday.

The Strelets multiple launcher unit was developed for use with the 9M39 Igla (NATO SA-18 "Grouse") and Igla-1 (NATO SA-16 "Gimlet") missiles. It provides an automatic remote launch capability in either single-round or salvo modes when mounted on various launch platforms.

Aero India-2011, which will be held in the southern city of Bangalore on February 9-13, will attract the record number of over 600 manufacturers, vendors and suppliers from 63 countries.

Russia will be represented by 35 companies, including MiG, Sukhoi, Almaz-Antei and Engineering Design Bureau.

The strategic command of Russia's space defense forces took delivery of its second unit of S-400 Triumf missile systems on Wednesday, which will be based in the Moscow Region, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said.

Until now, the Russian forces have had only one unit of S-400s, based at Electrostal, near Moscow.

"The handover ceremony for the second S-400 will take place at the state firing range in Kapustin Yar from February 16-19," Drik said.

The unit will consist of two regiments, each consisting of eight launch points, each with four missiles.

The S-400 has a maximum range of up to 400 km at an altitude of 40,000-50,000 meters. The system uses a range of missiles, optimized for engaging ballistic and cruise missiles and hypersonic vehicles, Drik said.

Russia is ready to participate in a tender to offer Turkey S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, the state-controlled arms exporter said on Wednesday.
"The Turkish military has a great need for S-300 and S-400 long-range missile defense systems," Rosoboronexport CEO Anatoly Isaikin said. "Russia has expressed its readiness to participate in a tender for the delivery of such systems."
He said leading SAM manufacturers from Western countries would participate in the tender "on a par with Russia.
"
He gave no indication as to what specific SAM modifications would be offered or the timeframe for the tender.
Turkish military experts have said Ankara is interested in the Russian missiles, which could effectively protect the country's southern borders.
The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1, has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles) and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making it effective in warding off air strikes.
The S-300V/Antey 2500 (SA-12 Gladiator/Giant) consists of a new command vehicle, an array of advanced radars and up to six loader vehicles assigned to each launcher.
The S-400 (SA-21 Growler) is capable of simultaneously engaging six targets to a range of 400 km (250 miles) and an altitude up to 30 kilometers, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

The first batch of modified short-range missiles have entered service in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the defense minister said on Tuesday.

The Guard has received a modified version of the surface-to-surface Fateh-110 missiles, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said, according to Irna news agency.

Iran said last month it had successfully test-fired the third generation of Fateh-110 missiles.

The Fateh-110 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant, high-precision ballistic missile with advanced navigation and control systems

TEHRAN: Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi announced on Friday that Iran has test fired a surface-to-surface missile, Qiam, a day before it is due to launch its Russian-built first nuclear power plant. State television showed images of the sand coloured Qiam (Rising) blasting into the air from a desert terrain, amid chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).
The words "Ya Mahdi" were written on the side of the missile, referring to Imam Mahdi, one of the 12 imams of Shiite Islam, who disappeared as a boy and whom the faithful believe will return one day to bring redemption to mankind.

Vahidi, whose speech during Friday prayers in Tehran was broadcast on television, did not say when the launch took place nor did he reveal the precise range of the missile.

Fars news agency had in a report earlier this week quoted the minister as saying that Qiam was a short-range missile.

"The missile has new technical aspects and has a unique tactical capacity," he said on Friday, adding that the device was of a "new class."

"Since the surface-to-surface missile has no wings, it has lot of tactical power, which also reduces the chances of it being intercepted," he said.

Iran's ISNA news agency cited Vahidi as saying that Qiam was entirely designed and built domestically and was powered by liquid fuel.

"This missile is capable of hitting the target with high precision," Vahidi said.

On Tuesday, Vahidi had said that Qiam was to be test fired during the annual government week, the period when Tehran touts its achievements in various fields. This year government week begins on Monday.

The third generation Fateh 110 (Conqueror) missile was also to be test fired during this period. Iran has previously paraded a version of Fateh 110 which has a travel range of 150 to 200 kilometres (90 to 125 miles).

Also during government week, the production lines of two missile-carrying speedboats, Seraj (Lamp) and Zolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali's sword) are due to be inaugurated, while a long-range drone, Karar, is expected to be unveiled.

The firing of Qiam comes days after Iran took delivery of four new mini-submarines of the home-produced Ghadir class. Weighing 120 tonnes, the "stealth" submarines are aimed at operations in shallow waters, notably in the Gulf.

Iranian officials regularly boast about Tehran's military capabilities and the latest missile launch coincides with warnings by local officials against any attack on the Islamic republic.

Iran's archfoes the United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike against Tehran to stop its controversial nuclear programme.

On Saturday, Iran is due to launch its Russian-built first nuclear power plant which eventually aims to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity. The plant is scheduled to go online after more than three decades of delays.

Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said on Friday that Tehran aims to power the Bushehr plant in future with fuel made domestically for which the Islamic republic would continue its sensitive uranium enrichment programme.

"Enrichment (of uranium) for producing fuel for the Bushehr plant and other plants will continue," Salehi told state news agency IRNA. Currently, Russia has supplied the fuel for the plant.

Salehi said the contract with Russia does not stipulate that Tehran must always buy fuel from Moscow, as the "memorandum of understanding says they will meet our demand if we request" it.

"The Bushehr plant has a lifespan of 60 years and we plan to use it for 40 years. Suppose we buy fuel for 10 years from Russia, what are we going to do for the next 30 to 50 years?" Salehi said.

The Bushehr plant is not directly under UN sanctions, although the Security Council has slapped Tehran with four sets of punitive measures for pursuing its uranium enrichment programme.

Western countries suspect Tehran is enriching uranium to make nuclear weapons, a charge strongly denied by Iran. Enriched uranium can be used to power nuclear reactors as well as to make the fissile core of an atom bomb.

RSS Supreme firing an Aster 15 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) off the coast of Hawaii during Exercise RIMPAC 2010. (photo : Cyberpioneer)

The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme, is participating in a multilateral naval exercise with maritime forces from 13 other countries. The exercise, codenamed Exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific), is hosted by the United States Navy (USN) and involves more than 30 ships, five submarines, 150 aircraft and 20,000 personnel.

This is the second time that the RSN is involved in the biennial exercise and this year's edition of Exercise RIMPAC, which will be conducted from 23 Jun to 1 Aug, comprises a shore planning phase as well as a 24-day sea phase conducted off the coast of Hawaii. In the exercise, RSS Supreme took part in maritime operations such as combined anti-submarine and air defence missions, and successfully carried out an Aster Surface-to-Air Missile live-firing on 14 Jul. Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Chew Men Leong was on board the RSS Supreme to observe the live-firing.

RSS Supreme -73 (photo : USNavy)

Commenting on the RSN's performance in the exercise, Commander US Third Fleet Vice Admiral (VADM) Richard W Hunt said, "The Singapore Navy has done a fabulous job thus far, just exactly as expected."

"I think we're giving the RSS Supreme, a good workout. We will continue to stress her as much as we can, make sure she is completely integrated and that's all going exactly as anticipated, so everything is on track right now and she is performing magnificently," he added.

VADM Hunt also commented on the interoperability of the RSN with other participating navies and said: "We (USN) work together and make sure that the interoperability works, that the tactics, techniques and procedures are all common and understood."

RSS Supreme's Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Tan Wei Min spoke about how the RSN's participation in the exercise helps build greater understanding and future cooperation with other navies.

"Exercise RIMPAC is a good opportunity for the RSN to train with other established navies. It enables us to strengthen our interoperability with the other participating navies through high intensity and complex maritime operations," he said.

Other countries taking part in the exercise include Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United States.

(Mindef)

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Aster 15

The MBDA Aster 15 VLS surface-to-air missile provides defence against missiles to a range of 15km and against manned and unmanned aircraft to a range of 30km. (photo : Naval Technology)

Description

The ASTER modular family of vertically launched missiles have been designed to meet the high demanding requirements of the emerging air threats such as aircraft, UAVs, helicopters and specially missiles. The ASTER missiles can be installed on ground- and sea-based platforms. They feature hit-to-kill capability, a very valuable skill against ballistic missiles.

The ASTER missiles are provided with two different boosters according to the ASTER 15 or the ASTER 30 model. The 'Pif-Paf' control system enables the ASTER missile to counter high maneuverable missiles achieving a direct impact (hit-to-kill). The 'Pif-Paf' combines conventional aerodynamic control with control by gas jets acting through the centre of gravity of the missile.

The ASTER 15 and ASTER 30 are integrated on the SAAM (ASTER 15), PAAMS (ASTER 15 and ASTER 30) and SAMP/T (ASTER 30) air defense systems. These systems will be employed by the armed forces of France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

The ASTER is a two-stage missile. The solid propellant booster is seized according to the mission profile (ASTER 30 bigger and ASTER 15 smaller). Until mid-course the guidance of an ASTER missile is based on the Inertial Navigation System (INS) updated through an uplink, in the terminal phase the guidance is provided by an active Radiofrequency seeker. The final stage of the ASTER missile is a "dart" equipped with the seeker, a sustainer motor, a proximity fuze and a blast fragmentation warhead.

The ASTER 15 is a short range missile intended for self-defense (point defense) purposes against highly maneuverable threats. The ASTER 15 is integrated on the SAAM and beginning in 2006 in the PAAMS system. The SAAM is installed on French-built frigates and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The PAAMS will be provided to the Horizon frigates (France and Italy) and the Type 45 destroyers (United Kingdom).

In November 2003, the European Defense Procurement Agency, OCCAR, signed a contract for Aster 15 missiles full series production under the Franco-Italian SAAM program. The SAAM-FR (France) was qualified for operational use in May 2005 after first salvo firing from Charles de Gaulle carrier during an international exercise.

Specifications

Dimensions: Diameter 180 mm, Length 4.2 m Weights: Max Weight 310 kg (683 lb) Performance: Ceiling 13,000 m (42,651 ft), Max Range 30,000 m (98,425 ft), Min Range 1,700 m (5,577 ft), Top Speed 1,000 mps (Mach 3).

Delivery

Sylver missile launchers (4+) plus an undisclosed number of Aster 15 missiles (50+); items: 54+; transferred from France to Singapore between 2006 and 2008. Delivery 2008 (14), 2007 (36), 2006 (0) undisclosed number of missiles?

JS Myoko, a Kongo class destroyer (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Defeats Ballistic Missile Target in Japanese Test

KAUAI, Hawaii --- JS Myoko, Japan's third destroyer equipped with Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile target above the atmosphere during a test event today. The test marked the 20th successful ballistic missile intercept by the system.

JS Myoko guided a Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IA missile to intercept the separating medium range ballistic missile target outside the Earth's atmosphere.

Two U.S. Navy Aegis BMD ships, USS Lake Erie and USS Paul Hamilton, also participated in today's test. USS Paul Hamilton tracked the target and performed a simulated engagement. USS Lake Erie, equipped with the next generation Aegis BMD Weapon System -- designated BMD 4.0.1, which provides additional target discrimination capability -- tracked the missile target and post-intercept debris using its advanced signal processor. Full operational certification of BMD 4.0.1 is expected in 2011.

"This is the first Aegis BMD flight test conducted with two versions of the U.S. Navy Aegis BMD baselines and a Japanese destroyer," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business. "These events demonstrate the Aegis development success of build a little, test a little, learn a lot as well as the flexibility of the systems to evolve and keep pace with the threat to control the battlespace.

" The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The Navy's independent operational test agent has assessed the Aegis BMD and SM-3 Block IA system to be operationally effective and operationally suitable. Currently, a total of 22 Aegis BMD-equipped warships -- 19 in the U.S. Navy and three in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force -- have the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tracking missions. Two additional U.S. East Coast-based Aegis-equipped ships are being modified to perform ballistic missile defense in the next six months.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval defense system and the sea-based element of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System. Its precision SPY-1 radar and integrated command and control system seamlessly guides the interceptor and uplinks target track information to the missile for terminal homing. Its ability to detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space is proven and unmatched. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, receiving track data from and providing track information to other BMDS elements.

The 92 Aegis-equipped ships currently in service around the globe have more than 950 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,500 missiles in tests and real-world operations. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Australia, Norway, South Korea and Spain.

(Defense Aerospace)

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Japan Achieves Second Ballistic Missile Intercept Using Raytheon Standard Missile-3

28 Oktober 2009

Raytheon Standard Missile 3 / SM-3 (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

KAUAI, Hawai --- The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force achieved another ballistic missile intercept in space using a Raytheon Company-built Standard Missile-3. During the Oct. 27 test, the SM-3 Block IA missile engaged and destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile target more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

Personnel at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai launched the ballistic missile target. The crew of the Japanese destroyer JS Myoko (DDG-175) detected and tracked the target before firing the intercepting missile.

"Today's hit-to-kill intercept is further proof that Japan can successfully deploy a sea-based ballistic missile defense system," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. "The U.S. has a key ally that can defend itself against the growing threat of ballistic missiles."

Raytheon and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, under contract to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Japanese Ministry of Defense, are developing the next-generation SM-3 Block IIA missile. The new missile will include larger second- and third-stage rocket motors and a larger kinetic warhead to provide a greater area of defense against more sophisticated threats.

SM-3 is being developed as part of MDA's sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system. The missiles are deployed on U.S. Aegis cruisers and destroyers and Japanese destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the ascent and midcourse phases of flight.

HQ-9 (photo : Ausairpower)

China Says Missile Defence Test a Success

China announced that its military intercepted a missile in mid-flight Monday in a test of new technology that comes amid heightened tensions over Taiwan and increased willingness by the Asian giant to show off its advanced military capabilities.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported late Monday that “ground-based midcourse missile interception technology” was tested within Chinese territory.
“The test has achieved the expected objective,” the three-sentence report said. “The test is defensive in nature and is not targeted at any country.”

Monday's report follows repeated complaints in recent days by Beijing over the sale by the U.S. of weaponry to Taiwan, including PAC-3 air defence missiles. These sales are driven by threats from China to use force to bring the island under its control, backed up by an estimated 1,300 Chinese ballistic missiles positioned along the Taiwan Strait.

Communist-ruled China split with Taiwan amid civil war in 1949 and continues to regard the self-governing democracy as part of its territory. Beijing has warned of a disruption in ties with Washington if the sale goes ahead, but has not said what specific actions it would take.

China's military is in the middle of a major technology upgrade, spurred on by double-digit annual percentage increases in defence spending. Missile technology is considered one of the People's Liberation Army's particular strengths, allowing it to narrow the gap with the U.S. and other militaries that wield stronger conventional forces.

Xinhua did not further identify the system tested, although China is believed to be pursuing a number of programs developed from anti-aircraft systems aimed at shooting down stealth aircraft and downing or disabling cruise missiles and precision-guided weapons.

Such programs are shrouded in secrecy, but military analysts say China appears to have augmented its air defences with homemade technologies adapted from Russian and other foreign weaponry. China purchased a large number of Russian surface-to-air missiles during the 1990s and has since pressed ahead with its own HQ-9 interceptor, along with a more advanced missile system with an extended range.

Foreign media reports in 2006 said Beijing had tested a surface-to-air missile in the country's remote northwest with capabilities similar to the American Patriot interceptor system. According to South Korea's Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, the test involved the detection and downing of both a reconnaissance drone and an incoming ballistic missile by an interceptor, adding that it appeared to mark the official launch of China's indigenous interceptor unit.

“There is an obvious concern in Beijing that they need an effective anti-ballistic missile defence in some form,” said Hans Kristensen, an expert on the Chinese military with the Federation of American Scientists.

Staging a successful test “shows that their technology is maturing,” Mr. Kristensen said.

The 2009 Pentagon report on China's military says the air force received eight battalions of upgraded Russian SA-20 PMU-2 surface-to-air missiles since 2006, with another eight on order. The missiles have a range of 200 kilometres and reportedly provide limited ballistic and cruise missile defence capabilities.

Such interceptor missiles are believed to be deployed near major cities and strategic sites such as the massive Three Gorges Dam, but they could also be used to protect China's own ballistic missile batteries that would themselves become targets in any regional conflict.

Such interceptors would be of relatively little use against U.S. cruise missiles, although they could be effective against ballistic missiles deployed by Russia or India, China's massive neighbour to the south with which it has a growing military rivalry and lingering territorial disputes.

Monday's report continues a growing trend of greater transparency over China's new military technologies typified by last year's striking Oct. 1 military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the communist state. Large numbers of missiles were displayed in the show, including ICBMs, together with tanks, amphibious craft and latest-generation jet fighters.

China's anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles — capable of striking U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle groups and bases in the Pacific — have drawn the most attention from analysts in recent months.

Military displays and announcements of successful tests help build public pride in the military's rising capabilities and bolster support for rising defence spending that increased by almost 15 per cent last year to $71 billion. The figure is thought by many analysts to represent only a portion of total defence spending, although it still amounts to only a fraction of the U.S. military budget.

Meanwhile, showing off such capabilities also helps put adversaries on notice, Mr. Kristensen said.
“It's the new Chinese way to signal that they are now able to do these things,” he said.

The first batch of modified short-range missiles have entered service in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the defense minister said on Tuesday.

The Guard has received a modified version of the surface-to-surface Fateh-110 missiles, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said, according to Irna news agency.

Iran said last month it had successfully test-fired the third generation of Fateh-110 missiles.

The Fateh-110 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant, high-precision ballistic missile with advanced navigation and control systems

WORLD DEFENCE

Russia says S-300 deliveries to Venezuela delayed

Arrow Weapon System Intercepts Target During Missile Defense Test

Russian New Mobile Short-Range Air Defense System To Unveil At Aero-India 2011

Russia's second S-400 Missile Unit To Enter In Operational Service

Russia to offer Turkey advanced surface-to-air missiles

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Receives New SAMs

Iran test fires surface-to-surface missile

Royal Singapore Nany Frigate Participates in Multilateral Exercise in Hawaii

Japan's Destroyer Successfull Intercept Balistic Missile

China Tests Anti-Missile Defense System

Russia to offer Turkey advanced surface-to-air missiles

Iran test fires surface-to-surface missile

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Receives New SAMs

Australia to Procure 17 SM-2 Block IIIB Standard

First Operational Akash missile system, Will be Delivered by March 2011

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