News Story: Vietnam's Air Force Shops for New Trainer Jet

Yak-130

by Chen Chuanren

The Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) needs a new jet for training. Local media report that the service is close to selecting the Russian Yak-130, but the Czech-built Aero Vodochody L-39NG may also be in contention.

“We have been equipping ourselves with state-of-the-art fighters in recent years, but our training system still consists of the old Yak-52 and L-39,” said VPAF Commander Lieutenant General Lê Huy Vịnh at a pilot training conference held in Hanoi. “The operational conversion of pilots after their graduation therefore places a challenge on the combat units,” he continued. Vietnam operates 22 Yak-52 and 34 L-39C/Z. After the conference, the VPAF announced its intention to set up a new division dedicated to supersonic fighter training.

VPAF acquired 36 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters between 2004 and 2016.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Report: Demand for Russian Weapons Grows as Langkawi Exhibition 2017 Kicks Off

Russian Su-35 Flanker Fighter

The 14th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition 2017 has attracted over 555 participants from 36 countries. A total of 101 aircraft, 61 ships and boats will be on aerial and static displays.

Reports coming in from LIMA suggest that new contracts are being signed for supplies of Russian arms to countries of Southeast Asia. The regional market is one of the most important for Russia despite its geographical distance.

According to expert from the Center for Strategic Research Anton Tsvetov, the growing demand for Russian weapons speaks not only of the quality of Russian equipment but also of regional tensions.

The terms of contract for the supply of 12-18 multi-purpose SU-35 fighters of the 4+ generation are being discussed with Indonesia. The same fighters are being supplied to China. Other potential buyers include Venezuela and Vietnam.

Editorial: Bangladesh to Purchase 7 Combat-Transport Helicopters from Russia

A Mi-171E helicopter of the Iraqi Army (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Franz-Stefan Gady

Moscow will provide a $1 billion loan to Dhaka for the purchase of Russian military hardware.

In April of this year, Russia and Bangladesh signed a contract for the purchase of six Russian-made Mil Mi-171Sh combat transport helicopters as well as one Mi-171E medium-lift transport aircraft, according to Ivan Goncharenko, First Deputy CEO of Rosoboronexport .

“A contract was signed in April 2015 on the delivery of six Mi-171Sh military and transport helicopters, and also one Mi-171E transport helicopter in its Salon option,” he told TASS this Monday in Moscow. Earlier reports spoke of only five Mi-171Sh helicopters. In June 2015, Rosoboronexport – the major Russian specialized agency responsible for arms export – also stated that delivery of the first aircraft has already started (production of the helicopters has already begun in February of this year).

Both countries signed an $1 billion arms contract in January 2013 – the biggest since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. Next to the helicopters it includes armored vehicles, infantry weapons, and air defense systems. Dhaka is allegedly also interested in the purchase of Russian-made diesel-electric submarines. In addition, Moscow announced in February 2015 that it will supply 16 training and combat Fighter Aeroplanes Yak- 130 to Bangladesh.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: Pakistan Eyes T-50 as Trainer Option

South Korean KAI T-50 Trainer Aircraft (File Photo)

By Usman Ansari

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan is considering purchase of the South Korean KAI T-50 Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) to revamp its Air Force training program, although some viable alternatives remain.

Interest in the T-50 comes amid moves to improve Pakistani-South Korean defense industry collaboration, possibly including a new shipyard in the Pakistani port of Gwadar.

On March 26, a memorandum to ensure mutual standards of quality was signed by South Korea's Defence Agency for Technology & Quality and Pakistan's Ministry of Defence Production.

Pakistan's Secretary for Defence Production Lt. Gen. Tanvir Tahir said, "Pakistan is examining the [T-50] and assessing our needs and requirements accordingly."

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: Rosoboronexport expects to enhance cooperation with Malaysia

As part of the International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, LIMA 2015, to be held from 17 to 21 March on the Island of Langkawi (Malaysia), Rosoboronexport, part of the Rostec State Corporation, will continue to actively promote Russian defense products in Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries.

“We have a good position in the Malaysian market and we look forward to continuing fruitful cooperation. We are ready not only to supply finished products, but also to discuss the issues of establishing joint and licensed production. We will hold talks with virtually all the commanders and senior officers of the Malaysian security and law enforcement agencies, including defense minister and commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces. We hope that military-technical cooperation between the two countries will increase in the coming years,”- said Vladimir Ereschenko, Head of Rosoboronexport’s Regional Department, who leads the company’s delegation at the exhibition.

Industry: ROSOBORONEXPORT TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH PROSPECTIVE PARTNERS IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Gepard class Frigate (File Photo)

Rosoboronexport, a subsidiary of the Rostec State Corporation, will present a wide range of defence equipment for all military services at the Tri-Service Asian Defence & Security Exhibition, Conference and Networking Event “Defence and Security 2013” to be held in Bangkok on 4-7 November 2013.

The greatest interest is expected to be taken in the Gepard 3.9 and Project 11356 frigates, Amur-1650 submarine, Podsolnukh-E over-the-horizon surface-wave radar, Yak-130 combat trainer jet and multi-purpose helicopters as well as BTR-80A armoured personnel carrier, a police version of the Tigr armoured car and several modifications of the BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle. A full gamut of Russian anti-air weapons, such as the Buk-M2E mobile and Igla-S man-portable air defence missile systems, also have great export potential for South-East Asia.

ROSOBORONEXPORT TO SHOW UNIQUE MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN MALAYSIA

Su-35 Flanker-E (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

In the period from 26th to 30th March 2013 the island of Langkawi, Malaysia, hosts LIMA 2013, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition, at which Rosoboronexport will present advanced samples of Russian military equipment to its Asian partners.

Russia has been exhibiting at the defence shows held in the island of Langkawi since 1991. It was from the very beginning that Russia offered its full support to the LIMA exhibition, which eventually became one of the largest authoritative defence trade events in the Asia Pacific region and a major venue for discussing prospects of military technical cooperation.

"In 2012 the most significant amount of Russia's defence-related exports went to Asia Pacific countries which received 43 percent of our total foreign military sales, - noted Victor Komardin, deputy director general of Rosoboronexport and head of the joint Rostec/Rosoboronexport delegation to the LIMA 2013 exhibition. - It is an objective process, since developing nations in the Asia Pacific vitally need to secure their development plans and protect national interests, and in this area we render them assistance".

News Story: Bangladesh is planning to buy 24 Russian-made Yak-130 trainer aircraft

Yak-130 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki)

Bangladesh is planning to buy 24 Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers on $1 billion credit from Russia, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.

“Bangladesh has a whole list of arms it wants, but so far that is a state secret. I will reveal one little secret: The purchase of Yak-130 warplanes is a very significant subject of negotiations between Russia and Bangladesh,” Rosoboronexport Deputy Chief Viktor Komardin said at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA-2013) that opened in Malaysia on Tuesday.

He added that negotiations on Yak-130s are due to begin later this spring.

Read the full story at Air Recognition

News Story: Russia goes all out at Malaysia (LIMA 2013) exhibition

Su-35 Flanker (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

MOSCOW, March 26 (UPI) -- Russia is going all out in showcasing and marketing its military products to Asian nations at a maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia.

That's not surprising. Russian company Rosoboronexport said, Asian customers last year accounted for 43 percent of Russia's foreign military sales.

India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and others operate Russian aircraft, air defense and naval systems as well as use Russian-made infantry weapons and equipment.

"In 2012 the most significant amount of Russia's defense-related exports went to Asia-Pacific countries, which received 43 percent of our total foreign military sales," said Viktor Komardin, deputy director general of Rosoboronexport and head of the joint Rostec/Rosoboronexport delegation to the LIMA 2013 exhibition.

Read the full story at UPI

News Story: China Challenges West for Arms Trade

By WENDELL MINNICK

New, Better Products on Display at Zhuhai Show

ZHUHAI, China — Those who bought a Chinese tank or ship or plane in the 1960s or 1970s were most likely putting their troops in double jeopardy — facing an enemy with equipment that was, at best, cheap imitation Soviet junk not even trusted by Russian troops.

This is not the case today, as the ninth biennial Airshow China proved to attendees here last week. Russian imitations of aircraft, radar, missiles and other equipment are being supplanted by high-quality made-in-China replacements. Granted, much of the equipment has Russian or Ukrainian roots, but Chinese engineers and manufacturers have learned just about as much as can be learned from them. China’s military industrial revolution has come of age.

No more evidence is needed after last week’s Zhuhai airshow — the biggest, best organized and friendliest to date. Much of this can be attributed to a growing sense of pride among the Chinese in their emerging role in the world’s geostrategic balance.

One U.S. defense analyst, a longtime Zhuhai attendee, said there was a “boatload of new stuff, including a lot of new weapons we have never seen before. It is going to be like drinking from a fire hose.”

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Vietnam, Malaysia Eye Russian Yak-130 Trainer

Vietnam, Malaysia Eye Russian Yak-130 Trainer

17:59 14/11/2012 Malaysia and Vietnam are interested in buying Russian-made Yak-130 Mitten combat trainers, a source in the Russian delegation at the Air China aerospace show told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.> Read the full story HERE <

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