News Story: DPRK condemns U.S. VP's attempt to turn LatAm against Pyongyang

PYONGYANG, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Saturday condemned U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's pressure on some Latin American countries to break ties with Pyongyang, saying this is another example of U.S. interference into other countries' internal affairs.

"This was not the first time for the U.S. to urge the countries which have friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK to sever the diplomatic and economic relations with it," the DPRK official Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs as saying.

On Wednesday, Pence called several Latin American countries to join U.S. efforts to isolate the DPRK.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (1-Aug-2017)

Jack Viola, Eliza Chapman, Jacqueline Westermann and Harley Comrie

Sea state

This year’s parades and celebrations for Russia’s annual Navy Day had a distinctly global feel. Events were held across Russia, and even at the Syrian port of Tartus. The celebrations aim to ‘revive the tradition started by Peter the Great’. The main event was held in St Petersburg, and included three Chinese ships. Those ships had recently conducted joint live-fire drills with their Russian counterparts in the Baltic. In response to Western concerns about the drills, Chinese news agency Xinhua has said the West needs to ‘take a chill pill’.

The Indian government has released a request for information (RFI) to six international companies as part of a program to build six new submarines. India’s comptroller and auditor general recently released a damning report (PDF) on the state of the country’s navy. Of particular concern was the state of its submarines, which the report claims were fitted with only one periscope due to bureaucratic failings, severely diminishing their effectiveness. The RFI comes amid heightened tensions with China arising from its increasing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean.

USA: U.S. Forces Work With Partners in Numerous Military Exercises

By Terri Moon Cronk 

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2017 — Military exercises are underway between U.S. military forces and those of many other nations, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, told reporters today.

In the Pacific region, Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 involves more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel who are participating in the biennial military training exercise in Australia, June 23 to July 25.

U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel, as well as Australian forces and members of other government agencies in both countries are participating in Talisman Saber, which is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and the Australian military's Joint Operations Command.

It features 21 ships, including the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, and more than 200 joint aircraft. This year's seventh iteration of the exercise is focusing on training a combined task force of U.S. and Australian forces in a mid-intensity, high-end warfighting scenario, incorporating interagency participation, along with a command post exercise involving a transition between a three- and four-star headquarters.

"Talisman Saber provides an invaluable opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries' ability to plan and execute contingency responses, from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts," Davis said.

News Report: India's Home-Made 'Eye-in-Sky' to Fly at Republic Day March for First Time

India's  EMB-145 AEW&C

Despite the induction of three home-made AEW&C systems, India is far behind its arch rival China and Pakistan. To match their capabilities, India may have to buy additional AEW&C from Israel.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India will showcase its homemade Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) to the general public for the first time at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. AEW&C systems, mounted on Brazilian planes, are popularly called ‘Eye in the Sky' for their ability to scan wide air spaces for hostile aircraft.

"AEW&C system consists of multiple sensors for surveillance and signal intelligence. It helps in air defense operations and is capable of communicating using many frequencies. Their induction will make the country self-reliant and position India among the top five countries with this capability," read a statement released by India's Ministry of Defense.

USA: Boeing Co. awarded a $207,534,768 contract for the procurement of 51 full rate production Lot 90 Harpoon weapon systems, components, and spares

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $207,534,768 not-to-exceed, firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 51 full rate production Lot 90 Harpoon weapon systems, components, and spares for the governments of Egypt (20); Korea (19); and Brazil (12). 

In addition, this contract provides for components and spares for the Navy; and the governments of Japan, Australia, Thailand, India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, and Taiwan. 

Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (71 percent); McKinney, Texas (9 percent); Burnley, United Kingdom (6 percent); Toledo, Ohio (2 percent); Middletown, Connecticut (2 percent); Elkton, Maryland (2 percent); Grove, Oklahoma (1 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Kirkwood, Missouri (1 percent); Galena, Kansas (1 percent); Huntsville, Alabama (1 percent); and various locations throughout the U.S. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2021. 

Fiscal 2017 weapons procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $99,616,492 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($393,083; 0.19 percent); and the governments of Egypt ($93,102,086; 44.86 percent); Korea ($81,767,119; 39.40 percent); Brazil ($26,523,402; 12.78 percent); Japan ($2,683,621; 1.28 percent); Australia ($1,484,396; 0.72 percent); Thailand ($846,769; 0.41 percent); India ($590,172; 0.28 percent); United Arab Emirates ($73,851; 0.04 percent); Oman ($44,311; 0.02 percent); Kuwait ($14,770; 0.01 percent); and Taiwan ($11,188; 0.01 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-17-C-0006).

US DoD

News Report: US Space Command Chief - China Eyeing Space War Dominance

Li Bao

A top U.S. military official says the U.S. is actively pursuing abilities to deter Russia and China from waging a conflict in space.

Speaking at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in Arlington on Friday, General Jay Raymond, Commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, said some of China's military modernization is aimed at weakening the U.S. advantage in space and other domains.

"China's military modernization has the potential to reduce core U.S. military technological advantage," he said, citing an annual report to Congress by Defense Secretary Ash Carter. "Moreover, China is investing in capabilities designed to defeat adversary power projection and counter intervention during a crisis or conflict."

U.S. efforts to strengthen space deterrence include working with allies, Raymond added.

"Our coalition partnerships have evolved from just information sharing to joint war fighting," he said. "They provide an incredible deterrence value. We must leverage the growing space capabilities of our allies."

Air Force representatives from Japan and Brazil at the event told VOA that their countries are actively seeking to work with the U.S. in space cooperation in the face of growing threats in that domain.

This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Mandarin Service.

This story first appeared on Voice of America & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Giant Brazilian KC-390 in the running to replace NZ's Hercules

Embraer  KC-390 (File Photo)

Grant Bradley

Beside one of the world's longest runways, in the centre of Brazil's Sao Paulo state, sits a plane that looks a bit like Thunderbird 2.

The jet-powered KC-390 is the biggest plane to be built in South America, and it's a brute.

The jet is about the same size as a Hercules military transporter, and that's the aircraft the KC-390's makers, Embraer, have in their sights around the world - including New Zealand, which has about $1 billion to spend on its airlift and VIP fleet in the next decade.

The KC-390 that this month sat in 34C heat just off the Gaviao Peixoto landing strip is one of just two prototypes built so far. The other was being worked on in a hangar besides the strip which at 5km long was once an emergency landing spot for US space shuttles.

As of earlier this month, the pair of planes had flown just 623 hours between them when the Herald was part of a small media contingent to inspect Embraer's commercial, executive jet and defence operations, based around the southern state of Sao Paulo.

The listed Brazilian company has been making planes since 1969; it is a big global player in commercial jets with up to 130 seats, and based on its revenue from aircraft making, vies with Canada's Bombardier for the third spot behind Boeing and Airbus.

In nearly 50 years of business, Embraer has delivered more than 8000 aircraft in more than 90 countries, including the tough, small Bandeirante that flew on regional routes in New Zealand for more than 20 years to 2001.

The KC-390 was conceived in 2009 as a way of diversifying Embraer's revenue, and it has pitched the company into the medium lift market dominated by Lockheed Martin's Herc, a plane first developed in the 1950s, but whose latest model is still seen as the inside runner for New Zealand's next tactical lift purchase.

Embraer says it has been able to start with a clean sheet, and use expertise and technology from its commercial and corporate jet divisions to make a plane that can not only carry big loads, but also get places as much as a third faster than turbo-prop equivalents. It flies at up to 870km/h while still being able to use short and underdeveloped runways.

The company is also promoting its versatility, not only as a cargo carrier but also a multi-mission plane that can be used as a fuel tanker, medevac aircraft and for fighting fires, dropping paratroops and search and rescue.

Customers can also opt for a range of self protection systems, including radar warning receiver, a laser warning system, missile approach warning, and the ability to fire protective chaff and flares.

Read the full story at NZ Herald << Video

News Story: India naval chief blames France for submarine data leak

A massive leak of secret technical data on Scorpene-class submarines did not originate in India but in France, Delhi's naval chief said Saturday, pointing to initial probe findings.

Some 22,400 pages of classified documents detailing the combat capabilities of the subs made by French defence contractor DCNS for the Indian navy were leaked to an Australian newspaper last month.

DCNS has implied that the leak may have come from India but the initial findings of a high-level probe set up by Delhi indicate otherwise.

The "preliminary probe in the case has found that the leak did not take place in India but at DCNS office in France," India's naval chief Sunil Lanba said Saturday, according to the Press Trust of India.

"In France, DCNS and the French government have launched an inquiry. Based on this inquiry, we will see what needs to be done," he added.

Read the full story at SpaceWar

News Story: India Begins Corruption Investigation Against Embraer of Brazil

EMB-145 with DRDO's Radars mounted (Image: Embraer)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — The Indian government has asked the national anti-fraud agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to probe corruption charges against Embraer of Brazil surrounding the purchase of three EMB-145 aircraft from the company in 2008 by state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for its indigenous airborne early warning and control systems (AEW&C) program, according to a senior Ministry of Defence (MoD) official. 

"The government will also use diplomatic channel to ask the US and Brazilian authorities on the matter," the official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

Embraer has been under investigation by the US Justice Department since 2010 after a defense contract with the Dominican Republic raised suspicions of kickbacks. The US investigation has extended to examine Embraer's business dealings with eight more countries, including Saudi Arabia and India.  

Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo last week reported that the possibility of bribery in the 2008 Indian deal was on the US Justice Department's radar. 

Embraer executives were unavailable for comment.

Read the full story at DefenceNews

Think Tank: France reassures its partners after DCNS leak

India's 1st Scorpene class Submarine about to be floated
after construction (File Photo)

Paul Soyez

While the DCNS leak crisis shouldn’t deeply harm France’s relations with India and Australia, it has already had consequences. In particular, recent reporting that India might not go ahead with a follow-on buy of Scorpenes will be worrying the French company.

The French public shipbuilding firm has been targeted by what it describes as an act of ‘economic warfare’: an apparent cyber-attack leading to the leak of information pertaining to its Scorpene submarines built in India. In fact, The Australian revealed last week that it had access to 22,400 pages of documents that had been leaked from the company in 2011. These documents disclose the maintenance of crucial elements of the Indian submarines, such as torpedo launching systems, periscopes and communication equipment.

A former employee of DCNS is currently suspected of the leak. It is uncertain whether the company had dismissed him for misconduct while he was working in India for one of its subcontractors in charge of training the Indian Navy.

News Story: France condemns submarine secrets leak

A DCNS Scorpene class Submarine

The leak of secret technical data on French submarines designed for the Indian navy was a "malicious act", Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday.

"We will use every means at our disposal to learn the truth" in the affair, which came to light last week, Le Drian told reporters.

"Obviously, it was a malicious act," he added.

The Sydney-based newspaper The Australian said last week it had seen the leaked papers detailing the combat capability of the Scorpene-class subs made by French defence contractor DCNS for the Indian navy.

Variants of the submarine are used by Malaysia and Chile, with Brazil due to deploy the vessels from 2018.

Australia has also tapped DCNS, inking a deal in April worth Aus$50 billion (US $38 billion, 34 billion euros) for the design and construction of its next generation of submarines.

Read the full story at SpaceWar

News Story: Australian minister says French submarine leak 'embarrassing'

A DCNS Scorpene class Submarine (File Photo)

A massive leak of secret data on French submarines is embarrassing, Australia's Defence Industry minister said Friday, stressing that security between Australia and the DCNS shipbuilders would be "the most stringent in the world".

The Australian newspaper reported this week that it had seen 22,400 leaked pages detailing the combat capability of the Scorpene-class DCNS submarine designed for the Indian navy.

Variants of the submarine are used by Malaysia and Chile, with Brazil due to deploy the vessels from 2018.

Australia awarded French contractor DCNS a Aus$50 billion (US$38 billion) contract last April to design and build its next generation of submarines.

"Obviously it is a very serious matter for the Indian navy and for the DCNS project," Australia's Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne told Channel Nine.

Pyne stressed that the leak had "no bearing at all on the Australian project" as Canberra has commissioned a different model to the Scorpene.

Read the full story at SpaceWar

News Report: Submarine Data Leak Could be Setback for Indian Navy

India's 1st Scorpene class submarine prior to being undocked

Anjana Pasricha

NEW DELHI — A massive leak of secret data relating to the combat capabilities of submarines being built for the Indian navy by a French shipbuilder could delay their induction as India investigates the huge security breach.

More than 22,000 pages of information relating to Scorpene submarines were made public by The Australian newspaper.

India is not the only one affected by the confidentiality breach. The Scorpene, made by French firm, DCNS, is currently being used by Malaysia and Chile, and Brazil is also due to deploy the sub in 2018.

Defense Minister, Manohar Parrikar, said the leak did not originate from India and suggested that it could be the result of a hack.

The leaks have led to fears that the documents could be an intelligence gold mine for India’s rivals, China and Pakistan.

But Parrikar told the Indian media that “We have to first gauge the quantum of the leak and find out links to India.”

News Story: Malaysia's Scorpene subs different from those used by Chile and India

A DCNS Scorpene class submarine

The specifications, features as well as the capabilities of the submarines used by Malaysia were unique and different from the other submarines used by the two nations

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Scorpene submarines purchased from French defence company DCNS are different from the submarines of Chile or India, said Defence Deputy Minister Mohd Johari Baharum.

The specifications, features as well as the capabilities of our submarines were unique and different from those submarines, he said when met at the Malaysian Armed Forces Sports Awards night at Wisma Perwira here.

He was commenting on a report in the Australian media today, that sensitive data on the capabilities of Scorpene submarines built by a French ship company were leaked when 22,400 pages of submarine secret information documents owned by the Indian Navy were exposed.

India is investigating a massive data leak from French shipbuilder DCNS that affects a major submarine contract for its navy.

The leak of more than 22,000 pages exposes secrets about the combat capabilities of Scorpene-class vessels.

Read the full story at BeritaDaily

News Story: Secret data leak hits French submarine maker

A DCNS Scorpene class submarine

French defence contractor DCNS has been hit by a massive leak of secret data on its submarines likely to alarm India, Malaysia and Chile which use the boats, The Australian newspaper reported Wednesday.

The 22,400 leaked pages, which the daily said it had seen, detail the combat capability of the Scorpene-class DCNS submarine designed for the Indian navy, variants of which are used by Malaysia and Chile.

Brazil is also due to deploy the vessels from 2018.

Australia in April awarded DCNS an Aus$50 billion (US$38 billion) contract to design and build its next generation of submarines.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to play down the impact of the leak, saying in Canberra that while it was "of concern", the Scorpene was a different model to the subs Australia is buying.

"The submarine we are building or will be building with the French is called the Barracuda, quite, completely different submarine to the Scorpene they are building for India," he told Channel Seven.

"We have the highest security protections on all of our defence information, whether it is in partnership with other countries or entirely within Australia."

The leaked documents were marked "Restricted Scorpene India" and gave the combat capabilities of India's new submarine fleet, The Australian said.

Read the full story at SpaceWar

News Story: Australia's 40 bln USD sub-contract unaffected by French security leak - gov't

A DCNS Scorpene class submarine

by Matt Walsh

CANBERRA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has on Wednesday downplayed concerns that its future submarine program could be at risk, after the French shipbuilder contracted to built its 12 next-generation subs suffered a massive internal leak.

The leak was reported by Australian media on Wednesday and includes more than 22,000 pages of information, including details on the six Scorpene-class submarines the French company, DCNS, designed for India.

The leak of the Scorpene-class subs also affects Malaysia, Chile and Brazil - nations which ordered those submarines from DCNS, however Australia has ordered 12 Barracuda-class subs from the shipbuilder.

DCNS won the 40 billion U.S dollar contract to build the submarines earlier this year, beating out bids from the Japanese government and from a German firm, and while Australian officials have said the leaks were concerning, they were not relevant to Australia's model.

"It is a completely different model, it is a different submarine," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the Seven Network on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said the damning, 22,400-page report has "no bearing" on the government's Future Submarine Program.

"(The) program operates under stringent security requirements that govern the manner in which all information and technical data is managed now and into the future," the statement, released on Wednesday, said.

"The same requirements apply to the protection of all sensitive information and technical data for the Collins class submarines, and have operated successfully for decades."

Despite the government's bullish outlook regarding the leak, the Australian newspaper reported the U.S government could be concerned by the details of the leak; it is set to install state-of-the-art stealth and combat systems into the Australian submarines.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: China Sea Dispute Drives Interest in India's Anti-ship Missile

Anjana Pasricha

NEW DELHI—India’s plans to sell advanced missile systems to countries like Vietnam got a boost this week after New Delhi joined an exclusive global club of countries controlling the export of missile technology.

Security analysts say membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) will also give India more leverage to overcome Chinese resistance in New Delhi's bid to join another another elite group controlling nuclear commerce; the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

One of the main weapons system India is set to export is the supersonic cruise BrahMos missile being produced by an Indo-Russian joint venture. The missile has a range of about 290 km and can be fired from land, sea and submarine.

Calling the BrahMos a formidable weapon, strategic affairs analyst Bharat Karnad at New Delhi’s Center for Policy Research says “those plans are going to be implemented soon. That is the first order of business.”

News Story: Western Defense Industry Future Imperiled by Local Programs

South Korea's T-50, T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle

Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — A global push to grow domestic defense industries will have a dramatic impact on the Western defense export market over the next decade, a new report is warning.

Authored by Daniel Yoon and Doug Berenson, the report by Avascent, “Dynamics of International Military Modernization 2016,” concludes that while many challengers will emerge, the trio of Israel, South Korea and Brazil provide the most immediate threats to Western markets

Ironically, the market threat is one with its origins in Western exports, with the authors noting that “in many cases, these emerging players developed through diffused technology via prior export arrangements with Western suppliers, often through offsets requirements and domestic industry participation.”

Over the last five years, American firms have aggressively pursued foreign sales to try and offset a slowdown in US military funding. By and large American firms were successful in that strategy, the authors found, with “foreign sales have partially offset the decline in domestic demand since 2010, when only 17 percent of defense equipment manufactured in the United States was exported; by 2015, that number jumped dramatically to 34 percent.”

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: New contract for Royal Thai Navy offshore patrol vessel

HTMS Krabi (Image: Wiki Commons)

We have signed a new contract with Bangkok Dock to assist in the licensed construction of a second 90 metre Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Royal Thai Navy.

Under the agreement, we will provide engineering support and advice during construction of the vessel in Thailand.

Nigel Stewart, Commercial Director, BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said: “We’re looking forward to building and strengthening our relationship with Thailand’s shipbuilding industry. This contract to support delivery of a second Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Royal Thai Navy is a clear endorsement of our versatile Offshore Patrol Vessel design. 

"With three of these ships already in service in Brazil and a further three Offshore Patrol Vessels under construction for the UK Royal Navy, our design continues to attract significant interest internationally."

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (27-Oct-2015)

Alice Slevison and James Mugg

Sea State

Sino–US relations remain tense as Washington has reportedly sent a warship within 12 nautical miles of two artificial built islands in the South China Sea. A US defence official told Reuters that the patrol was carried out by the USS Lassen Destroyers near Subi and Mischief reefs in the Spratly archipelago. For more information on the US–China dispute in the South China Sea, read Mercedes Page’s recent post here on The Strategist.

The US voyage to the Spratly Islands comes a week after China hosted a visit by 27 senior US Navy officers to its sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. Chinese officials said the US Navy officers were visiting as part of an annual bilateral exchange and they held discussions on ‘exercise management, personnel training, medical protection and strategies in carrier development’.

In London, Britain’s nuclear submarine industry has been warned by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon not to repeat the delays and cost overruns of the Astute hunter-killer program when it builds the Royal Navy’s new Trident missile submarines to replace the Vanguard-class submarine currently in service. The Vanguards are armed with Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles and form part of Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent.

And finally, We are the Mighty has listed its ‘6 best weapons designed to kill submarines’. Check them out here.