News Story: China trying to outperform Russia on weapons exports

Chinese Z-10 Attack Helicopter (File Photo)

Recently a photograph of three Chinese-made CAIC Z-10 attack helicopters delivered to Pakistan has been circulating online, according to Sina's military news website.

This has led to comparisons between Chinese and Russian weapons systems online. In certain traditional fields, the Russian defense industry has a clear advantage, according to the website. Its Soviet legacy and its efforts in research and development put Russia at the forefront of the international weapons market, the article said. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ranking, Russia is the second biggest weapons exporter, as it exports weapons to 56 countries. Its weapon exports to India, China and Algeria make up 60% of the country's total weapon exports.

China is a relative newcomer to the global weapons market, but it is now the third biggest defense exporter. The weapons it exports include the CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder fighter, the PLZ-45 155 mm self-propelled howitzer and the C series of anti-ship missiles. The reason for the rapid growth in its weapons exports is China's rapid economic rise, which has fueled the modernization of the armed forces, according to the website. This has allowed certain Chinese weapon systems to be able to compete with Russian weapons in the international market.

Read the full story at Want China Times

News Story: India May Sign Helo Deal by Boeing Deadline

By Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Pressured by a possible price hike from Boeing in its planned purchase of 22 AH-64E Apache and 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters for the Air Force, the Indian Ministry of Defence is considering inking the final contract before March 31 when the price set by Boeing will expire, said an MoD source.

A Boeing executive said the company cannot guarantee it will be able to keep the price quote beyond March 31 because it cannot afford to "wait endlessly," he said.

India delayed signing the contract because of a lack of funds. Even in the current financial year, which ends March 31, there are no funds for new purchases because money has been diverted from the Capital Head, which is reserved for buying new weapons, to the Revenue Head account, which is used to pay for salaries and day-to-day expenses of the 1.5-million-person military.

Under these circumstances, MoD is now considering signing the $2.5 billion contract before March 31 but begin making payments in the next financial year, which runs from April 1 to March 31, 2016, the source said.

The Boeing executive said they will respond to this method of payment after such a proposal is received.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Pakistan Seeks To Prop Up Exports, Boost Industry

A JF-17 Thunder Fighter of the Pakistan Air Force (File Photo)

By USMAN ANSARI

KARACHI — Pakistan aims to deepen existing partnerships, attract new partners and build equipment at home, despite economic instability and insecurity.

That drive was on display last week at Pakistan’s biennial defense show, the International Defence Exhibition And Seminar (IDEAS2014).

IDEAS2014 seemed somewhat reduced, since no missile systems or mobility programs were on display. Furthermore, some large contractors, from Western Europe in particular, were absent.

Yet Zaheer Ahmad, vice president of Kestral, representing a range of primarily North American contractors such as L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky, said IDEAS2014 was comparable to any other large exhibition in terms of the variety of attendees and exhibitors.

A number of key smaller exhibitors were present for the first time.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Analysts Welcome Russian Decision on Arms Sales To Pakistan

Russian Air Force Mi-35М (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

By USMAN ANSARI

ISLAMABAD — Analysts have welcomed Russia’s decision to loosen its longstanding restrictive arms supply policy toward Pakistan and sell helicopter gunships, but are unsure what the final results will be.

Further details of the negotiations are unknown.

A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry here would not comment on specific details of what was being discussed with their Russian counterparts, saying only that deliberations were underway.

The issue of cost, “not only of acquisition but of operation, maintenance and eventual upgrade” is a strong plus when considering Russian arms, says former Australian defense attache to Islamabad Brian Cloughley.

“Both India and Pakistan have found, to their distaste, that although US defense products are very good, they are inordinately expensive and very costly to run. It makes sense to go for reasonably priced equipment that is not over-complex and doesn’t take a fortune to acquire and operate”, he said.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Rosoboronexport steps up helicopter exports

Mi-17 at a Russian Arms Show (File Photo)

At the Sixth International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia-2013, which will be held from May 16 to 18 in Moscow, Rosoboronexport, which is part of the Rostec State Corporation, will present foreign partners the basic helicopter models offered on the world arms market.

First of all, these are Mi-17-TYPE military transport helicopters, the latest Mi-28NE and Ka-52 attack helicopters, Mi-35M transport and combat helicopter, Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter and the Mi-26T2 heavy-lift transport helicopter.

The exports of Russian helicopters have been growing rapidly in recent years. In 2012, Rosoboronexport’s deliveries in this market segment increased 40% to $1.5 billion. Helicopters were successfully delivered to 23 countries. It is expected that the positive trend will continue in 2013 and the exports will grow by more than 30%.

As of today, among the largest customers are India and China, Russia’s traditional partners in military-technical cooperation. In addition, a large amount of work is done under a contract with the U.S. Government to supply the Afghan armed forces with Mi-17-type military transport helicopters.

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".

Russian weapon at Malaysian exhibition

Pantsir-S1 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

Rosoboronexport is to show its advanced antimissile and antiaircraft facilities at LIMA-2013.

The international naval and aerospace exhibition is held on the Malaysia Langkawi island on March, 26-30.

The Rosoboronexport goods delivered overseas include the state-of-the-art antimissile and antiaircraft facilities. Foreign customers take a keen interest in the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft artillery weapon system produced by KBP of Tula (Vysokotochnye kompleksy). Tor-M2E, Antey-2500, Igla-S and Buk-M2E, air defence missile system, are also displayed at the exhibition.

Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft artillery weapon system is the leader among air-defence systems, one of the most advanced smart weapon specimens of 21 century. The system has implemented all the elements of Tula KBP multipurpose close air defence weapon system conception, which helps its superiority over the foreign analogues. Employing Pantsir-S1 in the antiaircraft forces results in efficiency boost, electronic and fire countermeasures survivability enhancement, improvement of the whole air-defence system adaptability to the alterations of air threat performance and tactical employment methods.

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: Russia Denies Losing Indian Arms Tenders

Russia Denies Losing Indian Arms Tenders

19:01 28/11/2012 Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport denied on Wednesday media reports that it had lost tenders on the delivery of heavy-lift helicopters and aerial tankers to the Indian air force.> Read the full story HERE <

Other news of the day

News Story: China unveils attack helicopter at airshow - report

WZ-10 Attack Helicopter

China has unveiled a new attack helicopter as it seeks to rival similar aircraft made by the United States and Russia, state media said Wednesday.

A unit of China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) showed off the WZ-10, or "Thunder Fire", for the first time in public at the country's premier airshow in the southern city of Zhuhai, the China Daily newspaper said.

China is displaying a range of military hardware, including a new drone and a model of a next-generation fighter plane at the show, as it builds up its own defence capabilities and seeks customers for its products.

More than 30 foreign military delegations are attending the airshow, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Read the full story at Space Daily