LOCATIONS

LAND

26 Dec 12. During the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India, Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of Russian Technologies State Corporation, and Elcom Systems Private Limited, part of the Indian investment conglomerate SUN Group, signed in New Delhi an agreement to set up in India a modern industrial facility for manufacturing of Russian helicopter models, namely helicopters of the Ka- and Mi- brands. The joint venture will have the capacity to produce key helicopter units and carry out final assembly of the machines as well as engage in ground and flight testing. It is expected that the enterprise will start with production of components for the multirole Ka-226T helicopter. The enterprise will serve as an industrial base for hi-tech Russian rotorcraft products in India.

03 Jan 13. Taiwan aims to modernise 60 IDF aircraft in 2013. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence (MND) is planning to complete the first phase of its CK-1 Ching-Kuo indigenous defence fighter (IDF) aircraft’s mid-life upgrade programme by the end of 2013. Covering a total of 60 IDFs, the programme will involve installation of enhanced radar, avionics and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as a domestically manufactured-Wan Chien cluster bomb onto the aircraft, Agence France Presse has reported, citing a report submitted by MND to Parliament. The aircraft will be capable of deployment soon after the upgrade, the report noted, adding that the remaining aircraft of the Republic of China Air Force’s 127 IDF fleet are scheduled to be modernised by 2017. Launched in 2009 with funding of NT$17.06bn ($0.586m), the first phase covers modernisation of aircraft that have served the air force for over a decade, in an effort to extend their service life by an additional 20 years.(Source: airforce-technology.com)

31 Dec 12. RAF Lyneham: To Become a Technical College. The formal ownership of the Lyneham site passed from the RAF to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) on 31 Dec 12. The Lyneham site is not being closed as it is to become the Defence College of Technical Training. The first occupants of the new College will be the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), who will move from Arborfield and Borden by the end of 2015.
Comment: The DIO is responsible for a programme of building work at Lyneham over the next three years, reflecting the site’s change of use.
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/02, 07 Jan 13)

MARITIME

22 Dec 12. Navy Delivers Offshore Support Vessels to Iraqi Navy. The Iraqi navy and the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command marked the delivery of two 60-meter Offshore Support Vessels (OSV 1/ OSV 2) to the Iraqi navy in a ceremony at the Umm Qasr naval facility, Dec. 19. The two OSVs, procured as part U.S. Navy’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, will help reconstitute Iraq’s ability to enforce maritime sovereignty and security in the Northern Arabian Gulf. (Source: ASD Network)

02 Jan 13. Russian Navy puts first Borey-class submarine into service. The Russian Navy has put its first Borey-class ballistic missile nuclear submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, into operational service. Construction of the Project 955 Borey-class Yury Dolgoruky submarine cost a total of $713m, which included $280m for research and development. Powered by an OK-650 nuclear reactor, AEU steam turbine, a shaft and propeller, the Sevmash shipyard-built Yury Dolgoruky submarine has a hull diameter of 13m, a depth of 450m and can cruise at a speed of 29k, while accommodating a crew of 107. The 170m-long submarine is capable of carrying up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes, including the Bulava (SS-NX-30) sea-based submarine-launched weapon. Designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, the Bulava replaces the R-39 solid-fuel submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Project 955 involves construction of four Borey-class submarines the Russian Navy in