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12 Nov 14. Turkey Could Scrap Controversial Chinese Missile Purchase. Turkey could scrap a controversial plan to buy missile defense systems from China that alarmed the United States and its Western allies, Turkish and European sources said Wednesday. Key NATO member Turkey said in September last year it was entering negotiations with the China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) to acquire its first long-range anti-missile systems. But the plan has deeply concerned the United States, which has already imposed sanctions on the Chinese company for supplying arms to Iran and Syria in defiance of an embargo. “Several options are on the table, including a cancellation of the tender” that was won by the Chinese company, a Turkish government source familiar with the issue told AFP, asking not to be named. Turkey chose CPMIEC in preference to offers from US firms Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, as well as Russia’s defense exporter Rosoboronexport and the French-Italian consortium Eurosam. The contract is valued at €2.9bn ($3.6bn). Aside from strategic concerns, Turkey’s allies in NATO also expressed worry about the compatibility of the Chinese systems with their own missile defense systems. But Turkey had already admitted to difficulties in negotiations with the Chinese side, notably on the transfer of technology and issues of joint production. Joint production is a crucial part of the planned deal as Turkey wants to build its own long-range air defense and anti-missile architecture to counter both enemy aircraft and missiles. Turkey was supposed to have announced its final decision in summer but then invited the Chinese company’s rivals to present revised offers. “We have received information that Turkey is preparing ultimately to launch a new tender to negotiate as a priority with European and American firms,” a European source in Ankara told AFP. The Chinese embassy declined to comment. Turkey had previously defended its decision to enter into talks with the Chinese company but said it is open to new bids should the negotiations fall through. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in September that talks were continuing with the Chinese side but said that the French consortium was ‘second on the list’ and had come up with a new offer. (Source: Defense News)
12 Nov 14. CASIC unveils QW-19 MANPADS. The China Aerospace Science Industrial Corporation (CASIC) is showing the newest in its line of man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) at Air Show China 2014. The QW-19 appears outwardly to be very similar to the previous QW-18 design but there are several differences. “The QW-19 utilises a new digital seeker that is a departure from previous models,” said a CASIC representative. “This digital technology gives the weapon a much higher jamming immunity compared to other models.” The CASIC official added that the QW-19 system is still in development and no date has been given for it to be made operational. The missile’s infrared (IR) seeker is also reportedly a new, dual-band, imaging seeker that provides for better performance in both target acquisition and lock-on. This advancement mirrors the type of improvements in design seen in a number of countries’ air-to-air missiles. This missile will supposedly be capable of head-on intercepts similar to those of the Russian KBM Igla-S, including the ability to take out cruise missiles. In addition to these performance enhancements, the missile has a consumable launch module that remains in the firing tube after the missile has ignited and is in flight. “This protects the soldier operating the missile better than in previous models” where this piece of hardware detached from the missile once it has left the launcher, the representative said.
COMMENT
MANPADS are becoming a popular element of very short range air defence (V