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03 Jan 19. U.S. warns Iran on space launches, Tehran rejects concerns. The United States issued a pre-emptive warning to Iran on Thursday against pursuing three planned space rocket launches that it said would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology. Iran rejected the warning, issued by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying its space vehicle launches and missile tests were not violations.
Pompeo said Iran planned to launch in the coming months three rockets, called Space Launch Vehicles (SLV), that he said incorporate technology “virtually identical” to what is used in intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“The United States will not stand by and watch the Iranian regime’s destructive policies place international stability and security at risk,” Pompeo said in a statement.
“We advise the regime to reconsider these provocative launches and cease all activities related to ballistic missiles in order to avoid deeper economic and diplomatic isolation.”
Pompeo said the rocket launches would violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. It calls upon Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, but does not explicitly bar such activity.
Iran has repeatedly rejected U.S. accusations about its ballistic missile tests, including the firing of space launchers.
“Iran’s launch of space vehicles – & missile tests – are NOT in violation of (Resolution) 2231. The US is in material breach of same, & as such it is in no position to lecture anyone on it,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in Twitter post on Thursday.
“Threats engender threats, while civility begets civility.”
Tehran denies it has missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads.
Pompeo said Iran has launched ballistic missiles numerous times since the U.N. resolution was adopted. He said it test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads on Dec. 1.
President Donald Trump decided in May to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.
Iranian Deputy Defence Minister General Qassem Taqizadeh in late November was quoted by Iranian media as saying that Iran would soon launch into space three satellites made by domestic experts.
In July 2017, Iran launched a Simorgh (Phoenix) rocket it said could deliver a satellite into space, an act the U.S. State Department called provocative. Earlier that month, the United States imposed new economic sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile programme.
Iran’s Amirkabir University of Technology said on Tuesday that it was putting the final touches to the Payam (Message) satellite, which it said was equipped with four cameras and could be used for agricultural, forestry and other peaceful purposes, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The satellite, weighing about 100 kg (220 pounds), is to be launched by a state-run space centre into an orbit of 500 km (300 miles) with a Simorgh, the ISNA news agency reported.
Iranian media reports said the Payam launch may coincide with celebrations in early February marking the 40th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah. (Source: Reuters)
03 Jan 19. Belarusian 2018 defence exports exceed USD1bn. The volume of Belarus’ defence exports exceeded USD1bn in 2018 according to Roman Golovchenko, the chairman of the country’s State Committee for Military Industry (Goskomvoyenprom). “Goskomvoyenprom’s subsidiaries increased their exports of hardware and services from USD143.8m in 2004 to more than USD960m in 2017: a sevenfold increase. This figure had grown to USD1.027bn by the end of 2018,” Golovchenko said in a statement on 2 January. This growth, Golovchenko noted, has been achieved under harsh economic conditions. “In 2004-2017 Goskomvoyenprom’s enterprises increased their production output from USD94.5m to USD521.7m, or by 5.6 times,” he said, noting that the committee “has shifted from the development of separate items of hardware to manufacturing integrated weapon systems”. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
02 Jan 19. Fighter Aircraft Tejas Set For Final Induction: Defence Research Body. “LCA Tejas and Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) are on final induction after going through all the tests,” said DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy in a radio interview.
The indigenously developed and built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is on final induction after going all the tests, said a top official on Monday.
“LCA Tejas and Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) are on final induction after going through all the tests,” said DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy in a radio interview.
Celebrating the “DRDO Day”, Mr Reddy told state-run All India Radio (AIR) that the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was set up 60 years ago in 1958 with 10 labs to enhance research work in the defence sector.
“Though the country is self-reliant in missiles, radars, Sonars, torpedoes and other systems, the DRDO has been working over the years to develop state-of-the-art weapon system for the armed forces,” said Reddy.
Designed and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and built by the state-run defence aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Tejas is a supersonic fourth generation fighter for induction in the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet and its variant in the Indian Navy.
Pending Final Operational Clearance (FOC) for its weaponised version, the IAF formed the first Tejas unit – No. 45 Squadron IAF “Flying Daggers” — on July 1, 2016 with two aircraft.
The DRDO is building six next generation AEW&CS on the Airbus platform to enhance surveillance and detection with longer range and complete view for the IAF.
The platform will have 300-km-long range and 360-degree angle of coverage as against 200-km range and 240-degree angle of the AEW&CS the DRDO built on the Brazilian Embraer-145 modified jet for the IAF in the past.
Over the years, the state-run organisation grew multi-directionally in terms of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.
“Presently, over 50 labs are engaged in developing defence technologies covering aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation,” said DRDO in its web site.
With about 5,000 scientists and 25,000 supporting staff, the behemoth has executed major projects to develop missiles, armaments, LCAs, radars and electronic warfare systems. (Source: Google/www.ndtv.com)
21 Dec 18. Indian Army announces new land warfare doctrine. The Indian Army (IA) is seeking to create integrated battle groups (IBGs), expand its cyber warfare capabilities, and induct energy-directed weapons as well as artificial intelligence-based systems to manage multiple security challenges, the service announced in its Land Warfare Doctrine-2018.
IA cadets take part in a continuity training exercise at an officers training academy in Chennai in March 2018. Dated 27 November, but published in mid-December, the doctrine states that the IA will employ “composite” IBGs comprising a mix of five to six battalions to execute conventional combat operations for “greater flexibility in force application”. Each IBG, which would be larger than the existing 3,000 personnel-strong brigade but smaller than a 10,000-strong division, would be headed by a two-star officer and include infantry, armoured, artillery, air-defence, and support units, all of which would be backed by attack helicopters. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
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Lincad is a leading expert in the design and manufacture of batteries, chargers and associated products for a range of applications across a number of different sectors. With a heritage spanning more than three decades in the defence and security sectors, Lincad has particular expertise in the development of reliable, ruggedised products with high environmental, thermal and electromagnetic performance. With a dedicated team of engineers and production staff, all product is designed and manufactured in-house at Lincad’s facility in Ash Vale, Surrey. Lincad is ISO 9001 and TickITplus accredited and works closely with its customers to satisfy their power management requirements.
Lincad is also a member of the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR), the accreditation system for the aerospace, defence and security sectors, and is certified with Cyber Essentials, the government-backed, industry supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber attacks. The majority of Lincad’s products contain high energy density lithium-ion technology, but the most suitable technology for each customer requirement is employed, based on Lincad’s extensive knowledge of available electrochemistries. Lincad offers full life cycle product support services that include repairs and upgrades from point of introduction into service, through to disposal at the end of a product’s life. From product inception, through to delivery and in-service product support, Lincad offers the high quality service that customers expect from a recognised British supplier.
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