Russia to build two early warning radars in 2013

Via Globaltimes.cn

Russia will start to build two new early warning radar stations in 2013, Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Ostapenko said Thursday.

According to Ostapenko, the new radar stations will be built in Yeniseisk of the East Siberian Krasnoyarsk Territory and in Barnaul of the South Siberian Altai Republic.

He also revealed the construction of another radar station which is located in Armavir of the Rostov region in Southern Russia has been nearly completed.

This radar station will be put into operation soon. State- commissioned trials are in their final stages, Ostapenko said, adding the station is due to be put on full combat alert soon.

Russia abandoned the radar in Azerbaijan's Gabala on Dec. 24 due to expiration of a 10-year lease agreement with Baku.

Iranian Navy begins major war games

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Iran started on Friday a major naval exercise in an area covering about one million square kilometers from the east side of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman to the northern Indian Ocean.

The six-day maneuvers, entitled Velayat-90, will be conducted in international waters and the country’s territorial waters with the participation of various units of the Iranian Navy, including submarines, warships, destroyers, missile systems, and special forces.

Iranian naval forces will practice tactics of detecting, identifying, and destroying mock enemy forces during the war games.

On the first day of the exercise, the Jamaran destroyer closely monitored the activities of mock enemy vessels and transmitted information to the headquarters of the exercise and Iranian warships, submarines, missile-launching destroyers, hovercraft, and other naval vessels carried out tactical maneuvers and spread out across the theater of operation to deal with mock enemy forces.

The commander of the Iranian Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, said on Tuesday that the drills would be held to test the country’s new defense and missile systems, combat vessels, submarines, drones, and torpedoes, and provide naval forces with the opportunity to perform combat and reconnaissance missions, repel mock attacks, and practice countering electronic warfare measures.

He also said that Tareq and Ghadir submarines and new domestically manufactured hovercrafts and drones would be used during the war games, adding that a number of Iranian naval units, including submarines, warships, destroyers, and missile systems would act as mock enemy vessels.

Ra’d missile to be test-fired

The spokesperson for the war games, Rear Admiral Amir Rastgari, told the Persian service of the Fars News Agency on Friday that the Ra’d (Thunder) missile will be test-fired during the exercise.

The Ra’d is Iran’s newest domestically manufactured medium-range surface-to-air missile, which was put on display for the first time during a ceremony in Septembe

Russian Shipbuilders Say Mistral Contract ‘In Force’

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said on Friday the contract to build two Mistral class amphibious assault ships remains ‘in force,’ dismissing media reports that the country’s Defense Ministry has dropped the construction plans.

“We have not been informed of any such decision by the Russian Defense Ministry. Currently, the contract remains in force, as before,” a spokesman for Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said.

The spokesman also confirmed that the construction of the first two Mistral ships in France will be continued.

Russian business daily Vedomosti on Friday cited a government source saying that the Russian Defense Ministry has decided to abandon plans to build two Mistral class amphibious assault ships under French license in Russia.

Russia and France signed a $1.2-billion contract for two French-built Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology, in June 2011.

The first ship, the Vladivostok, is being built at a DCNS shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and should be delivered in 2014, while the second, the Sevastopol, is scheduled for delivery in 2015.

Two more ships were expected to be 80% built in Russia, 20% in France.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

The French-built ships are expected to be assigned to Russia’s Pacific fleet.

Plane, Helicopter Crash During Venezuela Air Show

Source : RIA Novosti

MEXICO, November 28 (RIA Novosti) - A training plane crashed during an air show in Venezuela on Tuesday, and a military helicopter went down during a rescue mission, Mexican media said on Wednesday.

A Chinese-made K8 training plane fell near the Libertador Air Base during an air show to mark the Air Force day in the central Venezuelan state of Aragua.

During a rescue operation for two pilots, who managed to eject, a French-made Cougar helicopter also went down. The crew of the aircraft, owned by the country’s rescue service, was unharmed in the accident.

Technical malfunction is seen as the main cause for the K8 crash.

The Libertador Air Base made headlines when another accident took place five days ago. Ywo light OV-10 Bronco planes collided in midair, killing one person and injuring three. The planes were on a training flight to prepare for the Air Force day parade.

Russian Troops Get Six Pantsir-S Air Defense Systems

Source :  RIA Novosti

ASTRAKHAN, November 23 (RIA Novosti) - Six Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems were handed over to air defense units of Russia’s eastern military district, the head of air defense troops of Russia's Air Forces, Maj. Gen. Viktor Gumenny, said on Friday.

He said that all air and air defence forces commands in Russia will be equipped with the new system. The Defense Ministry has so far ordered 100 Pantsir-S units for Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces, which are expected to be delivered in the next few years.

“The 2013 state defense order for such systems will be implemented in full,” Gumenny said.

The Pantsir-S, produced by Russia's KBP, is a gun-missile system combining a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 57E6 radio-command guided short-range missiles, and is designed to take on a variety of targets flying at low altitudes.

The Pantsir can engage targets up to 20 km (12 miles) by missiles and 4 km (2.5 miles) using cannons, KBP says.

The export version of the system, Pantsir-S1, has been sold to the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Algeria.

New Russian Corvette Passes Systems Trials

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, November 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's newest corvette, the Project 20380 Boiky class, has successfully completed main systems tests in its initial sea trials, fleet spokesman Captain Second Rank Vladimir Matveyev said on Thursday.

"Our newest corvette, the Project 20380 Boiky class, built by Severny Verf for the Baltic Fleet, successfully completed first stage builder's sea trials in a training area in the Baltic," he said.

The 2,100 ton displacement vessel was manned by a mixed crew of navy personnel and civilian workers for the trials, which began in early October.

"The trials included testing of the power plant, steering, navigation and communications equipment, mooring gear, back- up systems and tests of the ship's maximum speed, maneuverability and vibration levels," Matveyev said.

The ship will soon return to the shipyard to have its 100-mm gun installed, he added, after which it will sail to the port of Baltysk for second-stage trials.

"Shipyard testing should be completed in December, after which the crew will put it through state acceptance trials," he said.

Severny Verf is due to build six of the 20380 and 20385 classes for the Russian Navy by 2018, and six larger 22350 class frigates by 2020.

The 20380 class, designed by the Almaz naval design bureau, are optimised for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare and support for land operations. The class incorporates stealth technology, which has considerably reduced its radar and infra-red signatures.

The 20380 class can be equipped with Kh-35 anti-ship missiles and 3M54 Klub cruise missiles, Kashtan anti-aircraft gun/missile systems, a main 100-mm gun, two 30-mm close-range air defense guns, and torpedo tubes, according to naval- technology.com. It also has a hangar and deck for operation of a Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare helicopter, and is fitted with a Vinyetka-EM towed-array sonar.

NATO will defend Turkey against attacks from Syria – Rasmussen

Source : Voice of Russia

Friends of Syria to meet late November NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has assured Turkey that the alliance will defend them against possible attacks from across the Syrian border and welcomed the decision of the Syrian opposition to form a new coalition.

“NATO as an organization will do what it takes to protect and defend Turkey, our ally. We have more plans in place to make sure that we can protect and defend Turkey and hopefully that way also deter so that attacks on Turkey will not take place,” Rasmussen said at a meeting in Prague on Monday.

Rasmussen has not commented on Turkey’s request about possible deployment of Patriot surface-to-air missiles, though.

The NATO chief also said the Syrian opposition’s decision to form a new coalition agreed at the weekend in Doha was “at least one big step forward”.

“A split opposition is of course a problem so we need a more inclusive and more united opposition,” he said.

Friends of Syria to meet late November

A new Friends of Syria meeting is set for the end of November in Morocco. High atop its agenda will be possible recognition of the newly formed Syrian National Coalition, an umbrella organization uniting the country’s opposition, its head Mahmoud al-Hamza said.

He also said he as positive about the Coalition’s chances to be recognized by the Arab League, where Syrian opposition may receive a member status equal to Persian Gulf countries.

Mr. Hamza reminded that a special meeting of AL’s Syria Committee will consider the National Coalition bid on Monday.

Russia says Syrian opposition should seek dialogue

Russia said a new Syrian opposition coalition, formed at the weekend to oust President Bashar al-Assad, should seek an end to the Syrian crisis through negotiation and reject outside interference.

The Foreign Ministry said Russia's "main criterion ... remains the readiness of such alliances to act on the platform of a peaceful resolution of the conflict by Syrians themselves, without external interference, through dialogue and negotiations."

Moscow hopes that Syrian opposition’s new National Coalition will take upon itself the task of reaching a peace settlement within the country, Russia’s foreign office spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has said.

“Moscow is closely watching the efforts to unite the Syrian opposition movement. We believe – and we’ve said this multiple times – that the ultimate criterion here is that such alliances were ready to settle the conflict peacefully and with the help of the Syrian people, without any foreign involvement, through dialogue and negotiations,” he said.

Mr. Lukashevich stressed that Moscow was working with both the Syrian regime and the entire “opposition spectrum” to abide by the agreements as stated in the Geneva communiqué.

Georgian president to attend session of NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Source : Vesti Kavkaza

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will participate in the 58th session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Prague on November 12.Saakashvili will participate in the meeting at the personal invitation of the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the president's administration said on Saturday.Saakashvili will pay a working visit to Brussels on November 13-14, in the frame of which his speech at the Carnegie Center and bilateral meetings at different levels are planned.

US begins first permanent military presence in Poland

Source : Atlantic Council

AIR FORCE ARTICLE 5 NATO NATO PARTNERSHIPS POLAND U.S.

From Ian Brzezinski, New Atlanticist: On Friday, the United States will inaugurate its first permanent military presence in Poland by deploying an air force aviation detachment (AV-DET) at the Polish 32nd Tactical Airbase in Lask. The detachment will further institutionalize US-Poland military-to-military engagement and is a needed and useful boost to the bilateral security relationship.

The detachment consists of some eight to ten personnel led by a US Air Force major. It will plan and coordinate the activities of USAF elements that will rotate into Poland for exercises that will involve US and Polish F-16s and C-130 transport aircraft, among other assets.

While there are currently no plans to permanently station US aircraft in Poland, the US- Poland Memorandum of Understanding signed on 13 June 2011 creating the AV-DET outlines a robust annual exercise agenda. It states:

The USAF AV-DET will facilitate combined training exercises and military-to-military engagement, through periodic rotation (four annually, with a goal of quarterly rotations no shorter than two weeks each) of US aircraft, and continuous engagement, including combined skill development and exercises, between the USAF and PLAF. . . . It is intended that the four rotational deployments each year to Poland will consist of F-16 or C-130 aircraft. It is intended that two rotations of F-16 aircraft will be conducted each year. Additional combined PLAF and USAF training exercises, including the use of fifth generation fighter aircraft, may be undertaken . . . .

The AV-DET is a very positive development in the US-Poland relationship, and it offers great potential to serve NATO. In addition to reinforcing the credibility of NATO Article V planning, the AV-DET could support the Alliance's efforts to expand its global relationships, including with the Arab world. One can envision the AV-DET and its Polish partners serving as the nucleus for multilateral air force exercises engaging, among others, air forces, from the Persian Gulf, Jordan, or Morocco.

Ian Brzezinski is a senior fellow in the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and is on the Council’s Strategic Advisors Group (SAG).

France, Norway offer to sell arms MOVE TO ENHANCE TRADE RELATIONS: Nations keen to provide Malaysia with jet-fighters, copters and missiles

Source : Naval Open Source INTelligence

France and Norway yesterday offered to supply Malaysia with military equipment as a means of enhancing trade relations.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said French President Francois Hollande raised the issue of supplying Rafale jet- fighters and combat helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's multirole combat aircraft programme during their discussion.

He said France was also keen to sell more Airbus passenger aircraft to Malaysia.

Britain eyes response to Iran’s Hormuz base

Via : StratRisks

Britain said it was considering sending military assets to a base in Abu Dhabi after Iran set up a base near key oil shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari last weekend inaugurated a naval base in Bandar Lengeh for what the semiofficial Fars News Agency said was a defensive move to protect Iranian islands in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ fifth naval zone is a very sensitive and strategic zone and is a front line in defending the Islamic Iran,” Jafari was quoted as saying.

As much as 40 percent of the world’s maritime oil shipments travel through the Strait of Hormuz. The Fars report made no mention of disrupting oil shipments, though early 2012 threats to do so caused oil prices to spike on the international market.

British newspaper The Independent reported the government of Prime Minister David Cameron is considering whether to send fighter jets to a base in Abu Dhabi.

British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond was quoted as saying European countries need to “take a bigger role in relation to North Africa and the Middle East.”

Azerbaijani officers to participate in Turkish exercises

Source: Trend.Az

Officers and observers from Azerbaijan will take part in mine clearing exercises in the Turkish part of the Aegean Sea, Hurriyet newspaper reported today.

The exercises will be held on November 5-15 with the participation of troops from the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Qatar, Korea, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The exercises will involve warships from Greece and the U.S.

The purpose of the exercises is training the personnel and planning in the field of mine clearance.

Newsfeed Syria - Oct.6. 2012

Detonation occurs in Damascus, victims and injuries recorded

The gangs of Free Army militia carried out a "qualitative" operation in Mezza neighborhood of Damascus, synchronizing with the dismiss of students and workers.

A car bomb has exploded in Arous al-Jabal square, causing lots of martyrs and injuries, most of them are women and children.

The correspondent of Breaking News Network confirmed that the car bomb has blasted, claiming 10 lives and the aids are still going.

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Pro-Assad Rally in Antakya, Turkey. A few miles from Syria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EWre9mRgcQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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RT @syrianews: 140 insurgents get killed in a qualitative operation for Syrian Army in Bab Houd November

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Iraqi Kurdish president warns Syrian Kurds over infighting

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani warned Kurds in Syria against being sucked into the "fires of discord," urging them to preserve Kurdish unity as tensions between rival factions threaten to spillover into violence. Iraqi Kurdish president warns Syrian Kurds over infighting...

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Israel ‘Successfully’ Tests Upgraded Missile System

Source : Turkish Weekly

The Israeli air force has successfully tested an upgraded version of its “Iron Dome” missile defense system; the same day Iranian experts have succeeded to build a vertical take-off and landing drone which will be unveiled in the coming months.

“This test constitutes a new success in the project to strengthen the Iron Dome’s performance,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Nov. 4, according to Agence France-Presse. “Israel has invested an enormous budget to finance the different missile defense systems that should allow us to protect our territory within a few years,” he added.

The Iron Dome system is developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a public arms company based in the northern town of Haifa, and part-funded by the United States.

Israeli television said the latest version of the Iron Dome is designed to intercept medium-range missiles, such as those possessed by Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

Each battery has radar detection and tracking system, a firing control system and three launchers for 20 interception missiles. They have a range of four to 70 kilometers. Military experts say 13 batteries are needed to be defend the whole of Israel’s territory, an arsenal that will take several years to build up.

Iran built vertical drone

Iran has built an advanced drone that can take off vertically and without a runway, Reuters reported. Abbas Jam, researcher on a project for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, said that the drone would be “unveiled” next year, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency. The unmanned aircraft “enjoys ultra-advanced technology and has been built for the first time in the world,” Jam said.

U.S. clears sale of Lockheed missile defense system to UAE, Qatar

Source : Reuters

(Reuters) - Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have requested the sale of up to $7.6 billion in Lockheed Martin Corp missile-defense systems to counter perceived threats and lower their dependence on U.S. forces, the Pentagon announced on Monday.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which oversees foreign arms sales, formally notified lawmakers on Friday that it had approved the possible sales, which come against the backdrop of heightened tensions with Iran. The notifications were posted to the agency's website late on Monday.

Lawmakers now have 30 days to block the potential sales although such action is rare since deals are carefully vetted with lawmakers weeks before the notifications are posted.

The sale is part of Washington's ongoing effort to deepen its cooperation with Gulf nations on missile defense and increase pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

Lockheed told reporters in August that Saudi Arabia and its closest regional partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council had shown interest in the company's Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon systems.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met GCC officials in September and U.S. officials said initial missile-defense sales could be announced soon.

The GCC is a political and economic alliance linking Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Washington has been working with Gulf states on a bilateral basis, not as a group, to boost the range of radar coverage and related capabilities across the Gulf for the earliest possible defense against any missiles fired by Iran.

The United States and its allies say Iran is seeking nuclear weapons capability under the cover of a civil program. Iran denies this, but has been hit with a series of international sanctions over its nuclear work.

REGIONAL SHIELD

On Monday, the Pentagon said Qatar had requested the possible sale of two THAAD fire units, 12 launchers, 150 interceptors, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $6.5 billion.

The UAE, which signed an initial order for $1.96 billion of THAAD weapons systems in December, requested an additional 48 THAAD missiles, 9 launchers and other equipment valued at $1.135 billion, according to the DSCA notification.

It said the proposed sale would contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping two countries that have been and remain key forces "for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."

Raytheon Co is another key contractor on the program.

THAAD is a U.S. Army system designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles with an interceptor that slams into its target.

It can accept cues from Lockheed's Aegis weapons system, satellites and other external sensors, and works in tandem with the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 terminal air-defense missile. THAAD includes its own radar along with interceptors and communications and fire control units.

U.S. officials have said their ultimate goal is a regional shield that can be coordinated with U.S. systems, a system similar to Washington's drive to expand missile defense to protect NATO's European territory against ballistic missiles that could be fired by Iran.

THAAD is part of a layered missile shield being built to defend the United States and its friends and allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases of flight. The system is being optimized against Iran and North Korea.

(Reporting By Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Robert Birse

Kuwait to use "all means necessary" to stop Sunday opposition march

Source : Al Akhbar

Post new commenpostpone deliberations over Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's recent proposal to form a unity government, Palestine's Ma'an news agency reported... Bahrain arrests leading rights activist A leading Bahraini human rights activist was detained Friday while documenting police attacks on an anti- government rally, witnesses said. Said Yousif, the deputy head of the Bahrain Center for Human... Kuwait may call in the army to help security forces stop a march called by the opposition for Sunday after the government vowed to use force if necessary, the emirate's Al-Anbaa newspaper reported.

The move came after security forces used tear gas to disperse a demonstration by thousands of protesters on Wednesday, injuring more than 30 and drawing condemnation from international human rights watchdogs.

"The interior ministry will use all means necessary to prevent illegal processions," Al-Anbaa quoted a security source as saying on Saturday.

"The army and national guard may be called in if needed to deal with any breach of public order," the source added.

The opposition has called the march in Kuwait City to protest against an amendment to the electoral law ordered by emir Sheikh Sabah al- Ahmad Al-Sabah last month ahead of a snap December 1 parliamentary election.

Almost all opposition groups have said they will boycott the poll in protest at what they see as a bid to create a rubber stamp assembly.

The opposition, made up of Islamists, nationalists and liberals, won a February general election but the constitutional court quashed the vote in June and reinstated the previous pro-government parliament.

Kuwait introduced parliamentary elections as long ago as 1962, but the emir and the ruling Al-Sabah family continue to hold all key cabinet posts and retain enormous powers.

The opposition wants to create a constitutional monarchy and has called for an elected government and the legalization of political parties, which remain formally banned.

Opposition leaders insist they have no desire to undermine the Al- Sabah family and late on Friday pledged their loyalty to the emir while renewing their demand for the electoral law to be changed back.

Wednesday's demonstration was called to protest against the detention of opposition leader Mussallam al-Barrak on charges of undermining the status of the emir. He was released on bail the following day.

An outspoken populist, Barrack enjoys support from the country's Islamists and tribal factions. He is seen to cut through tribal lines by addressing common grievances and lambasting corruption in the government.

It was the second time in 10 days that security forces had bloodily dispersed an opposition rally. On October 21, more than 100 protesters were injured as police attempted to break up a demonstration that the opposition said was the largest in Kuwait's history with more than 100,000 people taking part.

Amnesty International called on the Kuwaiti authorities on Thursday to respect the right to demonstrate.

"The Kuwaiti authorities must ensure the people of Kuwait are free to peacefully express their opinions, including about the electoral law, the elections and the emir," the human rights watchdog said.

"The security forces must abide by international policing standards and refrain from using unlawful force in response to peaceful demonstrations."

(AFP, Al-Akhbar)

0Tweet18 Send by emailPrinter-friendly version Tags Category: Top News Tags: Kuwait Related Articles Kuwait opposition demands democratic reforms The Kuwaiti opposition pressed for a multi-party system as part of a host of political and constitutional reforms to achieve a full parliamentary system and an elected government.

Iran builds world’s first VTOL drone

http://edition.presstv.ir/iphone/detail.aspx?id=270194

Iranian experts have succeeded in producing the world’s first vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone, which will be unveiled in the near future.

This Iranian drone enjoys ultra-advanced technology and has been manufactured for the first time in the world, an Iranian expert in the research team in charge of building the drone, Abbas Jam, told Mehr news agency on Saturday.

He added that the drone would be tested on Saturday and would be unveiled during the 10-Day Dawn celebrations, which will begin on January 31, marking the 34th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

"He noted that the hushed drone does not require runways at all and can take off and land vertically." Jam added that NASA has confirmed the manufacturing of this unmanned aerial vehicle and its information.

Iranian researchers have recently designed and built a new radar-evading drone, named Liko, with the capacity of carrying 100 kg of cargo for 100 kilometers.

It is also capable of non-stop flights for three hours. The 53-kg UAV can fly at an altitude of 16,000 feet and requires the shortest landing runway length.

Karrar, Iran’s first indigenous long-range drone unveiled in August 2010, is capable of carrying a military payload of rockets to carry out bombing missions against ground targets, flying long distances at a very high speed, and gathering information.

The country’s indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle, Shahed 129, unveiled in September 2012, can carry out combat and reconnaissance missions with its 24-hour nonstop flight capability.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Commander: Iran Self-Sufficient in Military Productions

Source : Fars News Agency

Speaking on Friday, Head of Iran's Foundation for the Preservation of Works and the Dissemination of Sacred Defense Values Brigadier General Hassan Seifi said that Iran's Army has achieved self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and the abilities of Iranian scientists have enabled the country to make significant progress in this field

He stated that the country takes advantage of the smartest high-tech military and defensive munitions and equipment.

"Unlike Western countries which hide their new weapons and munitions from all, the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army is not afraid of displaying its latest military achievements and all countries must become aware of Iran's progress in (producing) weaponry," he was quoted by press tv as saying on Friday.

The Iranian Armed Forces displayed the country's latest home-made military tools, weapons and equipments in large military parades in Tehran on September 21.

The annual September 21 parades mark the start of the Week of Sacred Defense, commemorating Iranians' sacrifices during the 8 years of Iraqi imposed war on Iran in 1980s.

During the parades, the Iranian armed forces displayed different weapons and military tools and equipment, including different kinds of fighters, choppers, drones, ground-to-ground missiles, air-to-ground missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, tactical and armed vehicles, surface and underwater vessels, electronic and telecommunication equipment, light and mid-light weapons, different kinds of artillery and mortar-launchers, air defense systems and engineering and logistic equipment.

The Iranian Armed Forces have recently test-fired different types of newly- developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of home-made weapons, tools and equipments, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircrafts, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.

Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran's wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor, specially at a time of heightened threats by the US.

Russia may send 2 reconnaissance planes to Djibouti to fight sea piracy

Source : Voice of Russia

France has backed Moscow’s proposal to send two Il-38 reconnaissance planes to Djibouti as part international anti- piracy efforts, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday.

He discussed the issue with his French counterpart on Wednesday.

Russian ships joined the international anti-piracy mission off Somalia in 2008. Over the past years, they have escorted more than 700 convoys without a single loss.

Russia may provide Mali army with weapons – Russia’s Defense Ministry

Russia might help the Mali army in its efforts to oust Islamists militants from the north of the country through weapons provision, Russia Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told reporters on Thursday.

On Wednesday Russian foreign and defense ministers met with their French counterparts in Paris where they discussed security issues.

“There does not exist such issue as Russia’s direct support for Mali military operation,” Serdyukov said later on Thursday.

At the same time he noted that Rosoboronexport is considering Mali’s request for weapons purchase .

China Tests Fifth-Generation Jet Fighter

Source: RIA Novosti

China successfully completed a test flight on Wednesday of its new fifth-generation J-31 jet fighter, according to the Huanqiu Shibao newspaper.

The flight represents a crucial step for the Chinese military, which has become only the third in the world – after the United States and Russia – to have developed a stealthy fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The J-31 is a mid-sized combat jet with two Russian-made engines in its prototype development phase. Production models will have Chinese WS-13 engines, the newspaper said.

The Chinese are also developing the J-20 fighter jet, first tested in January 2011, which also features stealth technology.

The trials take place during a time of increased tension between China and its neighbors, particularly with Japan over the disputed Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands) in the East China Sea.