April 7, 2009 -- The South African Air Force should receive its order of Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-T short range air-to-air missile (SRAAM) towards the “end of the year”, the chief of the South African Air Force says. “It’s on track and everything is fine, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano says.
The SAAF last May ordered a small supply of the high-tech IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) SRAAM to arm its growing fleet of Gripen advanced light fighter aircraft.
The wikipedia says the modern missile costs about €400 000 each. It is not known how many missiles SA has bought.
The IRIS-T will arm the Gripen as an interim solution until a local missile, the Denel Dynamics A-Darter, becomes available.
Diehl BGT Defence says the missiles will be fully operational “in the course of 2009”.
Meanwhile, Gagiano said he was pleased with progress in the development of the new-generation SA missile. “The A-Darter is looking very good. The feedback I got is that so far it is going very well,” Gagiano told journalists Thursday after an air capability demonstration at the Roodewal bombing range in Limpopo that included two Gripen.
“We will definitely procure missiles coming out of our own industry as soon as they are ready,” he says.
The IRIS-T was on display at Africa Aerospace & Defence show, in Cape Town, in September. (DefenceWeb)
April 6, 2009 -- After successfully reopening Daulat Beg Oldi and Fuk Che airfields in Ladakh last year, India is now working to operationalise the Neoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) this year for the Indian Air Force (IAF), close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Though these airfields are being revived to support troop movement in times of need, India would prefer these to be ready for future tourism requirements. In due course, the airfield at Neoma will also be converted into a full fledged runway to cater to future tourist inflow.
"This new ALG is coming up at Neoma in east Ladakh, which will, in all probability, be converted into a full fledged runway, like any other runway to cater for the future tourism requirements also in the region," IAF's Western Air Command Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora told reporters here today.
Neoma is not as close to the LAC as Daulat Beg Oldi or Fuk Che are, but it will be close enough to support military operations too. The airfields were operated by the Indian armed forces during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, but closed a few years later.
"Not as close (to China) as DBO, Chushul or Fuk Che. But it is in a pretty comfortable place," Barbora said. (India-Defence)
April 7, 2009, Moscow -- Russia may allow Brazil to produce its fifth-generation fighters under a license in the future, a senior Russian government official said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
"We are discussing with the well-known Brazilian company Embraer the transfer of technology and the construction of facilities for the future licensed production of the aircraft, including the fifth-generation fighter," said Alexander Fomin, deputy director of the Federal Service on Military-Technical Cooperation.
Russia's advanced multirole fighter is being developed by the Sukhoi aircraft maker, part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), along with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), under a preliminary intergovernmental agreement signed in October 2007.
The first prototype is scheduled to make its maiden flight before the end of 2009.
Last November, Russia and Brazil signed a series of agreements on military technology cooperation which emphasize the protection of intellectual property rights and technology secrets.
The agreements will facilitate the transfer of technology and the licensed production of the Russian aircraft in Brazil if Moscow decides to sign a contract with the South American country.
Meanwhile, Russia's Su-35 jet fighter is participating in an ongoing tender for the delivery of over 100 fighters to the Brazilian Air Force.
"We are actively participating in the Brazilian tender, which has been reopened. It involves over 100 fighter planes. Russia has made a bid in the tender with its Su-35 multirole fighter. The tender has stiff requirements, involving not only the sale, but also the transfer of technology. It is a key condition of the deal and Russia is ready to satisfy it," Fomin said.
Brazil wants a multirole fighter to protect its national airspace as well as to keep track of smugglers in the Amazon basin and guard the country's offshore oil rigs. However, it also wants the multi-billion dollar contract to reenergize the domestic defense industry through home-grown production and as much technology transfer as can be afforded. (RIA Novosti)
April 7, 2009 -- Israel carried out a test launch of its Arrow II interceptor missile on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said, a system designed to defend against possible ballistic missile attacks by Iran and Syria.
"There was a successful test today of an improved Arrow [missile] that hit and intercepted a target more complicated than normal," Defence Minister Ehud Barak told reporters after watching the launch from a helicopter.
The defense establishment carried out a successful test launch of its Arrow II interceptor missile on Tuesday, a system designed to defend against possible ballistic missile attacks by Iran and Syria.
The Arrow intercepted a target missile, simulating an Iranian Shihab, launched from an Israeli aircraft over the Mediterranean, a defense source said.
Israel Radio said it was the 16th test launch of an Arrow. The defense source said 90 percent of those tests have been successful.
The source added that the aim of this test was to prepare for future threats as enemy missiles improve their capabilities.
"The arrow's interception altitude has been enhanced. Of course, the higher you go, the further out you can reach as well. Our doctrine is to intercept enemy missiles as far away from Israeli skies as possible. That gives you time for another try if you miss," the source, who could not be named, said.
The project is jointly funded by Israel and the United States to serve as a strategic shield against ballistic missiles in the arsenals of Iran and Syria.
The defense ministry said Barak watched the launch while airborne in a helicopter after returning from a front-line visit of troops along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
At least two Arrow batteries have been deployed in Israel, which has been testing the system to improve its performance at high altitudes and against multiple incoming missiles.
Israel fears that Iran's uranium enrichment program is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies.
Last month, the Defense Ministry said it had successfully completed a series of tests of the Iron Dome rocket defense system.
The ministry said the system is aimed at protecting the residents of the South and North from attacks. It said a number of rockets and missiles had been hit in the tests. (Haaretz)
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