Tuesday, 2 February 2021

Russia will present its Boomerang combat vehicles abroad for the first time

Vitaly Kuzmin


Россия впервые представит за рубежом боевые машины "Бумеранг" - Армия и ОПК - ТАСС

It will happen at the Aero India 2021 international airshow

BMP on a wheeled platform "Boomerang"
© Anton Novoderezhkin / TASS

MOSCOW, February 1. / TASS /. Rostec State Corporation will for the first time present export-oriented armored vehicles based on the Boomerang armored platform at the Aero India 2021 international air show, which will be held in the Indian city of Bangalore from February 3 to 5. The director for international cooperation and regional policy of Rostec, Viktor Kladov, said this in an interview with TASS .

"For the first time abroad, we will show the K-16 armored personnel carrier and the K-17 infantry fighting vehicle on the promising Boomerang wheeled platform. The platform was developed on the instructions of the Russian Ministry of Defense, it has the highest combat and operational capabilities," Kladov said.

According to him, the uniqueness of the newest platform lies in the ability to create on its basis vehicles of a wide range of applications with various weapons and equipment.

Boomerang is a promising unified wheeled armored platform developed by the Military Industrial Company. On its basis, the wheeled BMP K-17, first shown to the public in 2015 at the Victory Parade, as well as the K-16 armored personnel carrier were created. In the basic version, the K-17 BMP is equipped with the Epoch combat module with a 30-mm automatic cannon with a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and Kornet anti-tank missiles. The K-16 armored personnel carrier is equipped with a combat module with a 12.7 mm machine gun.

Aero India is India's largest aerospace exhibition. To be held this year in Bangalore city from February 3 to 5. Russia will present more than 200 samples of military products at the air show.


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Monday, 1 February 2021

Saudi Arabia may buy weapons from Russia due to US refusal

Dmitry SherHunter


Саудовская Аравия может купить вооружения у России из-за отказа США - Газета.Ru

Saudi Arabia may buy weapons from Russia due to US refusal

Andrey Ermolov 29.01.2021, 20:53

Saudi Arabia plans to buy from Russia the S-400 Triumph air defense system, Su-35 fighters and other weapons after the US temporary ban on the sale of weapons to the kingdom, writes the American edition of The National Interest. At the same time, the publication admits that the plans of Riyadh are already facing stiff resistance from Washington.
      
The administration of US President Joe Biden announced a temporary freeze on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, as part of a new White House team's strategy to reassess relations between Washington and Riyadh.

However, the Saudis have no shortage of other arms exporters competing with the US in the market. For example, Russia provides equipment in which Saudi Arabia is interested, writes the American edition of The National Interest.

For example, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly studied the possibility of purchasing the Russian S-400 Triumph missile defense system. In 2009 and 2017, news emerged that the Saudis had reached an agreement with Moscow to purchase several S-400 divisions.

In September 2019, Saudi air defense failed to effectively repel a drone attack on the world's largest crude oil refinery in Abkaik in the east of the country and on a refinery in the Hurais oil field. Both facilities are owned by oil giant Saudi Aramco.

In this regard, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that Riyadh should buy S-300 or S-400 complexes to protect its refineries. "It is enough for the political leadership of Saudi Arabia to make a wise decision of the state, as the leaders of Iran did in their time by purchasing the S-300, and the President [of Turkey Recep Tayyip] Erdogan did it by purchasing the latest S-400 Triumph air defense systems from Russia," said head of the Russian Federation .

At the moment, it seems that the only obstacle to signing the S-400 import agreement is Saudi Arabia's fears of an imminent US response in the form of sanctions and cuts in foreign aid costs, writes NI.

Riyadh is also showing interest in the Russian Su-35 generation 4 multipurpose super-maneuverable fighter.

“The Royal Saudi Air Force roster consists of just under 200 aging F-15 Eagles. In 2017, the Kremlin offered to upgrade Riyadh's fleet with Su-35 fighters, one of Russia's leading air superiority aircraft and one of the most successful export fighters, ”the NI report says.

At the same time, the author of the material admits that, as in the case of the S-400, Saudi Arabia's plans for the purchase of fighters are likely already facing stiff resistance from Washington.

In addition, in 2019, Riyadh struck a deal with Russian defense giant Rostec for the production of the AK-103, an assault rifle derived from the AK-74M chambered for 7.62 × 39 mm, and signed an agreement to import these weapons.

In addition, in 2017, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) signed a major contract with Rosoboronexport for the production of TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems, developed on the basis of the Soviet T-72 main battle tank.

"TOS-1A is designed to be used against light armored vehicles and will support the motorized divisions of the Saudi Arabian army," the article explains.

Finally, SAMI has already purchased the Kornet-EM, an improved version of the 9M133 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which boasts anti-jamming capabilities in addition to improved tracking functionality that allows it to be operated on a fire-and-forget basis.

The fact that the White House has decided to temporarily ban the sale of arms to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, wrote on the eve of The Wall Street Journal, citing sources in Washington's government circles.

According to the interlocutors of the publication, aides to the head of state "are evaluating billions of dollars in arms transactions" approved during the presidency of Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump .

Washington, in particular, wants to be sure that the weapons in question will not be used in Yemen, the WSJ explained .

As US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said after this information appeared , Washington believes that Saudi Arabia's actions against Yemen have caused the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.

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Russian MoD


Su-35S Flanker-E: Details
S-400 Triumph (SA-21 Growler): Details
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Structural improvements of Turkey's F-16 Block 30 aircrafts are in progress

Rami Khanna-Prade


Structural improvements of Turkey's F-16 Block 30 aircrafts are in progress - Defence News - Defensehere.com

31.01.2021 20:34:00


The structural improvements of the F-16 Fighter jets used by the Turkish armed forces, are in progress.

Engineering works are carried out to renovate and check approximately 1,500 structural parts per aircraft.

Where necessary, repair and replacement and body strengthening applications are carried out.

It is aimed to increase the structural life of the F-16 aircrafts from 8000 hours to 12000 hours.

The first F-16 Block-30 aircraft which its structural improvements were completed within the scope of the project has been delivered to the Turkish Air Force in July 2020.

The Structural improvement of 35 F-16 Block-30 aircraft is planned within the scope of the project.


F-16C/D: Details
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"Tanks disappear after a fight with HJ-10": the Chinese press showed footage of the use of self-propelled anti-tank systems

chinamil.com.cn - Photo by Zhang Wenju 



Today, 00:27


"Tanks disappear after a fight with HJ-10": the Chinese press showed footage of the use of self-propelled anti-tank systems

Chinese news resources showed footage of the combat use of the Chinese self-propelled anti-tank complex AFT-10. By firing the HJ-10 rocket, he successfully coped with the target, which was the Type 59 (the basis for its creation was the Soviet T-54).

"HJ-10 engaged in combat with the [Chinese classification] Type 59 main battle tank . The tank disappeared

- writes the Chinese press.

The SPTRK AFT-10 was first demonstrated to the public in 2014. It has a mass of 20 tons and is mounted on the ZBD-04A BMP chassis. The complex is armed with 8 guided missiles, which are located in transport and launch containers that are in combat readiness. ATGM HJ-10 ("Red Arrow-10") acts as a means of destruction of enemy tanks. Experts believe that it is an analogue of the Israeli product Spike-NLOS. The rocket weighs 150 kg, of which 43 kg falls on the warhead. The HJ-10 operates at a distance of 2 to 10 km.

"The new missile system AFT-10 is designed to fire at remote armored targets

- indicated in the China Military edition.

In the Russian troops, the Shturm-S SPTRK and the more modern Chrysanthemum-S complex play a similar role. The 9M123 ATGM and its modifications with a range of target destruction from 0.4 to 6 km serve as the standard armament of the latter.




Photos used: www.js7tv.cn


AFT-10 Anti-tank missile carrier: Details
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A video of the assembly of the first serial fighter Su-57 appeared on the web

Svetlana Balaeva - AviMedia



30/01/21, 09:00


A video of the assembly of the first serial fighter Su-57 appeared on the web

A video of the assembly of the first serial fighter of the fifth generation Su-57 has appeared on the Web. The video on its own YouTube channel was posted by the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).

In a short video, the UAC showed the stages of assembly of the first serial fighter Su-57 in the shops of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ), its check by representatives of the Ministry of Defense before the flight and the first flight itself, which took place at the airfield of the aircraft plant.

Note that the first serial Su-57 is de facto the second aircraft from the pilot batch for two fighters. The first Su-57 crashed on December 24, 2019 during a test flight.


As the UAC said earlier, the corporation is currently expanding production to assemble fifth-generation aircraft. Work is underway at KnAAZ; from this year, the UAC promises to increase the pace of production of serial fighters. In 2021, the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive four Su-57s.

Recall that the first serial Su-57 entered one of the aviation units of the southern military district, which is not specifically mentioned. At the end of December last year, it was unofficially reported (with reference to sources) that the aircraft had arrived at the State Flight Test Center (GLITs) in Akhtubinsk for testing with the subsequent transfer of the aircraft to the combat unit.

Earlier, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive 22 fifth-generation SU-57 fighters by the end of 2024. Most likely these machines will be supplied with a first stage engine. The rest of the fighter will go to the troops with the second stage engine. In total, by 2027, the Ministry of Defense will receive 76 aircraft, which are manufactured by KnAAZ under a contract signed in 2019.


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Finland Seeks Best and Final Offer for HX Fighter Jets with April Deadline

Slawek Radwan



Finnish Air Force HX Fighter Procurement

The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command sent the Request for Best and Final Offer (BFO) for the HX Fighter Programme today to replace its ageing F-18 Hornet aircraft.

The Request for BFO concerns the following multi-role fighters and their related systems and weapons: Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet (United States), Dassault Rafale (France), Eurofighter Typhoon (Great Britain), Lockheed Martin F-35 (United States) and Saab Gripen (Sweden).

The deadline for finalized tenders is 30 April 21 while the government will decide on the procurement at the end of 2021.

The Finnish Parliament has approved an authorization order of EUR 9.4 billion to procure multi-role fighters to replace the Hornet fleet.

The tendering phase began in spring 2018 when the Defence Forces Logistics Command sent a preliminary call for tenders and an invitation to participate in negotiations. In October 2019, a revised Request for Quotation (RFQ) was sent, and responses to it were received in January 2020. The negotiations have taken place between tendering phases.

The Request for Best and Final Offer states uniform requirements. It is, however, tenderer-specific meaning that the quotation of each tenderer is based on a package with specifications offered in the quotation and the negotiations. With the Request for Best and Final Offer, each tenderer is requested to compile the information provided in the previous tenders and negotiations into a final and binding package.

The transferable appropriation of EUR 579 million for five years will ensure that the procured system will be introduced as part of Finland’s defence system. EUR 21 million has been granted to cover the costs arising from the preparation of the programme.


HX Options

The HX options of each tenderer differ as to the costs of introduction into service, construction needs and integration into the defence system. This is why each tenderer will be given a tenderer-specific price limit, and, in addition, a similar option will be included in the Request for Best and Final Offer for each tenderer for later purchases and contractual changes. Therefore, the price ceiling set for each tenderer is about EUR 9 billion.

At its meeting in January 2021, the Government’s Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy supported sending the Request for Best and Final Offer. The grounds and steering for finalising the HX project can be found in the Government Programme and the Government’s Defence Policy Report 2017.

The package to be procured includes not only the aircraft but also associated technical systems, training systems, necessary maintenance equipment, test equipment and spare parts along with weapons, sensors and other required type-specific support functions. The package must also include the changes in command, control, communications and computers (C4) and information systems required for its integration into the defence system, as well as the construction of security-critical infrastructure.

Considerations in decision-making

Selecting a multi-role fighter is based on four considerations: the multi-role fighter’s military capability, security of supply, industrial participation and costs. Security and defence policy implications will be assessed separately outside of the actual tendering process. A procurement decision also requires contractual readiness with the proposed tenderer.

Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet

Since the procurement will have an impact on the Defence Forces’ operational capability and will define the Air Forces’ combat capability into the 2060s, it is important to select a system with the best possible capabilities, including supporting elements and development capacity over the entire life cycle.

The manufacturer must be able to provide industrial participation solutions and a maintenance system that meet the requirements while also ensuring operability in emergencies and sufficient capacity to operate independently in emergencies. It must be possible to cover the operating and maintenance costs of the selected system from the defence budget.

Phases of the procurement procedure from now on

The best and final quotations requested by the end of April will be assessed to make a procurement proposal. When a tenderer passes the requirements regarding security of supply, industrial participation and costs, it will then be subjected to the last phase of capability assessment.

A capability assessment will be made in phases taking into account the packages offered and the capability values verified on the basis of testing events. In the last phase, a long-term war game will be simulated to determine the operational efficiency of each candidate’s HX system. The Defence Forces’ proposal on the system to be selected will be based on the outcome of the war game and an assessment of the future development potential.


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Thailand to order 12 French Nexter LG1 Mk III 105mm towed guns

nexter-group.fr


Thailand to order 12 French Nexter LG1 Mk III 105mm towed guns - Defence News - Defensehere.com

3.01.2021 14:36:00


According to a document released by the Thai army procurement agency, Thailand will acquire 12 LG1 Mk III 105mm light towed guns fitted with automatic firing control. The winner of the bid is the local company United Defense Technology for an amount of 22,677,763 Euros.

The towed gun selected by the Taiwanese armed forces is the LG1 Mk III, a 105mm towed howitzer designed and manufactured by the French company Nexter. The Mk III version is equipped with an inertial navigation unit used to guide, position, and aim the canon.

According to the military balance 2020, the Thai army is equipped with 24 LG1 Mk II 105mm towed howitzer. The gun is also used by the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The LG1 is also in service with Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The LG1 105mm Light Gun has been developed by Giat Industries, as a private venture, specifically for the export market. In late 1990, Singapore placed an order for 37 105 mm LG1 Light Guns.

The LG1 is based on a split trail carriage and a 105mm caliber gun that is fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake. When deployed in the firing position, it is supported on its two trails and a circular firing platform that is lowered under the forward part of the carriage. The gun can be towed by a light truck or a 4x4 light tactical vehicle. LG1 is fully air-portable slung under light or medium helicopters, air-droppable, and can be deployed by parachute. It can also be carried inside tactical transport aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, which can carry four weapons.

The LG1 has a weight of 1,520 kg and is operated by a crew of five that can be reduced to three. It has a maximum firing range of 17 km using Nexter Extended Range ammunition. It can be brought into or taken out of action within 30 seconds.

Source: armyrecognition

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Defence24

nexter-group.fr
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