Official Blogsite
Israel, US may export Arrow to S. Korea – report
Feb 9th
“Defense News” reports that Israel Aerospace Industries and U.S. aerospace company Boeing have received a U.S. DOD approval to export the Arrow 2 Ballistic Missile Defense System to South Korea.
The estimated cost of such sale is around US$1 billion. If such a program materializes, it would be the first exports sale of the Arrow system, developed specifically for Israel’s defense requirements back in the 1990s. India is another potential customer. Both countries have already procured the Israeli produced Green Pine, providing the primary sensor for the Arrow II system.
“There’s still a long way to go, but we and our Israeli partners are working very persistently to be able to provide this phenomenal capability to South Korea, an important US ally.”Boeing Network & Space Systems president Roger Krone said during a visit to South Korea.
IAI and Boeing are jointly manufacturing the Arrow 2. The two companies recently signed an agreement to extend this cooperation to the longer range, exo-atmospheric Arrow 3 interceptor, which can intercept incoming missiles outside the earth’s atmosphere.
Mine Detectors for Japan’s ASW Helicopters
Feb 9th
Japan will acquire Laser Mine Detection Systems to equip its mine warfare helicopters. Tokyo has ordered four AN/AES-1 ALMDS developed by Northrop Grumman. The systems will become the first direct commercial sale of the product to a foreign navy. ALMDS is laser-based countre-mine sensor employing laser beam for detection and ranging, spotting mines moored near the surface of the ocean.
“The addition of ALMDS to the Japan (military) mine countermeasures suite of solutions provides them with significantly enhanced mine detection capability … ” said Pat McMahon, sector vice president and general manager, Military Aircraft Systems of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “The installation of this capability will also improve the exchange of information between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF during allied operations.”
Delivery and installation of the systems for Japan will be made in conjunction with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Fujitsu Limited. Three months ago Japan has also ordered the AQS-24A high speed mine-hunting for its new MCH-101 helicopters.
Japan, U.S. in talks over transfer of Okinawa Marines
Japan and the United States are in talks on shifting some of the around 8,000 U.S. Marine Corps troops in Okinawa Prefecture to other Pacific areas instead of Guam, sources close to Japan-U.S. relations said Friday.The outcome of the negotiations will likely affect the future course of the long-stalled relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.
This base, located in a crowded residential area of the prefecture is a key issue in the U.S.-Japan dialog on the transfer of Marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam, according to the bilateral accord reached in 2006 between Tokyo and Washington,In 2006, Japan agreed with the United States to pay $6.09 billion of the $10.27 billion Guam relocation costs. Depending on the outcome of the bilateral talks, Japan’s share of the costs for transferring Okinawa-based Marines to Guam could also change.
Foreign Minister KoichiroGemba told reporters the two countries are “calmly” discussing issues related to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in a “flexible” manner. He refused to go into the details of the talks, which he said he has been conducting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Taiwanese Navy to acquire sonobuoys
Feb 9th
The Taiwanese Navy is purchasing hundreds of specialized sonobuoys from the US to augment its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Taiwan will acquire 440 AN/SSQ-53F sonobuoys for US$335,000 under the Foreign Military Sale (FMS), with work scheduled for completion by January 2014.
The Taiwanese procurement represents only a small part of a larger order for the U.S. Navy, to include 49,900 units. These sonobuoys, also known as “listening sticks,” are used to detect and identify moving underwater objects.
The AN/SSQ-53F is a directional frequency and ranging (DIFAR) sonobuoy — the latest-generation passive sonobuoy used by the US Navy. It is dropped from fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. Each unit uses four hydrophones that operate at depths of 27m, 60m, 120m and 300m, as well as digital sound processors, to listen for enemy submarines.
These sonobuoys are expected to equip Taiwan’s 12 refurbished P-3C Orion maritimesurveillance and anti-submarine patrol aircraft the island state has purchased from the US. The first Orions are expected in Taiwan later this year.
South Korea to open bids for $7.4B fighter Jet programme
South Korea has invited Boeing, Lockheed Martin and EADS to participate in its next generation fighter jet programme, in which the country will invest 8.3 trillion won ($7.39 billion) until 2021.Prospective planes for the bidding include Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II, Boeing F-15SE (Silent Eagle) and EADS’s Eurofighter Typhoon.The deadline for proposals will close on June 18, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said at a presentation to contractors.Wee Jong-seong, director of the agency’s fighter project team, said the three firms’ aircraft met operational capability requirements.
Thisacquisition program comes as Seoul braces for changing dynamics on the Korean Peninsula after the death in December of Kim Jong-il, the former leader of North Korea, with which the South is still technically at war.Neighboring Japan recently chose U.S. contractor Lockheed Martin to build a fleet of 42 F-35 planes, valued by analysts at more than $7 billion, and China plans to introduce its own stealth fighters.
