Our Bureau 11:24 AM, June 11, 2021 The Spanish Sascorp with Rafael Turret that carry 2 ATGM and 30 mm gun Spanish company Sascorp will present a concept of Tellus amphibious unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) at the FEINDEF 2021 exhibition that will be held in Madrid from November 3-5. The company expects to build a prototype of the UGV within three years. The 3.5 ton UGV to carry out amphibious missions will have a load capacity of 1,700kg. It will be fitted with a 40mm main weapon and anti-tank missile launchers in its combat configuration, Infodefensa reported today. Sascorp’s goal is to develop a multipurpose platform specially designed for off-track missions and adapted to different environments and applications. The UGV will be 4.3m long, 2.3m wide and 1.8m tall. It will have a satellite link and situational awareness to optimize remote driving, although it will also incorporate the follow me version. The vehicle will feature adjustable air suspension and independent six-wheel drive. It will be designed to reach a maximum speed of 40 mph on land and 6 knots in water. It can function autonomously for ten hours in land mode and for eight hours in amphibious mode. It will be available in four variants to support different types of tasks- sapper unit, combat vehicle, logistics vehicle and emergency support version. https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29787/Spanish_Sascorp_to_Present_Amphibious_UGV_at_FEINDEF_2021#.YbEGs49MGUl

Defenseworld.net Analysis Saturday, November 27, 2021 @ 08:43 AM SU-35 Egypt increased its 24 Rafale aircraft order with Dassault Aviation to 54 by signing up to buy 30 more jets in May 2021; In addition, it is in the middle of procuring 24 Su-35 jets from Russia. The Rafale fleet will bolster the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) with attack capabilities and reduce reliance on its ageing F-16s. However, questions are being raised as to why the EAF went in for the comparatively expensive Rafales when it is in the process of receiving 24 Su-35 jets to add to its fleet of Russian MiG-29SM aircraft. The two Russian aircraft enable deep strike missions with a variety of Russian origin missiles, targeting pods and guided weapons. An informed source from Egypt who did not wish to be identified told defenseworld.net that the Su-35 fulfills a different purpose than the Rafale. "The aircraft’s L-band AESA radar system embedded in the leading edges of fighter wings antennae are there to detect low-radar-signature or stealth aircraft and drones. This is a formidable capability against potential adversaries of Egypt who have or wish to acquire F-35 stealth jets.” CAATSA Sanctions against Egypt? The Egyptian source further commented: “the fact that U.S. has threatened imposing Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against the EAF’s Su-35 purchase and not MiG-29s or the KA-52 in itself tells a story. The Su-35 is like the S-400 air defense system, whose radars have the capability to detect F-35 jets." The source’s comments echo that of Maj. Gen. Khaled Okasha, director of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies who told Al-Monitor that the main goal of Egypt in acquiring the Sukhoi 35 aircraft is that it guarantees the Egyptian army superiority in regional skies. “This is why the United States strongly opposed this deal and threatened sanctions against Egypt.” According to Rostec information, “the Sukhoi Su-35 can simultaneously track up to four ground targets or up to 30 airborne targets, as well as engaging up to eight airborne targets at the same time. Besides, the radar control system has the friend-or-foe identification capability for aerial and maritime objects, is capable of identifying the class and type of airborne targets and take aerial photos of the ground.” Even as the U.S. has denied Egypt advanced weapons for its F-16s and prevented it from acquiring the F-15, Washington has been threatening Egypt against increasing defense purchases from Russia. An October 15 tweet from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee talked about “maintaining CAATSA” in meeting with Egyptian officials without specifying if it referred to the Su-35 deal. Rafale plus Su-35 combination for EAF The deal to buy additional 30 Rafale aircraft has come after a nagging issue with the supply of MBDA missiles for the Egyptian Rafales had been sorted out. The supply of Meteor and Scalp missiles that form part of the weapons package for Rafales were held up due to the U.S. blocking the sale of American-made components in the missiles. While some reports say that the U.S. State Department has given clearance for the sale of these components, others say that missile manufacturer MBDA, has replaced the components with ones sourced from Europe. MBDA will supply Egypt the Mica NG air-to-air missile besides Meteor and SCALP long-range missiles. In addition, Safran Electronics & Defense will supply its AASM ‘Hammer’ bomb. The SCALP is is designed to target bunkers, missile sites, bridges and airfields. It is fitted with a 450kg BROACH warhead, an inertial and GPS navigation system with IR imaging guidance system, and a micro-turbo TRI 60-30 turbojet. It can fly at speeds of Mach 0.8 and can be launched from a flight altitude of 30-40km. The SCALP has the ability to pierce through well-defended targets and should add significant bite to the EAF ground attack capability. The combination of Su-35 for air superiority and the Rafale for air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements should bridge the gap somewhat with the Israeli air force though the latter will continue to retain its ‘qualitative military edge,’ thanks to superior situational awareness, an array of American and Israeli weapons and top-class training. Poorly Weaponized EAF F-16s Prompt Flight to Russia To understand why Cairo booked a flight Moscow to buy first the MiG-29M and later the Su-35, it is necessary to understand its position vis-à-vis the United States in terms of arms supply. The last big U.S. military sale to Egypt was of 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft and associated parts weapons and equipment, valued at $3.2 billion approved in 2009. The F-16 feet strength in the EAF is 240-strong with the last received being the F-16D Block 52 in 2013 under the Peace Vector program. However, Egyptian F-16s are among the least lethal in service with America’s allies having been denied advanced armaments such as the AIM-120C air-to-air missiles. EAF F-16 Armaments: Egyptian F-16s are equipped to accommodate GBU-15's, AGM-65D and AGM-88 missiles. The more recent AIM-120 series of missiles are not in the inventory of the EAF. The lack of AIM-120 missiles reduced the engagement range of the EAF F-16 fleet to less than 70km using the older AIM-7P Sparrow. Egypt’s neighbors such as Sudan, Libya and Ethiopia have far more capable R-77 missiles mounted on the underbelly of their Soviet-origin aircraft such as Su-27. Reports say the U.S. denied advanced missiles to Egypt to retain Israel’s qualitative military edge. However, Cairo is concerned over the Israeli Air Force (IAF)’s capabilities being several leagues ahead of that of its own Air Force. The IAF is the best equipped in the region with F-35 stealth jets, F-15 aircraft to carry heavy missiles and bombs, and F-16s for ground attack. Russian MiG-29SM for Egyptian Air Force Reports indicate that Cairo’s first choice was the Rafale but due to a variety of reasons including political (Egypt’s human rights record), the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood government in 2011-2012 and Egypt’s inability to pay upfront cash for the French jets, it turned to Russia. However, when it later signed up for the Rafales in 2015 following nearly half of decade of negotiations, it received liberal financing from a consortium of French banks. In 2015, Egypt contracted Russia’s MiG Corp for some 50 MiG-29M fighter jets for the order to be fulfilled by 2020, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). According information from various sources, the Egyptian MiG-29Ms are equipped the OLS-UE Infrared Search and Track (IRST) capable of detecting enemy aircraft by their infrared signature, acquiring surface threats and showing the imagery on a display in the cockpit. In addition, the aircraft are equipped with the PPK targeting pod comprising thermal imager/TV systems and laser rangefinders allowing the employment of precision-guided munitions. Besides, it has the MSP small-size electronic countermeasures (ECM) system which spoofs the homing heads of guided missiles. All this, combined with the latest generation missiles such as the R-77 and R-27 with no limits on re-supply, at a lesser price than what comparable armaments for the Rafale would cost, made the MiG-29M deal irresistible. Enter the Sukhoi Su-35 Egypt’s purchase of 24 Su-35, first reported in 2018, surprised everyone. However, the background to the Su-35 purchase is Cairo’s unsuccessful quest to acquire the F-15 eagle. The Su-35 features new avionics including the Irbis phased array radar with a range of 400km and powerful AL-41F1S engines (14,500 kg of thrust) with thrust vectoring control. As to weapons it can carry the R-27 air-to-air missiles and the R-77-1 RVV-SD active radar-guided missile. The full complement of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles manufactured by the Tactical Missiles Corporation besides guided and unguided bombs can be carried by the heavy fighter. https://www.defenseworld.net/feature/63/Understanding_Egypt___s_54_Rafale_and_24_Su_35_Jets_Procurement#.YbECEo9MGUk

01/12/2021EDEX The K9 Thunder self-propelled 155/52 mm howitzer- Photo courtesy P. Valpolini The K9 Thunder self-propelled 155/52 mm howitzer developed by Hanwha in South Korea has definitely become a best seller in the SPH arena. Beside the national customer, it has been exported in 6 foreign countries, Turkey, Poland, Finland, India, Norway and Estonia, and three more potential customers are looking with interest at the South Korean product, Australia, the United Kingdom and Egypt. The focus of the Hanwha interest in Egypt is clearly marked by the presence of a Thunder at its booth. According to information obtained by EDR On-Line, the company is in the final stage of negotiations with the Egyptian MoD, and should the contract be signed a good share of production will be carried out locally. This will include not only the assembly of the system, but also the production of some major elements. Egypt owns two production facilities capable to perform the manufacturing. At a later stage should Hanwha win other bids in the African continent, the howitzers and associated vehicles might well be produced in Egypt. The SPH that might be provided to Egypt should be the K9A1, which is fitted with an APU, features an enhanced driver’s system, is fitted with a GPS as well as with an enhanced fire control system. The proposal to Egypt includes, beside the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer and the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, also a third vehicle based on the K9 chassis, the K11 fire control center. In the Republic of Korea Army the FCS role is K77 FDCV, Fire direction center vehicle, based on the old K55 SPH chassis. For the time being the new FCS is still on computer screens, but its development should be a low risk programme as most of the components are available and well proven. Standardizing all main systems of an artillery battalion on the same chassis would mean considerably reduce the logistic footprint as well as the training time of maintainers. Hanwha is in the definition phase of the next step of the Thunder, which will bring the Korean SPH further ahead, with the introduction of a fully automated loading system, allowing to load the ammunition as well as the modular charges without human intervention, increasing the firing rate to 9-10 rounds per minute. This is a much needed move should the unmanned artillery system which programme was launched a few years ago definitely needs a full automatic loading capability. https://www.edrmagazine.eu/hanwha-strongly-believes-in-k9-success-in-egypt

Defense News December 2021 Global Security army industry Posted On Monday, 06 December 2021 16:16 According to Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh in Focus Taiwan, Taiwan's military will start installing locally-produced 105mm guns onto its 8x8 Clouded Leopard armored vehicles next month, a military source told CNA on December 5. After completing the installation, the military will begin conducting initial tests of the gun's capabilities from March next year. CM-32 Yunpao (Clouded Leopard) armored vehicle in mobile gun configuration with a 105 mm gun (Picture source: Wikipedia) The source said that the domestically-made 105mm gun barrel generates 60 percent less recoil than the imported barrels used so far, adding that its ammunition would also have better penetration. Before allowing a new weapon to enter mass production, it must pass through the other stages of the Taiwan military's five-step new-weapon development process. The process includes initial conceptual design, related engineering development, initial weapon testing, and a combat readiness test. On June 7, 2021, Army Recognition published that the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense had previously stated that the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) had purchased two M68A2 tank guns from the U.S., which approved the export license in December 2020. The Armament Bureau under the Ministry of National Defense earmarked NT$769 million (US$27.77 million) to build two prototypes of these vehicles between 2019 to 2023. In addition, NCSIST signed a Technical Assistance Agreement this January 2021 with the American cannon manufacturer to provide technical documents and blueprints to facilitate research and development. On June 4, 2021, Taiwanese military personnel said that the two cannons would be used to design the gun for a new armored vehicle, which will be assigned to joint battalions for front-line and anti-armor missions. The Clouded Leopard M2 will then be armed with this new 105 mm cannon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm turret machine gun. The MND and NCSIST will cooperate to produce two prototypes and begin developing a new 105mm armor-piercing projectile by 2023. The CM-32 "Clouded Leopard" (officially Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV) is an 8x8 armored vehicle currently being produced for the Republic of China Army. It is based on the 6x6 CM-31 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is further developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center. According to the Taipei Times, it was named after the Formosan clouded leopard, an indigenous animal, to show that the vehicle is "agile and swift". The project was launched in 2002, at a cost of NT$700 million (US$21.9 million). The armor of the CM-32 provides protection against 7.62 mm AP rounds, while the frontal arc withstands 12.7 mm AP rounds. NBC protection and fire suppression systems are also standard. The V-shaped hull provides protection from landmines and can withstand 12 kg of TNT under any wheel. In its basic APC form the CM-32 is armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun, both mounted in a remote weapons station. After the assault guns have entered mass production, vehicles mounted with the guns will be deployed in the military's newly formed combined-arms battalions. Officially called the Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle, the Armament Bureau has so far commissioned the indigenous CM-32 and CM-33 Clouded Leopard armored vehicles and has already begun mass production of the CM-34 model. The CM-32 and CM-33 models are armed with 40mm automatic grenade launchers, while the CM-34 versions are armed with the Orbital ATK 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon, which has an effective firing range of over 2,000 meters. https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_december_2021_global_security_army_industry/taiwan_clouded_leopard_8x8_afvs_to_get_us_105mm_gun_from_january_2022.html

Naval News December 2021 Navy Forces Maritime Defense Industry Posted On Tuesday, 07 December 2021 12:09 According to information published by Global Time on December 6, 2021, Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang, recently held intensive anti-submarine drills in a move that experts said could send a message to the US. Type 055 destroyer Nanchang (Picture source: CGTN) Nanchang (101) is a Type 055 destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 12 January 2020. Nanchang is the lead ship of the class and was laid down in December 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. The Type 055 large destroyer is a class of stealth guided missile destroyers (guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard) being constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It is a multi-mission design; the combination of sensors and weapons suggests the main role of area air defense, with anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Propulsive power is generated by four 28 MW QC-280 gas turbines in combined gas and gas arrangement. Additional power may be provided by six 5 MW QD-50 gas turbines. The maximum speed is estimated to be 30 knots. The primary armament is missiles carried in 112-cell vertical launching system (VLS); 64 cells forward and 48 cells aft. https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/december/11087-chinese-type-055-destroyer-nanchang-hold-anti-submarine-drills.html

Over the last few years there has been a quiet revolution in ground launched long range rockets that has the potential to challenge existing thinking on Close Air Support, Attack Helicopters, Carrier Strike and Naval Gunfire Support/Land Attack. This is long article so I just put below a link for it. https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2015/01/rocket-renaissance/

Defense News December 2021 Global Security army industry Posted On Tuesday, 07 December 2021 15:36 According to the press service of Uralvagonzavod, the first batch of modernized 2S7M Malka self-propelled howitzers was handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The updated equipment has already been sent to the troops. 2S7 Malka 203mm self-propelled howitzer displayed at Army 2018 near Kubinka (Picture source: Army Recognition) The message does not contain information on the number of military equipment transferred to the army. It only notes that this is the first batch of 203-mm self-propelled guns 2S7M Malka, which have undergone a major overhaul with deep modernization within the framework of the state defense order. The modernization was carried out at Uraltransmash: replacement of the gearbox, distribution mechanisms, power supply units, observation devices and guidance system, intercom equipment and radio station. The CBRN protection system has been updated. Additionally, it is now possible to aim at a target using a UAV. In April 2020, UVZ announced a deep modernization of the first ACS 2S7M Malka and readiness for serial modernization of the entire fleet of self-propelled guns. Apparently, the Ministry of Defense signed a corresponding contract with the company. The 2S7M "Malka" with 2A44 cannon of 203 mm is capable of firing various types of ammunition, including active-reactive and special ammunition with a nuclear warhead. Large-caliber self-propelled guns were once developed as a weapon for a possible tactical nuclear strike. The first modification - 2S7 "Pion" - has been in operation since 1975; the modernized version - 2S7M - since 1986. The combat weight of the 2S7M "Malka" in the previous layout was 46.5 tons, the crew was 6 people, the radio equipment R-173 was standard, the ammunition carried was limited to 8 rounds, and the self-propelled gun was brought into combat position within 7 minutes. As Rostec reported in 2020, new-generation shells are being developed for Malka. 2S7 Malka history Technical requirements for the gun were drafted in March 1970 and the first serial Pion 2S7 guns were supplied to high-power artillery units in the second half of the 1970s. 2S7 has no turret and the gun is located at the back of the tracked undercarriage. The round of munitions includes breach-loading projectiles with variable charges. The main ones are high-explosive fragmentation and rocket-assisted projectiles. The former weighs 110 kg and contains 17.8 kg of explosives. The maximum range is 37.5 km and the initial speed is 960 m/sec. The latter projectile weighs 103 kg and contains 13.8 kg of explosives. The range is 47.5 km. The gun can also fire anti-concrete, nuclear and chemical shells. Over 500 2S7 guns of various modifications were produced in 16 years. In 1983, 2S7 was upgraded into 2S7M Malka. The Military Balance said in 2018 the Russian high-power artillery was armed with 60 Malka guns. Pion has never been engaged by the Soviet army in an armed conflict. The guns were mostly supplied to the Russian troops in East Germany. All Pion and Malka guns were redeployed back in Russia after the Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) Treaty was signed. The only known 2S7 engagement was in the war in South Ossetia where Georgia used a battery of six 2S7 guns. The Georgian troops hid all the six guns near Gori during its retreat. One of the five guns found by the Russian troops became war booty and others were destroyed. There were reports about 2S7 engagement by the Ukrainian army in the southeast of the country, but no reliable confirmation was available. "It is premature to speak about the end of barrel artillery which properly performed in the latest conflicts," expert Konstantin Makienko said. The National Interest has recently reported an upgrade of Russian Tyulpan 2S4 mortars and Pion 2S7 howitzers. It said Russia was upgrading heavy artillery to integrate it into modern command and control systems and introduce modern communications and fire controls. The US publication cannot understand why Russia revived old weapons which it stocked after the end of the Cold War. One of the reasons may be a cheap production cost of shells for large-caliber artillery against missiles. A high-ranking source in the missile and artillery forces told Gazeta.ru the engagement of high-power artillery with conventional shells is often more effective than the use of attack jets and bombers, specifically if it fires precision projectiles. The operation of artillery does not depend on weather and has a long-range and high precision. The fire of high-power artillery is much cheaper than a combat aircraft sortie. High-power artillery is specifically effective in street fighting. "One point-blank shot of the 203mm gun can fully destroy a big house developed by the adversary into a stronghold. It helps motorized rifles fulfill missions without unjustified losses," he said. As for similar weapons in the U.S. army, the 8-inch (203mm) M110 self-propelled howitzer was decommissioned in the 1990s, as the US military believed the effectiveness of large-caliber artillery was decreasing in modern conditions. The US 175mm M107 self-propelled gun was decommissioned in the late 1970s. https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2021/12/russian-army-receives-first-batch-of.html

At Dubai, Russia made no secret of its ambitions to push the US and Europe out of the regional market. By Reuben Johnson on December 07, 2021 at 4:44 AM A Russian Checkmate fighter on display at the Dubai Airshow (Photo: Reuben Johnson/Breaking Defense) KIEV: Attendees at this year’s Dubai Airshow walked away from the event with two big takeaways. The first: simply that the event, the first major airshow since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, actually happened. The second: that Russia, sensing doubts about America’s commitment to the region, is making a serious push into the Middle Eastern market. Russia’s presence surpassed the size of Moscow’s delegation at any previous Dubai events by several orders of magnitude. Almost 500 people were present representing a long list of defence enterprises. Russian firms ordered and paid for more than 1,000 square meters of space in the exhibition halls, five two-story chalets and a small fortune of support services in the form of golf carts and VIP parking passes. Still, despite the spending spree, the show passed without Russian industry announcing any significant contract signings or sales agreements. Which raises the question of why the major entities on the Russian side — Rostec, the Unified Aircraft-Building Corporation (OAK) and Rosoboronexport — invested so much in participating in the event. Part of the answer lies in the one Item from Russian industry that dwarfed almost every other aircraft on display: the cavernous pavilion constructed on the static display line that housed the full-scale, part-prototype/part mock-up of the new Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate single-engine lightweight fighter The ten-minute presentation of the aircraft, making its international debut, featured a laser light show, multiple flat panel screens and a mirrored ceiling — all first seen in July of this year, at the initial unveiling of this design at the Moscow Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS). These multimedia spectacles were space-limited, and in such demand to be seen by senior officials from the United Arab Emirates and others that for two days gaining access to the pavilion were essentially impossible. It quickly became the most talked-about item of the entire show. This was despite the fact, that, as one former official from Russia’s famed Mikoyan Design Bureau told Breaking Defense, “the engine for the aircraft does not exist, the AFAR (AESA radar) does not exist, the airplane has not yet taken to the air as no flyable prototype exists, and the majority of the on-board, next-generation avionics are still only designs at this point. And discussions about a first flight as soon as 2023 are simply not to be taken seriously.” When speaking with members of the Russian delegation, it is clear that they feel a long-term strategy is underway: one that Moscow hopes will re-draw the map of arms sales in the Middle East and other regions. Whether this substantial menu of Russian ambitions can be achieved remains to be seen. “If Russian industry can attract this new customer base is one issue,” said the head of a Russian defence consultancy with close ties to Rostec and major enterprises. “However, there is still plenty that can go amiss. Should the Kremlin make any rash moves — like invading Ukraine — and all of these planning and the investment made in trying to enter this market will be for nothing.” Development and Procurement Plans On the first day of the Dubai show ,the General Director of OAK, Yuri Slyusar, announced “the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur will begin work on the construction of several Checkmates at the same time.” The building of these prototypes in parallel rather than in series, one after the other, demonstrates that the program has the highest priority, as this is a more resource-intensive method of developing flight test platforms, siphoning off personnel and facilities at the plant that could be utilized by other efforts. The Checkmate prototypes will be powered with a single previous-generation Satutn/Lyulka AL-41F1 engine, the same model that is currently installed in Russia’s other stealth-like fighter design, the twin-engine Su-57. Both aircraft are planned to eventually be powered by a new fifth-generation fighter engine, designated at the moment as izdeliye 30 and in development at the UPMO plant in Ufa; but as recently as last month, Russian news sources reported that this engine is still not developed to the stage where it could enter series production. Until this new design is available, both the Su-57 and the Checkmate (whenever a flyable unit has been built) will be powered by this AL-41F1-series engine (originally introduced as Engine 117S) that has been in service for more than a decade as the power plant for the Su-35S. This follows a Russian pattern that stretches back into the 1980s of utilizing an older-generation engine in initial batches of new design fighters until the engine model ultimately designed for the aircraft is available. Aside from the lack of engine and flyable design, Checkmate also has to overcome the fact is it not yet a program of record. When it was first introduced in July Slyusar and the other senior industry representatives present stated that there was no interest by Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in acquiring this platform, which could dampen the enthusiasm of any potential export customers. However, in September Russian Deputy PM and former Deputy Defence Minister for Procurement, Yuri Borisov, stated that the aircraft could be procured by the VKS as part of the Russian State Armaments Programme for the period 2024-2033. Borisov, realizing the need for a domestic customer in order to be able to sell the aircraft outside of Russia reportedly told the Russian press that “the presence of a new fighter in service with its own army will contribute to the export potential of the aircraft.” An F-35 Alternative – At Least on Paper The history of the Checkmate begins in early 2017 at the Abu Dhabi IDEX expo when Rostec General Director Sergei Chemezov offered the UAE the opportunity to participate in the development of the aircraft. After a series of negotiations, the UAE was poised to sign an interim agreement to cooperate on this effort, but the deal was derailed in November of the same year when Washington it would finally allow the UAE to buy its long-sought Lockheed Martin-designed F-35. That decision appeared to snuff out any interest by the UAE in becoming a major defense industrial partner with Russia. But in the intervening time, the F-35 deal has bogged down due to concerns over the UAE’s relationship with Beijing. The first sticking point has to do with what the US sees as Abu Dhabi’s increasing military partnership with the PRC. Beijing has been shipping a considerable volume of defense equipment to the UAE, creating a concern from US officials that the Chinese are planning to establish a base in the Emirates. Construction on what appeared to be a secret Chinese facility inside the container terminal at the UAE port of Khalifa raised red flags in DC. At the end of September, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and the Biden Administration’s Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, visited the UAE and presented the Emirati leadership with intelligence information on the site. After a US inspection of the terminal, all construction work on the Chinese project was suspended. While that problem has been solved, at least for now, a more serious point of contention presents a new obstacle in the form of the PRC telecom firm Huawei. Due to security concerns about the stealthy aircraft’s design details being compromised, the US is telling it must now remove all the Huawei 5G equipment in its networks in order to stay on board as an F-35 customer. There is precedent for this step, dramatic as it may seem. The UK, one of the F-35s major partners, has previously agreed that no new Huawei hardware would be purchased for its networks after the end of this year. All existing Huawei equipment in the UK will be removed by 2027.) This series of restrictions and the demands by the US are seen by Moscow as an opportunity to again offer the Checkmate project to the UAE as a “no strings attached” alternative to the F-35. But several of the Russian industry representatives pointed out to Breaking Defense that while nothing would make them happier than to see the UAE “switch horses” by becoming a partner on the Checkmate project and forgoing purchase of the F-35, this may not be the top priority for Chemezov, Slyusar and the other industry leaders. Russian defense firms are interested in a much broader footprint in the Middle East market and beyond. And while the deep pockets of the Emiratis are seen as essential to helping Russia move design concepts from prototype validation to series-production, industrial leaders are eyeing potential customers beyond the UAE’s borders. In March 2022, Saudi Arabia will hold one of the largest-ever expos of its kind, and Russian industry plans to have a presence of equal or greater size than was presented at Dubai. This is part of a two-pronged initiative designed to have Moscow capture some of the business from the Gulf States that had been the exclusive territory of the US and European suppliers. “There is a reason that Saudi Arabia is such a major export target now for Russian weapon systems in general and the Checkmate in particular,” explained the former Mikoyan representative. “Unlike the UAE, Saudi Arabia is probably not going to be offered the F-35. They also have ambitions to have their own aerospace production capability across a range of different systems, which makes something like Checkmate — a system they could build for their own armed forces as well as export to other nations — an attractive option” New Partnerships May Close Iranian Doors If Russia is now looking to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi as its regional partners, it may mean closing the book on Moscow’s more than three decades-long aspirations to become the supplier of an entire new generation of weaponry to Iran. Due to centuries-old traditional religious conflicts and modern-day hostilities between the Sunni Islam Arabs of the Gulf states and the Persian Shiites in Iran, being the quartermaster to both sides is a non-starter. But the change in loyalty hasn’t come out of nowhere. Moscow’s intentions were more or less telegraphed three years ago at the 2018 Iran Air Show, held just a short distance from Dubai on KishIsland. Russian firms, which had been major exhibitors at the previous event in 2016, where nowhere to be found. One Iranian firm responsible for maintaining and modernizing Russian-made aircraft operated by the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has previously told Breaking Defense that “when we ring to Moscow and tell them we are calling from our Iranian company they do not bother to even ask what we want – they just hang up on us.” Other Russian firms, like RSK-MiG, have had no formal contract links with Iran for some years. Officials from these companies tell Breaking Defense that Iranian firms have instead turned to sourcing spares and other needed hardware for Russian aircraft through networks of under-the-table suppliers – similar to those middlemen they have used for decades to illegally acquire hardware for their fleets of US-made McDonnell-Douglas F-4s and Grumman F-14s. If Russia does move away from Tehran, expect China to try and fill the void. Chinese specialists have been in Iran for decades, assisting local industry in the art of reverse-engineering parts for their US-made weapon systems. One of the PRC’s major defense industrial groupings, China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) was an exhibitor at the 2016 Iran Air Show. Then in July 2018 the IRGC upgraded its fleet of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-22 attack aircraft, which had been grounded for almost three decades, by replacing their on-board systems with largely PRC-origin avionics. The fleet was also integrated with an entire complement of Chinese air-launched weapons to the air frame; video of the acceptance ceremony showed a large, air-dropped munition that appeared to the NORINCO TG-250, a Chinese system similar to the US-made GBU-12 Paveway II. There will be plenty of opportunity for China to push future sales. Tehran’s 1970s-era F-4s, F-5s and F-14s has very little service life left in them. Once they must be retired, Iran may become the first export customer for one of the Chinese copies of the Russian Su-27 and Su-30 models – the Shenyang J-11 and J-16 series. Another option is even Iran acquiring the Chengdu J-20, the PRC’s attempt to pose a challenge to the current-day US F-22. https://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/russians-in-the-desert-moscow-seeks-to-upend-the-middle-east-export-market/

Defense News December 2021 Global Security army industry Posted On Tuesday, 07 December 2021 11:37 Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifle. (Picture source Army Recognition) “Today, on December 6, a contract was signed as part of a meeting of the defense ministers of Russia and India on the delivery of over 600,000 AK-203 assault rifles produced in India for the Defense Ministry of India,” it said. Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is opening a new page in Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation, Kalashnikov CEO Vladimir Lepin said. “Russian and Indian specialists have carried out large-scale preparatory work over three years to optimize the project’s price and technological parameters. Now that the contract has been signed, we are ready to start the production of advanced AK-203s in the town of Korwa in the coming months,” he said. Head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev told the Rossiya-24 TV Channel that the deliveries would fully meet the requirements of the Indian Army. “But the most important thing is that India will gain competencies in the production of small arms with the help of Russian partners,” he stressed. Russia is ready to arrange the local production of the advanced assault rifle that is not inferior to foreign rivals and even outshines them by many parameters and therefore this is a major event for the Russian industry as well, he said. “The AK-203 is one of our latest automatic weapons. It has been tested for a long time and the Indian partners have been quite meticulous in choosing the proper model and have opted for the AK-203,” Shugaev said. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans in early March 2019 to set up an Indo-Russian joint venture for the production of Kalashnikov assault rifles in the country. The joint venture IRRPL for the manufacture of AK-203 assault rifles has been established at a production facility in the town of Korwa of the Amethi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, India can become the first foreign country to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles of the latest 200th series. The AK-203 is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, select-fire assault rifle designed to chamber 7.62×39mm cartridge The AK-203 is based on a modern design featuring folding and adjustable buttstock, windowed and rifled magazine, and an ergonomic pistol grip. https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_december_2021_global_security_army_industry/russia_to_deliver_600000_ak-203_assault_rifles_to_india.html

Naval News December 2021 Navy Forces Maritime Defense Industry Posted On Tuesday, 07 December 2021 11:02 According to information published by Taiwan News on December 2, 2021, the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy Tuo Chiang-class corvette Ta Chiang successfully fired Sea Sword II (Sky Sword II) missiles. Tuo Chiang-class corvette Ta Chiang (Picture source: CNA) The ship is a wave-piercing catamaran design that is 60.4 meters (198 ft) long, 14 meters (46 ft) wide and carries a crew of 41. It is capable of a top speed of 40 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi). It is armed with eight subsonic Hsiung Feng II and eight supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles launchers, a Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, and a 76 mm (3 in) main gun. The ship can operate up to sea state 7 in waves up to 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m) high. The Sky Sword II, or TC-2, is a medium-range, radar guided air-to-air missile. It has an inertial navigation system, a data-link for mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance, beyond visual range. It also has ECCM capability and can engage multiple targets. https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/december/11085-taiwanese-corvette-ta-chiang-fires-sea-sword-ii-missile.html

Defense News December 2021 Global Security army industry Posted On Tuesday, 07 December 2021 09:51 The delivery of Russian-made S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) air defense missile systems to India has started and will continue to happen, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at a briefing conference following the Russian-Indian summit in New Delhi: “As for the S-400s, the contract is in force. S-400 supplies have begun and will continue to happen,” Shringla said when asked about whether this topic had been discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting. S-400 Triumph air defense system (Picture source: Army Recognition) As Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, the CAATSA issue did not come up at all. According to him, India “pursues an independent foreign policy and its relations with other countries should not be viewed in the light of cooperation with anyone.” Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the deal on the delivery of Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India was preceding as planned despite the US attempts to disrupt Russia-India cooperation in this sphere. India announced its plans to purchase Russian-made S-400 systems in 2015. The relevant contract worth 5.43 billion dollars was signed during a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India in October 2018. As CEO of Russia’s Rosoboronexport state arms seller Alexander Mikheyev said in mid-November, the S-400 supplies to India started ahead of schedule. According to him, the first regiment set will be delivered to India before the end of the year. The Russian-Indian S-400 deal has raised concerns of the United States that threatens to impose sanctions on states that acquire military hardware from Russia, referring to the CAATSA law adopted in 2017. India announces that it does not intend to withdraw from the contract. At the end of November, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States had not yet made a decision regarding the non-application of sanctions against India under CAATSA for the purchase of the S-400s from Moscow.

News Maritime Security By Colton Jones Nov 5, 2021 A Russian biggest shipbuilder is planning to hand over two nuclear-powered submarines to the Russian Navy next year. A source close to the Russian defense ministry says that both submarines will enter service with the Pacific Fleet. “The current plans for 2022 envisage the transfer of one strategic [submarine] – the Generalissimus Suvorov missile-carrying submarine [of the Borei-A class] and one attack [submarine], the Krasnoyarsk multipurpose submarine [of the Yasen-M class],” the source said. The modern Russian Borei nuclear ballistic missile submarine, or SSBN, was conceived as a replacement to the aging Delta and Typhoon strategic submarine lines. According to TASS, Borei-and Borei-A-class submarines have been developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering. They carry 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles and are outfitted with 533mm torpedo tubes. The Yasen-M is a new line of nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, designed to phase out Russia’s aging, Soviet-era attack submarines. The submarines can be deployed in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance operations and special missions. https://defence-blog.com/russias-navy-might-get-two-new-nuclear-submarines-in-2022/