New Australian Naval Combat Helicopters

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Australian Government had approved the acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters at a cost of over $3 billion.

The 2009 Defence White Paper committed the Government to equipping naval warships with a new combat helicopter capable of conducting a range of maritime misions with advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities and the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles.

This announcement delivers on that commitment.

The new helicopters will replace the Navy’s current combat helicopter capability provided by 16 Seahawk S-70B-2 helicopters and will also provide the air to surface strike capability which was to have been provided by the cancelled Seasprite program.

This decision follows a 15-month competitive acquisition process involving the Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin built MH-60R and the NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 NFH assembled by Australian Aerospace.

This competitive process has ensured value for money for the tax payer.

The Australian Government has chosen the ‘Romeo’ helicopter because it represents the best value for money for taxpayers and was the lowest risk option.

27 Russian defense companies to take part in Paris Air Show

A total of 59 Russian firms and agencies, including 27 defense companies, will take part in the upcoming international air show outside Paris, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) said.

The 49th International Paris Air Show will be held at Le Bourget on June 20-26.

"Twenty-seven defense companies will exhibit military aircraft and related products," a FSMTC spokesman told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

According to the official, Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger jet and Be-200 amphibious plane will make demonstration flights at the biennial air show, which this year attracted over 2,000 exhibitors and 205 official delegations from 88 countries.

India's New Killer Machine P-8i

Boeing to build 10 C-17 airlifters for India

Boeing said Wednesday that India's defense ministry has signed an agreement with the US government to buy 10 Boeing C-17 transports, making India the plane's largest international customer.

Boeing said that under the deal, India will take delivery of its C-17 Globemaster III airlifters in 2013 and 2014.

The US aerospace giant's announcement followed unofficial news earlier this month that the big sale, approved by the US Congress in May 2010, was in the pipeline.

chinese mengshi 4x4 military jeep

JF-17 Fighter Jet Flying In Turkey

US scraps missile defense plan for Czech Republic

The United States has abandoned plans to deploy a missile early warning center as part of a European missile defense system in the Czech Republic, Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra was quoted by CTK news agency as saying on Wednesday.

"The Czech Republic will look for other options to participate in the project," Vondra said after a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense William Linn.

Fire Scout UAV Supports Operations in Afghanistan

The Navy’s Fire Scout is proving its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability during its first land-based deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The Fire Scout, managed by Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems program office (PMA-266), deployed in late April to CENTCOM in response to a DoD ISR Task Force request to provide ISR services in northern Afghanistan.

In nine months, PMA-266, in conjunction with ISR task force leadership and Northrop Grumman, conducted site surveys of various basing locations, interfaced with key leadership personnel in the CENTCOM chain of command, planned and executed deployment preparations and sustainment for joint and allied military operations in Regional Command North, Afghanistan.

JF-17 Thunder To Go Into The Skies In Izmir Air Show in Turkey

The JF-17 Thunder will be participating in the Izmir air show in Turkey along with F-16 fighter Jets.

Three JF-17 Thunders from the Pakistan Air Force participated in Farnborough Air Show and Zhuhai Air Show last year in order to attract customers. Chinese company CATIC has said that are in talks with about eight countries for sale of the JF-17 Thunder. 

West To Have 80,000 Cruise Missiles By 2020-Russian Military Experts

Russian military experts forecast that Western nations will have 80,000 cruise missile by 2020, a deputy commander of the Russian General Staff said on Saturday.

"We expect Western countries to have at least 80,000 cruise missiles by 2020, including about 2,000 of them nuclear-powered," Gen. Igor Sheremet said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

He added these missiles are clearly not simply designed for drilling or intimidation purposes.

"They can deliver disarming or even 'decapitation' strikes," Sheremet said.

Hence, he said, the plans to develop Russia's air and space defense system in 2011 as instructed by President Dmitry Medvedev in November.

India Approves 10 C-17 Purchase Deal Having Worth Nearly 4.1 Billion Dollar

The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the country’s final arbiter on defense and security issues, has approved the purchase of ten C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft.

The order is expected to be worth USD 4.1 billion.