SLAMRAAM Intercepts Targets In Two Test Firings

Raytheon's SLAMRAAM (Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) system successfully destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle target and intercepted a cruise missile target at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

The limited user test-firing data will be used to validate key system capabilities and potential enhancements in addition to providing operational assessment.

"Successful completion of this test firing demonstrates the maturity of the design and its operational capability when in the hands of soldiers," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president for Patriot Programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

"SLAMRAAM is the most cost-effective system in development to combat the increasing unmanned aerial vehicle and cruise missile threat to our deployed forces, high-value fixed assets and population centers."

The primary objective of this series of tests was to demonstrate soldiers' ability to operate the system in a tactical environment.

Israeli system intercepts Gaza rocket for first time

Israel's Iron Dome short-range missile defence system shot down a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, the first time such an interceptor has been deployed anywhere.

The military confirmed the rocket had been brought down over the southern city of Ashkelon by the unique multi-million-dollar system, which came into operation on March 27, the first time that Iron Dome had hit a rocket in actual combat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the system gave Israel hope that the Jewish state could now better defend it's citizens from the thousands of rockets that have been fired into Israel in recent years.

"It gives hope that over time we can develop some better defence for civilians that are targeted by regimes ... deliberately targeting the innocent," said Netanyahu, who was visiting the Czech Republic.

As the rocket came in from Gaza, the interceptor missile streaked into the sky to hit it with the two trails converging in an explosion, said the AFP correspondent.

Russia Delivers Two Combat Helicopters

Russia has delivered two Mi-35P Hind E attack helicopters to Peru under a contract to provide the South American country with air power to combat cocaine production and terrorism.

The disassembled helicopters were delivered to Peru on board a Russian An-124-100 Condor transport plane.

"The assembly of the helicopters by Russian technicians has already begun," Igor Korotchenko, the head of Russia's Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, said on Tuesday.

"The helicopters will be tested in the air in the next few days before the official transfer to the Peruvian Air Force," he said.

The Mi-35 is an improved export version of the famed Mi-24 attack helicopter, which combines high fire power with troop transport capability.

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Peruvian Defense Ministry signed a $108-million contract on the delivery of six Mi-171 Hip H multirole helicopters and two Mi-35 helicopters in July 2010.

The delivery of the first two Mi-171s to Peru is expected in May.

The helicopters will be used in anti-drug and anti-terrorism efforts in the valley of the Apurimac and Ene rivers.

The area was declared a zone of military operations in August 2009 as fighting between government troops and the Sendero Luminoso Maoist guerilla group intensified.

Sendero Luminoso, regarded by Peru as a terrorist organization, is believed to have strong ties with drug traffickers. The group is on the U.S. and EU lists of terrorist organizations.

Boeing Supports 1st Hellfire Test Launch from Avenger System

Boeing supported the U.S. Army's first test launch of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile on Feb. 23 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The missile was fired from a modified Avenger weapon system as part of Boeing's continuing development of the Avenger-derived Adaptive Force Protection System (AFPS).

"The Avenger turret's ability to launch Hellfire missiles offers the warfighter another choice of weapon, one with significant ground firepower," said Phil Hillman, Avenger program manager for Boeing Network & Tactical Systems. "We continue to integrate and test additional capability on this system. Since Avenger is already in the Army inventory, upgrading Avengers instead of developing and fielding new systems has obvious cost advantages -- something that we believe is critically important in the current budget environment."

The test evaluated the feasibility of adding the Hellfire missile and Hydra 2.75-inch rocket capabilities to the Army's Avenger system. Boeing designed, built and installed the mechanical integration equipment to mate the Hellfire and rocket launchers to the Avenger, and supported the live firing at the test site.

Avenger was originally designed as an air defense system, but other ground defense capabilities, such as Hellfire, are being considered to expand the system’s range and versatility. The Avenger turret can be mounted on a variety of vehicles, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or used as a stand-alone, fixed-mounted weapon station.

Boeing is the largest aerospace company in Alabama and one of the state's largest employers. Current company operations in Huntsville include the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program and other missile defense work, such as the Arrow system and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seeker, as well as work associated with Ares I, the International Space Station, Army Integrated Logistics, Brigade Combat Team Modernization and engineering for the 787 and the P-8A Poseidon.

Britain moves Libya jets to ground attack role

 Britain said on Wednesday it was moving four Typhoon jets from policing the Libya no fly zone to ground attack roles after criticism from rebels that NATO forces were failing to protect Misrata.

"In agreement with NATO, the UK has today agreed to move four RAF Typhoons from an air defence role, policing the no-fly zone, to a ground attack role," said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a statement.

The move was aimed at "further bolstering NATO's ground attack capability," added the MoD.

Previously, the Typhoons, based at Gioia del Colle in southern Italy, had been policing the no-fly zone while the RAF's Tornado warplanes carried out attacks on Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's ground forces.

The move came after the top commander of Libyan rebel forces, Abdelfatah Yunis, accused NATO-led aircraft of doing nothing while loyalist forces bombarded civilians in Misrata, 214 kilometres (132 miles) east of Tripoli.

NATO "is letting the people of Misrata die every day", Yunis told reporters in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi late on Tuesday.

In response, NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero insisted that "Misrata is our number one priority."